RISK OF DIABETES

Psychological and emotional stress among mothers may trickle down to their kids and increase their children’s risk of having diabetes. Mothers who experienced a stressful event such as divorce, domestic violence, mental tension and work pressure have an increased risk of developing diabetes. Parents who are often stressed out or are having problems is the number one stressor among children. Without the parent’s knowledge, children may get stressed, raising level of cortisol-also called the “stress hormone”.

Cortisol is found adjacent to the kidneys and is released in response to either physical or psychological stress. It breaks down muscle protein into its component amino acid which then circulates the bloodstream. These amino acids are used by the liver in the manufacture of glucose for energy increasing blood sugar level and at the same time lowering the use of glucose as fuel. The excess and deficiency of cortisol in the body may trigger some system disorders such as autoimmunity damaging the insulin-producing beta cells thus resulting in insulin deficiency.

Anti-diabetic medicines that are taken orally by the mouth are effective as insulin injection in controlling symptoms of diabetes. The number of people with diabetes continues to rise while their ages at the time of diagnosis drop. Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult – onset diabetes, is now striking children, due largely to the obesity epidemic. Overweight and obese kids that present identifying symptoms like darkness around neck and armpits area are those who frequently get urinary tract infection (UTI).

Diabetes if not properly managed can lead to many complications such as amputation and damage to key organs of the body like the eyes, kidney and the heart. It takes every ounce of restraints and discipline on the part of the patient to be able to follow the rigid diet and medication regimen required for the management of dis

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How To Control Diabetes By Eating Well ?

Diabetes or not, eating healthy food is recommended for everyone. However, if you have diabetes, you need to remember that eating healthy food is not just a requirement, but it should be part of your everyday life. Living with diabetes is hard. You need to drastically change the way you live your life especially when it comes to your diet.

There is basically no need to prepare separate meals for people with diabetes and for people who are not suffering from this disease as the diabetic diet is recommended for everyone. Healthy eating can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Having a healthy eating plan is recommended for all people suffering from diabetes. But, for people suffering from type 1 diabetes, special considerations should be taken. You have to remember that people with type 1 diabetes requires matching the amount of insulin they take to the carbohydrates in the food they eat.

This is why it is highly advisable for people with type 1 diabetes to consult a dietitian who is experienced in working with people with type 1 diabetes to help them prepare a healthy and suitable meal plan that they can work with.

Eating regularly is important for people suffering from diabetes. Instead of eating three large meals a day, it is important to spread it evenly throughout the day. Or, you have to have three meals a day and a snack after each meal.

Generally speaking, the diabetic diet should be low in fat, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates. Also, the diet should be high in vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.

If you regularly exercise, it is very important that you should match the amount of food you eat to the amount you burn each day. Excess of fuel which is not burnt in your body should not be taken by you. This is very important in order to get the right balance of blood glucose level in your body.

If you go out for a walk, always bring with you a snack bag. Always have something sweet with you, such as sodas, and hard candies. This will help you if you feel that you are experiencing hypoglycemia setting in.

Never skip meals if you are diabetic. This will wreak havoc in your blood glucose levels and can result in potentially dangerous complications, such as hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. The worst thing that can happen to you if you skip meals and experience hypoglycemia is diabetic coma. This is one symptom that you don’t want to experience and this is also a symptom that can be life threatening.

Alcohol intake is not barred for someone who is diabetic. Per day consumption of wine should be one glass and of beer should be one bottle. Also, try to have at least two alcohol-free days every week. If you are trying to lose weight, forget about beer. Instead, try whiskey as this doesn’t contain any alcohol.

Also, it is best to drink alcoholic beverages with a meal or some food that contains carbohydrate.

These are the things that you have to remember as a diabetic. If you follow diabetic diet you can be capable of managing diabetes very well. With these tips, living with diabetes will be a lot easier in your part.

How to Prevent Hypoglycemia – 5 Ways

Hypoglycemia is a condition where the amount of glucose in the blood has reached abnormally low levels. Glucose is critically important to the body. It is especially important to the major organs of the body such as the brain and the heart. Moderate hypoglycemia can result in dizziness, confusion, anxiety, and the trembling of limbs. Severe hypoglycemia can result in heart palpitations, seizures, unconsciousness, and even comas. Diabetics are especially at risk for episodes of hypoglycemia because of their body’s inability to create or regulate insulin properly. It’s therefore important that they learn to prevent hypoglycemia in order to stave off it’s harmful effects.

1. There are many drugs of diabetes. Some medicines as well as other substance such as alcohol can also lower  your body’s glucose levels. Taking medicines can be tricky as you always have to be aware of the possible drug interactions with your food intake. Before beginning to take any medicine, you should ask your doctor or check with a drug manual to find out if it has any affect on blood sugar levels, and if so, make the necessary dietary adjustments to ensure that you won’t suffer “insulin shock”.

2. Being consistent with when you eat meal by having them at approximately the same time every day, is one of the best ways to combat hypoglycemia episodes. When you don’t skip or delay meals, when you are consistent in the portions that you eat, and when you eat on a schedule, by not skipping or delaying meals, you help to stabilize the amount of glucose entering your body at any one time.

3. Pay attention to the kinds of foods that you eat. If your blood glucose levels are constantly hovering at or under 50 mg/dl, you’re in danger of acute hypoglycemia. A good thing to do is to speak to a nutritionist and your doctor to try to come up with a series of meal plans designed to keep your blood glucose levels at optimum levels. And although your doctor is your ultimate guide in regards to treating your diabetes, most doctors are not well trained in nutrition. Having your nutritionist develop a meal plan and then running it pass your doctor is probably the best way to go.

4. Be careful before beginning a strenuous exercise routine. Exercising gets your body’s adrenaline pumping and forces your body’s organs to work harder. The combination of these two factors has the potential to deplete much of the glucose in your body. If your are at risk for hypoglycemia, before you begin exercising you should eat some healthy carbohydrates. This can greatly help to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal zone.

5. Constantly monitor your blood sugar levels. Many times you won’t experience symptoms of low blood sugar until you are already in the hypoglycemia range. Monitoring your glucose levels is the only reliable way to ensure that you become aware of a potential hypoglycemic situation before it actually occurs. Adequate glucose monitors are relatively inexpensive these days, making it very easy to monitor your situation.

If you are already experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar, the quickest way to alleviate them is to raise your glucose levels to a normal range again. Typically this is done by eating a carbohydrate such as a banana, some crackers, etc. Many diabetics carry around a snack with them for just this type of circumstance. The best cure, however, is to follow dietary rules to help keep you from getting into a bad situation.

4 Warning Signs of Hypoglycemia

When your blood sugar levels drops below normal levels, the result is hypoglycemia or abnormally low blood sugar. The normal cause of this condition is usually an excess of insulin or a poor diet. It can also be caused in diabetics by a delay in eating a meal or from stressing the body by overdosing on exercise. The term hypoglycemia is sometimes also referred to as “insulin shock” because of the extreme and sudden effect that it has on the body. Because hypoglycemia can possibly cause brain dysfunction and weakness, it is extremely important that those at risk learn to recognize it’s symptoms. According to research paper about diabetes mellitus, common symptoms are:

Pale and sweaty skin – when the body begins to experience hypoglycemia it releases epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. This is an attempt by the adrenal glands to raise the body’s blood sugar levels. High levels of the epinephrine hormone causes the skin to become pale.

Racing heart beat – adrenaline also causes the blood vessels to constrict and the heart to beat faster. The person may experience heart palpitations and a pounding heartbeat. Other symptoms caused by adrenaline flooding through the body can be trembling of the limbs, a tingling sensation in the hands, and a general sense of anxiety.

Severe headaches – The brain is one of our major organs. And like all of the body’s major organs, it needs glucose to function. When the body’s blood sugar levels drop, all of a sudden the brain has less glucose available to it. Now, if there is merely a tiny decrease in the glucose levels, the result may be a mild headache or possibly double vision. If, however, the drop is more severe drop, the person can possibly have a seizure. An even greater drop can lead to a loss of consciousness, difficulty concentrating and confused speech  or, in the worst case, lapsing into a coma.

Severe hunger – the body is constantly in a  state of adjusting itself to various circumstances. When the blood sugar levels drop, the body instinctively knows that it needs food to get the levels up again. The way of letting us know that is to send hunger signals to the brain in an attempt to get us to eat. Once we eat, the blood glucose levels return to normal and the hunger subsides.

The above symptoms usually do not start to show until the blood glucose levels fall a fairly significant amount such as below 60 milligrams per deciliter of blood. Also, if the person is taking medications for symptoms other than diabetes, it’s important to be aware that some medications may mask some of these symptoms. In addition, not everyone has the same reactions to low blood sugar so they may naturally experience different symptoms.

For a person diagnosed with diabetes, It’s not at all unusual for him or her to occasionally get hypoglycemia. In fact, diabetics may become very familiar with many of these symptoms since the regulation of blood glucose levels with medicines is not quite an exact science. As the blood sugar levels return to normal, however, the symptoms will usually slowly dissipate. Nevertheless, anyone experiencing any of the conditions listed above should make sure that their physician or health care provider is aware of them.

What Is A Healthy BMI And How Does It Apply To Diabetics?

What Is A Healthy BMI And How Does It Apply To Diabetics?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that is based on your height and weight to
determine if you are underweight, an ideal weight, overweight, or obese.  The test is an
indication of the total body fat that you are carrying around.  The number ranges are
fairly accurate but there are some circumstances when the calculations may not be 100%
true.  As these results are purely based on numbers, you should take the number you are
given and discuss other contributing factors with your doctor (such as muscle weight or
body type considerations).

A BMI of 30 or over is considered obese.  The higher end of the scale for overweight
people (25 – 29.9) and people that fall into the obese category are at an increased risk for
developing type 2 diabetes. Other danger indicators are waist circumferences.  If you are
a man and your waist measures 40 inches or more and if you are a woman and your waist
measures 35 inches or more, there is an increased abdominal fat risk factor for diabetes
and other diseases.  

Maintaining a healthy BMI is all about being at a weight that is right for your height and
body type.  Both of these goals will bring many more benefits than just better controlled
blood glucose levels. You will also have increased energy, can reduce the amount of
insulin you are on, and give yourself a longer life expectancy.

Reduce your total body fat to bring your BMI into a healthy range (18.5-24.9).  Consult
your doctor and get advice on how to meet your goals.  And if you are just starting an
exercise routine, get the okay from your doctor first.  You do not want to overtax yourself
at the beginning and your doctor may have some restrictions for you to ensure you do not
suffer from injury or hypoglycemia.