CONTROL DIABETES

2007-10-22T20:54:00.002-07:00

Diabetic Diets - Be Prepared When You Visit A Dietician
By Allen Jesson

Diabetes is extremely common, in fact there are around 2 million people with this disease in the uk alone.

It is caused by your body either not producing enough insulin or not using the body's own insulin as well as it should. This causes the sugar levels in your blood to rise. Some of the symptoms for diabetes include:- - excessive thirst - excessive amounts of urine - weight loss - fatigue - irritated skin (itching) - dry mouth

Management of diabetes can not be achieved unless you follow diabetic diets, if you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes then you should receive advice from a dietitian regarding which diabetic diets are best for you to follow.

When you visit your dietitian they will provide you with knowledge of how to eat healthily and will most likely suggest lifestyle changes in order to reduce the risk of obesity and to ensure you stay at weight that suits your frame and height.

Diabetic diets do not just eliminate your sugar intake they are designed to help you reduce and monitor your fat intake providing you with a healthy diet that will control your cholesterol level, blood pressure and blood glucose which will lower the risk of other health problems.

If you need to loose weight and have diabetes ask your dietitian for diabetic diets that not only control your sugar intake but will also help you achieve your optimum weight. You will need to loose the weight slowly and follow a strict diet rather than just cutting out meals as this can cause your levels of sugar within your body to fall extremely quickly.

Introducing a fitness plan will help loose and maintain your weight as well as help control your blood sugar. Muscle movement burns calories and sugar reducing the sugar levels within your body.

Before you begin your exercise programme it is important to remember you may need to take some precautions. If you take insulin or any form of oral diabetes medication you will need to check your blood sugar levels before you begin. If they are less than 100 mg/dl you may need to take a carbohydrate snake before you begin and it is wise to check your levels at regular intervals during your exercise. If you are planning to exercise for a long duration of time make sure you plan carbohydrate snacks at regular intervals depending on your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes diets and exercise really is not that different to that of a healthy person as it follows the same nutrition principles, however if you have been diagnosed with diabetes then it is extremely important to stick to the diet. Always seek medical advice before starting any diet to ensure you understand the best and safest ways to stay fit and healthy and achieve your goals.

Allen Jesson writes for a site that specializes in Diabetic Diets And other sites that specialize in Anniversary Gifts and also provides excellent information on Loans

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2007-10-22T20:54:00.001-07:00

Free Diabetic Diet Plans - Are They Suitable For You?
By Flor Serquina

Present-day diabetics are more fortunate than those of years past, as there is now a wealth of information on diets and health regimens that may help them get through the pains of the disease. They only need to browse the internet to find free diabetic diet plans. However, as with all types of health-related information, you still need to educate yourself on the basic requirements of a diabetic diet so that you can decide if a program that you are looking at is suitable for you.

Diabetic Diet Plans: An Overview

Diabetics usually follow a simple scheme of food substitution, where food items of similar nutritional value can be exchanged with each other. So if you cannot eat your cake, you might have a bite or two of potatoes. Experts say that as long as the substitutes are high in fiber, with a sprinkling of fruits and vegetables taken regularly, are also low in fat and salt, then you are on the right track. In addition to watching closely what you eat, you are reminded also to watch "when" you eat.

Diabetic diets should be able to show you a mixed lot of diets with corresponding calorie levels. They most often feature foods that will adhere to diabetic requisites for fat, cholesterol, and sodium content. Carbohydrates are also monitored and ensured to be taken in moderation and at different times of day.

The diet plans will include recipes and balanced meal plans, varying menus, shopping lists (based on the menus), substitute lists (for alternatives), calorie counts for easy tracking, even charts to monitor blood sugar and more. For Christmas and other holidays (when diabetics sometimes forget their conditions and allow themselves to binge), there should also be a plan for "holiday diets" that still conform to your medical needs. The recommended meal plans also give a variety of diets for different types of diabetes, whether Type 1 or 2 diabetes, or pre-diabetes.

Complementing the Free Diabetic Diet Plans

While the plans are comprehensive enough, you are also advised to maintain a personal track record of your blood sugar levels and have meal plans that are monitored by your doctor or dietitian. Make sure to keep your body weight in check and at the ideal level for your size, and stick to your scheduled medications as prescribed by your physician during your regular checkups. Such lifestyle is not only recommended - it is a must. As a diabetic you need to adhere to these if you are to ensure whatever diabetic diet plan you pursue will be effective.

Objectively Looking at Free Diabetic Diet Plans

Free diabetic diet plans are available on the net so easily and abundantly that you might get confused with all the offerings. Sites offering free menus will range from diabetic cookbook offerings, personal diabetic dietitian's recommendations, diet plans from doctors and medical professionals, plans that include weight loss regimens and workouts, diets with exotic-sounding names, and what everybody wants to claim are optimum diets for diabetics.

Whatever the features of the free diabetic diet plans, you should always remember that it is all up to you whether the plan will work or not. Consult with your doctor closely, and appraise him of the features and requirements of whatever dietary regimen you want to embark on. Your doctor can help you assess if the diet is really for you. With the multitude of choices, you can easily make the wrong choice without professional advice.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The-Good-Diet.com. She provides more information on topics such as free diabetic diet plans, Michael Thurmond diet and detoxification diets that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

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2007-10-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

South Beach Diet and Diabetes - Switching Lifestyles
By Flor Serquina

Is there a connection between the South Beach diet and diabetes?

This medical condition is a chronic disorder where the level of sugar or glucose in the blood becomes increasingly high or elevated. Glucose in the blood is an important source of energy for the body in order to perform bodily functions.

At a healthy level of body sugar, our bodies are able to function well. When this level consistently elevates or depreciates, metabolic processes are affected resulting in complications that affect the kidneys, the heart, blood vessels and nerves, and even the eyes.

A Matter Of Lifestyle

Until today, there is no known cure to diabetes, and most medical treatment of this condition depends on lifestyle modifications such as dietary support, exercise and insulin injection. Because of this, diabetes is said to be a "lifestyle" disease. The latest news however is that the South Beach diet may just be the right approach to take in countering the deleterious effects of the "Western" lifestyle.

It was cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston of Miami, Florida who started the so-called South Beach diet. It is a diet plan that emphasizes the consumption of "good carbohydrates" and "good fats." It was first developed for cardiac patients based on the scientific dieting research of Dr. Agatston.

The basic principle surrounding the South Beach diet involves the excess consumption of the so-called bad carbohydrates found in carbohydrates with high glycemic index, which creates an insulin resistance syndrome, resulting in the insulin's inability to properly process fat or sugar.

Bad Fats Versus Good Fats

Dr. Agatston also believed that consumption of "bad fats" such as saturated and trans-fats increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. In order to avoid these possible conditions, the South Beach diet reduces consumption of both bad fats and carbohydrates and encourages eating of good fats and carbohydrates.

Recent statistics show that incidence of diabetes is significantly higher in developed countries where people live a fast-paced life. This shows the connection between a lifestyle indicated by stress, consumption of processed food and the lack of healthy food, and the concentration of cases of diabetes.

While at the moment a direct cure to diabetes have yet to be discovered, treating diabetes would involve changing lifestyle patterns that aggravate the metabolic disorder. This most importantly involves altering food habits and eating patterns.

A healthy diet is an important ally in the fight against diabetes. Altering lifestyle patterns can significantly contribute towards the prevention of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. An example of such a healthy eating pattern is the South Beach diet. By reducing consumption of both bad fats and carbohydrates and encouraging intake of good fats and carbohydrates, one can lose weight and also maintain a healthy level of body glucose.

Bad Carbohydrates Too?

Like most diabetic diet plans, the South Beach diet differentiates food products into good and bad carbohydrates based on the glycemic index or the pattern, which identifies the rate when and where digested food can increase levels of glucose in the blood.

Consuming bad carbohydrates, according to the South Beach diet, causes an increase release of insulin and makes one feel hungrier, resulting in overeating and gain in body weight. Increased body weight makes a person susceptible to diabetes. From this perspective, a South Beach diet is a good way to maintain a healthy diabetic diet meal plan.

Some people, however, remain skeptical about the South Beach diet's ability to help persons with diabetes. A number of diabetic specialists believe that the glycemic index does not indicate a significant role in controlling weight. It is rather the quantity of carbohydrate intake that affects weight.

A Shift In Perspective

Like a healthy diabetic diet plan, the South Beach diet emphasizes a permanent shift in one's eating attitude, choosing from a wide range of health food and creating a meal plan with ease and flexibility. It encourages eating whole grains and vegetables together with ample amount of mono and polyunsaturated fats like omega 3 fatty acids that can be found in fish. Consumption of processed food products, meat with high fat content, and saturated fats is strongly discouraged.

John Kenneth Galbraith, a contemporary writer and author of the book The Affluent Society, wrote, "More die in the United States of too much food than of too little." Clearly, whether or not the South Beach diet significantly or directly reduces the effects of diabetes and helps control glucose within moderate levels, it evidently shows that what kind, how much, and at what time do we eat can greatly affect the risk of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. By embracing a healthy eating pattern, such as the South Beach diet, the occurrence of diabetes may just be controlled.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Learn-About-Diabetes.com. She provides more information on topics such as South Beach diet and diabetes, pregnancy diabetic diet and free diabetic diet plan that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

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2007-10-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Diabetic Weight Loss Diet for Type 2 Diabetes
By Andrew Bicknell

For many type 2 diabetics their diet has the double duty of not only controlling their blood sugar levels but also losing weight, which is an important step in reducing the risk factors for complications presented by this disease. The diabetic weight loss diet is an important part of keeping glucose levels in check by striking a balance between the carbohydrates, fats, and protein eaten at each meal.

Choosing healthy food is one of the most important parts of anyone's diet, but for the diabetic it can literally be the difference between life and death. Without proper blood sugar control the list of complications suffered by those with diabetes is quite scary. It is also important to remember that while some people can control their diabetes with diet and exercise, others who are at higher risk may also need to make food choices based on the medications they are currently taking.

For many diabetics trying to figure out the exact amount of carbohydrates they can eat can be a little frustrating. In the past everyone followed the same general guidelines but in recent years that thinking has changed. Diet plans for diabetic are now individualized and are based on each person's ability to tolerate and maintain good blood sugar control. One thing that helps individuals keep good glucose maintenance is the ability to measure blood sugar levels with personal portable blood glucose monitors that are quick and easy to use. The ultimate goal of a type 2 diabetic diet is to provide the necessary calories and nutrients needed while keeping blood glucose levels in the normal range and allowing the diabetic to lose weight.

The good news is a diabetic diet because of it very nature easily allows those who follow it the ability to lose the weight that can cause so many health problems and may be a contributor to their diabetes. The diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars while emphasizing leafy green vegetables, fruits in moderation because of their high sugar and starch content, and whole grains high in fiber. Protein from lean sources is also important, particularly those that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as can be found in certain fish like salmon. A good starting point for anyone with diabetes is the diabetic food pyramid that can be found of the American Diabetes Association website.

Type 2 diabetes is becoming a rapidly increasing epidemic with the current obesity problem that is affecting nearly every region of the world. Because of this being able to control blood glucose levels along with effective weight loss and control is vitally important for anyone who must follow a diabetic weight loss diet.

For more information about a diabetic weight loss diet please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here

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2007-10-21T06:45:00.001-07:00

Diabetes Diet And Health
By Kandpal Subhash

Diabetes is an unceasing disease associated with abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood. People with diabetes should avoid using nicotinic acid. It is an unpredictable disease which causes a high glucose level and can cause kidney failure - this develops in about 20% of all patients with diabetes. High blood sugar also called diabetes mellitus. Diabetes can occur when your body doesn't make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar controlled. This is called Type I diabetes. In overweight individuals, diabetes is often caused by insulin resistance, where insulin levels may be elevated, but the body's tissues are resistant to its effects. This is also known as Type II diabetes. Diet acts an important role in controlling the diabetes. The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with insulin doses or with oral hypoglycemic drugs. Main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight, by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels in blood. The diet plan for a diabetic is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. While planning diet, the dietician has to consider complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels. Here the patients require something which can provide all the information about the calories, sugar level that can calculate the calories and sugar level.

Effective diabetic-management requires a healthy regular lifestyle which should include-

Working towards obtaining ideal body weight

Regular balanced diet & following a diabetic diet

Regular exercise

Sensible weight control

Diabetic medication if needed

Diabetes can be controlled by the daily activities, patient should know that what, when, and how much eating will affect the blood glucose level. Following are some advices that are very beneficial for the diabetes -

Eat the same amount of food each day.

Eat at about the same times each day.

Make sure the gaps between your meals are short.

Take the medicines at the same times each day.

Exercise at the same times each day.

Drink a lot of water that will help flush the toxins off your system.

Take good sleep daily.

Every day, choose foods from these food groups: starches, vegetables, fruit, meat and meat substitutes, and milk and yogurt. How much of each depends on how many calories is need a day.

Limit the amounts of fats and sweets each day.

There are many types of equipment or calorie counter that provides the all counts which are required. But getting the best is the more important because it’s all about the health. Patients need to check nutrition information, sugar level and other things that generate the diet according to all these information.

Coheso, Inc. ( http://www.coheso.com ) makes handheld devices and diaries for diabetes management and weight loss. Track3 is a small customizable handheld carb and calorie counter that helps individuals self-manage their diabetes. Information about diabetes is at Diabetes Diet. CalorieSmart is a handheld calorie counter that helps people tailor their weight loss plan. More information about CalorieSmart can be found at http://www.coheso.com/caloriesmart-d.html

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2007-10-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Diabetic Foot Care Tips
By Russell Barron

Reducing diabetic foot complications is a struggle every diabetic must face in time. Symptoms can vary but the first sign is an elevated temperature in the foot itself. An elevated A1C is a definite predictor of complications are on there way. The higher your A1C the greater the risk as A1C is the indicator over time if your levels are high. Daily tests only indicate that day or particular time what your blood glucose level is and how to correct it. Foot lesions or ulcers can become infected easily and will need antibiotic therapy if they do.

Foot Care Tips

Inspect your feet daily or have someone do it for you. Any signs of redness, trauma, skin color change, cracking should be noted and passed on to your diabetes management team. Using a mirror on a handle or the floor will aid in inspecting all parts of the foot.
Clips your nails on a weekly basis and clip nails straight across making sure to smooth out all rough edges.
Keep your foot skin well hydrated with a good cream or petroleum jelly made for diabetic foot care.
When calluses, corns or toe nails become a problem, always consult your doctor or a podiatrist.
Always wear shoes or protective slippers on your feet. Even a simple sock will help prevent injury to the foot due to diabetes.
Insure your shoes are the right fit and if possible have custom inserts done. This may require special diabetic shoes that have more space inside and are manufactured to not have seams on the inside that may rub and cause blisters.
Always have your feet checked at your regular visit to your doctor.

Remember your feet are at risk when your a diabetic and you should be sensible. Wear shoes that are comfortable, no high heals or pointy tipped shoes for you ladies. These are common causes of pain and injury which as a diabetic you cannot afford. Pick shoes with good heel & arch support with a high dome for your toes.

Wear absorbent socks when you take part in activities that make you sweat. Staying in shape is a important factor when you have diabetes. If your in shape you will have an overall easier time managing your blood glucose levels which in turn will make you less symptomatic as a diabetic.

Being overweight is hard on your heart, back and every other part of your
body, shed those excess pounds
and get proper nutrition.
All of these tips are important ways of dealing with
diabetic foot pain.

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2007-10-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

1200 - 1600 Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan
By Adds'>http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adds_S_Barton

The basic principle behind a calorie controlled diabetic diet is of course controlling your daily calorie intake. A 1200-1600 calorie diet is based around consuming no more than those calories per day. The benefits of these diabetic diets is that they give you the opportunity to control your sugar levels in your blood stream, this in turn will give you better control over your weight and reduce any heart complaints. The 1200-1600 daily calorie diets are aimed at small women who exercise, small or medium-sized women who want to lose weight, and medium women who do not exercise much. A major factor when starting these diet plans is to make sure you are taking on a complete and balanced diet that will pack in your recommend daily nutritional intake.

The key to any calorie controlled diabetic diet is Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates is the main source of Glucose or sugar, this is also your body's main source of energy. A 1200-1600 calorie diabetic diet works on controlling your intake of fat, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

You will have to ensure you only consume the right amount of calories per day. This will mean getting an understanding on the calorie values in each food type and portions. One gram of carbohydrates equals four calories.

There is no big secret to these diabetic diet plans other than eating a healthy balanced diet. A diabetic controlled diet is all to do with maintaining a balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein that you consume in your 1200 - 1600 calorie plan. For diabetics it is advised to break your meals into 4 to 6 small snacks and meals.

6 serving of starches
2 servings of milk and yoghurt
3 servings of vegetables
2 servings of meat or meat substitute
2 servings of fruit
Up to 3 servings of fats

The above gives you a guide for portioning suggested from each food grouping. Sticking to your 1200-1600 calorie diet plan is essential because any excess calorie intake may increase your body fat.

To aid your success you could pack your foods the night before - ensuring you have your fresh foods maid already. Keep your food simple to start, just start by calorie counting and progress from there. Try eating you foods a little slower and avoid foods that have a high calorie and fat content.

Free Diet resource site http://www.womensweightloss.org -aiming to educate on diet weight loss systems.

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