The Truth About Diabetic Diets

Most people, when diagnosed as a type 2 diabetes are forced to deal with the overwhelm and frustration of a completely new diabetic diet. There are a few diabetic diets to choose from, and of course, each claims to be better than the others. The problem that the new diabetic faces is finding a diet that suits their lifestyle, but more importantly, still allows them to control their diabetes.

If you were to do a quick search for 'diabetic diets' through your favorite search engine, you would be able to see why do many diabetics find frustration, and rarely an effective diabetic diet. Some of the less responsible diets give misleading information on the proper foods that someone with type 2 diabetics should follow. Some of these diets include: eat more starch, eat 5 fruits and vegetables every single day, and of course, limit sweets to moderation. One diet suggested that you should eat cold cereal with skim milk for breakfast and a bagel with a teaspoon of jelly on it.

It is very important to analyze the diabetic diet before you start on it, and know whose suggestions you are choosing to follow, as some of the suggestions are not given by medical professionals. For example:

Cold Cereal - is filled with carbohydrates and can have an adverse negative effect on your blood sugar levels. You can verify this by having a bowl of cereal and testing your blood sugar levels after about two hours.

Skim Milk - also has carbohydrates in it and taking the fat out of the milk is not advisable. The fat would actually slow down the release of carbohydrate sugars form the milk in to the blood stream. It would therefore be better to have fat in the milk.

Bagels - are also loaded with carbohydrates and can greatly elevate ones blood sugar levels.

Jelly - is sugar, and combined with the carbohydrates from bagels can be disastrous for blood sugar levels.
Because of this, it is critical that all diabetes patients do the proper research before settling on a diet that is specifically designed to help them control their diabetes. There is an enormous concern in the medical community centered around recommendations that are made by self-proclaimed experts that are very misleading and may possibly cause further complications and damage to the diabetic patient.

Unfortunately, a vast majority of diet information that is available to the diabetic is drawn from the classic food pyramid. Patients with type 2 diabetes are continually finding themselves paying a lot of money for misleading information that could even cause them death. It is not surprising that type 2 diabetes is so rampant in the United States with most of its patients unable to control their diabetes

The Diabetic Diet and You

What could be the most terrifying diagnosis you could receive from your doctor? You will probably think cancer, end stage renal failure, heart disease maybe, or something else with a daunting final act where the road to recovery is difficult to impossible. What about being diagnosed with type two diabetes? For a bit of time I worked at Vitamin World, and when customers came in looking very distressed their reason was normally that they had just been diagnosed with Type Two Diabetes or were looking to pass a drug test (which is illegal to assist someone with even if you know how!).

Better blood sugar management was normally the reason they came in. My assumption was they were given a diabetic diet or something along those lines. After getting into a conversation with them, I would ask how they were treating their condition (not a disease in my opinion) and medicine was normally the only answer I would receive, there was no mention of a diabetic diet at all. Through years of research, I am not a doctor however, I am extremely interested in health topics, and I came to realize the diabetic diet would help stabilize the body's pH balance. Herbs and some mineral supplements also work wonder, however normally when in conjunction with the diabetic diet.

Medicine is something you simply should not stop taking. I was also prediabetic, however I was not going to allow myself to fall into a trap where I was dependent on medicine, especially since shots scare me and I hardly remembered to take all the supplements I was currently taking.

The first thing I read about concerning the diabetic diet during my research was the importance of will power and portion control. Portion control is important and is one of two focal points of this diet. What food choices you decide on need to be the proper ones or your new diabetic diet will not come to fruition, or it will come far slower than it should. Complex carbohydrates will comprise the majority of your plate at all meals, to be exact it will take up half of the room on your plate. Some examples of complex carbohydrates are green leafy vegetables, carrots, flowery plants such as broccoli and cauliflower, and various peppers. The other portion of your plate will be cut in half creating a ratio of 25% and 25% for the other half, while as previously mentioned the first half is 50%. One of the quarter portions will be a starchy food choice or choices such as potatoes or rice, even cereal! The remaining quarter of your plate will have a protein such as meat or a meat substitute such as lean meat or fish. For breakfast, I would go with yogurt or cottage cheese. The biggest and most important difference between simple and complex carbohydrates is how rapidly the body breaks them down. A simple carbohydrate breaks down rapidly, which is normally why those suffering from low blood sugar are encouraged to drink a cup of juice to temporarily spike your blood sugar. Complex carbohydrates release sugar at a slower rate and take longer to be broken down and metabolized by our bodies, which is the simplest answer toward why they are called complex. The diabetic diet requires a mix of all the above at each meal.

The properties of your food are also extremely important. There are numerous minerals in vegetables and fruits that diabetics and prediabetics are found to have deficient levels. Between my studies and my experience at Vitamin World, Chromium is the most popular choice. Chromium is a powerful mineral that helps the body to break down fats and carbohydrates when metabolizing foods. Numerous studies have found that those with type two diabetes are deficient in various minerals and chromium is commonly one of those found that have deficient levels present in the body. Another mineral that is normally deficient in studies on diabetics is magnesium. Magnesium is a powerful player in over 300 biochemical reactions and functions in the body. Fasting can really mess up blood glucose levels in the body, magnesium helps lower these levels dramatically. Cinnamon's effect on blood sugar is starting to really become noticed. This is recommended by numerous medical professionals now as a food to help stabilize blood sugar. Cinnamon has been shown to be relatively safe when taken in conjunction with oral diabetic medicines. The more popular sources of naturally treating blood sugar problems, aside from minerals, are two herbs. Gymnema and North American ginseng have been used in many Asian cultures as medical treatments for thousands of years. Remember, I am not by any mean or method recommending you "take measures into your own hands" by stopping your current diabetic treatments. Your doctor will not deny you permission to start the diabetic diet, but you really need to let them know what you are considering! Don't forget to mention to your health care practitioner about the possibility of adding natural supplements to your new diabetic diet.

Does Diabetes Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

There are many things that cause erectile dysfunction, and yes, diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction. What exactly is erectile dysfunction? Commonly known as ED, it's a health issue that affects more than 50 million men.

Erectile dysfunction or impotence occurs through psychological and physical complications. When this occurs, the male can't sustain or develop an erection during sexual intercourse. Health complications such as: Kidney disease, Diabetes, Prostate cancer and substance abuse can cause impotence.

According to health officials, as many as 75% of men who's been diagnosed with diabetes, suffers from erectile dysfunction. Diabetes produces artery and nerve damage. These diabetes complications are known to cause ED in men, and men with diabetes have an increased risk of developing ED

How do you know if it's psychological or physical? Many doctors will analyze sleep patterns. If you have erections during the night, while sleeping -- it's most likely psychological. If ED complications is physical, it's hard obtaining an erection during sleep or consciousness.

Thee good news is, it's treatable through treatments, and is also preventable. If you have erectile dysfunction caused by diabetes, do more to manage your diabetes. Often times, simple lifestyle changes will help remedy this sexual health issue.

One of the most important factors in managing or preventing diabetes is to keep a healthy weight. Overweight individuals are at an increasingly higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a host of other health related problems.

Control your weight through diet and exercise. Not only will exercise help you lose weight, but it improves the body's circulation, and help fight impotence.

Alcohol and tobacco use is also considered to have an adverse effect on diabetics. None of us should use tobacco, and especially those who's been diagnosed with diabetes. Alcohol, in moderation, isn't too damaging, but should be avoided in most cases.

If you experience erectile related problems, you should consult your physician as soon as possible. These are early warning signs of diabetes, and if diabetes causes erectile dysfunction, follow a treatment plan that can help reverse the diabetes.

You don't have to live with ED or diabetes. If you make the lifestyle changes, and follow a simple -- healthy diet that includes plenty of whole grains and fruits and vegetables, you can avoid getting diabetes, and other health related problems.

You now know that diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction, and how to prevent it. If you're at a healthy weight, and still experience these problems, it could be more than just diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes - Catch Some Sleep to Stop Sky-High Blood Sugars!

You may think that dreaming about low blood sugars is just that - a dream. But according to new research, your nightly slumber may have more to do with Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance than you think. A study out of Sydney University found that staying up into the wee hours of the night significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers have known for years that obese people were more likely to sleep 8 or fewer hours per night. Interestingly, some research studies have found that a single night of poor sleep was enough to cause insulin resistance, even in healthy folks. And if you have diabetes, poor sleep can wreak havoc on your metabolism - making blood sugar management a nightmare.

Poor sleep also influences your appetite throughout the day, making you not just hungrier but also setting your cross hair on calorie-rich, sugary foods. Even worse, poor sleep can cause a vicious cycle of weight gain, sleep apnea, and insulin resistance.

Sleep apnea - a breathing disorder that interferes with deep sleep - is a serious health condition that affects 12 million adults in the US alone. The primary risk factor for sleep apnea is obesity. Obesity makes sleep apnea worse, which further worsens sleep and so on. Many Type 2 diabetics find themselves unknowingly riding inside of this vicious cycle, which can make healthy dieting and blood sugar management nearly impossible.

Here's how to use sleep to help your blood sugar levels:

Get Checked: It's impossible to diagnose and treat sleep apnea on your own. Seek the help of a medical professional to get the treatment you may need. If you have a BMI greater than 30, undergoing a test for sleep apnea is a wise idea.

Get Enough: Sleep apnea or no sleep apnea, you need to get enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Getting enough sleep helps you feel more energetic and less hungry the next day.

Get Tired: If you're having issues getting to sleep at night, take note of your "sleep hygiene". Are your pre-bed habits keeping you awake at night? Typical pre-sleep "no-no's" include watching TV, surfing the web and using your cell phone. These habits stimulate the mind, making it harder to unwind. Instead, try a relaxing activity like reading a fiction novel before bed.

Also take note of the light situation before you slip into bed. Avoid staring at screens or going into rooms with bright lights. Dimming your lights before hitting the hay releases melatonin in your brain, making you sleepy.

My Life With Diabetes.

I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic at the age of 2. I am now 33 at the time of print. Life has been a challenge and I wanted to give all you readers an insight into my life. It's also good to vent sometimes.

Growing up with type 1 diabetes was a challenge. I remember learning to inject myself at the age of 5 practising on my teddy bear (hope he didn't mind!) before taking the plunge with my own leg. At school break time I would sit in the classroom eating my 2 digestives before I was allowed out to play. This may be why I can't stand them now. As I got older, secondary school was much easier. I only told my friends and teachers about my diabetes. i wasn't embarrassed but saw no reason to share with the rest of the school. If you are reading this and are a diabetic, you will probably agree that having type 1 or type 2 diabetes really doesn't have to affect your normal everyday living.

As I got older and discovered adult things i.e. drinking, woman and parties, I found that I would often have very high blood sugar levels and my control went a little wayward. I do believe that this may have helped towards my problems.

Approximately 6 years ago I had huge problems with extra sensitive legs and my back was always in agony. I was seeing a chiropractor, who, despite charging me a fortune and telling me my back was full of knots made no difference at all. After a trip to my diabetic doctor, I discovered that I had nerve damage due to my previous lack of control. I have since got my levels back to a fantastic average and have not had any problems since.

That sadly is not the end of my story. About 2 years ago I woke up one morning with a black line across my vision in 1 eye. After a trip to the emergency eye doctor I discovered that I had damaged my eyes. They believe that the main cause was a biking accident when I was 18. This was not a motorbike but a push bike accident after a pub crawl (we thought we could get round them quicker!) I have since had 5 lots of laser treatment and also eye surgery. I am registered partially sighted and am just hoping that I won't lose all my sight.

Diabetes survival is key and with the amazing progress that is happening, you never know but there may be a cure!

Type 2 Diabetes - Gestational Diabetes: How Can It Affect Your Baby?

Gestational diabetes is a term used to describe a newly diagnosed case of diabetes during pregnancy. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, approximately two to ten percent of pregnant women are diagnosed with this form of diabetes each year. With treatment, gestational diabetes usually resolves after the birth of the baby but after pregnancy, roughly five to ten percent of these women are confirmed to have developed Type 2 diabetes.

Being overweight is a risk factor. Because of the obesity epidemic, gestational diabetes is on the rise: it usually begins in the second trimester and is associated with pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

If you are one of these women, you might be interested to know how this metabolic problem can affect your baby:

1. Gestational diabetes may result in the delivery of a large baby. The most common complication of gestational diabetes is the delivery of a baby weighing more than nine pounds. Larger babies are more difficult to deliver; labor induced one or two weeks before the due date or a planned cesarean section may be suggested. Provided blood sugar levels are kept within normal levels (insulin may be needed to achieve this), the baby will be a normal weight.

2. Hypoglycemia. Infants delivered by diabetic mothers usually develop hypoglycemia or decreased blood sugar, a few hours after delivery. Hypoglycemia in newborns results from the increased insulin secretion by the infant's pancreas in response to its exposure to elevated blood sugar level in utero. According to the Mayoclinic.com, severe hypoglycemia may cause seizure episodes in newborn babies. To prevent this from happening, prompt feeding and, sometimes, intravenous glucose supplementation is necessary to correct the blood sugar level of the baby.

3. Breathing problems. As mentioned on Mayoclinic.com, preterm babies born to diabetic mothers have a greater risk of developing breathing problems, medically known as respiratory distress syndrome, compared to those delivered by mothers without gestational diabetes. Babies with respiratory distress syndrome usually need to be attached to a respirator and receive assisted mechanical breathing until their lungs become healthy and strong enough to inhale and exhale on their own.

4. Develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies delivered by diabetic mothers are at a greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those delivered by non-diabetic mothers according to information on Mayoclinic.com. To prevent this from happening, strict blood sugar control is necessary to prevent the baby from being exposed to constant high blood sugar whilst in utero.

5. Congenital anomalies. According to the SOGC Clinical Practical Guideline published in November 2007, high maternal blood sugar levels are the major cause of congenital anomalies and abnormalities in babies delivered by diabetic mothers. The risk for congenital malformation in these babies is four to ten percent, which is two to three times higher compared to the general population. The most commonly affected organ systems are the cardiovascular system and the nervous system. The babies face and extremities may also be affected.

Diabetic women should have a planned pregnancy to avoid these complications. All women trying for a baby, no matter what their state of health need to be careful about their diet in the weeks before conception.

Type 2 Diabetes - Management of Diabetes in Children

The management of Type 2 diabetes in children is almost the same as for adults, only with a few modifications. If your child is newly diagnosed, you may be wondering about the various treatment options and management for this kind of health problem.

Here is a helping hand with four important points:

1. Routine blood sugar monitoring: This is one of the most important managements for childhood diabetes. Depending on what type of anti-diabetic medication or management your child is currently receiving, his or her blood sugar may be monitored as frequently as three times a day, or as seldom as once a day, or maybe once each week. Regular testing of your child's blood sugar is the only way to determine whether he/she has good control and is responding well to the prescribed medications.

But even if your child has regular blood sugar monitoring and is following a rigid eating schedule, the blood sugar can sometimes be uncontrolled without warning. As well as food intake, illnesses, stress, physical activity and exercise, and medications can affect your child's blood sugar control.

2. Eating healthy foods: For better control of Type 2 diabetes, encourage your child to eat healthy foods at home. Have the proper foods and beverages available. It's hard to drink sugar-free beverages when there is only sugary cola in the house. Healthy foods include vegetables, fruits and whole grains. A high fiber diet can help improve blood sugar levels as well as helping to keep weight normal.

Fast food restaurants have changed what we eat and how much we eat, as well as where we eat. Soda has replaced milk; ketchup and fries have replaced fruits and vegetables. Fast foods typically contain more saturated fat, more sugar or other sweeteners, and more salt than food prepared at home. Extra fat and sugar pile on the calories/kilograms.

3. Regular physical activity: Encourage your child to have his own physical activity/exercise routine. Regular exercise can improve the way his/her body utilizes sugar. And it can also help him/her decrease insulin resistance, the main pathophysiology for childhood Type 2 diabetes. However, remember physical activity may decrease your child's blood sugar level (BSL) also. Therefore, it is important to check his/her blood sugar before doing any type of exercise. And if the BSL happens to be a little on the low side, give a snack before your son/daughter engages in any exercise routine or play.

4. Medications: Prescribing medicine for Type 2 diabetes is an imperfect science that often involves trial and error. Many children can control their Type 2 diabetes with exercise and diet alone; some children may need special medications. According to Mayoclinic.com, metformin is the only oral anti-diabetic medication approved for the pediatric population. Metformin makes the cells more sensitive to insulin and also inhibits the release of stored glucose from the liver. If blood sugar is on target and there are no side effects, the medication regimen is a success.

Insulin administration via injection or pump, is another medication option for children with Type 2 diabetes.The decision about the best treatment option depends on your child's preference, his or her blood sugar level and the existence of other health problems and complications.

Type 2 Diabetes - Treating Diabetes Naturally With These Foods

Wouldn't it be great if you could toss out all of the gluttony of Type 2 diabetes diet advice out there and just focus on a few basic points? By and large, the effects of most steps to preventing or treating diabetes naturally pales in comparison to the basics: eat lots of produce, cut calories and limit your intake of sugar and refined grains.

However, there are a few diet gems that can complement your healthy lifestyle efforts. Include these and you can pretty much ignore everything else out there:

Green Leafy Vegetables: Your mom may have always told you to "eat your veggies", but she probably didn't tell you what kind. While almost any vegetable is bursting with diabetes fighting nutrients like fiber and antioxidants, green leafy veggies stand at the head of the pack.

Just two servings per day slashes the Type 2 diabetes risk by more than 10 percent, the British Medical Journal reports. Healthy green leafy vegetables include romaine lettuce, kale and spinach.

Brown Rice: Brown rice may seem like a new-age health food to many diabetics brought up on white rice. Regardless, brown rice contains significantly more protein, fiber, and antioxidants than its pale counterpart. Harvard University researchers recently found that brown rice consumers had lower diabetes risk than people who ate predominantly white rice.

Other diabetes-fighting whole grains include barley, quinoa and millet.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon has been mired in controversy over its effect to blunt the rise in blood sugars. First it was hailed as a diabetes miracle. Then it was called a giant farce.

However, a new research study conducted by University of London scientists has found that cinnamon helps blood sugar over the long-term. They discovered Type 2 diabetics who ate cinnamon had lower HbA1c levels - a crucial indicator of how well blood sugar is managed.

Try adding cinnamon over your morning oatmeal, sprinkled on fruit or taken as a supplement.

Green Tea: If you're looking for cell shielding antioxidants, look no further than a cup of hot green tea. The unique antioxidant in green tea, known as EGCG, has dozens of head to toe benefits. For diabetics who drink green tea daily, you can expect a reduction in blood sugar levels and heart disease risk.

To get the benefits of green tea, be sure to drink at least 6 cups per day.

Cashews: When it comes to healthy snacking, it's hard to top a few handfuls of delicious cashews. In addition to the fiber and magnesium they provide, cashews may have particular benefits in boosting insulin sensitivity, according to University of Montreal researchers. When choosing cashews, be sure to avoid those with added sugar or fat, as these negate cashew's health benefits.

To discover answers to question you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link...www.diabetesnomore.com