Diabetes type 2 is an increasingly common problem in Western Societies.
So much so, that it is estimated that 1 in 4 people in adulthood will have diabetes or prediabetes.
This is a huge proportion of people.
Yet it’s a problem that can be modified or reversed altogether with lifestyle changes.
Even if it can’t be completely reversed, lifestyle changes can make a significant improvement and will compliment medications well.
But the fact that prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (non insulin dependent diabetes) can sometimes be reversed has spurred many people to make healthy lifestyle changes and avoid the need for medications, and the health problems associated with these conditions being out of control.
So let’s have a look at the top tips for lifestyle changes to help with the treatment of diabetes type 2.
Here they are:
1. Having low GI instead of high GI foods.
This is helpful for preventing as well as treating type 2 diabetes.
There are studies now showing that consumption of a high GI drink (the study looked at soft drinks in particular) everyday increases the likelihod of developing diabetes.
In terms of treatment, low GI foods don’t spike the blood glucose levels as much as high GI foods,
For example, take leafy green vegetables instead of potatoes, have sourdough or multigrain bread instead of white bread, and have whole fruits instead of fruit juices.
2. Have lean sources of protein, not sources of protein that contain high fat.
Learn protein sources include natural yogurt, chicken (skin off), fish, tofu, and eggs.
Lean proteins are great as they give you the protein requirements without excess fat, and they also lower the GI values of foods as they slow absorption of carbs.
2. Regular aerobic exercise such as walking.
Before starting to exercise, check with your doctor in case you need to do tests to ensure that you’re safe to exercise.
Exercise helps to reduces blood sugar levels, inmproves sensitivity to insulin (so helps the cause of type 2 diabetes), reduces cholesterol levels, decreases blood pressure, and reduces stress.
In fact some studies show that exercise was as good or better than medications in treating prediabetes.
3. Weight loss.
By doing the above, you will achieve weight loss in a healthy way.
One more handy tip.
Rememebr to avoid having one or two big meals a day.
Many people do this to try to lose weight but it does the opposite. It slows your metabolism greatly and will stop you from losing weight.
Instead, have 3-5 small meals a day.
This will maintain an even blood sugar, as well as keeping your metabolism high, both very important when you want to lose weight and reverse diabetes type 2.
So there you have it.
Thes tips will help you with both weight control as well as treating diabetes naturally.
Because your blood glucose levels will be more even, you’ll feel better mentally as well. An added bonus so many people don’t realise until they experience it, and never want to go back!
So enjoy these tips and if you know of anyone else with diabetes and will benefit from these tips, why not let them know about this article?
By: Matt Hamburg
Treating Type 2 Diabetes With Lifestyle Changes
March 7th, 2010 by admin No comments »Diabetic Meal Planning Is A Must For All Diabetes Sufferers!
March 4th, 2010 by admin No comments »
Healthy eating through diabetic meal planning is an important aspect of diabetes management. In most cases, your doctor is likely to recommend a dietitian or a diabetes educator to help you with your diabetic meal planning. A meal plan will be developed according to your specific needs such as the kinds of foods that you enjoy and current lifestyle. In addition, your meal plan will also focus on controlling calories to help you lose excess weight if you are facing obesity issues.
When you have type 2 diabetes, the type and amount of food you eat and when you eat affects your blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels go up after eating. You should try to eat about the same amount of food at about the same time each day to keep you blood glucose near normal levels. If you eat a big dinner one day and a small dinner the next, your blood glucose levels may fluctuate too much.
You should note that there is no single diabetes diet that is right for everyone. However, there are a few points that you should remember during your diabetic meal planning. Firstly, carbohydrates are especially important because they have the largest influence on blood glucose. You should eat about the same amount of carbohydrate-rich foods at about the same time each day. For instance, you can consume foods such as fruits, milk, starches (whole-grain bread, cereal or rice) and starchy vegetables (corn or potatoes) during your meal times. In addition, ensure that your starches come from whole grains because they contain fiber and many other nutrients and are digested and absorbed by the body more slowly than refined starches. This can help to maintain a steady glucose level in your body.
Another important aspect of diabetic meal planning involves the appropriate ratio of total calories to nutrients such as proteins and healthy fats. Depending on you circumstances, your dietitian may recommend slightly different percentages for you. The typical recommendations for the ratio of total calories to nutrients are as follows:
1. 45 to 65 percent consisting of carbohydrates
2. 12 to 20 percent consisting of proteins
3. 10 to 30 percent consisting of fats
In addition, you should limit your intake of foods that are high in cholesterol, such as egg yolks. Avoid high-fat foods and sweets because they provide a lot of calories but few nutrients. Keeping track of your calories intake can help you keep your blood sugar at as steady level and help you make adjustments for reaching weight goals.
By following the above guidelines, you should be able to easily develop an appropriate meal program to control your glucose level. Most important of all, you really have to diligently follow the plan for effective results to be seen from diabetic meal planning!
By: Sky Joe
Defying The Death Symptoms Of Diabetes
March 3rd, 2010 by admin No comments »
There is the threat of lapsing into a coma because of low levels of glucose. Maybe you have forgotten and taken too much insulin and experienced the same results It is great that a little sip of orange juice or a small piece of candy will bring you back around in a lot of cases. Day in and day out you labor with diabetes,giving yourself insulin or the not so laborious route of taking pills. You say to yourself…I am tired of this. But you realize you have to do this to live. Suddenly you think….There must be a better way.
If you are one of the lucky ones,your mind settles on supplements. You realize there has to be more,something better,a way to deny the symptoms of diabetes the free reign to tear down your body,to shut down your kidneys,to cause you to have to deal with diabetic nerve damage. You decide within yourself…I am going to fight,deny and defy this sickness the control of my being. I refuse to give in or up.
Now you are interested in knowing all there is to know about diabetes. You find out that it is a failure by your body to metabolize fat. A failure of the pancreas to produce adequate amounts of insulin,a failure of your body to use the insulin produced. But you are determined not to allow one last failure. You will not fail in fighting this illness. You prefer the supplements route. You determine to give your body what it needs to function properly without so much outside assistance from insulin.
Medical supervision is necessary and you inform your doctor of your intentions.Because diabetes can be insulin dependent or not insulin dependent,you carefully map out a plan of attack. You change your lifestyle,and take supplements that contribute to sugar control and prevention or management of diabetic complications.
You start to take vitamins….C,E,Bilberry,,magnesium,along with about six other supplements daily. Shortly you notice a difference. You do not feel the same,you do not take as much insulin,your doctor suggests reducing insulin intake,finally you realize,though the war is not over yet,because you have a few battles left. But finally victory is attainable. You feel like moving forward.
Sometimes defiance in the face of sickness,nets us satisfaction…A goal can be reached if you believe it can,and strive toward the desired effect.
By: Ollie Rush