According the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there are 15.7 million Americans who have diabetes. This disease is the main cause of blindness in people between the ages of twenty and seventy and is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.
If this disease is not properly managed, diabetes can cause kidney disease, hypertension, heart disease, edema, neuropathy, and infections of the mouth, feet, skin, lungs and genitalia. The skin infections do not heal properly and can even lead to amputation of extremities.
Type 2 diabetes has become the most common form of disease affecting 90-95 percent of the people who have diabetes. For people who have type II diabetes, not enough insulin is manufactured by the pancreas. Another problem is that the cells can become insulin resistant. When this happens, glucose accumulates in the blood instead of entering the cells.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops later in life; however, the disease is now becoming more common in people in their thirties and even late twenties.
The most common risk factors among those who develop this condition include diet, weight, race, age, lack of exercise and genetics. The most common ethnic groups to have type 2 diabetes are Latinos, American Indians, African-Americans, and American Asians.
The real danger of diabetes is the complications associated from inconsistent insulin levels and elevated blood glucose. One dangerous complication is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), or another dangerous condition known as hyperosmolar syndrome. DKA happens when insulin levels are so low that the body starts metabolizing stored fat to use as fuel. When the fat breaks down, a by-product is released that is known as ketones which cause the body to become too acidic.
Ketoacidosis is typically seen in those with type 1 diabetes, but can happen to those with type 2 as well. The symptoms can include nausea, sweet breath, having a hard time breathing and confusion which can lead to a coma.
Hyperosmolar syndrome is a result of elevated blood sugars accompanied with dehydration. This condition is more common in those with type 2 diabetes who also take steroid medications. Hyperosmolar syndrome can also be a result of a stress from another illness. Symptoms can include confusion, tiredness, and in the most severe cases, coma. Often, in older adults, type 2 diabetes is not discovered until the symptoms of hypersmolar syndrome are reported to a doctor.
If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you probably have a lot of questions and may even have a hard time grasping the severity and the responsibilities that come with this condition. It must now become a priority to take care of your body. If you are overweight, it is time to drop those extra pounds. You will also need to cut back on sugars, eat more fiber, and limit fours and white rice and to start a regular exercise regime.
You will also want to make an appointment with an optometrist make sure that your eyes are in good shape.
Shaun Parker is a leading podiatrist and chiropodist in London, with many years of experience in foot care. Find out more about chiropody at http://www.gotosee.co.uk/therapies/Podiatry-(Chiropody).htm
View all articles by Shaun Parker Not only do diabetics have to keep an eye on their diet, monitor their blood sugar levels and administer insulin shots, they must also ensure their feet are free from infection. With an estimated 120 million diabetics worldwide, podiatry has its work cut out treating the foot problems associated with diabetes. Foot ulcers, infections and even amputation are among the risks diabetics face from poor foot care. However, by following some simple guidelines, and regular visits to a podiatrist, diabetics can keep their feet clean, healthy and reduce the risk of disability.
People with diabetes have impaired nerve and circulatory function. Nerve damage can lead to a loss of sensation in the extremities, often the feet. An insensitivity to pain means the diabetic may not feel a blister, cut or sore on their foot. Poor circulation means that blood flow to the foot is reduced, impacting on the resistance to infection or the healing of an existing infection. An aggressive infection can potentially lead to the loss of a toe, foot or leg. Every year in the UK, nearly 5,000 diabetics need an amputation arising from a foot infection.
Half of all foot ulcers and amputations on people with diabetes could be prevented through improved foot care. Diabetics should develop a daily routine of inspection and cleaning along with periodic examination by a podiatrist. Diabetics should inspect their feet every morning and night checking for blisters, cuts and inflammation or toenail problems. It may be necessary to use a mirror to see the sole of the foot or ask someone else to take a look. Feet should be washed in warm water using a mild soap and dried carefully but thoroughly(paying particular attention to between the toes). Once dry, the feet should be moisturised. Podiatrists sell a specialist foot moisturiser that can prevent dry skin from cracking, however this shouldn’t be used between the toes as this can cause a fungal infection.
Toenails should be cut straight and across but not too short as this can lead to an ingrowing nail. Also file down any edges to prevent snagging. Socks should be clean, dry, changed daily and not be too tight around the ankle as this can restrict circulation (remember, diabetics can have poor circulation to the extremities). Before putting on shoes, diabetics should check inside and shake them out; a small stone can easily cause a cut or irritation to the foot. When at home, avoid walking around the house in bare feet; wear slippers with a hard rubber sole. Diabetics are advised to avoid walking in bare feet on any occasion as the risk of a scratch or cut is possible on any surface. Heat should never be applied to the feet with hot water bottles or heat pads. If feet get cold in bed at night, wear a clean pair of socks instead.
Even following all these guidelines, diabetics are as prone to corns and calluses as non-diabetics. However, diabetics should not use corn plasters or chemical agents to treat the problem. Regular podiatry visits will clear up any skin problems and if creams or solutions are needed the podiatrist will recommend safe products. A podiatrist can also give advice on correctional devices like orthotics that can be placed in the sole of the shoe to ease pressure on the foot and prevent blisters forming.
Awareness, common sense, cleanliness and treatment from a trained podiatry practitioner can prevent diabetics from developing foot problems that can potentially lead to disastrous consequences.
For the individual living with diabetes, there is perhaps nothing more important than living a healthy lifestyle, which includes both diet and nutrition. Diabetic cooking and proper nutrition and diet can be the determining factors in the quality of life they will have. Developing healthy eating habits can not only help a diabetic control his or her weight, but it can also play an important role in helping them control their blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and maintain healthy blood-glucose levels.
There are dozens of diets on the market today, and different approaches to diabetic cooking that claim to have benefits for a variety of groups. However for the diabetic, most experts in the field recommend a diet that is relatively high in carbohydrate intake. In fact, a typical recommended diet for a diabetic may allow for more than half of the individual’s daily calories to come from carbohydrates, while allowing less than thirty percent of the individual’s daily calories to come from fat and protein, respectively.
In terms of diabetic cooking, this means having to employ the technique of cooking and eating several small meals throughout the day, instead of a few large ones, is also recommended, as this has been shown to both help keep the body’s metabolism operating at high levels, and prevent spikes or drops in blood-glucose levels. A diabetic diet and diabetic cooking does not have to be limiting, or flavorless. Foods from every group can be a part of a diabetics’ diet, without having to compromise health or taste.
From the fruit group, diabetic cooking can include a variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, peaches, and plums. Each of these fruits provides plenty of soluble fiber, as well as added sugar for the body. Whole grain bread, as well as whole meal pasta and breakfast cereals that are high in insoluble fiber, are also beneficial to a diabetic’s diet. The minerals they supply can actually help enhance the action of insulin. Fish can literally serve as lifesavers for diabetics, especially considering the fact that fish like salmon and sardines are full of omega 3 fatty acids, which most experts agree can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Diabetic cooking should always include a little seafood. To wash down all of that healthy food, consider the old standard: water. Beverages that are herb-based are also highly recommended for diabetics. Coffee and other drinks that contain caffeine should be avoided if possible, as should alcohol. If you have to have that cold glass of milk, fill up a glass with skim milk, since it is lower in fat that the other choices. Since vegetables are rich in fiber and carbohydrates, they are certainly a welcome part of any diabetic diet. Beans and lentils are especially recommended, as are asparagus, broccoli, and cauliflower, as well as spinach, kale, tomatoes, and green beans. A good serving of cucumbers, and even a few onions and some garlic have also proven beneficial.
After going through the carbs and the fats, a diabetic now has to make choices related to protein. Lean meat and red meat, along with skinless poultry and fish, have proven to be excellent sources of protein, and important to healthy diabetic cooking. The key when eating meat is to limit the amount of fat that is consumed, since it is one of the best ways to maintain weight, and keep the body’s cholesterol levels low
All about Diabetic Cooking- to keep You Healthy And Happy! For more tips and info on diabetic cooking, visit Diabetic Cooking Secrets Get your Free e-book on GI (Glycemic Index)- See how easily you can use GI as your guide to live healthier.
This post is non-medical related. It’s just for fun.
In 1963 I had just entered my first year of high school. It was a interesting time. The Beatles had not arrived in America just yet. Hippies and the “Love Children” were spontaneously arriving to the Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco as if drawn by a nationwide bugle call that only young people could hear. Meantime, in the hood, jazz was still alive. I first heard Cannonball play in 1958. Of course I was only 10 years old at that time and the recording was on a Bay Area Black radio station late on a Saturday night. The following Sunday this station played all Negro spirituals. That night I was mesmerized. When I began to earn a little money in high school from cutting lawns, I started buying jazz LP’s.
This group consisted of Cannonball Adderley-alto sax, Nat Adderley-cornet, Yusef Lateef-tenor-sax-oboe-flute, Joe Zawinal-piano, Sam Jones-bass and Louis Hayes-drums.
Hope you enjoy!
Dee Overly is a mother and artist who discovered the health benefits of soy milk and now sells a Soymilk Maker at http://www.SoymilkCrossroads.com. Stop by and pick up your free Vegan recipe book and check out the blog.
View all articles by Dee Overly The relationship between soy foods and long-term health benefits has been the topic of many discussions among physicians and health organizations for several years now. Studies have been conducted that prove the link between high soy diets and lower heart disease, strong bone mass and cancer prevention. Now studies are being conducted regarding the relationship between a soy diet and blood glucose or sugar levels. Believe it or not, it seems soy may aid the body in this fight as well.
Soy and Diabetes Study
Recently, Iranian researchers reported to the Journal of Diabetes Care that their findings coincided with previous work. They found that soy protein had a significant impact on risk factors associated with Type-2 diabetic patients with kidney disease.
The study followed forty-one patients for a total of four years. All of the patients were Type-2 diabetics and suffered from some type of kidney disease. Twenty of the patients were given a diet of animal, plant, and soy protein, while the remainders were given a diet of just animal and plant proteins.
Results concluded that the patients who added the soy to their diets showed a lowering of blood sugar levels. Patients saw a dramatic drop in cholesterol levels and triglycerides, the number one cause of cardiovascular disease. This is great news for the 18 million Americans suffering from diabetes, because they are three
times more vulnerable to heart problems.
Another study involving diabetics and a soy diet was focused on those patients with severe kidney disease. Results concluded that soy protein seemed to improve kidney function, perhaps even better than completely avoiding all protein, which is the typical treatment.
Soy May Help in Prevention
As for those of you who are not diabetic and don’t ever want to be, soy is great for you as well. One study conducted on Chinese women found that eating a diet with large amounts of tofu, a soy product, protected them from Type-2 diabetes. Women who consumed the most soy in the study had 50% less sugar detected in their urine than the control group.
Researchers contribute the great benefit of soy to the proteins and isoflavones present in soybeans. The isoflavones stop fat tissue buildup and enhance the body’s ability to break down the fat. As a result, the blood glucose levels are lowered and the body doesn’t have to work as hard to produce insulin.
There is currently no data that suggests how much soy is needed in order to eliminate risk factors for diabetes. However, the Food and Drug Administration suggests that Americans eat a healthy 25 grams of soy protein per day in order to aid the body in disease control and in lowering risk factors, in particular, lowering cholesterol. Further studies are being conducted regarding diabetes patients and soy diets as well as soy used to lower the risk factors associated with Type-2 diabetes.
Alkalize water can Flush Toxins and Neutralize Acidity in your body. It has gone through a Special Electrolysis process that changes pH of the water to ALKALINE. For details, http://www.WaterHealstheWorld.com http://www.emfnews.org/qlinks.html
Diabetes is now one of the leading causes of death in America and according to the International Diabetes Institute; it is becoming a global epidemic. The institute predicts that by 2025, some 300 million people will suffer with diabetes. Further, the health professionals who make up the institute say by that time diabetes will be a major killer in the global community.
Findings from a recent conference show that many suffer from diabetes but do not know it. By the time they discover it, there is often skin damage as well as corrosion of tissues and organs. The effects of diabetes on the body can be reversible in many cases. Doctors will often recommend a dramatic change in diet and an increase in water intake in an effort to flush the body.
Research in Japan, Russia and other countries shows that alkaline water is a critical warrior in effectively battling diabetes. Alkaline water is hydrogen rich and therefore promotes healing. The diabetic patient will often suffer from dry skin, lack of energy and ulcers. Water restructured to increase alkaline presence serves as an anti-oxidant. When introduced as a regular part of a nutritional plan, patients remarkably respond to the treatment.
Electro-oxidized water features very unique characteristics. These characteristics:high positive oxidation, high concentration of dissolved chloride and oxygen among other things are known as alkaline water. Alkaline water has proven to be successful in the treatment of diabetes in many eastern nations. In Japan, physicals will require patients drink about 9 to 10 glasses of alkaline ionized water per day. The heavy oxygen ions in the water combat free radicals in the bodies. Once free radicals are eradicated or beat back, the human body begins to respond to the living alkaline water.
The alkaline water in essence decreases the size of molecules in the body while increasing hydration. The water (a seemingly water for life) also aids in blood circulation. Diabetes is caused by the pancreas inability to process insulin properly. Japanese medical journals say part of the breakdown in the pancreas in diabetes patients is the presence of free radicals. Alkaline water, say the journals, is a natural agent in reversing the effects of those free radicals.
Regular intake of alkaline water or alkaline ionized water, according to researchers, can reduce the need for insulin by some 50 percent. For many American patients, the concept of alkaline water in treatment for health concerns is still new and therefore not widely promoted. Yet, alkaline water as additional treatment or alternative treatment may be something you discuss in detail with your doctor.
Almost 900,000 people and their families are affected each year in the United States by strokes. Many do not survive, but for those who do, the results can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. They say knowledge is the best defense. Read on to find out five reasons you might be at high risk for stroke.
Are you overweight? Being overweight or obese significantly increases your risk for having a stroke. Get off the couch and get some exercise. Even 30 minutes per day can lead to a healthier body. Cut those extra calories, control your intake of animal fats, adopt a diet full of whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables and watch the pounds melt off, decreasing your risk. An added benefit will be that your blood pressure and blood cholesterol will go down, and you will feel better and have more energy.
A healthier diet and exercise regimen can also help to control diabetes, another stroke risk. Do you smoke? Because it causes atherosclerosis and makes the blood more likely to clot, smoking doubles your risk for having a stroke. No matter how long you have smoked or how old you are, giving up smoking can cut the risk of suffering a stroke in half.
Sure, quitting is not easy, but the effort is well worth it to improve your health. Try nicotine replacement therapy with gums, sprays, or patches, join a stop-smoking support group or read self-help books to aid you in the process. Stopping smoking is one of the most important things you can do to avoid a stroke. Are you over the age of 55? For every decade over the age of 55, your risk for stroke doubles.
While stroke is most commonly seen in the elderly, many younger people also suffer from strokes. Up until the age of 75, more men have strokes than women, but women tend to die more often from them. Use of birth control pills may contribute to this. What is your family history and heredity? If an immediate family member, such as a parent, grandparent, sister, or brother has ever suffered a stroke, you are far more likely to as well.
Due to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, African Americans are more likely to have a stroke than Caucasians. Have you had a prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)? If you have already had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, also known as “warning strokes,” you are at a higher risk of having a larger one. TIAs typically produce stroke-like symptoms only lasting a short time. If you have had temporary blurred vision, severe headache, tingling, dizziness, limited use of one side of the body, or disorientation from a TIA, you are 10 times more likely to suffer a stronger one than someone of the same age and sex who has not suffered one. Only cancer and heart disease kill more people in the U.S. each year than do strokes.
Unfortunately, more than half of all people who suffer from a stroke had no symptoms beforehand, which is why preventive screening is so important. Often held in churches, community centers, or local gyms, mobile screenings now make the process quick, easy, and convenient. At the screening, a skilled sonographer will perform an ultrasound of the carotid arteries, a procedure that is the best indicator of stroke and heart disease.
For more information on stroke, stroke risks, and preventive screening visit http://www.HealthYes.com/.
I am FoodSpook. From time to time I like to share with you what my life was like in the 1950’s. This post is non-medical. It is for fun.
In 1955 I was 7 years old. We lived in Richmond, CA in our very first home. My father and mother came to the Bay Area in the 1940’s to build warships during WWII. After the war, my father also became a preacher and my mother worked during the summer months at the Del Monte canneries.
One spring morning I awoke to the sound of hammering. It was a Saturday. It was 9:00 AM and I was surprised that my father had not awakened me to go to work with him on our side jobs. We washed cars and cut lawns. I got dressed as fast as I could and ran out of the house to find out what was happening. I asked, “daddy what are you building?”. He answered, “a pigeon coop”. Our neighbor was also there and they were building this coop together.
Being a young boy, I had my pride and I didn’t want to ask what is a pigeon coop? This little square box was about 15′ by 15′, half plywood with an enclosure and covered with chicken wire in the front. My father and neighbor finished this project the next day on Sunday afternoon. On the next day when my father arrived home from work he had a cardboard box cradled under his arm. I ran up to him on the sidewalk and asked “daddy what’s in the box?”. He opened the top flaps on the box and I was looking at 15 beautiful gray pigeons with soft rainbow translucent feathers and I almost stopped breathing!
My father also had a five pound bag of pure mid-west corn to feed the pigeons. He explained to me that one of my afterschool jobs from now on would be to keep these pigeons fed and supplied with fresh water. I agreed whole heartedly, actually I really had no choice. As months passed by, the pigeons and I learned to accept each other. I was not in love with them but I liked them as fellow captives. As for the pigeons, I seemed to be irrelevant to them.
During the wintery and rainy months when I went into the coop to feed and water the pigeons, I had to wear my school rain gear. That consisted of black knee-high rubber boots, a yellow full lenth rain slicker and yellow rain hat. This dress was necessary. The front of the pigeon coop always had at least 6 to 7 inches of pigeon poo that would turn to a slimey quicksand with the rains. I ALWAYS slipped and fell down. My mother would hose me down before letting me back into the house. My younger sisters thought this was a hoot. They couldn’t stop laughing.
In the 1950’s people ate differently in the United States. This was a time before giant supermarket chains. Fast food outlets had not taken over our appetites with fast, cheap and dangerous foods. People still believed in the past proven benefits of growing their own foods and fowl and cooking them.
My parents were no different. Once a week my dad would cook and he was a good cook. We kids would ask, “daddy this looks like chicken but the legs are too small”. My father would answer ” that’s squab, shutup, you’ll like it”. And we did. My mother would never cook this squab. We kids noticed but didn’t ask questions. We ate what was prepared for us in our own home.
A few months later my father brought home a beautiful snow-white goose. He put it in the coop with the pigeons. We kids did not know if the goose was a girl or a boy, so we arbitrarily named it “Granny”. My father was still bringing home this perfect grain corn as feed and now I was also feeding Granny, the goose. Granny had a dark side. I will refer to him as ‘he’ but I’m not sure. When I entered the coop to feed and water the birds, Granny would find a hiding place. He would wait until I bent over to pour the grain and then run from behind and peck me real hard on my butt with his beak. He would the quack like Hell as if his actions were hilarious. He did this every day.
A couple of years went by. I kept falling into the muck and Granny kept pecking. By the way, a goose can peck very hard. One day I went into the coop to do my job and Granny was sprawled out in dirt, stone dead. We informed my father when he came home from work. He told us ” well that’s too bad, I’ll cook him tomorrow”. We kids were horrified! We said “you can’t cook Granny, we won’t eat him”. My father was “old school”. You didn’t defy him. But we did. My mother said “listen to the kids. They don’t want to eat Granny”. So I buried Granny in the backyard the next day.
They say with age comes wisdom. Well now I was two years older at age 9. When I realized my father was ready and willing to cook Granny, our dear departed goose, I also realized the delicious squab we were eating once a month was none other than the very same pigeons I had been feeding and watering during the past two years. My dad was just replacing them with new pigeons. My mother was in on the jig but refused to cook the birds. That was the end of that. We kids rebelled and daddy caved.
Min Zhu, and author and mother, provides information on diabetic children. For more information, visit http://mominneed.com/health/diabetes/
View all articles by Min Zhu Despite our best efforts as parents or caregivers, children will become sick. One such illness which is becoming increasingly prevalent is pediatric diabetes. However, keeping a diabetic child healthy is dependent on being informed about the disease, its symptoms, and treatments. Caring for the child with diabetes is the responsibility of all persons who, at some time or other, has to take care of that child. As such, parents need to ensure that all care givers are informed about their diabetic child’s dietary needs.
Most children tend to have type I diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, although children are increasingly being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well. Type I diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not work and does not produce any insulin. Insulin is needed to help break down sugars (glucose) in our body to help it work efficiently. When this breakdown of sugars does not happen, as in the case of type I diabetes, the sugar stays in the blood stream.
Because insulin is important in breaking down sugars in the body to use for energy, insulin has to be taken to control the illness. Therefore type I diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. Exercise and diet are also important helping to control this type of diabetes. Caring for the child with diabetes means that you will need to recognize the signs of the illness, as well as any resulting reactions that can occur. The main signs of pediatric diabetes are:
Breath smelling like fruit
Constant hunger
Pulse beating faster than normal
Headaches
Being weak and dizzy
Difficulty concentrating
Vision becoming foggy
Skin tending to be cold and moist
Experiencing seizures
Next, you should be able to identify when the child is in crisis, suffering either a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode, and you should know what to do help in either case. Hyperglycemia occurs when the sugar levels are too high. Rising sugar levels are generally a result of eating too much, not taking the correct amount of insulin, or not exercising enough. When a child is hyperglycemic, treatment by medical professionals is needed. A child suffering from high blood sugar will complain of the following:
Weakness
Extreme thirst
Needing to urinate frequently
Not seeing clearly
Not being hungry
With hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), the symptoms vary from child to child, but some of the typical signs include:
Clumsiness
Sudden mood changes
Sweating
Hunger
Seeming confused
Trembling
Headache
Tingling feeling around the mouth
The first course of action is to increase the child’s sugar intake by giving them something sweet to drink, such as regular soda, fruit juice or glucose tablets. Once the child is feeling better, you should give them something more solid to eat. If the child is too weak to swallow or is unconscious, administer the recommended dosage of glucagon and call for immediate medical assistance. Glucagon is a medication given by injection to rapidly increase the level of glucose in the blood. It is normally the first course of treatment in severe hypoglycemia.
Diet is a major part of keeping the diabetic child healthy. The caregiver has the responsibility to ensure that the child eats what is recommended. It is also important to talk with the child and let them know that they will get really sick if they eat too many sweets or other foods that can pose a risk. It is also important to let others, such as teachers, know that a diabetic child may need to snack to boost their sugar and energy levels. The child with diabetes must also have regular meals.
Exercise is important as well, and there is no reason why the diabetic child cannot participate in all regular physical activity. Exercise helps to control blood sugar levels. However, suffering from pediatric diabetes should not exert themselves before meal time. Also, they will need to have a snack, such as juice, crackers or a fruit, handy, as they will need to replace sugar lost during physical activity.
Most importantly, children should be taught how to test their blood sugar levels during the course of the day, once they are able to do soon their own. This is important so that they can take insulin or eat something as needed.
Caring for the diabetic child, while calling for more vigilance in terms of their eating habits can be stress free once you and others taking care of the child know what to do and follow the rules. Also, make sure that emergency numbers are close at hand and that the child learns how to recognize symptoms of potential trouble and take corrective actions.
John Mackey and Michael Pollan discuss the future of food and the organic food industry at Whole Foods Market. Michael Pollan (left) is the author of “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “In Defense of Food”. John Mackey is the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Markets.
