Advanced Affordable Diabetic Supplies At Affordable Price
By: Jack Authors
Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose. Absence or insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in America, with nearly 26 million Americans living with it and even more being diagnosed every single day.
There are three main types of diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Advanced Affordable Diabetic is a website providing tools and equipments like Diabetes Tester, glucose monitoring packages, lancets etc to diabetic patients at affordable rates. Diabetic Meter is given at free (Free Diabetic Meter) of cost, if any one can take a specific package. The work of Diabetes Testing Supplies has become easy through this website.
For those who have diabetes, it can be incredibly hard on their budgets to pay for all of the various supplies that they need. Diabetics need to make sure that they are doing as much research as possible to find diabetes supplies at the lowest prices possible. Advanced Affordable Diabetics offers diabetic supplies at an affordable price of $19.95. Most of the diabetic population is already using similar diabetic supplies and glucose meters to monitor their daily glucose levels in an effort to prevent the many adverse effects the disease can cause if not properly monitored. The average drugstore name brand price for a box of 50 reagent strips is between $50.00 and $60.00. What sets Advanced Affordable Diabetics apart is pricing, quality and service.
Simply stated, once someone begin using our glucose meters and diabetic supplies, they will purchase the reagent strips from us at the affordable price of $19.95 for a box of 50 strips, while saving in the process as much as 50 to 60% off the drugstore price for similar products, along with the convenience of FREE shipping. Advanced Affordable Diabetics can help individuals suffering with this silent killer disease, by offering affordable glucose meters and diabetic supplies to monitor themselves better and more frequently, thus preventing further complications.
Our mission at Advanced Affordable Diabetics is to provide affordable diabetic supplies for the uninsured (Diabetic Supplies for Uninsured) or underinsured! In many cases the co-payment of insured individuals are higher than what we charge for our diabetic supplies, glucose meters and reagent strips. Glucose meters provide diabetics with the most powerful tool they have for monitoring their glucose levels at anytime, anywhere to avoid the complications of dangerous levels.
Our goal is to provide diabetic supplies for the uninsured at affordable prices within everyone’s reach and encourage proper testing among the diabetic population. Diabetics can now obtain quality glucose meters and diabetic supplies at affordable prices!
About the Author:
Advanced Affordable Diabetic is a website providing tools and equipment like Diabetes Tester, glucose monitoring packages, lancets etc. to diabetic patients at affordable rates. Those who have insurance do not cover very much and those who have no insurance (Diabetes No Insurance) will end up spending thousands and thousands of dollars per year to manage their disease.
Source: Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com
TEDxSanAntonio – Robert Trevino – Preventing Diabetes Targeting High Risk Children
Uploaded by TEDxTalks on Dec 27, 2010 to YouTube
Speaker: Robert Treviño, M.D.
Title of talk: Preventing Diabetes: Targeting High-Risk Children Living in Poverty
About this talk: Did you know that infant taste buds can be influenced during gestation by the diet of the mother? As a result, children can be programmed to like healthy foods, like broccoli, before they’re even born. Dr. Treviño cites this fact and others to prove that conquering diabetes doesn’t have to be about expensive drugs, but about simple, teachable everyday habits.
About Robert Treviño: A primary care physician, Treviño works in the poor and underserved areas of San Antonio. He is the director of the Social and Health Research Center and the founder of Bienestar — a program which combats early-age obesity and type 2 diabetes using school-based, preventative health programs.
For more information on Treviño: http://www.sahrc.org
How Is Diabetes Treated in Children?
A teenager tests his blood sugar with a glucose meter. Keeping blood sugar close to the normal range can help prevent the complications of diabetes.
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Is your child packing on the pounds?
Becoming a couch potato?
Then he or she may be at risk for getting type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes once occurred mainly in adults who are overweight and over 40, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Today, it is increasingly diagnosed in youths age 10 to 19.
Why is this happening?
Because just like adults, kids are heavier now. An estimated 1 in 6 children and teens is obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Along with a family history of diabetes, being overweight and inactive are the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes, says Ilan Irony, M.D., an endocrinologist at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The two main types of diabetes—type 1 and type 2—are treatable, says Irony. “In addition to changes in diet and a healthier lifestyle, treatments can help control blood sugar and prevent or delay long-term complications of diabetes.”
FDA-approved treatments for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are all about keeping the blood sugar (glucose) levels in a normal range.
But there is no one treatment that works for everybody, says Irony. And treatments may need to be changed if side effects of a particular medication are not tolerated. Also, additional medications may need to be added as diabetes gets worse over time.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children starting at age 12 or 13, says Irony. “In children, the disease tends to get worse in puberty when the body produces hormones that make insulin less effective,” he says. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
“The first line of treatment is a healthy diet and other lifestyle changes,” says Irony. “If a child is overweight or obese, losing weight and increasing physical activity can help lower blood sugar.”
Ask the pediatrician if your child is a healthy weight or needs to lose weight. And children and adolescents should do at least one hour of physical activity each day, according to the federal government’s 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Type 2 diabetes may be controlled with diet and exercise for a while—sometimes years—says Irony. “But the disease is progressive and medication will be needed later in the majority of patients.”
FDA has approved one glucose-lowering medication—metformin—in pill and liquid form for children. Metformin, used daily, increases the body’s sensitivity to its own insulin so it becomes more active and pushes glucose into the cells. The most common side effects of metformin—upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea—generally go away within a few weeks.
In rare cases, metformin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal side effect called lactic acidosis—a buildup of lactic acid in the blood. This rare condition has occurred mostly in people whose kidneys were not working normally.
FDA has recently approved a number of different drugs for diabetes in adults that are currently being studied for use in children, Irony says.
Injectable insulins—which move glucose from the blood to the body’s cells—are approved for children with diabetes. If the drug metformin alone doesn’t bring the blood sugar down to normal, insulin can be injected and help achieve better control.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes accounts for almost all diabetes in children younger than 10, and it is also on the rise in U.S. children and adolescents. Formerly called juvenile diabetes, type 1 occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-making cells in the pancreas. Researchers are still investigating the causes of diabetes.
For children with type 1 diabetes, multiple injections of insulin are needed every day to keep the blood sugar in check.
“Treatment is individualized to the child and the spikes of high or low blood sugar need to be minimized,” says Irony. It’s a balancing act to lower the blood sugar but not get it too low, which could make the child feel shaky or pass out, he adds.
Diabetes Devices
Children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, like adults, must test their blood sugar multiple times a day. FDA regulates medical devices, including portable meters and monitors, used to check blood sugar levels. The agency also regulates devices such as syringes, pens, and pumps used to inject insulin.
Syringes and pens are used manually to inject insulin. Pumps are computerized devices programmed to deliver a continuous flow of insulin, even while you sleep. FDA has approved more than 55 different insulin pumps. A pump system generally consists of
- a pumping mechanism that holds batteries and a cartridge filled with insulin. The pump, which is similar in size to a pager, is worn outside the body on a belt or in a pocket.
- a tube (catheter) that carries insulin from the pump to another tube (cannula) implanted just under the skin, typically in the belly or back.
Pump technology continues to evolve, says Alan Stevens, a mechanical engineer and FDA’s infusion pump team leader. A newer type is the “patch” pump, he says, in which the tubing is contained within a pump directly attached to the body with adhesive. A small, hand-held computer similar to a PDA, which directs the pump, can be carried in a purse or pocket.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs because of defects in the body’s ability to produce or use insulin—a hormone needed to convert food into energy. Insulin is made in the pancreas and is released into the blood to control glucose (sugar) levels and the amount of glucose transported into cells as an energy source. If the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, or if the cells do not respond appropriately to insulin, glucose can’t get into the cells and instead stays in the blood and is passed in the urine. The blood sugar level then gets too high.
High blood sugar can, over time, lead to devastating health problems, including
- heart attack
- stroke
- kidney disease
- nerve damage
- loss of toes or feet
- digestive problems
- blindness
- gum problems and loss of teeth
This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Oct. 24, 2011
Source:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993
Ph. 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)
Email FDA
Is Diabetes Reversible?
By: Dr. Marc Ott
First, lets draw the line between reversible and curable. Diabetes Mellitus is a reversible disease, but it is not curable. Diabetes is a medical condition of elevated blood sugar causing different signs and symptoms affecting the cardiovascular system, kidneys, nerves, liver, and other important organs of the body. It becomes reversible when a person is known to be at risk of acquiring the disease but then does not end up having the disease because he was able to manage his risk factors.
If you have been identified to have a family history of diabetes, obese, from Hispanic descent, a woman, and other risk factors for diabetes, you still can reverse diabetes.
Below are some key points to consider if you believe you have or at risk of having type 2 diabetes:
- Have regular blood sugar tests. Normal blood sugar is 70-80 mg/dl before meals and below 120 mg/dl one or two hours after a meal. There are different tests to measure blood sugar levels, but the most definitive test for diabetes is the hemoglobin A1C Test.
- Regularly consume a healthy diet. A diet low in carbohydrates is commonly prescribed for patients with high risk for diabetes. The logic is pretty simple, carbohydrates is broken down into glucose or sugar. High risk individuals should eat more of green leafy vegetables, poultry meat rather than red meat, fish, and high fiber breads.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise helps in utilizing sugar in the body and prevents them from accumulating in the blood. It also helps in stimulating insulin sensitivity so the cells can effectively use sugar for energy production.
- Lose Weight. If your weight is above normal, its time to shed some pounds. Engage yourself in a weight management program.
- Avoid unhealthy habits. Alcoholism, smoking, and drugs can aggravate your risk factor for diabetes. These unhealthy habits will help in acquiring diabetes faster.
If you are constantly watching out for your blood sugar levels and doing everything to keep it within normal ranges, you wont have any problem on reversing diabetes. Risk factors just mean that you have more chances of having the disease. It doesn’t mean that you already have the disease, and you still can do something about it.
So when does diabetes become irreversible? When you start to feel any of the signs and symptoms of diabetes like increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, weakness, fatigue, numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet, blurring of vision, and skin dryness, that’s the time.
Remember that diabetes is an incurable disease. So, don’t wait for diabetes to become irreversible. Reverse it when you still can.
About the Author:
For more information on how to effectively manage diabetes the natural way starting today, visit www.myiho.com/orlandodiabetesproject. Dr. Marc Ott, DC offers effective solutions to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Visit Integrated Health of Orlando
Source: Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com
What’s the Best Exercise For Type 2 Diabetics?
Uploaded by YourUpdate on Sep 25, 2007 to YouTube
VA new randomized control trial found that both aerobic exercise—such as jogging, cycling or walking—and resistance exercise—such as weight lifting—improved glycemic/blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the best results were received when patients combined the workouts.
Each participant in the study, published in the journal, "Annals of Internal Medicine," was evaluated on the changes in A1c value, a number that reflects blood sugar concentrations. A drop of 1 percent in this value is associated with a 15 to 20 percent drop in risk of heart attack or stroke and a 25-40 percent drop for risk of diabetes related eye disease or kidney disease.
Normal Blood Glucose Levels, Range, Chart and Reading to Know
By Elvira Filinovich | December 26th 2010
When glucose levels rise in blood, a person is said to suffer from the disease called diabetes or diabetes mellitus. Diabetes has now become a very common disease. To keep pace with the fast flowing life, people have adopted sedentary lifestyle, inactivity, faulty food habits, and this has caused almost every house to have a patient of diabetes.
Normally the carbohydrates we consume take the form of glucose. The hormone, insulin secreted by our pancreas breaks down the glucose, makes it absorbable by the body cells, and in the process converts it in to energy. When pancreas produces insufficient insulin or when body cells become insulin resistant, glucose collects in blood, leading to diabetes.
Diabetes can be kept under check, and the patient can lead a hale and hearty life. But if not timely diagnosed, it can be fatal causing serious damage to kidneys, liver, heart, eyes and even the nervous system.
Types of Diabetes
Diabetes is mainly of three types – Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. Type 1 diabetes is caused due to insufficient insulin production. The patient in this case, has to take insulin injections. Type 2 is caused due to cells growing non-reactive to insulin and Gestational diabetes occurs in women during pregnancy.
Symptoms of Diabetes
1. Increased urination
2. Increased hunger
3. Increased thirst
4. Loss of weight
5. Fatigue
6. Irritability
7. Nausea and vomiting
8. Blurred vision
9. Passing of acidic urine with a sweet smell
10. Poor wound healing
11. Intense itching around genitals
Normal Blood Glucose Readings, Range and Chart
Normal blood glucose readings indicate the amount of glucose that should normally be present in the blood stream. Normal blood glucose should range between 70 to 150 mg. Levels are lower in the morning, when the body is on fast and rise after the meals. Actually glucose level readings depend on factors like the amount of food consumed, whether one has done exercise or not before the blood test and so on. If glucose levels are consistently above 150 mg, the condition is known as hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, and the person is said to be diabetic. If the readings are below 70 mg, the condition is known as hypoglycemia. Normal blood glucose readings and range depend on how the blood glucose has been tested. Testing of blood glucose can be done through the following ways.
1. Fasting blood glucose test-This test is done when the body is on fast for more than eight hours. The time span between the previous day’s dinner and the next day’s breakfast makes up for the body’s fasting period, and it is suitable to take the fasting blood glucose readings at that time. Normal fasting blood glucose level should be less than 110 mg/dl. If it is above 126 mg/dl, the person is said to be diabetic.
2. Random blood glucose test-This test is done any time. The normal count should be in the mid 100′s. If the reading is 200 or above, the person is diagnosed with diabetes.
3. Oral glucose tolerance test-In case of this test, the patient is made to drink a sugar water solution after fasting overnight. Glucose levels in blood are then tested over several hours. In a non-diabetic person, the glucose levels rise after drinking the solution and then fall quickly. In a diabetic, glucose levels will at once soar higher than normal, and will not drop as quickly. A normal glucose reading should be 140 mg/dl two hours after drinking the solution. If the reading is 200 mg/dl or more, the person is said to be diabetic.
Chart
Normal person
1. Minimum fasting value – 70 mg/dl.
2. Maximum fasting value – 100 mg/dl.
3. Post-Prandial – less than 140 mg/dl.
Pre-diabetic
1. Minimum fasting value – 101 mg/dl.
2. Maximum fasting value – 126 mg/dl.
3. Post-Prandial – 140-200 mg/dl.
Diabetic
1. Minimum fasting value – more than 126 mg/dl.
2. Maximum fasting value – 126 mg/dl.
3. Post-Prandial – more than 200 mg/dl.
About the author: Elvira Filinovich Read about Diabetes Natural Treatment and its benefits. Know about Diabetes Supplement. Find how Diabetes Supplements help lower blood sugar naturally.
Article Source:
http://elvirafilinovich.articlesnare.com/diabetes-articles/normal-blood-glucose-levels-range-chart-and-reading-to-know.htm
The Super Diet for Type 2 Diabetics: The Five Foods
Source: Uploaded by diabetesengineer on Aug 7, 2009 to YouTube
http://www.deathtodiabetes.com
Author of “Death to Diabetes” discusses his Super Meal Diet for Diabetics that helps to achieve blood glucose stabilization and proper insulin levels; shows examples of the Super Meal Model; also discusses who’s smarter: God or man.
Effective Herbal Remedy for Diabetes – Natural and Safe
GET YOUR KIDS INTO THE KITCHEN!
February 18, 2012
Author: jhonnapier
Diabetes, if left unconsidered can give rise to multiple health disorders in future life of person. Lifestyle plays a significant role in controlling blood sugar level of person. Diabetes is one among the common health disorders found among people of all age groups. In order to reduce the risks of diabetes, it is advised to limit or cease the intake of processed and junky food items in diet.
Including gymnema sylvestre in diet schedule is a best recommended herbal remedy for diabetes. This herbal supplement has been used for centuries for the treatment of diabetes. It is one among the main ingredients used for the preparation of ayurvedic medicines. Intake of gymnema sylvestre herb lowers blood sugar level and prevents the risk of hyperglycemia. This herbal extract can be used for the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It maintains normal blood sugar level without inducing any adverse action on user.
Garlic, an active ingredient in food recipes is an effective herbal remedy for diabetes. Those people suffering from hyperglycemic condition are advised to include a good amount of garlic extract in their diet schedule. For user assistance, today you can easily get garlic extract from market in the form of capsules and tablets.It improves blood circulation throughout the body and reduces the chance of diabetes naturally. Apart from controlling diabetes, regular intake of garlic controls blood pressure, lowers bad cholesterol level, fights against viral infections and delays aging impact on a person.
Similar to garlic, green tea is another herbal remedy for diabetes. In order to achieve best result, those patients suffering from diabetes are advised to drink at least two cups of green tea per day. Green tea prevents the action of free radicals and delays aging impact on person. Apart from curing diabetes, use of green tea improves the overall health and wellbeing of person.
Bitter melon juice is one among the common prescribed herbal remedies for diabetes. Those people suffering from diabetes mellitus are advised to drink bitter melon juice at least two times per day. High insulin concentration present in bitter melon juice lowers blood sugar level and maintains diabetes under control.
Cinnamon powder is one among the best recommended herbal remedies for treating diabetes. In order to achieve best result, people are advised to include a good amount of cinnamon powder in their daily diet food items. It promotes digestion and reduces the risk of fat depositions in body. Apart from controlling diabetes, cinnamon powder beholds a wide range of health benefits. Curing bladder infections, preventing arthritis, reducing LDL cholesterol level and reducing hair fall are some among the important health benefits of using cinnamon powder.
Fenugreek tea is found to be as a safe herbal remedy for treating diabetes. Those people suffering from hyperglycemia are advised to include fenugreek seeds in their diet food items. It is a perfect choice of home remedy recommended for improving the metabolism of body.
Other herbal remedies for treating diabetes include onion, jamun, bael, bitter gourd and shilajit.
Read effective Diabetes Herbal Treatment. Also know Natural Cure for Flatulence. Read about Gallbladder Stone Herbal Treatment.
Source: jhonnapier / Article Snare
About the Author:
Jhon Napier has been promoting herbal remedies and natural treatment for many years. His main interests are in ayurveda, herbal remedies and natural supplements. He also keeps a keen eye on the latest news in the health industry and posts articles regularly on his websites. He is an active member of many reputed social networks and works consistently to help people with his knowledge.
This author has published 100 articles so far.
Does Green Tea Lower Blood Sugar and Increase Insulin Activity?
Want to avoid metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes? It is possible to prevent both of these conditions if you take control of your eating habits and exercise. No expensive prescription drugs or complicated exercises are required. It could be as simple as drinking four cups of green tea a day and walking for 30 minutes, four or five times a week.
Metabolic syndrome is probably not on your radar screen, yet one in five people are affected in the U.S. Risk factors include extra weight around the waist, insulin resistance, aging, genes, hormone changes, and lack of exercise, which are all harbingers to both cardiovascular disease and (the focus of this article) type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is characterized by insufficient secretion or improper functioning of insulin.
Obesity is a primary risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. It is closely associated with little or no exercise and poor diet choices, and creates conditions in your body such as:
- High blood sugar levels
- Reduced insulin levels and activity
- High blood pressure
- Oxidative stress
- Increase in free radicals that damage cells and DNA (aging process)
- High LDL (bad) cholesterol
- And a host of other damages to the heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas
How can or does green tea lower blood sugar? Green tea is produced by wilting, steaming, and drying the leaves without fermentation. This process retains the potent antioxidant catechin compounds, unlike the process used for black or oolong tea. It appears these catechins are responsible for green tea’s blood sugar-lowering properties.
I am listing the answer to, does green tea lower blood sugar and increase insulin activity, along with many other health benefits it provides:
- Yes, it lowers blood sugar levels
- Increases insulin activity
- Promotes glucose metabolism in healthy individuals
- Suppresses glucose transfer from the intestine to the blood stream
- Reduces the enzyme amylase that helps convert starch to sugar
- Does not lower the blood sugar levels in a healthy person
- Polysaccharides are also present in the leaves and have the same ability to regulate blood sugar as insulin does
- Could forestall or alleviate the risk of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to type 2 diabetes
- Importantly could control or prevent type 2 diabetes
Does green tea lower blood sugar and increase insulin activity is answered with a resounding yes. There are still a few important facts you should know before you consider drinking this healthful beverage.
- The antioxidant activity of green tea is almost six times that of black
- Caffeine does not help in lowering blood sugar and can have an adverse effect on blood sugar
- Drinking unsweetened decaffeinated green tea might be more beneficial
- Green tea extract pills and nutritional supplements are primarily made from extracts of the decaffeinated leaves.
- Milk in tea does not reduce the increase of insulin activity in humans, but don’t add sugar
- Instant, herbal, and other commercially prepared teas do not show increased insulin activity in studies conducted by the USDA
Does green tea lower blood sugar and increase insulin activity? I have included a lot of supporting information that I hope is helpful and the answer is still yes.
Do yourself a favor and consider the many health benefits to be obtained with regular exercise, a healthful diet, and consumption of the potent green leaf antioxidant compounds.
Think of how much enjoyment there is to be gained by being healthy.
If you try the beverage and don’t care for the taste, try taking a nutritional supplement containing the antioxidant compounds plus many other health benefitting vitamins and nutrients.
To learn more about the supplements my family and I take, please visit my website.
Take a minute to visit now at http://nutritional-vitamin.com/
J. Peter Crane is an advocate of living a better life through better nutrition. Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, he’d rather spend money on good food and nutritional supplements than medical bills.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Peter_Crane
GTF Chromium and Diabetes
Source: Uploaded by UtopiaSilverSupp on Jul 18, 2010 to YouTube
Chromium is the most important mineral in the body’s assimilation of sugars.
Type 2 Diabetic Guilt, Blaming and Shaming
By Martha J Zimmer
Type 2 diabetic guilt and shame seem to be expected of someone who has been diagnosed with this chronic disease in the U.S. The message has never been more clear than it was when the famous TV chef Paula Deen revealed that she had been diagnosed a type 2 diabetic.
Whatever her motives for what she does, many media persons have been extremely hateful in their attacks, using emotional words that are meant to wound. The problem is that it is not Paula Deen who is reading the poison they are pouring out.
And what if she is cooking with butter and passing along recipes for fried food on her very popular cooking show? Has someone actually proven that using butter causes obesity and diabetes? I’ve looked at a lot of research, and the facts are saying something different.
Type 2 Diabetic Guilt, the Damage
The damage done by attacking someone who is diabetic shows when you read the blogs on diabetic websites. Type 1′s are separating themselves from type 2′s because they don’t want to be lumped in with the “fat slobs” who let themselves get a preventable disease.
And the type 2 diabetic guilt comes out in the voices of people who write that they are too ashamed of their diagnosis to tell anyone about it. What good does it do to tell them the facts?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetics are highly influenced by peer opinion, and that is especially true of younger ones. Diabulimia and other eating disorders are shortening the lives of diabetics just when research is coming up with better ways to handle the disease.
No one knows why one obese person slips into type 2 diabetes while another does not. And normal weight type 2 diabetics exist too. Genetics has a lot to do with it, but how much? Experts are not sure.
Meanwhile type 2 diabetic guilt has been turned up several notches. And most of us have plenty of things already to feel bad about. We’ve made choices that could have been better. But haven’t the people who point a loud accusing finger at Paula Deen made some bad choices too?
Type 2 Diabetic Guilt and Shame, the Danger
I am a type 2 diabetic. I know what guilt and shame are, and I know what they do. Shame will never help anyone to change. Books have been written by psychologists who observe the damage. Teachers who use shame on their students get fired when they are caught.
Shame gives the message “I am a bad person.” There is no cure for that, if you believe it. And it is a small step from guilt to shame for many. Those who judge others for diabetes and obesity take no account of the causes, and the ones who suffer the most are young people, who are more easily affected by what others say.
That is why attacking someone for their disease is so dangerous. A lot of type 2 diabetics are listening, and some of us have a hard time with not only the words but the spirit of hatred behind the attack.
Eating disorders, depression and chronic stress will make diabetes worse. Not only that, but they undermine the desire to change. Shame heaps more fuel on these problems. It does not help, never has, never will.
Guilt is saying “I made a mistake,” and it is a needed step in making changes, but it is not a place to live. We have to admit our mistakes without trying to lay blame on someone else. Then the door is open to endless possible roads we can take.
The danger with type 2 diabetic guilt lies in the strong desire to lay blame. Most people who enjoy pointing fingers at others have fallen into the blame trap because they have not faced their own guilt. But blaming others will never help you feel less guilty for your own mistakes.
What To Do About Type 2 Diabetic Guilt
Becoming pre-diabetic came from my genetic make-up. The mistakes I made came from ignoring that fact. And when I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic guilt and shame dragged me into depression that I lived in for years.
Now that I have faced my mistakes, learned about this condition and begun to change, I feel a future open with choices. I already know some will be good and some will not. But wallowing in shame and trying to blame someone else are two things I won’t waste time doing.
If you are a type 1 diabetic, a healthy diet and exercise will help you live a long and healthy life. And the same holds true for a type 2 diabetic. Because you are more vulnerable to complications and viruses like hepatitis B and flu, it becomes important to keep your immune system strong.
Staying away from AGEs and SOFAs will do that for you, simply by avoiding fast food and eating whole foods that don’t have all the good things processed out. Add the superfoods with antioxidants to your diet, and make exercise a daily goal.
Take care of your diabetic chores – blood sugar testing, glucose monitor maintenance, regular visits to your doctor for kidney, liver and other blood tests, and inspecting your feet every day – those will increase your chances of dodging many of the complications.
Don’t waste a minute regretting the past or letting someone’s words pull you down into shame. Loving family and good friends will help you keep your perspective, and keeping your eyes on the needs of others will do the same. I wish you well.
Martha Zimmer invites you to visit her website and learn more about type 2 diabetes, its complications and how you can deal with them, as well as great tips for eating healthy that will make living with diabetes less painful.
Go to http://www.a-diabetic-life.com and find out what you can do to avoid many of the pitfalls of this life-changing condition, like paying for cures that don’t work and spending money for things you could have gotten free. Martha has made the mistakes and done the research so you don’t have to.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martha_J_Zimmer
Michael Pollan’s – Food for Thought Festival – Keynote Address
Source: Uploaded by REAPFood on Nov 2, 2009 to YouTube
Michael Pollan was the keynote speaker for the 11th annual Food for Thought Festival held on September 26, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Pollan is introduced by Claire Strader, who was elected to serve as the “White House Farmer” in a popular online poll.
The annual Food for Thought Festival is a fun, festive forum that explores and celebrates our many opportunities to eat more pleasurably, healthfully and sustainably.
Past festival speakers include Alice Waters, Mollie Katzen, José Bové, Frances Moore Lappé and several other accomplished cooks, writers and advocates for a sustainable food system.
Despite Obesity Crisis, Gov’t. Slow to Rein in Fast Food Industry
By Elizabeth Whitman
Inter Press Service / News Analysis
Published: Saturday 24 December 2011
In 2007, McDonald’s spent an estimated 1.74 billion dollars globally on advertising.
When the fast food chain McDonald’s decided to add oatmeal to its menu in January 2011, it literally sugar-coated the offering as a “portable, affordable and balanced breakfast solution… to help make it easier and more inviting for our guests to eat more whole grains and fruits”.
Although a single serving of plain oatmeal has one gram of sugar, one serving (253 grams) of McDonald’s fruit and maple oatmeal with brown sugar contains 32 grams of sugar. One serving of the same oatmeal, without brown sugar, contains 18 grams of sugar, according to the company’s nutrition.
“Why would McDonald’s… take a venerable ingredient like oatmeal and turn it into expensive junk food?” lamented New York Times columnist Mark Bittman in February 2011.
McDonald’s oatmeal, he pointed out, “contains more sugar than a Snickers bar and (is) only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or Egg McMuffin”.
But critics say McDonald’s uncanny ability to turn an inherently healthy food into an unnaturally processed product (the oatmeal itself contains seven ingredients, including “natural flavor”, according to Bittman) is not even the most egregious of the stunts that large food corporations manage to pull.
A Nestle supermarket that set sail in the form of a barge on the Amazon River in Brazil in June 2011 could be one of the more outlandish efforts by the food industry to offer an expanding range of customers a plethora of processed and packaged foods. Even though processed food is inexpensive, noted Bittman, “the costs aren’t seen at the cash register but in the form of high health care bills and environmental degradation”.
In the United States, food activists who are highly critical of corporations that market aggressively to attract and keep a steady consumer base are also critical of the government, which seems unable or unwilling to regulate these corporations, whether through limiting their marketing or requiring them to adhere to specific nutrition standards.
System overload
As a result, not only are individuals and communities feeling the effects of a consistent intake of unhealthy processed foods laden with sugar and fat, but societies around the world and the earth itself are also forced to bear the heavy burden of the unsustainable agricultural system upon which the food industry relies.
Some 33.8 percent of adults in the United States are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Obese means having a body mass index (link) of more than 30. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2015, 2.3 billion adults will be obese.
Lifestyles that incorporate little to no exercise and a processed diet high in fat and sugar are linked to obesity and being overweight, which are connected to a multitude of health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Marketing tactics
On Dec. 1, a law took effect in San Francisco, California, known as the Health Meals Incentive Ordinance, establishing basic nutritional standards for kids’ meals that come with free toys, a marketing strategy used to attract kids.
Before the law was passed, according to Corporate Accountability International, McDonald’s threatened to sue San Francisco on the grounds of the First Amendment.
Once the law went into effect, instead of giving away free toys with its Happy Meals, McDonald’s decided to charge 10 cents per toy.
Still, “this law really had a tremendous public health impact even before it took effect,” despite McDonald’s approach, said Sara Deon, Value [the] Meal campaign director.
Southern Los Angeles passed a moratorium limiting the development of new fast food restaurants, for example, and Jack-in-the-Box eliminated toys from meals altogether.
Although prohibiting toys from accompanying meals may change nothing about the actual content and nutritional value of the food, the changes do have an impact on who buys fast food meals, and how often.
“It’s really about marketing,” Deon told IPS. “Big food companies create big demand for their products through aggressive marketing,” with some companies, especially McDonald’s, marketing especially aggressively towards children, so eliminating toys does help reduce demand.
In 2007, McDonald’s spent an estimated 1.74 billion dollars globally on advertising, according to a report by Consumers International. Yum Brands, the parent company for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, spent 1.23 billion dollars.
Additionally, “federal agencies wield tremendous influence over what types of foods we eat and the information we receive about them,” wrote Michele Simon, a public health lawyer, on her blog, pointing out that the government sets food safety standards gives nutrition advice and subsidizes agriculture.
However, powerful food industry lobbies are able to pressure representatives and senators who hail from districts where people rely on food industry corporations for jobs.
Conflict of interest
Many food activists seriously doubt lawmakers’ commitment to ensuring that people have access to healthy, affordable food, citing conflicts of interest and a focus on protecting corporations rather than people.
In April, the Interagency Working Group (IWG), including the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, developed and proposed recommendations on both the nutritional quality of food marketed to children and teenagers, and marketing practices.
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, however, wrote a letter to the IWG, saying, “the real causes of childhood obesity have more to do with inadequate physical activity and excess calorie consumption than with the advertising and packaging of food.”
It ignored evidence of a connection between marketing and the purchase and eating of fast food, which in turn contributes to excess calorie consumption.
The letter asked the IWG to “withdraw the current proposal and start afresh”.
“Corporations simply throw their money around and threaten politicians if they try to get in their way,” Simon told IPS. “Even when regulatory agencies try to do the right thing they’re beat back by congressional members that oversee them.”
Simon is not convinced that regulations and guidelines are the most viable solutions to a host of related issues including but not limited to poor nutrition, obesity, and an unsustainable food system that exploits labor and harms animals.
What Simon considers truly necessary is complete system overhaul. Her call for an end to corporate and industry control has a familiar ring.
“We need to build a political movement,” she said.
Still, despite “a lot of localized restructuring” and alternatives such as farmers’ markets, such options are insufficient, she insisted, because they fail to strike at the core of a flaw.
Source: Nation of Change
ABOUT Elizabeth Whitman
Elizabeth Whitman is a journalist writing for the International Press Service.
Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity – NIDDK
Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity
- Bariatric Surgery for Adults
- Bariatric Surgery for Youth
- The Normal Digestive Process
- Types of Bariatric Surgery
- Medical Costs
- Research
- Resources
- References
Bariatric surgery may be the next step for people who remain severely obese after trying approaches other than surgery‚ especially if they have a disease linked to obesity.
Severe obesity is a chronic condition that is hard to treat with diet and exercise alone. Bariatric surgery is an operation on the stomach and/or intestines that helps patients with extreme obesity to lose weight. This surgery is an option for people who cannot lose weight by other means or who suffer from serious health problems related to obesity. The surgery restricts food intake, which promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. Some surgeries also interrupt how food is digested, preventing some calories and nutrients, such as vitamins, from being absorbed. Recent studies suggest that bariatric surgery may even lower death rates for patients with severe obesity. The best results occur when patients follow surgery with healthy eating patterns and regular exercise.
Currently, bariatric surgery may be an option for adults with severe obesity. Body mass index (BMI), a measure of height in relation to weight, is used to define levels of obesity. Clinically severe obesity is a BMI > 40 or a BMI > 35 with a serious health problem linked to obesity. Such health problems could be type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or severe sleep apnea (when breathing stops for short periods during sleep).
Recent Development
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved use of an adjustable gastric band (or AGB) for patients with BMI > 30 who also have at least one condition linked to obesity, such as heart disease or diabetes.
Who is a good adult candidate for surgery?
Having surgery to produce weight loss is a serious decision. Anyone thinking about having this surgery should know what it involves. Answers to the following questions may help patients decide whether weight-loss surgery is right for them.
Is the patient:
- Unlikely to lose weight or keep it off over the long term using other methods?
- Well informed about the surgery and treatment effects?
- Aware of the risks and benefits of surgery?
- Ready to lose weight and improve his or her health?
- Aware of how life may change after the surgery? (For example, patients need to adjust to side effects, such as the need to chew food well and the loss of ability to eat large meals.)
- Aware of the limits on food choices, and occasional failures?
- Committed to lifelong healthy eating and physical activity, medical follow-up, and the need to take extra vitamins and minerals?
There is no sure method, including surgery, to produce and maintain weight loss. Some patients who have bariatric surgery may have weight loss that does not meet their goals. Research also suggests that many patients regain some of the lost weight over time. The amount of weight regain may vary by extent of obesity and type of surgery. Habits such as snacking often on foods high in calories or not exercising can affect the amount of weight loss and weight regain. Problems that may occur with the surgery, like a stretched pouch or separated stitches, may also affect the amount of weight loss.
Success is possible. Patients must commit to changing habits and having medical follow-up for the rest of their lives.
Rates of obesity among youth are high. Bariatric surgery is sometimes used to treat youth with extreme obesity. Although it is becoming clear that teens can lose weight after bariatric surgery, many questions still exist about the long-term effects on teens’ developing bodies and minds.
Who is a good youth candidate for surgery?
Experts in childhood obesity and bariatric surgery suggest that families consider surgery only after youth have tried for at least 6 months to lose weight and have not had success.1 Candidates should meet the following criteria:
- Have extreme obesity (BMI > 40 )
- Be their adult height (usually at age 13 or older for girls and 15 or older for boys)
- Have serious health problems linked to weight, such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, that may improve with bariatric surgery
In addition, health care providers should assess potential patients and their parents to see how emotionally prepared they are for the surgery and the lifestyle changes they will need to make. Health care providers should also refer young patients to special youth bariatric surgery centers that focus on meeting the unique needs of youth.
Mounting evidence suggests that bariatric surgery can favorably change both the weight and health of youth with extreme obesity. Over the years’ gastric bypass surgery has been the main operation used to treat extreme obesity in youth. An estimated 2,700 youth bariatric surgeries were performed between 1996 and 2003.2 A review of short-term data from the largest inpatient database in the United States suggests that these surgeries are at least as safe for youth as adults. As yet, AGB has not been approved for use in the United States for people younger than age 18. However, favorable weight-loss outcomes after AGB for youth have been reported abroad.
Normally, as food moves along the digestive tract, digestive juices and enzymes digest and absorb calories and nutrients. After we chew and swallow our food, it moves down the esophagus to the stomach, where a strong acid continues the digestive process. The stomach can hold about 3 pints of food at one time. When the stomach contents move to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), bile and pancreatic juice speed up digestion. Most of the iron and calcium in the food we eat is absorbed there. The other two parts of the nearly 20 feet of small intestine absorb nearly all of the remaining calories and nutrients. The food particles that cannot be digested in the small intestine reside in the large intestine until eliminated.
How does surgery promote weight loss?
Bariatric surgery restricts food intake, which leads to weight loss. Patients who have bariatric surgery must commit to a lifetime of healthy eating and regular exercise. These healthy habits may help patients maintain weight loss after surgery.
The type of surgery that may help an adult or youth depends on a number of factors. Patients should discuss with their health care providers what kind of surgery is suitable for them.
What is the difference between open and laparoscopic surgery?
Bariatric surgery may be performed through “open” approaches, which involve cutting the stomach in the standard manner, or by laparoscopy. With the latter approach, surgeons insert complex instruments through 1/2-inch cuts and guide a small camera that sends images to a monitor. Most bariatric surgery today is laparoscopic because it requires a smaller cut, creates less tissue damage, leads to earlier hospital discharges, and has fewer problems, especially hernias occurring after surgery.
However, not all patients are suitable for laparoscopy. Patients who are considered extremely obese, who have had previous stomach surgery, or who have complex medical problems may require the open approach. Complex medical problems may include having severe heart and lung disease or weighing more than 350 pounds.
What are the surgical options?
There are four types of operations that are commonly offered in the United States: AGB, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch (BPD-DS), and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). (See Figure 1.) Each surgery has its own benefits and risks. The patient and provider should work together to select the best option by considering the benefits and risks of each type of surgery. Other factors to consider include the patient’s BMI, eating habits, health conditions related to obesity, and previous stomach surgeries.
Figure 1
Diagram of Surgical Options. Image credit: Walter Pories, M.D. FACS.
Adjustable Gastric Band
AGB works mainly by decreasing food intake. Food intake is reduced by placing a small bracelet-like band around the top of the stomach to restrict the size of the opening from the throat to the stomach. The surgeon can then control the size of the opening with a circular balloon inside the band. This balloon can be inflated or deflated with saline solution to meet the needs of the patient.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
RYGB restricts food intake. RYGB also decreases how food is absorbed. Food intake is limited by a small pouch that is similar in size to the pouch created with AGB. Also, sending food directly from the pouch into the small intestine affects how the digestive tract absorbs food. The food is absorbed differently because the stomach, duodenum, and upper intestine no longer have contact with food.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with a Duodenal Switch
BPD-DS, usually referred to as a “duodenal switch,” is a complex bariatric surgery that includes three features. One feature is to remove a large part of the stomach. This step makes patients feel full sooner when eating than they did before surgery. Feeling full sooner encourages patients to eat less. Another feature is re-routing food away from much of the small intestine to limit how the body absorbs food. The third feature changes how bile and other digestive juices affect the body’s ability to digest food and absorb calories. This step also helps lead to weight loss.
In removing a large part of the stomach, the surgeon creates a more tubular “gastric sleeve” (also known as a VSG, discussed later). The smaller stomach sleeve remains linked to a very short part of the duodenum, which is then directly linked to a lower part of the small intestine. This surgery leaves a small part of the duodenum available to absorb food and some vitamins and minerals.
However, when the patient eats food, it bypasses most of the duodenum. The distance between the stomach and colon becomes much shorter after this operation, thus limiting how food is absorbed. BPD-DS produces significant weight loss. However, a decrease in the amount of food, vitamins, and minerals absorbed creates chances for long-term problems.
Some of these problems are anemia (lower than normal count for red blood cells) or osteoporosis (loss of bone mass that can make bones brittle).
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
VSG surgery restricts food intake and decreases the amount of food used. Most of the stomach is removed during this surgery, which may decrease ghrelin, a hormone that prompts appetite. Lower amounts of ghrelin may reduce hunger more than other purely restrictive surgeries, such as AGB.
VSG has been performed in the past mainly as the first stage of BPD-DS (discussed earlier) in patients who may be at high risk for problems from more extensive types of surgery. These patients’ high risk levels are due to body weight or medical issues. However, more recent research indicates that some patients who have VSG can lose a lot of weight with VSG alone and avoid a second procedure. Researchers do not yet know how many patients who have VSG alone will need a second stage procedure.
What are the side effects of these surgeries?
Some side effects may include bleeding, infection, leaks from the site where the intestines are sewn together, diarrhea, and blood clots in the legs that can move to the lungs and heart.
Examples of side effects that may occur later include nutrients being poorly absorbed, especially in patients who do not take their prescribed vitamins and minerals. In some cases, if patients do not address this problem promptly, diseases may occur along with permanent damage to the nervous system. These diseases include pellagra (caused by lack of vitamin B3—niacin), beri beri (caused by lack of vitamin B1—thiamine) and kwashiorkor (caused by lack of protein).
Other late problems include strictures (narrowing of the sites where the intestine is joined) and hernias (part of an organ bulging through a weak area of muscle).
Two kinds of hernias may occur after a patient has bariatric surgery. An incisional hernia is a weakness that sticks out from the abdominal wall’s connective tissue and may cause a blockage in the bowel. An internal hernia occurs when the small bowel is displaced into pockets in the lining of the abdomen. These pockets occur when the intestines are sewn together. Internal hernias are thought to be more dangerous than incisional ones and need prompt attention to avoid serious problems.
Some patients may also require emotional support to help them through the changes in body image and personal relationships that occur after the surgery.
Bariatric procedures, on average, cost from $20,000 to $25,000. Medical insurance coverage varies by state and insurance provider. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reduced barriers to obtaining Medicare coverage for obesity treatments. Bariatric surgery may be covered under these conditions:
- If the patient has at least one health problem linked to obesity
- If the procedure is suitable for the patient’s medical condition
- If approved surgeons and facilities are involved
Patients can contact staff at their regional Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance office to find out if the procedure is covered and to obtain facts about options.
In 2003, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the NIH partnered with researchers to create the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery, or LABS. LABS researchers are experts in bariatric surgery, obesity research, internal medicine, behavioral science, and related fields. Their mission is to plan and conduct studies that will lead to more knowledge about bariatric surgery and its impact on the health and well-being of patients with extreme obesity. More information about LABS is available at http://www.niddklabs.org .
To help determine if bariatric surgery is appropriate for youth, NIH launched Teen-LABS in 2007. From 2007 to 2012, the multicenter study is collecting data from teens who plan to have surgery. The data will help to evaluate bariatric surgery’s benefits and risks. Researchers are collecting data about medical problems related to obesity, other health risk factors, and quality of life from these patients before they have surgery and 2 years after surgery. Researchers will then compare the teen outcomes to data from adults. These websites offer more information about Teen-LABS: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/niddk-16.htm and http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/teen-LABS.
The following list of publications, websites, and organizations may be of use for patients or health care providers discussing bariatric surgery.
Additional Reading from the Weight-control Information Network
Active at Any Size. This fact sheet provides ideas and tips on how people considered to be overweight or obese can be physically active. It focuses on overcoming common barriers and setting goals. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/active.htm.
Binge Eating Disorder. This fact sheet provides information and resources for patients who may have binge eating disorder. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/binge.htm.
Dieting and Gallstones. This fact sheet explains what gallstones are, how they form, and the roles obesity and rapid weight loss play in developing gallstones. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/gallstones.htm.
Weight Loss for Life. This booklet describes ways to lose weight and encourages healthy eating habits and regular physical activity. Available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/for_life.htm.
Additional Reading for Health Care Providers
Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Obesity: Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 103. Shekelle PG, Morton SC, Maglione M, et al. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). AHRQ Publication Number 04–E028–1; 2004. Rockville, MD. This report reviews the scientific evidence on weight-loss drugs and bariatric surgery among children, youth, and adults. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/obespharm/obespharm.pdf [PDF - 3,450 Kb].
Additional Resource
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
100 SW 75th Street
Suite 201
Gainesville, FL 32607
Phone: 352-331–4900
Fax: 352-331–4975
Internet: http://www.asmbs.org/
Weight-control Information Network
1 WIN Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Phone: 202-828–1025
Toll-free number: 1–877–946–4627
Fax: 202–828–1028
Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
NIH Publication No. 08–4006
March 2009
Updated June 2011
1. Inge TH‚ Krebs NF‚ Garcia VF‚ et al. Bariatric surgery for severely overweight adolescents: concerns and recommendations. Pediatrics. 2004 Jul;114(1):217–23.
2. Wilson ST‚ Thomas HI‚ Randall SB. Bariatric surgery in adolescents: recent national trends in use and in-hospital outcome. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2007;161(3):217–221.
Toll free: 1–877–946–4627; Fax: 202–828–1028; Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Weight-control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Last Modified: July 28, 2011
Source:
Vitamin D Can Help Shield You From Diabetes
By: catherinfernates
Another health breakthrough to report in the vast arena of breakthroughs that surrounds vitamin D. The “sunshine vitamin.” A new study has found that not getting enough vitamin D can put you at greater risk for one of the biggest health problems of modern times: type 2 diabetes.
This study occurred in children, but the results can be extrapolated for everyone. Looking at obese and non-obese children, researchers found that low vitamin-D levels were significantly more prevalent in obese children. And that they were associated with risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The study appeared in the “Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.”
RECOMMENDED This Vitamin Could Beat the Flu
High rates of vitamin-D deficiency have been found in obese populations and past studies have linked low vitamin-D levels to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Those three health conditions — obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease — are certifiably linked.
How obesity and diabetes is related to vitamin-D deficiency is not fully understood. This new study examined associations between vitamin-D levels and dietary habits in obese children. They tested whether there were links between levels of the sunshine vitamin and abnormal blood sugar levels and/or blood pressure levels.
In the study, obese children with lower vitamin-D levels had the highest degree of insulin resistance. This is the hallmark of diabetes, meaning the body has an impaired ability to move glucose from the blood into cells where it is used as energy. The study couldn’t figure out why this is the case, but did suggest that low vitamin-D levels play some kind of role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Here’s what happened: they measured vitamin-D levels, blood sugar levels, insulin, body mass index, and blood pressure in 411 obese subjects and 87 control non-overweight subjects. Study participants were asked to provide dietary information, including daily intake of soda, juice and milk, average daily fruit and vegetable intake, and whether or not they routinely skipped breakfast.
Sure enough, they found that habits like skipping breakfast and drinking sugary soda and juice were linked with lower vitamin-D levels among the obese kids.
Vitamin D is simply critical. If you can’t spend 15 minutes of time in direct sunlight (without using sunscreen) each day, it is a very good idea to take a vitamin-D supplement in the range of 1,000 IU.Visit for more information.:-http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
Vitamin D is simply critical. If you can’t spend 15 minutes of time in direct sunlight (without using sunscreen) each day, it is a very good idea to take a vitamin-D supplement in the range of 1,000 IU.Visit for more information.:-http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/
Diabetes Management Among Native Americans – from A Personal Story
Source: Uploaded by BabyFish1003 on Nov 1, 2011 to YouTube
A native American who has been living with diabetes for 40 years tells her journey with Type II diabetes. She gives advise to those at risk for diabetes to get early testing, tips on preventing and controlling diabetes.
Findings from Two Studies on Diabetic Eye Disease Treatment Released
Diabetes Dateline
Winter 2011
A photo of an eye with diabetic macular edema.
Photo courtesy of the National Eye Institute, National Institute of Health (NIH)
A clinical trial of people with type 2 diabetes showed that intensively controlling blood glucose to near-normal levels reduced progression of diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans. Adding a fibrate drug to statin therapy for control of blood lipids also reduced disease progression. These results come from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Eye Study, a subgroup study of the ACCORD clinical trial supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI). The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is the primary sponsor of ACCORD.
ACCORD compared the effect of intensive control of blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids with standard, less-intensive treatments on the risk of major cardiovascular disease events in more than 10,000 adults with established type 2 diabetes. While the earlier ACCORD finding of increased mortality risk outweighed the benefits of near-normal control in the group studied, the ACCORD Eye Study and other recent ACCORD findings suggest there may be benefits to controlling blood glucose to targets lower than currently recommended in patients in whom such control can be achieved safely—for example, in people recently diagnosed with diabetes.
“The ACCORD Eye Study clearly indicates that intensive glycemic control and fibrate treatment added to statin therapy separately reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy,” said Emily Chew, M.D., chair of the Eye Study and chief of the Clinical Trials Branch of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the NEI.
The study findings were published in the July 15, 2010, issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. More information about the ACCORD Eye Study can be found at www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/062910.asp.
Combination of Ranibizumab and Laser Therapy Proves Effective in Treating Diabetic Macular Edema
Researchers have found that the drug ranibizumab (Lucentis), combined with the current standard treatment of laser therapy, is more effective than laser therapy alone in treating diabetic macular edema (DME), a major complication of diabetes that can result in vision loss. DME occurs when fluid from damaged blood vessels in the eye cause swelling of the macula, part of the retina. Ranibizumab blocks the leakage of fluid from the blood vessels. Results of this study were published in the June 2010 issue of Ophthalmology.
This study provides the first definitive proof that a combined treatment and follow-up strategy could halt and reverse diabetic eye disease. “This comparative-effectiveness study demonstrated that a new treatment can protect and, in many cases, improve the vision of people with diabetic macular edema,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI.
The 2-year study focused on the effectiveness of three DME treatments: laser treatment alone; ranibizumab plus laser treatment; and the steroid drug triamcinolone (Trivaris) plus laser treatment. Specifically, the researchers found that ranibizumab combined with laser treatment improved vision significantly, compared with laser treatment alone.
The multicenter clinical trial was conducted by the NEI and the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net). DRCR.net researchers will continue to monitor the study participants for at least 3 years to gather more data about the safety and effectiveness of the treatments.
For more information about this study, see www.nih.gov/researchmatters/may2010/ 05102010eye.htm or visit www.drcr.net
.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has easy-to-read booklets and fact sheets about diabetes and its complications, including diabetic eye disease. For more information or to obtain copies, visit www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.
NIH Publication No. 11–4562
January 2011
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Source:
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
Phone: 1–800–860–8747
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
Myrtle Beach Chiropractor – How To Cure Diabetes?
Tens of millions of individuals at this time are being treated for Type 2 diabetes. Those with this type of diabetes have issues controlling blood sugar ranges because theie body doesn’t produce enough insulin or their body has developed insulin resistance says Myrtle Beach Chiropractor.
In many circumstances, patients are given prescription drugs to help management glucose levels. For these dealing with extra superior problems, insulin could also be taken regularly to keep ranges of glucose stable. Whereas some folks do want medical intervention to treat their Sort 2 diabetes effectively, many alternative diabetes therapies can be found as well. Some people have discovered that utilizing various measures to deal with the issue is enough to assist them get off their medications.
Here is a look at some of the various diabetes remedies to contemplate if you happen to are excited by a natural technique to control your blood sugar.
Chromium
One of many potential various therapies for diabetes is chromium, which happens to be a hint mineral. This mineral is essential as a result of it has lots to do with fats and carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally it is recognized to assist the cells of the body in responding correctly to insulin as well. Analysis has found that many people with diabetes have low ranges of this trace mineral and a few research are displaying that supplementation of this hint mineral could possibly help those who suffer from diabetes.
Cinnamon
Another of the potential alternative diabetes therapies to think about is cinnamon, which is a well known spice. Studies from Chiropractor Myrtle Beach that have been done on cinnamon have shown that those with Type 2 diabetes see an improvement in their blood sugar control when taking cinnamon on a daily basis. One research looked at six teams of people, with the primary three groups of individuals taking 6g, 3g, or 1g of cinnamon. The final three teams had placebo capsules of 6g, 3g, or 1g. At the end of this study, the three groups taking cinnamon all showed a big reduction of their fasting blood glucose levels. Different benefits included lowered cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Different research have also been carried out on cinnamon, showing that it could possibly have a constructive impact on blood sugar ranges in those with diabetes.
Ginseng
Several types of ginseng are available, however relating to an alternative therapy for diabetes, it is North American ginseng that reveals the most promise. Researches on this kind of ginseng have proven that blood sugar may be better controlled when taking North American ginseng on a regular basis.
Zinc
With regards to the storage and manufacturing of insulin throughout the physique, zinc is a crucial mineral. Analysis has shown that these dealing with Type 2 diabetes often have much less zinc than needed because of an increased excretion charge and problems with a decreased absorption of zinc. Zinc can be taken as a supplement, nevertheless it also will be found in a wide range of different foods, including rooster, almonds, beef liver, egg yolks, pecans, recent oysters, buckwheat, walnuts, lima beans, lamb, and peas.
These are just a few of the choice diabetes treatments from Myrtle Beach Chiropractor to consider if you’re in search of a natural strategy to treat your Type 2 diabetes. Some other frequently used alternative therapies embody aloe vera gel, magnesium, vanadium, gymnema, vitamin D, fenugreek, and momordica charantia. In fact, before trying alternative options, it’s always best to discuss these therapy choices together with your health professional.
Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com
About the Author:
Nathalia Alexandra is a seasoned writer who produces about articles relevant to Internet Marketing and Alternative Medicine topics. To acquire further information about Myrtle Beach Chiropractor or Chiropractor Myrtle Beach visit our website.
Do You Need to Get Diabetes Supplies?
Diabetes is a condition of high glucose level in the body. Diabetic person also experiences excessive urination and persistent thirst. It is a long time illness that has no permanent solution. Yet, there is no need to get depressed. Technological advancements have made life easy for people diagnosed with blood sugar. Regularly testing of blood sugar level can help to keep it low. A healthy diet and fitness regime can keep the diabetic people energetic and help to lead a normal lifestyle.
People having diabetes might be spending much on the diabetes supplies, testing kits, insulin and medicines. Apart from medicines, diabetic people need to eat special diet and frequently test their blood sugar margin. This can be a bit expensive in the long run while suffering from diabetics. A few simple tips can help to reduce the costs involved in handling expenses related to blood sugar problem.
Diabetic people can request their physicians to prescribe generic diabetic medicines for them. These cost less but work as effectively as the branded varietal ones. One could also opt for generic blood sugar testing strips. These could also be bought for lesser price at a retail pharmacy store. There are few drug manufacturing companies that offer patient assistance. Diabetic patients can request their physicians to refer them for the assistance program to avail larger discounts and free samples of diabetic supplies.
Among diabetes supplies, self testing kits are considered most important. These can be carried on camps and trips to monitor the blood sugar in the body anytime and anywhere. These are quite affordable and cost less than $80. Such glucose testing meters can be bought at any pharmacy stores or even ordered online from stores selling supplies for diabetics.
People with blood sugar problems need to take specified insulin dosage in case of higher sugar level in the body. For this purpose, there are different types of devices apart from normal syringes. A diabetic person could choose from pen injectors, jet injectors, insulin pumps or infusers to take a shot of insulin. These supplies to should always kept in stock to avoid complications and to keep the glucose level in control. While jet injectors and pumps cost from $500 to $1000, pen injectors cost less than $100 and can be considered when on budget.
It would also be advisable to check for online stores that deliver diabetes supplies. These websites have all medications related to diabetics. Some online stores also provide great discounts, free of charge delivery and no claim forms. One can call them on the given phone numbers, do a little background check and order for their medications to be conveniently delivered at their doorstep for no additional cost.
Final Tip: by researching and comparing the different => free diabetes supplies companies <= you will get the one that is right for you at little or not cost. Fortunately, we have already done the work for you and listed a company where you can get totally free supplies for diabetics..
Carlos Molina runs the Free Diabetic Testing Supplies website – where you can see his recommendation of the best company to get completely free diabetic supplies. Visit for further information and read her full reviews of the best guides and treatments for diabetics, plus articles and video assistance.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlos_Molina_Codecido
Benefits Of Omega 3 For Type 2 Diabetes
By: Sandy Sachs
You should be aware that you could fall in the high risk category for type 2 diabetes if you are obese, prone to having high blood pressure or are a lazy couch potato. It is estimated that 9 out of 100 people that are over the age of 20 will develop type 2 diabetes. There has been new research done on the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids from cold water fish. The research indicates that addition of omega 3 to the diet could indeed be helpful in warding off diabetes 2. The EPA and DHA present in fish oil could possibly show positive results within 7 months.
In medical terminology, presence of excessive sugar in the blood is known as diabetes. It’s a disease related to carbohydrates. Type 2 is the more common type of diabetes. A person with type 2 diabetes does have insulin but it can’t process the sugar to convert it into energy.
A person with diabetes has a higher risk factor of having a heart attack. It is 6 times more than the people who do not have diabetes. They also have a risk of developing heart disease which is 3 to 8 times higher than someone with out diabetes. If they include omega 3 in their diets, it could be very helpful in maintaining their healthier heart.
Cardiovascular mortality could be reduced by over 30%, if just 1 gram of omega 3 is included in the diet either by eating the food rich in omega 3 or through omega 3 supplements. That could be reducing the risk of a heart attack by 45%.
The omega 3 fatty acids are present in fish such as tuna, salmon, rainbow trout, mackerel and sardines. They are the fatty fish. This type of fish are loaded with polyunsaturated fatty acids that are helpful in lowering your triglycerides. They will also help you maintain a healthy heart rhythm, reduce your blood pressure by small decreases and help with blood clotting. Taking omega 3 fish oil or other supplements may also be helpful for the statin drugs you may already be taking for cholesterol to do an even better job.
As with most diseases, doctors first advise you to change your lifestyle such as your diet and adding exercise in your daily regimen. Normally weight loss is an important factor. 80% of people who have diabetes are obese. Loosing weight will also help you control your blood pressure. Exercising on a regular basis will help improve with glucose control, blood lipid levels,helps the flowing of your blood, helps you to remain physically fit and can reduce your chance of heart disease. Shedding extra flab also will reduce your chances of catching diabetes.
People living in Alaska and Greenland have healthier hearts as compared to Americans and also have fewer cases of diabetes. They consume a lot of fatty fish that contain omega 3 fatty acids. The Japanese too consume large amounts of fish and also have lesser cases of heart disease and diabetes.
Getting omega 3 in your diet if you are a diabetic may help you live a healthier and longer life. Lower your risk of dying of heart disease by eating fish twice a week or getting a daily amount of omega 3 in your diet.
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