Side Effects Of Diabetes Medication

side-effects-of-diabetes-medications
Medications and Diabetes Risk: Mechanisms and Approach to Risk Reduction (Oxford American Pocket Notes)

A side effect is an unwanted problem caused by a medicine. For example, some diabetes medicines can cause nausea or an upset stomach when you first start taking them. Before you start a new medicine, ask your doctor about possible side effects and how you can avoid them. If the side effects of your medicine bother you, tell your doctor.

When you’re prescribed a new diabetes drug, ask your doctor which side effects to look out for. No two people respond the same way to the same medication, so it’s impossible to know if you’ll experience a certain side effect before taking the drug.

Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first found in children, teenagers, or young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin because your body no longer makes it. You also might need to take other types of diabetes medicines that work with insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It can start when the body doesn’t use insulin as it should, a condition called insulin resistance. If the body can’t keep up with the need for insulin, you may need diabetes medicines. Many choices are available. Your doctor might prescribe two or more medicines. It is recommended that most people start with metformin, a kind of diabetes pill.

Gestational diabetes is diabetes that occurs for the first time during pregnancy. The hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin can cause gestational diabetes. Most women with gestational diabetes control it with meal planning and physical activity. But some women need insulin to reach their target blood glucose levels.

Types of Diab​etes Medicines

Diabetes medicines come in several forms.

1.Insu​lin


2-8℃ Insulin Refrigerate Case Mini Medicine Cooler Reefer Portable Refrigerator for Insulin

If your body no longer makes enough insulin, you’ll need to take it. Insulin is used for all types of diabetes. Your doctor can help you decide which way of taking insulin is best for you.

Taking injections. You’ll give yourself shots using a needle and syringe. The syringe is a hollow tube with a plunger. You will put your dose of insulin into the tube. Some people use an insulin pen, which looks like a pen but has a needle for its point.

Using an insulin pump. An insulin pump is a small machine about the size of a cell phone, worn outside of your body on a belt or in a pocket or pouch. The pump connects to a small plastic tube and a very small needle. The needle is inserted under the skin and stays in for several days. Insulin is pumped from the machine through the tube into your body.

Using an insulin jet injector. The jet injector, which looks like a large pen, sends a fine spray of insulin through the skin with high-pressure air instead of a needle.

Using an insulin infuser. A small tube is inserted just beneath the skin and remains in place for several days. Insulin is injected into the end of the tube instead of through the skin.

What does insuli​n do?

Insulin helps keep blood glucose levels on target by moving glucose from the blood into your body’s cells. Your cells then use glucose for energy. In people who don’t have diabetes, the body makes the right amount of insulin on its own. But when you have diabetes, you and your doctor must decide how much insulin you need throughout the day and night.

Your plan for taking insulin will depend on your daily routine and your type of insulin. Some people with diabetes who use insulin need to take it two, three, or four times a day to reach their blood glucose targets. Others can take a single shot. Your doctor or diabetes educator will help you learn how and when to give yourself insulin.

Each type of insulin works at a different speed. For example, rapid-acting insulin starts to work right after you take it. Long-acting insulin works for many hours. Most people need two or more types of insulin to reach their blood glucose targets.

For information on the different types of insulin refer to the webpage Insulin Facts

Insulin Side Effects

insulin-therapy
Insulin Therapy: A Pocket Guide

Hypoglycemia is the most common and serious side effect of insulin, occurring in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Symptoms of low blood sugar(Hypoglycemia) can be mild, such as a feeling of lightheadedness, but can also be severe. In extreme cases, low blood sugar can even lead to coma and death. Other symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, confusion and rapid breathing. Loss of consciousness is a less common, but severe symptom of low blood sugar.

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2.Diabet​es Pills

worst-pills-best-pills
Worst Pills, Best Pills: A Consumer’s Guide to Preventing Drug-Induced Deat

If some combination of losing weight, making dietary changes and exercising doesn’t help a Type 2 diabetic achieve target blood sugar levels, a doctor will prescribe oral antidiabetic medications.

Along with meal planning and physical activity, diabetes pills help people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes keep their blood glucose levels on target. Several kinds of pills are available. Each works in a different way. Many people take two or three kinds of pills. Some people take combination pills. Combination pills contain two kinds of diabetes medicine in one tablet. Some people take pills and insulin.

Your doctor may ask you to try one kind of pill. If it doesn’t help you reach your blood glucose targets, your doctor may ask you to

A.Take more of the same pill

B.Add another kind of pill

C.Change to another type of pill

D.Start taking insulin

E.Start taking another injected medicine

If your doctor suggests that you take insulin or another injected medicine, it doesn’t mean your diabetes is getting worse. Instead, it means you need insulin or another type of medicine to reach your blood glucose targets. Everyone is different. What works best for you depends on your usual daily routine, eating habits, and activities, and your other health conditions.

Many types of diabetes pills can help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood glucose. Each class of pill helps lower blood glucose in a different way.

Diabetes drugs, alongside a healthy diet and exercise routine, help people with type 2 diabetes/gestational diabetes to maintain stable blood glucose levels.

The 5 Components That Make Every Meal Gut-Healing

A variety of different diabetes drugs are available, with each performing a different function. Many people with diabetes have to take more than one type of pill, with some taking pills which combine two types of drug in one tablet.

For information on the different types of Type 2 diabetes medication refer to http://diabetessupportsite/diabetes-pills-information

Some people experience a variety of side effects from different oral diabetes drugs.

Each of the medicines discussed here has side effects and other warnings and precautions. Some diabetes pills have been associated with increased risk of heart disease. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of a drug with your doctor before starting any therapy.

A.Sulfonylureas

Analytical-method-development-and-validation
Analytical Method Development and Validation: Simultaneous Estimation of Pioglitazone and Glimepiride in Tablet Dosage Form by RP-HPLC

These pills do two things:

Help your pancreas make more insulin.

Help your body use the insulin it makes.

For these pills to work, your pancreas has to make some insulin.

Generic names for some of the more common sufonylureas are glimepiride, glyburide, chlorpropamide, and glipizide.

Some sulfonylureas work all day, so you take them only once a day – usually before breakfast. Others you take twice a day, typically before breakfast and before supper. Your doctor will tell you how many times a day you should take your diabetes pills.

Some possible side effects include low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), upset stomach, skin rash or itching, and/or weight gain.

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3.Injections Other Than ​Insulin

In addition to insulin, other types of injected medicines are now available.

New- Mechanisms- in- Glucose- Control
New Mechanisms in Glucose Control

Other drugs include:

(A)Albiglutide (Tanzeum)

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).
The Insulinotropic Gut Hormone Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (Frontiers in Diabetes)

It’s a man-made version of a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Your intestines normally release this substance when you eat. It helps control your blood sugar.

Who can take it: Adults who have type 2 diabetes and haven’t had success with other treatment. If you’re planning to get pregnant, talk with your doctor, since researchers haven’t studied albiglutide in pregnant women.

What it does: After you eat, albiglutide helps your pancreas release insulin, which moves blood sugar (glucose) into your cells. It also limits how much of the hormone glucagon your body makes. This substance spurs your liver to release stored sugar. The drug also slows down digestion.

Side effects: The most common ones are upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, nausea, and skin reactions where you give yourself the shot. All GLP-1 drugs, including albiglutide, have a boxed warning noting that in animal studies, this type of drug has been linked to thyroid cancer in some rats and mice. Experts don’t know whether it has the same effect in people, though. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which may be severe, is another side effect.

11 Facts About Your Thyroid

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daily-medication-logbook

 It is important for you to keep a written record of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this medication journal with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

How Alcohol Affects Diabetes

science-of-drinking
The Science of Drinking: How Alcohol Affects Your Body and Mind

There are three main ways drinking alcohol to excess can be a factor in causing diabetes:

1.Heavy drinking can reduce the body’s sensitivity to insulin, which can trigger type 2 diabetes .

2.Diabetes is a common side effect of chronic pancreatitis, which is overwhelmingly caused by heavy drinking.

3.Alcohol contains a huge amount of calories – one pint of lager can be equivalent to a slice of pizza. So drinking can also increase your chance of becoming overweight and your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Low levels of alcohol could potentially provide some level of protection against developing  Type 2 diabetes.

According to a review of 15 studies into the link between diabetes and alcohol, ‘moderate drinkers’ (who drank between one and six units per day) were a third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than either people who didn’t drink alcohol or those who drank heavily.

This is thought to be because low to moderate levels of alcohol actually make the body more sensitive to insulin 

How Alcohol Affects Diabetes

control-alcohol
This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol: Find Freedom, Rediscover Happiness & Change Your Life: Volume 1

When someone has diabetes, more of the glucose in their body stays in their blood – it isn’t being used as fuel for energy. The body tries to reduce blood glucose levels by flushing the excess glucose out of the body into their urine.

Patients on insulin treatment for diabetes can develop abnormally low blood sugar levels. This is known as hypoglycaemia. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

slurring words

a headache

confusion

double vision

abnormal behaviour

unconsciousness.

Hypoglycaemia can be particularly dangerous when you’re drinking because people can mistakenly think that you’re drunk and may not realise you need urgent medical help.

Drinking heavily can also increase the chances of developing hypoglycaemia because it prevents the liver from making glucose when you drink on an empty stomach .

For example, the risk of hypoglycaemia would increase the morning after you’ve slept following heavy drinking.

If you have nerve damage as a result of diabetes, drinking alcohol can make it worse and increase the pain, tingling, numbness and other symptoms .

Here are some other ways that alcohol can affect diabetes:

1.While moderate amounts of alcohol can cause blood sugar to rise, excess alcohol can actually decrease your blood sugar level — sometimes causing it to drop into dangerous levels.

Within a few minutes of drinking alcohol, and for up to 12 hours afterward, alcohol can cause your blood glucose level to drop. After consuming alcohol, always check your blood glucose level to make sure it is in the safe zone. If your blood glucose is below 100 mg/dL, eat a snack to bring it up.

2.Beer and sweet wine contain carbohydrates and may raise blood sugar.

Always test blood sugar before having an alcoholic beverage.

Alcohol impairs your liver’s ability to produce glucose, so be sure to know your blood glucose number before you drink an alcoholic beverage.

3.Alcohol stimulates your appetite, which can cause you to overeat and may affect your blood sugar control.

Alcohol prevents your liver from doing its job.

When you drink alcohol, your liver has to work to remove it from your blood instead of working to regulate blood sugar. For this reason, you should never drink alcohol when your blood glucose is already low.

4.Alcohol may also affect your judgment or willpower, causing you to make poor food choices.

Weight gain and obesity are risk factors in the development of diabetes and also have a negative impact on controlling the disease.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

8 Things To Eat And Drink After A Junk Food Binge

5.Alcohol can interfere with the positive effects of oral diabetes medicines or insulin.

Alcohol can cause blood glucose levels to rise or fall, depending on how much you drink. Some diabetes pills (including sulfonylureas and meglitinides) also lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to make more insulin.

Combining the blood-sugar-lowering effects of the medication with alcohol can lead to hypoglycemia or “insulin shock,” which is a medical emergency.

6.Alcohol may increase triglyceride levels.

trigyceride -monitor
PRIMA Cholesterol and Triglycerides 2 in 1 Home Test/Meter Kit Monitoring System FDA Approved!!!

Cholesterol and triglycerides are two forms of blood-borne fat that appear in the human circulatory system.

People with too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol or triglycerides in their bloodstreams can develop substantially increased risks for serious forms of heart disease.

In a study  a team of  researchers looked at the connection between LDL and triglyceride levels and occasional or habitual heavy consumption of alcohol.

These researchers found that even occasional heavy drinking can significantly boost the presence of these blood-borne fats.

Heavy drinkers exceed the commonly accepted public health recommendations for moderate alcohol consumption, which set limits on both daily and weekly intake for men and women.

The average man transitions from moderate to excessive drinking when he consumes five drinks or more in one day or 15 drinks or more in one week.

The average woman makes the same transition when she consumes four drinks or more in one day or eight drinks or more in one week.

7.Alcohol may increase blood pressure.

alcohol-blood-pressure-monitor
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Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily increases your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases.

Heavy drinkers who cut back to moderate drinking can lower their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by 2 to 4 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) by 1 to 2 mm Hg.

Heavy drinkers who want to lower blood pressure should slowly reduce how much they drink over one to two weeks. Heavy drinkers who stop suddenly risk developing severe high blood pressure for several days.

What Are The Alcohol Guidelines For Diabetics?

Medical-consequences-of-alcohol-abuse
A Great and Growing Evil?: The Medical Effects of Alcohol

Doctors usually advise diabetics that they can safely drink alcohol in moderation.

So, if you have diabetes and drink, it’s particularly important to stay within the government’s lower risk guidelines.

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Staying in control Of Your Alcohol Consumption

easy-ways-to-control-alcohol
Easy Way to Control Alcohol

Alcohol is unlike carbohydrate, protein, and fat. However, alcohol is metabolized, or handled, by the body in a manner similar to fat.

This means that calories from alcohol can easily be stored as fat unless you burn them off.

Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram; fat contains 9 calories per gram, and carb and protein contain 4 calories per gram.

So alcohol is a prime source of calories.

If you’re trying to lose or maintain your weight, you need to think about this carefully.

An occasional glass of wine isn’t a problem. But if you tend to have a glass of wine every night, you need to consider that 4 ounces of wine contains about 90 calories. Over time, this can add up.

You may want to cut down on alcohol and avoid that spare tire around your waist.

Here are some ways you can cut back:

1. Eat well.

A healthy meal before you start drinking, and snacks between drinks can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol. It’s particularly important if you’re diabetic. Alcohol lowers blood sugar levels, so eat plenty of food, preferably carbohydrates, to make sure blood sugar levels stay steady.

2. Keep track of what you’re drinking.

As well as noting how many units you are drinking,you should note how many calories you’re consuming too . It’s a great way to watch your units and your weight.

3. Know your strength.

Alcoholic drinks labels will have the abbreviation “ABV” which stands for Alcohol By Volume, or sometimes just the word “vol”. It shows the percentage of your drink that’s pure alcohol.

This can vary a lot. For example, some ales are 3.5%, some stronger lagers can be as much as 6% ABV.

This means that just one pint of strong lager can be more than three units of alcohol, so you need to keep your eye on what you’re drinking.

4.Strategies for drinking less at home

alcohol-measurement
Stainless Steel Dual Measure Spirit Measuring Cup

If you’re pouring your own drinks at home, it’s easy to drink more alcohol than you realise. Here are some tips to help you keep track:

If you drink wine at home, pour small amounts into your glass.

If you fill glasses to the rim, you’ll drink more than you realise. Opt for small 125ml glasses too.

Measure your spirits instead of free pouring them.

Try and pour your own drinks. If your partner or your host is constantly topping up your half-filled glass, it’s hard to keep track of how much alcohol you are drinking.

5.Strategies for drinking less out and about

stop-drinking-app

Best Way to Stop Drinking Alcohol Now

Use the smartphone drink tracking tool. It’s simple to use.

Ask for a small glass of wine. A 125ml glass is around one and a half units of alcohol.

Drink spritzers if you like wine, or pints of shandy if you’re a lager drinker. You’ll still get a large drink, but one that contains less alcohol.

Opt for half pints if you prefer higher strength lager or try lower strength beer. You really won’t notice the difference.

Alternate alcoholic drinks with bottled mineral water or diet soft drinks.

Ask questions. If you are still uncertain about how much you are drinking, ask the bar staff. Do they pour doubles or singles? How big is their large glass of wine?

6.Cutting down together

give-up-alcohol
Give Up Alcohol Hypnosis / Hypnotherapy CD – Cut Down on Drinking and Put a Stop to Dangerous Binging by Tapping Into the Power of Your Mind

How with a little bit of team work you could both be drinking less and enjoying an even better relationship.

How many times have you filled your partner’s wine glass without asking? Or maybe they regularly have a large glass of red or a beer waiting for you when you get home from work?

These might be meant as nice gestures, but you could be encouraging each other to drink more than you would really like.

Working together, you can cut back on your alcohol intake.

7.Drinking habits

When you live with your partner it’s easy to adopt each other’s habits, without even realising.

It’s important to look for the ‘triggers’ that bring on your habits: “The obvious one for drinking is having a hard day at work. Many people associate alcohol with pleasure and relaxation.”

Triggers can be as simple as time and place. “You get home from work and it’s 6.30pm. It’s time to relax and eat, and that’s when your thoughts might turn to that first drink.”

As your behaviours become shared habits, such as splitting a bottle of wine in front of your favourite TV programme, they become harder to change.

You reinforce each other’s behaviour.

One of you might say you don’t feel like wine that evening, but if the other persuades you with a gentle ‘go on’, your resistance can easily cave in.

8.Cut down on drinking: how to help each other

If you’re going to cut down on your drinking, it’s important that both partners really buy into the change.

There’s less likely to be friction or resistance if you decide to do this together.

One of the reasons we automatically say ‘yes’ to another drink, even though we’d intended to stop for the evening, is we don’t have a concrete plan or an alternative course of action.

With your partner, think about situations when you might be tempted to drink more than the government’s lower risk guidelines.

Talk about how you can avoid those situations, and what you can do instead.

Maybe you always get through a bottle of wine when you have your weekly takeaway.

If you know you’re going to order one, decide together to avoid the off licence on the way home from work.

9.Do something different

If you’ve formed habits that involve drinking, you’ll need some alternative things to do to help you cut down.

If that time happens to be when you both settle in front of the TV for the evening, try extending your meal with a healthy dessert such as fresh fruit or a hot drink.

Or get into the habit of heading out to do something together after dinner, even if it’s just a walk.

Making changes to your routine can be a great way to discover new, shared interests.

10.Encourage each other

If one of you is starting to lapse, that’s when the other’s support is more important than ever.

Language you use to discuss changes to your drinking can make a big difference – encourage your partner to stick to their goals, rather than demanding they do so.

Instead of ‘You must do this’ or ‘You need to do that’, try highlighting the advantages of drinking less.

Point out what you’re both gaining by making changes.

 

Why Giving Up Alcohol Could Transform Your Skin

11.Treat each other

Instead of drinking every time you eat together, save the wine for a special candlelit dinner.

When you do drink, don’t feel you have to finish the bottle.

Take it in turns to bring home a treat instead of a bottle of wine – a good DVD, or ingredients for that special dinner you can cook together.

12.Cut down on alcohol together: feel the benefits

how-to-stop-drinking-alcohol
How to Stop Drinking Alcohol: A Simple Path from Alcohol Misery to Alcohol Mastery

Working together towards a goal, and supporting your partner to achieve something in itself, is something really positive.

Make an effort to notice how you feel.

Maybe you’re fresher in the morning after a better night’s sleep, or are generally healthier and more energetic. Feeling less tired can help keep petty arguments at bay.

Tell each other about the positive changes you’re seeing, such as weight loss. This will help you stick to your goals.

Alcohol is a depressant. It might make you feel happy at first. But the overall effect of too much alcohol is to suppress the hormones that make you feel happy.

In summary, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to alcohol. For some people, the safest and smartest approach to take is to not drink any alcohol. For others, the goal is to learn how to fit alcohol into your diabetes treatment plan safely—ask your health-care team if you’re not sure.

Click Here For a library of educational articles on addiction, recovery, and detoxification.

 

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the websitePositivehealthwellness.com

The Incredible Health Benefits To Quitting Drinking

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It can be all too easy for people to fall victim to alcohol abuse, especially if they suffer from one or more risk factors which lead to abuse. The problem is that once you fall into alcohol abuse, it’s hard to get out of it without help.

Alcoholtreatment.net can guide you in the right direction and help you take back your life!

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

Link between Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease

Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease

Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Evaluation, Prevention & Management

1. Cardiovascular disease is a major complication of diabetes and the leading cause of early death among people with  diabetes—about 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke.

The following statistics speak loud and clear that there is a strong correlation between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes.

At least 68 percent of people age 65 or older with diabetes die from some form of heart disease; and 16% die of stroke.

The more health risks factors a person has for heart disease, the higher the chances that they will develop heart disease and even die from it.

11 Bizarre Factors That Increase Your Risk Of Heart Disease

Just like anyone else, people with diabetes have an increased risk of dying from heart disease if they have more health risk factors.

However, the probability of dying from heart disease is dramatically higher in a person with diabetes. So, while a person with one health risk factor, such as high blood pressure, may have a certain chance of dying from heart disease, a person with diabetes has double or even quadruple the risk of dying.

2. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or suffer a stroke than  people without diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality for people with diabetes.

If you have diabetes your risk of cardiovascular disease rises for a number of reasons. Hypertension, abnormal blood lipids and obesity, all risk factors in their own right for cardiovascular disease, occur more frequently in people with diabetes.

Uncontrolled diabetes causes damage to your body’s blood vessels making them more prone to damage from atherosclerosis and hypertension. People with diabetes develop atherosclerosis at a younger age and more severely than people without diabetes.

Hypertension is more than twice as common in people with diabetes as in people with normal blood glucose levels.

People with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, than people who do not, and their prognosis is worse.

If you have diabetes you can have a heart attack without realizing it.  Diabetes can damage nerves as well as blood vessels so a heart attack can be ‘silent’, that is lacking the typical chest pain.

Premenopausal women who have diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease because diabetes cancels out the protective effects of estrogen.

3.High blood glucose in adults with diabetes increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, angina, and  coronary artery disease.

The connection between diabetes and heart disease starts with high blood sugar levels. With time, the high glucose in the bloodstream damages the arteries, causing them to become stiff and hard.

Fatty material that builds up on the inside of these blood vessels can eventually block blood flow to the heart or brain, leading to heart attack or stroke. Your risk of heart disease with diabetes is further elevated if you also have a family history of cardiovascular disease or stroke.

Other heart facts to consider:

(a)A person with diabetes who has had one heart attack has a much greater risk of having another.

(b)A middle-aged person who has diabetes has the same chance of having a heart attack as someone who is not diabetic, but already had a heart attack.

(c)People with diabetes develop cardiovascular disease at a much earlier age than others.

(d)People with diabetes who have heart attacks are more apt to die as a result.

4. People with type 2 diabetes also have high rates of high blood pressure, lipid problems, and obesity, which contribute to their high rates of Cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes is treatable, but even when glucose levels are under control it greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. That’s because people with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, may have the following conditions that contribute to their risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
high-blood-pressure-monitor

Omron M2 Basic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

High blood pressure has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies report a positive association between hypertension and insulin resistance. When patients have both hypertension and diabetes, which is a common combination, their risk for cardiovascular disease doubles.

Abnormal Cholesterol and High Triglycerides
cholesterol-monitor

Cholesterol Monitoring Machine

Patients with diabetes often have unhealthy cholesterol levels including high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and high triglycerides. This triad of poor lipid counts often occurs in patients with premature coronary heart disease. It is also characteristic of a lipid disorder associated with insulin resistance called atherogenic dyslipidemia, or diabetic dyslipidemia in those patients with diabetes.

Obesity
bathroom-scales

Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom Scale (200 kg / 440 lbs Capacity), with Weight Change Detection Technology & StepOn Activation

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has been strongly associated with insulin resistance. Weight loss can improve cardiovascular risk, decrease insulin concentration and increase insulin sensitivity. Obesity and insulin resistance also have been associated with other risk factors, including high blood pressure.

What Is Obesity?

Lack of Physical Activity
istrider-leg-exerciser

iStrider Leg Exerciser Magic Fitness Kit Cross Trainer Elliptical Skiing Machine Spinning

Physical inactivity is another  major risk factor for insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.

Exercising and losing weight can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, reduce blood pressure and help reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke.

It’s likely that any type of moderate and/or vigorous intensity, aerobic physical activity—whether sports, household work, gardening or work-related physical activity—is similarly beneficial.

Poorly Controlled Blood Sugars (too high) or Out of Normal Range

2016-calendar-for-diabetics
2016 Calendar for Diabetics: BONUS: Doctor Appointment Reminder – Monitor your high blood sugar and low reading on an easy to see daily calendar.

Diabetes can cause blood sugar to rise to dangerous levels.
Lowering blood sugar levels could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in both diabetics and non-diabetics, according to researchers. The researchers found that Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)—a measure of long-term blood glucose level—predicts heart disease risk in both diabetics and non-diabetics.

In participants with diabetes, the researchers found a graded association between HbA1c and increasing coronary heart disease risk. Each 1-percentage-point increase in HbA1c level was associated with a 14 percent increase in heart disease risk.

According to the study, the current target for “good” glycemic control is an HbA1c value less than 7 percent. However, the researchers’ analyses suggest that heart disease risk begins to increase at values even below 7 percent.

They found that those study participants without diabetes but who had “high normal” HbA1c levels (approximately 5 percent to 6 percent) were at an increased heart disease risk, even after accounting for other factors such as age, cholesterol level, blood pressure, body mass index and smoking.

Non-diabetic persons with HbA1c levels of 6 percent or higher had almost a two-fold greater heart disease risk compared to persons with an HbA1c level below 4.6 percent.

5.Smoking doubles the risk Cardiovascular disease in people with Diabetes.

Easy-way-to-stop-smoking
Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Revised Edition

Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, including the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, mouth, reproductive organs, bones, bladder, and digestive organs.

The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm your blood cells. They also can damage the function of your heart and the structure and function of your blood vessels. This damage increases your risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up in the arteries. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) occurs if plaque builds up in the coronary (heart) arteries. Over time, CHD can lead to chest pain, heart attack, heart failure,  or even death.

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. When combined with other risk factors—such as unhealthy blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and overweight or obesity—smoking further raises the risk of heart disease.

15 Do

Smoking also is a major risk factor for peripheral artery disease (P.A.D.). P.A.D. is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to the head, organs, and limbs. People who have P.A.D. are at increased risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Any amount of smoking, even light smoking or occasional smoking, damages the heart and blood vessels.

For some people, such as women who use birth control pills and people who have diabetes, smoking poses an even greater risk to the heart and blood vessels.

Secondhand smoke also can harm the heart and blood vessels. Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Secondhand smoke also refers to smoke that’s breathed out by a person who is smoking.

Secondhand smoke contains many of the same harmful chemicals that people inhale when they smoke. Secondhand smoke can damage the hearts and blood vessels of people who don’t smoke in the same way that active smoking harms people who do smoke. Secondhand smoke greatly increases adults’ risk of heart attack and death.

Secondhand smoke also raises children and teens’ risk of future CHD because it:

Lowers HDL cholesterol (sometimes called “good” cholesterol)

Raises blood pressure

Damages heart tissues

The risks of secondhand smoke are especially high for premature babies who have respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and children who have conditions such as asthma.

Researchers know less about how cigar and pipe smoke affects the heart and blood vessels than they do about cigarette smoke.

However, the smoke from cigars and pipes contains the same harmful chemicals as the smoke from cigarettes. Also, studies have shown that people who smoke cigars are at increased risk for heart disease.

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke damages the heart and blood vessels in many ways. Smoking also is a major risk factor for developing heart disease or dying from it.

Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke can help reverse heart and blood vessel damage and reduce heart disease risk.

Quitting smoking is possible, but it can be hard. Millions of people have quit smoking successfully and remained nonsmokers. A variety of strategies, programs, and medicines are available to help you quit smoking.
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Causes,Symptoms And Treatment Of Heart Disease In Diabetics

The most common cause of heart disease in a person with diabetes is hardening of the coronary arteries or atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of cholesterol in the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrition to the heart.

This buildup of cholesterol usually begins before the increase in blood sugars that occurs in type 2 diabetes. In other words, heart disease almost always has established itself prior to the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Click Here For More Information

Preventing Heart Disease

Say No To Heart Disease: The drug-free guide to preventing and fighting heart disease

The good news is that there are steps to take to reduce your risk for heart disease if you have diabetes.

Click Here For More Information

The best way to prevent heart disease is to take good care of yourself and your diabetes.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

Foods High in Potassium for Heart Health

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

 

 

How To Beat Diabetes Burnout

What is Diabetes Burnout?

Diabetes-burnout
Diabetes Burnout: What to Do When You Can’t Take it Anymore: Preventing It, Surviving It, Finding Inner Peace

All of the effort required of people with diabetes can sometimes lead to “diabetes burnout”—a state in which diabetics grow tired of managing their disease and then simply ignore  it for a period of time, or worse, forever. “Diabetes burnout” is not the same thing as depression, instead it is something that takes place when a person is either unwilling to change, or simply tired of the endless attention diabetes care requires.

Burnout can be characterised by a person’s complete disregard for their blood sugar levels.

They may also miss doctor appointments, forget or avoid taking insulin injections or other diabetic medication, or switch back to unhealthy eating habits.

Often it will be a state of mind that is reached after years of dealing with the condition.

While ignoring your diabetes can seriously harm your health and increase your risk of complications, it is understandable that a person with diabetes would experience these feelings. Fortunately, there are strategies for alleviating the stress of managing your diabetes, and avoiding diabetes burnout.

Signs of Diabetes Burnout

Dealing-with-diabetes-burnout
Dealing with Diabetes Burnout

It takes a great deal of time and energy, but taking care of yourself is the only way to prevent diabetes from taking a toll on your health.

Poorly managed blood sugar, especially for long periods of time, increases the risk for serious diabetes-related complications. To keep your diabetes management plan on track, watch for these warning signs of diabetes burnout:

Emotional exhaustion. Managing a chronic illness like diabetes takes an emotional toll and can leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and down.

Social withdrawal. Sudden distance from friends, family, and other support systems such as co-workers could signal diabetes burnout.

Decline in activity or performance level. Reaching a point of just getting by or doing no more than the minimum that is physically or mentally required of you may suggest diabetes burnout.

Negligence about medical care. This is one of the most dangerous signs of diabetes burnout. Cancelling doctor’s appointments, not taking medications as prescribed, eating poorly, and not exercising are warning signs that you’re not taking care of yourself as you should.

Ways To Avoid Diabetes Burnout

1.Check in with your Diabetes team

Make (and keep) regular appointments with your doctor or diabetes educator, even if you are embarrassed. An appointment gives you a chance to troubleshoot problem areas.

For example, some diabetics give up on their eating plans because they feel confused about what they can and can’t eat. Your dietitician will help you outline a simple eating plan and suggests ways to vary your meals to prevent boredom. These check-ins can help you in a major way.

Your diabetes care team  should help you stay motivated and updated on the latest advances in diabetes treatment. Always bring a list of questions to ask your healthcare professional during a visit.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral to a specialist if you want more information than your provider has available.

2.Don’t strive for perfection

While it’s important to aim for blood sugar levels in your target range, accept that fluctuations happen, even when you try your best.
There’s no such thing as perfect control. You can put someone in a room and give them the exact same meal every day, and you’ll still see some variation due to things like stress or hormone levels.

You’re less likely to feel frustrated if you accept that some of this is simply out of your control.

If you forgive yourself for the occasional glucose fluctuation, you’ll be relieved of the stress associated with trying to achieve perfection, and you’ll likely reap more rewards for this kind of approach in the long-term.

3.Identify barriers to good diabetes care

teaching-diabetes-self-management
Nurses’ Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-Management: Second Edition

Are there certain obstacles in your life that are preventing you from taking the best possible care of yourself?

If so, make a list of those things and actively engage in solving these problems one by one.

Eating out in restaurants, laid back attitude towards exercise, and leading high-risk lifestyles are some of the barriers that stop diabetics from controlling their condition.

For example, if you have a tough time making it to the gym to exercise, consider buying a treadmill for your home. What you would have spent on membership to a gym in a year is probably equivalent to the cost of purchasing equipment for your home.

This approach applies to other aspects of life, too. If keeping the same testing and medication schedule is helpful in maintaining good glucose readings, avoid situations where you’ll be forced to disrupt that schedule.

Behavioral and psychiatric disorders, and cultural and language barriers, among both diabetics and family members, also act as barriers to effective diabetes treatment.

Finance is another significant barrier in keeping a check on blood sugar levels. Even if healthcare is free or funded by insurance, diabetics still have to spend more money on healthy food and transport to and from healthcare appointments.

With a lack of proper knowledge, diabetics fail to understand the relevance of diet and care plans.  Moreover, being unable to maintain good glucose control can cause helplessness and frustration, as can the progression of the disease.

Diabetics who receive support from family, friends and diabetes clinics appear to handle self-care better than those who do not.

Better healthcare systems and reforms that improve affordability, accessibility and efficiency of care are essential to help diabetics meet good standards of diabetes care.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

8 Best Fruits for a Diabetes-Friendly Diet

4.Get some support

Having diabetes and managing it well shouldn’t be tasks that you keep secret. Family, friends, and coworkers can help you stay motivated by offering support.  Let others know that you plan to do your best to manage your diabetes, and need their help.

Then be specific about what you consider to be helpful, such as counting carbohydrates together at a meal, and what you don’t consider helpful, such as being asked constantly if a particular food is the “right” food to be eating.

Take time to appreciate what you’re doing right, even the small things, like that walk you took after dinner last night or the apple you had with lunch.

Then, set some gentle goals that build on those successes: take one more walk this week, keep a food diary for 7 days, or eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal, for example.

5.Slow down other parts of your life

Depending on your situation, this may take different forms – but the general idea is to give yourself more breathing space in your non-diabetes life and, in so doing, a better ability to cope.

Ways to do this – for example, the next time you’re waiting for someone or something, try just paying attention to your surroundings rather than checking your email. Stare blankly out of windows once in a while. Not every moment needs to be filled – in fact, having some empty space can lead to calm. And if you feel more calm in other areas of your life, chances are diabetes won’t seem quite so overwhelming.

6.Connect with other people who have diabetes

It’s an isolating disease, and isolation is depressing. But chances are that if you’re reading this, you have internet access – which also means you have access to thousands of other people struggling with similar things. Check out some of the wonderful blogs and websites written by other people with diabetes.

For example:

DIABETES MINE

URL:http://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine

DIABETES SELF MANAGEMENT

URL:http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/

TEXTING MY PANCREAS

URL:http://www.textingmypancreas.com/

SCOTTSDIABETES.COM

URL:http://scottsdiabetes.com/

 

7.Acknowledge your feelings

sugar-linings
Sugar Linings: Finding the Bright Side of Type 1 Diabetes

Coping with the daily challenges that come with diabetes can make a person feel defeated, depressed, angry, or sad.  If you begin to have these feelings, especially if they’re lingering or deepening, seek help.

Often your healthcare provider or diabetes educator can provide support resources to help you better manage the practical aspects of living with diabetes,.

8.Simplify your routine

diabetes-a-to-z
Diabetes A to Z: What You Need to Know About Diabetes – Simply Put

Identify which parts of your diabetes plan are most difficult and cause the most stress. Talk with your treatment team to brainstorm ways to simplify your diabetes care.

Typically stress and burnout result from unrealistic expectations, lack of information, or even misunderstanding information. Balancing the critical relationship between diabetes and what, when, and how you eat is also one of the most stressful aspects of diabetes management.

Working with a registered dietitian, especially one who is also a certified diabetes educator, can help you understand how food affects diabetes and how to make dietary changes that are realistic and will improve your quality of life.

9.Get organized


Collins Chatsworth Pocket Organiser Week to View 2016 Diary – Black

Improved time management and organizational skills can help reduce diabetes burnout and help you gain control of all areas of your life, including diabetes.

Think about what you must do in the morning and try to accomplish some of those tasks the night before. Prepare your lunch and snacks before you go to sleep.

Set out your clothing and your children’s clothing the night before so you don’t have to decide what to wear in the morning. This will allow you to have ample time in the morning to check your blood glucose, eat breakfast, exercise, etc.

10.Learn to say “no.”

No one can do it all, and when you’re feeling overwhelmed by efforts to keep diabetes under control, something else has to go. Saying “no” doesn’t have to be permanent.

It can just be until you feel well enough to take on another task. But it can be permanent if the stress that comes with a task or obligation is simply too much.

11.Identify what you can and cannot change

You may not be able to change someone else’s behavior, but you can change how you react to it.

The same can be said about your diabetes. When you feel more in control of your disease, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and burned out from it.

12. Are Your Medications Helping?

If you have been on the same medications at the same doses for years, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about them.

Bring a list with their dosages. Tell the doctor how long you have been taking them.

Diabetic care can change in a very short time. There may be a new, better pill or change in dosing that will help you.

Ask questions. There may be an easier way to take your insulin or a less painful way to check your blood sugar.

You might not need some of your medications any longer if you have lost weight, made changes in your diet and become more physically fit.

Seeing results will bring you right out of burnout.

What to Eat Before, During, and After Running

13. Are You Happy With Your Doctor?

People tend to stay with a doctor even when they are not happy. You may have to step out of your comfort zone, but it will be worth it if that brings you out of diabetes burnout.

Do you dread doctor visits because he makes you feel discouraged? Worse, do you feel invisible?

Doctors suffer from burnout too, so go somewhere else if you can.

Doctors and other caregivers should be encouraging, giving hope. They should listen and discuss your concerns.

Good endocrinologists stay on top of diabetic news and are ready to talk to you about better ways to handle diabetes.

If you are not happy with your doctor, find another one. If you cannot do that, at least talk to him about it. That might just change everything.

Sometimes doctors are preoccupied and need to be shaken out of it. They are people too.

14.Are You Suffering with depression?

depression-and-diabetes
Depression and Diabetes (World Psychiatric Association)

Diabetes burnout goes hand in hand with depression. So talk to someone, because depression will not get better on its own.

Perhaps all you need is better sleep or more exercise or someone to talk to. Getting help starts with a conversation.

If you are a caregiver or friend and you see a diabetic slipping into burnout, do not hesitate to confront him or her.

Believe me, you can make a difference. Your honest concern will get through even if you do not see results at first.

The tunnel vision from living with a chronic condition like diabetes can make us forget that there are others who suffer along with us.

The people who care about you do not want to stand by and watch you give up. So do not let burnout do that to you.

Ask the questions and do the things it takes to shake off diabetes burnout. You are much more than a diabetic. There are still things in this world that only you can do!!!

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

 

7 Herbs And Foods The Lowers Glucose Naturally

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

How To Care For A Dog With Diabetes

chocolate-lab
Chocolate Lab: A Gift Journal for People who Love Dogs: Chocolate Labrador Retriever Edition: Volume 5 (So Cute Puppies)

Bruno is a big cuddly brown ball of fur.He is my favourite thing to cuddle up with especially on a cold winter’s night near our open fire, watching my favourite television programmes.

He is a big baby in that he cuddles me so close I can hardly breathe so I named him”Baby Bruno” when he was a puppy and the name has stuck because he still behaves like a young dog even though he is nearly twelve years of age.

Even though he is an old dog now I still love him the same as I did when he was a young mischevious pup!

I would be lost without my two dogs Hachi and Bruno!They are great company especially when I am working on this website as they often come into our office where our personal computer is!

Bruno is my dog really and Hachi is my husband’s Brendan’s dog it just turned out that way for some reason that’s life!Bruno is a lovely dog even if he is getting old and isnt as attractive as the dog in the picture above.

Caring for him is going to be more difficult soon as he cant walk as well as he use to because of his arithritis but that’s life isnt it we are all getting older!

He cant go for long walks anymore and is therefore inclined to put on weight!

Therefore we are afraid he might end up with Type 2 diabetes which would make life even more difficult for him and us!

My other dog Keano with Bruno when he was a pup

Bruno had another friend called Keano who died when Bruno was eight years old.

Keano was a very placid and gentle dog as most golden retrievers are and always left some of the food in his bowl for Bruno!

Keano was like Bruno he had problems with his legs but in his case it was because of hip problems!

We bought him a cart online which cost a fair bit but it was worth it as it meant he could be more active!

I loved that dog very much more than I should have as I prolonged the envitable I should have got him put down months before I did!

Keano wasnt overweight like Bruno so we didnt worry too much about him getting Type 2 diabetes!

Diabetes in dogs is a complex disease caused by either a lack of the hormone insulin or an inadequate response to insulin.

After a dog eats his digestive system breaks food into various components which is carried into his cells by insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas. When a dog does not produce insulin or cannot utilize it normally, his blood sugar levels rise. The result is hyperglycemia, which, if left untreated, can cause many complicated health problems for a dog.

It is important to understand, however, that diabetes is considered a manageable disorder and many diabetic dogs can lead happy, healthy lives.

Why Dogs Get Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is usually found in young dogs, is actually quite rare in companion animals when they reach middle-age or senior years.

Your dog is much more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes around middle age or in his senior years, as a result of a lifestyle that  leads to decreased production of insulin or the inability of his body to use it efficiently.

Obesity is far and away the biggest reason pets become diabetic.

You can help your dog stay trim by feeding him a portion controlled appropriate diet ,such as pedigree dry nuts consisting primarily of a variety of  protein sources, healthy fats and vegetables.

Your pet has no biological requirement for grains or most other carbohydrates. Carbohydrates which can be as much as 80 percent the ingredient content of processed pet food, turn into sugar in your pet’s body. Excess sugar in dogs leads to diabetes.

Another lifestyle-related reason pets develop diabetes, one that often goes hand-in-hand with poor nutrition, is lack of physical activity.

Your dog needs regular aerobic exertion to help maintain a healthy weight and to keep his/her muscles in shape. Your pet should be getting at least 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise several days a week.

diabetes-in-dogs
Diabetes in Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide to Diabetes in Dogs

The most common form of the disease in young dogs is Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes, which occurs when the pancreas is incapable of producing or secreting adequate levels of insulin. Dogs who have Type 1 require insulin injections to survive. Type 2 diabetes is found in cats and senior dogs and is a lack of normal response to insulin.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes in Dogs?

Click Here for Symptoms that should be Investigated as they could be indicators that your dog has Diabetes.

6 Natural Treatments For Pet Allergies In Humans

 What Causes Diabetes in Dogs?

The exact cause of diabetes is unknown.

Which Dogs Are Prone to Diabetes?

It is thought that obese dogs and female dogs may run a greater risk of developing diabetes later in life (6-9 years of age). Some breeds may also run a greater risk, including Australian terriers, standard and miniature schnauzers, dachshunds, and poodles,. Type 1 diabetes can also be seen and is particularly prevalent in golden retrievers .

Treating Canine Diabetes

A blood test that measures your dog’s blood glucose level is the most common way.

Once your dog is diagnosed, his/her veterinarian will give you a diabetes management plan for your dog which will help you manage his/her condition.

Your vet will advise you on what insulin dose to give your dog,how often you need to inject your dog with insulin and the correct diet and exercise plan for your pet.

Click Here For Information On Checking Your Dogs Blood Glucose Levels And Administrating Insulin

Click Here For Free Ebook that teaches you great tips when it comes to  Caring For Your Dog.

Diabetic Dog Diet

dogs-weight-control-food
Burns Weight Control for Overweight or Diabetic Adult Dogs 15 kg

The general guidelines for a healthy diabetic dog diet are:

1.Feeding the dog natural wholesome food in small doses, twice a day. Regular and small dosages will make it easier for the body to produce and utilize the sugar as well as the insulin.

2.Feeding time should be the same every day because dogs like routine and the security of knowing when and what time they will be fed.

3.The amount of food should also be the same every day.

Foods To Avoid

1.Soft or semi-moist pet foods – Usually they contain a lot of sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors.

2.Fatty meats and excessive oil – Enzymes need to be produced especially for the breakdown of fat, thus digesting fatty meats puts extra stress on the pancreas.

3.High carbohydrate foods – If a dog diet is high in carbohydrates, they will eventually be broken down into sugar. Excess sugar in the blood can lead to diabetes.

Exercise

A regular exercise program is important as it has the effect of decreasing insulin needs. It is important for the dog to exercise regularly and have the same amount of exercise every day,exercise at the same time of day,have the same duration of exercise time every day.Dog’s love routine it helps them stay focused.

Diabetic dogs can become seriously hypoglycemic (dangerously low blood sugar level) when they are out for a walk. As a precaution, therefore, always carry some sugar source(jelly sweets and orange juice for fast acting carbohydrate and wholewheat dog biscuits for slow releasing carbohydrate) with you when you take your diabetic dog out for exercise.

Weight Control

If your diabetic dog is obese, gradual weight loss is highly recommended. Weight loss may help to reduce your dog’s need for insulin. However, the key is to lose weight gradually. Rapid weight loss should be avoided because it is hard to maintain a quick fix but slowly losing the weight is easier for your pet if you put him/her on a healthier diet.

Monitor Your Diabetic Dog

Keeping a logbook can help you monitor your diabetic dog’s progress. Every day, record blood glucose test results, any ketone test results, changes in your dog’s appetite, weight, appearance, water intake, urination frequency or mood, and any treatment changes your veterinarian makes. A simple notebook or computer spreadsheet works well.

Among the things to watch for on a day-to-day basis are low blood glucose levels(hypoglycemia)and high blood glucose levels(hyperglycemia).

It is very important that blood sugar levels are kept as close to normal as possible.

See the table below for the different blood glucose ranges:

Normal Blood Glucose Range: 4.0 to 5.9 mmol/l(72.0 to 106.2 mg/dl)

Hypoglycemia Range(low blood sugar level) :Below 4.0 mmol/l(72.0mg/dl)

Hyperglycemia Range(high blood sugar level): Above 7.0mmol/l(126.0mg/dl)

Hyperglycemia can lead to ketoacidosis (harmful levels of ketones in the blood), which qualifies as an emergency, and you should call your vet right away.

Symptoms include drinking lots of water, urinating frequently , loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting, lethargy, ketones in the urine and the most serious situation is when the dog goes into a coma.

Test strips are available to detect ketones in your dog’s urine, and you should report the presence of ketones to your veterinarian immediately, even if your dog has no other symptoms.

A range of symptoms may be present during hypoglycemia including restlessness, lethargy, confusion, weakness, wobbliness, lack of coordination, shivering, sweaty paws and the worst cases cause seizures and coma or even death.

Test your dog’s blood glucose level if these symptoms appear.

If it is below the recommended level, rub maple syrup,a high-sugar food that is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream on your dog’s gums and the inside of  his/her cheek, then monitor your pet’s blood sugar level as per the following post Hypoglycemia Facts.

Natural Supplements for Diabetes in Dogs

Supplements can be added to a diabetic dog diet to help aid the dog’s condition especially if the pet has an autoimmune condition such as diabetes.

1.One important supplement is brewer’s yeast. The chromium in the yeast aids the body in using blood sugar more effectively. You can give one teaspoon to one tablespoon (depending on the size of your dog) of brewer’s yeast with each meal to your dog.

2.Vitamins C and E are also essential.

3.Herbs can also be used to help strengthen and support major body systems that have been weakened by diabetes. Dogs with diabetes are unlikely to be able to fully utilize nutrients.

Therefore herbs that aid digestion and nutrient absorption will be beneficial to diabetic dogs. Dandelion leaf, alfalfa, and calendula are such herbs.

Some herbs are effective in maintaining and moderating blood sugar levels, such as dandelion root and burdock root.

5.Aloe vera and fenugreek seeds have also been found to be able to reduce blood sugar levels and stimulate insulin production in diabetic animals.

6.Garlic is another useful herb for diabetes in dogs. Garlic stimulates the stomach and intestines and increases digestive organ function.

7.Cinnamon may also be helpful for dogs with diabetes as it may improve how the body uses glucose by enhancing the action of insulin. Since cinnamon is also an antioxidant and is good for dogs, it does not hurt to sprinkle some cinnamon on your diabetic dog’s food on a regular basis.

8. Kelp has antioxidant properties, may be capable of helping the body in secreting insulin, thereby lowering the blood sugar levels.

Life-threatening complications of Pet Diabetes

living-with-a-diabetic-dog
Living With A Diabetic Dog: How To Keep Your Dog Healthy, Prevent Common Problems And Avoid Complications

When diabetes goes undiagnosed, or when it is difficult to control or regulate, the complication of diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) can occur.

Click Here For Important Information On DKA

How Can I Prevent Pet Diabetes?

In both dogs and cats, diabetes is tied to obesity and age. If your pet is over 10 years old and weighs too much, he or she is at a higher risk for diabetes. To decrease this risk, you can work with your veterinarian to increase your pet’s exercise level and decrease his or her caloric intake.

Just like with people, if pets consume more calories than they use they will gain weight. . It’s best to choose higher protein foods, and many pet parents find that a grain-free pet food with natural ingredients helps prevent their pets from gaining weight.

Because a higher-protein diet can be more nutrient dense (as well as calorie dense), you may need to speak with your vet about decreasing your pet’s portion size when you transition foods.

 A higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet helps prevent diabetes.

Food Bowl Tips

dog-food-for-diabetic-dog
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Canine Diabetic Dry Food 1.5 Kg

Keep your dog fit and healthy by following these tips:

1.Ask your veterinarian if your dog’s body condition is ideal. If not, work with your vet to set up a weight loss plan to return him to a healthy condition.

2.Read the food label for recommended daily portions based on your dog’s weight, and look at the package back for an illustration of a dog at ideal body condition to see if your dog matches up.

3.Feed the dog, not the bowl. Use a measuring cup when scooping the dry food into the food bowl, so you know exactly how much you are serving.

4.Perform a weekly check on your dog to make sure you can easily feel his ribs. Examine his profile to see if his abdomen is tucked behind the rib cage, and stand over him to see if he has a clearly defined waist behind the ribs.

5.Adjust the amount you serve your dog to maintain ideal body condition. No matter what he weighs, if body condition is at the ideal point, the weight will be acceptable.

Walking Tips For Your Dog

running-dog-lead
Hands Free Running Dog Lead / Dog Walking Belt by Woofiy – Reflective with Double Sided Lined Pouch – Great for Handsfree Running , Jogging or Walking

Pair sound nutrition with regular fitness to keep your aging dog in shape.

1.Warm up your dog’s muscles by starting with a 5-minute slow pace. Then take a 10- to 15-minute brisk walk, ending with a 5-minute slow pace to cool down the muscles.

2.Keep your dog on a brisk pace for the majority of the walk, so that he trots rather than saunters. This gait exercises both sides of your dog’s body and provides him with a cardiovascular workout.

3.Aim for 40-minute daily walks . A little exercise every day is better than a lot of exercise once or twice a week.

On August 2020 our adorable chocolate lab Bruno had to be put to sleep as he could no longer go to the toilet by himself and could barely walk because of his severe arthritis!

Myself and Brendan could see that he was in a lot of pain and it was time to let him go to dog heaven and be with his best friend Keano!

We buried him in the bottom of our lovely garden right next to Keano!

Keano and Bruno’s resting place in our lovely garden❤️

It was a very sad day for myself and Brendan as we loved Bruno and Keano very much!

We hope they are having a great time now, running, playing and having adventures together as they use to do when they were fit and healthy!

 

Bruno’s life Motto
Keanos life Motto

We think we are very lucky we have Hachi our handsome Saint Weiler and Elvis our mischievous foxhound to ease the pain of our loss!

My sister Joan send me a lovely text when she found out that Bruno had passed, she said that Bruno had been spoilt rotten and had a great life with us!

How about you would you like to share stories about a special pet that you have lost if so please leave a comment at the end of this article or send me an email as I would love to hear about them!

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

 

 

 

Gestational Diabetes Facts

gestational-diabetes-explained
Gestational Diabetes Explained. Gestational Diabetes Symptoms, Diet, Meal Plan, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments, Managing GD, Medication, Emotional Heal

 

Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. According to a 2014 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of gestational diabetes is as high as 9.2%.

We don’t know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother’s body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

It usually appears late in the second trimester and resolves after childbirth. Most women are screened for it between 26 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes are either unable to produce enough insulin or unable to use insulin effectively.

Managing the condition involves regular exercise and healthy eating. Some women also require medication, such as insulin injections. Women with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease later in life – 17 per cent of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years and 50 per cent develop it within 30 years.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes 

1.Age greater than 25. Women older than age 25 are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

2.Family or personal health history. Your risk of developing gestational diabetes increases if you have prediabetes — slightly elevated blood sugar that may be a precursor to type 2 diabetes — or if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has type 2 diabetes. You’re also more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you had it during a previous pregnancy, if you delivered a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms), or if you had an unexplained stillbirth.

3.Excess weight. You’re more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you’re significantly overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

4.Nonwhite race. For reasons that aren’t clear, women who are black, Hispanic, American Indian or Asian are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.

How Will Gestational Diabetes Affect My Baby?

Because your baby may be larger than normal, he or she is at higher risk for some complications. Remember, these are just possible complications. Your baby might have none of them. They include:

1.Injuries during delivery because of the baby’s size

The greatest impact of gestational diabetes on delivery is related to fetal size. When gestational diabetes is undiagnosed or poorly managed during pregnancy the fetus responds to the high maternal glucose levels by secreting insulin.

These high levels of fetal insulin result in excessive fetal growth.  At term these infant may weigh in the range of 9 to 12 pounds.

These macrosomic infants are more likely to become wedged in the birth canal, to cause laterations of the maternal perineal tissue, to sustain birth injuries and to necessitate a cesaream delivery.

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Top 10 Concerns Of Every New Parent

How Will Gestational Diabetes Affect Me?

Gestational diabetes increases the chances of certain pregnancy complications. Your doctor or midwife will want to watch your health and your baby’s health closely for the rest of your pregnancy.

Possible risks include:

1.Higher chance of needing a C-section

c-section-gift-bundle
Earth Mama C-Section Gift Bundle

Gestational diabetes can sometimes affect whether you are able to deliver your baby vaginally or by cesearean delivery.

Your healthcare provider, once you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, will follow you closely, and monitor your baby. In monitoring you and your baby closely, your healthcare provider will monitor the baby’s growth.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are often large for their gestational age — meaning that they are bigger than most babies at the same time in their mother’s pregnancy. Large babies, sometimes referred to as macrosomic infants, are at risk for not fitting through the mother’s boney pelvis.

This may lead to a failure to dilate in labor, or an ability to dilate in labor to 10 centimeters, but an innability to push the baby out safely.

As your healthcare provider measures your baby’s growth in the last weeks of your pregnancy, he/she will be able to determine the safest route of delivery for you and your baby.

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Treatment for gestational diabetes during pregnancy

1.Eating balanced meals.

After you find out that you have gestational diabetes, you will meet with a registered dietitian to create a healthy eating plan. You will learn how to limit the amount of carbohydrate you eat as a way to control your blood sugar.

You may also be asked to write down everything you eat and to keep track of your weight. You will learn more about the range of weight gain that is good for you and your baby. Going on a diet during pregnancy is NOT recommended.

Click Here For A Free Pregnancy Diet Plan.By following this guide, you will have a happy and healthy pregnancy! 

13 Foods to Eat When You

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the websitePositivehealthwellness.com

2.Getting regular exercise.

activity-and-sleep-tracker

Try to do at least 2½ hours a week of moderate exercise. One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. It’s fine to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week. Regular, moderate exercise during pregnancy helps your body use insulin better and helps control your blood sugar level.

If you have never exercised regularly or were not exercising before you became pregnant, talk with your doctor before you start exercising. Low-impact activities, such as walking or swimming, are especially good for pregnant women. You may also want to try special exercise classes for pregnant women.

The Best Fitness Tracker For You

3.Checking blood sugar levels. An important part of treating gestational diabetes is checking your blood sugar level at home. Every day, you will do a home blood sugar test one or more times. It may be overwhelming to test your blood sugar so often. But knowing that your level is within a target range can help put your mind at ease. Talk to your doctor about how often to test your blood sugar.

4.Monitoring fetal growth and well-being.

feotal-movement-monitor
PREGNANCY BABY BUMP FETAL KICK MOVEMENT COUNTER BRACELET – BABY SHOWER MUM TO BE PREGNANCY GIFT (M/L, Turquoise)

Your doctor may want you to monitor fetal movements called kick counts and let him or her know if you think your baby is moving less than usual. You may also have fetal ultrasounds to see how well your baby is growing. You may have a nonstress test to check how well your baby’s heart responds to movement.

5.Getting regular medical checkups. Having gestational diabetes means regular visits to your doctor. At these visits, your doctor will check your blood pressure and test a sample of your urine. You will also discuss your blood sugar levels, what you have been eating, how much you have been exercising, and how much weight you have gained.

6.Taking diabetes medicine and insulin shots. The first way to treat gestational diabetes is by changing the way you eat and exercising regularly. If your blood sugar levels are too high, you may need diabetes medicine or insulin shots.

7.During labor and delivery, you and your baby are monitored closely. (a)Checking your blood sugar level regularly. If your level gets too high, you may be given small amounts of insulin through a vein (intravenously, or IV). If your level drops too low, you may be given IV fluid that contains glucose.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding

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Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

How Your Feet Are Affected By Diabetes

diagram of feet
Foot Reflexology

Over time, diabetes can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. When you lose feeling in your feet, you may not feel a pebble inside your sock or a blister on your foot, which can lead to cuts and sores. Diabetes also can lower the amount of blood flow in your feet. Numbness and less blood flow in the feet can lead to foot problems.

Foot care is very important for all people with diabetes, but even more so if you have:

pain or loss of feeling in your feet (numbness, tingling)

changes in the shape of your feet or toes

sores, cuts, or ulcers on your feet that do not heal

If you take care of your feet every day, you can lower your chances of losing a toe, foot, or leg. Managing your blood sugar can also help keep your feet healthy.

undefeeted-by-diabetes
“Undefeeted” by Diabetes: A Step-by-Step Guide to Keep Your Feet Healthy for Life

1.Check your feet

Check your feet for cuts, sores, red spots, swelling, and infected toenails. You may have foot problems, but feel no pain in your feet.

Check your feet each evening when you take off your shoes.

If you have trouble bending over to see your feet, use a mirror to help. You can also ask a family member or caregiver to help you.

2. Wash your feet every day

Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water. Do not soak your feet because your skin will get dry.

Before bathing or showering, test the water to make sure it is not too hot. You can use a thermometer (90° to 95° F is safe) or your elbow to test the water.

Use talcum powder  to keep the skin between your toes dry to prevent infection.

 

3. Keep the skin soft and smooth

Rub a thin coat of lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly on the tops and bottoms of your feet.

Do not put lotion or cream between your toes because this might cause an infection.

4. Smooth corns and calluses gently

full-pedicure-set
Scholl Pedi Velvet Smooth Essential Pedicure Collection Gift Set

Thick patches of skin called corns or calluses can grow on the feet. If you have corns or calluses, check with your foot doctor about the best way to care for them.

If your doctor tells you to, use a pumice stone to smooth corns and calluses after bathing or showering. A pumice stone is a type of rock used to smooth the skin. Rub gently, only in one direction, to avoid tearing the skin.

Do not cut corns and calluses.

Do not use razor blades, corn plasters, or liquid corn and callus removers – they can damage your skin and cause an infection.

5. If you can see, reach, and feel your feet, trim your toenails regularly

nail-care
KingOfHearts – 12-Pieces Nail care Personal Manicure & Pedicure Set, Travel & Grooming Kit Tools

Trim your toenails with nail clippers after you wash and dry your feet.

Trim your toenails straight across and smooth the corners with an emery board or nail file. This prevents the nails from growing into the skin. Do not cut into the corners of the toenail.

 

6. Wear shoes and socks at all times

mens-diabetic-socks
6pairs Mens Non Elastic Outdoor Cushion Sole Diabetic Wool Blend Thermal Socks UK Shoe Size 6-11 Assorted

Wear shoes and socks at all times. Do not walk barefoot when indoors or outside. It is easy to step on something and hurt your feet. You may not feel any pain and not know that you hurt yourself.

Make sure you wear socks, stockings, or nylons with your shoes to keep from getting blisters and sores.

Choose clean, lightly padded socks that fit well. Socks that have no seams are best.

Check inside your shoes before you put them on. Make sure the lining is smooth and that there are no objects in your shoes.

Wear shoes that fit well and protect your feet.

7. Protect your feet from hot and cold

cream-for-diabetic-feet
Gehwol Blue 20ml cream for dry rough skin, suitable for diabetics and sensitive feet

Wear shoes at the beach and on hot pavement. You may burn your feet and may not know it.

Put sunscreen on the top of your feet to prevent sunburn.

Keep your feet away from heaters and open fires.

Do not put hot water bottles or heating pads on your feet.

Wear socks at night if your feet get cold.

Wear lined boots in the winter to keep your feet warm.

8. Keep the blood flowing to your feet

diabetic-socks-for-women
6pairs Ladies Non Elastic Diabetic Socks Womens Cotton Lycra Blend Work Pattern Dress Socks Argyle Design

Put your feet up when you are sitting.

Wiggle your toes for 5 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Move your ankles up and down and in and out to help blood flow in your feet and legs.

Do not cross your legs for long periods of time.

Do not wear tight socks, elastic, or rubber bands around your legs.

Do not smoke. Smoking can lower the amount of blood flow to your feet. Ask for help to stop smoking.

9. Be more active

womens-trainers

Skechers Women’s Strength Shape-ups Trainers

 

Being active improves blood flow to the feet. Ask your health care team for safe ways to be more active each day. Move more by walking, dancing, swimming, or going bike riding.

If you are not very active, start slowly.

Find safe places to be active.

Wear athletic shoes that give support and are made for your activity.

10. Be sure to ask your health care team to:

check your feet at every visit

check the sense of feeling and pulses in your feet at least once a year

show you how to care for your feet

refer you to a foot doctor if needed

tell you if special shoes would help protect your feet

11. Take care of your diabetes

Work with your health care team to make a plan to manage your diabetes.

Ask your health care team to help you set and reach goals for managing your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

Ask your team to help you choose safe ways to be more active each day and choose healthy foods to eat.

12.Tips for Choosing the Right Footwear

 

mens-comfortable-shoes

Berghaus Explorer Ridge Plus GTX, Men’s High Rise Hiking Shoes

Wearing the right type of shoes is important for keeping your feet healthy. Walking shoes and athletic shoes are good for daily wear. They support your feet and allow them to “breathe.”

Never wear vinyl or plastic shoes, because they do not stretch or “breathe.”

When buying shoes, make sure they feel good and have enough room for your toes.

Do not wear shoes with pointed toes or high heels often. They put too much pressure on your toes.

Buy shoes at the end of the day when your feet are the largest so that you can find the best fit.

13.Foot problems

atlas-of-the-diabetic-foot
Atlas of the Diabetic Foot

People with diabetes can develop many different foot problems. Even ordinary problems can get worse and lead to serious complications.

Foot problems most often happen when there is nerve damage, also called neuropathy. This can cause tingling, pain (burning or stinging), or weakness in the foot. It can also cause loss of feeling in the foot, so you can injure it and not know it. Poor blood flow or changes in the shape of your feet or toes may also cause problems.

(13a)Neuropathy

diabetic-slippers

DIABETIC ORTHOPAEDIC MENS EASY CLOSE WIDE FITTING VELCRO STRAP SHOE SLIPPER

Although it can hurt, diabetic nerve damage can also lessen your ability to feel pain, heat, and cold. Loss of feeling often means you may not feel a foot injury. You could have a tack or stone in your shoe and walk on it all day without knowing. You could get a blister and not feel it. You might not notice a foot injury until the skin breaks down and becomes infected.

Nerve damage can also lead to changes in the shape of your feet and toes. Ask your health care provider about special therapeutic shoes, rather than forcing deformed feet and toes into regular shoes.

(13b)Skin Changes

Diabetes can cause changes in the skin of your foot. At times your foot may become very dry. The skin may peel and crack. The problem is that the nerves that control the oil and moisture in your foot no longer work.

After bathing, dry your feet and seal in the remaining moisture with a thin coat of plain petroleum jelly, an unscented hand cream, or other such products.

Do not put oils or creams between your toes. The extra moisture can lead to infection. Also, don’t soak your feet — that can dry your skin.

(13c)Calluses

pumice-stone
Neat Feat Natural Exfoliating Pumice Stone, 43 Gram by Neat Feat

Calluses occur more often and build up faster on the feet of people with diabetes. This is because there are high-pressure areas under the foot. Too much calluses may mean that you will need therapeutic shoes and inserts.

Calluses, if not trimmed, get very thick, break down, and turn into ulcers (open sores). Never try to cut calluses or corns yourself – this can lead to ulcers and infection. Let your health care provider cut your calluses. Also, do not try to remove calluses and corns with chemical agents. These products can burn your skin.

Using a pumice stone every day will help keep calluses under control. It is best to use the pumice stone on wet skin. Put on lotion right after you use the pumice stone.

(13d)Foot Ulcers

foot-ulcer-dressing
Urgostart Contact dressing 5cm x 7cm (x26)

Ulcers occur most often on the ball of the foot or on the bottom of the big toe. Ulcers on the sides of the foot are usually due to poorly fitting shoes. Remember, even though some ulcers do not hurt, every ulcer should be seen by your health care provider right away. Neglecting ulcers can result in infections, which in turn can lead to loss of a limb.

What your health care provider will do varies with your ulcer. Your health care provider may take x-rays of your foot to make sure the bone is not infected. The health care provider may clean out any dead and infected tissue. You may need to go into the hospital for this. Also, the health care provider may culture the wound to find out what type of infection you have, and which antibiotic will work best.

Keeping off your feet is very important. Walking on an ulcer can make it get larger and force the infection deeper into your foot. Your health care provider may put a special shoe, brace, or cast on your foot to protect it.

If your ulcer is not healing and your circulation is poor, your health care provider may need to refer you to a vascular surgeon. Good diabetes control is important. High blood glucose levels make it hard to fight infection.

After the foot ulcer heals, treat your foot carefully. Scar tissue under the healed wound will break down easily. You may need to wear special shoes after the ulcer is healed to protect this area and to prevent the ulcer from returning.

(13e)Poor Circulation

Poor circulation (blood flow) can make your foot less able to fight infection and to heal. Diabetes causes blood vessels of the foot and leg to narrow and harden. You can control some of the things that cause poor blood flow. Don’t smoke; smoking makes arteries harden faster. Also, follow your health care provider’s advice for keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control.

If your feet are cold, you may be tempted to warm them. Unfortunately, if your feet cannot feel heat, it is easy for you to burn them with hot water, hot water bottles, or heating pads. The best way to help cold feet is to wear warm socks.

Some people feel pain in their calves when walking fast, up a hill, or on a hard surface. Stopping to rest for a few moments should end the pain. If you have these symptoms, you must stop smoking. Work with your health care provider to get started on a walking program. Some people can be helped with medication to improve circulation.

Exercise is good for poor circulation. It stimulates blood flow in the legs and feet. Walk in sturdy, good-fitting, comfortable shoes, but don’t walk when you have open sores.

People with diabetes are far more likely to have a foot or leg amputated than other people.  Many people with diabetes have peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which reduces blood flow to the feet. Also, many people with diabetes have nerve disease, which reduces sensation. Together, these problems make it easy to get ulcers and infections that may lead to amputation. Most amputations are preventable with regular care and proper footwear.

For these reasons, take good care of your feet and see your health care provider right away about foot problems. Ask about prescription shoes that are covered by  insurance. Always follow your health care provider’s advice when caring for ulcers or other foot problems.

 

What Is an Ankle Sprain?

One of the biggest threats to your feet is smoking. Smoking affects small blood vessels. It can cause decreased blood flow to the feet and make wounds heal slowly. A lot of people with diabetes who need amputations are smokers.

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BLACK ★Fully Featured★ EVOD Electric Cigarette Kit | Electronic cigarette | Ecigarette | E Cigarette | Eliquid Available Separately | Nicotine Free | Tobacco Free

 

14.Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

peripheral-neuropathy
Reversing Peripheral Neuropathy

Between 60 and 70 percent of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition caused by nerve damage. Patients sometimes report painful symptoms and other times minor or no symptoms at all.

(14a)What Causes Nerve Damage?

Nerve damage is the result of high levels of glucose and/or low levels of insulin in the blood. It isn’t entirely clear why high glucose levels damage nerves, but researchers suspect that elevated glucose hurts the interplay between nerve fibers and the blood vessels that provide nutrients to nerves.

(14b)Symptoms of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

A common symptom of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is numbness. Sometimes you may be unable to feel your feet while walking. Other times, your hands and/or feet will tingle or burn. It may feel like you’re wearing a sock or glove when you’re not.

Sometimes pain will feel sudden and sharp, like an electrical current. Other times, you may feel cramping.

Often, walking with a wobbly motion, or even losing your balance can be the result of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Wearing orthopedic shoes often helps with this.

If you begin to see sores or blisters on your feet that you can’t explain, it could be that you hurt yourself and didn’t feel it. Sometimes the brain doesn’t send a pain signal because of the nerve damage.Also, your hands or feet may feel hot or cold for no reason.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy often worsens at night. This can make it difficult to fall asleep or sleep through the night.

(14c)Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment

Avoid alcohol and tobacco if you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy, as these substances may worsen symptoms. Good nutrition is important, as vitamin deficiencies can exacerbate the condition. Diabetic neuropathy may be managed with medication.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.Epsom Salt - The Magnesium-Rich, Detoxifying Pain Reliever

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

Best Superfoods To Fight Diabetes

superfoods for diabetes

http://30 Superfoods For Diabetes: Lower Your Blood Sugar To Reverse Insulin Resistance And Reverse Diabetes(Eliminate Inflammation & Auto-Immune Disease) (Superfoods … insulin resistance,sugar detox diet)

Research shows that “eating a healthy diet,” coupled with exercise and maintaining normal body weight, can prevent type 2 diabetes in people who are predisposed.Choosing the right foods really does make a difference, especially if you are a diabetic.

The following superfoods contain nutrients that are especially important to people with diabetes, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E. They are high in fiber, which helps you feel full longer and keeps your glycemic index low so they don’t spike blood sugar .

They help maintain healthy levels of blood pressure and blood fats (like cholesterol), which are important for everyone but especially so for diabetics.

A super food is  a food that contains multiple micronutrients and phytonutrients that provide health benefits. A “super meal” is a combination of super foods that help to prevent disease or heal the body from disease.

10 Superfoods That Work Better Together

1.Blueberries

blueberries

http://Blueberry Bluecrop – 1 shrub

Blueberries are a good source of vitamin K. They also contain vitamin C, fibre, manganese and other antioxidants (notably anthocyanins).

Valued for its high levels of antioxidants, some nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet, it should be to add blueberries.

Blueberries can help protect against heart disease and some cancers, as well as improve your memory.

(1a) Heart health and blueberries

A study in 2012 of 93,000 women found that participants who ate three or more portions of blueberries and strawberries a week had a 32% lower risk of a heart attack compared with those who ate berries once a month or less. However, the study could not prove that these fruits definitely caused the lower risk.

(1b)Can blueberries combat high blood pressure and atherosclerosis?

While the evidence is inconclusive, it is thought that blueberries may relax the walls of the blood vessels, which may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis can increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke.

A small study in 2015 involving 48 post-menopausal women, found that women who were given blueberry powder supplements over the course of eight weeks experienced a small, but clinically significant, drop in blood pressure.

A study from the same year involving 44 adults with metabolic syndrome (a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity), who were given blueberry smoothies, had less promising results as there was no effect on blood pressure.

Though it is important to note that all of these studies were relatively small which gives less “weight” to their results. They also involved different populations so the results may not be applicable to the general population.

Blueberries are low in calories and high in nutrients, including phenolic compounds with an antioxidant capacity significantly higher than vitamins C or E.

Try adding them to your breakfast cereal, including them in a packed lunch or mixing with low-fat yoghurt for a delicious dessert.

2.Beetroot

beetroot

http://Premier Seeds Direct Beetroot Boltardy includes 1400 Finest Seeds

Although the leaves have always been eaten, historically the beet root was generally used medicinally for a range of ailments, including fevers, constipation and skin problems.

Beetroot is a good source of iron and folate (naturally occurring folic acid). It also contains nitrates, betaine, magnesium and other antioxidants (notably betacyanin).

More recent health claims suggest beetroot can help lower blood pressure, boost exercise performance and prevent dementia.

(2a)Can beetroot lower blood pressure?

Beetroot is rich in nitrates. When ingested, scientists believe our body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, a chemical thought to lower blood pressure. A well-conducted review of the current evidence from 2013 concluded that beetroot juice was associated with a modest reduction in blood pressure.

However further long-term trials would be needed and in people at greater risk of heart disease before we could say beetroot was clinically useful.

(2b)Does beetroot aid exercise performance?

Another well-conducted review from 2013 looked at research linking beetroot juice to improved exercise performance. The review found that inactive and recreationally active individuals saw “moderate improvements” in exercise performance from drinking beetroot juice. However, the review noted there was very little effect on elite athletes.

(2c)Can beetroot help prevent dementia?

A 2010 study suggested that a diet high in beetroot juice may increase blood flow to certain areas of the brain. However, this was a small and short-term study with several limitations and as such does not provide robust evidence that a diet high in nitrates aids cognitive function. Further research is needed in larger numbers of people over a longer period.

A 2014 study looked at the effects of beetroot juice on cyclists, who were cycling in a chamber designed to mimic the effects of relatively high altitude (2,500 meters above sea level).

Researchers found that cyclists given the juice had a modest but significant increase in terms of their time trial scores; on average there was a 16 second improvement.

Beetroot and beetroot juice, along with green leafy vegetables, cabbage and celery, are very useful as part of a balanced diet as their nitrate content may help to reduce blood pressure.

Getting active, reducing the amount of salt in your diet and maintaining a healthy weight are also key strategies for getting your blood pressure under control.

3.Goji berries

berries

http://FloristryWarehouse Artificial Red Rosehip Berries 8mm (x288) alternative to Christmas Holly berries

 

These  red berries are alleged to boost the immune system and brain activity, protect against heart disease and cancer, and improve life expectancy.

Goji berries contain vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin A, iron, selenium and other antioxidants (notably polysaccharides).

(3a)Can goji berries improve immunity, cardiovascular disease and life expectancy?

There is no reliable evidence to support these alleged health benefits. Most of the research into these conditions are small-sized, of poor quality, and performed in laboratories using purified and highly concentrated extracts of the goji berry.

(3b)Do goji berries aid wellbeing, brain activity and digestion?

One small study from 2008  found a daily drink of 120ml of goji berry juice for 14 days improved feelings of wellbeing, brain activity and digestion. However, the study involved only 34 people and was attempting to measure the effects of goji berry juice on a variety of conditions. The results of the study were inconclusive.

(3c)Can goji berries prevent cancer?

One of the most talked about clinical studies on goji berries is a 1994 Chinese study conducted on 79 patients with various advanced cancers. It found those treated with immunotherapy in combination with goji polysaccharides saw their cancers regress. Unfortunately, information on the design of the study and the goji berry compounds used are lacking, so it is difficult to fully assess the significance of the results.

Various goji berry products are sold as health foods, but the evidence of their health benefits so far comes from scientific studies using purified extracts of the fruit at much higher concentrations than the products contain.

As these products tend to be relatively costly, it makes sense to stick to eating a range of fruits and vegetables rather than spending your money on this one item with no real proven health benefits.

4.Broccoli

broccili

http://Premier Seeds Direct ORG176 Broccoli Green Sprouting Organic Seeds (Pack of 1000)

Broccoli is a good source of vitamin C and folate (naturally occurring folic acid). It also contains vitamins A, K, calcium, fibre, beta-carotene and other antioxidants (notably indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane).

(4a)Can broccoli help prevent cardiovascular disease?

In a small study from 2012 of 81 people with diabetes, those in a group that ate 10g a day of enriched broccoli sprouts powder for four weeks saw a reduction in their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood), both of which can cause cardiovascular disease.

(4b)Does broccoli help in diabetes?

In a lab study from 2008, researchers applied the antioxidant sulforaphane(found in broccoli) to human blood vessels incubated with sugar. They found that sulforaphane appeared to prevent the damage to small blood vessels caused by high blood sugar (which can happen if you have diabetes).

Broccoli  contains many nutrients, such as folate, soluble and insoluble fibre, vitamins C and A, and calcium, which are needed for numerous functions in the body.

It is a member of the family of cruciferous vegetables along with cauliflower, bok choy and cabbage. These all contain compounds that are linked to improving the body’s ability to impede the growth of cancer cells.

Broccoli is a flexible vegetable that works well in salads, stir fries, curries and soups. An 80g serving will count towards your 5 A Day.

How To Slow Down Metabolism With Nitrate-Rich Vegetables

 

 

5.Garlic

garlic

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Garlic contains vitamins C and B6, manganese, selenium and other antioxidants (notably allicin).

More recent evidence-based research suggests garlic may be effective against high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, colds and some cancers.

(5a) Does garlic lower high blood pressure?

An authoritative review from 2012 of the best available evidence on the use of garlic to treat high blood pressure identified one good-quality study that suggested 200mg of garlic powder three times daily reduced blood pressure.

(5b)Can garlic reduce cholesterol?

A well-conducted review from 2009 of 29 good-quality studies involving a combined total of 1,794 participants concluded that garlic – mainly garlic powder – produced “modest reductions” in total cholesterol levels.

Garlic is a delicious flavour used widely in Mediterranean and Asian cooking.

Studies using high concentrations of garlic extracts have been associated with improved blood circulation, healthier cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Garlic is particularly useful in cooking as it provides an alternative to salt in adding flavour to meals, along with lemon juice, chilli, herbs and spices. Eating less salt is important for avoiding high blood pressure.

6.Green tea

green-tea

http://Matcha Green Tea Powder – Organic Culinary Grade – Japanese (113g)

Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat everything from headaches to depression.

The leaves are supposedly richer in antioxidants than other types of tea because of the way they are processed.

Green tea contains B vitamins, folate (naturally occurring folic acid), manganese, potassium, magnesium, caffeine and other antioxidants, notably catechins.

All types of tea – green, black and oolong – are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods. Fresh leaves from the plant are steamed to produce green tea, while the leaves of black tea and oolong involve fermentation.

Green tea is alleged to boost weight loss, reduce cholesterol, combat cardiovascular disease, and prevent cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

(6a)Can green tea aid weight loss?

It’s thought the antioxidants catechin and caffeine found in green tea may have a role in helping the body burn more calories – sometimes referred to as speeding up the metabolism – which can help weight loss.

Green tea preparations used for losing weight are extracts of green tea that contain a higher concentration of catechins and caffeine than the typical green tea beverage prepared from a tea bag and boiling water.

(6b)Does green tea cut cholesterol?

A good-quality review from 2013 of 11 studies involving 821 people found daily consumption of green and black tea (as a drink or a capsule) could help lower cholesterol and blood pressure thanks to tea and its catechins.

Another good-quality review from 2011 found drinking green tea enriched with catechins led to a small reduction in cholesterol, a main cause of heart disease and stroke.

 (6c)Can green tea lower blood pressure?

A 2014 survey of data from previously published studies looked at the evidence of whether drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure. There was evidence of a modest reduction in people with high blood pressure who consumed green tea.

In the Far East, green tea has been used as a treatment for a variety of conditions ranging from arthritis to weight loss, as well as a preventative measure for diseases such as cancer.

7. Oily fish

fish and seafood cookbook

http://Naturally Sugar-Free – Fish & Seafood and Weeknight Dinners Cookbook: Delicious Sugar-Free and Diabetic-Friendly Recipes for the Health-Conscious

Interest in the health benefits of oily fish started when researchers observed that Eskimos, who mainly eat oily fish, had fewer than average heart attacks and strokes.Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are said to help against cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, age-related vision loss and dementia.

It’s a good source of vitamin D, protein, some B vitamins and selenium. It’s also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that is good for our health.

(7a)Cardiovascular disease

A large body of evidence suggests that fish consumption, particularly oily fish, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Studies have found eating oily fish can lower blood pressure and reduce fat build-up in the arteries. The evidence is strong enough to warrant a government recommendation that we eat at least two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily.

(7b)Vision

A well-conducted review in 2010 found there was some evidence that eating oily fish two or more times a week could reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration , a common cause of blindness in older people.

(7c)Rheumatoid Arthritis

A 2013 study looked at the eating habits of around 32,000 middle-aged and older women to see if oily fish consumption had any influence on them developing rheumatoid arthritis. They did find that women who ate one or more servings of oily fish were 29% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than women who never, or very rarely, ate oily fish.

If there’s one food that’s good for your heart, it’s oily fish.

The benefits of eating at least two portions of fish a week, including one of oily fish, include keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level and improving blood lipids, both of which reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Remember that you can get your omega-3 from a range of oily fish. Tinned sardines and mackerel, for example, are an easy and cheap way to stock up the store cupboard. Eaten on wholewheat bread or toast with a side salad, this makes a quick, easy and nutritious meal.

8.Pomegranate 

pomengranate

http://100g | DRIED POMEGRANATE SEEDS **FREE UK POST** ANARDANA TOPPING CEREAL BREAKFAST ANTIOXIDANT SWEET TANGY FRUIT VITAMIN C

Pomegranate and its distinctive ruby-red jewel-like seeds have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

The Middle Eastern fruit is claimed to be effective against heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation and some cancers, including prostate cancer.

Pomegranate is a good source of fibre. It also contains vitamins A, C and E, iron and other antioxidants (notably tannins).

(8a)Can pomegranate strengthen bones?

A 2013 study found evidence that pomegranate strengthened bones and helped prevent osteoporosis. The catch was the study involved mice, not humans.

While the biology of mice and humans are surprisingly similar, we can never be sure that these results will be applicable to us.

 (8b)Can pomegranate reduce Cholesterol?

A study from 2004 on people with high cholesterol found that a daily 50ml (1.7oz) glass of pomegranate juice over three years reduced the damage caused by cholesterol in the artery by almost half, and also cut cholesterol build-up.

(8c)Is heart disease prevented by pomegranates?

A well-conducted trial from 2005 on 45 patients with coronary heart disease demonstrated that a daily 238ml (8.4oz) glass of pomegranate juice administered over three months resulted in improved blood flow to the heart and a lower risk of heart attack.

A 150ml glass of pomegranate juice counts as one of your 5 A Day. Make sure to avoid brands with added sugar. You could also add pomegranate seeds to cold dishes and salads. It’s a healthy and appetising way to increase the nutritional value of your meal.

The Health Benefits Of Pomegranates For Your Heart

9.Steel-cut oats

steel-cut-oats

http://Bob’s Red Mill, Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats, Whole Grain, 24 oz (680 g)
You may not think of oatmeal as a superfood, but it can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Oatmeal contains high amounts of magnesium, which helps the body use glucose and secrete insulin properly. An eight-year trial showed a 19 percent decrease in type 2 diabetes’ risk in women with a magnesium-rich diet, and a 31 percent decreased risk in women who regularly ate whole grains.

Steel-cut oats are just as easy to cook as quick-cooking oatmeal, but when grains are left whole they are filled with the fiber, nutrients, and bound antioxidants that challenge digestion in a good way, allowing blood sugar to remain more stable.

10.Olive oil

olive-oil

http://Iliada Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 Litre Tin

Following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent compared to a diet low in fat, according to a recent Spanish study. Researchers found that olive oil improved satiety the most when compared to lard, butter, and rapeseed (canola) oil.

In addition to being a standout source of health-promoting monounsaturated fats, olive oil is also rich in antioxidant nutrients that protect cells from damage, and prevents the development of heart disease.

11.Psyllium husk

psyllium husk

http://Buy Whole Foods Psyllium Husks 500 g

This fiber supplement, long used for constipation relief, is proven to help people with diabetes control blood sugar better. A 2010 review from the University of California, San Diego, confirms this benefit. People who took psyllium before a meal saw their post-meal blood sugar levels rise 2 percent less than those who didn’t use the supplement.

Researchers recommend waiting at least 4 hours after taking psyllium before taking medications, because psyllium can decrease their absorption.

12.Cannellini beans

 

canellini beans

 

http://Buy Whole Foods Organic Cannellini Beans 1 Kg

Packed with protein and cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber, legumes such as tender, white cannellini beans are slow to raise blood sugar.

I was in Carrick-on-Suir yesterday getting a beauty treatment done in a lovely Beauty Salon called A New U!

See below a selection of photos of A New U Beauty Salon!

I use to go to another Beauty Salon in Waterford called Sam Mc Cauleys Beauty Salon!

I was surprised to hear that they were closing down as all the ladies that worked there were very good at their job!

Unfortunately it closed around Christmas time and I decided to try out A New U Beauty Salon as Carrick is only about fifeteen minutes drive from my house in Mooncoin!

There was a lovely young lady who did my beauty treatment she was called Makella!

This was the first time I had met her and she reminded me of another Beautician in Sam Mc Cauley’s Beauty Salon who was also called Makella who was very friendly and chatty too!

The Makella in A New U had loads of interesting news!

She told me about a time when she went on a school trip to the Waterford Glass Museum and she saw a play with people dressed up in old fashioned clothes dating back to Waterford in the Old Times!

She thought the play was great and was very enthusiastic about it!

I was in the Waterford Crystal Museum not long ago myself and I never saw the play Makella was talking about!

How about you did you see this play with people dressed up in old fashioned clothes and what did you think?

I told her I was at Waterford Crystal too a few weeks ago and I thought it was really good that all the different types of Crystal looked amazing!

She said that she had been there but not for many years and I told her that she should go and have a look again in Waterford Crystal as it is for free!

I told her I thought that she should go back soon and have a look again at the lovely Crystal!

I had a great time at the Waterford Crystal Museum,I went there one Thursday afternoon for a look around!

There was a lot of tourists around especially Americans and Makella said the same thing that when she went to the Waterford Crystal Museum on her school trip there was a lot of tourists!

I parked my car near Avondale Townhouse Luxury Guest Accomodation on my way to Waterford Crystal Museum!

See below a selection of photos of Avondale Townhouse!

The next place I came to was the traffic lights where a group of young men were having a chat!

I crossed over to the other side of the road and took some lovely photos of Waterford Crystal Museum!

See below a selection of these lovely photos!

I entered the Waterford Crystal Museum and it was fairly crowded with tourists!

I saw a lot of beautiful museum pieces in the Waterford Crystal Museum!

See below a selection of them!

I then saw a door to my left where there were a lot of people eating and as I was feeling hungry I thought I would have a look at their menu outside!

I then went into Bishop’s Palace Cafe and took a seat next to a very attractive lady!

I ordered their potato and leek soup with homemade brown bread!

I thought the homemade brown bread was delicious and the soup was lovely too!

I only eat one slice of the brown bread though as two slices would be too much carbohydrate!

I kept the other slice of brown bread for later on!

The lady across from me told me she was eating a healthy walnut salad and she said it was delicious!

She was very friendly and helpful and I had got a parking ticket the day before and she gave me directions to the Parking Fine Office!

I then went into the ladies and gave myself four units of novorapid ,two units for the homemade brown bread and two units for the potato and leek soup!

I then went out of Bishop’s Palace Cafe and went back into the museum to finish my tour!

I then passed a man viewing a selection of postcards!

I then continued on my tour,see below another selection of Waterford Crystal Museum pieces!

Next I saw a man engraving the Waterford Crystal with specialised engraving tools!

Next I came across lovely museum pieces of the Band Of Brothers!

I was going for a walk near my house in Mooncoin when I met a smartly dressed man in uniform!

I told him I thought he looked well and I liked his tie and he told me he had been at a Navy function!

He told me he hadnt been part of the real Navy he had been a member of the Navy Reserve!

He mentioned World War One and about how he had a friend who had been honoured with some medals and he was going to wear them tomorrow at another navy function!

I met him at the railway station near my house in Mooncoin,see below a photo of this railway station!

Do you have any military medals and if so can you let me know what for as I would love to hear about them!

I think that people who are part of any military force must be very courageous!

Makella also told me that she was going to a holiday in Portugal and she was really looking forward to it!

She said one half would be old full of culture and history which she seemed to like and one half would be full of fun and sunbathing!

She also said she planned to visit some caves in Portugal and I told her that I went to Malta for my honeymoon and I saw some caves there too!

I told her Malta was a lovely country and there was a lot of history and culture there too!

Makella also told me about there being a Harvest Festival in Waterford as she had saw people setting up the stalls that morning!

As I am very interested in Healthy food I was very happy to hear that so I decided after my Beauty treatment with Makella to go to Waterford to see the Harvest Festival which I really enjoyed!

13.Spinach

spinach

http://Premier Seeds Direct LO-MT3B-C3F1 10g Spinach Perpetual Seeds (Pack of 500)

Spinach is one of many leafy greens that have been shown to drop the risk of developing diabetes.

People who consume more than one serving a day of spinach and other leafy greens slashed their risk by 14 percent, compared to people who ate less than 1/2 a serving daily, found one British study.

This green is particularly rich in vitamin K, along with several minerals including magnesium, folate, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. It’s also a good source of the plant chemicals lutein and zeaxanthin, and various flavonoids.

Although spinach is technically a rich source of calcium, another nutrient in spinach called oxalic acid prevents much of that calcium from being absorbed, but you can blanch spinach (boil it for just one minute) to reduce this chemical.

14.Sweet potatoes

sweet-potatoe-recipes

http://Easy to Make Sweet Potato Recipes: 25 Recipes Guaranteed to Make Them Beg for More

One analysis found that sweet potatoes reduce HbA1c measures between 0.30 and 0.57 percent and fasting blood glucose by 10 to 15 points. Sweet potato also contains anthocyanins, which are the natural pigments that give the sweet potato its deep orange color and the antioxidants believed to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial qualities.

 

'Sweet

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

15.Walnuts

walnuts

http://Walnut Kernals – 1kg

The most widespread tree nut in the world, walnuts contain the polyunsaturated fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid, which has been shown to lower inflammation.

The L-arginine, omega-3s, fiber, vitamin E, and other phytochemicals found in walnuts and other tree nuts make them potent: scientists have found them to have antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and anti-high cholesterol actions.

These powers can help stop and reverse the progression of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Snack on walnuts in their shells; the time it takes to crack them open can help you slow down, so your body has more time to register the food and you feel full with fewer calories.

16.Cinnamon

cinnamon-sticks

http://250g Bag of Cinnamon Sticks 8cm length Christmas Floristry Product

Several studies show that this delicious spice can help reduce blood sugar levels! One, study noted how people with type 2 diabetes who’d taken one or more grams of cinnamon daily had dropped their fasting blood sugar by a whopping 30 percent, compared to people who took no cinnamon. They also reduced their triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol by upwards of 25 percent.

Here’s why: Cinnamon is rich in chromium, a mineral that enhances the effects of insulin. It’s also loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants that gather up all the free radicals in your blood to protect you from cancer and also lower systemic inflammation, further guarding you from diabetes and heart disease.

How Cinnamon Lowers Blood Sugar and Fights Diabetes

17.Collard greens

collards-green

http://Premier Seeds Direct COL02 Collards Vates Green Finest Seeds (Pack of 500)

Dark green leafy vegetables like collard greens are excellent sources of vitamin C, which helps lower cortisol in the body and consequently reduces inflammation as well.

Collard greens (and other cruciferous veggies like kale and Brussels sprouts) are also a good source of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a micronutrient that helps the body deal with stress.

Good news for Diabetics alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) also helps reduce blood sugar levels and can help to strengthen the nerves damaged by diabetic neuropathy!

Just be careful not to overcook it, which creates a strong sulfur smell. Just five minutes of steaming, and you’re done.

18.Turmeric

turmeric-organic

http://

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is the compound believed to regulate fat metabolism in the body.

Curcumin acts directly on fat cells, pancreatic cells, kidney cells, and muscle cells, dampening inflammation and blocking the nefarious activities of cancer-causing tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6.

Experts believe the combined action of all of these factors together gives curcumin the power to reverse insulin resistance, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, and other symptoms linked to obesity.

19.Tomatoes

tomatoes-a gardeners-guide

http://Tomatoes: A Gardener’s Guide

Tomatoes are full of lycopene, a powerful substance that may reduce the risk of cancer (especially prostate cancer), heart disease, and macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes blurred vision.

Enjoy them raw or cooked tomatoes are nutritious in both their natural and cooked state!

Like other non-starchy fruits, tomatoes have a low GI ranking of 55 or less.

People found that eating 200 grams of raw tomato each day reduced blood pressure, people concluded tomato consumption helps reduce cardiovascular risk that’s associated with Type 2 diabetes.

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

How Does Vinegar Reduce Body Fat?

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

Diabetes and Elderly People

diabetes-in-old-age

http://Diabetes in Old Age (Practical Diabetes)

Type 2 diabetes is linked to an unhealthy lifestyle. Major risk factors  for  type 2  diabetes include age, being overweight, genetic predisposition to diabetes, and a reduction in activity levels. The rates of type 2 diabetes steadily increase with age.

Type 2 diabetes is most likely to occur if you:

are over 45 years old and have high blood pressure

are over 45 years old and are overweight

are over 45 and have (or have had) one or more family members with Type 2 diabetes

If you are overweight and have had a heart attack in the past

have heart disease

have or have had a blood sugar test that is in the prediabetic range

have or have had high blood sugar levels during pregnancy (a condition called gestational diabetes)

have polycystic ovary syndrome and are overweight

What are the Effects of Diabetes on Elderly People?

A key issue for seniors with diabetes is that, sometimes, the symptoms may not be very obvious.
The well-known symptoms of diabetes, such as urinating excessively and feeling thirsty all the time, are not as obvious in the elderly as in young people.

In addition, symptoms of type 2 diabetes, such as feeling tired and lethargic, can often be misinterpreted as just part of the normal ageing process.
As a result, older people with diabetes may remain undiagnosed until damage has been done.

If left unchecked, the accumulation of glucose in the blood can cause enormous damage to nearly every major organ in the body, including kidney damage, artery damage which increases the risk of stroke and heart attack,eye damage leading to vision loss, erectile dysfunction (impotence) in men and nerve damage possibly leading to limb amputation.

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to mend all of the damage that has already been done but you and your doctor can work together to control your blood sugar and help minimise the impact of diabetes in the future!

How Do Other Conditions Affect My Diabetes?

Diabetes-among-older-people

http://Diabetes Among Older Adults (Management of the Chronic Condition)

Many older people also have other conditions as well as diabetes and this can complicate diabetes management.

People with diabetes whose blood glucose levels are high are more prone to infections than people with normal blood glucose levels so it is important to keep your blood glucose levels stable!

You should also take precautionary measures against additional illnesses for example, by having regular vaccinations against ‘flu and pneumonia.

Some medications, herbs and supplements can also have an impact on your blood glucose levels, so make sure you tell your doctor,GP, pharmacist and herbal professionalist who treats you that you have diabetes so they can recommend the appropriate treatment for you.

Knowing the associated risks of diabetes is one of the most important things you can learn!

The only risk factors for Type 2 diabetes are being overweight,consuming a high carbohydrate diet and very little physical activity!

Another vital component of care is customization.  No two people are alike some people have Type 1 diabetes and some people have Type 2 diabetes and every person needs a customized diabetes care plan.

Tight blood glucose control can lower the risks of diabetes-related complications!

The risk of heart attack or stroke can be diminished with normal blood pressure and good diabetes management!

Caring For An Elderly Person With Diabetes

nursing-care-of-older-people-with-diabetes

http://Nursing Care of Older People With Diabetes

Caring for an older adult with diabetes may include special challenges such as coexisting medical conditions, physical limitations and failing memory.

Whether the person lives alone, with you, or in a nursing home, your involvement can help them obtain better diabetes care and quality of life.

I was at a funeral on Sunday,well not really I was attending Sunday mass where a funeral was taking place,a women of ninety years of age had died.

Her name was Bridget and she had been in a nursing home for a few years.She had a difficult life according to the priest’s sermon,with many hardships which was common in her day!

Her daughter gave a lovely arbitrary at the end of the mass saying she was a lovely women with a friendly personality and a great sense of style!

She was into fashion in a big way especially colourful clothes!

I love colourful clothes myself especially bright red that is my favourite colour!

I like it because I have dark hair and fair skin and the colour suits me!

One of my favourite dresses is red,I have it matched here with a purple wrap!

She enjoyed giving presents to family and friends especially colourful clothes!

Do you like colourful clothes like me and Bridget if so it would be great if you could take a picture of them!

You can leave your photos in the comment section below or send me an email!

Click Here For More Information

 

Importance of Nutrition For Elderly People With Diabetes

21-superfoods-for-the-elderly

http://21 Superfoods for the Elderly: The Top 21 Superfoods in Every Elderly Diet to Keep Them Healthy and Strong

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential throughout all stages of life.

Warning signs such as a weight loss or gain of more than 10 pounds in six months, can indicate that your loved one is not eating properly.

Click Here For More Information

Importance of Minerals and Vitamins For Elderly People With Diabetes

http://

People with Type 2 diabetes are very prone to eating a lot of processed foods especially high carbohydrate foods such as potatoes,white bread,white pasta ,white rice and all meat!

It is very important for everyone to eat foods that contain a lot of vitamins and minerals!

Fruits and vegetables contain a lot of vitamins and minerals and these are the only way of getting theses vital minerals into your body!

Click Here For More Information

 

EXERCISE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

functional-fitness-for-older-adults

http://Functional Fitness for Older Adults

It’s no secret that exercise is good for you and it’s especially important for older adults with diabetes.
Did you know, for example, that muscle strength declines by 15% per decade after age 50 and 30% per decade after age 70?

By regularly participating in strength-building exercise,muscle mass and strength can be restored!

What’s more, exercise also makes it easier for older individuals to maintain their strength, balance, flexibility and endurance, all of which are important for staying healthy and independent.

Lastly, exercise improves insulin sensitivity and can improve a person’s response to blood glucose medications such as insulin.

Exercise is safe for everyone!  Exercise improves all conditions!

Click Here For More Information

 

Get-Fit Advice for Women Over 50

What Exercises Can Elderly People With Limited Mobility Do?

 

The benefits of exercise are not restricted to people who have full mobility. In fact, if injury, disability, illness, or weight problems have limited your mobility, it’s even more important to experience the mood-boosting effects of exercise.

Exercise can ease depression, relieve stress and anxiety, enhance self-esteem, and improve your whole outlook on life. While there are many challenges that come with having mobility issues, by adopting a creative approach, you can overcome your physical limitations and find enjoyable ways to exercise.

Limited mobility doesn’t mean you can’t exercise!

Click Here For More Information

Workouts For Elderly People

GARDENING-FOR-SENIORS

 

http://The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for Seniors: How to Maintain Your Outside Space with Ease Into Retirement and Beyond

Exercise can play a vital role in reducing weight and managing type 2 diabetes. It can stabilize blood sugar levels, increase insulin sensitivity, lower blood pressure, and slow the progression of neuropathy.

A good first step to exercising is to incorporate more activity into your everyday life.

Gardening, walking to the store, washing the car, sweeping the patio, or pacing while talking on the phone are all easy ways to get moving. Even small activities can add up over the course of a day, especially when you combine them with short periods of scheduled exercise as well.

Cardiovascular Workouts For Elderly People

http://

Weight-bearing activities such as walking, dancing, and climbing stairs are cardiovascular exercises! Start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase your workout times. Make activities more enjoyable by walking the dog, dancing with a friend, or climbing stairs to your favorite music.

If you experience pain in your feet or joints when you stand, try nonweight-bearing activities.

Water-based activities such as swimming or water aerobics place less stress on your feet and joints. Look for special classes at your local health club,  or swim center where you can exercise with other people. Other nonweight-bearing activities include chair exercises .

Strength Training Workouts For Elderly People

Many  people find using an exercise ball is more comfortable than a weight bench. Or you can perform simple strength training exercises in a chair.

If you opt to invest in home exercise equipment, check the weight guidelines and if possible try the equipment out first to make sure it’s a comfortable fit.

While strength training at home, it’s important to ensure you’re maintaining good posture and performing each exercise correctly. Schedule a session with a personal trainer or ask a knowledgeable friend or relative to check it out.

To exercise successfully with limited mobility, illness, or weight problems, start by getting medical clearance. Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, or other health care provider about activities suitable for your medical condition or mobility issue.

Emotional Aspects of Diabetes In Elderly People

psychology of ageing

http://The Psychology of Ageing: An Introduction

 Inevitable physical and social changes occur as people enter old age. The senior years have their challenges that affect people’s diabetic management!

From time to time, we all come down with a case of the blues, but did you know that older adults with diabetes are almost twice as likely to suffer from depression? It’s true. An estimated 28% of older adults with diabetes will experience depression, which is nearly double the average occurrence rate for the general  adult population.

Click Here For More Information

 

If you have any information,questions, or feedback you would like to include in this post.

Please email momo19@diabetessupportsite.com or leave your comments below.

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eyesight?

diabetes-eyecare-sourcebook

http://The Diabetes Eye Care Sourcebook

A common complication of diabetes is diabetic eye disease. Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of sight-threatening eye problems that people with diabetes may develop.

If you have diabetes, regular visits to your eye doctor for regular exams are important to avoid eye problems. High blood sugar (glucose) increases the risk of eye problems from diabetes. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20 to 74.

High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (70-130 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal.

Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more serious eye problem with diabetes. The three major eye problems that people with diabetes may develop and should be aware of are cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.

8 Things Your Eyes Are Trying to Tell You About Your Health

For more great Health and Nutrition Tips refer to the website positivehealthwellness.com.

1.What is the relationship between diabetes and glaucoma?

understanding glaucoma

http://[(Understanding Glaucoma)] [ By (author) Various ] [March, 2010]

The relationship between diabetes and open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma), has intrigued researchers for years. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as are non-diabetics, although some current research is beginning to call this into question. Similarly, the likelihood of someone with open-angle glaucoma developing diabetes is higher than that of a person without the eye disease.

Neovascular glaucoma, a rare type of glaucoma, is always associated with other abnormalities, diabetes being the most common. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels on the retina are damaged. The retina manufactures new, abnormal blood vessels.

Neovascular glaucoma can occur if these new blood vessels grow on the iris (the colored part of the eye), closing off the fluid flow in the eye and raising the eye pressure. Neovascular glaucoma is a difficult disease to treat. One option is laser surgery to reduce abnormal blood vessels on the iris and on the retinal surface. Recent studies have also shown some success with the use of drainage implants.

1(a)Glaucoma and Diabetes

nutrition-diet- and- the-eye

http://Handbook of Nutrition, Diet and the Eye

Glaucoma is caused by excess fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye

Glaucoma may occur amongst people with and without diabetes, and can be a complication of diabetes if retinopathy develops.

Glaucoma is caused by an excess amount of fluid pressing on the nerve at the back of the eye.

Click Here For More Information

2.Cataracts and Diabetes

 

The Eye |Science Educational Wall Chart/Poster in high gloss paper (A1 840mm x 584mm)

Cataracts are cloudy opacifications of the lens of the eye

Cataracts are one of the sight-related complications of diabetes that can cause misting or blurring of vision.

Attending regular eye checks as part of your annual diabetic review will help your health team to identify any signs of cataracts at an early stage and advise on treatment.

Click Here For More Information

 3.Diabetic Maculopathy

Diabetic-maculopathy

http://Detection of Diabetic Maculopathy Using Image Analysis Techniques: Introduction and Implementation

Diabetic maculopathy may result from retinopathy

Diabetic maculopathy is a condition that can result from retinopathy. Maculopathy is damage to the macula, the part of the eye which provides us with our central vision.

A common from of damage is from diabetic macular oedema (DMO) in which fluid builds up on the macula.

Diabetic maculopathy is often treated by laser surgery.

A number of other treatments are possible but there has recently been a lot of discussion about which treatments are appropriate .

3(a)What is diabetic maculopathy?

The macula is the part of the eye that helps to provide us with our central vision. Diabetic maculopathy is when the macula sustains some form of damage. One such cause of macular damage is from diabetic macular oedema whereby blood vessels near to the macula leak fluid or protein onto the macula.

If the leakages cause the retina to harden and exudates (deposits of fat from the blood) become significantly large and close to the fovea, then the condition is termed as Clinically Significant Macular Oedema (CSMO).

3(b)Symptoms of diabetic maculopathy

The symptoms of diabetic maculopathy are a blurring of one’s central vision.

This may be noticed by:

Trouble with reading

Recognising faces in the centre of your vision

3(c)How is diabetic maculopathy / diabetic macular oedema treated?

Mild macular oedema may resolve itself without treatment but most people will need the first line of diabetic maculopathy treatment which is laser photocoagulation treatment.

Other treatments include having injections of what are called anti-VEGF drugs (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor), such as Lucentis or Avastin.

In December 2012, Lucentis was approved for use in treating diabetic macular oedema in Scotland.

Another treatment, which is rare because of the side effects that can exist, is to have injections of intravitreal steroids.

4.Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic-retinopathy

http://DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Retinopathy is a disease of the retina . The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of your eye. It is the part of your eye that “takes pictures” and sends the images to your brain. Many people with diabetes get retinopathy. This kind of retinopathy is called diabetic retinopathy (retinal disease caused by diabetes).

4(a)Diabetic Retinopathy – Cause

Diabetic retinopathy can lead to poor vision and even blindness. Most of the time, it gets worse over many years. At first, the blood vessels in the eye get weak. This can lead to blood and other liquid leaking into the retina from the blood vessels. This is called nonproliferative retinopathy. And this is the most common retinopathy. If the fluid leaks into the center of your eye, you may have blurry vision.

Most people with nonproliferative retinopathy have no symptoms.

If blood sugar levels stay high, diabetic retinopathy will keep getting worse. New blood vessels grow on the retina. This may sound good, but these new blood vessels are weak. They can break open very easily, even while you are sleeping. If they break open, blood can leak into the middle part of your eye in front of the retina and change your vision. This bleeding can also cause scar tissue to form, which can pull on the retina and cause the retina to move away from the wall of the eye (retinal detachment).

This is called proliferative retinopathy. Sometimes people don’t have symptoms until it is too late to treat them. This is why having eye exams regularly is so important.(Get your eyes checked at least once a year for Diabetic Retinopathy)

Retinopathy can also cause swelling of the macula of the eye. This is called macular edema. The macula is the middle of the retina, which lets you see details. When it swells, it can make your vision much worse. It can even cause legal blindness.

If you are not able to keep your blood sugar levels in a target range, it can cause damage to your blood vessels. Diabetic retinopathy happens when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels of the retina.

When you have diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure can make it worse. High blood pressure can cause more damage to the weakened vessels in your eye, leading to more leaking of fluid or blood and clouding more of your vision.

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 Diabetic Retinopathy – Prevention

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There are steps you can take to reduce your chance of vision loss from diabetic retinopathy and its complications:

Control your blood sugar levels.

Keep blood sugar levels in a target range by eating a healthful diet, frequently monitoring your blood sugar levels, getting regular physical exercise, and taking insulin or medicines for type 2 diabetes if prescribed.
Control your blood pressure.

Retinopathy is more likely to progress to the severe form and macular edema is more likely to occur in people who have high blood pressure. It is not clear whether treating high blood pressure can directly affect long-term vision. But in general, keeping blood pressure levels in a target range can reduce the risk of many different complications of diabetes.Have your eyes examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist) every year

Screening for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems will not prevent diabetic eye disease. But it can help you avoid vision loss by allowing for early detection and treatment.
See an ophthalmologist if you have changes in your vision. Changes in vision-such as floaters, pain or pressure in the eye, blurry or double vision, or new vision loss-may be symptoms of serious damage to your retina. In most cases, the sooner the problem can be treated, the more effective the treatment will be.

The risk for severe retinopathy and vision loss may be even less if you:

Don’t smoke

Although smoking has not been proved to increase the risk of retinopathy, smoking may aggravate many of the other health problems faced by people with diabetes, including disease of the small blood vessels.
Avoid hazardous activities

Certain physical activities, like weight lifting or some contact sports, may trigger bleeding in the eye through impact or increased pressure. Avoiding these activities when you have diabetic retinopathy can help reduce the risk of damage to your vision.
Get adequate exercise

Exercise helps keep blood sugar levels in a target range, which can reduce the risk of vision damage from diabetic retinopathy. Talk to your doctor about what kinds of exercise are safe for you.

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