Detecting Diabetes - Signs, Symptoms, and A Suggested Course of Action

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects many of us, whether directly or through our loved ones. The estimated prevalence of diabetes among adults in the United States ranges from 5.3 to 12.1%. According to the American Diabetes Association, 25% of the 24 million Americans with diabetes remain undiagnosed while their bodies are slowly being damaged. To add, there are an additional 57 million Americans with pre- diabetes. Untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.

Symptoms of diabetes include:

• excessive thirst
• excessive urination
• recurrent or difficult-to-treat infections
• weight gain or loss
• fatigue
• excessive nighttime urination
• blurred vision
• tingling of hands or feet

Many patients however are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis.

If you have high blood pressure with a reading of (blood pressure >135/80 mmHg) you should consider being tested for diabetes. 

The American Diabetes Association recommends that starting at age 45, all adults get screened for diabetes. Those who are younger but have risk factors such as family history or obesity should be screened earlier.

If you suspect that you may be a diabetic, you should be tested as soon as possible. Children can be affected as well. Type 2 diabetes is now being seen in children and adolescents, and is rising in parallel with childhood obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the ADA recommend screening overweight children at age 10 or at the onset of puberty, especially if they have a family history of diabetes or other risk factors.

frightening and overwhelming experience. It is necessary to find experienced and compassionate emergency physicians who will walk you through the testing process (usually a simple blood test), and if needed, the treatment process. Even better, find a clinic who will be there for you 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If your blood sugar levels are properly controlled, a physician can help you prevent or delay complications of the disease.

Make Your Diabetic Diet Plan Exciting

Diabetes is no doubt one of the biggest epidemics and has many victims in its grasp. A person diagnosed with diabetes is unable to produce sufficient level of insulin. Moreover, diabetes can hamper your capability of getting well even after a mild illness. Hence, a person suffering from this disease takes a longer time to heal if wounded compared to a normal person. Therefore, it is very important to check and prepare a diabetic diet plan so as to fight this disease in an effective manner.

When a patient hears that he has to follow a diabetic diet plan then he may get depressed thinking of eating all the plain food items. But, the truth is completely different.

These diet plans are made after taking into account the food choices of the patient and can in fact be made very tempting. The diabetic diet plan can include a variety of food items to give you a great assortment of flavors. Even if there are many foods that you are not supposed to eat, there is a greater number of food items that you can eat and enjoy. The only thing is that you should have an adventurous spirit and ready to experiment and create newer versions of the old specialties.

For example if you were used to fried food in your daily routine then in your new diabetic diet plan you can still have all of those food items but in the baked form. Baking and stewing is a great way of cooking good wholesome meals as they need very little oil. You can substitute your butter for margarine; Your milk and curd to the low-fat variety; Sugar to honey, etc. In fact you could and you should add as much variety of food products, including green vegetables, in your diabetic diet chart as is needed to fulfill all the nutrients required by the body while tending to the taste buds. Moreover, you can also treat yourself to a small portion of dessert made from sugar-free products for sticking with the schedule the whole week long.

Thus, we can see that the diabetic diet plan can be made very exciting with something new to look forward to in every meal. An interesting diet plan can make the life that much simpler and you will not feel as if all the flavors of the world have abandoned you. So, experiment and cook while using as much variety as possible.

Managing Type 1 Diabetes

Your health is nothing to take lightly. If you suffer from diabetes you need to pay special attention. No matter what type of diabetes you have, you will have lost the capacity to process sugar correctly. As a result, your blood sugar levels increase and you will need to lower them with the right medication, exercise and diet. Here's more information.

Type 1 diabetes need to exercise regularly. Weight control is a very important issue for this disease. When you exercise you increase the glucose in the muscles and this lowers blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes is a disease that can't be prevented. However, it may be possible to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

There is no proven link between the prevention of the onset of Type 2 diabetes and the use of exercise but research and common sense indicate that we just haven't found it yet.Exercise helps everything. It aides in maintaining insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar. Research has shown that just 30 minutes of steady exercise has been indicated to have positive effects when it comes to preventing Type 2 diabetes. Don't think you have to workout like an Olympian to benefit, just take a brisk walk every day.The side effects of diabetes are debilitating. They include circulatory disorders and high blood pressure. Fortunately, they can be improved with regular exercise. If you do suffer from low blood sugar, be sure to monitor it when you're exercising.

If it becomes too low you could get hypoglycemia. If you are performing strenuous exercise, be sure to take along a cereal bar, fruit or juice with you just in case. Be aware of how you are feeling throughout your workout.If you're not working out and experience symptoms like perspiring, elevated heart rate and breathlessness they can be an indication that your blood sugar is too low. If you're a diabetic you have to always be conscious of how you are feeling your potential to become hypoglycemic.Everyone values their good health and needs to maintain a lifestyle revolving around a proper diet and regular exercise, especially diabetics. With the right behavioral changes, diabetics can often reduce or eliminate their need for medication.

Positive Effects of Exercise to a Diabetic

If you suffer from diabetes you know that your body has lost the ability to process sugar. This can cause complications with your blood sugar. The levels can rise and may have to be lowered by diet exercise and even medication. To learn more about diabetes and the positive effects of exercise, please read on.

For those with Type 1 diabetes, exercise is crucial. It helps to control body weight and using your muscles will increase glucose production to lower blood sugar levels. Sadly, Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented from occurring. However, there is evidence that you can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

To date there are no conclusive studies showing a link between the prevention of Type 2 diabetes and exercise. However, the positive effects of exercise are lengthy and you can only benefit from regular, moderate exercise.

You'll find that exercise helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar. As little as 30 minutes of exercise can lessen your chance of getting Type 2 diabetes. It's amazing! And don't think that you have to run a marathon to get results, either. A reasonably brisk walk each day is all it takes.

Diabetes has serious side effects such as circulatory disorders and high blood pressure, which can be improved with regular exercise. It is particularly helpful in improving blood flow to the feet.

When you start exercising be sure to monitor your blood sugar. If it drops too low you could become hypoglycemic. If you plan on exercising rigorously take a cereal bar, fruit or fruit juice with you just in case. Always pay attention to how you feel during and after exercising.

Watch for symptoms like perspiring, raised heart rate or breathlessness. If you don't return to normal after exercising your blood sugar level may be too low.

There's no doubt that exercise is the key to a long healthy life, particularly if you suffer from diabetes. It will make you feel and look better and may reduce or eliminate your need for medication.

What Do You Know About Diabetes?

When the body produces lesser amounts of insulin than is actually required, a person's blood sugar tends to shoot up. This could be an indication of a metabolic disease such as Diabetes Mellitus. Mainly diabetes is classified into 3 types which are

1. Type 1 Diabetes which is the same as juvenile diabetes and insulin dependent diabetes. The main concern here is to replenish the insulin content in the body due to inadequate production. Regular infusions of insulin will have to be administered at specified intervals.

2. Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the cells in the body fail to utilize available insulin appropriately thereby leading to deficiency.

3. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women whose blood sugar levels shoot up during this phase.

Some other forms of diabetes has also been found to be common such as

• Diabetes caused by Cystic fibrosis.
• Steroid induced diabetes.
• Insulin secretion in the body could be defective due to the genetic makeup of a particular individual thus leading to congenital diabetes.
• Another variant is the monogenic diabetes that assumes various forms.

Though diabetes does not have definite cure, the advent of Insulin has made significant progress in controlling the disease. Various oral hypoglycemic drugs have also been evolved to control type 2 diabetes. A proper diet and exercise plan is also recommended to control the disease. An affected person should visit a diabetic clinic regularly, get his blood sugar checked to keep track of the disease and alter the medications accordingly. Proper care should be taken of the pregnant woman as well as her fetus and in order to prevent complications, insulin may have to be administered. People who are overweight are more prone to this disease, so is the case of those with a family history of diabetes.

Diabetes - A Lifestyle Disease Which Can Be Controlled

The last two decades has seen a major change in the style and way of living. The lifestyles have changed a great deal and most people now follow a very sedentary life. This has given rise to many lifestyle diseases and diabetes takes the topmost place in the list.

Diabetes is categorized in the group of metabolic diseases and its characteristic feature is increase in blood sugar levels. The main reason for this is due to the defect in the action or secretion of insulin. In certain cases the action and secretion of insulin are both affected. This is also known as Diabetes mellitus and is also referred to as insulin dependent diabetes.

When the level of glucose increases in the blood it is excreted in the urine and hence originated the term sweet urine. Blood glucose levels are controlled and regulated by insulin. Insulin is a hormone which is produced in the pancreas by the beta cells. It is this hormone which is responsible in keeping the blood glucose levels under control.

After a meal when there is a rise in the blood sugar level and this is normalized by insulin, however in people suffering from diabetes due to the insufficient production or absence of insulin hyperglycemia is produced.

Diabetes is categorized into two types namely

1. Type I Diabetes which is also referred to as insulin dependent Diabetes

2. Type II Diabetes is also called as Insulin independent Diabetes.

In Type I Diabetes there is no production or very little production of insulin and these patients have to take insulin dosages. While in Type II Diabetes the insulin production is there but the cells are less sensitized to glucose, hence medication is provided which makes the cells more sensitized to these glucose cells. With proper care, management and regular exercise one can control diabetes.

Fruits and Vegetables for Diabetes, Diabetic Patients

People suffering from Diabetes or High blood sugar levels must be very cautious about their regular diet, which must be low in carbohydrates, and high in protein, vitamins and minerals. For most of the diabetics, it is tough to control the blood sugar levels, as there is hardly any food totally devoid of carbohydrates. It is advisable for the diabetics to include fiber rich food items in their daily diet that will supply the required energy without altering the blood sugar levels. Obesity is one of the vital causes of diabetes, so a high fiber diet also helps in controlling the body weight.

Fruits and Vegetables for Diabetics

The regular diet of the diabetics must include fair amounts of fruits and vegetables. These are not only rich in fiber, but are loaded with vitamins and minerals, which are essential for the body. Many diabetics are often in confusion, while choosing the right fruits and vegetables that will help in maintaining the normal blood glucose levels. Most tend to avoid fruits, as they are rich in fructose. But a balanced diet consisting of everything is harmless for the diabetics and they can enjoy every kind of fruit, provided they are consumed in right proportions. Processed, refined and canned foods must be totally excluded from the diet.

1. Vegetables consisting of leafy greens are rich in fiber and vitamins, which help in controlling the blood sugar levels and also reduces the pangs of hunger. Whole grains, pulses, sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, beans, spinach, lettuce, peas etc. are most beneficial for the diabetics. The fiber rich diet not only regulates the blood sugar level, but also reduces the blood cholesterol level.

2. Vegetables like potato, yams, beet roots, corns and cassava are rich in carbohydrates, so these can be avoided or taken in very small amounts occasionally.

3. Sea weeds and sea fishes are highly beneficial for the diabetics, and these can also be included in the regular diet.

4. Fruits with high fiber, like nuts are beneficial for the diabetic patients. Almonds, walnuts and peanuts are some of the nuts that can be taken by the diabetics.

5. Fruits mainly contain fructose, which does not require insulin for its metabolism. So these can be taken in restricted amounts. Fruits like grape fruit, apple, avocado, grapes, guava and citrus fruits are ideal for the diabetics. Fruits rich in Vitamin C are must for the diabetics.

6. Juicy fruits are recommended for the diabetics as they are of high water content.

7. Fruits with high sugar content like mangoes, bananas, custard apple can be avoided or taken in small amounts.

8. Fruit juices available in the market must be strictly avoided, as these are devoid of the fiber and contain lots of added sugar.