Diabetic Test Strip Reviews

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How to Maintain Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Author: Bob Held

Diabetics are often given contrary information on what is the correct diet or even what types of food are best for the diabetic condition. Here is an article that clearly shows the reason and need for a low carbohydrate diet:

"All carbohydrates are basically sugar. Various sugar molecules - primarily glucose - hooked together chemically ["bonded"] compose the entire family of carbohydrates. Your body has digestive enzymes that break these chemical bonds and release the sugar molecules into the blood, where they stimulate insulin."

"This means that if you follow a 2,200-calorie diet that is 60 percent carbohydrates - the very one most nutritionists recommend - your body will end up having to contend with almost 2 cups of pure sugar per day." excerpted from Protein Power by Doctors Michael and Mary Eades

Based on this astounding information, the question is not whether or not a diabetic should be on a low carbohydrate diet, but just what are the foods for a low carbohydrate diet?

Without attempting to list every kind and type of food, and for simplicity, I have grouped foods into three general categories below; those that are high carbohydrate content which should be avoided, medium carbohydrate content which can be eaten only in modest or extremely small portions, and low carbohydrate content that can be eaten as much as one likes:

High Carbohydrate Content:

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All kinds of potato and potato products (including yams and sweet potatoes). Any products made from grain such as wheat, rye, oats, rice and corn. This includes any type of bread, pasta, chips or cereals. Any type of hard beans such as navy beans, pinto beans, black eyed peas, kidney beans, soy beans, lima beans, red beans, black beans, etc., as well as peas and peanuts. Most fruits and any fruit juices.

Medium Carbohydrate Content:

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All root vegetables such as beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips and rutabagas. Summer and zucchini squashes. Most kinds of nuts, avocado, onions, apricots, strawberries, peaches, plums, tangerines (not oranges), and honeydew or casaba melons.

Low Carbohydrate Content:

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Any kind of meat including beef, pork, lamb, turkey, chicken, any kind of fish, seafood or shellfish, eggs, or cheese. Vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, asparagus, any kind of greens such as spinach, beet greens, kale, Swiss chard, mustard greens and turnip greens. Salad materials such as any kind of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, etc., and any kind of oil such as corn, olive, peanut, etc., and butter.

Follow the above guidelines, get in a low carbohydrate diet and add the vital supplements needed for a Diabetic.

By learning more about the diabetic condition, what causes it and how it can be changed, you can make informed decisions and take actions on your own, which will improve your diabetic condition.

You can use this information to decrease or eliminate your dependency on drugs, medications and insulin, while at the same time reducing your blood sugar levels.

The most important actions you can take to improve your diabetic condition are correct diet combined with effective nutritional supplements and exercise

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/how-to-maintain-normal-blood-sugar-levels-230654.html

About the Author

Bob Held is the Founder and President of the Wellness Support Network The Wellness Support Network’s mission is to help people with health challenges such as Diabetes.
A website with recipes that lower blood sugar is available at www.diabetes-support.com?sid=baselbs

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Consequences of Improper Management of Diabetes

Author: Nick Mutt

It is possible to manage diabetes but its complete cure is often not since it is a chronic disease. With proper management and a healthy lifestyle, diabetics can avoid the consequences that might erupt if the disease is not treated properly. If the management of diabetes is not proper, the following are the likely effects:

1. Hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia is the drastic reduction of the glucose levels in the blood due to the action of insulin or prescribed pills. The solution here would be to test the level immediately and also eat sugar or a piece of chocolate to remedy the imbalance.

2. Hyperglycemia – Hyperglycemia is the condition when the glucose levels in the blood alarmingly shoot up. If a person is under severe stress, this is likely to happen. Also, a diabetic may find his levels rising after a particularly rich meal.

3. Possible complications – High glucose levels in the blood if neglected for long can cause complications in the case of diabetic patients. Eye damage (diabetic retinopathy). Kidney and nerve damage are known to occur. Diabetes also increases the chance of the patient experiencing cardiac complications. Hardening of the arteries and strokes are common, if precautions are not taken.

4. Impotency – The percentage of impotent men who have diabetes is very high. In fact, diabetes in men is one of the causes of sterility in couples. So, if diabetes is diagnosed as the reason for impotency, controlling the diabetes the diabetes will make the impotency go away.

5. Susceptibility to infection – Due to high glucose levels, infections set in more easily in the case of a diabetic than a non-diabetic. Also, the infection takes a longer time to be cured than it would otherwise.

6. Amputation – Diabetics are known to suffer from foot ulcers or small areas of gangrene. If not treated in time, the limb may require amputation. Regular monitoring and therapy has shown a reduction in the incidence of amputations in diabetic clinics.

Hope, I have covered some of the major adverse effects if diabetes is not managed properly. So to live healthier and longer you need to control your blood sugar level.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Are you looking for some Home remedies for diabetes? Know effective Home remedies for high cholesterol. Read useful Home remedies for toothache to relieve pain.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/consequences-of-improper-management-of-diabetes-671882.html

About the Author

Nick Mutt is an active writer and blogger on health related topics. He has published many ebooks on natural health.

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Do You Have a History of Diabetes?

Author: Marlon Dirk

There can be little doubt that diabetes is a growing problem, and more and more men and women are finding themselves faced with the serious health challenges a diagnosis of diabetes carries with it. Diabetics face an increased risk of circulation problems, vision problems, cardiac issues and other serious complications. It is important, therefore, for those newly diagnosed with diabetes, as well as those who have been living with the disease for years, to understand the disease and how it can be kept under control. There may be a history of diabetes in your family, if there is, you need to be regularly tested to ensure you stay healthy.

The testing process for diabetes is straightforward enough, but it is important for patients to understand how the disease is diagnosed as well as what treatment options are available. Diabetes is broken down into type 1 and type 2, with type 1 representing childhood diabetes and type 2 representing the adult onset version. It is important to note that as the developed world continues to struggle with problems related to obesity and poor diet, adult onset diabetes is being seen in younger and younger men and women and increasingly in children and teenagers as well.

No matter what the type, the symptoms that lead diabetics to initially seek treatment are very similar. Typical symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms may worsen over time, prompting those affected to seek medical assistance.

Routine screening for adult onset diabetes is recommended as part of the standard medical examination for those with a number of risk factors that may predispose them to the disease. These risk factors include a family history of diabetes, obesity, poor diet and smoking. Those who may be at risk should be sure to share this information with their doctors in order to develop an effective screening program.

There are a number of tests used by medical professionals to screen for diabetes, including the fasting blood glucose test, the glucose tolerance test and random blood glucose testing. It is important for patients to discuss the pros and cons of each of these methods, as well as their specific risk factors, in order to determine the best course of treatment.

The criteria for determining whether or not a particular patient is diabetic is quite specific, but the exact blood sugar reading that indicates a diagnosis of diabetes will be different depending on the exact type of test performed. After the testing has been completed and the results received it is important for each patient to discuss his or her results with their family doctor. A thorough understanding of the underlying disease condition is the first step toward effective treatment.

For many clinicians the fasting plasma glucose test is considered the gold standard of diabetes testing, and many doctors will utilize this test in order to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of diabetes made through the random glucose testing method. A glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher made through a fasting glucose test indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.

Another excellent test for diagnosing diabetes in children and adults is the glucose tolerance test. During this test a 75g dose of glucose is administered orally and the patient’s blood plasma glucose level is taken two hours later. A plasma glucose level at or above 200 mg/dL indicates diabetes is present.

Random blood glucose testing is frequently used to rule a diagnosis of diabetes in or out, as well as to keep track of blood sugar levels in those with a confirmed diagnosis. A random blood glucose level of at or above 200 mg/dL typically indicates that diabetes is present, although the doctor may order one of the other two tests in order to confirm that diagnosis.

This confirmation is particularly important when clinical symptoms such as increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination and blurred vision have not been reported. Diabetes is a chronic condition with lifelong implications for the patient, and it is important for physicians to make a confirmed diagnosis before ordering treatment and lifestyle changes. Repeated blood sugar testing may be ordered, particularly if the original readings were borderline.

There is no doubt that a diagnosis of diabetes is a life-changing event, and that is why physicians and others in the medical community are so careful about making and confirming such a diagnosis. Enormous strides have been made recently in both the testing and treatment of diabetes, and additional discoveries continue to be made year after year. While there is still no cure for diabetes, there are more effective ways to control the disease. From diet and lifestyle changes to better medications, there are plenty of avenues for diabetes to explore.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/do-you-have-a-history-of-diabetes-666950.html

About the Author

We have all kinds of advices for all kinds of diabetic patients from Type 1 Diabetes to Gestational diabetes and through your persistence and your will to live a vibrant and healthy life, and through our death-defying, undying and endless efforts, we can work hand in hand to prevent this from getting worse. Visit this site for more information and articles related. http://www.a1diabetestips.com

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Know the Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes

Author: Marlon Dirk

Juvenile diabetes, or Type 1 diabetes, usually begins during childhood or adolescence, but it is a disease that must be treated for a lifetime as there is no cure. Juvenile diabetes is a very severe form of insulin-dependent diabetes that should be recognized as early as possible.

It is caused by pancreas damage due to either an immune system defect or some other culprit that destroys the beta cells in the pancreas. Without these beta cells, the body is unable to produce insulin, and glucose builds in the blood. Insulin is usually taken to provide an artificial insulin source.

Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes

The symptoms are not always easy to recognize, especially in children. Because vomiting or nausea can occur sometimes, the symptoms are mistaken as those of a virus or flu. That´s why it´s good to be familiar with the symptoms and observe your child closely if you feel they are at risk.

Here are some common early warning signs:

Extreme Hunger and Thirst

The body´s insulin can drop to almost none with juvenile diabetes. As a result, extreme cravings for food or sweet, cold drinks might occur. A sudden, dramatic weight loss may also occur.

Fatigue and Weakness

The body can become weak and very tired when no insulin is being produced. This weakness or fatigue could be mistaken for a virus or flu. If combined with any of the other symptoms, these are definite warning signs.

Frequent Bed-Wetting and Urination

In young children, a sudden occurrence of bed-wetting can be a sign of juvenile diabetes. If your child has stopped wetting the bed, but then starts again later on, this could be a symptom. Also, frequent urination during both day and night is a symptom.

Vision is Blurred

If your child complains of blurred vision or changes in their eyesight, this could also be a symptom of juvenile diabetes. The vision can be impaired because tissue is being pulled from the eyes to compensate for loss of tissue in other areas of the body.

Symptoms for Girls

Girls may experience frequent vaginal yeast infections, or Candida infections. At the first sign of a yeast infection in a young girl, ask your doctor to test her for diabetes as a precaution.

A child with juvenile diabetes may also become irritable, restless, or have trouble concentrating at school.

Severe Symptoms

Unfortunately, many parents and children are unaware of juvenile diabetes until severe symptoms occur such as a diabetic coma. Around 25% of patients are already in diabetic ketoacidosis when they see the doctor for the first time with juvenile diabetes. In severe cases, a child will have a fruity odour on his/her breathe and may breathe deeply and rapidly. When the insulin level "bottoms out," the disease is very evident and must be treated immediately or death could occur.

Even if you don´t feel your child is at risk now, keep a close eye on their daily habits to ensure early detection if juvenile diabetes is present. Your child´s life is precious. Don´t take risks - know the symptoms of juvenile diabetes

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/know-the-symptoms-of-juvenile-diabetes-694087.html

About the Author

We have all kinds of advices for all kinds of diabetic patients from Type 1 Diabetes to Gestational diabetes and through your persistence and your will to live a vibrant and healthy life, and through our death-defying, undying and endless efforts, we can work hand in hand to prevent this from getting worse. Visit this site for more information and articles related. http://www.a1diabetestips.com

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