Type 2 Diabetes - The Effect of Cinnamon on Blood Sugar Levels

 By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: 1.bp.blogspot.com
 
Cinnamon stimulates the production of glucose burning-enzymes and increases the effectiveness of insulin, according to the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland, USA. Emerging research on cinnamon shows it could become a good treatment for Type 2 diabetes, perhaps acting like insulin or increasing insulin's effectiveness according to researchers in the Faculty of Health and Human Science, Thames Valley University in London, UK. The results of their study were published in the journal Diabetic Medicine in October 2011.
This particular study looked at the effect on cinnamon on the blood sugar of 58 people ranging in age from 45 to 64 and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. All the participants were being treated with oral anti-diabetes drugs and had HbA1c levels of more than 7 per cent, indicating their blood sugar levels were not well controlled on medications. The participants were given either:

• 2 grams of cinnamon, or
• a placebo,

...daily for 12 weeks.
The volunteers in the cinnamon group showed reduced levels of their HbA1c, while those in the placebo group did not. Blood pressure readings were also reduced only in the cinnamon group. There were slight reductions in fasting blood sugar, waist measurement and the body mass index (BMI) in the cinnamon group, but the differences were not statistically significant.
From these results it was concluded cinnamon might be used as a type of dietary supplement to aid in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes not well controlled with medications.
The results were consistent with a study published in September and October of 2009 in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. One hundred and nine Type 2 diabetics with HbA1c levels of 7 per cent or more were given either:

• their usual care only, or
• their usual care plus 1 gram of cinnamon per day for 90 days.

At the end of the study those in the cinnamon group had lowered their blood sugar levels significantly more than the diabetics receiving only their usual care. The author of this study, a resident doctor at the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital in Las Vegas, USA, concluded cinnamon could be useful for lowering blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, along with their usual care.

• cinnamon is ideal sprinkled onto cooked oatmeal, good for a healthful breakfast in the cold winter. Sprinkle on a little sucralose as well, and then add a little soy milk.
• the website of McCormick has a recipe for vegan Moroccan bean and pepper stew that includes cinnamon along with garlic powder, cumin, ginger, and red pepper along with garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, onions, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, butternut squash and olive oil. There is also a cinnamon-containing recipe for mango-blueberry cobbler, which could be modified for diabetics with the substitution of stevia for the sugar.
• cinnamon sticks also make flavorful stirring rods for tea, coffee or cocoa.
• The website of Allrecipes offers more than three hundred recipes containing cinnamon.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest used remedies in Chinese medicine and has therapeutic benefits including blood thinning and antimicrobial actions along with blood sugar control.

By the way, do you want to learn more about how to be healthier and live longer in spite of having Type 2 diabetes. If so, I suggest you check this out: Natural Diabetes Treatments

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The Nightmare That Is Diabetic Neuropathy

By Juanita Swindell 

Photo: kensavage.com

Living life as a diabetic is difficult enough. There are so many complications that can develop from a disease that has no known cure and major lifestyle changes have to be made just to cope with the many symptoms associated with the disease on a daily basis. One major risk of not closely following and controlling blood glucose levels is diabetic neuropathy, a potentially debilitating disease that is often developed by those with Type 2 diabetes.
What is Diabetic Neuropathy?
This condition is one that develops if blood glucose levels in a Type 2 diabetic are left to go unchecked. High levels of blood glucose can weaken the walls of capillaries in the body, the primary source of nutrients and oxygen for the nerves and in turn, damage the nerve endings they feed. This damage is progressive and can lead to devastating consequences if left untreated.
There are four basic types of neuropathy that can develop as a result of diabetes - peripheral, autonomic, radiculoplexus and mononeuropathy. Each one has its own set of symptoms, and can affect different areas of the body. Treatment of each type will determine what drugs are administered, as well as other therapies, including lifestyle changes and dietary supplements.
General Symptoms of Neuropathy
There are several warning signs or symptoms that everyone should watch out for and if they appear, get a full physical exam and tests to determine if you have the condition, which type and how far it has progressed. The goal of treating this disease is to slow the progress of neuropathy, restore function to the affected regions and effectively manage the pain associated with it. Unfortunately, just like diabetes, there is no known cure for this associated condition, either, at this time.
The warning signs of neuropathy can include an unusual burning sensation, tingling, weakness or pain in your hands or feet, especially at night; sudden dizziness when moving from sitting to standing; sudden changes in digestion, the ability to urinate or sudden development of sexual dysfunction. The most important part of the body to pay attention to is the feet, the first place most signs of neuropathy will appear. If there is a cut or sore on your foot that does not seem to be healing properly, or appears to be infected, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Risks and Complications
Peripheral neuropathy primarily affects the feet and legs, followed by the hands and arms, following the longest nerves in the body. It can lead to pain and difficulty while walking, muscle weakness and deformities of the bones and joints.
Autonomic neuropathy attacks the autonomic nervous system, the system that controls the heart, bladder, lungs, stomach, sexual organs and eyes. It can lead to incontinence, sexual dysfunction, problems with blood pressure, increased heart rates, and changes in how the eyes adjust to different levels of light.
Radiculoplexus neuropathy attacks the nerves closer to the hips and shoulders, rather than just the nerve endings in the arms and legs. This could lead to atrophied muscles, difficulty rising from a seated position, abdominal swelling and severe weight loss.
Mononeuropathy concentrates on only one nerve, generally in the arm, leg, or even the face. It can cause difficulty in focusing, double vision or pain behind the eye; paralysis on one side of the face or Bell's Palsy and lead to chest or abdominal pain.
Treatment
As there is no cure, the only treatment plan for this condition will chiefly include pain management, therapy to restore function to affected areas, and whatever can be done to slow the progress of the disease. To start, unhealthy habits have to be changed and a more diligent monitoring of blood glucose levels will have to be done. This means that the blood glucose before meals should be between 70 to 130, after meals less than 180 two hours afterwards, and the hemoglobin A1C should test at less than 7 percent.
Good foot care is also important, because it is so easy for cuts and other things like sores and blisters to become infected when you have diabetic neuropathy. Daily cleaning, moisturizing and inspections are required. Medications will be at the doctor's discretion, depending upon your progress.

Want to know more about diabetic neuropathy, and how it can harm your overall health if left unchecked? The experts at Trinity Primary Care have been successfully treating this condition for years, so call them today for an immediate consultation. Also check out our new page on Diabetic Neuropathy.

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Type 2 Diabetes - Protecting Your Kidneys

By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: medindia.net

Kidney disease is often a complication of Type 2 diabetes. Many people including non-diabetics, have the beginnings of kidney disease and don't even realize it. Kidney disease in diabetics is often referred to as diabetic nephropathy and is a prime cause for dialysis in the United States.
The best way to help prevent kidney disease from starting is to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in the "good" range established by your doctor. However, these are not the only factors that may increase your risk for developing kidney problems. For example, your ethnicity and the presence of certain other health conditions can greatly contribute to this phenomenon.
Biological Controls: Statistics indicate people from certain groups with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop kidney disease. If you are of African American, Asian or Native American, Hispanic or Pacific Islander ethnicity, you are at an increased risk of developing this complication. Also, all diabetics regardless of gender or ethnicity have an increased risk with advancing age. This is why it is critical to keep close tabs on your blood sugar levels as they can have a detrimental effect on your kidneys if left uncontrolled.
Lifestyle Modification: As with many conditions affecting the body, Type 2 diabetes can decrease the risk of kidney disease by making positive lifestyle modifications. Current recommendations you may want to consider typically involve measures that will ultimately better control your blood sugar. This includes but is not limited to:

• making positive dietary changes,
• incorporating regular exercise,
• weight management, and
• controlling other medical conditions such as high blood pressure.

Monitoring the Symptoms: In addition to making changes to your lifestyle, you should also monitor for the signs and symptoms of renal involvement. Early diagnosis and treatment of kidney damage is essential to prevent or delay progression of the disease.
Missing the early signs of kidney disease is easy unless you know what to look for. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, you will notice a few symptoms. Some of these include:

• you may need to urinate less frequently, or you might feel the need to only void a few drops.
• edema or swelling in your body due to fluid retention. This could be noticed by swelling in your ankle or ankles.
• itchy skin due to the build up of waste products in your bloodstream. When functioning properly, your kidneys remove waste products.
• extreme fatigue... when your kidneys get worn out so do you.
• bad breath due to the kidneys not filtering properly; urea builds up in the bloodstream.
• stomach upset and flu symptoms.

If you have diabetes and experience any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.
The Importance of Regular Checkups: Some of the earliest signs of kidney involvement in the Type 2 diabetic can be determined by using laboratory tests. It is important you see your doctor annually or more frequently, (as recommended by your doctor), to monitor for signs and symptoms and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.
Testing usually consists of simple urine tests that can be performed in the doctor's office.
Many people with diabetes don't give their kidneys a second thought because there is no strong pain associated with their declining renal function.
Making the effort to improve your diet and fitness levels can and will pay great dividends when it comes to protecting your kidneys and other organs. Allowing high blood sugar to run rampant in your system for years and years can only do great harm to all of your body's systems. This leads to dire complications that are hard to undo.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Type 2 Diabetes - Weight Loss Diets and Genetics

 By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: diethunters.com

Numerous weight loss diets have been designed and then carried out by people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. There have been varying rates of success. Now researchers are beginning to look at which diets are best for individuals with given types of genes.
Investigators at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, United States, looked at three types of weight loss diets in individuals with a gene known as rs2287019, which has been linked with obesity and how the body handles sugar.
This particular study published in January 2012 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was part of the Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS LOST) trial. It included 737 overweight adults with the gene rs2287019: they were randomly assigned to four different weight-loss diets.
Results of the study: At the end of 6 months greater weight loss took place in the participants on a low-fat diet than in those in groups with a diet containing a higher fat content. Those in the low-fat diet group also had lower blood sugar levels and greater sensitivity to insulin than the other volunteers.
From these results it was concluded that individuals with the gene rs2287019 showed greatest improvement in:

• weight,
• blood sugar levels, and
• the ability to use sugar

when consuming a low-fat, high carbohydrate, high fiber diet.
How the low-fat diet worked best for the rs2287019 participants is not yet known, but one study showed the four types of diets had different effects on how energy was expended. The study, performed under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, USA, was published in September 2011 in the International Journal of Obesity in London.
Ninety-nine participants from the POUNDS LOST trial were randomly assigned to the four diets mentioned above. After 6 months it was found the participants consuming the low-fat diet:

• lost more fat,
• were more physically active, and
• spent more calories by physical activity

than those consuming higher fat diets.
The volunteers consuming the higher fat diets broke down more non-fat tissue for use as energy than those on the low-fat diets.
Possibly the higher success rates of the overweight people with the rs2287019 gene who followed the low-fat diets could be due to the increased physical activity and their body's use of fat for energy. Of course, not everyone carries the rs2287019 gene and the test for it is not routinely carried out in your doctor's office, but if low-fat diets help people to become active and burn fat, then they are likely to be good for everyone.
Why not discuss the possibility of a low-fat diet with your doctor or dietitian?

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Type 2 Diabetes - Learning To Live With Your Diabetes Diagnosis

By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: img.webmd.com

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in our modern world. When you first receive your diagnosis of this disease, you might feel like you have just been given a death sentence, but this is not always the case. Although untreated Type 2 diabetes will most certainly be fatal, receiving a diagnosis early in the disease means you can now take steps to make lifestyle modifications to extend your life. In fact, you can even reverse the condition if you are motivated enough to make these changes.
First Step: The very first step you should take when you receive your diabetes diagnosis is to make the decision to take the disease seriously. Start by educating yourself: immediately make plans to start reading all you can about the disease. Plan to spend a little time each day learning about Type 2 diabetes and what you can do to control your blood sugar without medications. There is plenty of up-to-date research online, and new studies are being carried out all the time.
It is critical you understand:

• Type 2 diabetes and know that developing this disease is not your fault,
• how it came about and why it happened to you, and
• what you can do to reverse it.

In order to make wise decisions each day about the myriad factors that can affect your blood sugar levels, you will need knowledge.
You should also find out as much as possible about taking care of yourself and preventing possible future diabetic complications. Diabetes is an immensely complex disease that affects every system in your body.
It's critical you follow your doctor's instructions at this time as they will have specific things they want you to do in order to get your body on the right track. For instance, they may want you to check your blood sugar levels several times throughout the day at different intervals. This will give both your doctor and yourself a clearer picture of how your body is responding to medications and the healthy foods you are now going to be eating.
Networking with others: It's also important you establish some kind of support system either from your family and friends, or a local diabetes support group. You need people around you who understand what you're going through and can offer support when times are tough.
Diet: You must adopt a diet that is specifically geared toward people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Your doctor or dietitian will discuss a healthy eating plan with you. The idea at this time is to lose weight... whichever eating plan works for you this is the one to follow. Some diabetics are advised to follow a low-carbohydrate diet, others follow the Rate Your Plate method. When your blood sugar levels start to lower to the suggested healthy level, you will start to lose weight. The main idea is to keep your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day so you don't have dips or spikes in your blood sugar and insulin levels
The role of exercise: Finally, it's very important you decide it's time to get moving. Next to controlling your food intake, exercise is probably the best thing you can do to control your diabetes. Exercise will usually make your blood sugar levels go down and will continue to help control them for hours after stopping the exercise.
The important thing at the beginning is just to do a little more exercise than you're accustomed to doing... it doesn't have to be vigorous to benefit you in some way.
Heart disease, hypertension and strokes are all potential complications from diabetes, so it's important to keep your body in as good a shape as possible.
Although the numbers for Type 2 diabetes are growing, more treatment options are also being developed. However, as with any medical condition, the best treatment is prevention. Preventing Type 2 diabetes by making healthy lifestyle modifications in advance is the best way to go. Short of that, trying to reverse it with lifestyle changes is your next best bet.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Type 2 Diabetes - Heart And Blood Vessel Disease In Diabetes!

By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: 3.bp.blogspot.com

Heart and blood vessel disease are some of the most dreaded complications people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have to face. It has been found people with diabetes suffer twice as many heart attacks and strokes as anyone without diabetes. Type 2 diabetics usually have high cholesterol levels, which lead to clogged arteries and lack of circulation to the heart muscle and the brain.
In January 2012, the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology reported on the results of a study of the diabetes drug, linagliptin (Tradjenta and Trajenta), and its possible protective effect on the heart and blood vessels.
A total of 5239 volunteers diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were included in the study. A group that included:

• 3319 diabetics received liniagliptin, and the remaining
• 1920 diabetics received the drugs glimepiride (Amaryl) or voglibose (Volix).

Eleven volunteers, or 0.3 per cent, of those receiving linagliptin showed signs and symptoms of heart and blood vessel diseases. Twenty-three, or 1.2 per cent, of the diabetics taking other medications, were treated for conditions involving the heart and blood vessels. The diabetic volunteers taking linagliptin had an almost two-thirds lower risk of heart and blood vessel disease as those taking other medications.
From these results, the researchers concluded linagliptin (Tradjenta and Trajenta) could have benefits for keeping the heart and blood vessels healthy in Type 2 diabetics.
Linagliptin was approved by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the Spring of 2011 and is marketed by the proprietary name Trajenta. It belongs to the class of medications called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The class also includes sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, dutogliptin, gemigliptin, and alogliptin.

• Sitagliptin was approved by the FDA in 2006 and is also known as Januvia.
• Vildagliptin was FDA-approved in 2008, and has the proprietary name Galvus.
• Saxaglipin received its FDA approval in 2009 and is marketed as Onyglyza.
• Dutogliptin and Gemigliptin are still under study.

DPP-4 inhibitors work by increasing incretin, which in turn causes less glucagon to be released from the pancreas. When glucagon is suppressed, more insulin is released, the stomach empties more slowly, and carbohydrate is absorbed more slowly, all of which lowers blood sugar levels.
Linagliptin is taken once a day with or without food. It can be taken alone or along with drugs such as metformin, sulphoylureas or pioglitazone. Side effects include inflammation of the nose and throat and inflammation of the pancreas, or low blood sugar when used with sulfonylureas.
Many medications are available for lowering blood sugar levels. If linagliptin can also prevent heart attacks then it can serve an important dual purpose.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2011 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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Importance Of Ayurvedic Medicines For Diabetes

By: Rinki Rawat

Photo: iloveherbs.net

Diabetes is a disorder where the sugar which is formed from various food substances does not get converted to energy. Insulin which is formed in pancreas is responsible for this transformation. This insulin is either not created at all-in Type 1 diabetes or it is not getting utilized properly by the body-Type 2 diabetes. There is no specific cause which is known till date for the inactivity of the pancreatic enzyme insulin or non-formation of it at all. As the insulin is not able to convert the sugar, the blood sugar level becomes high resulting in various symptoms such as-

1. Excessive thirst
2. Excessive hunger
3. Sudden weight loss
4. Frequent urination
5. Fatigue

By performing blood sugar tests, diabetes can be diagnosed and various medicines and diets are given to the patients. Because of the various side-effects of the allopathic medicines, many diabetic people do not want to take them and look for some medicines which could cure their diabetes in a natural way or with the medicines which are less harmful. Here you will to known some Ayurvedic medicines for diabetes and how treatment can be done for diabetes in Ayurveda.

Ayurvedic treatment for Diabetes includes some steps like-

1. Modification of diet- The diet given is to ensure less sugar and simple carbohydrates are taken in less amount and the complex carbohydrates are taken more. Fat and protein intake should be limited too. Fresh fruits and vegetables are included in the diet
2. The body of many diabetic patients have antibodies against their own pancreatic tissue so cleansing of these tissues is required which includes herbal massages, herbal steam bath etc.
3. Exercise and yoga- Ayurveda recommends exercise and yoga in order to treat diabetes
4. Some of the herbs are known to be good Ayurvedic medicines for diabetes-
5. Neem
6. Arjuna
7. Turmeric
8. Shilajit
9. Turmeric along with Aloe Vera gel is a very good medicine for diabetes

Some other commonly used ayurvedic treatment for diabetes are given here which are preferred by the patients because of the zero side-effects.

1. Juice made of bitter gourd or bitter lemon to be taken empty stomach everyday
2. mlaki powder(Indian Gooseberry), turmeric powder along with honey to be taken twice daily

The Ayurvedic medicines to cure many different ailments are getting popular because of the herbal constituents and no side effects.

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About the Author:
Author in this article has conveyed information on ayurvedic treatment for diabetes. You can also get information on diabetes treatment and diabetes at our Onlymyhealth health care website.