Type 2 Diabetes - Vitamin D And The Metabolic Syndrome

 By Beverleigh H Piepers 

Photo: assets.nydailynews.com

Vitamin D deficiency has been demonstrated in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. In December 2011, the journal Clinical Investigative Medicine reported on a study of the metabolic syndrome and vitamin D in Canadians.
A total of 1818 volunteers from the Canadian Health Measures Survey from 2007 to 2009 were included in the study. It was found that 8.9 per cent of these volunteers had the metabolic syndrome. The ones with the highest levels of vitamin D had half the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, as those with the lowest levels.
Insulin resistance was also correlated with low vitamin D levels. The researchers concluded low vitamin D levels were correlated with metabolic syndrome and linked to increased levels of insulin resistance.
Your doctor can order a test to check your vitamin D level. The optimal range in the body today is 60 to 90 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) or as expressed by some labs, 25 to 200 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter). In fact, vitamin D may be all some people with mild Type 2 diabetes need to take.
Vitamin D is also important for bone growth and repair because it aids in the use of calcium. Rickets is a disease seldom seen today in developed countries, but it was once caused by severe vitamin D deficiency. It has been suggested that Dickens' tiny Tim might have suffered vitamin D deficiency.
Today vitamin D is necessary for growth in children and for preventing osteoporosis in adults. Low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with certain types of:

• cancer,
• brain impairment in older adults,
• increased risk of heart disease,
• asthma in children,
• high blood pressure, and
• multiple sclerosis.

Bone pain and muscle weakness can be indications of vitamin D deficiency.
One of the ways people get vitamin D is by allowing skin to manufacture it when it is exposed to sunlight. Getting enough vitamin D can be a problem for people who live in northerly countries such as Canada, because not enough sunlight reaches land less than 35 degrees from the North Pole. The same goes for those living less than 35 degrees from the South Pole.
Lack of sun exposure due to:

• being homebound,
• working during daylight hours,
• wearing clothes that cover all the body's skin, or
• having extremely dark skin that blocks the sun's rays

can also cause vitamin D deficiency.
Fortunately, vitamin D is also available in some foods and supplements. Osteoporosis Canada recommends daily supplements of:

• 400 to 1000 International Units (IU) of vitamin D for Canadians under 50 years of age without osteoporosis, and
• 800 to 2000 IU for those over 50.

Vegan diets are the best kind for avoiding and treating Type 2 diabetes, and food sources of vitamin D should fit into a vegan dietary plan. Soymilk, rice milk, and orange juice are often fortified with vitamin D. One cup of Silk Light soy milk contains about 30 per cent of the recommended daily vitamin D allowance. Check the labels for the vitamin D content of other brands of soymilk, rice milk and orange juice.
Eat healthy, and don't forget the vitamin D.

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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How To Choose And Use Your Blood Glucose Meter

By: Type Free Diabetes

Photo: 0.tqn.com

Blood glucose monitoring system is a way of testing the concentration of glucose in the blood (glycemia). Particularly important in the care of diabetes mellitus, a blood glucose test is performed by piercing the skin (typically, on the finger) to draw blood, then applying the blood to a chemically active disposable Glucose Test Strips. Different manufacturers use different technology, but most systems measure an electrical characteristic, and use this to determine the glucose level in the blood.

Contrary to expectations, not all of are comfortable around digital or electronic devices. Having barely mastered the art of receiving and making calls on the cell phone, the last thing we want to do is learn to use yet another digital gizmo this one a blood glucose meters. Fortunately, the modern day Blood Glucose Monitor is extremely easy to use. Today I shall explain how to use your new Blood Glucose Monitor.

Using Blood Glucose Monitors

1. Ensure you hands are clean.

2. Open the package containing your new Blood Glucose Monitor.

3. Remove from the package and keep ready the lancing device, the box containing the glucose monitoring strips and the blood sugar monitor.

4. Insert a fresh unused lance in the lancing device, set it to 3 (by rotating the base of the lancing device) and prime it (usually achieved by pressing the top once).

5. Extract the code chip (a small white rectangular plastic) from the box containing the blood glucose strips and insert the chip into the receptacle (usually located on the side of the Blood Glucose Monitor). This needs to be done each time you open a fresh box of blood glucose strips (not each time you take a blood glucose test).

6. After inserting the code chip into the blood glucose test meter, switch on the Blood Glucose Monitor and wait until a code number appears this ensures that the Blood Glucose Monitor and the diabetes test strips are synchronized.

7. Extract a fresh glucose strip from the box and keep ready.

8. Hold the lancing device vertically on the tip of any finger and release the trigger (usually a small round button on the side of the diabetic lancing devices. A very tinny almost invisible hole will be created in your skin.

9. You may need to press the around the hole so that a small drop of blood becomes visible on the surface of your skin.

10. Switch on the Blood Glucose Monitor and wait for the blood icon to flash (takes about 10 seconds).

11. Take the glucose strip and swipe (the end with the round hole) across the drop of blood. You would want to ensure the blood is evenly spread across the hole of the glucose strip.

12. Insert the glucose strip into the receptacle of the Blood Glucose Monitor and wait for the results (takes a few seconds).

13. Note down the time, the contents of your meal and the blood glucose result in a diary or notebook specially set aside for this purpose.

14. Push out the cover from the lower end of the lancing device this exposes the lance.

15. Carefully remove the used lance from the lancing device and also the used glucose strip from the Blood Glucose Monitor and bag it separately before discarding.

16. Switch off the Blood Glucose Monitor and put the kit away in a safe place so your children do not have access to it.


Difficulty in extracting blood

The depth to which the needle of the lancing device enters the skin can be controlled. For children, the lancing device can be set to a depth of 1 or 2. This results in shallow penetration but should be okay for kids. For adults, the lancing device needs to be set to a minimum depth of 3. If this does not produce the desired result, try 3.5 or 4 or more.

Once you use the lancing device is used, the drop of blood (usually) does not automatically appear on the skin; it needs to be coaxed out by pressing the area surrounding the prick. Usually, a light squeeze does the trick.

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TypeFreeDiabetes.com is the premier source for your diabetic needs on-line. At TypeFreeDiabetes.com, you can enjoy a balanced diabetic lifestyle by learning about - how to control blood sugar, lower body fat, diet to prevent diabetes, reduce diabetes medications and reverse diabetes complications.

Why Do I Need to Eat So Often?

 By Crystal M Shores 

Photo: thefoodinmybeard.com

Life is so busy today. It never slows down, and responsibilities keep piling up. Your day can go by and suddenly you look at the clock and you haven't eaten since breakfast. You may be shaky, irritable, have blurred vision, or be fatigued. When people are in this state, they tend to grab whatever they can as fast as they can. This typically is not a nice green salad loaded with fresh veggies and lean meat. The craving tends to be a simple carbohydrate meal or snack that will satisfy the overwhelming urge and craving because your body needs sugar. Often this urge is met with some sort of fast food, gas station candy bar, or the leftover donuts from the morning.
Blood sugar balance...
Our bodies are full of wonderful mechanisms. Our body systems all work together to achieve homeostasis, which is the ideal environment inside our body. Maintaining an optimal blood glucose (sugar) level is essential for a healthy metabolism (how efficiently we burn calories) and foundational for good health. We know high blood sugar can lead to diabetes, so it makes sense we would want a low blood sugar level, right? The answer to that question is sort of tricky.
Low blood sugar is a relative term... What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a low blood glucose level. This means that there is not enough glucose in your blood to properly deliver fuel throughout your body.
How low is too low?
That depends on who you ask. After a fasting blood glucose test your doctor sends your blood off to the lab they use for testing. It is important to know that during testing, each lab has its own set of lab reference ranges (numbers) that they use as a guideline. There is no universal standard. A low number in one lab in the US is 45 mg/dl while to another lab low is 60 mg/dl.
Do you have warning signs of Reactive Hypoglycemia?
Reactive hypoglycemia is a state where your fasting blood glucose level is within the 'normal' laboratory reference range but you still have typical low blood sugar symptoms. These symptoms include difficulty waking up in the morning, difficulty falling asleep at night, craving salty and sweet foods, "crashing" in the afternoon and craving caffeine.
Why should I be concerned?
If your blood glucose level is too low, then your brain and other vital organs are not getting the fuel they need in order to function correctly. This can manifest in many different ways. It can lead to poor cognitive function, confusion, tremors, blurred vision, etc. When your brain is not getting enough glucose, it initiates a stress response. This leads to the release of hormones in your body that release glucose from storage as well as from fat. While burning fat is usually a good thing, this is not the way to do it. If the hormones that cause the release of glucose are circulating in your blood too often, they have their own negative consequences on your health, including weight gain. While skipping meals may seem like the right thing to do to lose weight, you in fact are causing weight gain over time.
If you routinely have hard time losing weight, are irritable or shaky, have 'brain fog' after not eating, or have food cravings, you most likely have a blood sugar imbalance that needs to be addressed immediately. These signs and symptoms mean that your body and mind are suffering.

If this sounds familiar it is essential that you contact an expert to discover the actions you need to take today in order to get your health to the level that you deserve! Click here http://www.dynamicbalancehealth.com for a FREE phone consultation with a health and nutrition expert.

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The Top 10 Foods To Eat If Youre Trying To Control Your Diabetes

By: The Sider Group

Photo: thenutritionpost.com

While medication and the supervision of a physician are often central components to managing diabetes, one of the most important things any diabetic can do to keep his or her health in check is eat the right foods. Enriching your diet with the following 10 foods, along with exercise and a healthy lifestyle, will help you control your diabetes.

1. Beans With plenty of dietary fiber to keep you full, beans also slow down the digestive process and prevent the blood sugar spikes that often occur after meals.

2. Cereal Sugary cereals are bad for diabetics, but the right cereal can do wonders. Look for cereals made from whole grains that are high in fiber, and add skim or nonfat milk and some fruit.

3. Cinnamon It may sound silly, but this spice can work wonders for diabetics. Simply sprinkling cinnamon in tea, on top of fruit, in baked goods or in recipes such as chicken dishes can help lower blood sugar and insulin use.

4. Fish Any kind of fish is good for diabetics, even the high-fat kinds, which are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish is a much healthier protein than red meat, and offers good cholesterol to help diabetics lower their triglycerides and raise their HDL levels.

5. Fruit Fruits contain lots of nutrients and fiber, and they are typically very low in calories. You also get antioxidants that boost your immune system from many fruits.

6. Nuts This is another source of good fat and protein, as well as fiber and antioxidants in the form of vitamin E. Nuts help diabetics control blood sugar and reduce insulin resistance.

7. Olive Oil When cooking, diabetics should use olive oil as opposed to butter, lard or vegetable oils. Its another good fat that helps fight heart disease and control blood sugar levels.

8. Poultry Breast Chicken or turkey breast, or the breast of any other kind of bird, is a low-fat protein that lowers bad cholesterol and may increase resistance to insulin.

9. Vegetables From asparagus to zucchini, vegetables have tons of nutrients and fiber without a lot of calories. Eating veggies to replace simple carbs (like non-whole grains) and saturated fats is especially advantageous for diabetics.

10. Yogurt This is low-fat protein with a unique advantage: yogurt also offers lots of calcium, which aids in weight loss and reduces insulin resistance.

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HealthDegreesU.com provides the opportunity to research and request free information about top allied health schools and health care degrees program for potential students looking to start or expand their career in the field of health care. Choose best health care programs for you and start your in allied healthcare.

Type 2 Diabetes - Vitamin D in Obese Adolescents

By Beverleigh H Piepers  

Photo: rsefitness.com

According to a growing body of evidence, a vitamin D deficiency is associated with insulin resistance, the cause of Type 2 diabetes, as well as full-blown Type 2 diabetes itself, and heart and blood vessel disease. Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem among overweight and obese adolescents in developed countries. In 2011 the journal Polish Endokrynology reported the results of a study on vitamin D in insulin resistance in obese young people.
Sixty-four obese adolescents were included in this study:

• half the participants were deficient in vitamin D, while
• 14 percent had a sufficient amount, and
• 36 percent had borderline values.

Levels of vitamin D were naturally higher during summer than winter months. Those with the:

• highest percentage of body fat,
• those with acanthosis nigricans, a discoloration of the armpits sometimes seen in diabetes, and
• the highest blood sugar levels,

had the lowest blood levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin D is made when the skin is exposed to sunlight. While obese adolescents might be shy about being seen in a swimsuit at the beach or public swimming pool, walking outside with one's face and arms exposed is a good way to get vitamin D in the spring, summer and fall.
Vitamin D is also available in foods and food supplements made from fungi:

• soymilk is often fortified with vitamin D. Check the labels for the amount of vitamin D listed. Soymilk can be used in most places as a substitute for dairy milk.
• cereals can also be fortified with vitamin D.

A cup of Cheerios or three quarters of a cup of Total cereal with a cup of Silk soymilk can supply 40 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.
Try making a smoothie with soymilk and your favorite fruit:

• Silksoymilk.com recommends making a smoothie with soymilk, strawberries, banana, a sweetener of choice, and optional vanilla.

Allrecipes.com recommends making pancakes with soymilk, all-purpose flour (substitute whole wheat), sugar (substitute stevia), baking powder, baking soda, egg, (substitute vegan egg substitute), vegetable oil, vanilla, and almonds.
Mushrooms contain some vitamin D, and if you buy the kind that have been grown under ultraviolet light, you can get even more:

• Monterey Mushrooms advertises a 3 ounce serving of its mushrooms contains more than 100 per cent of the RDA of vitamin D.
• mushrooms are low in calories and delicious.

Try baking them with a drizzle of olive oil for a snack, or include them in a wrap with thin flat bread, along with baked sliced tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Or cut them up for a salad along with some kale, Romaine lettuce, chopped onions and grated carrots. Top off with some balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
There's more than one way to get your daily intake of vitamin D. Because of all the research that's been done in recent years, vitamin D is one of the most important nutrients you can take if you have Type 2 diabetes.

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 - Types of Exercise and Blood Sugar Levels!

By Beverleigh H Piepers  

Photo: img.webmd.com

Exercise is a very important tool used in the management of Type 2 diabetes. Exercise is just as important as diet and, in many instances, as important as drugs in managing diabetes. Researchers continue to investigate the merits of endurance-type (cardio) and resistance-type (strength training) activity. Most studies so far have looked at the benefits of either one or the other type of program.
Investigators in the Department of Human Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, in the Netherlands, reported results of a study comparing resistance and endurance-type exercises and their effect on 24-hour blood sugar in individuals with poor sugar tolerance and those with Type 2 diabetes.
Their study, published in the journal Diabetologia November 2011, included:

• 15 volunteers with impaired sugar tolerance,
• 15 people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetics and treated with insulin, and
• 15 Type 2 diabetics treated with oral anti-diabetic medications.

They were all given the same diet for 3 days.
Their blood sugars were measured during a 24-hour period:

• after a 45-minute session of resistance-type exercise,
• a 45-minute session of endurance exercise, and
• a day of no exercise.

For all the three groups, blood sugar levels went down significantly during the 24 hours following their exercise program. Resistance and endurance exercises produced similar results. Abnormally high blood sugar readings were reduced by over one-third as the result of both types of exercise.
From these results it was concluded either resistance or endurance exercise could be helpful if it was incorporated into a regular program of treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
Endurance-type (or cardio) exercises are those that increase your pulse rate and the rate of breathing.

• fast walking,
• running,
• aerobics,
• swimming, and
• bicycle riding are typical examples of endurance exercises.

Housework such as mopping and gardening activities, for example raking leaves, fall into the category of endurance activities, as does dancing. Parking far from the office and walking upstairs instead of taking the elevator can provide some physical activity throughout the day.
As endurance for the exercise is increased, so is general endurance, making people feel generally healthier after a hard week at the office or during final exams.
Research has found people with Type 2 diabetes who do eight weeks of aerobic exercise wind up with their HbA1c levels about 8 percent lower than nonexercisers.
Resistance-type (or strength training) physical activities are those in which muscles are moved against opposing forces.

• lifting free weight or using weight machines, and pushing against a wall are examples of resistance exercises.
• large rubber bands are sometimes used to provide resistance, or
• a person's own body can provide resistance, as in performing push-ups.

This form of exercise builds muscle, and that extra muscle soaks up more blood sugar in the form of glycogen.
Consult your doctor first, plan an exercise program, and start your new exercise program.

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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How Can A Person Cope Up Effectively With Gestational Diabetes?

By: Rinki Rawat

Photo: diabetesdiettreatment.com

The baby's health can be affected if a mother is diagnosed with a condition known as gestational diabetes. This can cause a lot of distress to parents as well. They have a constant worry about the health of the baby and its well-being. Thus, a mother will find it hard to take care of her. Many a times, the health may be neglected due to lot of stress or forgetting to exercise and eating wrong foods. There should be a proper knowledge regarding the prognosis of this condition. These measures can help in reducing the risk of various complications. It can help a mother in effectively coping up with gestational diabetes. The pregnancy can be complication free and healthy.

A person can know about gestational diabetes by:

1.Reading about gestational diabetes
2.Talking to women or the doctor who are having gestational diabetes
3.A support group for women must be joined.

This will surely help in developing a positive outlook. Most of the women will have well controlled blood glucose levels. This will help in having healthy babies. The recommendations of the doctor must be followed.

1.The recommendations of the doctor regarding diet and exercise must be followed. Plenty of green vegetables and fruits must be eaten. The intake of starchy food should be limited.
2.All the medications must be taken as per the recommendations of the doctor
3.Patient must go for regular prenatal visits.
4.A person should fix an appointment with the dietician. He must figure out how to eat properly while suffering from gestational diabetes. This can include a lot of stress and is very difficult. If one is able to meet a nutritionist or a dietician who can help with coming up a new plan, stress will be minimized to a great extent. Gestational diabetes can surely be kept under control. The dietician will help in figuring a new plan that will work very nicely and make a person feel very good.
5.One must talk to the doctor about the concerns. If a person is worried about managing gestational diabetes, the unborn baby will be affected. The doctor can help in alleviating most of the concerns. Various questions can be answered by the doctor. This is an effective way of coping up with gestational diabetes.

When a person is aware about what should be expected in the condition, he feel surely feel more in control of the disease. This way he can take better care of himself. Thus, various ways for coping up with gestational diabetes should be followed.

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About the Author:
The author has given good information in this article about gestational diabetes and problems during pregnancy. Also read about pregnancy test at Onlymyhealth.