Diabetes, if left untreated, leads to many complications - heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage.There are no magical pills or secret formulas to cure diabetes.Fortunately,the diabetics have the power to manage and control their diabetes and this can be done with proper knowledge and education about diabetes.
A diabetic, either type 1 or type 2, can change their life and start living normally by just following the 12 simple and easy to follow steps below:
1. Limit the intake of carbohydrates in each meal.
2. Do not consume more than 45 grams of total carbohydrates per meal.
3. Consume around 25 grams of total carbohydrate in each snack and mix it with an unsaturated fat or a lean protein, such as fruit with low fat cheese or yogurt with nuts.
4. Distribute the intake of carbs evenly throughout the day to prevent swings in blood sugar.
5. Consume foods that are slowly digested. Examples are oatmeal, brown rice whole grain bread, etc.
6. Test the blood sugar levels before a meal and two hours after to evaluate whether your body can handle the level of carbohydrate intake.
7. When testing sugar levels, aim for 90-127mg/dl before a meal, and under 180mg/dl after.
8. Eat after every 3-4 hours to keep your metabolism working well.
9. The gap between two meals should not be less than two hours.
10. Go regularly for the HbA1C test .Target for below 6%. This test tells the average blood sugar level of the previous three months.
11. Exercise at least five days a week for 30 minutes daily.Exercising assists insulin in its efficient working.
12. Regularly visit your doctor so that he may adjust your medication, exercising pattern, and diet plan according to your body's needs.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
What Diabetics should know about Metformin!!!!!!
Metformin is an oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels.Metformin is prescribed for people with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Following are Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health
care professional as soon as possible:
Serious Reactions
* lactic acidosis - is when lactic acid builds ups in the blood
stream faster than it can be removed.Get emergency medical help if you have
any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis:
weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling,
muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling
light-headed and fainting.
* anemia - is a condition where there is a lower than normal
number of red blood cells in the blood, usually measured by a
decrease in the amount of hemoglobin....
Common Reactions that usually do not require medical
attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if
they continue or are bothersome):
- decreased appetite
- gas
- heartburn
- metallic taste in the mouth
- mild stomach ache
- nausea/vomiting
- weight loss
- rash
- diarrhoea
- flatulence
- asthenia
- indigestion
- abdominal discomfort
In combination with other diabetic medications, (like acarbose,
glyburide, glipizide, miglitol, or insulin), metformin may cause
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Following are Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health
care professional as soon as possible:
Serious Reactions
* lactic acidosis - is when lactic acid builds ups in the blood
stream faster than it can be removed.Get emergency medical help if you have
any of these symptoms of lactic acidosis:
weakness, increasing sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold feeling,
muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, feeling
light-headed and fainting.
* anemia - is a condition where there is a lower than normal
number of red blood cells in the blood, usually measured by a
decrease in the amount of hemoglobin....
Common Reactions that usually do not require medical
attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if
they continue or are bothersome):
- decreased appetite
- gas
- heartburn
- metallic taste in the mouth
- mild stomach ache
- nausea/vomiting
- weight loss
- rash
- diarrhoea
- flatulence
- asthenia
- indigestion
- abdominal discomfort
In combination with other diabetic medications, (like acarbose,
glyburide, glipizide, miglitol, or insulin), metformin may cause
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Exercise and your health!!!!!
Exercise, which includes any physical activity, helps you look and feel better, your posture, stamina and energy levels improve. Regular exercise also combats chronic health conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, besides depression and stress.
BENEFITS OF EXERCISE:
1. Reduces the risk of heart disease
2. Lowers blood pressure levels.
3. Decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL)
4. Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
5. Promotes weight loss.
6. Helps de-stress and improve immunity levels.
TYPES OF EXRECISE:
1.Cardiovascular exercise: Cardiovascular exercise (which includes aerobic exercise) burns calories, promotes blood circulation and strengthens the heart. It is a low impact routine which places minimum stress on the joints and is safe and effective. For e.g. swimming, jogging, cycling.
2. Strength training: Weight-bearing exercise plays an important role in maintaining the bone density and keeping the body strong. Examples include push-ups, sit-ups or exercises using weights, machines or resistance bands.
3. Flexibility training: Flexibility exercises help to keep the body supple, flexible and free from muscular stress. Good choices are Yoga, stretching exercises, etc.
EXERCISE AND DISEASE:
1. Arthritis: The most important exercises are stretching exercises to preserve range of motion and flexibility around each joint. Strength training exercises using light weights is also an excellent ways to build bone strength. Low impact cardiovascular exercises such as cycling, swimming and walking are also very useful.
2. Osteoporosis: Weight-bearing exercises are recommended to specially improve bone strength. They not only improve calcium absorption in the bone but also stimulate bone formation. A simple example of weight bearing exercise is walking.
3. Heart Disease: Exercise makes the heart fitter and stronger, helping it to pump more blood with each heartbeat. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, running an bicycling are ideal for improving functioning of the heart. Physical inactivity may be the major cause of heart disease. Exercise can reduce excess body weight, reduce total cholesterol levels, increase good cholesterol and lower high blood pressure.
4. Diabetes: Proper diet and exercise plan which includes moderate levels of cardiovascular exercise and strength training with minimum resistance (light weights), which also includes yoga and pranayama helps to effectively control diabetes. Exercise is also important since it improves glucose regulation.
5. Hypertension: Exercise is an important aspect in controlling high blood pressure. Regular low-impact aerobic exercise can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Weight training exercises using light resistances are the best when it comes to maintain the blood pressure in a healthy range.
EXERCISE AND THE MIND:
Exercise peps up our mood and helps us feel more positive since it gets blood flowing to the brain. This includes any physical activity be it yoga, breathing techniques (pranayama), stretching exercises, running or martial arts. Exercise is a great outlet for physical stress. Rest is one of the most important factor when it comes to successful exercising as the body needs adequate rest to avoid possibility of physical and mental burn out. Rest also helps the muscles, to recuperate from stress of exercise.
BENEFITS OF EXERCISE:
1. Reduces the risk of heart disease
2. Lowers blood pressure levels.
3. Decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL)
4. Reduces the risk of osteoporosis
5. Promotes weight loss.
6. Helps de-stress and improve immunity levels.
TYPES OF EXRECISE:
1.Cardiovascular exercise: Cardiovascular exercise (which includes aerobic exercise) burns calories, promotes blood circulation and strengthens the heart. It is a low impact routine which places minimum stress on the joints and is safe and effective. For e.g. swimming, jogging, cycling.
2. Strength training: Weight-bearing exercise plays an important role in maintaining the bone density and keeping the body strong. Examples include push-ups, sit-ups or exercises using weights, machines or resistance bands.
3. Flexibility training: Flexibility exercises help to keep the body supple, flexible and free from muscular stress. Good choices are Yoga, stretching exercises, etc.
EXERCISE AND DISEASE:
1. Arthritis: The most important exercises are stretching exercises to preserve range of motion and flexibility around each joint. Strength training exercises using light weights is also an excellent ways to build bone strength. Low impact cardiovascular exercises such as cycling, swimming and walking are also very useful.
2. Osteoporosis: Weight-bearing exercises are recommended to specially improve bone strength. They not only improve calcium absorption in the bone but also stimulate bone formation. A simple example of weight bearing exercise is walking.
3. Heart Disease: Exercise makes the heart fitter and stronger, helping it to pump more blood with each heartbeat. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, running an bicycling are ideal for improving functioning of the heart. Physical inactivity may be the major cause of heart disease. Exercise can reduce excess body weight, reduce total cholesterol levels, increase good cholesterol and lower high blood pressure.
4. Diabetes: Proper diet and exercise plan which includes moderate levels of cardiovascular exercise and strength training with minimum resistance (light weights), which also includes yoga and pranayama helps to effectively control diabetes. Exercise is also important since it improves glucose regulation.
5. Hypertension: Exercise is an important aspect in controlling high blood pressure. Regular low-impact aerobic exercise can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Weight training exercises using light resistances are the best when it comes to maintain the blood pressure in a healthy range.
EXERCISE AND THE MIND:
Exercise peps up our mood and helps us feel more positive since it gets blood flowing to the brain. This includes any physical activity be it yoga, breathing techniques (pranayama), stretching exercises, running or martial arts. Exercise is a great outlet for physical stress. Rest is one of the most important factor when it comes to successful exercising as the body needs adequate rest to avoid possibility of physical and mental burn out. Rest also helps the muscles, to recuperate from stress of exercise.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Treating Gout the Ayurvedic way!!!!!
Gout:It is a condition wherein there is deposition of uric acid, leading to severe inflammatory state.
In this condition,monosodium urate or uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the blood stream. As a result,inflammation of the effected tissues takes place which leads to pain, swelling and immobiity in the joints.To present a classic picture, one complains of sudden burning pain,warmth, redness, swelling and stiffness in the effected joints. Low grade fever may also be present.The pain is so severe, that a slight
In this condition,monosodium urate or uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the blood stream. As a result,inflammation of the effected tissues takes place which leads to pain, swelling and immobiity in the joints.To present a classic picture, one complains of sudden burning pain,warmth, redness, swelling and stiffness in the effected joints. Low grade fever may also be present.The pain is so severe, that a slight
Nutrients to combat Menopause!!!!!!
MENOPAUSE: Menopause is the phase of a woman's life when she no longer experiences menstruation. During the menopausal stage, hormonal fluctuations lead to menstrual irregularities, and women also experience symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, increased urinary tract problems, loss of libido, weight gain, and skin dryness.
Hence certain vital nutrients are required to combat menopause.
VITAMIN E: It is considered useful in alleviating hot flushes and also offers heart protection.
food sources of Vitamin E are foods such as nuts, seeds, egg yolk and wheat germ.
CALCIUM: It prevents the development of osteoporosis.
food sources are milk, milk products, sardines, almonds, broccoli and spinach.
VITAMIN D: To absorb calcium the body needs Vitamin D, which can be made by the skin after exposure to the sun.
dietary source of this vitamin includes fortified milk, eggs,fish oil, etc.
MAGNESIUM: It works with calcium to maintain bone density. found in whole grains, milk and milk products, tofu, nuts
seeds and legumes.
PHYTOESTROGENS: It can help alleviate hot flushes, also protects against heart diseases and osteoporosis.
food rich in phytoestrogens include soy foods, flaxseed, chick peas and other legumes.
Hence certain vital nutrients are required to combat menopause.
VITAMIN E: It is considered useful in alleviating hot flushes and also offers heart protection.
food sources of Vitamin E are foods such as nuts, seeds, egg yolk and wheat germ.
CALCIUM: It prevents the development of osteoporosis.
food sources are milk, milk products, sardines, almonds, broccoli and spinach.
VITAMIN D: To absorb calcium the body needs Vitamin D, which can be made by the skin after exposure to the sun.
dietary source of this vitamin includes fortified milk, eggs,fish oil, etc.
MAGNESIUM: It works with calcium to maintain bone density. found in whole grains, milk and milk products, tofu, nuts
seeds and legumes.
PHYTOESTROGENS: It can help alleviate hot flushes, also protects against heart diseases and osteoporosis.
food rich in phytoestrogens include soy foods, flaxseed, chick peas and other legumes.
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