30Jun

Diabetes Mellitus Herbal Home Remedies

FILED IN Natural Treatment No Comments

Diabetes Mellitus is most common among obese and older people. This chronic metabolic disorder prevents the body from using glucose either partially and/or completely. Most often, it is characterized by elevated glucose concentration in the blood. Since the pancreas produces insulin and controls the amount of glucose in the blood, without the necessary insulin, blood sugar increases in the blood because the body simply cannot use or store the glucose.

Several home remedies for Diabetes Mellitus have proven beneficial in controlling diabetes. The most common used is bitter gourd. Bitter gourd contains a hypoglycemic or insulin like compound which has been very valuable in lowering both urine and blood sugar levels.

Indian Gooseberry has been an all natural remedy for treating diabetes mellitus and is high in vitamin C. Just a tablespoon of this juice, mixed in with a cup of bitter gourd juice, as described above, taken daily for about two months will reduce blood sugar levels.

Jambul Fruit is a black berry and another excellent source of home remedies and/or herbal remedy treatments for diabetes mellitus. The Jambul Fruit has a specific effect on the pancreas which regulates the amount of insulin being produced and has the capabilities of turning starch into sugar when an increase production of glucose is found. One teaspoon of powder should be mixed with one cup of milk and taken twice daily.

Grapefruit. If it were eaten more frequently, some believe, the diagnosis of diabetes would be less. Grapefruit eaten three times a day has been known to regulate and treat diabetes mellitus naturally.

Mango Leaves. Leaves of the mango tree are considered an effective treatment in diabetes. By soaking 15 grams of leaves in 250 ml of water overnight, squeezing them in the morning and consuming, this method has been known to control early diabetes.

Other foods like string beans, onions, garlic and cucumbers are valuable foods and treatments when trying to control diabetes mellitus naturally.

By not missing meals, consuming a well-rounded diabetic diet and daily exercise are also great ways to naturally treat diabetes mellitus. You can naturally treat your diabetes with any of the preferred methods listed above and staying active. At each meal be sure to consume some sources of protein but do not over indulge in high protein foods as it can lead to renal problems. Be sure to watch your fat intake as many foods have some invisible amounts of fasts. Avoid these invisible fats by eliminating egg yolk, whole milk and red meats. Rather, eat egg whites, drink skim milk and skin-less chicken. When using butters, limit the quantity of the spread, as these also contain damaging invisible fats.

As with any new regimen always consult your physician prior to starting anything new, discuss any medications you are taking and any possible drug interactions. This article is not meant to cure and/or diagnose disease. It is simply to give you the knowledge of natural home remedies for diabetes mellitus so you can make an informed decision.

29Jun

Treatment Steps for Diabetes

FILED IN Type 2 Diabetes No Comments

The onset of diabetes is recognized when a patient has an overly high blood sugar level. This means that his or her body does not produce enough insulin to maintain a healthy amount of sugar in the blood. The cells in the pancreas of a person with diabetes gradually wear out and their capacity to produce insulin gradually and continuously falls. Eventually he or she will not have enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar and the sugar will start to rise. Doctors and patients have many resources available to help people with diabetes maintain healthy sugar levels. The most powerful tool is a combination of diet and exercise. It requires education, motivation, and teamwork on the part of the doctor and patient.

When a person without diabetes exercises and loses weight, his or her body requires less insulin to maintain sugar levels. This holds true for people with diabetes as well: while they have a decreased capacity to produce insulin, they may frequently be able to use diet and exercise to reduce their requirements for it and their sugars will come back down to normal. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, they will decrease the amount of insulin their bodies need to maintain normal blood sugars. If they can lower their insulin requirement sufficiently, their limited capacity to produce insulin may be sufficient to maintain normal sugar levels. This is analogous to a person who experiences a pay cut, and compensates by cutting down on expenses (for example, purchasing fewer luxuries and taking fewer vacations) but can still pay for his necessities without borrowing any money.

Unfortunately, diabetes is a progressive disease. This means that as time goes on, a person with diabetes will have less and less capacity to produce insulin naturally. Even with the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, a diabetic’s sugar levels will likely start to elevate again after a time. Just as there is a limit to how much you can cut down on expenses and still have the bare necessities of living, diet and exercise alone cannot work indefinitely for every person with diabetes. If a patient has been eating and exercising appropriately but experiences a rise in sugar levels, his or her doctor may next offer medications that lower his or her body’s need for insulin. Patients must still maintain the healthy living habits that they have previously implemented in order to keep insulin requirements as low as possible.

While a combination of diet, exercise, and medications may work for a long time in many patients, it may not work indefinitely for every person with diabetes. When the patient is doing a great job with diet and exercise and is appropriately taking medications but the blood sugar levels continue to rise, an insulin regimen will be an appropriate next step. While it seems to be a very logical solution-taking insulin because the body cannot produce it naturally-patients and their physicians will resist using it because it requires injections, may lead to hypoglycemia (low sugars), and some people think it causes weight gain. (For more information about the relationships between insulin and hypoglycemia/weight gain, please see my other articles on these topics.)

Many patients would prefer having sugar levels higher than those recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists if the elevated levels do not cause overt symptoms and it means they can avoid self-injecting. However, mild elevations in blood sugar levels may increase the risk of visual impairment, kidney damage, heart attacks, strokes, and foot complications that may lead to amputations. Individuals with slightly elevated levels also face a much higher risk of sugar level spikes during unrelated illness. The patient and the doctor must work together to balance the inconvenience and risk of using insulin against the threat of these complications, and develop a system that is appropriate for the individual.

Many people with diabetes are able to follow the diet and exercise recommendations prescribed by their physician; however, others have difficulty following through with making and keeping healthy lifestyle habits. Because these patients are unable or unwilling to adopt the diet and exercise plan recommended by their doctor, they are depriving themselves of the first and most powerful tool to treat their diabetes. In order to help them with the diet portion of their regimen, my daughter Tova Searleman and I have established a website to provide a free 24/7 resource to help patients acquire appropriate cooking skills and gain practical information about this disease. People with diabetes will be able to use the site to learn basic information about diabetes, be informed about the latest developments in diabetes care and research, learn how to shop for nutritious foods, read nutrition labels, and watch videos in which Tova provides step-by-step demonstrations on how to prepare delicious meals that are appropriate for people with diabetes and their families. Please visit our site, and let us know how we can further serve you.

27Jun

Type 2 Diabetes – When Is The Best Time For Diabetics To Take Their Blood Pressure Drugs?

FILED IN Type 2 Diabetes No Comments

Heart and blood vessel disease is frequently a problem for anyone with Type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure (B/P) can be the result. According to the American Diabetes Association, as many as two-thirds of diabetics have high blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Vigo in Spain set out to determine whether the traditional method of taking all medications in the morning were necessarily the way to get the best possible results. Their work was published in the June 2011 issue of the journal Diabetes Care.

Four hundred forty-eight people with high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Some were assigned to continue taking all their anti-hypertensive drugs in the morning while the rest were assigned to take one or more of their anti-hypertensive drugs at bedtime. Blood pressure was measured at the start of the study and at intervals for about 5 years. At the end of the study the group taking one or more blood pressure drugs at bedtime had fewer cases of heart attacks, death due to heart attacks, and strokes. They also had better controlled B/P both at night and during the day. It was therefore concluded taking at least one anti-hypertensive medication at night rather than during the day, improved blood pressure control and reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes in Type 2 diabetics.

Cheap viagra australia

The American Diabetes Association and the National Institute of Health recommend a blood pressure of below 130/80 to prevent strokes, eye disease, heart disease and kidney disease in diabetics. The top number, the systolic, is the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries when the heart is beating. The bottom number, the diastolic, is the force of the blood against the arterial walls between heartbeats. Both are measured in millimeters of mercury.

Medications for lowering blood pressure include:

angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,
angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB’s),
diuretics,
beta blockers, and
calcium channel blockers.

A hormone called angiotensin is a hormone that narrows the blood vessels, causing your B/P to increase. ACE inhibitors prevent the hormone from being manufactured by the body. ARB’s keep angiotensin from doing its job of narrowing blood vessels. Diuretics cause the kidneys to put more water into the urine, causing blood pressure to drop because the blood vessels have less fluid to carry. Beta blockers cause the heart to beat less forcefully and more slowly. Calcium channel blockers keep calcium away from the heart and blood vessels, allowing them to relax.

If you are on more than one type of anti-hypertensive drug and your blood pressure is above 130/80, check with your doctor as to whether you should take one or more of your medications at bedtime.

24Jun

Treatment for Hypoglycemia: Definition and Treatment Methods for Hypoglycemia

FILED IN Other No Comments

It is essential to get treatment for hypoglycemia, which is characterized by the decrease of blood sugar levels also known as glucose, below normal range. The normal blood Glucose Levels in people who do not have diabetes: upon waking is 70 to 99 mg/dL and after meals is 70 to 140 mg/dL.

For those that have diabetes, the normal range before meals is 70 to 130mg/dl and 1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal below 180 mg/dL. The American Diabetes Association is a great resource for more information.

Hypoglycemia is most prevalent in people with diabetes. An episode will usually occur as a side effect to many diabetic medications. Proper medication dosage is crucial to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels.

Those with diabetes are instructed to test their levels with a glucose monitor several times a day to prevent abnormally low or high glucose levels. It can also be brought on by an improper diet or extreme physical activity.

Hypoglycemia can happen suddenly. It is usually mild and can be treated quickly and easily by eating or drinking a small amount of glucose-rich food. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, anxiety, heart palpitations, sweating, dilated pupils, coldness, feeling of fainting, and clamminess. These symptoms are triggered by the loss of glucose that affects the brain.

As hypoglycemia continues, neurological symptoms may include difficulty speaking, slurred speech, fatigue, anxiety, lethargy, delirium, headache, stupor, abnormal breathing and finally, coma. Severe cases may also result in death.

Immediate Treatment for Hypoglycemia

Anyone experiencing a hypoglycemic episode should immediately be given 3 – 4 glucose tablets if available or ½ cup of fruit juice. Candy or a tablespoon of honey will also suffice to immediate raise their glucose levels. A glucose meter should always be used to ensure that the blood sugar level has risen above 70mg/dl.

For the most part, a mild case of hypoglycemia will be corrected with any of these stated methods.Someone that is experiencing a severe episode should be taken to an emergency room immediately. Medical intervention may be needed to raise their glucose levels to an acceptable range.In many cases, hypoglycemia is nothing to be concerned about. It can simply be the reaction of malnutrition or fasting.

Many people experience hypoglycemia without even knowing it. If it continues to be a problem, however, many people will seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause of the illness. An adjustment to their medication may be necessary as a preventive treatment for hypoglycemia.

23Jun

Diabetic Symptoms: Common Symptoms Linked To Diabetic Diagnosis

FILED IN Other No Comments

Today, there are approximately 16 million Americans living with diabetes that have experienced varying diabetic symptoms. Over 800,000 new cases are diagnosed yearly. Unfortunately, diabetes is a disease that can affect children, men, women, and the elderly. It is not a disease that discriminates based on age, gender, or nationality.

It is a worldwide epidemic. As a result, it is important to recognize the most common diabetic symptoms because early detection can prevent severe complications down the road.

Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to provide enough insulin in order to convert sugar in the blood to energy. In some cases, the insulin provided by the pancreas is not properly used by the body. This results in high blood sugar level in the body, which can have serious complications to your overall well-being.

It is the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness, and can significantly increase the risk of heart diseases, stroke and even birth defects. Amputations are also common in diabetics and can significantly shorten the life expectancy by up to 15 years. If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the following diabetic symptoms consistently or for a long termed basis, please visit a doctor to get tested.

 

Diabetic Symptoms

Type 1 Diabetes

Frequent Urination
Unusual Thirst
Extreme Hunger
Unusual Weight Loss
Extreme Fatigue and Irritability

Type 2 Diabetes

Any of the Type 1 Diabetic Symptoms
Frequent skin, gum or bladder infections
Blurred Vision
Cuts or Bruises that heal slowly
Tingling or numbness in the extremities

Experiencing any of these diabetic symptoms can be frightening, but please do not allow it to be a deterrent. If you feel that you have any of the above listed symptoms, do not hesitate to see your physician. Diabetes, although seemingly scary, is easily controlled. Physicians know more about diabetes now, than ever before and there are many effective medications on the market to keep the disease under control.

Living with Diabetes

If you are diagnosed with diabetes as an adult, then you will have diabetes type 2. When a child develops the disease then it is classified as type 1. Although, diabetes can have serious complications, there are ways to effectively manage the disease and live a normal life.

You can control diabetes if you take your prescribed medication, monitor your blood sugars, become aware of carbohydrates that are high in the glycemic index and keep an eye on your glycemia, which is the concentration of glucose in the blood. The American Diabetes Association is also a wonderful resource and tool.

By complying with medication, testing and diet, you can keep the disease under control. Early detection is the key to living a healthier life. Do not be afraid to get tested if you are experiencing any of the above listed diabetic symptoms.

22Jun

Tips for Preventing Diabetes

FILED IN Other No Comments

Diabetes is a serious disease that has swept the United States in recent years. Diabetes is a chronic disease that creates high levels of sugar in the blood. These high levels of sugar cause blurry vision, excessive thirst, fatigue, hunger, nausea, weight loss, vomiting, weakness, confusion and many other life-threatening symptoms. There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, bust is most often diagnosed in children, adolescents, or young adults. This form of diabetes occurs when the body produces little to no insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It is caused by a problem in the way that the body produces insulin. This form of diabetes is called insulin resistance. Persons suffering from type 2 diabetes do not respond correctly to insulin. This typically happens when fat, liver and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin, resulting in the body not storing blood sugar for later energy. When sugar cannot enter cells, it remains in the blood. This causes hyperglycemia, which later results in pancreas failure over time.

Type 2 diabetes usually affects people who are overweight. Due to the increased population of overweight persons living in the United States, the population of persons suffering from diabetes has also grown. Though there are many people suffering from diabetes, it is often a relatively easy disease to prevent.

A best and easiest way to prevent diabetes is to remain at a healthy weight. This is done through living a healthy lifestyle. The first step to living a healthy lifestyle is to eat properly and exercise regularly.

Eating meals that are high in protein and low in fat gives the body the necessary energy it needs, without the calories. Eating fresh foods and whole grains also provide the body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Avoiding foods with extreme amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup also prevent against diabetes.

It is always important to exercise the body to keep it in shape. Exercising helps the body burn off any access fat that may be resisting insulin intake. This also keeps the body in shape, preventing the risk of obesity. Having a regular exercise routine not only prevents against diabetes, but also releases endorphins that promote better mood. With the right diet and exercise, diabetes can easily be prevented.

20Jun

Type 2 Diabetes – Driving Precautions When You Have Diabetes!

FILED IN Type 2 Diabetes No Comments

Diabetes can have an impact on your ability to drive safely in several ways. It puts you at risk of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, which affects your concentration and may impair your judgement and even lead to loss of consciousness. Or, your eyesight can be affected often due to high blood sugar levels distorting your lens, or because of damage to the retina, or cataracts.

Many diabetics though can drive safely and regularly. However, a small portion of the diabetic population may have an impairment in their driving ability because of their low or high blood sugar level and the presence of diabetes complications.

According to the John Hopkins POC-IT: Point of Care Information Technology Center, 0.4 to 3 percent of life-threatening motor vehicle accidents are caused directly by medical problems and complications. The most common condition responsible for motor vehicle accidents is epilepsy. The next most common cause of accidents is insulin-treated diabetes, which comprises 18 percent of cases. Acute myocardial infarction is present in 8 percent of cases.

In the United States, people with Type 1 diabetes have a 31 percent risk of being admitted to hospital due to accidents triggered by hypoglycemia. In Type 2 diabetes only 8 percent end up having this problem. In a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was mentioned diabetic drivers have 1.44 times more “at-fault accidents” compared to drivers without this health problem. You see, cognitive dysfunction associated with acute and chronic alterations in blood sugar levels usually alters the ability of a driver with diabetes.

What causes the increased risk for accidents when diabetics are at the wheel?

Diabetics with unstable blood sugar levels have increased metabolic demands on their body, this leads to:

an increased heart rate,
greater epinephrine release, and
more autonomic symptoms,

making them more prone to road accidents.

Points to consider while driving:

always be aware of your blood sugar level. In most cases, mild hypoglycemia may go undetected. Check your blood sugar level before you drive and every 2 hours when on a long trip. Your driving ability will be impaired if your blood sugar goes below 72mg/dL (4mmol/L).

keep glucose tables or a rapid acting glucose drink in the glove box of your car.

if symptoms of hypoglycemia occur, pull over and stop driving. Don’t resume driving until your blood sugar is over 99mg/dL (5.5mmol/L). Your thinking and judgement may take up to an hour to return to normal.

alcohol in the previous 12 hours increases the risk of hypoglycemia.

the risk of hypoglycemia is increased after playing sport.

try to avoid driving if you have made major changes to your insulin regime.

Motor vehicle accidents directly caused by diabetes is relatively rare, says John Hopkins POC-IT: Point of Care Information Technology Center. However, blood sugar level awareness is still necessary to avoid possible accidents from occurring. The more cautious you become in monitoring your blood sugar level and by being aware about the possible symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, the safer it will be for you.

17Jun

Myriad Diabetes Complications

FILED IN Other No Comments

Diabetes is a common disease that seems to affect many people and cause many diabetes complications to occur. There are many side effects and complications of the disease. The disease can affect some specific parts of the body. This is the reason for you to try and control the disease as early as possible. Early identification of the disease and appropriate precautions will prevent many if not all of the diabetes complications.

Some of the common complications caused in diabetes are listed here.

1. Diabetic neuropathy

The neuropathy is the damage to the nerve that occurs because of increased diabetic levels. Neuropathy causes damage to the muscles and there can be muscle weakness or paralysis. Other than this, the sensation in the foot or other parts of the body may also be lost. This in turn leads to diabetic foot complications including foot ulcers. Foot ulcers are the leading cause of amputations in diabetics.

2. Diabetic Retinopathy

Retinopathy is nothing but damage to the retina. As the diabetes is uncontrolled in nature, the nerves that help in proper vision are affected. Many people start becoming blind because of the retinopathy. It is important to reduce the complications of diabetes by regularly visiting the Ophthalmologist to get the eye checked.

Viagra tablets

3. Diabetic Vasculopathy

Lack of blood supply to the extremities is also another major problem in diabetes. Vasculopathy is a diabetic complication that can lead to the formation of gangrene. This can also lead to amputations of the lower limb. Since this is a severe diabetes complication, prevention is the key.

4. Amputations

Though amputations are not a direct diabetes complication, there are many people who suffer from diabetes undergoing amputation to prevent septicemia from occurring. The neuropathy and vasculopathy that is seen in diabetes is a deadly combination that can kill a person. Any injury to the foot or even other parts of the body can cause the wound to become bigger.

Lack of blood supply delays the healing of the wound. There is also a high risk of infection in the wound. All this can cause septicemia to occur. When septicemia occurs, the risk of the patient dying increases. Amputation is the only option that is left to save the life of the person. On the other hand, many research studies have shown that amputations can lead to a decreased quality of life. Amputations will also increase the mortality rate of the person because of various related diabetes complications.

16Jun

Learn To Balance Your Blood Sugar Levels Before It Is Too Late

FILED IN Other No Comments

We’ve all heard of diabetes, and some of us even hypoglycemia, but most are not aware of the reasons why adults contract such diseases – mainly diabetes. See, your body uses the food you eat into glucose which is your body’s key source of energy. This energy is shared with your entire body, but mainly your muscles. Without this “energy” muscles cannot provide you with the strength and energy you need to perform simple, daily tasks. Your glucose levels are so important, that they even determine your energy level and your physical appearance.

When blood sugar levels are not regulated – or frequently fluctuating – or are often times to high, your body doesn’t know what to do other than to try to regulate it. To do this your body stores food – fuel – as fat. Okay, well there is a little more to it, but that is the idea. Point is, if you don’t take care of your body, it will try to take care of itself; but it may not be in the way that you desire.

The foods that you eat play the biggest role in your glucose and insulin levels; the more sugar you eat the more your body is going to have to process and try to counteract. There is sugar in everything! White grains, for example, are extremely rich in sugar – the bad kind – but many people go on eating them day in and day out. Rather than eating these white grains, try to stick with whole grain foods; you will consume a much smaller content of sugar this way.

Balancing your sugar levels is not as difficult as many people think and – by no means – should you let it intimidate you. Diabetes is a life-threatening disease and is much more difficult to deal with. It is better to learn to feed your body the right way now rather than when it is too late and becomes necessary to save your life. Well, it is necessary, but you get the point.

One of the greatest mistakes people make when it comes to sugar levels, other than eating too much, is not eating enough. Your body needs a certain number of calories every day; without them your body will store and feed off of itself when this does not happen, which causes the same problem as eating too much sugar. Therefore, you need to make sure that you are eating; but eat the right foods – fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and fat (dairy).

Secondly, eat more frequently. Eating 200-400 calories every 3 hours is much better for your blood glucose levels than eating 3 meals a day. See, when you keep your body nourished it does not have to stop and decide how to process the food. Nor does your body have the chance to get so hungry that it thinks it is starving, hence storing the food. Your body needs things from you, without these things it will get confused and try to fight for you, don’t make it, give it what it needs.

15Jun

Diabetes – A Threat Throughout the World

FILED IN Type 2 Diabetes No Comments

Around the world today, the threat of diabetes and obesity is very worrying. What is the solution on the threat that this alarming? and is there any proven treatment for diabetes in the market today?

Whether you believe it or not, the number of diabetics in the world is increasing every year. According to the International Diabetes Federation statistics, people with diabetes worldwide is currently about 285 million people. And this number is increasing. The figure is expected to hit the 438 million people in 2030 to clarify.

In Malaysia, it is a sudden increase in diabetes, from 1.4 million in 2006 to 1.8 million in 2010 and that number will increase to 2.5 million people by 2030.

Most patients with type 2 diabetes due to failure of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin, while type 1 diabetes patient’s pancreas is not working directly. Patients with type 2 diabetes often have blood lipid levels and cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This is the underlying cause of many deaths of type 2 diabetes. There are two types of risk factors of type 2 diabetes, it is risk factors remain and may change.

Risk factors remained, the genetic factors, age and ethnicity, while risk factors may change, involves weight loss and physical activity. In Malaysia, the most ethnic with diabetes were Indians followed by Malays and Chinese.

Other factors that cause diabetes are weight loss and physical activity. If a person’s weight is growing up obese, the higher the risk of diabetes and a person who is disabled also face the same risk.

The impact of diabetes on a patient is very large and offered many complications. It is the sixth disease that causes death and at the same time reduce the life expectancy of five Hing sufferer to 10 years.

Diabetics are also at risk of cardiovascular disease between two and four times in addition to experience nerve damage, amputation, blindness and kidney failure.

Looking at the number of people living with diabetes today and the expected future, a warning is very worrying and needs attention. Once we assume that the disease involves only the rich only, but now the scenarios has changed since it also occurs in people who live outside the city.

Within a decade, more rural communities suffering from diabetes. The increase in the number of diabetes patients are associated with obesity, so it is called diabesiti.

Most patients cannot control blood glucose levels as normal extent of this disease causes blood glucose levels rise. Although the treatment of existing diabetes, over 60 percent of patients with type 2 diabetes do not achieve good blood glucose control.

Some treatments for diabetes cause a person to experience weight gain and is often associated with the risk of hypoglycemia. It is a condition of the blood glucose level is below normal levels can cause serious signs of coma.

Therefore it is important for us to control our diet and take foods and fruits as recommended by nutritionists as well as adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid the diabetes.

TOP