Following are most common myths and misconceptions about diabetes, diet and related issues:
Myth: Diabetes is just a little sugar problem – it’s not that serious
Truth: Diabetes is a constitutional disease that affects the whole body. Constantly high blood sugar levels eventually lead to various health complications such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, amputation and blindness. So, its serious.
Myth: Genetics and eating sweets cause diabetes
Truth: Eating sweets does not cause diabetes. Eating sweets makes you fat which can lead to diabetes. Family traditions such as cooking and eating habits have a much significant impact on the development of diabetes than genetics. If you have genetic predisposition to diabetes, you can still live a healthy life if you make better decisions in terms of choice of food, exercise and lifestyle.
Myth: There is no cure for diabetes – once a diabetic, always a diabetic
Truth: Increasing medical evidence suggests that making changes to the diet to improve the nutrition, exercise and better emotional health can prevent and control type 2 diabetes. Once the disease is under control, further lifestyle changes can help improve conditions even more.
Myth: Diabetes is not serious if you are taking pills instead of insulin
Truth: Diabetes should be taken seriously regardless of the mode of treatment. Today, we live in a society in which taking pills is considered normal. This attitude reduces the severity of the disease in the minds of many people. As people get “comfortable” with their disease it continues to progress and creates other complications.
Myth: I don’t need to test blood glucose because I can feel it.
Truth: Nobody can consistently determine their blood glucose level accurately based on how they feel. Very high and very low blood sugar levels do produce certain symptoms that help in estimating their levels. However, most people feel just fine even if their blood glucose level is above 180. Unless you do regular testing, you have no way of knowing if you are in the danger zone. Corrective actions can be taken only when you know that you have consistently elevated blood sugar levels. But, don’t overdo it. Some people who have home blood glucose testing equipments, do too much testing. This can lead to stress and anxiety if their readings are consistently high.
Myth: Drugs work better than diet and lifestyle changes
Truth: Drugs work better in the short term. In the long term, diet and lifestyle changes can reverse diabetes, but not drugs. Most people like taking drugs instead of making changes to their lifestyle and diet. This is due to the intolerance of the society as a whole to pain and suffering. Also, most people believe that drugs “work” because they are advertised to do so. A diet of complex carbohydrates, protein and whole foods combined with lifestyle changes can help in blood sugar control and allow the body to restore insulin sensitivity.
Suman
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/diabetes-myths-and-truths-135421.html
Gestational Diabetes is a rare form of Diabetes that affects a small percentage of pregnant women. This can be a frightening experience for a mother-to-be when she first learns of her condition. The expectant mother’s level of physical awareness is already at its’ peak so when she later learns of her Gestational Diabetes condition, this make cause her significant anxiety.
How Is Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed?
Most OB/GYN doctors will require that the pregnant woman be tested for gestational diabetes at or around the 24th week of pregnancy. At this time there are a number of hormonal changes in the body which can bring about insulin resistance, especially the hormones that are produced by the placenta itself. At the same time, the fetus will have increased demands for insulin which brings up the total requirement to up to three times the normal quantity. If the insulin required is not available in the body or from external sources, the sugar remains in the blood. This is called as gestational diabetes.
Once gestational diabetes is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe a strict regimen of general exercise and a moderated gestational diabetes diet plan which will help both the pregnant mother and the baby stay away from any dangers caused by the disease. When treated through moderation and close patient care, the pregnant mother and unborn child should not suffer ill effects.
The diet is one of the most important tools in fighting diabetes. It has been observed through a number of medical research studies that a well-designed and carefully prescribed gestational diabetes diet plan can be the key ingredient to successfully treating the disease. A mother-to-be will asked to pay strict attention to the type and quantity of carbohydrates she ingests. Along with general proteins, complex carbohydrates will be stressed over the simple type and foods lower on the glycemic index scale are considered the optimal choice for the gestational diabetes diet plan.
Besides following a balanced and carefully designed gestational diabetes diet plan the pregnant mother should try to break her daily food intake into more numerous smaller meals to give the pancreas sufficient time to break down the sugar in the blood before the next batch is sent. A pregnant woman will need a higher dose of glucose in the blood to nurture the growing baby and with moderated more frequent food ingestion, the pancreas is given sufficient time to break down the ingested sugar, calories, and fat.
Through continuous and simple blood sugar monitoring, regular exercise and a structured diet plan, an expectant mother should be able to lead a normal pregnancy. Paying particular attention to the foods she eats and keying on those that are low in the glycemic index will be the chief factors to success.
Alexander Thomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-gestational-diabetes-97402.html
Diabetes is one of the main health problems not only in the country but also in the world. And it is not something that can be ignored both in financially and health wise. When left on its own, diabetes can spell a helluva of complications, from heart disease to liver problems.
It is perhaps the disease that causes the most number of complications in the body. Money wise, it is not cheap to have diabetes. In fact in studies conducted, 1/10 of the spendings of United States in Healthcare goes to Diabetes and its complications.
Because it is expensive and difficult to treat diabetes when it is already in its complications stage, patients are advised to nip the problem in the bud as soon as they can. If they can prevent diabetes from occurring with a few lifestyle changes especially in eating habits, all the better. This need for change spurned the creation of various kinds of diets that are designed to help diabetic patients and would be diabetics cope with the problem.
Although it was primarily conceptualized for people with heart problem, Atkins Diet is also being used as an alternative diet for people with diabetes. In fact, many diabetic patients have actually testified to its effectiveness. Atkins diet is primarily a low carbohydrate diet that aims to cut pounds by forbidding people under the program to eat carbohydrate-rich food.
These include rice, potatoes, bread and pasta. According to Dr. Robert Atkins, who created the diet for patients with heart problem in his clinic, the diet can also benefit diabetic patients because the decrease in caloric intake can reduce fats in the body; thereby reducing the risk for Type 2 diabetes.
The diet, however, is only effective with people who have a Type 2 diabetes or those whose diabetes is brought on by lifestyle of the person and his or her eating habits. It cannot do much for people who are already born with a problem in insulin secretion. These are the people with Type 1 diabetes. They depend solely on regular injections of insulin.
Still, there are critics that say that Atkins diet is not effective and in fact can lead to further complications. According to experts, the metabolism involved in the burning of fats instead of carbohydrates can cause problems and complications. Also, the intake of animal fat which diet does not restrict can increase cholesterol to dangerous levels; resulting in diabetes and even heart disease.
Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-right-diet-for-the-diabetic-111727.html
Diabetes is one of the main health problems not only in the country but also in the world. And it is not something that can be ignored both in financially and health wise. When left on its own, diabetes can spell a helluva of complications, from heart disease to liver problems.
It is perhaps the disease that causes the most number of complications in the body. Money wise, it is not cheap to have diabetes. In fact in studies conducted, 1/10 of the spendings of United States in Healthcare goes to Diabetes and its complications.
Because it is expensive and difficult to treat diabetes when it is already in its complications stage, patients are advised to nip the problem in the bud as soon as they can. If they can prevent diabetes from occurring with a few lifestyle changes especially in eating habits, all the better. This need for change spurned the creation of various kinds of diets that are designed to help diabetic patients and would be diabetics cope with the problem.
Although it was primarily conceptualized for people with heart problem, Atkins Diet is also being used as an alternative diet for people with diabetes. In fact, many diabetic patients have actually testified to its effectiveness. Atkins diet is primarily a low carbohydrate diet that aims to cut pounds by forbidding people under the program to eat carbohydrate-rich food.
These include rice, potatoes, bread and pasta. According to Dr. Robert Atkins, who created the diet for patients with heart problem in his clinic, the diet can also benefit diabetic patients because the decrease in caloric intake can reduce fats in the body; thereby reducing the risk for Type 2 diabetes.
The diet, however, is only effective with people who have a Type 2 diabetes or those whose diabetes is brought on by lifestyle of the person and his or her eating habits. It cannot do much for people who are already born with a problem in insulin secretion. These are the people with Type 1 diabetes. They depend solely on regular injections of insulin.
Still, there are critics that say that Atkins diet is not effective and in fact can lead to further complications. According to experts, the metabolism involved in the burning of fats instead of carbohydrates can cause problems and complications. Also, the intake of animal fat which diet does not restrict can increase cholesterol to dangerous levels; resulting in diabetes and even heart disease.
Gout is a type of rheumatoid arthritis. A lot of pain will be felt in the joints making the person less flexible.
This problem is often referred to as the “disease of kings” since it only affected members of royalty. Studies have shown this has now affected a lot of rich folk especially those who are obese.
Studies reveal that there are over 3.5 million Americans who have this problem which often occur after the age of 50. This is perhaps because of eating too much and the lack of physical activity.
People who eat a lot of beef, calamari, caviar, pork and poultry will begin to experience this problem because of the accumulation of uric acid in the bloodstream. Studies reveal this happens more often to those that are obese.
There is no known cure for doubt. In fact, there is no known cure for more than the 100 different types of arthritis. The best doctors can do is give medication that can be purchased over the counter or prescribe one if it is very severe to be able to alleviate the pain.
The most effective way to fight gout is to change one’s eating habits. This means cutting down on meat, poultry and certain sea foods and changing this with fruits, green vegetables, brown rice, cereals and bread. This is because these things contain vitamins and minerals which are needed to maintain a balance in the body.
Instead of consuming dairy products that are rich in fat, this should be replaced with those that are non fat. The individual should also drink plenty of water since this is known to ease the symptoms of gout and help the kidneys eliminate the surplus amount of uric acid in the system.
A dietitian can make a plan so the person can keep track of the food being consumed daily. It is also advisable for those who are obese to exercise to be able to lose weight since there is a high chance that someone overweight will also be diagnosed with this disease.
Both diseases can happen to anyone regardless of gender and sex. Taking the proper steps now by eating right and exercising can prevent this from happening.
Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-right-diet-for-diabetic-and-gout-patients-98361.html
Diabetes can be controlled effectively by taking exercise regularly and eating a healthy diet. The two main issues that need to be considered by anyone on a diabetic diet are sugar and fat intake. Constant weight monitoring is essential to prevent excessive weight gain as this can contribute to a number of problems.
Medication, Exercise and a Diabetic Diet
There is medical evidence that regular exercise can actually help prevent a person contracting diabetes as well as controlling it. The muscles in the body use up glucose during exercise, which leads to a reduction in the overall levels of sugar in the blood. The minimum recommended amount of exercise for it to be effective is 20 minutes taken three times a week. It is important to consult your medical practitioner before you take up a new form of exercise, especially if you have existing health problems apart from diabetes.
Exercise, on its own, is not sufficient to help control diabetes, which means that a diabetic diet should also be followed. Much of the advice that a dietician will give regarding a healthy diet applies to both diabetics and non-diabetics alike. The key is moderation in all things. However, a diabetic diet does have an emphasis on reducing the amount of sugary foods, especially cakes and cookies, and increasing the complex carbohydrate intake by eating more brown rice and whole-grain foods.
Medication is often not necessary to control diabetes as regular exercise and a diabetic diet is sufficiently effective. There are some diabetics for whom this is not enough and medication is needed. The majority of diabetic medications are taken orally. A diabetic may be prescribed one medication or a combination of different medications to properly control their diabetes.
The five main classifications of diabetic medication that may be prescribed are:
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Biguanides
- Meglitinides
- Sulfonylureas
- Thiazolidinediones
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
This group of diabetic medications slow down the rate at which sugar is absorbed in the digestive tract. However, it is rarely prescribed on its own as it has potentially serious side effects, including stomach and bowel problems.
Biguanides
Overweight diabetics are most likely to be prescribed this form of diabetic medication as it can help with controlling their weight as well as their diabetes. They cause the insulin to be used more effectively by the body than normal. Side effects are normally minor but can include nausea and diarrhoea. Biguanides can be prescribed on its own or combined with other medication.
Meglitinides
This types of diabetic medication is particularly effective for maintaining low blood sugar levels after eating, especially if a diabetic diet is being followed. The tablets are taken with food and have few, if any, side effects.
Sulfonylureas
By far the most frequently prescribed type of diabetes medication, this helps with insulin production in the body. Although there are few side effects for most people they cannot be taken by anyone with a sulpha medication allergy.
Thiazolidinediones
Perhaps the least used type of diabetic medication, this increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin. There are few or no known side effects with this form of medication.
The majority of diabetes can be controlled by taking one or more of the above oral medications. However, there may be cases where diabetics need to inject insulin. This is especially the case if the pancreas has ceased producing insulin completely as in Type 2 diabetes.
Effective diabetes management can usually be achieved by adhering to a sensible diabetic diet and exercise on a regular basis. In fact, this is often sufficient for most diabetics. It is important to consult with your medical practitioner on a regular basis and monitor your blood sugar levels. He can prescribe some of the many diabetic medications, if necessary. If you are in any doubt whatsoever regarding meal plans for a good diabetic diet or anything else related to your diabetes, you should always seek medical advice. However, the internet has a wealth of articles that you can read to keep yourself well informed about your condition.
Summary:
Exercise, on its own, is not sufficient to help control diabetes, which means that a diabetic diet should also be followed. Much of the advice that a dietician will give regarding a healthy diet applies to both diabetics and non-diabetics alike. The key is moderation in all things.
Brooke Hayles
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-issues-to-be-aware-of-in-a-diabetic-diet-65163.html
