Friday, October 31, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - Juice Fasts Are Not The Solution For Safe Healthy Weight Loss

There are hundreds of diets that claim to be the solution to the problem of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Most of these diets if followed closely, will promote weight loss over the short-term but are often so regimented, or involve deprivation of health-promoting foodsIf you are looking for quick weight loss to help control your Type 2 diabetes, you might be on the hunt for one of the popular 'fasting' or cleansing approaches out there. More and more people, diabetics and non-diabetics, start-up on these, thinking they are on a one-way track to reaching their ideal body weight.Only, as the case often is, two weeks into this approach they are falling off the bandwagon and frustrated by their results.This only stands to reason because 99% of the time, these quick fix approaches are not designed to bring you long-term success.One such approach you need to be aware of is the juice fast. Before you start-up on one of these, let's go over a few things you should know...1. They Lack Protein. First, realize going on these juice fasts is going to mean taking in virtually no protein at all. Unless you've modified the fast to include some protein, you basically are not giving your body the amino acids it needs to rebuild and repair body tissues and cells.The result? Not only will you start to feel weak and unhealthy but you'll be at a high risk for losing muscle mass. If you start losing muscle mass, your metabolism will actually begin to slow, making it more probable you put on body fat once again as you come off the juice cleanse.


Any good diet plan should aim to optimize your metabolism - not decrease it.2. They're Horrible For Blood Sugar Stabilization. Next, you also need to keep in mind these juice fasts are horrible as far as blood sugar stabilization goes. You are basically putting into you body liquid sugar when you take in your 'juice' each day - which is the last thing anyone who has or is worried about developing Type 2 diabetes, should be doing.Don't let the 'natural' fruit sugar component mislead you. Your juice will be lacking the fiber real fruit contains, so is not nearly as healthy for you as eating a whole apple or a cup of berries would be.3. They Won't Keep You Satisfied. Next, also keep in mind the juice fast you try will not keep you satisfied. They may say hunger won't be present as your body 'cleanses' itself, but don't be fooled.If you are only taking in sugar each day, you are going to be hungry. In fact, most people won't stick with a juice fast for the full length, abandoning it due to hunger.So hopefully you can now see just how ineffective juice fasts really are. If you want lasting long-term weight loss success, choose another approach besides these.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - Eating More Fruits and Vegetables Means Longevity for Diabetics

Heart disease and cancer are two complications people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes need to take care to prevent. So often diabetics have high blood cholesterol levels which can clog blood vessels, including the arteries feeding through to the heart muscle. High blood pressure is often associated with the insulin resistance that causes Type 2 diabetes.The American Heart Association considers Type 2 diabetes one of the seven major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes, and diabetics are two to four times more likely to have heart and blood vessel disease than nondiabetics. According to the American Diabetes Association, cancers of the liver, pancreas, uterus, colon, rectum, breast, and bladder are more common in individuals with Type 2 diabetes than in healthy individuals.According to a study reported on in the British Medical Journal in July 2014, eating fruits and vegetables is a good way to start prevention. Workers at -

Shandong University in Jinan, China,

Huazhong University in Wuhan, China,

the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, USA, and

the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, USA,
combined sixteen studies on diet and disease and analyzed them as if they were just one study. A total of 833,234 participants were included.Over a period from 4.6 to 26 years there were 56,423 deaths including...




11,512 from heart and blood vessel disease, and

16,817 from cancer.
The rate of death was significantly lower among those participants who were in the habit of eating fruits and vegetables daily. It was found for every five servings of fruits and vegetables the various participants consumed, there was a five percent reduction in the risk of death.The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom defines one portion of fruit as 80 grams...

1 apple, orange, or peach,

3 apricots or figs,

1/2 avocado,

2 tangerines,

7 strawberries or

14 cherries
would each qualify as one serving.The NHS defines a portion of vegetables as 80 grams...

5 fresh or 7 canned asparagus spears,

1/3 of an eggplant,

3 celery sticks,

14 button mushrooms,

3 heaping tablespoons of fresh or frozen peas, or

1 medium tomato
would qualify.Why not make a dinner salad starting with one cereal bowl full of mixed lettuce and add an equal amount of fresh English spinach. Add a handful of sugar snap beans, 6 baby corns, and 7 slices of beetroot for 5 portions of vegetables. Enjoy!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - 4 Quick Tips To Push Through Your Fat Loss Plateau

Stepping on the scale each morning praying to see the number go down - but always met with disappointment? If you find yourself never quite seeing the results you were hoping for in spite of your lower blood sugar readings, it might be time to do a quick check-up on the program you're using.If you were losing weight previously but this has since slowed, something definitely needs to be changed.Here are four quick tips you should consider to help you get back on track once again...Take One Week Off Dieting. While it may feel very counterintuitive at times, the best way to crush a weight loss plateau is to actually stop dieting. Yes, that's right - stop altogether. The reason why this can work is because the added calories coming in can give your metabolic rate a boost, meaning you burn calories faster 24/7.This in turn can then mean when you start dieting again, you see fat loss moving along far faster. Those people with Type 2 diabetes who diet for an extended period of time will typically see a metabolic slow down, so this diet break can be the best way to overcome that.Re-Calculate Your Target. Next, also consider re-calculating your target calorie intake as well. If you've lost more than 10 to 15 pounds, there's a good chance you are simply eating too much and too many simple carbs to keep losing weight at this point.


Remember as your body weight goes down, you will need fewer calories to sustain yourself each day. This means to keep losing weight, you now need to lower your calories further.Weigh Your Food. For some people, the basic reason why they may no longer be losing weight simply comes down to inaccurate calorie calculations. While you may be calculating fine, if you are not weighing your food and, in fact, eating more than you think you are, this could be the problem right here.Get a food scale and start weighing all your food. It will take some time for the first while, but at the end of the day, it will really pay off.Change Your Macros. Finally, if all else fails, consider changing around your macros. It might be time to boost your protein intake a little higher while lowering fats and bringing up healthy carbs. Eating protein together will carbs will slow down a rise in you blood sugar. Low carb diets do work, but eventually they too will falter.Adding a few more complex carbs back into your eating plan (and lowering dietary fat accordingly), may just give your metabolism the jump-start it needs.So, as you find yourself stuck in a fat loss plateau, make sure you consider these tips. They may just do the trick to getting you out of it.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - The 4 Deadly Sins Of Eating Fast Food If You Want to Lose Weight or Stay Slim

Dining out can be a challenge when you are Type 2 diabetic and trying to develop a healthy eating plan. At home you know what to expect, but when you are away from home, it may be difficult to anticipate what you will find.Planning to stop in for a fast food meal? If so, you already know this is less than ideal as far as your health is concerned. While most fast food options are the worst possible thing you could put into your body, many fast food restaurants are coming out with wiser selections.If you tread carefully, you might just get away with your diet intact. If you don't however, don't beat yourself up. Think about how you could do things differently next time.Let's walk you through four deadly sins of fast food so you know which ones you should be avoiding...1. Double Anything. First, avoid those double cheeseburgers you may love so much. One patty is more than enough and will do enough damage - don't go doubling the damage.A much safer bet is one grilled chicken breast. You'll cut the fat and get a much leaner source of protein.2. Creamy Sauces. The next thing to be careful of when choosing to dine fast food - is any creamy sauces. This is an easy one to request without and it will make a very big difference in the nutritional stats of that meal.


Creamy sauces - or special sauces as they're often called, can easily pack in 200 to 300 calories per serving, which is almost a meal in itself.Go without for a leaner choice that will keep your heart-health intact.3. Poutine. Poutine is the King-daddy of all fast food nightmares. First you have French fries which clearly are not good in their own right.Then you add gravy - double whammy.And then, if that wasn't enough, you top it off with some mozzarella cheese. Of all the things you could put into your body, this may just be the worst.If you were in a weight gain contest and wanted to boost your cholesterol as high as possible, this is what I would recommend you eat.Clearly then, you should stay away from this food.4. Milkshakes. Finally, last but not least, be careful of those sweet milkshakes! Milkshakes are one of the worst beverages to consume where calories are concerned, and are virtually like a dessert in a cup.This will definitely double - if not more - the total calorie intake of your meal. Go without and you'll fare so much better.Water would be your drink of choice when dining fast food.So steer clear of these. If you want to make the most of your fast food meal, these should not be in the picture.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - What Is The Risk of Developing Diabetes After Pregnancy?

Women who develop Gestational (related to pregnancy) diabetes, are known to be at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes throughout their lives. Researchers at Fondazione Mario Negri Sud in Italy, suspected having a stillbirth could also be a risk factor. They compared women with a history of normal pregnancies, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth to learn which ones were at high risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart and blood vessel disease.Their study, reported on in the journal Diabetologia in October 2014, included...

3,851 women who had developed diabetes during pregnancy, and

11,553 with a history of a normal pregnancies.
Over a period of 5.4 years...

women without Gestational diabetes had the lowest rate of developing Type 2 diabetes.

among women with a history of Gestational diabetes, the rate was about 25 times as high.

women who had a stillbirth had about twice the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in both groups.

women with a history of Gestational diabetes had 2.4 times the risk of heart and blood vessel disease as women with normal pregnancies.
From these results, it was recommend women who developed diabetes during their pregnancy and women who had a stillbirth needed to be followed up especially carefully.Normalizing weight before pregnancy is helpful in preventing both Gestational diabetes and stillbirth. Although stillbirth sometimes happens with no known risk factors or for genetic reasons, there are some actions women can tale to minimize the risk...




smoking,

alcohol,

caffeine, and

drugs are to be avoided.
Before taking medications tell your doctor if you might be pregnant. Attend all prenatal appointments regularly to allow your doctor or midwife to monitor you and your baby...

report any abdominal pain or bleeding as soon as it occurs.

from about 16 weeks on you should feel the baby move. If your baby stops moving report this to your doctor or midwife right away.

also report itching, which can be a symptom of a liver condition that can complicate pregnancy.

be careful to avoid infections.

wear gloves to clean your cat's litter box.

wash your hands thoroughly after gardening and before preparing or eating food.

if you eat meat, be sure it is cooked thoroughly. If you drink milk, it must be pasteurized. Avoid soft cheeses that carry fungus or bacteria, such as soft cheeses with white rinds and bleu cheese.

avoid fish oil supplements and ask your physician or midwife about herbal teas. Take your prenatal vitamins as instructed.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - Why Is Exercise Important to Diabetics?

There are several potential risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes. Some of these are controllable, such as regulating your body weight, whereas others are factors outside your influence, such as aging. One very important risk factor that is most definitely manageable and influential is physical activity. Exercise (or physical activity with a goal - in this case to improve your health), is not only helpful in preventing high blood sugar levels and Type 2 diabetes, but also plays an active role in the management of the disease.Diabetes is considered a dysfunction in the carbohydrate metabolizing systems in the body, characterized by glycosuria and especially hyperglycemia. This is due to the insufficient production or utilization of insulin, a hormone responsible for the uptake of carbohydrate into your body tissues. In the case of Type 2 diabetes, there is a dysfunction in the regular usage of insulin due to insulin resistance.What is the importance of exercise in this context?Examining the benefits of exercise in your body from a physical and mental health perspective, could be a lengthy report on its own. Specifically, in the case of Type 2 diabetes, exercise is a mediator for blood sugar levels in the cardiovascular system. Physical activity plays a key role in...

managing your blood sugar when required to avoid hyperglycemia, and

direct the intake of glucose throughout your body tissues to prevent hyperglycemia and its potentially harmful effects.



Exercise causes a very similar effect in your body's tissues when compared to insulin. Glucose transporters that direct the uptake of blood sugar into tissues can be found on muscle cell membranes. These transporters are activated by insulin, although not exclusively. Physical activity relays signals throughout the central nervous system and also activates these transporters and brings about the intake of glucose into your muscle cells to provide for the skeletal muscle energy demands for muscular contractions. This effect is sustained after a bout of exercise where glycogen stores in the muscle are depleted and the tissues will continue to take in sugar to restore its reserves.Not only will exercising reduce blood sugar levels and control the harmful effects of hyperglycemia, it will lower insulin resistance in your body through adaption. It increases the efficiency of the working insulin in your blood stream. Less injectable insulin or oral anti-diabetic medications will be necessary to control your blood sugar, and the timing and activation of the hormone itself will also improve.This is a long-term benefit that will assist in the maintenance of Type 2 diabetes with obvious immediate benefits as well. The best part about this is, in general, any type of exercise is beneficial whether it be some form of cardio or resistance training program.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Signs of Juvenile Diabetes That Can Kill You

My friends and I went to hear one of our favorite local bands play one night at a small club. These guys were rock solid. I was sure they were going to go big time.Halfway through their second set, however, something started to not feel right. It was the singer. In between one of the songs he started talking. His words were barely intelligible, and he seemed disoriented, frightened even.Then he fell.His band mates rushed to his aid, as did the manager of the band. My friend was a paramedic, so he jumped onto the stage to see if he could help. The young singer was unconscious.An ambulance was called and he was whisked away to the hospital. The band played a couple more songs that the bass player sang, but it was clear the energy for the night was gone.Some people went to the hospital, while others just went home.When the dust settled, it turned out the young man, whose name was Clay, was a Type 1 diabetic. The band had been traveling heavily and he had not been taking care of his condition. His coma lasted about 45 minutes, but the ER doctor said it could have been much worse.So, what are the signs of juvenile diabetes? How can you tell if you've got it?Most people with juvenile diabetes report a feeling of extreme thirst that cannot be quenched. The sugar that builds up in your blood pulls water from your body tissues. This makes you constantly thirsty.Also, since you're drinking a lot more water, you'll probably also notice that you're urinating a whole lot more.


You might also find you are incredibly hungry and, even though you seem to eat constantly, you keep losing weight. People might tell you that you have a tapeworm. This is a far worse condition, however.You see, when you have juvenile diabetes, the body stops using sugar for fuel, to power the body and give you energy. Instead, the body turns to fat stores and muscle tissue for its energy, meaning your metabolism drops making you very tired and lethargic all the time.One of the more dangerous signs of juvenile diabetes is vision loss. When your blood sugar is very low or very high, water gets pulled into the lens of the eye which causes your vision to blur. Typically, when the blood sugar returns to normal, so does the vision.Over time, however, if this condition is not properly treated, a condition known as retinopathy may develop, which means the blood flow to the retina is slowed or stopped. This can cause permanent blindness.Why did Clay, the singer from the band, go into a coma? We later learned he had developed a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This results when the body's acids are allowed to build up in the bloodstream.Since Clay wasn't taking his insulin as prescribed, his acids reached levels they shouldn't have, and the result was disorientation and a coma. People have died from this very condition.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Why Diabetes Herbs Treatment May Be a Better Option

Type II Diabetes has become a global health crisis which is now threatening the economy of many nations especially developing ones.While it was once mainly known as a disease of the west, it has now quickly spread to all parts of the world.And Asia is the epicenter of this epidemic and accounts for almost 60% of the world's diabetic population.With a lower BMI levels than Caucasians, Asians are more prone to develop Diabetes at a younger age.A sedentary lifestyle, addiction to smoking and excessive alcohol use further adds to this.A worrying fact is that Diabetes was once prevalent mainly in adults but now, even children as young as 10 years of age are being diagnosed with the condition.While there seems to be an obvious connection between a person's weight and the onset of Diabetes, even this theory seems to be challenged.India for example, has the lowest rate of Obesity but ranks only second to China in the number of people with Diabetes in Asian countries. However, the distribution of fat in the body may also determine the high incidence of this condition.Asians are more prone to have visceral fat than Caucasians and this abdominal obesity may lead to an increased rate of insulin resistance in the body.
Is the Condition Preventable?According to Ayurveda, an ancient form of holistic healing based in India, Diabetes is completely preventable if you take adequate preventive measures in Ahara and Vihara or Diet and Lifestyle.Clinical trials like the ones conducted by the Indian Diabetes Prevention Program (IDPP) have also proven this fact.Ayurveda recommends a Diabetic diet which reduces the amount of carbohydrates consumed in an average day and replaces it with complex carbohydrates and a high amount of protein.


Optimum support is provided in the form of herbal remedies for Diabetes. Depending on the type of the condition, a single herb or an herbal blend may be prescribed. This will help the boost the natural production of insulin in the body and also help to reduce the amount of carbohydrates that is converted into blood sugar.Is Diabetes Herbs Treatment a myth?We continue to be increasingly dependent on synthetic medicines for treating most of our lifestyle problems and as a result, pharmaceutical companies control a multibillion dollar industry.If we take the sales of Lantus or Januvia, world famous Diabetes drugs being used by millions of people around the world, the numbers are staggering.Yet, every now and then, an existing drug is completely withdrawn or regulated from the market due to increasing side effects. Some are as severe as pancreatic cancer.It is estimated that the global sales for Diabetes drugs will touch $58 billion by the year 2018. It is now wonder then that herbal remedies for diabetes are given considerable bad press.Most of the diabetes herbs treatments like Gymnema Leaf, Cinnamon or Fenugreek are termed as ineffective. A popular theory goes that you need to consume large amounts of these herbs to control diabetes which is clearly untrue.Yet, doctors warn their patients not to use herbs for diabetes while using other synthetic medications because there is the risk of blood sugar going way below normal levels.If herbs were indeed ineffective in reducing blood sugar levels, then why is this warning issued for patients?It is very simple. If used with a regular diet and exercise routine, herbs can be a safe and long term way to help control Diabetes.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - The Connection Between Controlling Your Blood Sugar and a Healthy Brain

Diabetes has been associated with dementia and changes in brain anatomy, but so far it's unclear what changes come about when blood sugar levels are poorly controlled. Researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center in Maastricht, in the south of the Netherlands, reviewed the literature reporting on the subject so far - in order to gain insight as to blood sugar control and the brain.Their study, reported on in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, in August 2014, included 86 papers on...

blood sugar levels,

insulin concentration,

insulin resistance,

diabetes treatments and how they might affect the brain.
It was found blood sugar levels, changes in these levels, and high HbA1c levels, were associated with difficulties in brain function. On the other hand, HbA1c levels only accounted for less than 10 percent of differences in patient's scores on tests of their mental abilities.According to a report published in Diabetes Care August 2014, insulin resistance, the cause of Type 2 diabetes, could affect how much iron is found in the brain. Investigators at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute in Girona, Catalonia, Spain and other research centers in Spain, compared magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of brains affected by insulin resistance in 13 obese and 20 non-obese women. It was found obese individuals had more iron in certain areas of their brain than did non-obese women. Insulin resistance was associated with having too much iron in the brain and with poor results on tests of mental skills.


In June 2014 the journal Neuropsychopharmacology reported the results of a study on insulin resistance, diabetes, and the brain in manic-depressive disorders. Researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, and other investigative centers compared brain structures using brain MRIs of people with...

manic depressive disorders and either insulin resistance or full-blown Type 2 diabetes,
of people with...

depressive disorders and normal blood sugar levels, and
participants with...

normal blood sugar levels and no psychiatric diagnoses.
It was found amongst those people with manic depressive disorders and those with insulin resistance or diabetes, had less brain matter than those with normal blood sugar levels.From this information it was suggested keeping blood sugar levels and insulin resistance under control could be one good way of preventing brain shrinkage in people with manic depressive disorders. If controlling Type 2 diabetes is ideal for anyone who has been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, it is not too far-fetched to think it is likely to help prevent shrinkage in the brain of the mentally healthy as well.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

A Diabetes Epidemic and the Nutrition Remedy

Diabetes occurs in the body (both human and animal), when the body's metabolism (breaking down of food) process becomes imbalanced. The malfunction within the body contributing to the disease begins in the pancreas. The body's natural sugar production occurs in the pancreas and is identified as insulin. When the pancreas does not sufficiently produce enough insulin, or the body does not utilize the insulin properly enough, a malfunction in the body's biological process occurs. Insulin production in the body adds to the body's nutrition values on a daily basis, based on the types of foods people consume. Proper nutrition has been known to be a remedy to many types of physical diseases.The most common types of diabetes are 'Type 1' diabetes and 'Type 2' diabetes. Type 1 is essentially when the body lacks insulin from lack of insulin production from the pancreas. This type of the disease is known to occur mainly in young adults and children thus having been referred to as Juvenile Diabetes. The other type, Type 2 (and the most common form) is known to be caused by the body resisting insulin produced by the pancreas. The cells of the body's liver, muscles, and fat become resistant to insulin and do not utilize insulin effectively. Health researchers are still trying to pinpoint the exact causes of the resistance.The diabetes disease has been identified by health scientists to be the result of high glucose (high blood sugar) levels within the body. Such high levels of sugar produced within the body can be the result of an unhealthy diet consisting of heavy consumption of sugary foods and drinks over time. After years of heavy sugar consumption, the body can react from the increase of blood sugar production between the pancreas and the sugar taken-in when people eat or drink sugar-rich foods regularly.


One of the ways that people have been reverting to more healthy-choice diets is by less consumption of sugar-rich foods and drinks. Many foods and drinks even contain artificial sugar in the forms of corn syrups. Corn syrups are concentrated, artificially produced sugars that can often exceed a natural daily sugar intake need for the body. By heavily consuming sugar (especially artificial sugar), the habit can lead to overcompensation within the body thus creating high levels of blood sugar in the body.Health experts have warned people for years about the risks of eating a lot of foods rich in sugar and drinks high in sugar content. Now, with the diabetes epidemic seemingly on the rise due to poor health choices, it has become very important that people realize the dangers of poor health choices. Proper nutrition has been taught extensively by genuine health experts and health advocates all over the world.When health awareness becomes more evident, by people choosing healthier lifestyles, diseases like diabetes can be prevented. Many people have begun to realize the health benefits of stringent diets of refraining from consuming foods and drinks high in sugar. Taking proper care of the body can result in better health and it can even increase life expectancy when being aware and utterly responsible in choosing what to eat. Nutrition can be the remedy to good health.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - Dealing With the Diet Police As You Come to Terms With Diabetes

So, you've been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. You've told your friends and family about your diagnosis. You've got appointments with doctors, nurses, and dietitians. You're learning how to follow a meal plan, test your blood sugar, and maybe you need to give yourself insulin injections. And on top of all this... now you're dealing with the diet police. The diet police are people - usually friends and family members - who think it's their job to tell you what you can and can't eat. And while they usually mean well, their comments can be annoying - and even hurtful.Here are some tips on dealing with the diet police...1. Decide on a response. Figure out what works best for you when dealing with the diet police. You could choose to completely ignore the person and not respond. Or you can come up with a comeback. A humorous "who invited the diet police?" may get the point across.2. Educate them. Many people don't have a good understanding of nutrition. They may know there's a connection between carbohydrates and Type 2 diabetes and assume this means you can't eat any carbohydrates at all. Ask them how well they understand the role of carbohydrates in the body, and then explain everyone needs some carbohydrates for energy, and it's the source of the carbohydrates - simple vs. complex - that's important.


3. Confront the person. If these strategies don't work, you may need to talk to the offender privately. You can let them know you understand they are concerned and are trying to help, but their comments aren't helpful. Remember to use "I" statements during this conversation, like "I feel hurt when you_________." You can also suggest to them other ways they can be supportive like exercising with you or maybe cooking healthy meals together.4. Take care of yourself. Stress and negative feelings won't help your blood sugar level, so do what you need to and create a positive environment where you can make healthy lifestyle choices. If a friend or family member does talk to you in an appropriate way about concerns they have over your health, give what they say some thought. If there are changes you feel you can make to improve your diet, exercise, or other areas of your diabetes management, ask for the support you need to be successful. For example, if you're having a hard time avoiding eating sweets, talk to your family about not serving them as often. If it's a food you need to avoid, it's likely a food the rest of the family doesn't need to eat either.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - Should You Get Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Bariatric surgery, or surgery to reduce weight, is effective for producing remission in Type 2 diabetes in some cases. Researchers at the University of Florida in Miami, United States, carried out a study to learn which people with Type 2 diabetes could benefit the most from the procedure.Their study, reported on in the medical journal Obesity Surgery in November 2014, included 245 obese individuals with Type 2 diabetes. One year after surgery 26 percent of these diabetics had an...

HbA1c of not more than 6 percent and

a fasting blood sugar of less than 100 mg/dl (5 mmol/L).
The average HbA1c decreased from 8 to 6.7 percent after 6 months and 6.4 after one year. It was found the participants with...

no family history of Type 2 diabetes,

who were using only oral medications, and

who had few complications of the disease
had the greatest chance of going into remission.From these results it was concluded diabetics without a family history, with fewer complications, and not using insulin are the best candidates for roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery.Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery consists of...

making the stomach into a small pouch and reattaching it to the middle part of the small intestine (jejunum).

food goes into the small pouch so the person feels full eating only a small amount.

as the food travels to the jejunum, it bypasses the upper part of the small intestine, or duodenum.

since the duodenum normally absorbs some of the food, bypassing it means absorbing less of the food as it passes through the digestive tract.



After the procedure it is important to prevent malnutrition. Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, United States, recommends daily vitamin and mineral supplements for life...

vitamin D,

calcium,

vitamin B12,

iron, and

multivitamins
prevent nutritional deficiency.People who have had gastric bypass surgery...

need to take twice the dose of vitamins recommended for people with normal digestive tracts, and have

blood tests every six months to ensure they get enough vitamins and minerals.
People who have bypass surgery develop a higher need for protein, and must eat high protein sources such as beans and other legumes. Fruits and vegetable are also important for their vitamin and mineral content, although diabetics need to regulate their carbohydrate intake.Major surgery is undertaken only as a last resort, when diet and exercise fail. Many people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are able to produce a remission by lowering their weight to normal by lowering their blood sugar, eating less and getting more physical activity. Here's to remission.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Type 2 Diabetes - How Much Salt Should a Diabetic Eat Each Day?

As a Type 2 diabetic, you're used to watching what you eat. You count or monitor the amount of carbohydrates you eat, while also looking at the fat and protein content and portion sizes. But, do you also pay attention to how much sodium (salt) you take in?Eating too much salt can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease. Since having Type 2 diabetes also increases your risk, it's smart to pay attention to your sodium intake. It's recommended adults in the US get at least 1,500 mg of sodium a day, but not more than 2,300 mg. The average adult intake in the US is 3,436 mg.However, you may have seen some recent news in the Forbes Magazine about studies that question these recommendations. Some scientists feel since there has never been a large, randomized trial on sodium levels, the low sodium recommendations may be inaccurate. It's not only Americans who eat too much sodium - 99.2% of the world's population takes in more than the recommended amount of sodium.So, with different opinions on the sodium recommendations, how much salt is okay for you to have? Studies have shown some people are more sensitive to sodium levels than others. This means some people may be able to eat high amounts of salt with no health issues developing, while other people find eating high levels of salt contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. However, it can be hard to tell if you're sensitive to sodium or not. Since having Type 2 diabetes puts you at a higher risk of heart disease, it's wise to limit your intake of salt and avoid possibly increasing your risk of heart disease.


How do you avoid eating too much salt? In Americans, the majority of their salt intake comes from processed food and food eaten at restaurants. Sprinkling a little salt on your food at the table or adding it during cooking usually doesn't add too much. Avoiding or cutting back on processed food is a good way to lower your salt intake, as well as the amount of added sugar you eat.If you often eat out at restaurants, try replacing one or two meals out each week with home cooked meals. And when you do eat out, check the nutrition information for the amount of salt and choose lower-salt options. If the nutrition information isn't available, ask the restaurant how much salt is in the food you want to order, and see if they can reduce it.