Archive for May, 2008

One who has diabetes should also know its symptoms. In diabetes, the body does not produce or produces not enough insulin to convert sugar into energy required for the various activities of the body and keep the blood sugar at the normal level. Diabetics are vulnerable to hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia is caused by very high blood sugar as there is not enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. In hypoglycemia there is subnormal blood sugar level caused y medications taken to lower blood sugar very poor eating habits may also trigger hypoglycemia. Symptoms are clearly noticeable in both these situations and steps can be taken to contain the problem.

Hyperglycemic Symptoms

Affected patients have to take more medications or alter their dietary intake cold or flu, increased stress, travel, something that causes a change in the normal diet may cause hyperglycemia sometimes. Symptoms of this disorder are thirst, increased urination, high levels of sugar in urine and irritability. At times people may have an increased appetite, blurred vision, drowsiness and nausea. An undiagnosed person with these symptoms should consult the doctor immediately.

Hypoglycemic Symptoms

Though both hyper and hypo glycemias are serious health risks, it is hypoglycemia that requires quick treatment to prevent loss of consciousness and death. Hypoglycemia is characterized by irritability, head ache, fatigue, shaking, sweating, anxiety, dizziness and hunger. Blood sugar should be checked up in all these cases.

If blood sugar cannot be checked in the case of these symptoms, they should eat something and check the blood sugar as soon as possible. If the blood sugar level is low, he should eat sugar to raise the blood sugar level and take something more complex to maintain the level of blood sugar. It is only through the awareness of the symptoms of hypoglycemia the person can take timely action to preserve and protect his health and thereby his life for a pretty long time.

In the past diabetes was a dreaded disease as people thought it was the end of the world. But today, due to the advancement in medical science and research, people have less worry as a number of treatments are available including medications. At times diabetes can be arrested even without medicines. Any way you have to consult a doctor who alone can diagnose and prescribe the suitable medicine for you.

Diet and Exercises

Diabetes treatment can be without medicines and injections but it depends on the type of diabetes you have its causes and its current state. A proper diabetic diet with good exercise shall pay rich dividends. The habits formed by your diet and exercise regimen contribute greatly to the improvement of your diabetes problem. Not only the risk of complications is reduced but blood sugar levels are brought to manageable levels. This treatment, in certain circumstances, can prevent the disease itself.

A very effective treatment for diabetes is diabetic diet itself, a change in life style which can bring down the high blood sugar to normal levels and relegate other risks and complications. People should take care to see that they lose weight if they are obese and become less of a diabetic.

Diet as a diabetic treatment should contain less of sugar as little as possible saturated fat. Ingredients of more fibrous content should be taken in food for health. Consistency in the intake of calories should be maintained in the day not to cause any problems with blood sugar and keep it at the normal level.

Besides proper diet as a treatment, it should be supplemented with regular exercise regimen that will work wonders. Better you exercise thrice in a week for about 20 minutes for each exercise properly. Walking and jogging are also extremely beneficial for controlling diabetes.
Other treatments for diabetes include medications and insulin shots and monitoring your blood sugar levels at regular intervals to control the dosage. In short, you have to follow all these steps are requirements in order to get the maximum benefit and effect from the diabetes treatment.

The very key for a successful diabetes management lies in your healthy lifestyle and in your resorting to a carefully selected diet. Further, when you undertake an active lifestyle with supportive medications, you can certainly keep the ill effects of your diabetes at bay and lead a near normal life.

In your pursuit of looking for proper diet and meaningful methods to keep away the diabetes related complications, you may come across many suggestions, but many of them may not throw sufficient light on the easily available natural resources that you can find in your own kitchen itself. Mother Nature has given you many useful herbs for maintaining your health and this article will essentially try to throw more light on four main ingredients or the natural foods that can assist you in your fight against diabetes.

Banaba Leaf: When it comes to treating diabetes, the role of banaba leaf is virtually inseparable, as it contains a natural chemical by name corosolic acid that has been proved to hasten the process of glucose absorption by cells and thus preventing the path of glucose into your bloodstream. The required quantity of the banaba leaf is a meager 48 milligrams per day and you can use the herb directly, but the oil extracted from it is more efficient as it is easily absorbed into your system.

Garlic: Garlic is a yet another natural food stuff that can do wonders in your diabetes treatment. Further, garlic is also known for its efficacy in lowering your blood cholesterol and triglycerides, and for the diabetics it can bring the blood pressure to normal, which is a prime requirement for managing your diabetes successfully.

You can find garlic in front of you in your won kitchen and you can also freely buy them from your friendly neighborhood grocery stores. Whenever you decide to settle for garlic supplements, then note to take a quantity that will suffice a large clove of natural garlic so as to derive good effect. Garlic cloves are relatively cheap when compared to prepared supplements and you can consume the cloves either after roasting it or cooking it or even after mixing with your favorite salads or other dishes.

Fenugreek: It is a yet another herb known for its beneficial use in diabetes management. This herb has got soluble fiber in ample quantities and thus helps diabetic patients to derive the much-needed fiber for better glucose absorption.

Essiac: This is in fact a combination of four herbs namely slippery elm, Indian rhubarb, roots of burdock and sheep’s sorrel. Essiac is also in use as a treatment for cancer for almost a century from now and it is known for its property of lowering blood sugar in a person. Further, essiac is also a viable alternative for medications used for treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Technorati Tags: Arteriosclerosis, BMI

The causes of diabetes are based on the type as there are more than one type of the disorder viz. Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1- the former is more serious, genetic in origin and affects children and young adults. It s cure is still unknown though the disorder is fatal. Its diagnosis is in conclusive without a blood test. Type 1 diabetes prevents the natural production of the hormone insulin in the pancreas, a leaf shaped structure concealed in bowels of the abdomen. Body cells are unable to access glucose for energy, in the absence of insulin, from circulating blood. Thus they interrupt the normal functioning totally.

As diabetic is genetic it is impossible to trace the causes for it presence in the individual. In such cases artificial insulin is injected in to the blood as a drug. As excess insulin is equally harmful s too little, it has to be calibrated with care with diet and exercise. As children are affected with this type its management becomes difficult and complicated. The possibility of taking insulin all through one�s life is really frightening. Nevertheless doctors have avenues to ensure all productive lives.

Carelessness-is the cause of Type 2 diabetes

An unholy combination of obesity, sedentary habits, bad eating and drinking habits cause this Type 2 diabetes. Insulin, in small scale, produced in the pancreas is unable to use energy in the form of fats, sugar and other sources. Doctors can say who are likely to contract type 2diabetes. People who change their diet and life style are exempt from the onset of the disease indefinitely. Temporary type 2 diabetes caused by pregnancy and acute illness is corrected automatically when the body becomes normal. But even these transient spells are harmful and can be avoided.

Diabetes research has been conducted since a major part of the last century to unravel it causes. Though easiest to manage, much depends upon patients and families. Complications develop when the prescriptions are not followed strictly. Lack of awareness, knowledge and want of public health infrastructure come in the way of early detection. In their first stages both the types are silent or concealed but well advanced by the time the person detects that some thing is wrong.