Diabetes Information

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Diabetes information - Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot produce insulin or does not use insulation properly.  

There is about 347 million children and adults worldwide that have diabetes.

The cause of diabetes mellitus still remains a mystery.

But many health professionals believe that genetics, obesity , a sedentary lifestyle  and even stress has contributed to the disease.

So do your reach and understand the different types and how to manage this disease is critical for a health of a diabetic

More Diabetes information - Types of Diabetes

There are four categories of diabetes Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and Pre-Diabetic. Each one is explained in more detail below.

Type 1

Type 2

Now Type 2 is the most common diagnosed type, about 90% of the diabetic population falls in this category. As a Type 2 diabetic you have a insulin deficiency and a insulin resistance which mean your body does not use insulin properly.

Those of us as Type 2 diabetic including myself can benefit by weight loss. Losing weight can help keep your blood sugar under control, improve your health and you will feel much better about yourself.

Diabetes information about gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes happened in pregnant  women in the late stages of  pregnancy.

This usually happen to 4% of pregnancies around the world.

The woman that are more prone of having gestational diabetes are those that have had high blood sugar before becoming pregnant but weren't diabetic.

Most health profession are unsure why this happens and have no clues.

During a pregnancy the hormones in the pleanta help the baby to grow but the same hormones can also block the actions of the insulin in the mother’s body.

Diabetes Information - Pre-Diabetic

Pre-diabetic mean that your blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be considered to have type 2 diabetes. Almost all type 2 diabetic start off as pre-diabetic.

Now if you have high blood sugar levels you should take action now and try to manage and prevent or even delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

If you think that you have elevated blood sugar levels you should go see your health professional, In addition start eating a healthy diet, exercise and lose weight are the keys to help you manage your blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Symptoms

Did you know that about 4% of the diabetes population don’t know they have the disease.

The reason for this is because many people do not recognize the symptoms. They have many studies  that recognizing and diagnosing this disease early can minimize the risk of diabetes  complications sooner.  

The Diabetes Mellitus Symptoms are the same in type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. In both case the blood sugar levels are too high and not in enough in your cells.  

The early warning sign are as followed:

• Frequent Urination
• Constant and Unquenchable Thirst
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Extreme Hunger
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurred or Changed Vision
• Tingling or Numbness in Hands, Legs or Feet

Also read more about the risk factors

Some other symptoms that you should watch out for are dry itchy skin, frequent infection or cut and bruise that take long to heal.

Now if you have any number of these symptoms you should go see your doctor right away so that the proper test can be perform and the diabetes treated.  

Once you see your doctor he or she will want to run a number of test to make sure thst it gets the proper diagnosis.

Diabetes infotmation about types of Testing

This test has to be the most preferred test and it’s done first thing in the morning, but this test can also be done after an 8 hour fasting period.

If you have a blood read of 7 millimole per liter (mmol/l) [126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl)] or more after fasting this would indicate a diagnosis of diabetes pending confirmation of retesting is need on another day.

If your result is 5.5 mmol/l (99 mg/dl) or lower this is considered normal and 5.6 to 6.9 mmol/l (100 to 125 mg/dl) are considered pre-diabetic.

Diabetes information oral glucose tolerance test

The oral glucose tolerance test involves drinking a beverage that contained 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water, after 2 hours of drinking this drink and you blood sugar levels do not go below 11.1 mmol (200 mg/dl) this mean you're diabetic.

If your blood level is below 7.7 mmol (139 mg/dl) this mean your blood sugar are normal and between 7.8 and 11.0 mmol  (140 to 199 mg/dl) means that you’re pre-diabetic.

Random Blood Test

The random test checks your blood sugar levels at any time of the day. If the results of the test is over 11.1 mmol (200 mg/dl) and with the combination of the other diabetic symptoms this mean you're diabetic.

Your doctor will most likely run the oral glucose tolerance test just to make sure that you have the disease.

How to manage Type 2 glucose levels 

Now Type 2 diabetics still produce insulin there are several ways to manage blood sugar levels with medication that your doctor may prescribe, but learning how to manage your diabetes is the keep to control your blood sugar.

Weight Loss with Diabetes

If you’re a type 2 diabetic please consult with your doctor before you start any exercise or weight loss program.

Once you find out that you’re type 2 diabetic you must lose weight the right way, this will keep you blood sugar under control during the day. Even skipping one meal will put you glucose level out of balance.

Most health professionals recommend that you reduce the amount calories by 500 per day which is a safe level for diabetics. Reduce calories from all areas to maintain a healthy balance meal.  

The best ratio would be 50% - 55% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 10 to 15% protein. Check out the diabetes food pyramid to make the right food choices.

The key for diabetics is to choose their foods wisely, especially the carbohydrates.  Be sure to read this article for more on diabetic diets.

Diabetes and Stress

Stress has been linked to the onset of diabetes since the 16th century. Stress tends to increase blood sugar levels in diabetics which can throw your insulin out of whack.

Most diabetic know that certain foods they eat have impact of their blood sugar level, but are unaware that stress play a factor on glucose levels as well.  

If you're diabetic you need to understand diabetes and stress in order to help manage your insulin and glucose levels.

Exercise and Diabetes

Now after changing your diet and getting your stress under control the next step is to get more active has health benefits that just about everyone needs especially for type 2 diabetics.

Did you know that exercising helps manage type 2 by improving the body’s use of insulin which help in weight loss and muscle strength.

In addition, exercise also help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and help control your stress levels. To learn more on how to avoid heart disease check out heart health for life

So if you are concerned that you may be diabetic, speak to your doctor so can start to manage your blood sugar.

Here is a great video about Diabetes Education.

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For more diabetes information:

• Carbohydrate Counting With Diabetes
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• How To Read Food Labels For Diabetics

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More Articles

Reading Food Labels

Now when you read that food labels on a food items can a bit confusing. So check out this article to get the breakdown on a food label so you can select the right macronutrient distribution for your shopping list.

Eating Healthy With Diabetes

Use these eating healthy tips to ensure you are getting the right tips when it comese to eating with diabetes.

Eating healthier can reduce medical risks of certain diseases as well as help you lose weight. 

Diabetic Friendly Recipes

Check out the diabetic friendly recipes on this site. Each recipe comes complete with nutrition information and a diabetic friendly.

You can find something new for breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers or even desserts.

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