How To Easily Manage Diabetes

The statistics are alarming. It seems like everyone has diabetes or knows someone suffering from diabetes. In Florida alone, one of every ten has diabetes. That means 1.5 million people in Florida have diabetes making the state the tenth in the country as to the number of people struggling with this condition.

With these many people afflicted, a lot are having a hard time on managing diabetes. The trouble is that managing this condition is fundamental to keeping healthy and avoiding the many complications that could arise from it. Of course it is not easy but it can be done. Here are some tips:

1. Get a diabetes meal plan from the health care team and follow it. Eating healthy is important and this means plenty of fruits and vegetables with lots of fibre, less salt and fat and lean meat or fish which should be no more than three ounces.

2. Monitor the blood sugar by testing it at least once a day and keep a record of this. Sometimes you have to test more if you want to check how the food you eat affects your blood sugar level. Obtain from the doctor what your target level is so you can keep maintaining that level.

3. Get routine care at least twice a year and bring your record of the blood sugar level monitoring results to show the doctor. Together you will be able to decide what changes in the management of diabetes to make sure you are on the right track. Get the feet and eyes examined too.

4. Exercise about 60 minutes a day at least five times a week. Ask the doctor what kind of exercise you should do or tell him if the form of exercise you have in mind is safe for you to do. Walking around the block is a good thing to do.

5. Manage whatever stress you have with the use of the mental health resources. This is important because stress can make the blood glucose level higher. Exercise will certainly help de-stress. I do tai-chi and that seems to help. Having pets have done wonder for other people.



There you have the five things you absolutely have to do to make managing the diabetes easier. Those tips do make it easier to manage diabetes, don’t they? Remember to get in touch with your health care team regularly and ask for help. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Just make changes to the lifestyle to make you healthy and keep the blood sugar within the target level.

Say ‘Not Me' to Diabetes

Say no to diabetes! What is your motivation to say no to diabetes? Do you want to live better and feel better? Do you want to live to stay with your loved one for a long, long time? Then you have enough motivation to say no to diabetes. Tell diabetes to go away for you will do all you can to prevent it. And if you already have it, then you are motivated enough to reverse it.

Since obesity is linked to diabetes and that almost one of every three of us is considered obese, it follows then that our first line of defence is to maintain our ideal weight. What two things can help us do this? You’re right! It’s eat healthy and move more. But all these may sound simple but actually it is not easy to follow. Why?

Here is why. There are three sides to losing weight. One side is to eat less and the calories from this comes into our body. The second side is to exercise that will burn the calories that we put in from all the eating we did. The third side is what gives us trouble. It is behavioural modification. It takes a lot of will power and determination to stay away from the buffet table. I know that from experience.

Knowing all these should not deter us though from trying hard. Remember our motivation? We want to feel better. We want to look better. We want to see our children grow up. Let us keep repeating the things that motivate us. Remember, there is no hard and fast rule. We want to eat less but not starve ourselves.

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Stopping Diabetes in its Tracks: The Definitive Take-Charge Guide

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If we put up a notice on our bulletin board or on the fridge that having diabetes increases the risk to develop heart disease, kidney failure, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, amputation and blindness, wouldn’t that encourage us to eat less and move more? Of course it would. Oh I know we would have setbacks sometimes. Well, in that case, we will just get up and start all over again. It is still better than not trying.

So, if we do not have diabetes yet or just at risk or already have type 2 diabetes, we will adamantly say no to diabetes. Oh no not me, and then follow that up with taking action to prevent or delay its coming or reverse it if it has already taken hold of us. Anyway just losing 5 to 10% of body weight will not only lower the diabetes risk sometimes by half or prevent or reverse it but also it will protect us from a lot of health problems.

So what is the key to watch for? Watch the weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol and blood pressure. And what is the best way to do it? Combine physical activity with healthy eating of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat or non fat dairy products and lean protein. But make sure you have a support system in place to cheer you on through ups and downs. I will be one member of your support team and I will say a prayer for you to succeed. Yay!! We say no to diabetes, no not me, so there!

Poor Sleep In Teens With Diabetes Linked With Bad Behaviour, Uncontrolled Blood Sugar

Sleep and diabetes is the topic in a study that says quality sleep is important for teens and kids or run the risk of getting linked to bad behaviour and uncontrolled blood sugar control. Kids and teens who suffer from diabetes may have trouble getting a good night sleep and this could be linked with school performance, the blood sugar control and their behaviour.

Mind you, the study found the lack of quality sleep could be the result of sleep abnormalities like sleepiness during the day and Scroll down to see Sleep Apnea.
Regardless, all these makes it hard to maintain good blood sugar control. So did University of Arizona’s Michelle Perfect, PhD and study researcher say.

This is how the researchers came to the conclusion that poor sleep is linked with uncontrolled blood sugar and bad behaviour. They studied the quality of sleep of 50 teens and kids with type 1 diabetes as well as the sleep patterns of the controlled groups who are not diabetic.

The researchers found that the diabetic kids had lighter sleep for longer time than the non diabetic group and so they showed signs of higher blood sugar levels. In addition, their performance on standardized tests were poorer and so their grades were lower. They also exhibited behaviour abnormalities. Of course, this led to a poor quality of life.

The researchers also found that one-third of the participants had sleep apnea even when they did not consider obesity. This has been previously linked with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies found that lack of adequate sleep among obese teens could raise the risk for developing diabetes.

Here if you scroll down you may find the
personalized pillows that may help you sleep.

Consider these. The researchers at Philadelphia’s Children’s Hospital found that blood sugar levels are more stable with 7 ½ to 8 ½ hours of sleep per night while Ottawa Sun reported that sleeping less or more was associated with higher blood sugar levels. Georgia State University’s associate professor, Michael Decker, PhD who is also a spokesman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has a slide show on five things that could keep one from sleeping well thus linking sleep and diabetes.

Diabetes and Hip Fracture Risk

Diabetes can make one at risk of getting a fracture to the hips. All the tempting food on the table does not make it any easier. We are still eating too much. And this can make us vulnerable to broken hip. Women who are undergoing menopause with uncontrolled blood sugar are more liable to develop a broken hip.

So researchers investigated the tool created by the World Health Organization known as the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool or FRAX. This tool makes use of algorithms found on a person’s risk to develop hip fracture along with the result of the bone density exam.

FRAX was developed by WHO in order to find what bone fracture to expect to help the doctors make a prediction on a person’s likelihood of breaking his hip or fracturing the shoulder, spine and forearm as a result of osteoporosis.

For menopausal women though, especially if they are not on HRT, the doctors are now using FRAX to access their risk to develop a hip fracture. But researchers in Canada’s University of Waterloo in Ontario begged to disagree. They found out in their new study that the most widely used tool FRAX is not that accurate.

FRAX, the researchers said, miscalculates the risk of a woman in getting her hip fractured and it is even worse if diabetes is in the picture. You see, the diabetics are found to have a 59% increased chance of getting a fractured hip and the worst part of the finding was that they were less likely to take medication in order to lower the risk or prevent it from happening.

The result of the study conducted in Netherlands is even scarier. Apparently, diabetic women who have an increased likelihood to develop fractured hip increased their risk even more when their blood sugar is poorly controlled.


There are three things they need to know. They should get a bone density test at age 50 to determine the likelihood of getting a fractured bone. Secondly if their doctor uses FRAX, their risk even gets higher, And third, it is important to keep the blood sugar under control.

Diabetes and Dental Care

Effects of diabetes on dental care has been discussed but not to this extent. The diabetics are advised to eat healthy, do regular physical activity and take medication as prescribed, but some may not know that these medications to control insulin may result in unforeseen events in dental offices. How can you tell if there‘s damage to the teeth and gums?

Plan ahead your visit to the dentist. The diabetes medicine you’re taking may cause low blood glucose. Before the visit talk to your doctor and dentist the best way you can take care of the blood glucose while having dental work done. Bring some food and diabetes medicine to the dentist’s office.

The diabetics have to tell their dentists their special needs to avoid the harmful effects of diabetes due to the interaction between the medications and the materials used at dental offices. This study was published in the AGD's clinical journal called General Dentistry.
Lee Shackelford, DDS, FAGD, said that it is very important to inform the dentists of the special needs of the diabetics so that the dentists can foresee and prepare for the medical interactions and physical response to treatment that can occur.

The dentists have to know if the patient is taking insulin treatment and have taken their everyday dose. This will also help foresee how long the appointment will take. This is important as any medication may interact with whatever agents the dentists may use.
Really, this alert is not just for the diabetics but for the general population as well.

James Little, DMD, MS, the main author of this study, advised everyone to inform their dentists with a complete information regarding prescription drugs, herbal drugs and over the counter medications as they may interact with the materials used during the dental appointments.

The excellent way to avoid the harmful effects of diabetes on the care of the oral health is an open communication with the dentists. This way any interaction can be anticipated and prepared for. There are steps the diabetic patients can take to get the best treatment possible:

1. Look for a dentist who understands the needs of diabetics.

2. Visit the dentist regularly and alert him to any changes in medications and in overall health condition.

3. Let the dentist know of any painful areas, swelling, sore or redness in the mouth.

4. Before the appointment, have a meal that is normally taken and the medication on schedule.

5. Bring the blood glucose monitor and let the dentist know when experiencing low blood sugar.

Here's a complete list on how to keep the teeth and gums healthy:

• Brush the teeth not only after each meal but after each snack with the use of a soft toothbrush. With the bristles alongside the gum line, brush the front, back and top of each tooth gently with small, circular actions.
  
• Brush the teeth not only after each meal but after each snack with the use of a soft toothbrush. With the bristles alongside the gum line, brush the front, back and top of each tooth gently with small, circular actions.
  
• Brush the teeth not only after each meal but after each snack with the use of a soft toothbrush. With the bristles alongside the gum line, brush the front, back and top of each tooth gently with small, circular actions.
  
• Floss at least once a day for this prevents the plaque from growing on the teeth. When not attended to, plaque will get hard and grow in the gums. How do you floss? With a sawing motion, put the floss between the teeth and rub from bottom to top a few times.
  
• Keep dentures clean.
  
• One of the facts of diabetes is to maintain the blood sugar level at or as close to the target as possible.
  
• Immediately call the dentist if experiencing any problems with teeth and gum.
  
• Ask the dental hygienist who cleans your teeth to show you the best way to brush and floss. At this point, you might as well ask the best toothpaste and brush to use.
  
• As mentioned before, get your teeth and gums cleaned twice a year.
  
• When the dentist informs you of the problem, ask him how to deal with it and then take action.
  
• It is important to inform the dentist that you have diabetes.
  
• Since smoking exacerbates the tooth and gum problems, find ways to quit the habit.
  
• See the dentist whenever there's swelling, bleeding, redness, gums drawing away from teeth, and soreness from teeth or dentures.
  

So take time to check your mouth daily for any problems. Some have gums that bleed while brushing the teeth. Others feel soreness, dryness or a bad taste in the mouth. All these are good reasons for you to go and pay your dentist a visit. Remember that good control of the glucose can prevent problems in the mouth.

Get this for Healthy Teeth

Gum Disease Could Lead to Gestational Diabetes

Gum disease in pregnant women could be a factor in developing gestational diabetes. This what the research team at New York University’s College of Dentistry found. The group of women in the study who did not have periodontal disease were less likely to develop gestational diabetes.

The study took a long year to conduct at New York University. This study was in conjunction with Sri Lanka’s University of Peradeniya’s Faculty of Dental Sciences. The Sri Lankan researchers had the advantage of their subjects who were poor and forbidden to smoke and drink alcohol which are thought to increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes.

About one-third of the Sri Lankan women said their gums bled. The women who reported the most occurrences of bleeding in the gums had the highest blood glucose levels. The women who were found to develop gestational diabetes had particularly higher levels of inflammation and gum bacteria than the others.

The leader of the research team, Dr. Ananda P. Dasanayake said that the women who are planning to be pregnant would be wise to keep their oral health in good condition. They should ask their dentist to get rid of this condition before getting pregnant. In addition, after becoming pregnant they should also visit the dentist.

While pregnant, the ability to transport glucose to the cells is prevented by gestational diabetes. The end result is that the main source of energy does not reach the cells where it is needed. Mind you, this condition disappears after pregnancy but the increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes is there.

The inflammation that is linked to the gum disease plays a role in the increased risk to develop gestational diabetes. The inflammation gets in the way with the work of insulin and we know that insulin controls the metabolism of the glucose. Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans are the ones most at risk to develop gestational diabetes.

The results of this study confirm what other researches have found. And it is that gum disease and high levels of bacteria in the mouth can help predict who will develop gestational diabetes and even type 2 diabetes. Due to the fact that diabetes is an inflammatory condition, it makes sense that heightened inflammation in the mouth could play a role in developing gestational diabetes. The moral of the story is to get the dentist to help you get rid of the gum disease.

Insulin Resistance Risk Increases With Fat Build-Up

Insulin resistance is the result of the fat build-up that they refer to here is the one on chest and upper back according to HIV Study. This study led by the San Francisco VA Medical Center says that fat build-up in this area is linked to an increased risk of insulin resistance. They say that this is the very first time this relationship has been established.

The lead author and researcher, Carl Grunfield, M.D., PhD, who is the chief of the metabolism and endocrine sections at the San Francisco VA Medical Center says that the association between visceral fat and insulin resistance risk has been studied before but nobody looked at the upper trunk fat.

We know that insulin is the hormone that controls the blood glucose levels so when the cells become resistant to the insulin action, the end result is high blood glucose which has bad effects on the body. Grunfeld further observes that people with lots of fat in the upper trunk and not much in the stomach are at risk to develop insulin resistance. But if you have both, he says the risk is rather high.

The results was strong in both HIV infected participants and the ones who did not have HIV in the FRAM (Fat Redistribution and Metabolic) Change in HIV infection study. This is a longitudinal study of those who have HIV and are taking modern antiretroviral therapy and HIV negative controls.

When the visceral fat (located between and around the internal organs) is present, the risk of insulin resistance is increased not only among the HIV infected group but also among those who do not have HIV. So this means that it does not matter whether you have HIV or not. Having upper trunk fat is bad for you.

When one is resistant to insulin, the cells in the body are resistant to the action of insulin and we know that insulin is a hormone that regulates the blood sugar levels. We also know the results of the high blood sugar leading to many undesirable health effects.

Grunfeld, University of California’s professor of medicine said that the people who have a lot of fat in their upper trunk and not so much in their stomach are at risk for insulin resistance. If you’ve got both (upper trunk fat and belly fat) you have quite a high risk for insulin resistance.