Tag: Insulin

Can A Good Diet Keep Diabetes At Bay

Upon first being diagnosed with diabetes, many patients ask can a good diet keep diabetes at bay. Most doctors will agree that a good diet, low in carbohydrates and sugars can help a person with diabetes avoid many of the complications that often accompany the disease. While a good diet can not necessarily cure the illness, a good diet can keep diabetes at bay.

People who have diabetes have a difficult time processing foods such as sugars and starches. Instead of processing normally through their system, they stay in the system and turn end up increasing the glucose in the bloodstream. When this occurs, it is called glycemia – which is too much sugar in the blood. People with Type I and Type II diabetes both suffer from having too much glucose in the blood. As the glucose does not digest normally, it causes problems with the kidneys, liver, eyesight, heart and blood circulation in general.

Depending upon the stage of their diabetes, a physician will normally prescribe either medication or insulin. Both help the body process the sugars in the blood, to break them down and allow the patient to expel them. However, insulin and medication are no substitute for a healthy diet. Just because a person is taking medication or insulin does not give them carte blanche to consume all of the sugar and carbohydrates they can get their hands on. It is absolutely essential that a person with diabetes not only take medication or insulin as directed, but also adhere to a diabetic diet. This means getting familiar with which foods should be avoided and which foods can be eaten sparingly.

The Glycemic Index was established in 1981 to rate which carbohydrates are the worst for those with diabetes. The carbohydrates that are high on the list, such as white bread, take longer to digest and should be avoided. Carbohydrates that have low scores, such as brown rice, can be eaten in moderation. It is very difficult for anyone to avoid carbohydrates completely, which is why familiarizing oneself with the Glycemic Index is so important in the treatment of diabetes.

In addition to carbohydrates that rate high on the Glycemic Index as well as low, there is also an intermediate group. It may surprise people to know that a chocolate bar is rated in the intermediate group on the Glycemic Index. This does not mean, however, that one should feel free to consume all the chocolate they want. The purpose of the Glycemic Index is to help individuals establish which foods should definitely be avoided and which foods are okay in moderation.

So, can a good diet keep diabetes at bay. The answer is yes. While it cannot cure a patient of diabetes, a good diet low in foods that have high ratings in the Glycemic Index and high in proteins can help an individual with this condition live a longer, healthier life. Until there is a cure for this potentially life threatening condition, it is important for all people who suffer from diabetes to familiarize themselves with the Glycemic Index so they can better understand how to control their disease.

Treatment For Hypoglycemia

The best treatment for hypoglycemia is very simple, eat food. Eat good food. Food that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates is best. The carbs won’t trigger more insulin to be released and the protein will hold your blood sugar steady.

Hypoglycemia can be a life threatening situation if left untreated. Seizures, unconsciousness, coma and death can occur if your blood sugar goes too low. The normal range for blood sugars is between 70 and 110mg/dl. If you fall below the 70 mark you can be in some serious trouble. Any lower and you may not be able to function enough to call for help and you also may not be able to help yourself. This is dangerous.

Do not hesitate to get something to eat if you start to feel symptoms. You may start with some blurred vision, or get a little shaky if you need to eat. These early symptoms are telling you to eat something, that your blood sugar needs to come up. If you fail to heed the early symptoms then you could be in some serious trouble in very short order. It does not take too long for things to go from bad to worse when it comes to your blood sugar. You can be fine one minute and then in the blink of an eye you could be on the floor unconscious.

Here is what you need to do as your personal treatment for hypoglycemia.

Change the way you eat. Replace those high carb, over processed foods that are so easy to make with some high protein, low carbs meal that you prepare yourself. Can’t cook? Learn, it’s easy!

Start reading the labels of the things you usually buy. I decided long ago that I would not eat any processed food that had more than 10 grams of carbs in it. There is not much out there that matches that criteria. Unless you make it yourself, that is.

Cooking for yourself is really no big deal. Go buy yourself a cookbook and just start to follow the recipes. Start with some simple meals and when you get proficient at them then try to branch out to more difficult meals. It just takes some practice, that’s all. The more you cook the less intimidated you will feel.

Fresh foods are best and there is so much variety out there you will never get bored with the same old things. Get creative. Try new things, look for new recipes online and even get good enough to create your own. You may find things you never knew you liked.

Believe it or not, stress can play a significant role in how your body metabolizes sugar. When you feel stress, your body releases hormones that affect the absorption of sugar into your blood cells. If the sugar doesn’t get absorbed into your blood cells the way it should to be used for energy then the insulin will help your body store the sugar as fat. The the excess insulin will cause you to have to find treatment for hypoglycemia.

Non Hypoglycemia- Understand the Cause

Non hypoglycemia, also known as non diabetic hypoglycemia, is a condition where the level of glucose in your blood stream falls below a certain number and you experience symptoms. Anyone in the world can experience a hypoglycemic episode but usually hypoglycemia is caused by a medical condition or hormonal imbalance.

There are two types of non hypoglycemia, or non diabetic hypoglycemia. The first one we will discuss is Fasting Hypoglycemia. One obvious cause of fasting hypoglycemia is not eating. When you don’t eat and/or skip meals your body can’t get the fuel it needs so your blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels.

Fasting Hypoglycemia can also be brought on by excessive strenuous exercise. If you do not replenish your body’s reserves during exercise then you will experience an episode of hypoglycemia. Fasting hypoglycemia is the type that can also be caused by a medical condition or hormonal imbalance.

A medical condition known as hyperinsulinism, or too much insulin released by your pancreas, is caused by a tumor in the pancreas. Other conditions, like Addison’s disease, that affect the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland or the adrenal glands also can cause the pancreas to secrete more insulin than is necessary to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause the drinker to experience a hypoglycemic episode. Alcohol
converts directly to sugar in your system and therefore stimulates the pancreas to secrete the insulin. If you do not eat the way you are supposed to when you are drinking, then you can and probably will feel the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Reactive Hypoglycemia is a condition that may result due to a deficiency in the liver when it is required to secrete glucagon. Sugar is stored in the liver as glucagon and when the body needs a boost the liver normally secretes some into the blood stream. Liver diseases like hepatitis, cancer, or cirrhosis can inhibit the storage of glucagon.

If you have never had an episode of hypoglycemia before then you probably don’t know what symptoms to look for. Hypoglycemia symptoms include feeling shaky, hungry, being unable to think clearly, pallor, sweating, anxiousness, dizziness or lightheadedness, and blurred vision. Any or all of these symptoms should say only one thing to you, EAT NOW. If you do not get something to eat when you feel these symptoms other symptoms will soon follow and they include falling into unconsciousness, convulsions and even death. Do not play around with hypoglycemia, you could get yourself into all kinds of trouble in very short order.

So, if you feel these symptoms coming on stop what you are doing and eat something to raise your blood sugar quickly. If this happens often you probably keep some hard candy or chocolate at the ready. When your blood sugar is back to within normal limits then you need to eat something a little more substantial to keep it up.

Non hypoglycemia, or non diabetic hypoglycemia, is a dangerous condition that can turn even more dangerous very quickly so learn to control it early.

Hypoglycemia Information To Help You Understand

If you think you have hypoglycemia then take heart and keep reading. When you are finished reading this article you will have all the hypoglycemia information you need to help you understand your condition. Understanding what you are dealing with and why are the first steps toward controlling your hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia happens when the concentration of sugar, or glucose, in your blood drops to a level your body isn’t used to. Normal values for blood sugar is 70mg/dl to 110mg/dl. If you fall below 70mg/dl and it happens often then you could be hypoglycemic. Anyone can have a glycemic episode once in a while but if you are consistently having symptoms then you and your doctor should discuss adding the diagnosis to your medical chart and starting treatment.

Hypoglycemia may be a precursor to diabetes and the sooner you begin treatment the better off you will be in the long run. Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia include weakness, headache, dizziness, sweating and blurry vision. Some good hypoglycemia information is that these symptoms can be controlled by eating food as soon as you feel them coming on.

Sever hypoglycemia symptoms include heart palpitations and arrhythmia, mental confusion, unusual behavior, convulsions, loss of consciousness and even death if left untreated. Like I said anyone can suffer a hypoglycemic episode, even if they do not have diabetes. Situations which may contribute to having a hypoglycemic episode include eating a meal high in sugar and having your body react by dumping insulin into your system in response to your meal, skipping a meal, not eating or not eating enough when you are supposed to when you feel hungry, exercising too much and drinking too much alcohol can also cause blood sugar levels to drop.

So, how do you prevent or treat you hypoglycemia? Try treating and controlling symptoms by eating small meals throughout the day and limiting carbohydrates. Your doctor may want you to start checking your blood sugar at least daily to get a baseline on where your blood sugars are and what to do about the possibilities of diabetes. Exercise in moderation and do not ever skip meals. Make sure your meals are always balanced without too many carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates convert to simple sugars in your body almost immediately and your pancreas responds in kind and pumps insulin into your system to help manage the blood sugar spike. If you eat too many carbohydrates then the insulin pumped into your system will be a significant amount and will make your blood sugar drop like a stone in a pond. This is where the danger comes in.

If you are already diabetic your doctor should follow you closely until your blood sugars are under control and you get used to the treatment regimen. You may be able to control your diabetes with diet only, if not you will need to get used to giving yourself insulin shots at least daily, sometimes more often.

Hypoglycemia can be a serious medical condition so if it happens more than once talk to your doctor immediately and get hypoglycemia information and learn how to manage your symptoms.