Online Writing by Fran Aslam

Neuropathy Symptoms | Types | Awareness | and Neuropathy Treatment

Fran Aslam — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:00:01 +0000

May 14-18, 2012 is Neuropathy Awareness Week

What is Neuropathy? It is a nerve disease. Human body is connected with the brain to work and interact as required in certain situation and that happens when brain sends message to the parts of the body via nerves. Body’s ability to communicate with the muscles, skin joints and internal anatomy is interrupted with Neuropathy due to nerve disorder.

According to the latest statisticsalmost 30 % of Peripheral Neuropathy is connected with diabetes complication, however, it has several other forms and some of those are:

Autonomic Neuropathy
Cancer related Neuropathy
Compressive Neuropathies
Diabetic Neuropathy
Drug induced and toxic Neuropathy
G I and nutrition related Neuropathies
Hereditary Neuropathies
Infectious diseases and Neuropathy
Neuropathy Pain
Chemotherapy induced Neuropathy

And to add to this it is said that there are several other ( almost 30 % more) peripheral neuropathies and causes for those are unknown.

Neuropathy is the leading cause of medical disability in United States. More than 20,000,000 or one in fifteen Americans are affected by neuropathy but because of the hidden nature of this disease it is described in such a way by the sufferer that its diagnosis, early treatment and prevention or slowing of the progression comes late in many cases.

Awareness of Neuropathy is extremely important for this disease, so a person may know when it starts developing. The awareness campaign for this disease started in 1995, with a neuropathy association to provide and understand the perception of this disease, but so far it is not a commonly known disease for proper disease diagnosis and neuropathy treatment. Therefore more effective and stronger campaigns are needed. Federal Government health Calender has dedicated third week of May in the calender for a stronger campaign. This post is my dedication to Neuropathy awareness.

During Neuropathy Awareness week, all efforts are made by the medical professionals, patients, caregivers, educators to take this disease and its awareness campaign to the next level. Since it is a diabetic complication, and cancer related disease, it becomes very important for everyone to know about it.

I will request the readers here to do the same and pass the information to friends and family also, as Awareness is preventing the disease for each other and ourselves. Once better informed we can know if it ever impacts anyone around, the awareness can help the person with early treatment and recovery. So, here are some of the common symptoms of Neuropathy.

Neuropathy Symptoms

Symptoms differ from person to person and it also depends on the the individual neurological condition of the nerves that started getting this disease.

Motor nerve damage symptoms are muscle weakness cramps loss of balance and coordination.

Sensory nerve damage causes tingling, extreme sensitivity to touch and numbness in legs and hands.

Autonomic nerve damage can cause abnormal blood pressure and heart rate, reduced perspiration, constipation, bladder or sexual dysfunction and creates causes of erectile dysfunction in men.

Peripheral Neuropathy

This is a general term for a series of malfunction that results from damage to the body’s peripheral nervous system. This system sends messages from the brain to the spinal cord, that is the central nervous system for all over the body. There are several reasons for peripheral neuropathy that includes diabetes, kidney failure, inflammations, poor nutrition and certain medications, particularly those used to treat cancer and HIV/Aids.

Public awareness of pripheral neuropathy is very low. Patients are told that there is nothing that can be done and they will have to live with it. Some patients have been told it is in their mind and there is no obvious health problem that can be noticed. Patients often feel they have nowhere to turn for treatment. Even their families do not understand their pain and suffering and that is why public awareness for neuropathy has become extremely important.

A survey conducted in 1999 to know the neuropathy awareness reported that only 7% of the population know about this disease and its treatment where as it is estimated that almost 20 million Americans suffer with this disease.

Early detection and neuropathy treatment can control this disease to a minimum, and that is why it is important for neuropathy patient to be aware of the disease if and when it attacks. Becoming an informed person and being an active partner in managing your personal health care is very important.

Neuropathy Treatment

There are several medicines available for neuropathy, and your medical expert will suggest the one that suits you the best. Besides there are detailed comprehensive treatment programs that consists of several steps.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy treatment depends on the kind of neuropathy a patient has.

a. The treatment focuses reducing the current symptoms and preventing the condition from getting worse.

b. The most important step is to maintain regular blood sugar levels to normal (a1c test)

c. Feet and diabetes care are closely connected,as numbness in the feet does not make the patient feel all the problems, but once a little infection sets in it can become problem and if neglected can even cause imputation.

The treatment plans for neuropathy consists of the following

1. Nutrition analysis and diet education

2. Manual massage techniques

3. Exercise and rehab techniques

4. Spinal therapy

5. Clinically tested rebuilder – electrotherapy

6. Reducing inflammation

Early detection and neuropathy treatment can control this disease to a minimum, and that is why it is important for neuropathy patient to be aware of the disease if and when it attacks. Becoming an informed person and an active informative seeker in managing your personal physical needs. Let us spread the neuropathy awareness this week.

The sole purpose of this information is health awareness. This information is real and based on facts. It is not a substitute for medical care from your doctor or health care provider. Please check with your doctor on any related matter that concerns you for your health and well being.

Avoid Diabetes Complication with a Low Sodium Diet

Fran Aslam — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:06 +0000

Diabetes complication starts setting in once the diabetic faces high sugar level. A diabetic meal plan works at its best when it consists of low glycemic index foods, portion control, carbohydrate counting and prepared by cutting back on salt with a low sodium diet. This seems to be surprisingly new and recently added factor for diabetes care but it is not new. Cutting back on salt does create more benefits for a diabetic.

Diabetics who are watching their carbohydrates intake, going for least refined sugar and now cutting back on salt also,feel that flavor of meals becomes less palatable and this makes it boring to continue on diabetic management. But it is worth the effort and with little focus it becomes second nature.

Having diabetes raises the risk of hypertension, signs of kidney problems, heart disease and retinopathy and neuropathy symptoms. In advanced stages even edema which causes water weight gain and slows activities of legs and feet. Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure levels in the normal range is important to help protect these added complications and espacially kidneys and blood vessels. Avoiding too much salt in the diet and cutting back on salt is to be practiced, as disease prevention for CKD (chronic kidney disease) and hypertension (high blood pressure).

All this is easy to follow once you are mentally prepared to accept the fact that health is precious and you have to adopt new flavors for cooked food and enjoy the sweetness of fruits and herbs in your cooked food along with some salt.

Salt is needed by the human body, as it regulates the amount of fluid that includes blood also in our body. It consists of two main nutrients that our body requires and that is Sodium and chloride. Chloride helps in digestion of food.

The daily salt requirement

For an adult (from the age of 19-50 year old) is 1500 milligram of sodium or 3.8 grams of salt daily

For 50-70 year olds it is determined as 3.3 grams or 1300 milligram daily

For 70 – and older it is further reduced to 3.0 grams of salt or 1200 miligram of sodium every day

Just like refined sugar salt in diet has to be taken with care and only in the amount required by an individual body. This requirement effects everybody differently. Espacially if you are diabetic and have a risk of hypertension that brings blood vessels problems, cardiovasculare disease and signs of kidney problems, you have to be extra catuious and use less salt.

But it is not very easy to determin the amount of salt in meals as all food contains natural salt and at the sametime preparation adds more added salt. You can measure the amount of salt once you measure and prepare all foods from scratch yourself. This seems almost impossible because of the time and busy lifestyles of today.

However, it is a state of your mind once you decide to eat the right amount of salt every day, simply be prepared and train your mind positively by knowing its benefits to your health as a diabetic and this new lifestyle change will be easy to follow, in few months you will become so used to it that your mind will not accept over salted food.

Planning your meals ahead of time is the key here as according to research almost 75 % of the sodium comes from processed food and packaged food.

Unprocessed foods, like lean meat, vegetables and herbs, all are unprocessed foods and lowest in sodium. Processed meat has already too much salt than required. As the newest method recommended by American food and drug administration and introduced by Michelle Obama, the first lady is the plate method. Using half of the plate from non starchy fresh leafy green vegetables and fruit while using a dressing with no salt or less salt can help you maintain the low salt diet plan. Lean meat portion simply baked or microwaved with herbs of your choice and a limited amount of healthy fat like Olive oil or Canola oil, will prepare the best meal for a diabetic in minutes.

Fresh unprocessed foods include

Fruits that are fresh and seasonal
Fresh non starchy vegetables espacially leafy green
Beans, peas and lintels, not packed and cooked in a can
Whole grain foods prepared without salt and whole grain flour, like whole grain bread, pasta, brown rice and similar other simple carbohydrates
Unsalted nuts and seeds

Simply put all natural foods and natural food products with only the required amount of salt are best to use to fit your condition as a diabetic.

Some foods that have an excessive amount of salt

Preserved foods
frozen meals
most of the cheeses
canned vegetables and canned beans
processed or cured meats
deli meats
some sauces, like soy sauce, spaghatti sause, or terriyaki sauce, Buy the lighter version or make your own

Remember, health is personal wealth that is to be cherished with attention, and focus to your physical needs and requirement and just like all other kinds of wealth it makes you touch limitless boundries to achieve goals and also a dream life even in your golden years. So make it a part of your lifestyle even when you have diabetes. Least refined sugar and low salt in the diet will bring awesomely noticable change to diabetes management.

Tips to loose Weight for Diabetes Cure

Fran Aslam — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:00:12 +0000

There is a lot more to reducing weight as a diabeties cure than simply trying to shed some pounds for total health and fitness. It is best to take help from a nutritionist, diabetes educator, certified dietition, endocrinologist, or your diabetes doctor or simply from a support group usually available from hospitals. Online support groups is also a great idea. This will help you with better results and may be even the quickest way to loose weight than if you do it yourself with trial and error.

Losing 10-15 pounds has major benefits

It will lower blood sugars, check it with A1C test
Reduce blood pressure closer to normal
Reduce diabetes complications retinopathy neuropathy and foot problems and a lot more
Improves chlosterol levels and improves healthy cholesterol levels

Getting these results is worth the effort as your energy level will increase and you will feel much better to live an active lifestyle.

1. Plan it carefully

Check your options by knowing what will work best. Get all the information that empowers you to make better decisions. A meal plan that will help in diabetes management and still help you shed pounds is one of the best choices.

2. Make sure this plan fits your lifestyle

Every individual has a different lifestyle of their own and here since the objective is two fold to reduce weight so you feel better and lower regular blood sugar levels right way, you have to work with more focus and care than simply reducing calories. Healthy diet meal plan is a must. Dropping 10 % of the weight will bring a significant change in your diabetes and plus more healthy side effect. So create a plan that goes with your lifestyle, a plan that is easy to stick to for a longer period of time.

3. Keep track of your blood sugar chart

Writing a blood sugar chart every day is a must as it will help you make better choices for reduciing blood sugars and a quickest way to loose weight. If you feel checking blood sugars with blood glucose monitor helps you check your blood sugars before eating a meal and two hours after eating. This makes you stick to

Portion control with every snack and meal.
You get to know what foods stabilizes your blood sugars and what food spikes your blood sugar levels high. Fruits and vegetables are effective for best nutrition weight loss and keeping your blood sugars close to normal.

4. Go for the right balance of food required

As a diabetic the most important goal is to have glucose control for regular blood sugar level that makes it very important to have balanced meals that consists of protein carbohydrates and fats in every meal. The best balance that can work for many people is

Fat 30 %

50 – 55 % carbs ( may be even less depends on individual diabetes levels)

10 – 15 % from lean protein.

Once you have figured out a ratio for your personal physical balance it will help you get this two fold goal of weight loss and normal blood sugar range.

5. Quantity of carbs

For diabetes control the most important factor is to watch the intake of carbohydrates and espacially refined carbs to be in the required limits to avoide sugar spikes that create diabetes complication. Once you use least refined carbs, or no refined carbs it becomes much easier to maintain normal blood sugar levels range and at the sametime weight loss is much consistant because of using vegatable carbs and fiber enriched foods.

6. Complex carbohydrates

This means all grains must be used from whole grain groups, including pasta and rice. Use brown rice whole grain pasta and whole wheat bread, and vegetables for a fiber rich diet . Fiber rich diet will stablize your blood sugar levels to normal and these fiber rich foods will help you reducing weight and will not make you hungry for longer period. Avoid refined sugar calories as it promotes diabetes and you do need to get rid of it.

7. Fruits and vegetables

Along with vegetables fruits is a great option for snakes and deserts. Berries, apples with skin and almost all fruits create a positive influence to control and prevent diabetes. Celery cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, carrots are dieters good friend. Using 6- 8 servings of fresh fruit and vegetables provides balanced nutrients and control insluin resistance for normal blood sugar levels.

8. Daily exercises

Once your are a diabetic, it is very important to maintian an exercise schedule and it becomes even more important when you decide to cure your diabetes and reduce weight. Exercise balances your blood sugars, burning calories with exercise will help fat loss and you will be able to reduce your weight much faster. Exercise also helps in keeping the weight off. Each type of exercise creates a different effect.

Aerobic fitness exercise helps you lower your blood sugar levels right away.
Weight lifting routine or prolonged exercise impacts blood sugars after few hours.

Exercise burns blood sugar and sugar stored in the muscles and liver, The use of insluin reduces a lot. This again explains how you have to keep track of your blood sugar levels during weight loss and avoid hypoglycemia.

9. Walking exercise

Walking is the best easiest and effective exercise both for diabetes and weight loss. It is natural, slow and fast for 20-30 minutes is a great way to burn your stored sugars in the muscles, and it not only makes you fit but also helps to maintain blood sugars.

10. Enjoy your food

Create an eating pattern. When at home try eating at the dinning table every time. Eat slowly and chew the food, put your fork down in between bites and take time to finish your meal. This will help you become a satisfied eater and will not make you feel deprived of food inspite of portion control.

11. Do not weight yourself daily

Weight fluctuates quite a bit, so weight yourself once a week same time every time. This will give you a btter idea how much weight have you lost so far. Keep a written record of every week so it is easy to compare your weight loss every week.

12. Find a diet- buddy

If you have a friend to do the same with you, it will help you a lot. You can always compare notes, share positive points, and feel motivated to keep going. Join online or select someone from your support group.

13. Nurture yourself by rewarding often

This keeps you going positively and lets you see the positive side of the picture keeps the boredom away which you need. To reward yourself buy flowers for yourself, watch a movie, go for a spa treatment, buy a book that you want to read and similar other things.

14. Gratitude and daily prayer does wonders

Use this strategy for weight loss and normal blood sugars range. Both gratitude and praying focus your efforts to achive your goal as a pleasant journey. Short prayer every morning or night works well .

15. Best drink for you

We have talked so much about food for weight loss with diabetes here. Now a bit about drinks. Remember water is the most important and pure drink. Make sure the water you drink is germ free clean and pure. Six to eight glasses of water is good practice add a slice of lemon or lime for freshness. Avoid juices sodas, energy drinks and artificial sweetners. Green tea and coffee are okay to use. A good green tea will boost metabolism to weight loss. There are so many types of coffee and coffee brands, select the healthy quality as it does reduce blood sugar spikes. It is a good idea to avoid flavored coffee, as is full of addatives. If you want to add juice in your diet plan, do so by knowing the sugar content of every juice, and the quantity that you can drink at one time for normal blood sugar range so your weight loss plan keeps going in the right direction.

Use these very effective strategies for diabetes cure for weight loss. Even a 10%-15 % weight loss will mean a good amount of reduction for diabetes complications. Go for it.

Portion Control | The Most Health Effective Diabetes Prevention

Fran Aslam — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:00:46 +0000

The more I study Diabetes and its research by medical experts, the more I feel the importance of portion control for type 1 and 2 diabetes. For a person who is focusing on achieving and maintaining normal blood sugar levels, it is extremely important to focus on portion control as the amount of food regulates blood sugar levels along with the nutrition quality of food. The Best way to eat right for a diabetic is to measure the food portion very carefully.

However, it is very hard to suddenly eat small portions all the time, as soon as diabetes is discovered. It is a sudden lifestyle change that does not come easily. Physical requirement and feeling hungry is hard to come over. But focus, behavior control and mental readiness to treat the disease will empower to control portion size. Following preventive measures will help to gain this positive change.

1. Follow the plate method

The “Plate method” was introduced by the first lady Michelle Obama in the first week of June 2011. This is the easiest way to eat healthy for everyone. The plate image, to fill half the plate with green leafy and non starchy vegetables and the other half of the plate with lean protein and whole grains or carbohydrates of your choice. This plate method creates awesome portion control and a healthy diet plan, a very health effective diet plan for diabetics.

2. Weigh or measure food

This is a perfect way to control or prevent diabetes blood sugar levels. Creating a plate make sure do not over load the plate by adding more quantity by piling it high, but add pre-measured portion by weighing. Use food scales or measuring cup as required. Carbohydrates have to be portioned with detailed extreme care.

3. While eating out

Weighing or measuring food is not possible when eating out. First inquire the calories and nutritional content of food and then use your own judgment. Focus on the size by your general estimate of carbs. If you are thinking of having a desert, limit a smaller portion of grain and protein to add sweet calories or avoid carbohydrate portion of the meal as sweet is also carbs. Doggy bag the left overs.

4. All you can eat buffet

This is not a good choice for a diabetic. Portion control becomes hard with so many choices. Keep focus and make sure to add bigger portion of leafy green and low carb vegetables and then lean protein and carbohydrates in the same order and quantity as always.

5. Read nutritional food labels

It is important to read the food labels first before using them. Paying attention to product label is very important to know the nutritional value and determine the portion of meal to eat for normal blood sugar range. Serving size, food calorie count and contents of the food all impact blood sugars and this can be avoided with proper portion size.

6. Plate sizes

It is becoming a fashion to use smaller plates. This helps psychologically to feel full as portion is smaller and person feels he/she has finished full plate. Use salad plate instead of dinner plate if this makes it easier to follow portion control.

7. Writing journal

Keeping journal for daily meal plans, whether eating out or in proves to be great help for portion control as it is easier to add notes for the size also. A written plan will focus you to eat according to the plan. In case you are eating out and over did it, next meal of the day can be reduced as required to maintain 24 hours fasting blood sugar levels next morning.

8. Be careful with the drinks

Drink water with a squeeze of lemon. This is the best drink for blood sugar control. Sodas that are full of sugar or diet soda both are not a positive choices for diabetes. Soda is not to satisfy the hunger but just a created fad which is spoiling eating habits and free calories to add unwanted pounds to the body. However green tea and coffee both are good for blood sugars control. Be careful about juices, know the serving size and the sugar content and decide how will it fit in your day with close to normal blood sugar range.

9. Choose a healthy desert

Many fruits added deserts are light, have vitamins and antioxidants and much less calories than ice cream, cake or other heavy deserts. Select a seasonal fresh fruit or berries desert. Keep the portion in control.

10. Make sure to use 4- 6 healthy vegetables daily

When it comes to eating, vegetables are a diabetics best friend. Vegetables have carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral. Fresh vegetables are a good source of fiber also. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are not included in vegetables as these are starchy and have a lot of carbohydrates. Make sure to eat a combination of vegetables and use a dressing that is flavorful and less fattening. Fresh home made salad dressings are the best. These can be made in several flavors depending on your choice.

Portion control is the piece of diabetes puzzle that puts all other pieces into place like medicines/insulin, A1C tests to normal blood sugar range. You are able to control and reverse your blood sugars and diabetes complication. Today medical care has advanced so much that with portion control of food along with other basic prevention like daily exercise, regular medicine/insulin etc you can achieve required best results in one week.To learn more about diabetes prevention from a diabetes dr, read Dr Mark Hyman’s New York Times Best Seller list book of 2012 “THE BLOOD SUGAR SOLUTION” provides a solution to insulin resistance and proves it to be 100 % preventable. It even overcomes the family history of diabetes.

To prevent diabetes try portion control strategies as food impacts 80 percent of diabetes and then daily exercise and medicine.

To your best health

Diabetes Prevention – Overcoming Vitamins Deficiency

Fran Aslam — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 05:00:48 +0000

Diabetes prevention is the first step, once it is discovered that a person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Patient along with health care expert have to come up with a diabetic management plan. Lifestyle changes along with the required medication prescribed by the doctor are extremely important preventive measure to bring blood sugars closer to a normal blood sugar range. Following are some of the examples

1. Lose weight if overweight. As excessive body fat causes insulin resistance

2. Portion control meals and eat more frequent meals to get normal blood sugar range.

3. Make sure to create meals with low glycemic index and avoid refined carbohydrates.

4. Keep away from saturated fats and trans fats

5. Add fish and lean proteins to your weekly meal plans

6. Make salad main entree, lean protein and grain as sides of your plate

7. Add all low carb veggies in your salad

8. Increase your physical activity

These life style changes will bring an amazing healthy change to control diabetes. Follow your doctor, endocrinologist, dietitian and fitness expert for more advance care of diabetes. A personalized diet plan is a must, as insulin production and blood sugar levels depends on the type of food you eat. This personalized diet plan is different from individual to individual depending on individual physical conditions, age, blood sugar levels and BMI. A medical expert will add nutrients that are deficient to maintain normal blood sugar levels, if required.

Constant research on diabetes shows that most of the Diabetic patients are either deficient or they need Vitamin D, E, B 12, B 6. Supplements of these vitamins and eating it in the form of fruits and vegetables will improve your body to produce normal blood sugar levels.

It has been noticed that these deficiencies are present in 99 % of the diabetics. Improving these vitamins by taking it orally in the form of food and supplement will definitely improve the blood sugar levels.

Here are some of the details about these deficiencies as a diabetic.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for everyone but it becomes one of the most important nutrition component for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular and bone health.

Vitamin D deficiency is commonly found in people with poor diabetes control.
It plays an active role in regulating pancreatic beta cells.
Vitamin D deficiency creates insulin resistance along with magnesium deficiency.
Vitamin D’s deficiency in a diabetics promotes diabetes complications like neuropathy and retinopathy.
Vitamin D deficiency also impacts the metabolism control.

A US based study by Esther Krug, published at ENDO 2010, concludes that A1C was higher in patients with Vitamin D deficiency. It also said that racial differences were higher. People of color had lower vitamin D than caucasians and they were associated with even poorer diabetes control.

Aggressive screening of vitamin D levels is crucial for people with diabetes.

Seeing the importance of vitamin D for diabetes prevention, it seems that the requirement of this vitamin does not only require to use food with this vitamin but supplement are also required to control diabetes.

Vitamin B-12, and B-6 and B-8

B 12 vitamin is water soluble and is known to improve diabetic neuropathy treatment. Its deficiency provides poor function for the nerve cells all over the body causing uncomfortable tension of the nerves from the brain to all parts of the body. This deficiency becomes worse with high blood sugars and diabetic person suffers a lot. Vitamin B 12 therapy helps the nerves to be strong to work effectively as required by the body. B 12 vitamin also helps to improve diabetic retinopathy, that is the eye problems due to diabetes. It can be used as a supplement or vitamin B shots as decided by the health care provider to reduce nerve damage with diabetes. It can be found in foods like liver, yogurt, dairy products, fish, non fat milk. Benefits of vitamin B 12 complex make it easier to cope with diabetes.

Vitamin B 6 is water soluble and is also called pyridoxine. Vitamin B 6 deficiency causes nerve damage pain and neuropathy attacks severely. Vitamin B 6 improves protein metabolism. It helps in the break down of meat nuts seeds and grains legumes into building blocks for cellular repair of the body. Since diabetics have a weaker metabolism, this vitamin helps to over come the breakdown of food into cellular energy.

Consuming more than 200 mg of this vitamin daily may cause problems with neurological condition of the brain.

B 8 or vitamin Biotin is also water soluble and it is required to process glucose in the body. It works side by side with insulin provided by the body and enhances the impact of glucokinase. Glucokinase is found in the liver only, and it is said that diabetics do not have a full supply of it in the liver. Vitamin B 8 is an important factor for metabolizing sugars and therefor very important for diabetics. The usual food source for this is cereals, grain products, liver and lentils.

Vitamin B-12, B-6, B-8 all are very beneficial to diabetics. But “Vitamin B”is not good for the kidney issues and CKD. B vitamin therapy has been proved to be harmful for diabetics who have signs of kidney problems, as it creates a highly damaging effect for the kidney functions, and heart disease and stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Consult an endocrinologist before starting using any of these supplements.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C overcomes glucose intolerance especially in diabetes 2. It can be derived from vitamin c foods like fresh vegetables and fruits. Citrus fruits, like grape fruit or grape fruit extracts, oranges lemon and limes. Sweet pepper pimento and green sweet pepper, broccoli, cauliflower cabbage strawberries, and lots of other vegetables and fruits.

Vitamin E

The benefits of vitamin E include its anti-oxidant quality and it reduces the risk of diabetes complications, fights toxins and oxygenates the blood. It improves glucose tolerance. Supplements of vitamin E show normal blood sugar range once it reaches to an optimal supply after two three months of using the supplement.

Basically I will like to conclude by adding the most important fact that high nutrition helps reverse diabetes. Overcoming all the nutrition deficiencies will help prevent diabetes. Focus on nutrition with diet and supplements approved by diabetic dietitian or doctor, use them carefully as required and check results with blood glucose monitors and A1C test. You will be able to maintain normal blood sugar range.

Focus on your health for an enjoyable life always including the Golden years.

Diabetes Prevention is Obesity Prevention

Fran Aslam — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:00:55 +0000

Everyone by now knows that most of the people diagnosed with diabetes 2 are obese. This ratio is as high 90%. Therefore, obesity prevention is diabetes prevention. Common sense tells that there is a connection between diabetes and obesity. Being over weight adds stress on the physical performance of the body, as blood pressure increases, cardiac risks multiplies and so is the blood sugar range. Insulin resistance starts causing high blood sugar levels and diabetes 2 sets in.

It is a globally accepted phenomenon. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) that consists of 200 national diabetes association in over 160 countries of the world with a mission to promote diabetes prevention and cure globally also verifies the same

One of the mission for IDF is to increase health awareness by promoting and educating authentic and latest information for people with diabetes and for the medical experts. The organization has clearly mentioned,

“Type 2 diabetes, however, can be prevented in many cases by maintaing a healthy weight and being physically active. Studies in China Finland and United States have confirmed this”.

Harvard’s affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center’s assistant professor Hamdy and many other from the same, have come up with the same results about obesity and diabetes. Last week, March 2012, they published an article that even a little increase in weight increases the diabetes risk factors to several notches higher as 85 % of the diabetics are overweight.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause in US. It is the number one cause for kidney failure blindness, limb amputations, heart disease and stroke. Today diabetes is number one epidemic and public health issue for human health.

Currently, when diabetes is an epidemic even a little more weight than average can bring a person to pre diabetic condition and then diabetes if not checked. United States is an overfed and undernourished nation. Being over weight is one of the primary, type 2 diabetes risk factors. Diabetes statistics estimates that 80-90 % of diabetics are obese.

Slim normal weight people are actually hard to find.

Since it is a greater risk for the nation, only medical expert can not work harder and smarter to take away this epidemic from us. We have to work together as a nation. Mothers have to be extra caution while raising their kids to avoid obesity and take care of the health of the child for him/her to be normal weight according to height and age. High nutrition and optimal health is the basic goal here. Provide a lifestyle of an active person for life and paying attention to their own health must become the nature of these growing children so they can save themselves with this giant epidemic.

Schools will have to put an effort to make children health conscious from the very childhood. Make kids aware of diabetes and how to avoid it must be one of the goals presented by schools.

Together we can control this disease. We have to save our children and their children.

Are you ready for this challenge? I hope everyone says “yes” to this goal and prepares to be ready in the coming years.

Diabetes 2 is a reversible disease

Kill obesity and diabetes viscous cycle before it takes over completely. As Diabetes 2 is a reversible disease. Heal diabetes 2 with the power of food. Proper food intake empowers to reverse diabetes 2.

1. Dr. Mark Hyman,founder and medical director of the Ultrawellness Center Lenox, Massachusetts, has a seven step well researched proven plan, intense care program with supplements and food that can reverse diabetes. He believes that diabetes can be treated by using food as medicine and since this processes takes care of obesity and diabetes it can be termed as “diebesity” instead of diabetes. As a dr. for diabetes Mark Hyman is the writer of diabetes best seller for 2012.

2. Similarly, researchers in UK have come up with the same results that diabetic diet meal plan can reverse diabetes even with those patient who are diabetics for a long time and insulin making cells are damaged in the pancreas, can also improve and eventually reverse diabetes with healthy diet meal plans.

3. A friend and neighbor of mine started taking care of her diabetes 2 with healthy diet meal plans. She paid extra attention to portion control and added high fiber diet food to the plan. She noticed a big improvement and had to stop her insulin that she was taking three times a day. She takes insulin only once in twenty four hours, have lost twenty pounds of weight. Her statins medicine has been reduced to very low strength, because of improvement in the cholesterol. All this happened with in three months. Her exercise habits are the same as before. Now with these amazing changes she is so excited that she wants to continue doing this and start exercising more to loose more weight.

I wish everyone can reverse their diabetes just the same by

a. maintaining healthy body mass index

b. maintaining diabetes and weight

c. health meal planning with low glycemic index

To your best health

10 Self Preventive Measures for Diabetes Prevention

Fran Aslam — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:00:01 +0000

Diabetes statistics and general health overview is proving that Diabetes epidemic has hijacked human health globally. Research and estimates are about more and more spread of diabetes 2. It is slowing overall advancement, economy and society as a whole. In this kind of situation only medical expert and medicines can not solve this problem. We have to take back our health by working individually and together as a society along with medical experts. It is very important for the next generation not to face this epidemic.

1. Focus on all preventive measures for yourself and do not let diabetes attack you.

2. Those who are diabetic have to be extra careful to maintain normal blood sugar range.

3. Take self preventive measures to reverse diabetes along with medical care from health care provider.

4. Be a part of a support group to find the solution to problems and complications and help each other with those.

Diabetes 2 is reversible once you are focused to do so. This starts from home and self care. It is easy and doable for every one who has type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Following are some of the general and easy steps to diabetes management that will make a big positive difference.

Check blood sugars few times a day with glucometer

Fasting blood sugar levels chart is extremely important. Once fasting blood sugar is 100 mg/dL, it is regarded that the patient has full control of diabetes and will not get lots of diabetes complication. Glucose monitors seem a lot of hassel to a new diabetic, but its benefits are awesome, blood glucose chart is the exact measuer of diabetes.

Start by checking it two hours after every meal. Another suggestion is to check the blood sugars before a meal, so you know your limit of food how much to eat and blood sugar may not spike too high. Decide your personal choice to get the normal blood sugars reading next morning.

Get rid of the extra weight

In case you are overweight get rid of the extra weight. Many times diabetes attacks when person is over weight or has lots of added fat in the body because of careless eating. Once diagnosed with this disease it becomes extremely important to take off extra fat and weight. This will automatically improve your diabetic condition of insulin resistance. A great factor to regulate your blood sugars.

Balanced diabetic meals with added fiber rich diet

One of the cause of diabetes today is under nourished bodies and overfed people with processed foods. It is time to take care and prepare meals that have low glycemic index and most nutrition. To do this prepare your meal plate in such a way that “sides” becomes the main meal. Reduce the amount of bread pasta potato rice or corn and a small portion of fish chicken or another lean protein. Make sure there is plenty of fresh fiber in the plate. Fibers boosts metabolism, controls blood sugars and makes you feel full longer. It also helps you reduce weight.

Coffee and tea helps to control blood sugars

If you are using decaffeinated coffee it is the best. But in any case coffee helps regular blood sugar levels. This has been proved with research and experiments. Decaffeinated coffee, almost four cups a day reduces the blood sugar spikes up to 36% which is an amazing improvement. Tea also plays same kind of role. So in between meal use of coffee or tea is helpful, but do not use artificial sweeter or white refined sugar. If you do need to sweeten the tea use natural sugars like Stevia sugar, that maintains regular blood sugar levels. Here is a short list of these natural sugars.

1. Raw honey (not processed)

2. Stevia drived from plant

3. Coconut sugar

4. Brown rice syrup

5. Licorice syrup

You will find these online and in health food stores. Stevia is becoming popular and is available in many stores.

Focus on being extremely active

Add more and more activity every day to the daily routine. This helps you metabolize your food in such a way that blood sugar does not stay in the blood streams for too long and reduces the impact of high blood sugars bringing it to a normal much faster. An exercise routine as daily workout adds best diabetes management. Consult a fitness trainer if you want to excel and this will help you with your heart health which becomes extremely important as a diabetic patient.

Prepare food with fresh nutritious ingredients and not processed

It makes a great difference to eat food made from fresh ingredients as it provides more nutritional value and you need that to mintain your blood sugars. If there is no time to cook find a professional place that can prepare your meals with low glycemic index. Make sure there are lots of vegetables in it along with lean protein and complex carbohydrates.

Vitamins mineral supplements

Vitamins and minerals are very important part of a balanced diet to provide nutrition to your body and this will boost metabolism that will control blood sugars to normal range. In order to get the best results take some basic vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements. Vitamin B, C, E, D and magnesium all are important and will help you maintain a better health and blood sugars. Consult your doctor for adding vitamin and mineral to your routine..

Omega 3

This is an all round health booster, improves to regular blood sugars, heart health, reduces inflammation and provides an overall improvement to health. Taking plant based or Salmon oil Omega is a great addition to improve blood sugars. Add it to your daily diabetic care (discuss it with your doctor).

Portion control and distribution of carbohydrates

portion control of food is the key to reverse diabetes. Eating more carbs during the early part of the day and least at the last meal will help you to control blood sugar. Eat the last meal of the day as early as possible may be between six and seven. This helps the best fasting blood sugar levels in the morning that counts the most to determine over all blood sugar range.

To your best health.

About Diabetes Prevention and Diabetes Cures

Fran Aslam — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:00:31 +0000

Though type 1 and type 2 diabetes is spreading more and more around the world but still there is no ultimate cure from this disease yet. However, diabetes prevention has moved to its advanced level and focused individuals with diabetes are able to prevent this disease by keeping it away from them, with all the inventions, medication, insulin, alternative supplements, natural vitamins and lifestyle changes.

Some, say they have reversed their diabetes, the usual pattern to do this is to achieve normal body weight in the form of fats, cholesterol, and triglycerides, following pre figured healthy meal planning, monitoring blood sugar few times a day and they achieve a level that has least diabetes complications away from retinopathy neuropathy , chronic kidney disease etc. This is categorized as diabetes prevention.

Diabetes cure, is deeper than prevention. Once a person is diagnosed with Diabetes, he/she is treated for it in such a way that blood sugar range changes back to normal range, without any insulin or medication is diabetes cure.

Medical expert researchers are working constantly to find a cure. From genetics to obesity all common factors found in diabetes are observed and tested to find an actual cure.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevention have made remarkable improvement, and it is becoming easier for patients to stay away from amputations and blindness with these new preventive strategies. Some of them are as follows.

1. Insulin

Fredrick Banting and Charles H Best created the first insulin in 1921 and were awarded shared noble prize in 1923. Insulin created an amazing difference in the treatment of diabetes. Since insulin is to be injected for use, it is not easy for everyone especially for children. But seeing its advantages it has become acceptable.

2. Pill formula discovered

An Australian pharmaceutical company and Curtain University’s Erik Helmerhorst worked together on three million compounds to be able to find the drug molecule that copied insulin in 2011. This research created lots of curiosity throughout the world. The pain free insulin tablet or liquid medicine is much easier treatment than insulin injections. It will take sometime for this formula to go through all the necessary steps to come out as a pill. The team lead by Professor Helmerhorst was presented an award on November 3, 2011. This is a great news for diabetics to be able to use a pill instead of insulin injection.

3. Artificial Pancreas by Medtronics (USA)

Medtronics have introduced the newest insulin pump that works very close to human pancreas function. It is called iPro2, a device that monitors blood sugar continously. It is small portable easily accessable, an insulin pump that is able to deliver insulin in small amounts to the body. This system allows medical expert to observe and study the complete picture of patients diabetes, which allows a better focus on diabetes. A patient can use it constantly for three days and then return to the doctor for a check up of data and other related concerns.

Hypoglycemia, is the biggest challenge for this device. As it is hard to know for the device to provide added insulin as needed. The cost of these kind of diabetes preventions is also high.

However, focus on diabetes supplies shows there are different diabetes pumps available, traditional pump that has pump and infusion set, another pump that has tubing attached to it and another one that has a remote control pump. A diabetic adult or a school going child’s parent can choose from these to suit the lifestyle change that suits him/her. Most of these pumps deliver the same amount of insulin at one time. Do a detailed research before taking the pump so you are satisfied while using it.

4. Alternative medicine doctors and diabetes prevention

There are several diabetes natural remedies that can be used to achieve normal blood sugar levels, for example cinnamon, fenugreek, gymnema sylvester and vandium.

Dietary products supplements like chromium picolinate, magnesium GTC, Omega 3, vitamin B12, also help to control blood sugar spikes.

5. Bariartic or Gastric by pass and Lap band surgery

Bariartic or gastric by pass surgery is performed when an obese person is facing or is going to face severe heart problems, diabetes, suffering from sleep apnea, asthma or severe arthritis and is unable to get rid of access weight because of compulsive eating disorder. The bariartic surgeon reduces the size of the stomach to a pouch and therefore patients eat less food and reduces weight for health reasons. The small pouch by passes part of the intestine.

As soon as this surgery is performed the obese and diabetic patients blood sugars comes to normal blood sugar levels. Medical experts and researchers find this to be a very helpful clue to find a cure for diabetes. It sounds like diabetes has something to do with the digestive tracts.

FDA, USA has approved this surgery and lap band surgery ( similar but differently performed surgery) for the medical insurance to cover it. There are certain rules set for the surgery to determine the obesity and dangers causing to the person who needs it. 85 % of these surgeries are successful. Previously it was said that people who are eligible for this surgery paid by their medical insurance must

weight between 204 – 233 lbs and BMI over 35 – 40

Seeing the success of this surgery FDA has relaxed these rules for this surgery a little more as follows:

Weighing 175 lbs and BMI over 30 to Weighing 233 lbs and BMI over 40 can have this surgery. There are several advantages to this surgery, though it has complications but its 85% success and getting rid of diabetes are the biggest factors for relaxing rules for this surgery. Today people are becoming familiar of this preventive measure for diabetes and prefer this surgery than a life time of insulin and diabetes complications, like heart disease, kidney failure and retinopathy and neuropathy.

Scientists researchers and medical experts all are looking into the possibilities of finding a cure, but it looks like diabetes still requires more effort more brainstorming and more researches to discover a diabetic cure. Right now we have very latest preventions that can be used to overcome this disease.Diabetes can be cured for life if it is checked in the pre diabetic condition of a person and is treated right away to control blood suar spikes. I feel this is the best strategy to control the spread of this epidemic at this point. Besides diabetes prevention has various treatment techniques for maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Complications and Impact of Diabetes for Women

Fran Aslam — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:53 +0000

Impact of diabetes is much greater on women than men. The number of diabetics according to the 2011, diabetes statistics is 25.8 Billions in USA. Where as this number was only 6 million in 1978. Every 17 seconds a person is diagnosed with diabetes.

Number of female diabetics is constantly higher than the number of male diabetics. This trend of more women with diabetes is the current situation where number of women diabetes diagnosis is more than men.

According to the US Gov. publications number of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetics in US all ages in 2007 is as follows.

A total of 23.6 million were diagnosed with diabetes that is 7.8% of the population
Diagnosed 17.9 millions
Undiagnosed 5.7 millions
Women that have diabetes is 11.5 millions or 10.7 %

2. Gestational diabetes

In this type of diabetes women are carrying all the burden. Gestational diabetes starts during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occur to women who do not have diabetes before pregnancy and is completely gone after the baby is born. The estimated number of of gestational diabetes and pregnancy is 18% percent of females in USA. Females who get gestational diabetes during pregnancy are most likely to have diabetes 2 later in life. Especially those women who have given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds will most likely have diabetes 2 in the near future.

Babies that are born when the mother has gestational diabetes will most likely develop diabetes sometimes in their life.

On June 16, 2011 “the Gestational diabetes Act of 2011” was announced by Jean Shaheen as a legislative policy to promote gestational diabetes information with multi sites online. Diabetes prevention during pregnancy and cures for diabetes was the main the objective.

At this point while I am writing this post I feel very concerned about all young women to be mothers to know this information so they may prevent gestational diabetes occurrence. Please let this be known to as many as possible as it is saving two people from diabetes which is a great reason. This is going to be an addition to the list of noble dead in your life.

3. Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in women

Diabetes complication brings changes in the physical condition for heart risk factors. High blood Cholesterol levels and elevated triglycerides bring peripheral disease that clogs the arteries of the heart and hardening of the blood vessels causes severe heart problem and somehow causes more death in women. Statistics prove that one in three women with diabetes will die because of the heart disease. This is the highest rate of mortality in women due to diabetes complication.

Marianne Legato, director of partnership for gender specific medicine, says that cardiovascular risk factors to men from diabetes are two to three times more where as, women face this risk six times higher than men. It is much harder for a women to control blood sugar levels to normal range than men. A research study proves that a heart attack with diabetes is much stronger in women than men.

4. Diabetes complication kidney function and women

When it comes to kidney issues in general men have a higher degree of complications. But when it comes to diabetes and signs of kidney problems, women get hit same as men. So as a diabetic it hits harder to women.

5. Stress and Depression with diabetes

Men usually don’t get depression due to diabetes where as women get depression twice more than men. Women are to die early because of deep depression with diabetes. A research study in 2006 proved these results.

6. Gender bias for women is also a factor

It is said that a women sitting in front of a doctor does not present health risks like heart disease and similar diabetes complications but a man does. This was proved in a 2005 study for the difference between men and women in diabetes treatment. Women tend to be treated as a diabetic patient who does not need aggressive treatment. Diabetes education is very important along with diabetes support. A support group is a big help to know and follow more more about diabetes.

So,In the end I will like to add that it is equally important for men and women to pay attention to their diabetes and try best to keep blood sugar levels closer to normal sugar range which will keep all complication to a minimum. Make better lifestyle changes like healthy meal planning and exercise workout plans for daily exercises. Communicate with your doctor and express all your concerns regarding diabetes and any new changes that may help your doctor to know physical condition. In case your doctor is not able to provide treatment to your personal satisfaction get a second opinion or change the doctor. Taking good care of your diabetes is only possible when you know all information on diabetes. Keeping a diabetes journal is also very effective.

Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms and Best Neuropathy Treatment

Fran Aslam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:13 +0000

Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms and Best Neuropathy Treatment

Neuropathy is a condition that relates to nerves disease and nerve damage pain. Diabetic Neuropathy triggers because of high blood sugar levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Neuropathy can attack any part of the body as nerves are spread all over.

Usually neuropathy grows gradually and becomes very noticeable after 10-25 years of living with diabetes depending on individual regular blood sugar levels.

Causes

Everyone with type 1 and type 2 diabetes does not suffer with this diabetes complication, but it is estimated that almost 60-70 % of the patients do get it. Main causes of diabetic neuropathy are:

Constant high blood sugar levels
Elevated triglycerides and high blood cholesterol
Over weight and obesity

Symptoms

Symptoms for diabetic neuropathy develop very slowly and the early years go by unnoticed without big changes in lifestyle. This situation can be different for everyone and some may even have a full blown neuropathy from the beginning it depends on the blood sugar levels and how a patient with type 1 and type 2 diabetes focuses on prevention and care along with the medications healthy meal planning for diabetes and exercise workout plans.

1. Nerve damage pain numbness tingling hands and feet

This occurs because of the nerve damage and it causes to stop feeling light impacts on the nerves for example if you get a light burn while taking out a dish from the oven you will not feel it and second day when you are in the shower you will see a burn on your hand. Similarly sharp objects do not feel right away when stepped upon. Hot or cold feels the same way unnoticed because of the numbness. Tingling in hands and feet is a common complain by diabetics too.

2. Damage to the heart

The heart blood vessels and nerves suffer orthostatic hypotension which makes the patient light headed and week. Dizzy symptoms and lightheadedness and trouble keeping blood pressure high enough when sitting or standing up are common problem due to diabetes complications. There is noticeable increase in the heart rate and angina symptoms and chest pain may even cause a heart attack as symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

3. Digestive problems

These problems create a real bad condition to raise blood sugar levels. Patient feels

Chronic constipation or diarrhea or nausea
Feeling full with a small amount of food
heart burn and bloating
And similar other problems related to digesting food and eating.

4. Muscular pain and muscle weakness

A general weakness that causes the slow down of activity and double vision, problem getting up from a chair and climbing stairs are some of the problems that occur as symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

5. Bladder control

This makes it hard to hold urine and in some cases even may pass urine without knowing it.

6. Sexual problems

Both men and women feel this dysfunction by not able to function as needed. Men face erectile problems and women feel dryness and trouble with vaginal orgasm.

7. Diabetes Hypoglycemia

It becomes hard for a diabetic to feel signs of low blood sugar which is very dangerous and can be resolved by checking blood sugars at home few times a day.

Categories and Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy caused by type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be categorized into two main categories

1. Autonomic neuropathy

2. Sensory Neuropathy and motor neuropathy

The types of diabetic neuropathy are

Peripheral neuropathy
Proximal neuropathy
Focal neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects toes legs feet hands and arms. This causes pain numbness and tingling.

Proximal neuropathy attacks thighs buttocks and legs.

Focal neuropathy affects eyes facial muscles ears pelvis and lower back chest abdomen thighs legs and feet.

Autonomic neuropathy affects heart and blood vessels, digestive system, urinary tract sex organs sweat glands eyes and lungs.

Treatment

Neuropathy treatment differs from person to person depending on the individual test results. There are specified medications to be prescribed, but still keeping blood sugar close to normal is the best key. This is the best prevention for diabetic neuropathy.

1. However certain drugs that treat depression can reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

2. Drugs that treat seizures are also used for this treatment.

3. For digestive problems due to symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, medicines that may move the food faster from stomach and intestines are most suitable.

4. For foot neuropathy check your feet every day and consult a medical expert or podiatrist ASAP.

It has been proven by researchers in Mosco and Sydney that symptoms of diabetic neuropathy reduce significantly with the use of Alpha Lipoic Acid – a dietary supplement. This research and its results were published in March of 2003.

Prevention

For normal blood sugar range, pay attention to your endocronologist instructions about diabetes, take the required medicines/insulin, plan your meal with the required portion size and follow an exercise workout plan.

If you are interested in dietary supplements get information about Alpha Lipoic Acid and discuss its use with your doctor.

Keeping blood sugars close to normal blood sugar range is the key as it controls all the complication related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.