Tightly controlling your blood sugar
levels soon after being diagnosed with Type
2 diabetes can lead
to lower risks of
diabetes complications—including heart
disease and death—years later.
Tight control
means getting as close to a normal (nondiabetic) blood
sugar level as you safely can.
Ideally, this means levels between 70 mg/dl (3.8 mmol/l)
and 130 mg/dl before meals (7.2 mmol/L),
and less than 180 (10mmol/L) two hours after starting a
meal, with a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level
less than 7 percent. The target number for glycated
hemoglobin will vary depending on the type of test your
doctor's laboratory uses.
In real life, you should set your goals with your
doctor. Keeping a normal level all the time is not
practical.
And it's not needed to get results.
Every bit you
lower your blood sugar level helps to prevent
complications.
Living with tight control
To get tight control, you must do the following:
Pay more
attention to your diet and exercise.
Measure
your blood sugar levels more often.
If you take insulin, change how much you use and
your injection schedule.
About NCCAM The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
is the USA's Federal
Government's lead agency
for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems,
practices,
and products that are not generally considered
part of conventional
medicine.
10
Things To Know About Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web
Dietary advice for the prevention
of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults (Review)
This is a reprint of a Cochrane review, prepared and maintained by
The Cochrane Collaboration and
published in
The Cochrane Library2009, Issue 1
A U T H O R S ’
C O N C L U S I O N S
Implications for
practice
Although only
two types of dietary advice were provided in the trials, common factors
were reduction
of energy intake and simple sugars, an
increase in fresh fruit and vegetables.........
Implications for research
Additional
research needs to be carried out into the best type of diet, and the
optimal frequency
and type of contact with dietary advisors, to
maximise participant compliance to any prescribed
dietary
treatments......
Conclusions
Although more
evidence is required, the data which are available
do suggest that
there are benefits in following an energy-controlled
diet with an
increase in consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables,
and a decrease
in simple sugars intake. However, another overriding
factor is the
frequency of support and guidance provided by
Insulin Needed For Glucose Distribution
What Are The Main Types of Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes Type 2 diabetes
Linked to Insulin Resistance
Syndrome and Obesity
Diabetes and Risk of Heart Disease
and Stroke
Guide To Diabetes Terms
On each of our expert pages, you will find a list of Top
10 Questions with helpful answers about preventing and managing
diabetes. If you do not see the answer you need, please submit a
new question. And don't forget to check back regularly for new
information.
There is now substantial evidence that type 2 diabetes can beprevented or delayed. Individuals at
high risk of developingdiabetes
(those with pre-diabetes) can be identified easily.It is not yet
known whether the successful interventions willcost-effectively reduce
the morbidity and mortality
associatedwith diabetes. Diabetes prevention policies that focus on
lifestylemodification, specifically
modest weight loss and
increasedphysical activity, are also very likely to have
additional healthbenefits.
Do People with Type 2 Always Deteriorate? Why doctors believe this
toxic myth.
The single most dangerous idea you are likely to encounter
as you begin your struggle to live a
healthy life with diabetes is the
belief
that science has proven, beyond a doubt, that no matter
what you
do, your Type 2 Diabetes will get worse.
If you are at high risk of
developing type 2 diabetes, the
best way to prevent or delay the
onset is
to make changes to your
lifestyle -
maintaining a
healthy weight, getting
physically active and following
a health balanced eating plan.
Changing your lifestyle isn't
easy, especially on your own.
Have you ever tried to change
your lifestyle,
say go for a
walk every morning,
and then
find you only keep it up for a
few weeks or months?
Research has shown type 2
diabetes can be prevented in up
to
60% of cases
by making
lifestyle changes
through a lifestyle course.
If you: • are over 50
• are at high risk of developing
type 2 diabetes (use the
diabetes risk test to find
your risk and
talk to your
doctor) • do not have type 2 diabetes joining a Life! course
will give you a much greater
chance of achieving and
maintaining
life style changes.
The
Life!
Taking
Action on Diabetes
course is not a lecture. The
staff running the course give
you individual attention and
learn
about you and your
lifestyle. Then together, you
set out an
exercise routine and
health eating plan that you can
easily maintain for a
long
healthy life.
The small group provides
support to help you stay
motivated and on track. If your
friend or
partner is not at high
risk of type 2 diabetes,
they
may still be able to attend for
extra support.
The Life! Taking Action on
Diabetes course is: • FREE for most people • in your local area • run by specially trained stuff • held with groups of no more
than 15 people • six 90 minute sessions over
six months.
Diabetes Information
Diabetes Mellitus (the longhand name for diabetes) is a chronic
metabolic disease characterized
by elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This excessive level
of blood sugar is
caused either by an insufficiency of the pancreatic hormone "insulin",
or by the body's inability to use the insulin it produces.
We determined that, of the carbohydrates present in the diet, absorbed
glucose is largely responsible
for the food-induced increase in blood sugar concentration. We also
determined that dietary protein
increases insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar . Fat does not
significantly affect blood sugar ,
but can affect insulin secretion and modify the absorption of
carbohydrates. Based on these data,
we tested the efficacy of diets with various protein:carbohydrate:fat
ratios for 5 weeks on blood
glucose control in people with untreated type 2 diabetes.
The
results were compared to those obtained in the same subjects after 5
weeks on a control diet
with a protein:carbohydrate:fat ratio of 15:55:30.
A
30:40:30 ratio diet resulted in a moderate but significant decrease in
24-hour integrated glucose area
and % total glycohemoglobin (%tGHb).
A 30:20:50 ratio diet resulted in a
38% decrease in 24-hour glucose area, a reduction in fasting glucose
to near normal and
a decrease in %tGHb from 9.8% to 7.6%. The response to a 30:30:40 ratio
diet was similar.
Findings were :
"We determined that, of the carbohydrates present in the diet, absorbed
glucose is largely responsible for the
food-induced increase in blood sugar concentration. We also
determined that dietary protein increases
insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar . Fat does not significantly
affect blood sugar , but can affect
insulin secretion and modify the absorption of carbohydrates. Based on
these data, we tested the efficacy
of diets with various protein:carbohydrate:fat ratios for 5 weeks on
blood sugar control in people with
untreated type 2 diabetes.
The
results were compared to those obtained in the same subjects after 5
weeks on a control diet with a
protein:carbohydrate:fat
ratio of
15:55:30.
A
30:40:30 ratio diet resulted in a
moderate but significant decrease in 24-hour integrated
glucose area and % total glycohemoglobin (%tGHb).
A
30:20:50 ratio diet resulted in a
38% decrease in 24-hour glucose area, a reduction in
fasting glucose to near normal and a decrease in %tGHb from 9.8% to
7.6%.
The response to a
30:30:40 ratio diet
was similar."
Excess body fat leads to health
problems such as type 2 diabetes, high
blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Health professionals use a
measurement called body mass index (BMI)
to classify an adult's weight as
healthy,
overweight, or obese. BMI describes body
weight relative to height and is
correlated with total body fat
content in most adults.
Having excess abdominal body fat is
also a health risk. Men with a waist of
more than 40 inches
around and women with a waist of 35
inches or more are at risk for health
problems.
More than 60 percent of U.S. adults
are either overweight or obese,
according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While the number of overweight people
has been slowly
climbing since the 1980s, the number of
obese adults has nearly doubled since
then.
Excess weight and physical inactivity
account for more than 300,000 premature
deaths each year in
the United States, second only to
deaths related to smoking, says the CDC.
People who are
overweight or obese are more likely to
develop heart disease, stroke, high
blood pressure,
diabetes, gallbladder disease and joint
pain caused by excess uric acid (gout).
Excess weight
can also cause interrupted
breathing during sleep (sleep apnea) and
wearing away of the
joints (osteoarthritis).
To lose weight, you must eat less and
move more. Your body needs to burn more
calories than you take in.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise improves heart function, lowers
blood pressure and blood cholesterol,
helps manage diabetes,
and helps control weight.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI) at NIH recommends that
adults get at
least 30 minutes of moderate physical
activity on most days of the week.
Talk to your doctor about what forms
of exercise are best for you.
For more information about exercise
and physical fitness, see:
Tobacco smoke increases your risk or
atherosclerosis.
Smokers have more than twice the
risk of having a heart attack as
non-smokers.
Smoking is the biggest risk factor
for sudden cardiac death.
Smokers who have a heart attack are
more likely to die than non-smokers
who have a heart attack.
In the first year that you stop smoking,
your risk of coronary heart disease
drops sharply.
In time, your risk will gradually
return to that of someone who has never
smoked.
Minimize Stress
The link between stress and coronary
heart disease is not entirely clear.
However, people
who have too much stress or who have
unhealthy
responses to stress may be at greater
risk of having coronary heart disease.
Facts about stress and coronary heart
disease:
Stress speeds up the heart rate.
People with heart disease are more
likely to have a heart attack during
times of stress.
People sometimes respond to stress
with unhealthy habits such as
smoking or eating
salty or high-fat foods.
Choosing a
healthy lifestyle can help you improve your
health and reduce your risk of heart
disease and diabetes.
Minimize Stress
The link between stress and coronary
heart disease is not entirely clear.
However, people
who have too much stress or who have
unhealthy responses to stress may be at
greater risk of having coronary heart
disease.
Facts about stress and coronary heart
disease:
Stress speeds up the heart rate.
People with heart disease are more
likely to have a heart attack during
times of stress.
People sometimes respond to stress
with unhealthy habits such as
smoking or eating
salty or high-fat foods.
Tightly controlling your blood sugar levels soon after being diagnosed
with Type 2 diabetes
can lead to lower risks of
diabetes complications—
including heart disease and death—years later.
Tightly controlling your blood sugar levels soon after being diagnosed
with Type 2 diabetes
can lead to lower risks of
diabetes complications—
including heart disease and death—years later.
Heart and
Blood Vessels
Education- NDEP Control diabetes by controlling glucose, blood pressure,
and cholesterol
Nearly 65 percent of people
with diabetes will die from a heart attack or
stroke; because of a lack
of available information,
two out of three people with diabetes are
unaware of their heightened risk.
In order for those with
diabetes to stay heart healthy, having the most
up-to-date information is crucial.
Now, there's a place where people can go for the
latest resources that can help them control
their diabetes,
as well as monitor their blood pressure and
cholesterol levels.
When those with diabetes take
steps to also ensure good cardiovascular health,
they can live long, healthy lives.
The
National Diabetes Education Program is a federally
funded program sponsored by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services' National
Institutes of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and includes over 200
partners at the federal, state, and local levels,
working together to reduce the morbidity and
mortality associated with diabetes.
Diabetics are almost all nutritionally
depleted because vitamins and minerals are lost in their urine,
because they generally have medical conditions which increase
requirements, because their
bodies burns more essential fatty acids for energy, and because
diabetics' diets are often themselves deficient. The optimum
levels of some protective vitamins cannot be achieved with food
alone.
Supplements can dramatically lessen the risk of heart disease
and stroke in diabetics,
and correction of deficiencies can, along with
exercise, lessen the severity of the condition.
Group with Fasting blood sugar of 110-124 mg/dl or 6.1-6.9
mmol/L had the same
cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome incidence as people with diabetes
in the following study:
Group with Fasting blood sugar of 110-124 mg/dl or 6.1-6.9
mmol/L had the same
cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome
incidence as people with diabetes in the following study:
Diabetic Food
The diabetic food pyramid outlines in detail what those suffering from
the disease should eat,
and what they should avoid.
You'll find lots of starches, grains and breads on the pyramid that was
first released by the USDA in 2005.
And if you're looking
for recipes, they can be found practically everywhere you look. Search
the internet, open a book, magazine or newspaper, or just turn on the
television and you'll no doubt find more tasty recipes than you could
ever hope to try. A quick trip to the public library will add even more
treats to your list.
The main thing that needs to be avoided
is sugars, and given how tempting many desserts
can be this is harder than it seems.
Those with a mild case of diabetes might be able to grab
a nibble of sugared foods on occasion,
but not too often. Those with moderate to severe cases
of diabetes should avoid them completely.
Much of the information on this site is taken from Michel
Montignac, (1999),
Eat yourself Slim, Montignac Publishing (UK) Ltd.
Information about the book, the method, and the Glycæmic Index can
be found
at the Montignac
website.
"My task is to give you an overview of treating type 2 diabetes and of
all the medications that
we have at our disposal. Life has changed a lot through the years in
terms of type 2 diabetes.
Twenty-five years ago, all we had was insulin and sulfonylureas.
Consequently, we put patients
on sulfonylureas and when they failed over time, they all ended up on
insulin. Today we have
many more medications to choose from. These medications work differently
and they target
the multiple pathophysiologic defects that we have in type 2 diabetes.
We understand that behind all of this there is the insulin-resistant
liver overproducing glucose.
We have insulin resistance in the adipocytes.
We have high free fatty acids, worsening insulin resistance, and perhaps
worsening beta-cell function.
We have insulin resistance in skeletal muscles as well.
All of these defects are coming into play, as well as declining insulin
over time because of
progressive apoptosis or
programmed cell death of beta cells."
You will need to register at Medscape to read the full article.
Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be turned around with
weight loss, a healthy diet and exercise.
If your doctor feels that is the case, then positive
lifestyle changes that help you lose the excess
weight,
and regular daily exercise may be enough. With
medication or not,
diabetes still requires a healthy diet and physical
activity for optimum health.
Medications are usually prescribed in addition to
lifestyle changes. The medications work in
different ways but their effect is to lower blood
sugar and help the body's own insulin
become more effective. If oral medications are not
enough, insulin injections may be used to
help gain control of glucose levels.
A diagnosis of diabetes can really derail your lifestyle. All of a
sudden, there are a lot of new
things to learn and many changes that have to take place. Where do you
start?
by David Kinshuck, Pat Lamb, Urmilla Griffiths (Pat & Urmila: diabetes
specialist nurses, Good Hope Hospital)
Embrace your diabetes
Learning how to control type 2
diabetes...take control
What is happening in type 2 diabetes
First, there is a shortage of insulin
Second, there is insulin resistance.
Third, there are genes
These factors combine to cause type 2
diabetes
Pattern of progression
At the beginning of type 2 diabetes a healthy diet may be
sufficient to lower the sugar
and keep the HbA1c below 7%
Later, metformin is needed.
Later still, add Exanatide if overweight or other drug.
Later still insulin may be required
Testing you sugar/glucose level
See
testing.
If you 'embrace' your diabetes, you will gradually learn to control it
and achieve an
HbA1c of 7% or below.
But to
do this, you need to check to see your
fasting
blood sugar levels are
72-126 mg/dl (4 - 7 mmol/l) (when you
wake up)
test your
blood sugar levels before meals between
72-126 mg/dl (4 - 7 mmol/l)
remember, you still need tablets if you are ill; if you
are being sick or cannot swallow the tablets,
|let your
doctor
or nurse know.
occasionally test after meals (preferred levels less
than 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l)
To achieve very good control (HbA1c 6.5-7.0%) you need a
fasting pre-breakfast glucose
less than 99 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/l), pre-meal levels at other
times less than 108 mg/dl (6.0 mmol/l) and
after-meal levels
(2 hours after a meal) less than 141 mg/dl (8.0 mmol/l).
These levels cannot be achieved in all patients..but if
you are well and are prepared to stick to a healthy
diet and
exercise your medication should be adjusted to achieve these
levels, even if that
means starting insulin.
Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to
meet their body's needs
or their cells don't respond properly to insulin.
Type 2
diabetes is mainly caused by insulin resistance.
Symptoms
Treatment
Frequent measurement of blood sugar levels is the best way to know
whether blood
glucose levels are in the target range.
This is easily done at home with a blood sugar monitor.
All About Stroke
If you have diabetes, you're much more likely to
have a stroke, heart disease, or a heart attack. But
you can cut your chances of having these problems by
taking special care of your heart and blood vessels.
Make Wise Food Choices
Learn how food choices help keep your heart and
blood vessels healthy.
Choose Fats Wisely
Diabetes increases your chances of having a heart
attack or a stroke. Learn how making the right
choices can help reduce the risk of having a heart
attack or stroke.
Cook with Heart Healthy Foods
You can protect your heart and blood vessels by
eating less saturated fat and by choosing the types
of fats that help your cholesterol levels.
Did you know that 2 out of 3 people with diabetes die from heart disease
and stroke?
For Health Professionals In this section, you'll find a lot of information, including the
2006 Clinical Practice Recommendations
related to diabetes, heart disease and stroke; the Link Library; and
Diabetes & Cardiovascular
Disease Review, the American Diabetes Association/American College
of Cardiology newsletter
featuring information on treatment guidelines, research advances, and
patient education tools.
In addition, check out the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Toolkit
(available in both English
& Spanish), which contains reproducible patient education handouts to
use in your practice.
Because this is a gene, the heart attack risk associated with it runs in
families, so if you have a family
history of heart attack, this is all the more reason to work as hard as
possible to
lower your blood sugar to the safe zone using safe techniques:
a lower carbohydrate diet and the diabetes drug that has been proven
to be cardioprotective:
Metformin.
The Honest Food Guide (HFG) is now available for
downloading free of charge and is:
Free from the corruption and influence of various food industries
(dairy, beef, junk foods, etc.)
Designed to benefit you, not Big Business
Offers genuine nutritional information, not watered-down information
designed to boost the
sale of milk, beef and grains
The HFG was created by
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, a man with a mission
of teaching people how to be healthy.
Adams is a holistic nutritionist who overcame obesity,
crippling pain and chronic disease using natural health
strategies he freely shares with others.
To learn more about the Health Ranger and his
articles, reports and books (many are freely available),
click here.
The HFG was created by
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, a man with a mission
of teaching people how to be healthy.
Adams is a holistic nutritionist who overcame obesity,
crippling pain and chronic disease using natural health
strategies he freely shares with others.
To learn more about the Health Ranger and his
articles, reports and books (many are freely available),
click here.
It's proven: Diabetes can be reversed. According to a
groundbreaking new study completed by
researchers at UCLA and other California universities, changes in diet
and moderate exercise actually
reverse diabetes in at least 50% of patients
in only three weeks!
In only three weeks time, the amount of cholesterol and free radicals in
the
test subjects' blood was lower and their nitric oxide levels were
higher, which are all factors in
stopping diabetes before it takes its toll on limbs and life.
When there's too much insulin, blood sugar levels begin to fall
(hypoglycemia), triggering a feeling of
hunger and the constant need to eat, which also causes weight
gain and fat storage.
The whole idea in treating diabetes is to bring blood sugar levels back
to normal quickly.
This must be done immediately after eating and then gradually continue
for several hours,
as food is being digested. In non-diabetic individuals, this process
occurs very
smoothly because the body constantly adjusts its secretion of insulin
depending on the levels of blood sugar.
Sugar in the form of fruit contains fiber that delays absorption and
thus moderates the rise in blood sugar
values when fruit is consumed.
Refined white sugar, sucrose, and dextrose lack fiber and nutrients.
When consumed in food or drinks
the refined sugar rapidly goes into the blood stream and produces a
sharp rise in blood sugar values.
The pancreas secretes large amounts of insulin to promptly return high
blood sugar values to normal.
When consumed in food or drinks the refined sugar rapidly goes into the
blood stream and produces a
sharp rise in blood sugar values.
The pancreas secretes large amounts of insulin to promptly return high
blood sugar values to normal.
Sharp rises in insulin output may cause overshooting the desired
blood sugar and it is common for these
individuals to have blood sugar values plummet to low levels with
symptoms of low blood sugar
(weakness, sweating, cloudy thinking, lack of energy, hunger,
shakiness).
With the passage of time this massive output of insulin provoked by huge
sugar intakes takes a toll
on the pancreas and reaches the point where the pancreas is unable to
produce any greater quantities of insulin.
When this occurs sugar no longer enters the cells in adequate amounts to
prevent rising blood
sugar values. The diagnosis of diabetes can be made with now elevated
blood sugar values but the
problem obviously began many years earlier with the first signs of
insulin excess.
What Causes Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes?
Why Does Arteriosclerosis Plague Diabetic Patients?
Why Do Diabetics Become Obese?
What Role Does U.S. Soil Play In The Diabetic Problem?
Diabetics are at increased risk for mineral deficiencies
Why Do Diabetics Become Obese?
When the pre-diabetic person is experiencing chronic high insulin values
with too many carbohydrate
calories, this insulin is converting some of the excess glucose into the
fat triglyceride,
which gets stored in fat cells which end up distended in an obese
patient.
Conceptually, identifying the metabolic
syndrome (or insulin resistance) identifies risk for
cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes.
This article explains how, historically,
insulin resistance brought together facets of the
metabolic
syndrome and the pathogenesis of diabetes and atheroma
(thicklening of arteries in CVD)
but has since been clinically “overtaken” by central
obesity, now accepted as the core component
of the metabolic syndrome.
The metabolic syndrome encompasses a wide
range of metabolic disturbances in glucose,
insulin and lipid metabolism, and is associated with
central abdominal obesity.
Knowing which fats
raise LDL cholesterol and which ones don't is the first step in
lowering your risk of heart disease. In addition to the LDL
produced naturally by your body, saturated fat,
trans-fatty acids and dietary cholesterol can also raise
blood cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats
appear to not raise LDL cholesterol; some studies suggest they
might even help lower LDL cholesterol slightly when eaten as
part of a low-saturated and
trans-fat diet.
The American Heart Association's Nutrition
Committee strongly advises these fat guidelines for healthy
Americans over age 2: read more ......
For example, a sedentary female who is 31–50 years old needs
about 2,000 calories each day. Therefore, she should consume
less than 16 g saturated fat, less than 2 g
trans
fat and between 50 and 70 grams of total fat each day (with most
fats coming from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated
fats, such as fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils).
Although low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol remains the lipid
value commonly used to assess
cardiovascular risk, apolipoprotein (apo) B may better reflect lipid
risk. Six categories of evidence
support this conclusion: small, dense LDL particles, as measured by apo
B, are more commonly
present in persons with coronary artery disease (CAD) than an increased
LDL cholesterol level;
increased very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion by the liver
results in increased small,
dense LDL particles; small, dense LDL particles are more atherogenic
than normal LDL particles;
apo B more accurately identifies CAD risk than do LDL cholesterol
levels; apo B assays do not
require fasting and have been well standardized for use in routine
laboratories; and the
level of apo B continues to predict CAD risk during statin treatment.
The ADA
currently recommends keeping blood sugar levels before meals between
90 mg/dl (5
mmol/L)
and 130 mg/dl
(7 mmol/L) and keeping blood sugar levels one to two hours
after meals
below 180 mg/dl
(10 mmol/L) for most people.
Remember:
Conversion
: Canadian/Australian vs Indian units
1mmol/L =18 mg/dlCLICK
HERE:
Conversion from mmol/L (Canadian/Australian Units) to mg/dl (Indian Units)
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has
identified an increased risk of ulcers and
amputations in the following groups of
people with diabetes:
Those who have had diabetes for ten
years or longer
Men
People whose blood sugar control is
less than optimal
People who already have other diabetes
complications, such as cardiovascular
(heart) disease,
retinopathy (eye disease), or
nephropathy (kidney disease)
People with a history of smoking,
because smoking is associated with early
development of
vascular (blood vessel) complications in
diabetes.
Taking Steps Toward Healthy Feet
Here are some of the most important steps you can take now to prevent
diabetes-related foot complications:
Controlling blood fats.
Controlling blood pressure.
Smoking cessation.
Daily
foot inspection.
Foot care habits.
Evaluating footwear.
Read More..........
Remember:
Conversion
: Canadian/Australian vs Indian units 1mmol/L
=18 mg/dlCLICK
HERE:
Conversion from mmol/L (Canadian/Australian Units) to mg/dl (Indian Units)
There are many ways to reduce risks to feet
problems
Read More..........
One way is to ......
Control blood fats. High blood levels of
low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
cholesterol
(the so-called bad cholesterol) and the fats
called
triglycerides can contribute to
atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) and heart
disease. Atherosclerosis is also a
contributor to the development of peripheral
arterial disease, which itself increases
risk for
foot complications by interfering with the
healing of wounds. Peripheral arterial
disease can
be symptomless or it can manifest itself in
a number of ways
including coolness of the fingers or toes,
loss of hair on the hands or feet, or
intermittent claudication
(pain in the legs or buttocks that starts
with activity and subsides with rest).
People with diabetes tend to have LDL
levels similar to those of people who don’t
have diabetes,
but diabetes often causes decreased levels
of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol
(the so-called good cholesterol) and
increased levels of triglycerides.
Depending on your levels and symptoms, your
health-care team may recommend
dietary changes, including lowering
your intake of saturated and
trans fats, exercise, and medicines.
Read
More..........
Other ways to reduce risk
Read More..........
LDL Small sized particles (Apo B)
Dr
Agatston, a cardiologist, and author of the "The South Beach Diet"
says in his book that
"it is the small dense LDL that does the more damage, i.e.
apolipoproteins.
Treating dyslipidemia
Drugs for lowering LDL cholesterol
Lowering triglycerides
The role of diabetes drugs
Combination therapy
Following some trials ....."these results led the researchers to
conclude their report with a declaration
that "statin therapy should now be considered routinely for all
diabetic patients at sufficiently
high risk of major vascular events, irrespective of their initial
cholesterol concentrations."
"You can ‘convert’ a person with metabolic syndrome to what is
essentially a nondiabetic state
with diet modification and exercise,"
Dr. Keilson says. "In true diabetes, though, the risk of heart disease
is profound, and many
physicians will go directly to pharmaceutical
therapy to give their patients maximum protection."
Although people with diabetes tend to have
levels of LDL cholesterol that are the same
(or only slightly elevated) as people
who don’t have diabetes, their LDL particles
are of a different
and more dangerous kind.
The LDL particles
in people with diabetes are different
because they contain more triglycerides.
"When you increase the concentration
of triglycerides in LDL cholesterol, its
structure changes and it becomes a smaller,
denser particle,"
says Leonard M. Keilson, M.D., M.P.H., a
lipids specialist
"These dense LDL particles are particularly dangerous, because they can
more easily cross the
endothelium—the lining of the arteries—and enter the wall of the
vessels." Fatty deposits in
arterial walls lead to atherosclerosis."
The primary focus of dyslipidemia treatment
in all people, with diabetes or not, is LDL
cholesterol.
Overwhelming evidence from clinical trials,
experimental animals, laboratory research,
and epidemiology points to LDL cholesterol
as the form of cholesterol most
likely to cause atherosclerosis.
Current
standards call for lowering levels of LDL
cholesterol below 100 mg/dl for people
with known atherosclerosis. Diabetes is
now considered a "coronary heart disease
risk equivalent,"
so people with diabetes are managed as if
they already have atherosclerosis.
Phase 1, the shortest Phase, lasts for just two weeks and is designed to
eliminate cravings for sugar
and refined starches - and to jump-start your weight loss. The purpose
of Phase 1 is to stabilize blood sugar
(which minimizes cravings), making it ideal for people who are
prediabetic or diabetic, as well as for those
who need to lose a lot of weight.
The focus of this two-week period is on eating plenty of
nutrient-dense, fiber-rich (and guaranteed delicious!)
foods that satisfy your appetite. Your meals include lean protein,
such as fish and other seafood; skinless
white-meat poultry, and lean cuts of beef (vegetarians can enjoy
meat substitutes, tofu, and beans);
high-fiber veggies; reduced-fat cheeses; eggs; low-fat dairy; and
healthy, unsaturated fats,
such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds, and extra-virgin
olive and canola oils.
During Phase 1, you'll fill up on
dishes like Chicken Breasts Stuffed
With Spinach and Goat Cheese, Seared
Pecan Salmon With Lentils, Garlic
and Soy Grilled Pork Chops, and
more.
The South Beach Diet encourages
snacking, so you'll also get to
choose two tasty snacks each day,
like Spicy Nut Mix, reduced-fat
cheese, and veggies with our zesty
Peanut Dip. Plus, you'll dine on
delicious
desserts (every day!), including
Chilled Espresso Custard, Heavenly
Lemon Mousse, and our famed Ricotta
Crème.
With all the options - from gourmet
meals to on-the-go snacks to quick
weeknight dinners -
you won't feel hungry or deprived!
Phase 2 is the long-term weight-loss Phase of the plan. It's also the
perfect place to start for those people
who have 10 pounds or less to lose, who don't have problems with
cravings, who don't have excess belly fat,
or who simply want to improve their health.
In Phase 2, you'll eat everything in Phase 1 plus good carbs, such
as whole-grain bread, brown rice,
whole-wheat pasta, fruits, and even more veggies, like sweet
potatoes, pumpkin, and peas.
Of course, you'll continue to enjoy snacks and dessert too,
including dark chocolate!
In fact, you'll eat delicious
meals, like Coconut Chicken, Shrimp
Scampi, Pesto Pasta Salad, and Pork
and
Black Bean Quesadillas.
Side dishes include Nutty Brown Rice
and Baked Sweet Potato Fries. And
don't forget snacks: Smoked Salmon
Canapés With Horseradish Cream,
Peppery Cheese Popcorn, and black
bean dip with baked whole-grain
tortilla chips are a few of the many
snacks you'll choose from.
Then, cap off your dinner with a
decadent dessert, like Green Tea
Truffles, Chocolate Berry Cups, or
Dark Chocolate Bark With Walnuts.
Best of all, you'll eat all these
delicious foods and still lose
weight and
get healthier.
By now, you've adopted the South Beach Diet lifestyle, making smart food
choices that fit the way you live.
That's what Phase 3 is all about, and it begins once you reach your
healthy weight. In Phase 3, you'll
continue to follow the principles you learned in Phases 1 and 2, but
because it's the lifelong stage of the
plan, it includes almost every kind of food and it allows for additional
occasional indulgences.
It is the key to maintaining a healthy weight for life.
On Phase 3, you can dine on meals like Dutch Apple Pancakes (a
terrific weekend brunch), Chicken
Pot Pie, Asian Chicken Salad With Wonton Crisps, and Pepper-Spiked
Beef Stew. Phase 3-friendly
sides include Farmers' Market Pasta Salad, Apple-Butternut Squash
Soup, and corn on the cob.
As for snacks, you can choose from fare like Triple Berry Cooler,
Pecan-Stuffed Dates, and tropical fruit salad. And you'll indulge in
desserts like Chocolate Pie With
Crispy Peanut Butter Crust and Chocolate Fondue. Imagine eating this
way for the rest of your life!
Tip: You can also search for the books on Amazon.com
By
Dr Michael Hutch PhD
