When interpreting your results, take your premeal readings into account
since you are interested in
not just your after-meal
reading but also in
how much your blood sugar level increased
because of your food intake
It used to be said that having diabetes aged people an additional 20
years. Today, thanks to
better tools for managing diabetes and
preventing and treating its complications, people with
diabetes have the
opportunity to live longer than ever before.
Healing Matters.com :
http://www.healingmatters.com/ Thomas Smith is a reluctant medical investigator, having been forced
into curing his own
diabetes because it was obvious that his doctor would not, or could not cure it.
Blood Sugar Control - Mechanisms - How it Works--And How It Stops
Working To understand what happens as your blood sugar deteriorates from normal
to pre-diabetes,
and finally, to full-fledged
diabetes you need to first
understand how blood sugar control
works in a normal body. Let's look at
that now.
Blood Sugar
Blood Sugar Control- Normal Person The key to understanding blood sugar control is to understand the role
played by special
cells called Beta-Cells. These tiny
cells are
scattered through an organ called the
pancreas
which is
located just under your stomach. The job of the beta cell
is to produce
insulin, store it, and release it into the blood stream at appropriate
times.
What should a person do to decrease
there chances of developing type 2
diabetes? Click here
Landry.com
by Greg
Landry, M.S
A:
Maintain a reasonable weight, lose weight if you are overweight, and get
moving -
have regular physical activity, and make
healthy food choices
(which helps with
weight loss and maintenance).
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
increased physical 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.
Every week GlucoMenu®
displays new menus, recipes, grocery lists, and nutrition facts.
Choose from multiple calorie levels:
1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2400. Menus are easy to follow and include
breakfast, lunch, dinner,
and snacks.
Diabetes Supplements & Diabetic
Vitamins /
Herbal Supplements for Diabetics
Buy
Supplements and products for diabetes, a disease of the
pancreas related to the release of
insulin into the
blood stream.
Products
Example of a herbal product. Contains various herbs, vitamins
and minerals
Gymnema Sylvestre Powder has been suggested in studies
to have a promising ability to promote
healthy circulating insulin balance and serum lipid and triglyceride balance.
Magnesium has a broad positive effect on overall health
and insulin sensitivity.
Licorice Bark Extract
has been suggested in studies to be effective against unhealthy blood
sugar.
Zinc
deficiencies can result in hair loss, diarrhea and skin lesions and
could adversely affect eyesight,
taste, smell, and memory function.
Chromium has
been shown in studies to improve glucose and lipid effects.
Cinnamon Bark Powder
has been shown in studies to promote healthy blood sugar balance.
Banaba Leaf Extract
has been shown in pre-clinical studies to support healthy cholesterol
balance and
support the rate of glucose uptake.
These studies further
suggested banaba contains insulin-like actions.
Vitamin C
plays an important role in glucose metabolism and oxidative stress on
the body systems.
Vitamin E
promotes healthy insulin action, metabolic control, and endothelial
function.
Bitter Melon Fruit
Extract has been shown in preliminary studies to contain
insulin-like properties.
Guggul Extract
has been used for thousands of years to address illness, cholesterol and
obesity.
It contains antioxidant, anti-swelling and hypolipidemic
properties.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
fights against oxidative damage to the lungs and vascular system. It can
also support
healthy peripheral insulin sensitivity, insulin function,
and healthy blood sugar balance
Herbs
Example of a herbal product. Contains various herbs, vitamins
and minerals
Gymnema Sylvestre Powder has been suggested in studies
to have a promising ability to promote
healthy circulating insulin balance and serum lipid and triglyceride balance.
Magnesium has a broad positive effect on overall health
and insulin sensitivity.
Licorice Bark Extract
has been suggested in studies to be effective against unhealthy blood
sugar.
Zinc
deficiencies can result in hair loss, diarrhea and skin lesions and
could adversely affect eyesight,
taste, smell, and memory function.
Chromium has
been shown in studies to improve glucose and lipid effects.
Cinnamon Bark Powder
has been shown in studies to promote healthy blood sugar balance.
Banaba Leaf Extract
has been shown in pre-clinical studies to support healthy cholesterol
balance and
support the rate of glucose uptake.
These studies further
suggested banaba contains insulin-like actions.
Vitamin C
plays an important role in glucose metabolism and oxidative stress on
the body systems.
Vitamin E
promotes healthy insulin action, metabolic control, and endothelial
function.
Bitter Melon Fruit
Extract has been shown in preliminary studies to contain
insulin-like properties.
Guggul Extract
has been used for thousands of years to address illness, cholesterol and
obesity.
It contains antioxidant, anti-swelling and hypolipidemic
properties.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
fights against oxidative damage to the lungs and vascular system. It can
also support
healthy peripheral insulin sensitivity, insulin function,
and healthy blood sugar balance
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.
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."
Diet
Choosing a
healthy lifestyle can help you improve your
health and reduce your risk of heart disease
and
diabetes.
Healthy lifestyles include eating a healthy
diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising
regularly,
quitting smoking (or not starting),
and minimizing stress. (Note: Specific guidance
for maintaining
a healthy lifestyle may change over time as new scientific recommendations
become available.) Learn more about each of the
factors that affect your lifestyle.
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 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:
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.
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.
To learn more about the
diabetic food pyramid visit
http://www.diabetes-diabetic-diet-plans.com
,
a popular website devoted to
help
people with diabetes live a healthier
life. The website provides
tips on
diabetic food, cooking and diet
plans, as well as
information several
complications
associated with the
disease.
Foods
high in water and fiber, like fruits and
vegetables , are the so-called high-volume
foods.
They add bulk to your meals and help
fill
your stomach.
High-Water,
High-Fiber Foods Help Curb Hunger. Lean Protein
Can Reduce Hunger
The Glycemic Index On-line,
the University of Sydney's GI Website, is a comprehensive and
authoritative guide to the glycemic index.
Dr. Jennie
Brand-Miller, who authorized me to summarize her work in 1995 or
1996,
finally has a Web presence in November 2000.
And what a
presence it is! Her site is now the key Internet resource on
this subject.
The URL is http://www.glycemicindex.com
Here's another excellent glycemic index resource for
athletes. Cycling Performance Tips:
Glycemic Index shows how
athletes can make
use of the glycemic index. The URL is http://www.cptips.com/gi.htm
How does your glucose level compare
with your HbA1c
HbA1c %
Average
blood sugar level
mg/dl
Average
blood sugar level mmol/l
13
324 mg/dl
18
mmol/l
12
306 mg/dl
17
mmol/l
11
270 mg/dl
15
mmol/l
10
234 mg/dl
13
mmol/l
9
216 mg/dl
12
mmol/l
8
180 mg/dl
10
mmol/l
7
141 mg/dl
8
mmol/l
6
125 mg/dl
7
mmol/l
5
90 mg/dl
5
mmol/l
HbA1c levels by coincidence nearly equate to glucose levels. So
an HbA1c level of 10%
means the average glucose level for the
previous
10 weeks was 234 mg/dl (13 mmol/l).
But at lower levels there is even less difference, so an HbA1c
of 7% means the average glucose
level was 141 mg/dl (8 mmol/l ).
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?
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.
Taking Aspirin to Protect Your Heart Studies have shown that taking a low-dose
aspirin every day significantly lowers the risk of
heart attacks.
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.
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.
To understand what happens as your blood sugar deteriorates from normal
to pre-diabetes, and finally,
to full-fledged diabetes
you need to first
understand how blood sugar control works in a normal body.
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.
Carbs make us hungry. When
we're hungry, we eat more. The more we eat the more we want,
so we gain
weight. It's the classic
vicious circle of addiction.
Exercise
Exercise works like a charm to lower glucose levels. The best time of
the day to exercise is
after a meal. This doesn't mean that you put your
fork down and run out the door,
but maybe within the following two
hours. Even a brief 10-minute walk can make a difference
in postprandial
(after meals) glucose levels.
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).
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
How Can
Type 2 Diabetics Recover From Their Illness?
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.
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.
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
(5mmol/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.
The Lifescripts initiative provides
general practice with tools and skills to help patients
address
the main lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease:
smoking; poor nutrition; alcohol misuse;
physical
inactivity; and unhealthy weight. The initiative
assists
with the provision of
tailored advice to patients on
modifying their lifestyle.
Lifescripts is a national initiative, being implemented
through local divisions of general practice,
promoting risk
factor
management in general practice and primary health
care services.
The Lifescripts Resources aim to make it easier for GPs and
their practices to manage
lifestyle-related risk factors by providing a framework for:
raising and discussing lifestyle risk factors with
patients;
advice in the form of a written script and
associated patient education; and
referral to other providers to support healthy
lifestyle.
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.
The first drug of choice to lower LDL cholesterol levels is usually a
"statin." Statins also have the
bonus effect of lowering
triglycerides as much as 35% and raising HDL levels 10%.
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
