Diabetic people require having balanced and healthy diet to stay away from any other disease that diabetes may cause.  They need to follow very strict and guided food regime to keep their energy need and sugar level in perfect balance. You need to very careful for diet for an example drinking milk is dangerous for diabetic people. However, some milk products if taken in adequate quantity can be beneficial for your health.

All you have to do is follow your diet chart regularly. Take four meals in equal intervals, according to your diabetic diet menu. Experts recommend fiber rich diet with low fat for diabetic people. It is very difficult to decide what to eat or not to eat.

Almost all food and its several combinations have its advantages and disadvantages, however, the quality, quantity of the food and timing of the meal plays very important role make diet healthy for the diabetic people. Here are the lists of the foods that will surely help you in deciding your diet plan:

List of food for Diabetic:

People suffering from diabetes should avoid sugar, salt and all sources of fat, but at the same time, they require to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables to fulfill the need of vitamins, minerals and starch in their body. A perfect nutritionally balanced meal must consist of 50-60 % of carbohydrates and 12-20% proteins and 30% of fats.

Complex High Fiber Carbohydrates: Fiber rich diet is beneficial as well as work as protective for diabetic people because fiber slows down the metabolic rate and absorption of carbohydrates. They increase the sensitivity of tissues to insulin and hence control the sugar levels rise in blood. Intake of refined products like as oats, legumes, cereals, wholegrain products, dried beans, peas etc are strictly prohibit for diabetic people.

Starch Rich Foods: White bread is not good for diabetes. You can add more starch in diet by using pasta cereals, grains and vegetables.

Vegetables: Vegetables like spinach; broccoli, cabbage, green beans, tomatoes, etc. are great sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Fruits: Fruits are rich source of fiber, minerals, and vitamins along with carbohydrates. According to the calorie count, two to four servings of fruits like apples, mango, oranges, raisins, and grape per day can considered.

Meat: Meat is beneficial for health, but the diabetic need to take it in control. Meat like red meat, tofu, eggs, poultry, fish, etc can also be included in the diet plan. However, avoid fat as much as possible.

Fats and Oil: One major problem that a diabetic people face is how to cook food using less oil. The answer is use oil such as avocado oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, pure olive oil etc. because these oil are less fatty compared to other oils.

This list of foods for diabetics will ease your doubts and it will allow you to select the best diabetic foods. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is necessary to control your diet and follow strict food regime.

Diabetes is a serious disease. The seriousness of the disease can be gauzed from the fact that it affects almost all body part. However, there is no to be hopeless, by following your doctor’s advice and strictly following his treatment you can easily live healthy life. Your careful diabetes care can reduce the risk of complications in life.

Making commitment to manage your diabetes

Doctors, nurse, dietician and educators are the member of your diabetes care team. They help you in learning the basic need of diabetes care and offer all possible support to make you healthy. But it’s only up to you to take charge and manage your life with complete self control.

Healthy eating and physical activity should be part of your daily routine. You need to maintain your proportionate weight. Observe your blood sugar level and carefully follow the doctor’s instructions to maintain your blood sugar level within the range.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is dangerous for health and this becomes fatal in case you are diabetic. This increases different diabetes complications including cardio-vascular disease, heart attack, kidney disease and nerve damage. If you are addicted to smoking then immediately consult your doctor so he could help you out.  According to American diabetes association in case of smokers who have diabetes, the possibility of death because of cardio-vascular disease is three times more as compared to non-smokers. So get rid of smoking as soon as possible, it is no one but your choice to live healthy.

Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control

High blood pressure and high cholesterol is a major concern in diabetes. It increases the issue of heart attack, stroke and other cardiac complications. Healthy food habit and regular exercise can control high blood pressure and cholesterol. However, in case of persistent complaint you better consult your physician.

Keep your vaccines up to date

Vaccines are more important than any other thing because high blood sugar creates the risk of weakening your immune system. Vaccination is best possible alternative to keep seasonal complication s at bay. So ask your doctor about vaccination like as:

Flu Vaccine: flu vaccine can help you live healthy during flu season and prevent severe complications from the flu.

Pneumonia: The Pneumonia vaccine is required only once. In case you have diabetes complications and your age is more than 65 year, than you may require five yeassr booster doses.

Take care of your teeth.

Diabetes may infect your gum. So brush your teeth twice a day and go for regular dental exam. If you are diabetic and facing any gums problem like bleeding, swelling than consult your doctor as soon as possible.

If you drink alcohol, do so carefully

Alcohol is the safeguard of low blood sugar but it depends on how much you drink. If you want to drink than do so in control and with proper meal only.

Schedule your physical and regular eye exams

Our body is a biological machine so it requires timely servicing. Regular checkups of body have several benefits. Because during your physical check up doctor will look for various diabetic problems such as sign of kidney damage, heart disease and nerve damage and as well as they monitor other medical complications.

One most important part of your routine checkup is eye exam. The eye specialist will examine for retinal damage, glaucoma and cataracts.  In case of any complications, he will start treatment at the early stage to keep your eye healthy.

Stress control

If you are feeling stressed, it is easy to neglect your usual diabetes care routine. The hormones your body may produce in response to prolonged stress may prevent insulin from working properly, which only makes matters worse. To take control, set limits. Prioritize your tasks. Learn relaxation techniques. Get plenty of sleep.

Above all, stay positive. Diabetes care is within your control. If you are willing to do your part, diabetes will not stand in the way of an active, healthy life.

Diabetes treatment

The major purpose of diabetes treatment is to reduce any elevation of blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. While treating the type 1 diabetes doctor focuses on insulin, physical exercise and perfect balanced diet.  In case of type 2 diabetes, the doctor focuses on weight reduction, diabetic diet and exercise.  If doctor find these treatment method ineffective in controlling the high blood sugar level then he applies the Oral medications. In case oral medication does not so any sign of blood sugar level control then doctors consider insulin treatment.

Treatment of any disease begins from your home. Therefore, it is the better to make exercise a routine in your lifestyle, eat nutritionally balanced and timely diet. These factors help you in controlling your blood sugar level and reduce the complications of diabetes.

Here is the list of some do’s and don’ts that will help in diabetes treatment:

Diet: A balance and healthy diet is the main key to control blood sugar and prevent other complications. If diabetic person is obese and facing problem in reducing weight then you can talk to your healthcare expert. They will provide you the details of weight modification program and recommend diet to solve problems. You need to have balanced diet, which is high in fiber and low in saturated fat.

Exercise: Regular exercise helps in reducing the risk of developing diabetes and reduces the complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and leg ulcers. 20 minutes of brisk walk thrice in a week definitely helps a lot. You can consult your doctor regarding beneficial exercises or health program. The physiotherapist will guide you regarding the perfect exercise and cardio vascular balance.

One time tested way to control blood sugar level is the yoga. It teaches you how to control your body perfectly, which definitely helps in controlling the diabetes.

Alcohol use: Excessive use of alcohol increases the risk factor of type 2 diabetes. So try to get rid of alcohol as fast as possible. The consumption of alcohol may cause the risk of high or low blood sugar levels, nerve pain etc.

Smoking: Any form of tobacco use increases the risk of the complications of diabetes, because tobacco damages blood vessels resulting in increased heart complications including stroke and poor circulation of blood in the limbs. In case you find it difficult to leave smoking then consult your physician.

Self-monitored blood glucose: Regular checkups can help you in measuring blood sugar levels at home. You need to check at least before meals and at bedtime. Now better equipments are available in the market that makes your blood testing less painful and less complicated than before.  These testing equipments are easy to handle and gives instant result. In case of any major fluctuation in blood sugar level, you can consult your doctor immediately.

Diabetes Complications

Onset of diabetes brings certain changes in our body due of high blood sugar level, which in consequence hampers hormones balance, nerves control and blood vessels. When symptoms get intensified in the body with passing time it becomes severe diabetes complications. The blood sugar imbalance affects all organs of body. Diabetes can cause severe complications in heart, kidney, nerve, eye, legs and feet’s etc. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose and start treatment early because any delay will further complicate the thing and recovery will be more painful.

Diabetes complications are difficult to understand, here is the comprehensive information on diabetic complication:

Heart Disease: Heart disease is the most common disease linked to diabetes. Cardiac experts are of the view that diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. Deposit of cholesterol and fats increases the risk of fatal heart attack. Blood sugar level, hypertension and diet are correlated in such a way that it directly affects the heart in one form or the other. The timely treatment of diabetes can reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Kidney Disease: Diabetic people are more prone to developing kidney diseases then the normal people. In most cases chances there is less chance of developing kidney disease because of diabetes, but any blood sugar imbalance can seriously jeopardize the treatment of kidney. But proper diabetes treatment can reduce the further risk. High blood pressure can also add to the risk of kidney disease.  Regular checkups of blood pressure and treatment of the illness can help you to prevent kidney disease.

Diabetes can affect the nerves that control the urinary bladder, make it very difficult for a person to urinate. The symptoms of urinary tract infection include regular painful urination, blood in urine and pain in back and lower abdomen. This kind of urinary tract infection caused by diabetes needs immediate attention because negligence can damage kidneys beyond recovery.

Eye Problems: Diabetes can affect your eyes in several ways. Glaucoma and cataract is one of the most popular manifestations of affect diabetic on eye. Cataract is a blurring of the normally clear lens of the eyes. Hardening and opaqueness of eye lenses in old age is caused by the blood sugar imbalance. Glaucoma is a state in which pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve that transmits visual image to the brain. The right treatment and diagnosis can reduce the risk of severity of these diseases.

Diabetic Retinopathy: Diabetic Retinopathy is a disease of the retina. They damage the tiny vessels that supply blood to retina. In Retinopathy, blood vessels swell and leak fluid. In case of severe Retinopathy, new blood vessels grow from the back of the eye and bleed into the clear gel, which fills the eye. Early treatment of diabetic Retinopathy can prevent the loss of vision.

Leg and Foot: Leg and foot problems can occur in diabetic people due to changes in blood vessels and nerves. Diabetes may dull the sensitivity of nerves. With this kind of less sensitive nerves even, a slight injury can cause serious damage to leg and foot, as it takes longer than usual to heal.

Pick any disease, from hair to heart; experts will point out towards your blood sugar imbalance. Although sometimes you will not find any direct correlation but slight precaution can definitely save you from the larger risk associated with the diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes

One of the major causes of diabetes is heredity. If both parents have diabetes of type 2 then chances are high that their children will suffer from diabetes. The cause of diabetes depends on the type of disease, as the cause type 1 diabetes is different from the causes of type 2 diabetes.

Apart from genetic cause of type 1 diabetes sometimes environmental reason also plays a vital role like as viral infections. In type 1 diabetes, you face some hormonal problems as Hashimoto’s, Hypothyroidism, and Addison’s disease.

Type 2 diabetes is popularly known as adult onset diabetes which is caused by various factors. Although genetic factor is one of the prime reason for type 2 diabetes but environmental factor may cause more type 2 diabetes. High fat diet and lack of exercise are one of the most important factors. Problem in endocrine system can also affect the ability of pancreas to generate insulin together with hyperthyroidism and polycystic ovary disease.

Some of the causes of diabetes are as follows:

Hereditary or Inherited Traits:

Genetic map of parents is one of the most decisive factors that cause diabetes. Diabetes passes from one generation to another if there is close blood relation. Gender do play significant role in genetic transfer of diabetes. If mother is diabetic then risk is 2-3 % but in case the father is diabetic then it can be more severe. In addition, in the case of both parents are diabetic then the risk rate is much greater.

Age:

Age plays a major role in diabetes because as the age progresses the diabetic symptoms get intensified. Although more than 80% cases of diabetes is reported from the 50 plus age group but the onset of diabetes in early age is on the rise in recent past.  The changing lifestyle and food habit definitely playing very crucial role in the onset of diabetes in early age.

Poor Diet (Malnutrition Related Diabetes):

Genetic linkages are strong in case of diabetes but improper nutrition of low protein and fiber intake along with high intake of refined products are the major reason of diabetes. Negligence of nutritional balance takes heavy toll on your health in form of diabetes.

Some recent researches suggest there is there is very strong correlation of high Cholesterol and high Triglyceride level in the blood with high blood sugars. High risk is involved even with low HDL levels in blood.

Sedentary Lifestyle:

The cases of diabetes are on the rise in recent past and major reason is the sedentary lifestyles. People with this kind of life style in which there is little physical work, sleeping disorder and timely rest are more prone to diabetes. The risk of diabetes is higher in those people who do not exercise at all than as compared to those people who exercise daily or thrice in a week.

Stress:

Your stresses whether work related or emotional take heavy toll on your health. The stress related biological reaction hampers the normal functioning of the hormones that result in diabetes. Any type of disturbance in ACTH therapy or Corticosteroid may show clinical signs of the disease.

Infection:

Sometimes any major infections in your pancreases can weaken your system, which may hamper the normal functioning of insulin causing diabetes in long run.

Sex:

Sexual life plays some role in the onset of the diabetes. In male, some researches do suggest that, old age hormonal changes have some correlation with the onset of diabetes. In case of females, the correlation is much strong especially in those females who are suffering from Polycystic Ovarian disease or with multiple pregnancies.

Taking precaution is only possible way to stay away or lessen the risk of diabetes. Following a good health regime with balanced and nutritious died with some routinely exercise can help you in keeping diabetes at bay. Your body is your asset, so manage it well. This requires close observation and perfect control over your life style. Consult your doctor on regular basis and go for regular blood checkup so you could plan well and live happily.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Diabetes Symptoms Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases across the world. Prevalent theory is that diabetes is rich people’s disease but recent findings suggest that it is equally rampant in poor section of the society. Several cases of early age diabetic signs, as early as 15-18 year, has been reported in recent past, which goes against the previous notion of its age barrier of 40 year or so.

So you need to very careful regarding the symptoms of diabetes from your early years. You need to aware of some initial symptoms and some of the basic information on treatment. This awareness will help you lead a healthy life. Diabetes is not like other disease that shows symptoms prominently. In case of diabetes, the symptoms are less prominent but as the time passes, it starts showing increase in intensity. Some of the major diabetes symptoms in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are frequent urination, unquenchable thirst, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision, extreme hunger etc.

In case of type 2 diabetic people one major symptom is that their cuts; infection or bruises do take more time to heal compared to normal people. Well, the best possible way to avoid diabetes is to be aware and cautious regarding the early signs. If you find any of the symptoms on regular basis get yourself diagnosed because detection at early stage will definitely help you in recovery.

Here are the details of early stage symptoms given below, which will definitely make you health conscious and help you immensely in leading healthy life.

Frequent Urination

One of the major symptoms of being diabetic is frequent urination. Urination becomes more regular because of increases the quantity of glucose in the blood.

Unquenchable Thirst

Do you feel always thirsty? You find your thirst unquenchable. Any amount of water intake does not satiates your thirst, you feel thirsty few moments after taking water. Then this is major symptom of diabetes.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is another major symptom of onset of diabetes. However, its manifestation is slow and different in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Losing weight is more noticeable in type 1 diabetes because pancreas stops making insulin due to viral attack. The body always looks for energy because cells do not get glucose in optimum quantity, resulting in weight loss. In type 2, it happens slowly with rising insulin resistance.

Blurry Vision

There are several reasons of blurry eyesight but it is one of the symptoms of onset of diabetes. In old age people, this is one of the major reasons of deteriorating eyesight. If you are facing this kind of problem, than consult your doctor as soon as possible. These are the symptoms of being diabetic but that does not mean to keep yourself occupied with diabetic tension in your mind. However, knowing these simple pieces of information will definitely help you in long way to mitigate the larger risk. If diabetes left untreated for long it can cause severe health problem. Diagnosis at the early stage is the only key to stay away from the various diabetes symptoms. Nowadays, various treatments are available to keep you healthy. Proper food habit and healthy living can help in keeping diabetes at bay.