Be Well Buzz » diabetes

Diabetes Cure?

BeWellBuzz — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:07:22 +0000

The World's ONLY Diabetes Cure? Doctors and drug companies want you to believe that medical intervention is the only choice people with diabetes have. But that's baloney -- and I'll prove it to you. For example...

Eating a daily serving of beans can dramatically lower your need for diabetes meds and/or insulin.
Two natural, zero-calorie sweeteners are perfectly fine for all diabetics -- (one is 100 times sweeter than table sugar, but won't raise your blood sugar level or increase your weight!).
Whole grains will improve your blood sugar much better than fresh vegetables!
A 20-minute daily walk lengthens the life of a diabetic by an average of 39%!

Reversing diabetes is just this easy!

Little lifestyle changes like these can make HUGE improvements in diabetes -- and can actually cure Type 2 and prediabetes. That's right, I said cure. This means you can...

Quit sticking your fingers with needles and testing your blood sugar
Discontinue all those sickening, fattening drugs
Stop feeling guilty about food and your weight
End your worries about diabetic heart attack ... amputations ... or blindness.

The 30-Day Diabetes Cure makes it "easy as pie!" Here's how our ingenious 30-day plan works... Every day, you simply add one diabetes-healing tip -- or subtract a diabetes-hurting habit to you normal activities. At the end of 30 days, you'll be living a Diabetes Healing Lifestyle -- without turning your life upside-down. Most people experience a dramatic improvement in their condition simply by following our proven plan.

Type 2s are able to have their dose of meds dramatically reduced -- or completely withdrawn!
Type 1s can have their insulin dose slashed (by up to 80%!).

And people with prediabetes can return to a normal, drug-free life in a matter of days! Click here to view some amazing video testimonials of real people who have conquered diabetes with The 30-Day Diabetes Cure.

Drugs will never give you these results!

In fact, as long as you take those diabetes drugs, you will never be able to get off them -- and you will always have diabetes. There has never been an instance of these drugs curing a single diabetes patient so he/she could discontinue them. Not one!

But now you have real hope!

Wouldn't it be great to kick diabetes out of your life like this? Wouldn't it feel wonderful to return to a "normal" life again? The 30-Day Diabetes Cure can give you or a loved one a "second chance." Here's your opportunity to change the direction your health is headed in... Away from the misery and suffering that await all diabetics -- and toward a future filled with health, happiness and increased longevity.

It won't cost you a penny to discover how

Click here to learn more...

10 Common Diabetes Myths Busted

BeWellBuzz — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:10:24 +0000

Diabetes care can be exhausting. You measure your blood sugar, take meds, drag yourself out of bed to exercise and schedule in extra time to pack a healthy lunch. In the U.S. alone, 23.6 million people have diabetes. And 5.6 million of them don't even know it. Unfortunately, misinformation about diabetes is rampant - and mixing up the facts about this disease can have dire consequences. That is why information is vital. But guess what? A lot of what you read and hear is just plain wrong. That's why we wanted to share 10 most common misconceptions. 1. Don't eat white foods. False. Many people with diabetes believe that white food is bad because it's starchy, sugary and lacking nutrition. But that belief "has no scientific basis and it's confusing," says Anne Daly, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at the Springfield (Ill.) Diabetes and Endocrine Center. Some white foods --- cauliflower, apples, potatoes, cottage cheese and milk, for example --- provide important nutrients. Size matters too. Sure, brown rice is healthier than white, but when it comes to your blood sugar levels, portion has more impact than the actual food. To judge a meal's effect on your blood sugar, check levels about two hours after eating. If your numbers are too high, she recommends:

Reducing portions
Taking a 15- to 30-minute walk at mealtime
Asking your doctor to review your medications for a possible change

2. Losing weight won't cure diabetes. True. If you're overweight, dropping a few pounds is a good idea and should be part of your treatment plan. But weight loss probably won't reverse a disease that has been developing for years. High blood sugar level is just one sign in the long-term development of the disease. The precursors to that include:

Insulin resistance
A dwindling supply of insulin and other important blood glucose-control hormones
Abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides levels

Discouraging, yes, but don't let it derail your diet. Although weight loss won't cure diabetes, it may slow its progression. Losing even 10-20 pounds --- and figuring out how to keep those pounds off --- may help you control your blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids for longer and on fewer medications. 3. Fruit isn't good for you. False. Don't fear fruit's natural sugars. Your body needs all types of produce for good health. Learning how much carbohydrate is in all food groups --- including fruits and vegetables --- and what the portion size is for a single serving helps avoid carbohydrate excesses. 4. You must have snacks. False. Do you eat snacks when you aren't hungry? It may explain why you're not slimming down and seeing healthier blood sugar numbers. So should you snack or not? Do you like to snack? Does it help you eat less, eat healthier? If the answer is yes, then snacks can fit into a healthy eating plan. If the answer is no, you need to look at meal and medication timing, exercise and other factors to minimize low blood glucose levels between meals. 5. You don't have to give up all sweets. True. Sure, sugar raises blood glucose, but so do other types of carbohydrate, such as wheat flour, oats and other starches. Again, the amount trumps the type. So how can you tell if a treat is going to have a bad effect on blood sugar control? Learn to read food labels, and look for the serving size and the total amount of carbohydrates. 6. Sugar-free is OK to eat. False. Sugar-free pies and cakes are popular, but they aren't necessarily low calorie, low fat or even low carbohydrate. You must read the labels or make substitutions to satisfy your sweet tooth. Craving a pie? Instead, use your favorite fruits in a crisp. You'll eat fewer carbs and get more nutrition than from most other desserts. 7. Eat as much as you want as long as it's good for you. False. Too much of a good thing is bad for you. The average person doesn't need a dinner of 8-ounces of grilled salmon or two cups of whole-wheat pasta. Start trimming your portions by 10% or 20% at each meal. Serve your food on a smaller plate too. Big plates mean big servings. 8. It's OK to eat sweets if your blood sugar is too low. False. Are you so panicked by the shakiness, dizziness or confusion that often accompanies hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) that you gorge on sugary delights until you're almost nauseous? Low blood sugar isn't an excuse to eat extra junk food. Hypoglycemia, typically blood glucose less than 70 mg/dl, should not be treated with so much sugar that you "super-spike" your blood glucose. You're just trading one problem for another. Candy, cookies and brownies will have more calories (and often unhealthy saturated fats too) than the recommended treatment, and it may take longer to raise your blood glucose. For starters, limit yourself to just 15 grams of carbohydrate so you don't overshoot your blood glucose target. Here's the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) advice on treating low blood sugar:

Wait 15 minutes after treatment before eating anything else.
If your blood glucose is still low, consume another 15 grams of carbohydrate.
Recheck your blood glucose in another 15 minutes.
Once your symptoms are gone and your blood glucose is above 70 mg/dl, you may still need a snack if your next meal is a while away.
If you don't have a preferred treatment food, use any carbohydrate-rich food.

9. You can't save up for a big dinner by eating light the rest of the day. True. Who doesn't want a big celebratory meal now and then? Thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries or just a visit to your favorite restaurant can push an appetite into overdrive. Before you had diabetes, you might have been able to get away with skimping on breakfast and lunch to save up for your big plate of pasta or other favorite meal. But those days are gone. How much you eat at meals matters now. Eating too much is like getting too much rain. Imagine a torrential downpour for hours. That much falling from the sky in such a short time is sure to flood the streets. That's what happens in your body; giving it more than it can handle at one time floods the blood with glucose. Spreading food out over the day and avoiding large quantities gives your body time to level out your blood glucose before the next onslaught. 10. Fat doesn't matter. False. Because blood sugar jumps with carbohydrate, but not with fat, many people with diabetes ignore the fat content of their meals. But dietary fat is just as much a problem as sugar. Fat provides many calories (about 120 per tablespoon) and hinders weight control. And the type of fat matters. Saturated and trans fats are linked to higher cholesterol levels and increase the risk for heart disease - already your most likely cause of death. Studies also suggest that saturated fat worsens blood glucose control by affecting your body's response to insulin. Limit unhealthy fats by avoiding stick margarine and packaged foods made with partially hydrogenated oils, poultry skin, animal fat including dairy and fried foods. http://www.lifescript.com

Counting carbs may help with type 1 diabetes

BeWellBuzz — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:29:39 +0000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Tallying the number of carbohydrates in the diet may be helpful to people using an insulin pump to treat type 1 diabetes, a small study suggests. The study, of 61 adults on insulin pump therapy, found that those who learned to count carbs had a small reduction in weight and waist size after 6 months. They also reported gains in quality of life and -- at least for those who consistently counted their carbs with each meal -- an improvement in blood sugar levels. The findings, published online by the journal Diabetes Care and scheduled to appear in the April print issue, do not prove that carb counting is the answer for people with type 1 diabetes. But it is widely recommended that people on insulin try to estimate the carbohydrate content of their meals to help calculate their insulin doses, said Dr. Sanjeev Mehta, of the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Carbohydrate counting is one way to do that, noted Mehta, who was not involved in the study. Other ways include paying close attention to portion size, using diabetes "exchange lists" and choosing foods based on "glycemic index" -- a measure of how far and how fast a given foods sends up blood sugar. "There is no definitive data to suggest the superiority of one method over another in terms of ease of use or (blood sugar) control," Mehta told Reuters Health in an email. A few studies have suggested that carbohydrate counting can help people with type 1 diabetes control their blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes arises when the body no longer produces the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin, due to an abnormal immune system attack on insulin-secreting cells. As a result, people with the disease have to take synthetic insulin -- either through daily injections or an insulin "pump" that is worn outside the body and continuously delivers insulin through a catheter placed under the skin in the abdominal area. Until now, no studies had looked at whether carb counting is specifically useful to people on insulin pump therapy. For the new study, researchers led by Dr. Andrea Laurenzi, of San Raffaele Vita-Salute University in Milan, recruited 61 adults on insulin pump therapy. They randomly assigned them to either learn how to count carbohydrates or serve as part of a "control" group. In sessions with a dietitian, participants in the carb-counting group learned how to calculate the amount of carbohydrates in each of their meals and estimate how much insulin they would need to "cover" those carbs. After 6 months, Laurenzi's team found, the carb-counters showed a slight reduction in weight and waist size, on average -- possibly, the researchers say, because they were paying closer attention to their diets or exercise habits. When the researchers looked at the whole carb-counting group, there was no clear effect on hemoglobin A1C levels -- a measure of long-term blood sugar control. But when they focused just on the 20 participants who consistently counted carbs for most of their meals, there was evidence of better blood sugar control. References^{^} Reprints (www.reutersreprints.com)^{^} itzajob (www.reuters.com)^{^} itzajob (www.reuters.com)

Antioxidants May Boost Your Baby’s Health

BeWellBuzz — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:08:25 +0000

Following a high-fat, high-carb diet during pregnancy may threaten your baby's health, a recent animal-based study^[1] from the journal Diabetes suggests. In tests on rats, scientists discovered that loading up on fats and carbs while pregnant may increase the child's risk of obesity^[2] and diabetes^[3]. However, the study also showed that antioxidants^[4] may shield children from such health risks. For the study, researchers fed one group of rats a high-fat, high-carb diet meant to mimic the typical "Western-style" eating habits of many Americans. A second group was given a more balanced diet, while a third group followed a Western-style diet supplemented with antioxidant vitamins. Finally, a fourth group was a fed a balanced diet enriched with antioxidants. Results revealed that offspring of rats in the first group had higher levels of inflammation^[5], more body fat, and an increased risk of blood-sugar abnormalities (compared to rats given a balanced diet). However, the study also showed that rats fed the antioxidant-enhanced Western-style diet had offspring with lower inflammation levels, no obesity, and better glucose tolerance. It's too soon to tell whether antioxidants might have the same effect in humans. If you're considering the use of any dietary supplement while pregnant, make sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking the supplements. References^{^} study (diabetes.diabetesjournals.org)^{^} obesity (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} diabetes (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} antioxidants (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} inflammation (altmedicine.about.com)^{^}

Vitamins May Reduce Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

BeWellBuzz — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:15:08 +0000

Running low on vitamin C^[1] and vitamin E^[2] may raise your risk of metabolic syndrome^[3], according to a new study^[4] from the journal Public Health Nutrition. Known to up your chances of developing diabetes^[5] and heart disease^[6], metabolic syndrome is marked by a cluster of conditions (including high blood pressure^[7], high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol^[8], and excess belly fat).

For the study, researchers looked at the link between metabolic syndrome and intake of specific nutrients (including folate, zinc, and vitamins C, B12, and E) among 225 women and 127 men age 65 and older (all of whom lived in low-income neighborhoods in Ecuador). Results revealed a strong relationship between increased risk of metabolic syndrome and low blood levels of vitamins E and C.

The researchers also found that participants with metabolic syndrome were more likely to show elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation^[9].

References^{^} vitamin C (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} vitamin E (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} metabolic syndrome (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} study (journals.cambridge.org)^{^} diabetes (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} heart disease (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} high blood pressure (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} high cholesterol (altmedicine.about.com)^{^} inflammation (altmedicine.about.com)

Magnesium supplementation may cut diabetes risk

BeWellBuzz — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:56:12 +0000

Daily magnesium supplementation may help overweight individuals who have become insulin^[1] resistant improve their condition and avoid type 2 diabetes^[2], according to a new study from German researchers.

Reporting in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, researchers from the Justus Liebig University said that low levels of magnesium have been shown in several recent studies to be strongly correlated with an increased risk of metabolic dysfunction.

In fact, a 2004 study that appeared in the journal Diabetes Care found that children with low magnesium levels were significantly more likely to become insulin resistant, which dramatically elevates an individual's risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Other studies have confirmed the relationship between low levels of magnesium and insulin resistance.

For the present study, researchers wanted to see if taking oral magnesium supplements could correct this problem. They recruited 52 participants who were overweight and insulin resistant but who did not have diabetes. For a period of six months, half the group received active magnesium supplements while the remaining group was given a placebo.

At the end of the study period, the researchers found that participants who received active supplements had much healthier blood sugar levels. Additionally, they improved in measures of insulin sensitivity.

However, participants who took the supplements did not show any improvement in their blood pressure, which is also generally associated with low levels of magnesium. Still, the researchers said that the improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood sugar were so great that patients who are at risk for type 2 diabetes should consider supplementation.

"The results provide significant evidence that oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity even in overweight, non-diabetic subjects, emphasizing the need for an early optimization of magnesium status to prevent insulin resistance and subsequently type 2 diabetes," they wrote in their report.

References^{^} Normal Regulation of Blood Glucose (www.endocrineweb.com)^{^} Type 2 Diabetes Center (www.endocrineweb.com)