The FreeStyle Flash Glucometer is the world's smallest glucometer seen so far. You can take the glucometer everywhere with you in their small carrying case.

The FreeStyle Flash Glucometer measures just 3" in height and weighs only 1.4 ounces.

The benefits of the FreeStyle Flash Glucometer:

* The world's smallest meter with a fast 7-second average test time

* Bright backlit display and test light make testing and reading results easy even in a low light situation

* Four daily programmable alarms to remind you when it's time to test your blood sugar

* Since you only need the smallest blood sample size (0.3 microliter), it appears less painful

* Alternative testing sites add flexibility to your routine test. You can use fingertips, forearms, upper arms, thighs, calves, hands

* There are 4 daily programmable alarms to remind you when it's time for your testing

* Measures just 3 inches in height and weighs 1.4 ounces

* The FreeStyle test strips allow you to take blood on either side of the strip

* There is also a free data cable offer inside box

* The Glucometer comes with a small lancet pen where you insert the lancet.

* The Glucometer includes the alternative testing cap when you want to test elsewhere.

* The Glucometer kits does comes with a small supply of strips, lancets and control solution so you can start testing immediately.

The Pros and Cons of the FreeStyle Glucometer:

Pros:

The FreeStyle Glucometer is the smallest glucometer so far I have seen. The carrying case that is supplied is also small. It is simple to use and you can test your blood sugar on either side of the strip. You only need a very small sample so if you are the type of person who only tends to have a small blood sample, this works great.

You can do alternative testing because the glucometer has the alternative testing cap already included in the blood glucose monitoring kit.

Cons:

You still do have to place each strip in the glucometer. Though most glucometers do require you to place a strip in the glucometer, there are a couple of machines, like the Accucheck Compact and the Ascensia Breeze, that have the strips inside the machine.

You do have to set the code # with each new bottle of strips. Again, a lot of glucometers do require this but not all of the new ones available require you to set a code.

Do you or someone you care about have diabetes? This common disease is usually progressive over several years’ time, and it can create many kinds of health problems for those who have it. If you suspect you have symptoms of a diabetic nature, make a list of their type and frequency and let your doctor know right away. Symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, fatigue, and weight loss, among others. The sooner you get a firm diagnosis, the better outcome you are likely to have.

Diabetes results from the body’s reduced ability to make insulin. When this happens, body organs can be affected as the circulation slows, leading to slow wound healing times and loss of feeling in the extremities. Eventually, without treatment, diabetes can progress to organ failure, especially the kidneys and heart, as well as possible blindness, strokes, and other problematic conditions.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, ask your doctor about a personal management plan. Read all the information you can find about your condition, and ask your doctor any questions about things you don’t understand. It may be helpful to borrow library books or visit online medical Websites to find out how others cope and what types of possible new cures or treatments are on the horizon.

Your doctor may advise you to change your diet to one that is low in sugar, fat, and salt. He or she may want you to begin a daily exercise program unless you already have one. You might have to do finger sticks for your blood sugar each day, perhaps after eating or at others times, to check blood readings. Depending on the status of your disease, you may have to take pills or give yourself daily injections. When your blood sugar levels get too high or too low, you could experience life-threatening complications.

It may be a good idea to wear a bracelet or necklace identification tag, so that if you should happen to pass out or become dizzy from blood sugar changes, someone will know how to help you. Carrying a small amount of sugar in the form of orange juice or a candy bar might be helpful if you begin to feel light-headed or your levels start to drop. Let coworkers and friends know about your condition so they can take appropriate steps if you experience difficulties from your diabetic condition.

Joining a support group could help to relieve anxieties and put you in touch with others who have been where you are. Their experience and insight can help you to adjust with a new diabetic diagnosis or a significant change in your condition. This could be particularly welcome if you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, since this may impact the status of your diabetes.

It is unbelievable, but today there are at least 20 million people living with diabetes in America and the sad part is that it was possible to prevent and heal pre-diabetes and diabetes type 2 naturally with balanced nutrition, and basic exercise.

People at risk of getting the disease drop by a staggering 60 percent if they manage to lose just 10 pounds by following a healthy diet and engage in regular exercise such as walking, according to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine. (May 3, 2001).

Pre-diabetes

This term means that you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes and also heart disease.

The good news is if you have pre-diabetes you can reduce the risk of getting diabetes type 2 and even return to normal blood glucose levels if you follow the guidelines in this article.

Type 2 diabetes

Formerly called adult-onset diabetes, this is the most common form of diabetes. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which the body cannot use insulin properly. People can develop this type of diabetes at any age and is usually associated with today’s modern lifestyle of fast food, stress and no exercise.

Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes dramatically. Traditional treatment includes taking diabetes medicines, aspirin daily, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol with prescription drugs.

But with modest weight loss and moderate daily physical activity, you can delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes and lead a normal life. Lets look at a few steps you can use straight away in your daily life that will make a big difference to your condition.

Strength Training - Researchers have reported a 23% increase in glucose uptake after four months of strength training. Because poor glucose metabolism is associated with adult onset diabetes, improved glucose metabolism is an important benefit of regular strength exercise.

Nowadays you do not have to live in a gym to put on functional muscle. Short High Intensity sessions performed once a week is all that is required to improve glucose metabolism and lose weight.

The strength training technique I use requires just twenty to thirty mins per week. Gone are the days of the five-day a week program with 6 to 12 sets per body part that, method has never worked. One short intense strength-training workout a week will elevate your metabolism more than you ever thought possible.

The two main components of this technique are the intensity of the exercise and the recovery after the exercise. Infrequent, short, high intensity weight training sessions, followed by the required amount of time to recover and become stronger is what is needed to increase functional lean muscle and improve glucose metabolism.

Nutrition - The way to lose body fat and maintain muscle is to have a food program for life. Quality food and more energy output are the basics you'll need to go for. Bulk foods that fill you up and don't fill you out, foods that are low in fat and sugar which aren't refined should be the ideal.

Small frequent meals should be consumed during the day each containing a little protein to maintain muscle and energy levels. Foods with vital vitamin and mineral supplements should also be taken on a daily basis. A high quality broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement should also be taken on a daily basis.

As before get the calories from high quality food but if you can’t, utilize a blender to make concoctions from skim milk with whatever additives you want to use, just as long as you keep count of the calories for your daily total.

Now use these blender mixtures and solid food for your daily feedings. Spread it out over many small meals a day instead of the traditional three meals a day. The way to keep track of weight loss is to buy a calorie counter and record your daily calorie intake for a week.

Exercise - Fat is burned from the body when cells oxidize to release energy in the form of exercise. When the exercise is done slowly to moderately then the majority of energy is taken from the fat stores.

The key to effective aerobic training that burns off maximum fat is long-term consistency not intensity. It doesn’t matter if you run a mile, jog a mile or walk a mile you will burn exactly the same amount of calories

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the pancreas fails to secrete sufficient insulin or the body’s decreased ability to use insulin. Diabetes mellitus is Greek for ‘a passing through of sweetness’ which refers to the passing of sugar rich urine, a characteristic of the disease. It is a very serious disorder, sometimes fatal and is the leading cause of death in Western society because of its damage to the cardiovascular system.

In a healthy body food is digested to release glucose into the blood. This causes beta cells in the pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin helps in the transportation of glucose from the blood to the liver and muscle cells. This can then be released later into the blood for metabolism. If the pancreas fails to produce sufficient amounts of insulin or if there is insulin resistance then diabetes will set in.

There are two types of diabetes, Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) also known as juvenile-onset diabetes, type 1 diabetes and Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) also known as maturity-onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes. Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to both forms of diabetes mellitus but the exact cause of diabetes mellitus is unknown. In both types, excess sugar in the blood known as hyperglycemia needs to be removed by the kidneys. Excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and hunger are the symptoms.

In type 1 diabetes the body’s immune system destroys the pancreas beta cells resulting in low insulin levels. To prevent death insulin injections are needed this is why it is called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It is most common in people under 20 years old and then persists throughout life; this is why it is also know as juvenile-onset diabetes. IDDM is most common in Northern Europe especially in Finland where 1% of the population develops IDDM before the age of 15 years.

In untreated IDDM the cellular metabolism is similar to that of a starving person. This is because the insulin is not present to help the glucose into the body cells, to produce Adenosine triphosphate (energy currency) most cells use fatty acids. Triglycerides are stored in adipose tissues which are catabolized to yield fatty acids and glycerol. The breakdown of fatty acids cause a byproduct of organic fatty acids called ketones or ketone bodies. The buildup of ketones causes a fall in blood pH which is known as ketoacidosis, if this is left untreated it can cause diabetic coma and death.

Weight loss is also caused by the breakdown of stored triglycerides. Lipids are deposited on the walls of blood vessels as they are transported by the blood from cells storage depots. This leads to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular problems such as cerebrovascular insufficiency, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and gangrene. Sever kidney problems may also arise from damage to renal blood vessels. Loss of vision due to cataracts (excess glucose attaches itself to lens proteins) and damage to the retina’s blood vessels.

To treat type 1 diabetes a regime of self-monitoring the blood glucose level (up to seven times a day), insulin injection (up to 3 times a day), exercise and regular meals containing 45-50% carbohydrates and less than 30% fats. This regime will keep the levels of insulin and sugar in the blood normal. It is also possible to have a pancreas transplant but immunosuppressive drugs must be taken for life. Eating foods containing carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes, bread and cereals will raise blood sugar and insulin levels. This sugar raising effect of a food is called ‘the glycaemic index’ and it measure how quickly the carbohydrate is absorbed by the body. Studies have found that people with type 1 diabetes have better control over their blood sugar levels by following a low-glycaemic-index diet.

Physical Therapists are in great demand nowadays. They are making small fortunes administering therapeutic massages to accident victims, burnt patients, slip and fall victims and others. The patients either need to get back to work quickly or do not want to bother others to help them get around. Patients are paying huge sums to these professionals to get their freedom back. And they are getting well FAST

As a matter of fact, one patient was pain free for three months with no medication just by tying a large rubber band on to a chair and pulling on it in a rhythmic manner for ten minutes day for a week with the painful arm.

While you did not ask for it, you must not let the onset of diabetes get you down. Diabetes with its powerful claws can play tricks with your mind if you let it. It can kill you in a wink if you are careless. Do not succumb to its debilitating effects. You must keep your spirits high like a battery that is fully charged to crank a cold engine in the winter with one turn of the key. Keep your mind active and have the courage to win in your plight to battle this pest of a disease. You can do it successfully at any stage. When you are diagnosed with this disease, you can beat it when you take the right approach. You can fight back successfully by keeping a sharp mental mind. Develop a mind of steel in your combat of this demon of a disease.

When diabetes strike, either Type I or Type II, you must stand steady and build mental power and a strong emotional and powerful force within you that subdues the disease. Mind over matter… in this case diabetes…will prevail. You have the mental power to conquer this beast.

When you practice this will to conquer and to prevail your body likewise will respond and fight back right along with you. The mind is a powerful force. Use it for all it is worth…to gain your mastery of your physical body and all its workings to enjoy life to the fullest.

But, mind power coupled with actual working out physically has tremendous energy and potential to provide great vitality to all parts of your body and awaken you to a bright new world. Maintain full vigor and vitality—only you can envision-- and cherish.

So, start a regimen physical exercise to fight off diabetes symptoms immediately. You must get out and get physically active. You have to take and enjoy what nature’s has given you.

Just so you know, 55% of those who were given physical therapy or followed some form of physical regime, reported that they had less pain and never took pain medication for over three months. Once they continued the exercises they felt invigorated with increased blood flow to all parts of their body as they watch their bodies get more flexible and pain free.

The simple trick –if you want to call it a trick – for a better physical and mental health is to exercise. You can start slowly and make it more vigorous as you progress. The benefits are overwhelming. And, you will love your body more.

All these sufferers got hooked with being physically active using either home gym equipment, other fitness exercise equipment like Pilates, stepping mills, weight lifting equipment, treadmills, exercise bikes and a host of other types, in their basement or garage or at an exercise club. It is a tremendous physical benefit for a small amount of effort. The results will astound you.

Do not wait! Start your exercise program today. Keep your focus on staying physically fit. You can add many years to your life when you keep fit. Besides, the act of exercising is FREE.

After all, you owe it to yourself to prevent muscular pains due to poor circulation, stiff joints, and rheumatoid arthritis in winter and swollen feet. Get well. And stay well!

Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not manufacture sufficient amounts of insulin or does not properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that is necessary for the transport of sugar from the blood stream into the cells for use as energy. Type 2 diabetes results when our bodies become insensitive to insulin and cause our blood sugar go out of balance. For this reason, we want to do everything we can to remain insulin sensitive. When we are insulin sensitive, our bodies do a much better job of moving glucose from the blood and into cells.

Various herbs, foods, vitamins, and minerals have been shown to promote insulin sensitivity and help maintain proper blood sugar levels. Vanadyl sulfate increases the body's insulin sensitivity. Gymnema sylvestre is a well known herb helpful in blood sugar control by controlling sugar cravings and nourishing the pancreas.

Exercise also increases insulin sensitivity. People involved in athletics are known to require less insulin. Besides improving insulin sensitivity, exercise helps us to control our weight and reduce body fat. Weight control is a very important aspect in maintaining insulin sensitivity.

Another important factor in maintaining proper blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity is a healthful diet. Complex carbohydrates found in most vegetables, apples, grains, and nuts are slow to digest. Slowing the process of digestion promotes healthy blood sugar levels and avoids the highs and lows associated with the intake of refined sugars. We should also avoid saturated fats. The healthy fats contained in fish, olive oil, and flaxseed help us to maintain insulin sensitivity.

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and results from insulin resistence.

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes referred to as mature onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type I. In Type 2 diabetes the pancreas either does not produce adequate levels of insulin or the body becomes resistant to its own insulin.

Type I diabetes, also known as adolescent diabetes, differs from Type 2 in that the body stops producing insulin altogether. Type I diabetes is generally diagnosed in children or young adults. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in older adults, however, it is becoming substantially more prevalent in the younger population.

With the onset of diabetes, whether it be Type I or Type 2, we lose our ability to adequately utilize sugar. When this occurs, blood sugar levels increase due to the body’s inability to transport sugar into the cells and out of the blood stream. Sugar is very important in that it is the basic fuel source for the cells in our bodies. Insulin is necessary for the transport of sugar from the blood and into the cells.

Diabetes is a serious condition and can lead to many other health problems. Some problems that diabetics commonly encounter are an increased risk for heart and circulatory problems, high blood pressure, visual problems and blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage. With the diagnosis of diabetes, it becomes extremely important that blood sugar fluctuations are tightly controlled. With good control of blood sugar levels and the prevention of prolonged periods of elevated blood sugar, people with diabetes can live long and healthy lives.

Fortunately for the newly diagnosed diabetic, there are more and more tools available to help monitor and control the condition. Glucose meters are becoming smaller and easier to use. Blood samples necessary for glucose meter use are much smaller than in the past. Painful finger pricks can now be avoided with blood samples being able to be taken from alternate, less sensitive areas, such as the forearm. In the relatively near future, non-invasive glucose monitoring devices not requiring a sample of blood at all will become commonplace.

A simple blood test, known as the A1c test, can measure the average blood glucose levels over the previous three months. This test is a very good way to monitor and critique how effective current treatments, diet, medications, etc. have been recently. This test is now available for home use and as such does not even require a visit to the doctor.

Type 2 diabetics have more options available to them for blood sugar control than do Type I diabetics. Not only are there oral medications, often eliminating the need for insulin injection treatment, but other methods that may eliminate the need for medications altogether.

Type 2 diabetics should look to multiple sources of information in order to determine the best methods available to deal with their condition. A good start is a physician specializing in the treatment of diabetes. Most physician specialists will have nutritional counseling available to help understand the relationship of various food items with blood sugar levels.

Additionally, diabetics should become very familiar with vitamin, mineral, and herbal options to improve blood sugar metabolism and control. A few examples of supplements that are well known to help in this regard are chromium, magnesium, and vanadyl sulfate. Various natural glucose transport factors can be very helpful in aiding the body’s transport of glucose from the blood and into the cells. Vanadyl sulfate has been shown to improve glucose sensitivity and decrease insulin resistance.

Various herbal preparations have been shown to significantly improve blood sugar levels, sugar metabolism, and reportedly even improve the function of the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Notably, Gymnema sylvestre, known as “sugar destroyer” in Sandskrit, has been shown to have positive effects and benefits for diabetics.

Along with proper nutrition, appropriate supplements and vitamins, other important considerations are weight control and exercise. Excess weight tremendously increases the burden on the pancreas as fat requires much more insulin than lean tissue. Exercise not only helps control body fat and reduce weight, but additionally aids the transport of sugar from the blood and into the cells

Vanadyl sulfate is a form of vanadium, a trace mineral. In Europe, vanadium is often used as a natural treatment for diabetes.

Vanadium has been found in human studies to imitate the effects of insulin in our bodies. This ability may allow some of those with diabetes, a natural method to help lower blood sugar, take less insulin, or in some instances stop taking insulin altogether.

Vanadium is believed to assist in the transfer of sugar in the blood (glucose) into muscles, similar to the function of insulin. It is also believed to increase insulin sensitivity in the muscles. This is important to Type 2 diabetics especially, in that one factor in the development of diabetes can be insulin resistance.

This transfer of glucose into muscle tissue has also been touted by weightlifters and body builders. Vanadium allows the body to store more energy in the muscles, therefore decreasing the need for conversion to triglycerides, for fat storage.

Diabetics should consult their physician prior to taking Vanadyl sulfate. They should also monitor their blood sugar regularly when taking a vanadyl supplement because of the potential to lower blood sugar and decrease insulin needs.

The effects of vanadium have been shown to last for weeks, even in the absence of further supplementation. Therefore, it is suggested that it be taken in cycles.

It is probably best to take vanadyl sulfate supplements for about three weeks and then discontinue their use for about three weeks. By utilizing this valuable adjunct to the treatment of diabetes in this manner, a diabetic can improve sugar control, and avoid any potential toxicity.

November is Diabetes Awareness month, and actually November 14 is National Diabetes Day! It is a very important day for people to become aware of symptoms, treatment options, prevention and some updates on research. Knowledge and awareness are important to prevention, but research is critical to each and every diabetic out there! Everyone who suffers from chronic illness dreams of ‘the cure’, one is no less important than the other. For years, diabetes has maybe been portrayed as a disease of minor inconvenience and when things go wrong, the auto response is poor management or cheating on diet.

Yes, years! Would you believe the discovery of insulin was over 84 years ago! Thanks to Dr. Banting and Dr. Best, diabetics can survive. Maybe that is part of the reason that people who don’t understand the disease will minimize the seriousness of it. At one time diabetes meant death, now it is possible to live a near normal life with medication and insulin, diet, exercise and a lot of balance of them all. Allow me to repeat “near normal life”. There are a lot more footnotes to be attached to how that may or may not happen. I am not here to tell you statistics; you can find a fabulous write up in the November 8th Leader Post; “Saskatchewan waging a war against diabetes” and “the epidemic”.

I am here to tell you that the life of a diabetic is far from normal! Their day starts out with blood testing, likely in a finger that has turned to leather from so many stabs. That will allow them to decide how much insulin to take, how much food to eat, and maybe what kind of day they will have. This may happen 4-6 times per day, costing $1.00-$1.50 per test strip! A person in good control can get through their day totally fitting into the world, but if you happen to be a more severe, or rigid diabetic, your day can be hell! Severe diabetics may have to deal with insulin reactions, which can bring them to unconsciousness or highs, which have been described to me as “worse than your worse hangover.” Add to that the fear and concern of complications, be it heart, circulation, kidney failure leading to dialysis or vision loss, to name a few.

28 years ago, there was a 2- year old child diagnosed with type 2, insulin dependant diabetes, which means that the pancreas does not produce insulin anymore. Parents were totally unaware of the symptoms. What started out seeming like a simple kidney infection turned a planned holiday into a one-week hospital stay. This stay included education, diet plans and food choices, giving needles to oranges, blood testing, and a lot of mixed emotions of shock, anxiety, denial, discouragement, reality, and blues. How could this be happening, there is no diabetes in the family! The days at home were difficult, father would hold the child, mother would inject insulin, child would scream, cry, kick, mother would cry and both parents try to relax until the next go around.

How do you know what foods to eat? Maybe you like rice or pasta or grits or other starchy foods that need insulin to process these foods.

How much of the starchy or carbohydrate (CHO) foods can I eat? Well that depends on if you need to lose weight, gain weight or maintain your weight.

I think the most prudent way of eating the foods you love and at the same time not putting too much strain on the pancreas to spit out insulin, is to eat in moderation.

What I mean by moderation is using the Visual Plate Method. Believe it or not, this is one way of controlling your food intake, as well as how much carbohydrate or starchy foods you include with your meal.

So what does the Visual Plate Method mean. All it means is look at your plate with your food in it. If all you see is rice, or grits or sweet food as the majority of your plate, then you are way off base. You should include a green leafy vegetable or salad, Protein food (eggs , meat, fish, cheese) and a small portion of starchy vegetables or rice, pasta or whatever other carbohydrate.

Since I work as a visiting nurse, I try to explain to the patients that you don't have to go to extremes. It doesn't matter what culture and foods that you like. It matters that you need to portion control your starchy vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, peas, potatoes) and your CHO foods (rice, pasta, and other starchy foods) with each meal.

If you decide you want peas and carrots, then eat very little rice or pasta. If you eat green leafy vegetables, then you can eat more rice or pasta.

Protein foods do not raise your blood sugar, so you can add more fish, eggs, meat, etc with your meals. As long as your cholesterol isn't too high (eggs and meats) and you are not a Kidney patient, there should be no reason why you can't eat more protein foods. Protein foods that contain their own natural fat actually help curb your appetite. It is the CHO that stimulate your appetite.

If you are a teenager, then following a diet is much harder. If you eat potato chips, then no starch with your meal. I'm not saying to eat potato chips but realistically teenagers eat a little more junk foods than normal. Let's not make our teenagers neurotic about eating exactly the foods that parents may insist on. If they don't eat it in front of you, they will do it behind your back.

Whenever you eat a meal or snack, it should always include a small amount of protein that has its own natural fat. The protein food with its own natural fat tends to hold onto the food longer so that your blood sugar doesn't spike and then drop immediately. That can happen if you have a piece of fruit and no protein food with it. Also, eating just a piece of fruit can make you hungrier. That's where the protein food helps to curb the appetite.

Have you seen the movie “Super Size Me”? Morgan Spurlock, the director of this film, went on a 30 day challenge to eat nothing but McDonald’s food for every meal. While it does have its crude moments, this film brought light to many hidden truths about America’s fascination with junk food.

Diabetes is a national epidemic and Type II (adult onset) diabetes is no longer restricted to adults. If you, or someone you know, has Type II diabetes, there are natural alternatives to drugs and insulin medication but you must be willing to change your lifestyle. The benefits are improved health and a better, more productive life without pain and side effects.

Note: While this article will focus on Type II diabetes, the suggestions may be beneficial to Type I diabetics as well. Please be sure to work closely with a health practitioner while implementing this program.

Americans are Overwhelmed and Undermined by Too Much Sugar Consider that more than 100 years ago, the average adult consumed 18 lbs of sugar per year. Today, average sugar consumption in the US is a staggering 176 lbs per person. Our bodies have not had time to adapt to this tremendous increase in sugar. Instead, we are getting fat, sick and dying… of diabetes, an almost wholly preventable disease.

In addition, Americans now have white bread, rice and pasta. These foods are high in simple carbohydrates which closely mimic straight sugar. Then there are fats. Saturated and transfats can also promote insulin resistance.

It’s important to note that with proper nutrition and good supplementation, diabetes is not only preventable, it is reversible.

So what can you do? Nutrition 1. Eat lots of fiber. Fiber reduces the body’s need for insulin. Most Americans eat only 11-13 grams of fiber daily. Ideal amounts are 35+ grams. Oatmeal, beans and brown rice are excellent sources of fiber. You can also supplement with bulk psyllium or psyllium capsules. 2. Eat lean meats such as poultry and fish. Avoid red meats as they can create an acidic environment in the body which will cause calcium to be pulled from the bones and sent to the pancreas which then produces less insulin. 3. Avoid processed foods and white sugars, flours, pastas, rice, etc… Eat more natural foods whenever possible.

Supplements 1. Chromium with GTF. Chromium is a trace mineral that encourages “glucose tolerance factor”. GTF carries glucose out of the blood and into the cell – overcoming insulin resistance.

Making life long and livable is the goal of every diabetic, and it is particularly important to the parents of small children with diabetes. So much of what’s good about life can be enjoyed by a diabetic as long as they manage their blood sugars. We monitor our sons blood sugar level at LEAST 6 times a day.

Diabetics need to check they blood sugar at every meal or snack, but we also check if we notice a sudden change in behaviors. It is not uncommon for diabetics to display sudden mood swings. One minute they are hyper and you think they have a high BGL (Blood Glucose Level), and the next they are quiet or whinny. Why take a chance, check your/their blood sugar. It really does not hurt much and it can help prevent a litany of health related and quality of life related issues in the future.

With the addition of Humalog into a diabetic’s daily routine they can eat the same foods as we do. It is important to know the carbohydrate content of the food being consumed, since this is used to determine the correct level of Humalog to inject at meal time. The higher the carbohydrate the more insulin will be needed. Humalog offers diabetic’s convenience, control and flexibility. Its rapid-action acts much like your body insulin would if you did not have diabetes. Humalog is absorbed quickly and starts working within minutes to lower your blood sugar.

Food Therapy should be followed under the supervision from your doctor. Check your sugar level frequently so that sugar levels do not go beyond the recommended level

Foods to avoid

It is always advisable to avoid some foods if you are diabetic such as refined sugar, sweets, syrups, glucose, jam, molasses, fruit sugar, ice-cream, cakes, pastries, sweet biscuits, chocolates, soft drinks, condensed milk, cream and fried foods. Fats like butter, ghee and hydrogenated vegetable oil should also be avoided. White sugar and white flour should be reduced drastically. Avoid all processed foods, junk food, pastries, cookies, canned and preserved foods. They contain harmful preservatives and lot of salt. Avoid soft drinks since these have a lot of sugar. Try to avoid fried foods from your diet. Smoking results in the using up of oxygen in the body. It will result in less of oxygen needed by the body to metabolize glucose. So smoking should be avoided.

Foods to be limited

Salt consumption should be reduced to a minimum. You will get enough salt form the vegetables and fruits you eat. Reduce animal foods especially red meats. Reduce poultry and egg. Reduce caffeine and alcohol. Do not drink tea and coffee more than 2 cups a day. Try to replace it with green tea or herbal teas like Parsley tea, Blueberry leaf, Tea made of tender walnut tree leaves, Water in which kidney bean pods have been cooked is good diabetes.

Do not consume alcohol in empty stomach. Alcohol on an empty stomach can cause low blood glucose or hypoglycemia.Foods that should be consumed in moderation are honey and other natural sugars like palm sugar, dates which can be used instead of white sugar. Remember these should be consumed in very little quantity only.Pasta, coconut, other nuts, unsweetened juices, eggs should be limited. You can replace it with whole grain, unpolished rice and Soya products. Try to eat whole grain bread instead of white flour. Fats like olive oil and peanut oil are more advisable that hydrogenated fats. Low fat food like skimmed milk and low fat home made cottage cheese can be taken in moderation. You can also substitute it with yoghurt. Sea food and fish also can be taken in moderation.

Foods to be taken

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. An alkaline diet with natural food is recommended. Wholegrain, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and dairy products form a good diet for the diabetic. Raw vegetables can be taken in high quantities. It has been found that cooked foods raise blood glucose higher than raw, unpeeled foods. Cooking destroys many of the enzymes and some vitamins and minerals.

Eat at least five fruits every day. Fruits like grape fruit, pomegranate juice, Indian blackberry, banana, granny smith apples, fig, cranberries, black berry, kiwi fruits, and citrus fruits are highly recommended. It can be taken as a snack. Cucumber, Lettuce, onion, garlic string beans cucumber radish, tomato, carrot, leaves; spinach turnip, cabbage and Jerusalem artichoke are good for diabetes. Colorful vegetables are good for the functioning of pancreas. Drink Fruit juices without sugar. Brewer’s yeast and sprouted alfalfa and mung beans are good for the body. Unripe banana also can be cooked and eaten.

Many people are already starting to catch up with the knowledge that your energy is directly proportional to what you put into your body (A.K.A. food).

Studies have shown that if you eat a high "raw" vegetable diet, your energy will increase tenfold and you will have more vibrant health in your life. It is recommended to eat as most vegetables as you can. Once you have tried this, and once you have felt the improved wellness of following a healthy diet, it will be hard to go back.

When people say they are tired, that they have back or neck pains, when they say they caught a cold, this are all sympthoms of having your PH balance lowered. In return, your body starts to accumulate more and more cholesterol as a defense mechanism to "trap" the acidity of your body. This in return starts to cause diseases.

This is when diabetes comes in. 80% of the diabetic population are obese. One of the main goals in the diabetes diet is to lower your weight and maintain it. You must keep this is mind.

In addition to bringing you to your ideal weight, the purpose of your diet is to maintain regular glucose levels in your body, to protect your heart by maintaining healthy lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride)levels, and to control blood pressure.

These are the basic guidelines and purpose of a diabetic diet but there are other things you want to consider, depending on what type of diabetes are you treating and the specific conditions of each person.

For example, a simple heart healthy diet can work great for people with type 2 diabetes, but a type 1 diabetes person may require a different kind of diet. These are things your doctor or nutritionist will design specifically for you.

What a person may not know, is that when studies have been conducted on similar people with different diets, the most important factor in getting great results was not the diet itself. The biggest most important factor in maintaining good health lies in being attentive and focused on the diet itself. In other words, any healthy diet works if patients work at it.

Diabetes is a disease where your blood glucose (sugar) levels are above normal. It results from the inability of the glucose to get into your cells. As a result your cells are starving for their food (glucose). It would be like a starving person surrounded by tables of wonderful food but their mouth has been sewn closed and they can’t eat.

About 17 million Americans are believed to have diabetes and one-third of those patients don’t even know they have it. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. And most diabetics develop heart disease. In fact, just having diabetes carries the same risk of having a heart attack as someone who has already had such an event. Therefore it is very important for patients that have diabetes to also have a physician that closely monitors and treats their cholesterol levels as well as their blood pressure. Additionally, any use of tobacco products multiplies the risks and should be stopped.

Are there different kinds of diabetes?

Certainly. But the basic features of the disease are same. In any form of diabetes there is some underlying reason why your body is not able to utilize glucose (sugar) for energy, and that causes the levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood build up above normal. There are three areas that are important for you to understand in diabetes. First, the cells in your body which use the glucose are important as they must be able to remove sugar from the blood and put it inside the cell as a fuel. Secondly, the insulin which is made by your pancreas (an organ near your stomach) is important to allow the sugar to enter the cell (the key to unlock the door to enter), and lastly, glucose which is broken down from your food or from muscle and liver from a storage form of glucose called glycogen. Now if you think of the disease diabetes as involving a locking gas cap on your car, it will be easier to understand.

If you understand how a locking gas cap works, then you can understand how diabetes works. All of the cells in your body have a locking gas cap on them. Insulin is the key to the locking gas cap, and glucose would be the fuel for the car. In one form of diabetes, the body totally quits making insulin (keys) so you can’t get glucose (fuel) into your cells. In other forms of diabetes, your body makes some insulin (keys) but not much as your body needs. Therefore, only a few of the cells can be unlocked and opened to put the glucose (fuel) inside. Another thing that happens is that some of the locks on the cells become rusty and won’t work properly. So even if you have insulin (keys) you can’t get the cells to open. This is called insulin resistance. If the cells won’t open, you can’t get glucose (fuel) inside the cell for energy. The result of all of this is excess glucose in your blood