Normal blood glucose levels vary very little from person to person. There is a set range within which your glucose levels should fall in, anything outside this and you could end up with some kind of problems. Glucose mainly is a kind of an energy source in the body. It is created whenever you consume any form of carbohydrates. The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin which ultimately helps in regulating the glucose in the blood.

The normal range should be anywhere between 70-150 mg/dl. Your sugar levels may vary within this range depending on your meals and the time of the day. When your sugar levels go beyond the 150mg/dl mark, you could end up with a condition called hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. On the other hand, if your levels are below 70 mg/dl, then you may be suffering from hypoglcemia. Sugar levels which fall very low could eventually prove to be fatal. The normal signs of hypoglycemia are fatigue, tiredness, nausea, personality problems, and in some severe cases even coma. High blood sugar on the other hand usually leads to the more common condition of diabetes. Diabetes if not kept under control, could cause nerve, eye and kidney damage.

The best way to know your normal blood glucose levels is through a blood test. A test confirms your normal range and also helps you to determine if you could be suffering from any kind of the above problems. There are numerous different tests that you could take.

The fasting glucose level test is usually performed when check for diabetes, it is done after fasting fro 8 hours. The normal range for this test should be between 70-99 mg/dl. There is also another test called the postprandial blood sugar test, which is done 2 hours after eating a meal, and the normal range for this test should be between 70-145 mg/dl. A person could also do a random blood test for checking his sugar levels, here the normal range should be between 70-125 mg/dl. If the results fall outside this range frequently, then it could indicate a upcoming problem.

Lastly there is one more test called the oral glucose tolerance test or OGTT. This test is performed after giving a glucose drink to the person. This is normally done when a person, requires to get himself checked for diabetes.

In the end it is very important that a person get his glucose levels checked often, as some of the sugar related disorders can strike without any prior warning. Also please consult your doctor or physician for the best advice and information on normal blood glucose levels and any symptoms you may be having.

Prevent obesity-related diabetes to invade your body if you are obese or overweight. If you are overweight, chances that you will get diabetes type 2 are 7 times a normal person, if you are obese, you are 20-40 times more likely to get obesity-related diabetes if you continue to live the way you are doing now.

The good news is that you can prevent obesity-related diabetes to occur, since 9 cases in 10 could be prevented if overweight or obese person takes some simple steps like; losing weight, some exercise, shifting to a healthy diet, and not smoking. If you have obesity, glucose (the sugar type that our cells depend on for most of their energy needs) is floating around your bloodstream, and when prevented from entering the cells , diabetes occurs.

Obesity-related diabetes begins when cells (primarily muscles) stop responding to open-for-glucose signal of insulin. The body responds by making extra amounts of insulin (within the intricate body mechanisms to control blood sugar). Finally, the beta cells of pancreas that secrete insulin get exhausted and begin to fail.

That means, that if you are overweight or obese, then probably you are pre-diabetic. Changing your life style to include weight loss, exercise and diet exchange, you can prevent pre-diabetes to be turned into diabetes type 2, moreover you can return your blood levels to the normal levels. Genetic inheritance take a back seat to the behavioral and life style factors.

Information from several clinical trials strongly support the idea that you can prevent diabetes type 2. Diabetes Prevent Program had verified that weight loss and increased exercise reduced the conversion of pre-diabetes to diabetes type 2 by 58%.

The steps needed to prevent obesity-related diabetes, and also to lower the chances of developing heart disease and some cancers include:

- Weight loss:

Losing 7-10% of current weight can cut in half the chances of developing obesity-related diabetes

- Increased insulin utilization:

Working your muscles more often and making them work harder improve their ability to use insulin and absorb glucose. You do not need long bouts of hot, sweating exercise, studies suggest that walking briskly for 1/2 an hour every day reduces the risk of developing obesity-related diabetes by 30%

Making the necessary diet changes:

There are 2 important dietary changes that may largely reduce the risk of obesity-related diabetes development, these changes are:

1- Consuming foods with Low Glycemic Index instead of foods with High Glycemic index:

Highly processed carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, mashed potatoes, donuts, and many breakfast cereals have high glycemic index, this means that they cause sustained spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. They stress the body insulin-making machine predisposing it to insulin resistance that is followed by beta-cells failure.

Low glycemic index foods like; whole grains, most beans and nuts, and whole grain breakfast cereals, are not digested and absorbed with the same ease of high glycemic index foods, causing lower and slower increase in blood sugar and insulin, thus reducing the efforts needed to make insulin.

2- Choosing good fats and avoid bad fats:

It was recently found that type of fat in your diet can have effects on the development of type 2 diabetes. Good fats like those in salmon, tuna, liquid vegetable oils, and many nuts can help prevent diabetes type 2.

Trans-fats do the opposite and hence they are bad fats. Any product that lists " partially hydrogenated vegetable oil" on the label, fried foods in most fast-food restaurants, packaged baked foods, and many margarine brands are examples of foods that contain bad fats.

Back about six years ago when I had a real job, I remember having many problems with employees who smoked. Not only were they traditionally the least productive of all employees but their habit(s) were filthy dirty. Not just the smoking part but leaving their trash all over and not washing their hands before going back to work.

As a General Manager for a large food service Management Company I pleaded with our HR folks to give us some tools to use to curb the problem. DEAF EARS. I made the argument then that the health care costs of smokers alone were enough to act-but NOOOO.

Throw in overweight employees who are almost as high on the non productivity level and present even more risks in terms of health care costs and you have the makings of a group of employees who because of their habits/lifestyle present a cost burden for health care that was skyrocketing. Something had to give!

There is so much pressure on corporate America to produce for the stockholders that a cost that is out of control largely due to lifestyle choices of employees seemed like a target that sooner or later had to zeroed in on. The time, it seems, is upon us.

Insurance companies have asked prospective policy holders these screening questions for years about smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, weight et.al. to determine a level of risk. Now employers are beginning to scrutinize the lifestyle habits of their employees -- even those that happen outside of business hours.

Risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, body mass, bad cholesterol levels all associated with Diabetes and indirectly with weight issues may determine if you get a job.

Type 2 Diabetes is largely a lifestyle disease. It affects nearly 20 million Americans and 240 million worldwide and is spreading at epidemic proportions. It can be avoided by some simple changes to your lifestyle: exercise, lose weight, eat healthy does the trick.

Employers have to start somewhere and that start is with the hiring of new employees. Some employers like the Cleveland Clinic have already started. Other companies are going to fine employees for their bad lifestyle behaviors.

Most experts believe, however, that as health care costs continue to rise, employers will continue to enact penalties for unhealthy behaviors.

The battle has started. The Lifestyle Police are accepting applications. If you smoke or are overweight you need not apply.

Jack Krohn has had Diabetes, Pre-diabetes and Syndrome X for nearly fifteen years. He speaks from the experiences he has had during that time. He is also a free lance writer-the #1 author of Home Security Articles in the country.

First, I felt a pain in my glute. It was a sharp sort of pin pricking pain. The kind you feel when you have a pimple on your face. "Don't tell everybody where exactly your boil is," hubby said. "Tell them it is on your upper leg." I nodded. Like my buttock is not a part of my anatomy.

Then the pain grew in leaps and bounds. On day three, it became too much to ignore. At office I heard horror stories of people who had to get 'cysts' operated on. "Every body in my house had to get theirs operated," a well meaning friend warned.

Horrified, I returned home and called the diabetes doctor. Hubby hates hospitals, but offered to accompany me. He could see I was suffering and there was no way I could drive there on my own. On an empty stomach, I arrived at the hospital, expecting the blood test and a doctor's appointment to set the draining cyst right. But, providence had other plans. "Stay and meet Dr Vasudevan, our surgeon" the student doctor requested, even though I wanted a lady doc.

We had to wait more than a couple of hours. Surgeon was not in. Finally we managed to meet a 'lady' doctor. Without even a cursory glance at my 'draining cyst', she sent me right up to the surgeon, again. Looked like my destiny was sealed.

My derriere was bared. A man of few words, Dr. Vasudevan, the middle aged bald scapula and suture happy surgeon asked, rather abruptly "Where's it?" Like baring my bottom in front of surgeons was a hobby I liked indulging in. I was insulted, but his nurse obligingly pointed it out to him, and he left the room. A few minutes later, after I was modestly dressed, I found him deep in conversation with hubby. "It has to be operated on right away. If not, it will spread, causing dead tissue to form gangrene. Diabetes, you see," they both shook their heads while hubby looked grave.

I was stunned into silence. I did not want this. We were to fly to Mauritius the following week, and if I was operated on, the trip would have to be cancelled. Our third cancellation in three months. First we had planned a trip to Thailand. Just as we were about to get our visas stamped and pay for our tickets, we had to cancel because of the coup there. Hubby recommended we go to Malaysia, but I did not quite fancy that trip, instead I thought Hong Kong would be good. That got shelved as hubby's sister had just returned from there and wasn't raving. In fact she recommended we cancel. "Its very expensive, and simply not worth it. Singapore is better." "Not Singapore," I said. We had been there too often. So, we settled on Mauritius, and I was euphoric. The planning and the build up to the trip were exciting.

Till cyst happened. Instead of paying for the holiday, he was paying hospital bills. I sobbed, uncontrollably. Loudly and as heart wrenchingly as I knew how. I hoped the heavens would hear me and take the stupid cyst away. Was not to be.

We went to the reception to book the room. "I want the best," hubby said. Like it would replace a holiday. "Oh, sir," fat man at the reception exclaimed, "we have five bookings before you. All waiting to be admitted."

"Well, this is an emergency." Hubby looked serious like I would collapse on the floor if room was not given.

"All of them are emergencies." Fat man had the audacity to sound blase.

I felt like I was indeed going higher realms real soon, without a room. So I stepped in, uninvited. "Your doctor said this is an emergency. If you don't have a room for me, where can I go? Do you have a tie-up with another hospital we can go to where your surgeon can operate?"

"No."

"Then?"

"You have to wait." And die?

We went off wondering what would happen. In the meanwhile, I was to have antibiotics after every meal. The tears flowed. Were these my last days on earth?

Apparently not. The man from the hospital called. "We have a room for you," he said like he was pulling a rabbit out of his hat. "Please check in by 4 pm." We rushed home, ate lunch, packed a bag and rushed back an hour late. A lift filled with chattering young ladies appeared and somehow we crammed ourselves and strolley in.

"Where are all of you going?" the lift man asked the ladies.

"Oh, we've achieved out targets and are heading for an appreciation party!"

Targets? In a hospital? I did not understand.

Answering my unasked question, someone said, "1,700 in one week!" Got it!! Just like every other industry has sales targets, these people do too. Was I a target as well? The ominous thought crept up. Who ever heard of being operated for a boil that was merely 4 days old?

Whatever, I was powerless because of my ignorance, besides I am diabetic.

I swore to myself and to hubby that I would never touch a sweet again, never eat potatoes, nor would I let anything fried pass my lips. I wound control my weight like crazy and would workout like my life depended on it, because it did.

Next morning, I was transported, fully conscious, on a stretcher to the operation theatre. My first encounter with a surgeon's knife. Into the theatre they wheeled me as the cold metal of the stretcher chilled my skin. I was well in time. Surgeon too was sitting there, sharpening his knives. Only anesthetist was missing. Frantic calls were made. As I lay there, my hair escaping from the surgical cap, I looked at a board that had my name on it, and it was spelt wrong. Ameetha - surgical removal of cyst on glute.

Muthulakshmi - amputation.

The cold metal sent a chill through my bones. I hoped and prayed the doctor knew I was me and not Muthulakshmi. I prayed he did not chop off my leg in confusion. Before the thought could get me into a frenzy the anesthetist arrived, and I was wheeled into the operation theatre.

"Close your eyes," a nurse instructed. I did, but not before anesthetist said "hello."

The next thing I knew was this wonderful feeling. I was deeply rested and gently drifting into consciousness. I did not want to open my eyes. I wanted to go back to that restful place where I was a flower that swayed happily in a gentle breeze. Where only happiness existed. Where peace prevailed. Maybe I was coming back from the dead. Maybe I was destined to wear my solitaires longer. And I heard my mother's voice. She was actually there. And I knew all would be well again.

It was amazingly disappointing to see that the American Diabetes Association refers diabetics to the food pyramid for dietary and cooking advice. This simplistic, and in recent times, often challenged accuracy of the food pyramid is not at all suitable as the be-all, end-all guide to a diabetic diet. There are important eating tips every diabetic should know in order to live a long healthy life with diabetes.

The basics of a diabetic diet are simple: AVOID SUGAR

This well known aspect of a diabetic diet is usually taken to mean avoid candy, desserts, chocolate and other sinful sweets.

The truth is that avoiding sugar is much more complicated than that.

Here are some things the good old food pyramid doesn't tell you:

Here is the best food pyramid for a diabetic:

More Vegetables and Proteins
Light on the Fats and Dairy
Even Less Sugars and Starches

Think all fruit and vegetable are created equal?

There are fruits and vegetables that are naturally higher in sugars than others. Eating more of the lower sugar fruits and vegetables as part of a diabetic diet is a healthier choice, especially as a long term habit.

High Sugar Fruits

There are fruits that are naturally more high in sugar than others.

These high sugar fruits include:
Bananas
Grapes
Mangos
Strawberries
Watermelon

Better fruits to eat are:
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Apples
Berries - blueberries, raspberries and blackberries

Make sure to buy fresh fruit, organic is best. Never buy canned fruits or dried fruit. They are loaded with artificial sugars and syrups.

Sugary Vegetables, Really?
There are vegetables which are very high in sugar. Really. Please don't misunderstand that any vegetables are good and much better than candy, cakes and desserts, but there are better fruit choices than others.

These high sugar vegetables include:
Corn
Carrots
Beats
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Red Peppers

Better vegetable choices are:
Green veggies - green beans, spinach, lettuce (anything but iceberg lettuce), zucchini
Squash
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cauliflower

Carbs are Secretly a Sugars

Most people are not aware that carbohydrates (carbs) are just as bad as "sugars". Carbohydrates when broken down in the body become sugars. So, is there really a difference. Not really. A diabetic must assimilate and process carbs just as he would need to process sugar, with insulin, which a diabetic is lacking.

Carbs have managed to work themselves into our daily diets too well. Consider the carbs "wrapping" on most foods you eat. Open up the wrapping and just eat what is inside.

For Example, remove "wrapping" such as:
Hamburger and hot bug buns
Tortillas
Sliced breads or rolls

Try to avoid complex carbs such as:
Chips
Crackers
Pretzels
Muffins, cakes, dounuts and sweet breads
Loafs of bread (Sprouted grain bread is OK)

Better carb choices are:
Potatoes (buy small red potatoes instead of large brown potatoes)
Rice (basmati rice is best, but brown rice is ok)
Sprouted grains (Ezekiel makes sprouted grain breads and cereals)

Education about the foods you eat and their real content and contribution to your diet is key to maintaining a long and healthy life.

Making smart food choices now and establishing healthy eating choices that become a lifestyle is the best thing a diabetic can do. So start making smart diabetic diet choices now!

I don't know why?

We live life full of dreams and desires. Full of activity and fun. Ups and downs.

We celebrate life with food and drink.

Coming up through the years, we have seen children born with Type 1 Diabetes and we have seen adults and teens develop Type 2 Diabetes. All at an increase year after year. It's killing our society one by one. Yet, we continue to celebrate life with food and drink.

OK. Food and drink is a must to live.

Obesity is a major cause of diabetes in many people today. You should really consider educating yourself and your family on the risks of becoming diabetic because many of you may not know that what you are eating plays a big role in whether or not you may in fact become diabetic yourself.

Celebrating Life is a must if we are going to grow and develop, if we are going to be happy with ourselves and the world around us. But do we have to kill ourselves doing it? No! Defeats the purpose doesn't it.

We need to stop. We need to think.

WE NEED TO LIVE!

For ourselves, our families, our friends and our societies. We have so much to give. it is unfare and selfish for our indulgences to take away from the rest.

I Don't Know Why?

Certainly something for us to Think About.

This is the beginning. Don't stop here. Diabetes is not just a disease, it is a Life Style. Celebrate Life.

Hello. I was diagnosed with diabetes 28 years ago at the age of eight. My childhood years were very uneventful. My mother encouraged me from very early on to exercise. We would walk and ride bikes all day long. She would always walk with me after our evening meal. I know now how very important this was and thankful for my mother who lead me in this regimen.

Five years ago after not feeling well for several months, I felt The Lord answer a prayer of desperation. From this came a major change in my lifestyle. I spent much of the first year researching and learning about living by God's natural laws of health, which we will discuss later. Our family knows The Lord did not bring us to this place of better health to keep to ourselves; and as a result we have been teaching nutrition for the last three years.

So, what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that involves the pancreas. This is an organ of the endocrine system. It also involves beta cells. The pancreas and the beta cells produce and deliver several hormones throughout the body. Insulin is the hormone that is lacking or not able to be utilized properly when diabetes is involved.

Insulin in the body is used for reacting to carbohydrates and sugars in the foods we eat. It maintains the body's blood sugar, which should range from 70-120 ml. In diabetes the blood sugars begin to rise when food is ingested because there is little to no insulin to combat this or the insulin is not able to be utilized correctly.

What are the things you need to watch for if you are concerned about someone you love or perhaps yourself? Symptoms could include unusual thirst, excessive urination, weight loss, headaches, and nausea. If you suspect anything, please see your doctor.

According to the American Diabetes Association 20 million Americans have diabetes. When a loved one is diagnosed with diabetes one of the things that you will want to know about is cooking for diabetic family members. While most dietitians and physicians will encourage the diabetic to eat what the normally eat just in moderation, counting carbohydrates may help them control their blood sugar level so that they feel better. The balance between the carbohydrates a person eats and insulin determines what your blood sugar level will be after eating. Carbohydrate counting can also assist you in planning your meals.

Foods that have carbohydrates

* Breads, cereals, and crackers

* Pasta, rice, and grains

* Starchy vegetables

* Milk, soy milk and yogurt

* Fruits and fruits juices

* Sweets such as cakes, cookies, and ice cream

Tips for planning meals

One of the best things that you can do to assist a family member who has diabetes is to make sure that they are eating meals at regular times every day and not skipping meals. To help regulate blood sugars you should eat consistent amounts of carbohydrates at each meal. Check your blood sugar regularly.

Keep track of your meals with a meal planner. This will tell you how many carbohydrate choices that you should be eating from meal to meal, be sure to include snacks. Men should eat 3-5 carbohydrate choices at each meal and 0-2 carbohydrate choices for each snack works well. Women should eat 2-4 carbohydrate choices at each meal and 0-2 carbohydrate choices for each snack works well. You should visit your dietician for appropriate carbohydrate intake to meet your individual needs.

A healthy daily meal plan includes: 2-4 servings of fruits, 3-5 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of whole grain, and 2-4 servings of milk or milk products. Eating foods that have fiber such as whole grains and having very few salty foods is healthier for you. Eat 4 to 8 ounces of lean meat or meat substitute each day. You should limit fats to 1-2 servings per meal and select healthy fats, such as olive or canola oil and nuts. Limit and avoid fats found in bacon, butter, cream, solid shortening, and high-fat meats.

Carbohydrate counting made simple

1. Identify the foods that contain carbohydrates-toast, milk, orange.

2. Know the number of carbohydrates contained in one carbohydrate choice or serving-each carb choice or serving contains 15 grams of carbohydrates.

3. Know the serving size for foods within each food group.

4. Count the number of car choices.

Sample Meal:

2 slices of toast with margarine-2 carb choices

1 egg, over-easy-0 carb choices

1 cup skim milk-1 carb choice

large orange-2 carb choices

That's a total of 5 carb choices.

When preparing recipes, simple changes, such as using egg whites instead of whole eggs or garlic powder instead of garlic salt, can make a big difference in the amount of fat, sodium, sugar and other nutrients in the foods you eat each day.

To reduce the amount of fat and cholesterol

So what healthy exchanges can you make without affecting the taste or texture of your food? Try substituting these foods if your recipes call for them, to make healthier meals and snacks.

· Bacon-substitute Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, or smoked turkey.

· Butter, margarine, shortening or oil in baked goods-substitute applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for better, shortening or oil.

· Eggs-substitute two egg whites or ¼ cup egg substitute for each whole egg.

· Evaporated milk-evaporated skim milk.

· Full-fat cream cheese-fat-free or low-fat cream cheese.

· Full-fat sour cream - fat-free plain yogurt or fat-free or low-fat sour cream.

· Ground beef-extra-lean or lean ground beef, chicken or turkey.

· Mayonnaise-reduced-calorie mayonnaise-type salad dressing or reduced-calorie, reduced-fat mayonnaise.

· Oil-based marinades-wine, balsamic vinegar, fruit juice or fat-free broth.

· Salad dressing-fat-free or reduced-calorie dressing or flavored vinegars.

Most recipes can tolerate a healthy renovation without it affecting the taste or texture of the food. So when you're cooking for diabetic family members use your time-honored family favorites, just make them healthier!

It may sound silly, but diabetics frequently need diabetic socks to keep their feet healthy.

Why Would I Ever Need Diabetic Socks?

You would need diabetic socks if you have diabetes. Diabetic socks are literally socks that are worn by diabetics.

One side effect of diabetes is loss of feeling in the feet. While this may not seem like a big deal, to diabetics it is. When a person loses feeling in their feet, they have a hard time knowing when their feet are hot or cold or if they have a blister or other wound on their foot. When these types of wounds go untreated, they can turn into ulcers or other massive infections. Sometimes when these infections are left to fester, the person may develop gangrene and have to have their foot or leg amputated.

Finding the Right Socks

Diabetic socks aren't like your average sweat socks. Diabetic socks include extra padding, cushion and ventilation to help keep the feet healthy. The extra padding prevents blisters and ulcers from forming because it prevents aggravating friction between the sock and skin. The ventilation system helps keep the feet dry. A wet foot can cause bacteria and other unwanted fungus to form. Diabetic socks are typically constructed in such a way that the toe seam doesn't irritate the toes.

Diabetic socks are frequently made with acrylic yarn. This is a very comfortable, friendly yarn that provides plenty of cushion. Your diabetic socks may also include an antimicrobial finish to prevent fungus from collecting on the foot.

You can find diabetic socks at some health specialty stores. You can also find them on-line. This is perhaps the easiest place to purchase your diabetic socks. These sites give you a brief run down on the socks inducing their benefits, cost and size chart. They also a variety of socks allowing you to choose socks that best fit your needs.

Diabetic socks are extremely effective at helping diabetics keep their feet in good health. If you're diabetic, you should consider getting diabetic socks especially if you can't feel your feet.