Using Diabetic Supplies As a Preventative Measure Against Diabetes Complications

Complications from disease are never a fun event. In the case of diabetes, complications can be difficult to manage, irreversible and life threatening. It follows that the advice that all diabetic patients should learn about and take preventative measures against complications arising is so important and should be taken seriously.

An example of a serious complication is nerve damage which occurs when there is too much blood sugar in the blood stream. Neuropathy, a type of nerve damage, occurs when the covering of the nerves is damaged by high blood sugar levels. The nerves then are unable to send signals appropriately. High blood sugar levels occur when the pancreas of a diabetic patient is unable to produce enough insulin or properly utilize the insulin it produces. With the lack of sufficient glucose absorption in the blood stream, the excess sugar can also lead to other severe medical conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts.

Low blood glucose levels can also be problematic and should be treated immediately. If not promptly treated, some diabetic patients with low blood sugar can have seizures or go into comas and in some instances, death could occur. It is vital not to allow low or high blood sugar levels to persist. Low blood glucose warning signs include blurred vision, excessive sweat, experiencing confusion, nervousness, irritability, anger and sadness. Diabetic patients themselves may not readily connect these signs to diabetes. Ignoring low or high blood sugar warnings can be potentially dangerous indeed.

Although, there are a number of red flags symptoms such as unusual weight loss and blurred vision that could indicate the presence of high blood sugar in diabetic patients, these high blood sugar warning signs could go unnoticed. As in the case of low blood sugar, diabetic patients can easily attribute high blood sugar warning signs such as an upset stomach or headaches to less severe ailments and may not understand the urgency of the situation. Both low and high blood sugar should be treated immediately and the best way for diabetic patients to determine that they have low or high levels of glucose in their blood stream is to actually test their blood.

The use of diabetic testing supplies lets diabetic patients know when their blood glucose levels are low and, as in the case of high glucose levels, trigger the patient to find techniques for rectifying the situation without delay. Mail order diabetic supplies and diabetes supplies online suppliers are a convenient no-fuss way of ensuring adequate supply for the home and for office kits. Using diabetic supplies such as meters help patients understand triggers that generate abnormal blood glucose levels and learn more about the foods or medications that keep complications away. When patients use diabetes supplies to determine that they have low or high blood sugar, immediate treatment is required. The right type and quantity of supplies on hand and immediately accessible are vital for diabetic patients to have a way of keeping essential records to help manage the disease.

There is benefit in being able to test blood glucose levels immediately and in the comfort of a patient's home. There is no need to book a doctor's appointment and absolutely no need to develop severe complications that could result in comas or other life threatening conditions. Diabetic testing supplies such as accurate blood glucose meters, lancets and test strips meters kept conveniently to hand are among the most effective preventative measures against complications from diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes - Excess Sweating!

Excessive sweating is a problem for many individuals. The condition, known as hyperhidrosis, is estimated to affect approximately 180 million people worldwide. Some people suffer from it due to certain medical conditions. One condition that can create excessive sweating is diabetes.

Diabetes does not directly cause hyperhidrosis, meaning excessive sweating is not a direct symptom of Type 2 diabetes such as frequent urination or excessive thirst. However, diabetes does create the opportunity for someone to experience excessive sweating under certain conditions...

For example:

if a diabetic is not properly monitoring their blood sugar levels and they go too long without food, causing a hypoglycemic episode, the person with diabetes can sweat excessively. This is because the body is under duress from low blood sugar and is going into panic mode. Since the body is craving sugar it begins to show signs of the stress that is being placed on it.some common symptoms of hypoglycemia are mild trembling, confusion, fatigue, rapid heart rate and, excessive sweating.

Even though hyperhidrosis can be quite annoying to deal with and rather embarrassing, it can also be a very helpful clue for a diabetic that something is wrong. A diabetic who is not paying close attention to their blood sugar levels can start to feel the ill effects of an imbalance, but might chalk it up:

to being tired,not sleeping well, orany number of other unconnected reasons.

The excessive sweating can signal the individual this is something more serious than just not getting enough rest. It could be the key symptom which informs you that hypoglycemia is setting in and give you sufficient warning to alter the episode before it becomes too serious.

Another way that hyperhidrosis affects diabetics is through their medication. Some diabetic medications have side effects that accompany them, with certain ones being more prominent to some diabetics than others. For some people with Type 2 diabetes, excessive sweating is an unfortunate side effects of their medication.

If your anti-diabetes medication is causing excess sweating you need to talk to your doctor about possibly switching you to something else. This may or may not be a possibility depending on the medication you are currently taking and the level of your disease.

There are things that you can do to offset any excessive sweating. Keeping off excess weight and exercising regularly will help, even if your medication cannot be changed. Drinking plenty of water is another. Avoid skipping meals and especially snacks if they are prescribed, as this puts unnecessary stress on your body.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - How To Lower Blood Sugar Naturally!

Blood sugar is not only important for diabetics, but it also comes in handy for those with a weight issue or if an individual is insulin resistant. Controlling blood sugar levels can work miracles not just for weight loss but also for avoiding the many complications of Type 2 diabetes. So knowing how to lower blood sugar is one thing: but knowing how to do it naturally and safely is completely different.

There are several ways to lower your blood sugar level naturally. Why would anyone need to do that? Because of the nature of diabetes. Food is broken down into glucose, which the body would normally use for fuel. But in order for this to happen as it is intended, the body also has to release insulin from the pancreas to help assist glucose in making its way into cells.

But if an individual is overweight, as many diabetics are, the cells become insulin resistant where the cells will not allow insulin to carry sugar into the cells. Or the individual could experience frequent episodes of hyperglycemia. In either case, it is important for the person to produce lower blood sugar levels.

The easiest way to bring down your blood sugar levels is to exercise. Muscles burn sugar and they do it in an efficient manner. It can help your Type 2 diabetes by increasing your body's sensitivity. Exercise not only burns off excess sugar, but regular exercise stimulates a series of events in your body composition: it reduces the amount of fat and increases the amount of lean tissue, muscle, fibers and bone. It also reduces blood pressure and the "bad" cholesterol and increases the "good" cholesterol.

Protein helps to neutralize carbs by slowing down the rate at which they are broken down by your body. Protein also gives you a clear source of energy, something that carbs do, but, in this case, a much healthier option.

Another method is to include fiber in your diet. There are two kinds of fiber, soluble which is gel-forming, and insoluble. Both help to prevent constipation, but only the soluble fibers found in fruit, vegetables, legumes and oats, affect your blood sugar control. An Italian study of adults with diabetes, compared a low-fiber diet with a high-fiber diet high in fruit, legumes, and vegetables. The high-fiber diet resulted in lower blood sugar levels and a lower HbA1c percentage.

Garlic has been used for thousands of years as a natural method to aid in the control of blood sugar. The oils found in garlic have been found to confer many benefits. As well as helping the immune response, garlic has been shown to help lower cholesterol and triglycerides and has a positive effect on the control of blood sugar.

Not into garlic? Try cinnamon. In its natural state, in a pill or sprinkled on certain foods, cinnamon is one of the best tasting natural methods you can find. If you are on a high-carbohydrate diet, then adding Cinnamomum cassia cinnamon to your eating plan may make a difference to the control of your blood sugar. If you are on a carbohydrate restricted diet, the cinnamon that is usually added to oatmeal or apple pies, makes a slight difference in how quickly sugars are released into your bloodstream.

To discover answers to question you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Alcohol and Diabetes: Is It Safe?

Type 2 diabetes is a serious health problem that affects many Americans. This condition is characterized by disruptions in the normal processing of sugar within the body. Patients who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are asked to change their diets and to start exercising to help get sugars back to normal glucose levels. This is often a long, difficult process for most patients. One thing that many patients enjoy is their daily glass of wine or beer and many fear that, if they ask, their doctor will say that they can no longer have that.

The American Diabetes Association does not recommend against the consumption of alcohol as long as it is done in moderation. Patients with diabetes are given the same advice as other patients, as long as they do not have other health problems that alcohol can affect. Men are advised to limit their intake to two or less glasses per day. Women are advised to stick to one or less drinks per day.

What is important for patients to understand is that alcohol may affect them different now that they are diabetic. Alcohol stops the liver from releasing stored sugars and it also increases the effectiveness of insulin. Although it may sound like this is a good thing, it can result in patients have blood sugar levels that drop too low. When levels drop too low the patient can experience headaches, shakiness, fainting and coma. What is particularly dangerous about alcohol is that it may affect the patient's ability to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia before it is too late.

In addition, diabetic patients who use medications and insulin to lower blood glucose readings are at the highest risk for dangerously low blood sugar drops because of alcohol. These patients may not be aware of this risk if they never discuss their alcohol use with their doctor. Patients who take these medications should never drink on an empty stomach. They should be advised to limit their intake to the recommended amounts and to snack while drinking. Meals should never be skipped to replace the carbohydrates or calories with an alcoholic beverage.

People with type 2 diabetes should not be afraid to discuss their alcohol use with their doctor. Knowing the risks of drinking for the diabetic patient is extremely important. By discussing this with your doctor you can learn how to avoid dangerous complications and how to drink alcohol safely. In addition, you may learn that you are drinking too much and can get help to reduce the amount of alcohol that you are drinking. Always ask your doctor if it is safe to drink, especially if you have been prescribed medications for your diabetes.

Diabetes And Dementia Link Discovered

As if diabetes weren't challenge enough... new research that supports earlier work on diabetes and dementia and the long-held suspicion of medicine, finds those who have this life altering, potentially dangerous condition have an increased risk of developing dementia (that includes Alzheimer's disease) than those without diabetes.

This work, unlike studies of the past, uses a large sample size and is of significant enough duration to be convincing, and appears in the journal Neurology.

The researchers want everyone to understand that you need to be aware of the potential problems diabetes can bring... and treat it aggressively and consistently in order to keep trouble from starting.

To stay in control when it comes to diabetes, patients need to be careful about what they eat, how active they are, and may also need insulin or other drugs to keep blood sugar levels properly managed. When left untreated, this disease can lead to a loss of sight, heart and kidney disease and also death.

The study, conducted by a team in Japan, included just over 1,000 Japanese men and women, over 60 years old, who were given a glucose test in order to determine if they were pre-diabetic or diabetic. The follow up then lasted around 11 years.

At the end of the study period, 232 of the subjects were diagnosed with dementia. This could be either Alzheimer's, all cause dementia, vascular dementia or a different form of the disease.

Of the 150 study participants with diabetes, 41 (27%) were diagnosed with dementia as well, while 115 (20%) of the 559 who didn't have diabetes were also diagnosed with the memory robbing, independence stealing condition.

Among the 308 who had pre-diabetes, 76 (25%) also were found to have developed dementia. Just having higher than normal levels of blood sugar during the testing was associated with higher dementia risk.

While we are more convinced than ever that diabetes and dementia are linked, experts still can't say exactly why having diabetes ups the chances of dementia.

It may be diabetes is a contributory factor of vascular disease, with doctors knowing this condition disrupts the oxygen flow to the brain as well as other parts of the body. Such disruption might be enough to cause memory problems and other issues.

Diabetes today affects almost 26 million adults and children in America alone, with an estimated 7 million undiagnosed, and unaware of the risks, according to figures from the American Diabetes Association. This adds up to $174 billion in costs for health care. There are another 79 million with pre-diabetes.

Considering the incredible increases in type 2 diabetes being seen around the world, along with spiraling obesity rates, experts believe that controlling this illness, and hopefully limiting its consequences, is vital.

The next step for researchers is to discover if treating early stage dementia with insulin might be of benefit to patients, and this work is to be funded by the Alzheimer's Association.

Going forward, the findings confirm the notion that diabetes and dementia may be linked. As such, this should change the way doctors manage diabetes, especially if a patient shows signs of failing memory or having other cognitive problems associated with dementia.

Type 2 Diabetes - Can Low Calorie Diets Help Diabetes?

Anyone diagnosed as having Type 2 diabetes is aware they need to eat sensibly, avoid fatty foods and excess carbs, and consume a balanced diet of the right amounts of protein, fruits and vegetables. As easy as that might sound in theory, it is often nearly impossible for many diabetics. As a result, some have resorted to simply limiting their caloric intake as a way of managing what they put into their bodies. But is a reduced calorie diet the way to go?

If a diabetic is overweight, it is typical for their doctor to put them on a reduced calorie diet so the diabetic can lose some of their excess weight, especially weight around the abdominal area known as belly fat. A specific type of belly fat, visceral fat, is the main culprit where insulin resistance is concerned. Since extra weight directly affects the severity of Type 2 diabetes, removing weight in the form of subcutaneous fat as well as visceral fat, can only help.

But some diabetics are taking measures to the extreme and implementing their own low calorie diets, consuming somewhere around 600 to 700 calories (2520 to 2940 kilojoules) per day.

In order to promote healthy weight loss: a typical calorie restriction will put a female at around 1,000 to 1,200 calories (4,200 to 5,040 kilojoules) per day, and a man between 1,200 and 1,600 (5,040 to 6,720 kilojoules). These plans accomplish two distinct purposes:

it forces a person to only eat balanced meals for fear they will not get enough food.it also forces their bodies to dig into fat storage to find the additional fuel their body needs.

If a diabetic follows a 700 calorie (2940 kilojoules) per day plan, they cannot afford to indulge in foods that are high in fat or carbs. If they do, their calorie or kilojoule limit will be reached before the end of the day and they will be persistently hungry.

Limiting calories can be safely accomplished if it is done correctly and the diabetic can still have plenty of food available to them. Even with the success of these plans, many diabetics simply don't, or won't, follow them because they lack the willpower to maintain them. These plans don't allow for cheating or indulging in unhealthy choices.

If a person with Type 2 diabetes follows a low calorie eating plan, they should make their selections based on the glycemic index. This ensures their calorie count remains low while still receiving the benefits of the right food choices as it pertains to Type 2 diabetes.

Before starting such a plan:

consult with your doctor to make sure that you are cleared to follow a low calorie diet. Even so, there will be an adjustment period as your body becomes acclimated to a different type of food.make sure that you set realistic goals in your weight loss.hold off exercising until your body becomes used to the reduced food intake.

All weight-loss diets require time, thought, and effort to learn and implement. If you aim for a particular number of calories each day, a knowledge of serving portions and the caloric values of foods give you all the information you need to plan your meals. As you plan you need to add these numbers until they reach 1200 calories (5040 kilojoules) per day or whatever goal you have developed with your dietitian or nutritionist. Then you need the discipline to shop correctly and stick with your eating plan!

Always use moderation and common sense in your diet.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - Garlic for Lowering Blood Sugar Levels

Garlic contains sulfur compounds that are believed to be responsible for their anti-diabetic qualities. S-allyl cysteine sulphoxide in garlic is one of these... it has been reported to decrease fasting blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels.

Studies on the use of garlic for treating diabetes have had mixed results, so researchers at the University of Karachi, in Pakistan, designed a study to discover whether it could lower blood sugar levels. Their results were published in the Pakistani Journal of Pharmaceutical Science in October 2011.

The study: Sixty people with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes were included in the study:

half were given 300 mg of a garlic pill three times a day, and 500 mg of Metformin twice a day, while theother half were given a placebo and 500 mg of Metformin twice daily.

At the end of 24 weeks the group taking garlic pills showed:

a more than 3 per cent decrease in their fasting blood sugar, as well asa more than 2 per cent decrease in total blood cholesterol, andmore than 5 per cent decrease in blood fats.HDL, the good kind of cholesterol, was increased in the garlic group by more than 6 per cent.

It was therefore concluded garlic in combination with Metformin could be a useful treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

The supplements used in the study were supplied by the KWAI company, which advertises their tablets have all the same elements as fresh garlic, dehydrated. That being the case, then fresh garlic could presumably be used in place of, or in combination with, supplements.

Recipes for fresh garlic: For cooks who are really fond of garlic, vegweb.com suggests drizzling them with olive oil and microwaving them to a crisp. Eat as a snack or sprinkle over salads. The same website offers a recipe for garlic eggplant, which also includes onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, and pepper. Vegweb also has recipes for garlicky rice and peas and two salad dressings made with garlic. English chef and healthful foods crusader Jamie Oliver has at his website a recipe for sauted Jerusalem artichokes with bay leaves and garlic. He recommends eating the dish in soup or warm salad. Garlic-central.com offers a recipe for garlic mushrooms with butter (substitute olive oil), hot pepper sauce (optional) and pepper.

The latter part of October and November are garlic-planting time in the northern hemisphere. Plan for a harvest around March. In the meantime, buy big, plump, firm garlic bulbs with tight, silky paper-like skins. Each mature bulb contains about 10 to 20 cloves. Remove any sprouts before cooking, since they can add a bitter flavor.

Also, eat more onions, as they have many of the same beneficial compounds as garlic.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Type 2 Diabetes - Major Risk Factors To Watch Out For!

In this day and age, Type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed more than ever. Type 2 diabetes... one of the biggest epidemics of our time... currently afflicts well over 18 million Americans. And even more Americans have a condition known as prediabetes. Actually, the diabetes epidemic is not unique to the United States, it is rampant around the world.

Always thought of as an adult-onset disease, because it typically occurred in middle-age and older adults. This is no longer the case, as many children and adolescents who are sedentary and overweight are also developing this disorder.

There is no question our diets and lack of exercise play a major role in the development of this disease. One of the key factors to having a chance at reversing the condition is realizing the symptoms as soon as they appear.

Here are some of the major risk factors for Type 2 diabetes:

45 years of age or older: As you get older, the likelihood of developing diabetes rises. Approximately one out of five people age 65 and over have diabetes.

Overweight (BMI greater than 25): More than 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The more overweight you are, the higher your risk.

Waist circumference greater than 40 inches (male) or 35 inches (female): Excess fat carried around the stomach is especially linked to insulin resistance and diabetes risk.

Parent or sibling with diabetes: Having a family history of diabetes raises your risk. The closer the relative, the higher your risk factor.

Ethnic background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Latino: These ethnic groups are 2 to 2½ times more likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians.

Previously had gestational diabetes, or gave birth to at least one baby weighing more than 9 pounds: Gestational diabetes sometimes occurs during the late stages of pregnancy. It typically goes away after the baby is born, but increases the risk for diabetes in the future.

HDL "good" cholesterol is 35 or lower; or triglyceride level is 150 or higher: Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides are both signs you may not r to your own insulin normally (a condition known as insulin resistance).

Blood pressure is 140/90 or higher: High blood pressure is often associated with insulin resistance, which underlies most cases of Type 2 diabetes.

Exercise less than three times a week: Being sedentary impairs the body's cells ability to remove sugar from your blood.

Most people who have prediabetes don't know it. But the damage occurring inside their body is considerable, and left unchecked, prediabetes usually develops into full-blown Type 2 diabetes. If it turns out that you have prediabetes, you should begin taking action right away to reverse the process.

Of course, there are many other symptoms that can be associated with diabetes including:

fatigue,frequent urination and thirst,blurred vision,slow healing of skin, gum and urinary infections,genital itching,numbness in the feet or legs,heart disease,obesity.

There are a variety of reasons why these symptoms appear. The main thing to understand is that if you're having any of these symptoms, you should be checked by a doctor to see if Type 2 diabetes is the cause. If it is, it's important to take immediate action by getting the disease under control and then working on lifestyle modifications to reverse it.

Diabetes Risk Factors Include Obesity

We've known for a long time that being obese is one of the diabetes risk factors, now a new bit of research finds that the volume of extra weight, and the length of time it's carried, can raise that risk even more. That's of special concern to medical professionals given the growing numbers of obese kids and teens in America. These kids are packing on the pounds earlier and will therefore spend more years carrying more weight than is good for them than any other generation.

Evidence from research and personal experience will tell you that your weight creeps up as you get older. If you're already starting out heavy, that isn't a good sign - obese kids are far more likely to become obese adults.

Beyond diabetes, being obese is a well-recognized contributor to heart disease, disability and early death.

According to researchers the relationship between what you weigh and diabetes risk is the same as that between smoking and lung cancer risk. In fact, BMI is a better predictor of diabetes risk than using body weight on its own.

The finding suggests an increase in the number of diabetes diagnoses in the U.S.

The team looked at data on almost 8,000 teens, calculating how much over a healthy body mass index, BMI they were, and the length of time they were overweight or obese. Those who had a BMI of over 25.0 for a significant period had an increased risk of diabetes.

So for example, if you had a BMI of over 35 for a decade, you were thought to have the equal of a century of excess BMI. That's a pretty big "dose" of extra weight.

Black and Hispanic subjects had an even greater risk of diabetes than whites that were carrying the same levels of extra weight for the same time. For people with a BMI over 35.0, Hispanics were two times as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than whites, and blacks had a 1.5 times as likely to get diabetes than whites.

Because children are becoming overweight much earlier and are carrying the weight for much longer over their lifetimes, there is a good chance we'll see diabetes rates on the rise like never before.

The BMI numbers are certainly higher than just 20 years ago - in the 1970s and 1980s, just 5% of children were considered obese - in 2000 over 13% were obese, and 2009 stats have obesity at 18% of the population of children in this country. Obesity prevention programs need to focus efforts on both teens and young people, particularly those in minority groups.

So if you're a parent what can you do?

To lose the extra fat, kids need to eat a healthier diet and get at least 30 minutes a day of rigorous exercise. The secret to weight loss, at any age, is simply taking in fewer calories than you burn off by your daily activities. Going forward, medical professionals will likely start paying attention to not just patients BMI but the length of time (or "dose") spent at that weight when assessing diabetes risk factors.

Don't Let Your Life Suffer With Diabetes - Learn How to Control Your Diabetes

Did your world turn upside down when you first learned you have diabetes? You may have assumed everything will change for the worse and you will never be able to recover. Our response is two words: "Not necessarily". We will recommend many lifestyle changes that assure proven results, provided you stay with us and act on our experts' advice. Of course, you should always work with your healthcare professional when implementing new ways of managing your diabetes.

Control your Diabetes - What lifestyle changes I should adopt?

Starting with the most efficient change - which, if introduced into your lifestyle can get everything back on routine - is regular exercise. It is easy, enjoyable and efficient. Making exercise a part of your daily routine bears fruits like no other remedy to control your diabetes. These exercises are simple and fun. Since we know that over exerting yourself can lead towards major impediments, and we care about your well-being, we will suggest very light exercises.

Control your diabetes with our suggested exercises.

The first of the three exercises we have especially designed for you are cardiovascular exercises. Fulfilling the requirement of being a non-rigorous, you have two options in cycling and water aerobics. The recommended duration is from twenty minutes to an hour for three to four days a week to achieve the needed vigor, oomph and encouragement.

The next exercise we devised is resistance training. Consisting of low intensity and low resistance programs, they require you to do just ten to fifteen repetitions for two to three days a week. They will give your body defined shape and you will acquire slender and toned muscles.

Flexibility and stretching comes as the final exercise. Stretching is to be practiced as little as two to three days a week, three to five stretches per sitting, for merely twenty to thirty seconds per stretch. This will get your body the knack of being flexible and agile. Stretch lightly for thirty seconds to one minute before and after exercising. At this time, your muscles are warm will make your body flexible like it was never before.

How can you simply control your Diabetes?

Studies conducted by experts have proved that cinnamon and gymnema sylvestre are capable of doing wonders to diabetes patients, as they are known to lower the glucose levels in the body. It is for this reason that people who are on diabetes management regiments consume them because they help control Type II diabetes, in addition to bring down the triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol levels in the body. It is further possible that gymnema sylvestre will even lead to creation of more beta cells by prompting the pancreas. Beta cells provide the body with insulin; moreover, gymnema sylvestre may also form a greater number of body cells than before to respond to the insulin in a better way.

You can live a healthy and happy life, even if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Living a healthy lifestyle is going to be the different between enjoying life or suffer with complication of diabetes. I encourage you to become an education consumer and learn as much as possible about living a healthy lifestyle.

Type 2 Diabetes - Risk Factors Which Could Lead To Diabetic Coma!

Diabetic coma is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by loss of consciousness. An increased blood sugar level, or hyperglycemia, or a decreased blood sugar level, or hypoglycemia, are the main causes of diabetic coma. If left untreated diabetic coma may lead to permanent brain damage and even death.

The causes of diabetic coma may vary and it mainly depends on the type of diabetes you have. Type 1 diabetics usually develop diabetic coma because of:

severely decreased blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, anddiabetic ketoacidosis, the condition characterized by the excessively increased ketone levels within the body resulting from the incomplete metabolism of fats.

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetics, particularly those belonging to the middle-aged population, may develop diabetic coma because of:

diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome, a condition characterized by the excessively increased blood sugar levels that are higher than 600 mg/dL or 33.3 mmol/L.

What are the risk factors associated with the development of diabetic coma?

1. Insulin level problems: An increase in your blood insulin levels due to excessive insulin dosing may result in hypoglycemia. On the other hand, insufficient levels of insulin results in hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia are both causes of diabetic coma.

2. Illness, surgery or trauma: Injury, illness and other forms of stress may increase your blood sugar level dramatically. If you have Type 1 diabetes and you are undergoing some form of stress, you should ask your doctor to adjust the dosage of your insulin injection because physical stress may abruptly increase the level of your blood glucose leading to diabetic ketoacidosis. If you have Type 2 diabetes, the resultant increase of your blood sugar may lead to the development of diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome. Other forms of stressors that may cause hyperglycemia include congestive heart failure and renal diseases.

3. Poor blood sugar control: Poor management of Type 2 diabetes results in increased blood sugar levels. If you are not taking time to monitor your blood sugar level regularly or you are not taking your anti-diabetic medications as prescribed by your doctor, you are at risk of developing hyperglycemia and, therefore, diabetic coma.

4. Skipping your insulin injection or injections: Insulin injections are prescribed by your doctor for a very good reason... and that is to have tighter control of your blood glucose. If you try skipping your insulin injection, you have a chance of developing overwhelmingly increased blood sugar levels, which in turn may cause diabetic coma.

5. Drinking alcohol: Drinking alcohol may be dangerous if you are a diabetic. You see, alcohol can unpredictably affect your blood glucose even up to two days after your drinking spree. Alcohol... which is basically the only non-FDA approved drinkable drug sold over-the-counter... is a big no-no with insulin, and all diabetes drugs for that matter.

6. Use of prohibited drugs. Illegal drug use can increase your risk of developing severe forms of hyperglycemia, hence diabetic coma. The most commonly used illegal drugs which lead to hyperglycemia include cocaine and ecstasy. Marijuana is not classed as an upper, but it also appears to increase blood sugar levels. The effect of the various illegal drugs are variable due to the fact they are manufactured illicitly... the potency of these drugs varies widely. If illicit drugs are taken, always check your blood sugar level.

Type 2 Diabetes - A Simple Online Screening for Diabetes!

Attempting to screen everyone for Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes can be a daunting task. Unless this form of diabetes is suspected, getting fasting blood sugars or hemoglobin sugar levels taken can be painful, expensive and time-consuming. The American Diabetes Association has a simple test which will take less than ten minutes to complete online and will estimate the test taker's likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers in the Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan tested the value of the test and reported their results during 2011 in the online medical journal PloS One.

The test revealed: One thousand and twenty-one participants, all with normal blood sugar readings at the start of the study were included:

one group of volunteers was administered the American Diabetes Association Risk Test (ADART) only,the second group was administered the ADART plus an assessment of lifestyle behaviors, anda third group took the ADART, reported on lifestyle behaviors, and had laboratory tests performed.

At the end of three years:

among those who were judged to be at risk according to the ADART alone, 60 percent of the women and 72 per cent of the men developed pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes.among those shown to be at risk according to the ADART and lifestyle assessment, 62 per cent of the women and 74 per cent of the men developed pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes were diagnosed in 64 per cent of the women and 75 per cent of the men judged to be at risk according to results of ADART, lifestyle assessment and laboratory tests.

The investigators concluded that ADART is a good screening tool for predicting the possibility of developing pre-diabetes or diabetes within three years. Comparing the ADART to other tests, they concluded that the former was better than most.

Where to find the ADART: The ADART can be reached at the website stopdiabetes.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SD_risk_test_english

It asks a few questions dealing with:

heredity,activity, andweight (just between you and the computer),

and reports how high the test taker's risk is, as well as making suggestions on how to lower that risk.

This tool can be used to estimate how much the risk will be lowered with changes in weight or lifestyle. (What if I weighed 20 pounds less and were more active?) The website also has tips for setting realistic and specific goals, such as:

going for a short walk every day after lunch, oreating a smaller portion of French fries and a smaller hamburger than usual.

There is also advice on lowering the risk of heart disease and strokes, common problems in diabetics, pre-diabetics and those at risk for pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

The Big Five Borderline Diabetes Symptoms

Borderline diabetes symptoms are easy to list because we know them, but they can also be easy to miss if you aren't looking for them.

They are the things to watch for if you think you might be prediabetic. I call them the big five because doctors mention them the most, and if you know what to watch for, they are easy to recognize. The first two are increased thirst and frequent urination.

Diabetes (the word means siphon out) has been diagnosed for thousands of years by the increased amount of urine (sweet urine, they called it), and increased thirst that go along with the disease.

Picture this. Beta cells in your pancreas are pumping out insulin, the hormone that carries glucose into cells, but the cells are resisting insulin's efforts. That's insulin resistance. It also may be that your beta cells are damaged or sick and aren't responding to the call for insulin as fast as they're supposed to.

The end result of both is too much sugar traveling in the blood, and your body responds by siphoning it out in your urine. That takes a lot of water. So you're extra thirsty, and you go to the bathroom often. If you do a urine test it will show high sugar content.

That's two of the five warning signs. Another is fatigue. If your cells are resisting insulin, they are still hungry even when there's plenty of glucose floating around. You get tired. That's three.

Blurred vision is number four. This symptom comes and goes as your blood sugar fluctuates. Eyes are very sensitive, and they can be a useful warning sign that blood sugar is not normal.

Number five is the newest one of the borderline diabetes symptoms that doctors are talking about. Are you consistently sleeping less than six hours a night? High blood sugar might be the reason you aren't sleeping well.

There they are, the big five:

Excessive urinationIncreased thirstFatigueBlurred visionSleeping 5-1/2 hours or less a night

But wait, just because you have not noticed any of these borderline diabetic symptoms, that does not mean you're free of prediabetes. There is another list you need to look at. The more things you find on this list that fit you, the more likely you'll find yourself a prediabetic.

Is your BMI (body mass index) over 25, a lot over? Is your exercise level little to none? That means you're sedentary and overweight - two of the four symptoms in the metabolic syndrome, the biggest cause of insulin resistance. If you have high triglycerides and high blood pressure, that's the other two symptoms. If you have all four, you have the whole metabolic syndrome.

Are you over 45? Does a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle have type 2 diabetes? That increases your risk by half again. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome or who have had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy are on this list too.

Genetic risk factors have to be faced. If your racial origins include native American, black, Hispanic, or Asian roots, you're twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes, so just being over 45 and in one of those groups means you ought to get your blood sugar tested every year whether you have borderline diabetes symptoms or not.

What Does It Matter?

It matters because if you find out you are prediabetic there are steps you can take, things you can do to lower your blood sugar and put off, sometimes forever, becoming a type 2 diabetic. You can't do anything about genetics, family history and age, but you can end the metabolic syndrome and lower your insulin resistance. A lower body mass index (it doesn't have to be perfect, just lower), increased exercise and some diet adjustments might do the trick. For a lot of people those things are enough.

The key to all this is to find out if you are borderline diabetic, and the only way to really be sure is to get your blood sugar tested. Get the hemoglobin A1c, or a fasting blood test, or better yet the glucose tolerance test, and find out where you are. Understanding the borderline diabetic symptoms can help, but nothing beats seeing the numbers and knowing for sure.

Don't let the diabetic tidal wave knock you off your feet and carry you away. Heed the warnings and do the wise things. Ignorance is not bliss, it's just dumb. I can say that because I already tried it.

Martha Zimmer invites you to visit her website and learn more about type 2 diabetes, its complications and how you can deal with them, as well as great tips for eating healthy that will make living with diabetes less painful.

Type 2 Diabetes - Obesity and Gum Disease!

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Obesity and gum disease are both frequently seen in people with diabetes, and according to researchers at Brigham and the Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the two are associated, in both diabetics and non-diabetics. Their study was published in the journal Obesity in October 2011.

Study 1: Included in the study were 36,910 volunteers who had no gum disease at the start of the study. After 20 years it was found people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/square meter, considered obese, had a thirty percent higher risk of disease of the gums, than those with a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 kg/square meter. The volunteers who:

had a large waist measurement were 27 percent more likely to have gum disease than those who had a normal waist size, andthose with a high weight to height ratio were 34 percent more likely to suffer diseased gums than patients with a normal ratio.

According to the study, inflammation brought on by obesity can cause gum disease.

Study 2: In 2007 investigators at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA, looked at inflammatory molecules in the portal vein, a vein that carries blood from abdominal fat. In their article, published in the journal Diabetes, they described finding the inflammatory molecules in 25 extremely obese volunteers. The amount of interleukin-6, associated with inflammation, was found to be higher in blood taken from the portal vein, which carries blood from the abdominal fat, than in blood taken from an artery in the arm.

Study 3: In September, 2011 the Iranian Journal of Immunology reported upon a study completed on the subject of inflammatory molecules and gum disease. Researchers at the University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, looked at inflammatory molecules in the blood of people with severe gum disease. Twenty-five volunteers with severe gum disease were found to have higher levels of IL-6 in their blood than 25 study participants without gum disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, gum disease can cause diabetes to go out of control. According to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA, about 34 percent of American adults suffer gum disease, and the condition can result in tooth loss, as well as being associated with generally poor health, heart and blood vessel disease, and complications of pregnancy.

From the above it is apparent that losing belly fat could help to prevent diseased gums, an important cause of tooth loss. Losing weight is already known to be helpful in:

controlling Type 2 diabetes, andpreventing high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

If your waist-to-hip ratio is greater than 0.7 for women or 0.9 for men, why not start a campaign today to bring your belly fat down to a normal healthy level?

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments

Clicking on this link will help you to see how to Beat The Belly Fat Blues Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.

Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Pack Your Diabetes Supplies and Have a Safe Journey

During certain times of year, families plan to hop in the car for a fun and exciting holiday or visit with relatives and friends. The holiday season, may also be a time when travel by car is necessary. For anyone, there are certain plans that need to be made before any road trip is safe and enjoyable. Driving any distance for people with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, can be unpleasant at least; dangerous, at worst. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can strike unexpectedly, leading to shakiness, dizziness and disorientation. Although diabetics can take preventative measures to control their blood glucose before driving a distance, having the necessary diabetes supplies in the car during road trips is also vital to driving as safely as possible.

Before heading for the open road, there are two things patients should do. They should discuss their trip with their healthcare team and follow up on the specific recommendations that will likely come from this consultation. Secondly, the car kit should well stocked with a range of necessary diabetes supplies such as lancets and a glucose meter. It is important to remember that a glucose meter should be taken out of the car in very hot or cold conditions. Temperature has a direct impact on meters and may cause inaccurate readings.

In addition to stocking the car with the necessary diabetic supplies for monitoring blood glucose levels, snacks are also important to include. Snacks may consist of healthy options such as apples, vegetables or even air-popped popcorn. There should also be snack bars and juice boxes that can be accessed for a quick pick-up should hypoglycemia strike. Just because there is a destination waiting doesn't mean the diabetic should rush their trip. The eating schedule that the patient follows at home should also be followed while traveling as closely as possible.

When travelling, the diabetic should wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace or whatever accessory they choose to identify their condition. In the event of an emergency of any sort affecting the patient, it is imperative that medical personnel be aware of a diabetic condition.

Taking care of the diabetic body takes a little more than packing snacks and diabetes testing supplies. Each patient should also be in tune with his or her own body; daily logs or journals help this process and signals that something isn't right are more easily picked up immediately. When driving, especially, the diabetic should listen to internal cues. Should dizziness or shakiness occur, the best course of action is for the patient to pay attention to these symptoms and pull off the road to test his or her blood sugar. If the blood glucose reading is under 80, it should be treated immediately with fifteen grams of carbohydrate and rechecked in fifteen minutes before driving is resumed. This is one of the reasons why portable diabetes monitoring systems are a preferred product to be carried in the car

A safe road trip for the diabetic means more than inflated tires and a full tank of gas. Understanding how to travel safely allows the patient to enjoy all aspects of their journey and arrive in a state of well being.

Jeffrey E. Feldberg is one of the founders of Total Health Diabetes, LLC and the Co-Chairman. Jeffrey's passion for healthy living, being an early pioneer of e-Learning, and being submersed in technology, has culminated in an unique approach to provide the tools, Information and products necessary to help diabetics lead long, healthy and vibrant lives.

Type 2 Diabetes - Shopping For Healthy Foods!

If you have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, or worried as you have been told you have prediabetes, and might be heading down the path to develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes: you might be wondering what kind of foods to purchase at your local grocery store to help you avoid living with diabetes for the rest of your life.

Every expert seems to have their own version of what you should purchase at the grocery store, but the following are some staples that anyone who is trying to eat healthily should have in their pantry or refrigerator.

Plenty of fruits and vegetables: There are many health reasons to eat more fruits and vegetables such as high doses of fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals; and most are naturally low in fat, sugar, and sodium. You really cannot go wrong with any kinds of fruits and vegetables. Moderation is the key here, of course. For instance, you don't want to spend your day eating a bunch of high sugar fruits and vegetables. You have to balance everything, including your intake of fruits. Go for fresh fruits and vegetables above canned. This is because canned fruits often have extra sugar and other chemical preservatives. Frozen fruits and vegetables are okay in many cases because they are frozen at the point where they have the most nutrients.

Grains and legumes: Look for whole grains such as couscous, brown rice, millet, quinoa, barley and bulgar. When looking for pasta, pick the whole grain variety. Also look for whole grain breads. For sandwiches, why not consider using whole-grain wraps or pita bread. Choose oatmeal, grits and other cooked cereals. Look for things in their natural form if possible. Choose dried cereals, dried beans and lentils.

Protein foods: Look for things such as canned tuna, lean turkey, lean chicken breast, ground turkey and vegetarian protein sources such as tofu and tempeh. Try to avoid things such as hot dogs, lunch meats and bacon.

Dairy choices: When looking at the dairy section, choose nonfat or low-fat milk. We need milk to keep our cereal company, and lighten our coffee. The great thing about milk is you can take out some of the fat and saturated fat and still have milk that does all the things you want it to do. You can also use nonfat dry milk powder. Look for:

nonfat or low-fat yogurt,cottage cheese, andsour cream.

All of these can be used in different capacities, either alone or in recipes. You can also find nonfat or low-fat cream cheese and regular cheese. Try to avoid whole milk due to its fat content.

Fats: When looking at fats, choose low-fat margarine, nonfat or low-fat mayonnaise, nonfat cooking spray and nonfat or low-fat salad dressings.

Going to the grocery store does not mean you have to come home with a lot of processed, sugary foods. There is plenty to choose from if you take the time to make a list so that you don't get off-track while walking down the aisles of the grocery store.

The Top 5 Foods to Avoid in Diabetes

In diabetes, we are all aware that if there's one thing that we should definitely stay away from would be sugary foods. But not all people understand why. Knowing the reason behind these foods you should avoid will definitely help you understand and appreciate the importance of doing it.

Here are the top 5 foods that should be avoided when you are suffering from Diabetes and why you should avoid them.

1. Sweets
It's not surprise as to why sweets are on the top list but not many are aware that sugary foods happen to contain high amounts if fats and sugar which are definitely not helpful if you are trying to control your blood glucose levels. You may still eat your favorite sweets but be sure to eat them at much smaller serving this time and if possible, look for alternatives of sugar if you are cooking. Foods such as canned juice, syrup, cookies, honey, ice cream and pastries should be avoided.

2. Foods High in Fat
As much as possible fried foods should be avoided by a diabetic because when there is a rise in LDL "bad" cholesterol in blood, they may be deposited in the walls of arteries and plaque eventually builds up which exposes a person to heart disease and people who are suffering from diabetes are highly at risk at developing heart diseases so it would be best avoid foods high in fat as they contain LDL. Instead of frying your foods, find ways to cook them by baking, sauté or boiling.

3. Alcohol
People who do not have any disease are already advised to take in minimal amounts of alcohol, how much more for those with diabetes? The reason why alcohol should be avoided is because our pancreas has two very crucial roles in the body which are to remove toxins and regulate blood sugar when too much glucose in the blood happens. So when a diabetic drinks, his or her pancreas might not be able to regulate the blood sugar levels because it is busy removing the toxins from drinking.

4. Salty Foods
Salt actually causes blood pressure to rise and as mentioned earlier, a diabetic has a higher risk of developing heart and even kidney disease. Instead of using salt to add flavoring why not use herbs and spices instead.

5. Processed or Preserved Foods
It is really advisable that a diabetic learns to take to time to read food labels when out shopping for foods especially those that are processed or preserved because these types of food can affect blood sugar levels than those that are not and they happen to be high in sodium content. Instead of buying canned fruits buy the fresh ones and if you need to eat canned foods, be sure to drain out the water it contains and toss in healthy ingredients such as beans or vegetables.

Nikole has a passion for writing and healthy living. She believes that a diabetic person can have normal life by knowing the facts about Diabetic Diet and making meals using simple Diabetic Diet Recipes.

How To Control Diabetes and Prevent Unwanted Health Complications?

Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus, is a metabolic disorder that is becoming increasingly common among people. The carbohydrates consumed by us are converted in to glucose and are made to enter the muscle, fat and liver cells. This fuels or energizes you to perform day to day tasks. An organ pancreas secretes insulin which allows the transportation of glucose from blood stream to the body cells. If this chain of phenomena gets disrupted due to some reason, glucose builds up in blood, leading to diabetes. Diabetes may be classified in to the following types:

1. Type1 diabetes: In this type, body produces less insulin. The amount produced is not sufficient for moving the glucose from blood stream to body cells. As a result glucose collects in blood making you diabetic.

2. Type1 diabetes: In this type, the body cells become unresponsive to insulin. Consequently they fail to absorb the glucose from bloodstream.

3. Gestational diabetes: This type affects women who are pregnant.

Diabetes produces symptoms like excessive thirst, excessive hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, blurry vision, irritability and slow healing of wounds. The possible diabetes triggers are heredity, aging, obesity, consumption of high fat diet, pregnancy, excessive alcohol intake, over-eating habits, stress, hypertension, high blood triglyceride levels and physical inactivity. Diabetes can lead to life-threatening complications like, heart disease, stroke, renal failures, blindness, leg ulcers and nerve damage.

Ways to control diabetes:

1. Self monitoring is now possible with devices like Glucometer. This is a boon. You can check your blood glucose levels any time you want and at home. This will help you to take timely precautions and control your soaring blood glucose levels.

2. You can control your diabetes by using external or implanted insulin pumps.

3. Intake of oral hypoglycemic drugs like Thiazolidinediones, Meglitinides, Sulfonylureas, Biguanides etc would help you to keep your glucose levels in check.

4. Consume a diet low in saturated fat and concentrated sweet and rich in fiber.

5. Exercise regularly to do away with obesity, inactivity and also for accelerating the metabolic rate. Brisk walking is quite beneficial as a diabetes control measure.

6. Give up alcohol drinking and smoking.

7. Relieve your stress through yoga, meditation, deep breathing or spas.

8. Learn from a professional the method of injecting insulin. You have to sincerely stick to the routine of taking insulin injections daily. Generally a patient has to take 2-3 insulin injections each day prior to meals.

9. Go for regular medical check ups. It will help you in controlling your diabetes.

10. You can try out the following home remedies for diabetes control:

a) Drink bitter gourd juice every morning to control your diabetes.
b) Chew fresh curry leaves two times daily to get rid of diabetes.
c) Soak fish berries in water overnight. In the morning, crush the berries to extract the juice. Drink it to lower your blood glucose levels.
d) Mix half teaspoon each of dry, powdered bay leaf and turmeric powder with 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera juice. Take the mixture twice daily to check your diabetes.
e) Boil 10-15 mango leaves in 1 glass water. Keep overnight. In the morning, strain and drink the water in empty stomach.

What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease which affects millions of people all over the world and is a leading cause of death. Diabetes is caused when the body fails to produce and use insulin which is incredibly valuable for the human body. The body uses insulin to convert sugar, starches and food byproducts into energy. There are three main forms of the diabetes which can affect everyone at any time in their life.

Type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes are all on the increase, and unfortunately, more children than ever before are suffering with some form of diabetes. The exact cause of diabetes is still un-known; however, there are typical symptoms, which will point, towards this disease. If you are suffering from fatigue, weight loss, extreme thirst and hunger and frequent urination it may be an idea to check that you are not suffering from some form of diabetes.

Pancreas transplants have been attempted in the past; however, they have proved to be unsuccessful, and for some people, they will need to be treated with insulin for the rest of their lives. Your diet and lifestyle may be affecting your diabetes. Often doctors will advise losing weight, giving up smoking, alcohol and eating a healthy diet to improve the diabetes. You will need to learn how to monitor your blood sugar levels and alter your diet to ensure that you are receiving the right amounts of sugar.

People who suffer from Type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin every day, and this will need to be injected. Children who suffer from this form of diabetes will soon learn how to administer the insulin themselves, and it will become a part of everyday life. Type 2 diabetes is often easier to control and will fluctuate depending on your diet and lifestyle.

Obesity is often the largest cause of Type 2 diabetes and losing weight and keeping fit will help you to keep the disease under control. Although some people will need to have insulin every day, other people will only need it when their blood sugar is low. Pregnant women with often suffer from diabetes during their pregnancy and this form is known as gestational diabetes. If the diabetes is monitored well, and a healthy diet and lifestyle remains the diabetes should go away once the baby is born.

Some people feel that diabetes is genetic, and you are more likely to suffer from diabetes if there is a family history of the disease. However, some children and family members never suffer from the disease at all; therefore, it is still unknown if there is a connection. Diabetes is an extremely serious disease which can lead to a huge number of other health problems and conditions. In severe cases, people have lost limbs due to poor circulation, suffered from strokes and heart disease.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms relating to diabetes, you must ensure that you seek professional medical assistance. The sooner you can be diagnosed and a treatment found the more likely you are to remain as healthy as possible. You should ensure that you eat well and exercise daily, both of which will help your body to deal with any illness or disease.

Reversing Type II Diabetes With Your Diet

If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed with type II diabetes you're not alone. Diabetes is one of the oldest known diseases and with each year that passes by, the number of people diagnosed is only increasing.

This should come as no surprise, especially for those living in the United States where most of us are conditioned to eat very low quality foods from birth, that only taste good due to the alarming amount of sweeteners and preservatives within the foods.

According to the World Health Organization, there are over 171 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide. This number is increasing each and every year and is expected to double by the year 2030.

For this reason, becoming educated on your diet and what foods to avoid is extremely important.

Reversing Diabetes With Diet

The first thing you must understand is that diabetes is reversible with the correct lifestyle changes such as being very strict on your diet and exercise routines.

Everything you put into your body must be for the purpose of helping you to recover. The times of enjoying a hamburger, french fries and soda are over.

Fortunately, finding a good diet to follow for diabetes is much easier than you think. However, following a diet plan can be frustrating. One only needs to stick to some of the most common, readily available foods such as plenty of organic fruits and vegetables.

However, most of us know plenty about which foods are healthy for us, but which foods should we avoid?

Soda Pop

By far the most important food to avoid. Under no circumstances should anyone be drinking soda pop, especially those with diabetes.

Soda pop is nothing but poison to your body. The centers for disease control have said diabetes is an epidemic, so then why aren't the soda pop companies aware of this? Do they even care?

Soda contains more sugar than any other beverage. It's main ingredients other than water is nothing but sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

Avoid these beverages like the plague. Stick to water, fresh organic juices and avoid alcohol at all costs.

All Foods Containing High Fructose Corn Syrup

Next time you're at the grocery store, take a look at the ingredients list of everything you want to buy. Almost everything these days is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. And we wonder why diabetes is increasing each and every year?

If it has this ingredient, don't buy it. It's so popular because it is the cheapest way for companies to sweeten their products, it's also extremely addictive which is why it can be so difficult for people to stop drinking soda.