What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.


Three Main Types of Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. With this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body’s immune system has attacked and destroyed them. Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking insulin, making wise food choices, being physically active, taking aspirin daily (for some), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age — even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes using diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, being physically active, taking aspirin daily, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.

Some women develop gestational diabetes during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin.


The Diabetic ABCs: A1C, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol

If you have diabetes, you are at high risk for heart attack and stroke. But you can fight back. You can control the ABCs of diabetes and live a long and healthy life. Ask your health care provider what your A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol numbers are and ask what they should be. Then talk about the steps you can take to reach your ABC goals. You have the power to lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke by controlling the ABCs of diabetes. Talk to your health care provider today.


What’s a desirable blood glucose test level?

Everyone’s blood has some glucose in it. In people who don’t have diabetes, the normal range is about 70 to 120. Blood glucose goes up after eating but 1 or 2 hours later returns to the normal range. Ask your health care professional when you should do a blood glucose test with a meter.


Controlling Diabetes

If you’re over 45 and overweight, you may be at high risk for diabetes. Talk to your health care provider. Currently, the American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults aged 45 years and older be considered for diabetes screening by their health care provider every 3 years.

Losing 10 to 15 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds, walking briskly for 30 minutes most days, and making healthy food choices.

Barbecues, picnics and family reunions are gatherings to enjoy and treasure. If you choose wisely and watch how much you eat, you can have a delicious meal and feel good too. So, grab your plate and head for the buffet table.

Look for the high fiber, low-fat dishes. Great choices are beans, peas and lentils, and dark green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, spinach and kale. Go for the green bean, three-bean, black bean and black-eyed pea dishes or pasta salads mixed with summer vegetables. Choose whole grain foods such as brown rice, couscous, whole wheat bread and pasta. Everyone benefits from eating these foods, not just people with diabetes. Watch out for dishes loaded with mayonnaise, sour cream and butter. Choose veggies that are light on salad dressing, cheese or cream sauce. If you can, make your own dressing with a little olive oil and vinegar.

Vegetables and grains should fill up most of your plate, but leave room for some lean meat, poultry or fish. Be sure to choose grilled chicken and remove the skin — instead of the fried variety. If you’re going to make a sandwich, use whole wheat bread with mustard or salsa, rather than mayonnaise.

What’s for dessert? Summer means terrific fruits. It’s hard to beat a fresh peach, fruit salad, cantaloupe or watermelon. Fruit is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and has zero fat. Everyone, including people with diabetes, should eat three to four servings of fruit a day. Pies, cakes and cookies are high in fat and cholesterol. It’s best to drink water, unsweetened tea or diet soda. Add a wedge of lemon for flavor.

The glycemic index (GI) has been around for more than 20 years. It measures the effects of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly and release glucose rapidly into the bloodstream have a high GI. Carbohydrates that break down slowly and release glucose gradually into the bloodstream have a low glycemic index. Foods with a low GI can have significant health benefits, especially for those with diabetics.

Low glycemic index foods can help:
control cholesterol levels
control your appetite
lower the risk of getting heart disease
lower the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes
control blood glucose levels.

Low glycemic foods (low GI rating of 55 or less)
• Skim milk
• Plain yogurt
• Soy beverage
• Apples, plums, oranges
• Sweet potato
• Oat bran bread
• Oatmeal (slow cook oats)
• All-Bran cereal
• Converted or parboiled rice
• Pumpernickel bread
• Pasta
• Lentils (beans)
• Chick peas

Medium glycemic foods (medium GI rating of 56-69)
• Banana
• Pineapple
• Raisins
• New potatoes
• Popcorn
• Split pea or green pea soup
• Brown rice
• Couscous
• Basmati rice
• Shredded wheat cereal
• Whole wheat bread
• Rye bread

High glycemic foods (high GI rating of over 70)
• Dried dates
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Baked white potato
• Parsnips
• Rutabaga
• Instant rice
• Corn Flakes
• Rice Krispies
• Cheerios
• Bagels (white)
• Soda crackers
• Jellybeans
• French fries
• Ice cream
• Candies
• Cookies
• Table sugar

Proper Diabetic Menue - the Importance and a Sample
Having a diabetic menu is extremely important , as the maintenance of good health of the diabetes patients very depends the choice as well as adjustment to proper diabetic menu. In this connection, a proper diabetic menu is a low calorie diet. Apart from being low calorie, a diabetic menu need to be low cholesterol and low glucose level too. This way, a diabetic menu has to include all these features for meeting the whole nutritional requirements of a diabetic patient.

Doctor Diabetic Supply, Inc. Acquires Diabetes Source Rx
Doctor Diabetic Supply, Inc., one of the nation's leading distributors of diabetic testing supplies and related products, is proud to announce that it has acquired Diabetes Source Rx, a Lafayette-LA based distributor of diabetes supplies. The acquisition is an important step in the execution of Doctor Diabetic Supply's growth strategy. Customers from Diabetes Source Rx will be easily integrated into the Doctor Diabetic Supply family of clients, given the similarities in the service models of both companies.

Understanding Diabetic Foot Care
It may sound outrageous, however when you have Diabetes, taking care of your feet is critical When you are Diabetic, nerve damage can prevent proper blood flow to your feet

Resveratrol and Diabetes, Can Nutritional Supplements Help?
Research concerning resveratrol and diabetes is still ongoing The single ingredient supplements that are on the market will not be beneficial for diabetics

Coping with Diabetes on Valentines Day. A Chronic Disease for Lovers?
Aaahhh the day of "sweets for your Sweetie"...well, maybe not so much. "With an estimated 24 million Type 1 and Type 2 people coping with diabetes and 57 million Pre-diabetics in the U.S. the odds of someone in your family being affected by diabetes is about 1 in 3.7. That would be that 'epidemic' diabetes thing you keep hearing about in the news." So says Bob Hawkinson, author, and lifelong diabetic of over 45 years.