Online Writing by Fran Aslam

Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms and Best Neuropathy Treatment

Fran Aslam — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:13 +0000

Diabetic Neuropathy Symptoms and Best Neuropathy Treatment

Neuropathy is a condition that relates to nerves disease and nerve damage pain. Diabetic Neuropathy triggers because of high blood sugar levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Neuropathy can attack any part of the body as nerves are spread all over.

Usually neuropathy grows gradually and becomes very noticeable after 10-25 years of living with diabetes depending on individual regular blood sugar levels.

Causes

Everyone with type 1 and type 2 diabetes does not suffer with this diabetes complication, but it is estimated that almost 60-70 % of the patients do get it. Main causes of diabetic neuropathy are:

Constant high blood sugar levels
Elevated triglycerides and high blood cholesterol
Over weight and obesity

Symptoms

Symptoms for diabetic neuropathy develop very slowly and the early years go by unnoticed without big changes in lifestyle. This situation can be different for everyone and some may even have a full blown neuropathy from the beginning it depends on the blood sugar levels and how a patient with type 1 and type 2 diabetes focuses on prevention and care along with the medications healthy meal planning for diabetes and exercise workout plans.

1. Nerve damage pain numbness tingling hands and feet

This occurs because of the nerve damage and it causes to stop feeling light impacts on the nerves for example if you get a light burn while taking out a dish from the oven you will not feel it and second day when you are in the shower you will see a burn on your hand. Similarly sharp objects do not feel right away when stepped upon. Hot or cold feels the same way unnoticed because of the numbness. Tingling in hands and feet is a common complain by diabetics too.

2. Damage to the heart

The heart blood vessels and nerves suffer orthostatic hypotension which makes the patient light headed and week. Dizzy symptoms and lightheadedness and trouble keeping blood pressure high enough when sitting or standing up are common problem due to diabetes complications. There is noticeable increase in the heart rate and angina symptoms and chest pain may even cause a heart attack as symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

3. Digestive problems

These problems create a real bad condition to raise blood sugar levels. Patient feels

Chronic constipation or diarrhea or nausea
Feeling full with a small amount of food
heart burn and bloating
And similar other problems related to digesting food and eating.

4. Muscular pain and muscle weakness

A general weakness that causes the slow down of activity and double vision, problem getting up from a chair and climbing stairs are some of the problems that occur as symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

5. Bladder control

This makes it hard to hold urine and in some cases even may pass urine without knowing it.

6. Sexual problems

Both men and women feel this dysfunction by not able to function as needed. Men face erectile problems and women feel dryness and trouble with vaginal orgasm.

7. Diabetes Hypoglycemia

It becomes hard for a diabetic to feel signs of low blood sugar which is very dangerous and can be resolved by checking blood sugars at home few times a day.

Categories and Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Neuropathy caused by type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be categorized into two main categories

1. Autonomic neuropathy

2. Sensory Neuropathy and motor neuropathy

The types of diabetic neuropathy are

Peripheral neuropathy
Proximal neuropathy
Focal neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects toes legs feet hands and arms. This causes pain numbness and tingling.

Proximal neuropathy attacks thighs buttocks and legs.

Focal neuropathy affects eyes facial muscles ears pelvis and lower back chest abdomen thighs legs and feet.

Autonomic neuropathy affects heart and blood vessels, digestive system, urinary tract sex organs sweat glands eyes and lungs.

Treatment

Neuropathy treatment differs from person to person depending on the individual test results. There are specified medications to be prescribed, but still keeping blood sugar close to normal is the best key. This is the best prevention for diabetic neuropathy.

1. However certain drugs that treat depression can reduce the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

2. Drugs that treat seizures are also used for this treatment.

3. For digestive problems due to symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, medicines that may move the food faster from stomach and intestines are most suitable.

4. For foot neuropathy check your feet every day and consult a medical expert or podiatrist ASAP.

It has been proven by researchers in Mosco and Sydney that symptoms of diabetic neuropathy reduce significantly with the use of Alpha Lipoic Acid – a dietary supplement. This research and its results were published in March of 2003.

Prevention

For normal blood sugar range, pay attention to your endocronologist instructions about diabetes, take the required medicines/insulin, plan your meal with the required portion size and follow an exercise workout plan.

If you are interested in dietary supplements get information about Alpha Lipoic Acid and discuss its use with your doctor.

Keeping blood sugars close to normal blood sugar range is the key as it controls all the complication related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The sole purpose of this information is health awareness. This information is real and based on facts. It is not a substitute for medical care from your doctor or health care provider. Please check with your doctor on any related matter that concerns you for your health and well being.

List of Foot Issues for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Foot Ulcers

Fran Aslam — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:00:11 +0000

List of Foot Issues for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Foot Ulcers

Foot issues are general problems for the mature years of life for many people because it is farthest from heart and blood has no problem going down to the feet but coming back to the heart to circulate again becomes harder gradually. This natural fact and combination of Diabetes makes it worse and creates light to drastic problems for diabetic feet with high levels of glucose. Foot podiatrist is the medical expert for these problems. For general health care of the foot and to find changes to your feet keep in touch with a podiatrist. Here is a list of problems that can be faced

Dry skin and cracked heels
Blisters and sores
Bruise and cuts
Foot ulcers
Neuropathy in the feet
Feet Calluses
Poor blood circulation
Amputation of the leg, foot or toe amputation
Achilles Tendinitis and achilles pain
Bunions on feet
Hammertoes
Heel Bone Spur
Ingrown toe nails
Heal Pain or Planter fasciitis
Stress fracture of the foot
Gout disease – due to kidney problems caused by diabetes

Foot Ulcers

What is Foot Ulcer? It is a sore spot in the feet when a person is suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It can start as a blister small cut or foot bruise and constant neglect and no treat ment or miss treatment can turn it into an ulcer. The end result of this is amputation of the toe, foot or leg. It is stated that 80 % of Diabetic amputations start this way.

Symptoms of foot ulcer for type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Cold feet
Pain in a particular spot of the foot
Sores, ulcers or blister on the foot
Changes in the skin color, turned darker, red or blue
Swollen foot or ankle
Fever, or other obvious signs of infection

Consulting a podiatrist who specializes in diabetic feet treatment is the best way to handle it and do it as early as possible to save all the pain suffering and best cure of the problem. Foot care specialist will follow testing and Diagnosis procedures to confirm the nature of the problem. This may include the following tests.

X-Ray
CT scan
MRI scan
Doppler or arteriographic studies to determine blood flow
Blood glucose test along with complete blood count test

After the results are received the podiatrist will be able to find a solution for your foot treatment and the patient will have to understand all the complications and care to be able to follow the treatment for the foot problem.

Keeping pressure off the foot by resting, special casts, shoes, boots and medication if needed is a part of the treatment. Wound care is very important. Suitable antibiotics and maintaining regular blood sugar levels with medicine/insluins planned meals and daily exercise is to be followed very carefully.

Skin graft debridement that is the removal of the dead tissue and gaining normal blood flow to the foot is the key to proper healing. If this is not achieved by treatment the final stage is amputation.

Prevention is even better than early detection

Read my previous post about the general care of Type 1 and type 2 diabetes foot care and make sure to check your feet every day and do the following

Daily cleaning and applying best skin moisturizer with vitamin E or simply vaseline petroleum Jelly
Inspect feet daily for the temperature, color change or any small cuts blister or bruises
Get feet checked by the physician and once a year by the podiatrist
If it is hard to trim nails get it trimmed with the podiatrist.
Watch your blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible, by healthy meal planning, portion control, exercise daily and take medicines/insluins properly.
Get your calluses removed by the podiatrist if any
Maintain a foot temperature monitor and use it often for temperature checking of the foot to maintain a healthy temperature according to the instructions received from the podiatrist.

To simplify foot issues I will say keep an eye on your feet by inspecting and caring for foot health every day and check if there is any kind of change that concerns you. Early detection and proper early treatment will help you cure diabetic feet fast and easy.

Feet and Diabetes – General Health Care for Diabetic Feet

Fran Aslam — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:53 +0000

Feet and Diabetes – General Health care for Diabetic Feet

Long term diabetes complications usually strike due to constant high levels of glucose in blood vessels both for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This fact has been proven with research by diabetes medical experts.

Naturally the conclusion is to keep away from all the devastating complications of diabetes 1 and 2 and maintain normal glucose range. But this is easy to say than done, after some years of this disease few complications do attack.

However it is extremely important to monitor sugar level every morning at home with diabetes meter called glucometer. A three month test of blood sugars is done in diagnostic labs. This A1C test is the general measurement of diabetes medically. An A1C under 7 percent or less is recommended for diabetics to maintain. The A1C blood test is usually higher in older people.

Also take care of all the measures that will keep the complications away as long as possible. Since feet are included in the most effective parts of the body that turn problematic for the diabetic patient checking feet is a must on a daily basis. Problems like neuropathy of feet, poor blood circulation and calluses on feet are some of the foot issues. I would think after the morning routine (shower bath or any clean up to start the day) check your feet daily. Always wash your feet with warm water and mild soap and apply a moisturizer. Inspect the top sides heels between the toes and see if there are any

hard or extra soft spots

Redness on any spot or the temperature feels warmer at any point

check for the extra dry spots

Even blister or any other sore spot

bruises, scratches, small cuts

In case you can not check all this yourself ask a family member to check it for you. As soon you see any of the above changes consult medical expert with phone or appointment. Early detection will save you lots of unseen problems time and frustration.

It is very important to pay extra attention while trimming nails, especially the big toe nail. Here are some of the tips to use for the nails.

Feet soaking in luke warm water with a drop of baby oil or good olive oil before trimming.
Cut the nail straight across because curved nails are more likely to become in grown.
In case you have brittle toe nails due to diabetes and age go to a podiatrist for trimming nails.

Choose soft and comfy shoes and socks

Always wear a slippers shoe or shoes for walking as it saves your feet from several problems. Before putting on shoes check it for any stone or any tiny object that has fallen in the shoe. Make sure it is comfortable and is not causing any pain or discomfort. Do not wear flip flop sandals or slippers. Shoes have to be made of canvas, leather or suede, breathable material is important for your feet.

Socks have to be wide for your foot to provide you extra comfort and avoid problems. You might use extra soft padded bottom socks and socks that move moisture away from your feet.

Besides these general health care details, there are several other foot complication that can occur and they are debridement, foot ulcer, neuropathy of feet , calluses-on the feet, poor blood circulation, and toe amputation and or leg amputations. I will discuss these foot issues in the feature posts.

Diabetes Complications and Kidneys Function

Fran Aslam — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:00:03 +0000

Diabetes Complications and Kidneys Function

Diabetes is number one among the causes of kidney failure. The number of people with kidney issues has doubled in the recent years due to increase in diabetes. Type 1 type 2 diabetes both cause this disease. But the positive news is that early detection and proper renal failure treatment can slow down or even reverse the kidney disease.

This shows you how important it is to keep up with the health reports and tests keeping in touch with a medical expert.

Here is an easy link to understand. Once diabetes 2 starts it brings high blood pressure due to extra glucose in blood circulation. High blood sugars damage kidneys filter that keep protein inside the body to maintain good health. Protein leaks into the urine when kidneys don’t work properly. Unhealthy kidneys can not clean out the waste and extra fluid. Wastes and fluid will start building in the blood instead of leaving the body through urine.

Eating healthy with diabetic meal plans, maintaining healthy weight for height and age, and maintaining kidneys health with your doctors support is the best way at this point.

Medicine and medical technology is developing every year and the idea that kidney diease is not reversible is not a fact any more. Recent studies and research show early dectection is the key. Once microalbuminura is detected it could be reversed if treated properly. The only treatment that works for a diabetic is Blood glucose control, normal blood pressure range and normal cholesterol levels.

Symptoms and Signs of Kidney problems

Eye Puffiness and facial swelling, swelling in the face hands and feet
Frequent Urination
Blood or proteins in the urine
burning while urinating
High blood pressure
Dry itchy Skin rash
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness

Kidneys have very tiny filters that keep protein inside the body to maintain good health. High blood glucose damages the kidneys filters. When kidneys are not perfoming well protein leaks into the urine. Waste and fluid builds up in the blood instead of leaving the body through urine. All this can be prevented if diabetes is maintained closer to normal blood sugar range.

It is suggested that kidneys should be checked for following:

albumin

urinary microalbumin

serum creatinine

Bun

These tests will tell about reduction in kidney function if any

Microalbumin should be 30mg in a 24-hour urine test.

Blood creatinine should be 1.2 in women or 1.4 in men

Bun levels must be 8.

Your health care provider will help you interpret your lab results.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney disease retains fluid as the kidneys have lost efficiency and can not remove excess wastes and fluids from the body. In this case, patient is advised to

1. limit liquids

2. eating low sodium diets

3. ristrict intake of protein, potassium and phosphorous

This will help kidneys to relax and work more efficient with least stress. When fluid retention stretegies becomes becomes excessive due to neglience CKD can lead to Congestive Heart disease due to excessive fluid retains around heart or lungs. With high blood pressure and retaining fluids kidneys demage becomes worse. Restricting the amount of sodium and following a healthy eating plan is the key. A renal (kidney) dietitian or nutritionist can help more accurate tips for improving the condition.

However, I feel it is a very late stage for kidneys as the name suggests it is the chronic condition, so be careful and do not make the treatment this late. Take care of diabetes and keep an eye on kidney functions and once signs of kidney problem becomes obvious consult a medical expert right away.

The sole purpose of this information is health awareness. This information is real and based on facts. But is not a substitute for medical care from your doctor or health provider. Please check with your physcian on any matter related to your health and well being.

List of Diabetes Complications and Eye and Vision Impairment

Fran Aslam — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:00:04 +0000

Lists of Diabetes Complications and Eye and Vision Impairment

Diabetes, is a disease of drastic high and low blood sugar range if not watched and controlled by food exercise and medicines. Since human body has blood veins all over, diabetes brings imperfections to all parts of the body. But if patient is focused and maintains the blood sugar range closer to normal sugar range, these complications can be controlled.

Diabetes complications start and develop gradually depending on individual physical condition and maintenance. However, keep in mind it is not only what a person eat but medical genetics also plays a role creating individualized blood sugars and therefore it becomes very important to learn the disease and how your body reacts to it.

Several diabetes complications do not show right away but after many years of having this disease. Some of these develop silently. The parts of the body that develop complication due to diabetes are:

Eyes
Kidneys
Nerves
Heart and blood vessels
Gums
Feet

Common problems that a diabetic faces are:

Hypoglycemia – Lower sugars than regular blood sugar levels.

Hyperglycemia – High blood sugar levels.

Ketoacidosis – Diabetes ketoacidosis or DKA is a condition when body starts burning fat instead of glucose. It is rarely found in diabetes 2.

Kidney Disease – Diabetic Nephropathy consists of kidney complications due to high blood sugars and blood pressure

Neuropathy – Caused by constant high levels of blood sugars, nerve damage is of several kinds depending on the part of the body affected. Nerve damage pain is very common and especially in feet.

Heart disease, Cardiac arrest and Strokes – Constant high blood sugar levels is one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease where blockage in the blood vessels to the heart is a the major causes of heart attack. Similarly, one of the major causes of stroke is blockage to the brain blood vessels.

Brittle diabetes – This condition brings big changes in blood sugars and the patient experiences both diabetes hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, this roller coaster brings several complications.

Depression – It is very natural to have depression with this disease, as it is a big lifestyle change to focus on diabetes and depression develops naturally. Support group and consulting health care provider are sources to know depression cures.

Blood pressure or hypertension – Controlling blood pressure is very important for diabetics, as it develops heart disease, stroke kidney damage and eye problems. Follow blood pressure guidelines in your diet and lifestyle.

Erectile dysfunction – Men notice this change right away and many times it is one of the causes that make them go to the doctor and they discover diabetes. Diabetes causes erectile dysfunction, which can be improved by regular blood sugar levels.

Amputation – Amputation only occurs when diabetes is not managed. Regular foot care prevents foot sores ulcers and infections and therefore amputation is not needed. The best strategy to prevent amputation is managing normal blood sugar levels.

Common infections – This problem occurs due to blockage of blood supply to the lower legs and feet .

Foot problems – Foot issues like foot Ulcers, foot infections, and pain is also a very common complication for diabetes.

Eyes Problems Cataracts, Retinopathy and Glaucoma

Diabetes 1 and diabetes 2 both causes eye problems when blood sugar spikes. It is the leading cause of blindness globally for ages 19 to 74 and up. It is important for all diabetes patients to visit ophthalmologist for eye care. Blurred vision is a common symptom that occurs due to spikes in blood sugars. With the blood sugars going high, blood circulation to the eye areas is not normal and because of this lens of the eye swells and diabetics are not able to see properly.

Cataract and Cataract Symptoms

Cataract of the eye, is clouding and thickening of the eye lens that makes vision blurry. This becomes worse and worse with time. Surgery to remove cataract is the best treatment for Cataracts.

Retinopathy

This is caused because of the damage to the eye blood vessels of the retina. The sensitivity to the light increases. This problem starts with the high blood sugars with diabetes and can be controlled by planned eating and portion control. High blood pressure can also promote this problem. A yearly eye check up is very important for this as it can cause blindness in extreme cases. The good thing is retinopathy is reversible with focus to diabetes.

Glaucoma

In this disease pressure builds up inside the eye, which can decrease blood flow to the retina and optic nerve and damage it. This problem increases with age. Keeping an eye on symptoms of glaucoma, and maintain regular visits to the eye doctor is important as doctor can prescribe medication and determine if surgery is needed for glaucoma treatment.

Diabetes 2 is now a reversible disease with proper focus and attention, it needs the patient to take care of overall health especially anabolic and catabolic activity of your body. Be aware and keep your blood sugars closer to normal sugar range.

Because of so many related problems that can occur, it is best for diabetic patients to pay attention to this disease and handle it in such a way that diabetes does not rule your body and may create least problems. Diabetes 2, can be reversed and that is only possible if you are ready to fix it. You will not have to face diabetes complications and you will have more flexibility in healthy meal planning.

Weekly Meal Planning and Shopping List Results Steady A1C Levels

Fran Aslam — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:00:27 +0000

At a glance, weekly meal planning and grocery shopping list seems to be off topic for Diabetes. But when it come to practical action plan to cure high blood sugar levels, planning meals ahead of time, carrying meals on the go, for a no hassle day, all becomes a part of an outstanding normal day for a diabetic.

Once a person is diagnosed with diabetes, the best next step is to see an endocrinologist, the diabetes specialist. The specialist spends some time to explain diabetes and arranges information via a group class, literature or videos about the disease. The dietitian will guide the new meal pattern. Diet meal plans and exercise routine along with oral medicine or insulins will work together for normal sugar range.

Several experts on diabetes accept the fact that diabetes can be controlled with planned meals and daily exercise along with the medicine. It is almost 80% work from the meal plans and portion control and twenty percent from the daily exercise that sheds pounds. This is a very important factor to remember while taking care of diabetes by trying to reduce the extra pounds. Reducing weight is reducing the intensity of diabetes 2. Keeping this in mind there are four main elements to consider for planning meals for diabetes cures.

1. Carbohydrate counting

2. Low Glycemic Index food list

3. Total calorie restriction or portion control

4. Diabetes nutrition

Carbohydrates intake and especially simple carbohydrates raise the blood sugar spikes in a person with diabetes 2 and therefore, carb counting is an important technique for planning meals as a diabetic. Make sure to use complex carbohydrates in the quantity that your body accepts at one time without creating a high blood sugar level.

With a few days of practice set a maximum limit of carbohydrate intake and follow that in every day meal plan.

It also depends on your activity levels every day. So actually what is the quantity of carbohydrates to be consumed every day? Almost 45-60 grams, keeping in mind age body weight and your blood sugars all have to work together with the plan and your average carbohydrate intake can be figured out by you, a point that will give the best blood sugar range.

Foods That Have Carbohydrates

Cereal, rice bread pasta crackers,
Fruit juice and fruits
Milk and yogurt
Beans and lintels
Potatoes, corn, sweet potato, and a limited quantity in almost all vegetables

While thinking of weekly meal plans, grocery shopping list of the meal plan is one of the most important feature, that makes your meal plans work, it make it fast and easy. Therefore, meal plans and grocery shopping list both have to be planned simultaneously. Weekly inventory of the pantry cabinet and buying the stuff needed ahead of time is important. Do not overstock the pantry with unhealthy or unnecessary items also, as it will clutter and will not be easy to use for your diabetic healthy meals.

For weekly meal Plans use First lady Michelle Obama’s plate method

Make your salad the main dish and add protein and carb as sides. So half plate is filled with non starchy vegetables like carrots, spinach, lettuce, green beans, cabbage, bok-choy, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, vegetables, onions cucumber, beets, okra mushrooms peppers and turnips etc.

Now the other 1/4^th of the plate will have carbs like potato, whole grain bread, rice or similar carb. The last 1/4^th of the plate is for the lean protein that includes meat and meat substitutes. Here is the list of main protein to choose from

Chicken or Turkey
Fish like tuna, salmon, cod, catfish, or tilapia
Shrimps clams, oysters, crab or mussels
lean beef, pork, lean lamb, etc
Tofu eggs low-fat cheese

Based on the plate method your meal is going to be naturally low glycemic which is needed for curing diabetes.

Breakfast

Break fast is the choice of meal that is becoming very easy to skip by the majority, where as it is not a very positive to skip breakfast as it is the start of nourishing the body and mind to work in the right direction. It will make you move smarter, active and sharp mentally and physically. So running out of time is not the choice.

Simply plan it for one week so you do not waste time everyday to think and look for the choice

Prepare the night before, or simply set up your breakfast by setting your cup bowel and fork as it will save time and will create a reason to work on the final step of preparing breakfast and having it.

Stock healthy choices at home that suits you for the weekly meal plan, write them down for fastest action without even thinking as you have planned it, for a healthy lifestyle.

For everyone and especially for a diabetic it has to be balanced, for example, boiled or poached egg, skim milk and whole grain toast with a small fruit. Make sure it is under 300 hundred calories.

For protein use plain 2% yogurt, with real berries or fruit of your choice, along with one whole grain mini whole grain bagel.

Cottage cheese, with a small bran muffin and small fruit, is easy to put together. Once you have added these in your shopping list or have made some healthy bran muffins over the week-end.

A healthy balanced breakfast keeps steady blood sugars for the day. So planning your breakfast a head of the time is the key here. It will give you a habit of eating breakfast even on the go. Make it simple and easy with your personal choices.

Following strategies make it easy to follow and takes less time

1. Easy breakfast planning

2. Not boring but exciting, add new flavors and your likes every time you plan

3. Breakfast on the go, has to be stocked weekly, as can be needed in a hurry.

4. Keep in mind the glycemic Index food for breakfast in mind while planning.

5. Quick fixings and one minute solutions have to be some options for breakfast

6. Calories and portion control is the key while planning for weekly breakfast list

7. Nontraditional breakfast that serves a healthy and tasty option for you is fine too.

8. some more examples are

Breakfast shake, use non fat or 2% milk, yogurt or silk soy milk, with fruit or dark gourmet chocolate and coffee combination and healthy sweetener, of your choice that makes it 200-300 calories total. Whip with ice in the blender for a thicker consistency.

Breakfast smoothie with nuts vegetables and fruits along with some yogurt, is a treat for taste buds, and a blast of vitamins and mineral for the body.

Breakfast sandwich, is great, make it the night before.

Muffins can be made a head of the time for the weekly meal plan. Here is an example of muffin recipe. You can simply change the flavor by changing the fruit. Make it with banana, all kind of berries, plain or add chocolate chips.

Breakfast Muffins:

Ingredients and quantity

One cup all-purpose flour

One cup whole grain wheat flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs

¼ cups applesauce ( no added sugar)

2 tablespoon canola oil

2 tablespoon brown sugar

2 bananas, mashed

Combine the dry ingredients and mix them well in a bowl. Now take another bowl and mix all the wet ingredients and mix them well. Slowly add the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and mix them well. Do not over beat.

Spray the muffin tray with paper cups or without as you like, add the batter into 12 muffin cups tray, dividing them equally. Bake the muffins in a preheated oven at 350 degree for 20-25 minutes, depending on your oven, check it by inserting a tooth pick and checking if it comes out clean that means muffins are done.

It does not take lot of time, if you want to make for yourself and family make two muffin trays at the same time.

One muffin will exchange 2 starch servings of the day. With almost 160 calories in each muffin.

This muffin has vitamins and mineral, carbohydrates, protein, healthy dietary fats, for an awesome nutritious start of the day that has the right portion control along with one serving of 1% milk or silk soy milk.

Diabetic Meal Plans – Top 10 Tips for Achieving Best Personal Goal

Fran Aslam — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:00:30 +0000

Diabetic Meal Plans – Top 10 Tips for Achieving Best Personal Goal

Diabetic meal plans has one basic concept that it must control blood sugar range along with being nutritious meals. It will work as cure for diabetes along with medicines/insluins.

1. It will help Maintain proper weight

2. It can help lose weight with portion control

3. It can reduce the related problems caused by diabetes

4. It will control regular blood sugar levels

5. It can maintain healthy cholesterol levels

Guidance of a certified dietitian will make sure you are planning right kind of meals with a variety of foods from lean protein, fish nuts beans and soy products. Organic vegetables and fruits whole grain crabs and a small portion of healthy desert.

Diabetes does not bring any food restrictions, use all healthy verities of choices. But for controlling diabetes plan well and use right food portions as required for personal diabetic meal plans to stay in the best of health.

Following are some important factors to keep in mind.

1. Make Complex Carbohydrates part of every meal

a. Complex carbohydrates digest slowly and therefore, the food energy enters in the blood streams in a slow speed and evenly. Regular blood sugar levels do not spike too high and that makes a big difference in maintaining blood sugar range.

b. Complex carbohydrates are full of fiber and has many fold health benefits itself, it lowers cholesterol, boosts metabolism and helps to reduce BMI. Whole grains, lentils beans peas and many fruits and vegetables have complex carbohydrates. Add this list to your diet meal plans for normal glucose range.

2. Focus on portion control and food intake

The amount of food depends on the medicine, blood sugar levels chart and the number of calories for a healthy lifestyle change for diabetes. It is going to be different for every individual depending on specific personal medical condition. A diabetic meal plan that fits an individual for better healthy blood sugars. Watch the portion size of every food and drink you eat for maintaining blood sugar range. It is the key for diabetic lifestyle change and health results depend on it besides selecting the food for meal plans.

For standards of measurements use estimates like

1. fists

2. palm of the hand

3. Cup and half cup sizes

4. A deck of cards

5. A medium apple is about the size of a tennis ball

6. For cheese, there are cheese sticks in stores from 60- 120 calories,

7. Also measure salad dressing, sour cream mayonnaise, or dips also

3. Eat more Omega 3 foods

Diabetes brings several other discomforts in physical condition, like blood pressure, can develop heart disease, neuropathy and deterioration of small organs like kidneys etc. Omega 3 benefits will help you fight these and control your blood sugars at the same time. With your doctor’s approval supplements of Omega 3 will also help a great deal to improve over all health as a diabetic.

4. Maintain a Low Glycemic diet

Glycemic index is a number that figures the food’s ability to increase blood sugars, some foods have a low glycemic index than others. Make sure to add some of these low glycemic foods in every meal to obtain optimal benefits for your blood sugar range. Glycemic index is determined by the portion size and the natural glycemic index of particular foods as prescribed for each food.

Mushrooms, Cherries, Papaya, apple, orange, grapefruit, peach, strawberries, cashew nuts, peanuts, soy beans soy milk, kidney beans, potatoes, brown rice, lentils, green peas, whole wheat bread, carrots are listed in low glycemic foods. In this list Soy beans is the lowest in glycemic index. 150 grams of soybeans have a glycemic index of 15.

5. Add magnesium rich food

Magnesium breaks down carbohydrates in a slow manner and is a big help to control blood sugar. However, research does not have proven results about it and therefore, supplements of magnesium do not have full support of the medical Professionals. Some even say it can cause problems. Therefore, taking food that have magnesium is the best way to help lower your blood sugars. Some of the foods that contain magnesium are spinach, tofu, lentils, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Magnesium foods also help to lose weight.

6. Restrict total calories

This will help you decrease your BMI and it helps to control blood glucose. Restricted total calories also help you to get rid of extra pounds which improves your over all hemoglobin A1C and a reduction in blood sugar spikes. While writing diet meal plans make sure to put food together in such a way that fills up and still use minimum calories and this will help to feel much better. Feeling full is a personal experience and will need personal attention.

7. Refined Sugar consumption and diabetic meal plans

Refined sugars or simple carbohydrate creates a high sugar spike if eaten in large quantities and many times the taste company and flavor makes the person carried away, so portion control is the key. Also prepare foods with least amount of sugar, eat the right portion size.

8. Food labels

Learn to read the food labels to the best of ability and according to personal diabetic needs. Some products that have sugar, or salt more than your limit do not buy them. Similarly keep track of the fat content and number of calories in one serving, all this will help you maintain your blood sugar levels.

9. Your kitchen Pantry cabinet and Fridge

Make sure to have plenty of food and variety to select for your diabetic meal plans. First write meal plan for the week and then make a list of foods required for this plan for grocery shopping. On the surface this does not sound very important but in fact this is the key to follow meal plan properly.

10. Focus on all the details, write it step by step

Just get in the habit of taking care of your blood sugars, by taking your medicines/insluins, focusing on the meal plans, daily exercise, and write blood sugar level chart, that will help you to see your progress. All this care will make you as healthy as a person with no diabetes. Be proud of your success, and go for hemoglobin A1C .

To your health.

Essentials of Diabetic Meal Plans and Healthy Blood Sugar Range

Fran Aslam — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:05 +0000

Essentials of Diabetic Meal Plans and Healthy Blood Sugar Range

Diabetic meal plans is one of the key elements to maintain healthy blood sugar range, as it is metabolic disorder – the lack of order in the process of food breakdown and its transformation into energy. This occurs during

1. The food digestion process

2. The break down of food into energy as glucose or sugars, to be absorbed by blood stream and body cells

Diabetic body can not maintain the balance of this process and it becomes worse if food intake is not selective. Therefore, following a meal plan to maintain healthy normal sugar range is the best way for avoiding all the diabetes problems. For maintaining blood sugars with your diet talk to your doctor or certified dietitian.

Meal plans and custom diet does help big time along with daily exercise and medicines/insluins and writing a blood sugar level chart after monitoring sugar levels makes it perfect lifestyle for a diabetic.

Three effective strategies to remember.

1. Always eat a balanced and nutritious breakfast especially as a diabetic. Human body turns into starvation mode at night and stays that way until it gets next days break fast, therefore it has to have almost 20 gram of lean protein, calcium and fruit or vegetable and whole grain for breakfast.

2. Make sure the meal plan has fats included, as low fat diet makes the person hungry and unconsciously causes eating more carbs which is not good for blood sugars. The quantity of fat has to be as required, and not more at all to cause more obesity.

3. Daily exercise plan is a must to control blood sugars. Without exercise a meal plan will not be super effective for preventing diabetes. As endocrinologist (diabetes specialists) say it is the diet that works 80% and exercise adds 20% as a perfect lifestyle change for diabetes.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are mostly found in dairy products, bread cereal rice and pasta, and starchy vegetables, like potatoes. It is one of the main meal component. It turns into sugars and then energy for the body cells. Carbohydrates are categorized as

a. Simple carbohydrates. These are pure sugars like refined sugar, these are processed as sugars in the body right away.

b. Complex carbohydrates. These are considered healthier because they are digested slowly by the body providing the body a steady source of energy. Nuts, vegetables and whole grains are complex carbohydrates.

For diabetics it is suggested to count how many carbs per day and carbs for each meal plan, this will make sure that blood sugar spikes does not create diabetes problems in the body.

I agree with the idea of monitoring blood sugars before eating the meal, and then two hours after eating, the difference of the blood sugar levels will tell you the effect of simple carbs. You can adjust your carbohydrate intake and insulin accordingly. Consult a certified dietitian for adding this strategy to your meal plans.

Carbohydrate counting is most useful for people who take multiple daily injections of insulin, use the pump or who want variety in the meal plans.

The simplest way to watch carbohydrates is making sure to use whole grain of all kinds and add to the meal plan as directed by your dietitian or doctor.

Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber is the portion of food that is resistant to digestion and absorption in the body cells like the rest of the food. It plays an important role by creating bulk to stool to help it pass through the bowel. Diets high in fiber lowers the risks of obesity, high blood pressure, strokes and regulating blood sugars. Dietary fiber is usually classified into

a. Soluble dietary fiber

Soluble dietary fiber is soluble in water. Soluble fiber is found in beans lintels, vegetables like Brussels sprouts cabbage apples berries oat bran and physllium.

b. Insoluble dietary fiber

This kind of fiber is not soluble in water and is found in whole grains breakfast cereals, vegetables like carrots and celery. Many foods contain both soluble and in soluble fiber and the ratio varies.

Benefits of dietary Fiber

1. Controls blood sugars by delaying sugar absorption and therefore must be an important part of a diabetic meal plan.

2. Reduces cholesterol levels and especially reduces LDL, the so called bad cholesterol.

3. Dietary fiber provides vitamins and minerals to the meal plan.

4. Creates regularity by helping with constipation.

5. Makes you feel full soon and takes longer to feel hungry, so helps reducing body weight

Fiber intake of 25-30 grams daily will help maintain better blood sugar at or closer to normal glucose range. Make sure to add plenty of vegetables fruits beans whole grains and bran products in every meal.

This thanks giving, add health awareness and diabetes remedies to

the list of gratitude in thanks giving prayer. These were not available to diabetics before 1920 people were diabetics but they can only starve to prevent the disease.

Alternative Medicine Cures for Diabetes Along with Allopathic Care

Fran Aslam — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:00:35 +0000

Alternative Medicine Cures for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabates with or Without Allopathic Care

What is alternative medicine? Alternative medicine, Holistic Medicine, Complementary medicine and Natural healing therapies includes all other ways of medical treatments besides main stream “Allopathic” medical practice. Alternative medicine includes any drug or non drug technique like Herbal treatments, Acupuncture, Homeopathic, Reiki therapy and has become more popular in recent years. It is used by many people as an addition to conventional Allopathic medical treatments and some others completely depend on it.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes also have these Natural Herbal and dietary supplement treatments available to its patient and there have been several claims that these works. These are available as dietary supplements, acupuncture, and herbal remedies for diabetes also. In this post my focus is to talk about these cures for Diabetes prevention. Many of these have been used in clinical research trials also.

While starting using these natural resources make sure to consult a qualified health professional. Blood glucose control is extremely important or it can create more public health problems. In case you are taking medicines or insulin it can very easily create hypoglycemia unless programmed for your condition and eating habits. Also checking the blood sugars keeping a log of the glucose range through out the day becomes even more important if you start taking supplements along with the regular medication that you are using. So, focus on your blood glucose range, this will tell you how these supplements are working for you.

Here is almost complete list of supplements that have been used by many users to improve their diabetic cure needs. This list of nutritional supplements provide information that can help you select some supplements that may help you improve your blood glucose levels. Depending on your diabetic consultant use these as per instruction by your doctor only and follow the results carefully.

1. Chromium Picolonate or Chromium polynicotinate

2. Magnesium Glycinate

3. White Kidney bean extract – carb blocker

4. Ginseng

5. Aloe-Vera gel

6. Alpha-lipoc-acid

7. Omega 3 fatty acid and Omega 3 foods

8. Co enzyme Q 10

9. Gymnema Sylvester or Gur mar

10. Zinc supplements

11. Vandim

12. Chitosan

13. Cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon tea, cinnamon powder

14. Bitter melon

15. Fenugreek seeds

16. Polyphenols

The above list is the result of my extensive reading on the dietary supplements and natural remedies to improve blood sugar. Many of above mentioned products are used for reducing BMI, body weight, and other diseases also. Some are dietary supplements and others are herbs for diabetes prevention

Chromium

The kind of Chromium that helps improve diabetes are

Chromium Picolinate
Chromium GTF (glucose tolerance factor)

Chromium is an essential trace mineral mineral that body needs in small amounts for fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It plays an important role in regulating high blood sugar levels to normal blood sugar range Chromium is found in many foods but in small amounts. Chromium has been researched for its use to prevent diabetes 2 for a for a long time, but results have been mixed. It still needs more advanced search for conclusive results. If you want to use this as a dietary supplement consult your doctor and monitor your blood sugars to avoid diabetes hypoglycemia.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral needed by human body along with other nutrition components of vitamins and mineral. It is found in dark green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains. It helps the metabolism by regulating blood sugars levels and performs several other functions for a healthy body. When used in excessive doses creates physical common illnesses like diarrhea, trouble breathing , constipation symptoms and palpitation. However, since it supports lower blood sugar normal levels magnesium supplements can be used as a great dietary supplement for diabetics, the best form of magnesium to use is Magnesium Glycinate. Start with 100 mg per day. Your doctors opinion is always an important factor here. Magnesium have been a part of research for diabetes for a long time, and results have been mixed and so therefore there are no final conclusive results yet. In case you want to use this supplement ask your doctor and monitor your blood sugar closely to avoid diabetes hypoglycemia.

Alpha-Lipoic-Acid

This antioxidant is very powerful and it enhances body’s ability to use insulin and so blood sugar level stay in normal range. It helps blood sugar by

1. lowering the blood sugar levels

2. by improving the nerve disorder (neuropathy) caused by excessive blood sugars

3. by effecting the insulin sensitivity

Diabetics who use this dietary supplement along with the prescribed medicine must monitor their blood sugars carefully, as it can cause diabetes hypoglycemia. However, research for this supplement are not conclusive yet.

Finally, focus on your diabetes to maintain blood sugar levels normal range and in case you feel that dietary supplements or natural herbal remedies will help you improve your health make an appointment with your doctor to check before starting. Exchange your point of view and come to a final decision with your doctors opinion about your choices. Also since alternative medicine is an additional treatment for your blood sugar levels to improve, you have to monitor the normal glucose range carefully, to avoid dibeties hypoglycemia.

WDD Global Awareness – Cures for Diabetes Almost Reaching Final Steps

Fran Aslam — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:00:30 +0000

WDD Global Awareness – Cures for Diabetes Almost Reaching Final Steps

Monday November 14^th is the annual WDD, World Diabetes Day. On this day all health care related organizations through out the world will celebrate the day by focusing on Diabetes. Public awareness future goals and past achievements are going to be the focus for all. Diabetes awareness and general diabetes education is an important feature of diabetes prevention which is the burning topic facing the world due to over spread of Type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 2 is increasing in the older population and childhood diabetes is becoming alarming.

World Health Organization and International diabetes Federation is working diligently to provide global awareness to this disease. Who (World Health Organization) estimates that more than 346 million people have diabetes world wide. According to these estimates every 17-20 seconds one new diabetic is added to this list. Sky blue color is selected to express this years World Diabetes Day. News from all over the world are confirming to paint with color blue all over, as a reminder to this day and diabetic global awareness.

1. Alexandria Hospital in Portsmouth U.K. Is celebrating with color sky blue for diabetes awareness.

2. Kolkata, India ( times of India, news paper) writes that City gateway will turn blue on World Diabetes day.

3. Provena Mercy center in Aurora IL (USA) is creating a contest for A Lister diabetics, another way of creating Diabetes awareness.

The Importance of November 14th

Actually November 14th is very important day for diabetics. It is the birthday of Fredrick Banting who along with Charles H Best created the first (1921)hormone insulin from the pancreas. Injections of insulin proved to be the first medicine to work for improving the normal blood sugar range of a diabetic. He was awarded a share of 1923 noble prize for physiology or Medicine for this achievement. Sir Fredrick Grant Banting was a Canadian physician and physiologist.

Insulin Replacement Pill formula Discovered

This world breaking news is very encouraging for Diabetics. There is hope and excitement for this discovery. Insulin for type 1 and type 2 diabetes is one of the best treatment that almost make the diabetic feel normal with focus to healthy eating plan and daily exercise. It has only one drawback and that is taking the injection, it does not feel very easy and it has to be done few times a day in some cases. Very hard for children to accept this and hard for working people who do not have a situation to monitor blood sugar level chart and using insulin. Because of this reason researchers are trying to come up with a pill, that is much easy to take, without lifestyle change. This is very hard as insulin is made with protein that is broken down to work in the stomach of the patient.

Now Australia’s Curtin University has found an insulin replacement to treat diabetes with insluin pills and diabetics will not have to use the needle for insulin. Professor Erik Helmerhorst and his colleagues at Curtin University along with Australian Pharmaceutical company searched the structure of three million compounds and with such an extensive search they were able to find the lead drug molecule that copied insulin.

A tablet is going to be very easy to take, will be cheaper to produce and easier to store and easy to ship and distribute. The clinical trial of this pill has not yet started, it might take another five years for it to be in use by everyone.

The Curtin University recently presented this research and generated a lot of interest this year. Now there is hope and that is encouraging.

Another Low Glucose Suspense System from USA

This kind of system once attached to a diabetic will perform the pancreas function, to provide insulin as needed. It is a small portable easily accessible system that can monitor sugar level continuously and will adjust it with intervals as needed by individual’s body, more or less depending on normal blood sugar range.

Now, just last Wednesday, November 9, 2011 one of the pharmaceutical company, Medtronic announced for the clinical trial of this pump that will work like artificial pancreas, a smaller painless insertion product. This is going to make the life of a diabetic much easier than before.

In the end I will like to contribute to World’s Diabetes Day

1. By saluting Dr. Fredrick Grant Banting, the Canadian physiologist and physician and Charles Herbert Best for saving millions of lives and making it comfortable to live by creating insulin.

2. I respect and honor Professor Erik Helmerhorst and his coleagues at Curtain University Australia who have done research on 3 million compounds to discover pop up pill formula for insulin recentlty. I am so excited when the world can use it. Clinical trial are expected to start soon.

3. I want to connect with 346 million diagnosed diabetics, children, adults and seniors and all those who have diabetes and it has not been diagonsed. I understand your pain and suffering and wish you life time with normal glucose range. I am sure global awareness effort for diabetes can do it.

The whole world has to pay attention to prevent diabetes on this World Diabetes Day

To your health