A Family History Of Diabetes And The Effect of Fitness

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being seen as an aspect of what is called the metabolic syndrome which is a fairly common condition characterized by insulin resistance and many related effects, including:

    * high blood sugar,
    * high blood pressure,
    * high levels of various fats in the blood, and
    * obesity.

Obesity, particularly the style characterized by abdominal fat, is one of the criteria for the metabolic syndrome, and most people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight in this way.

Poor physical fitness, and poor conditioning are also associated with Type 2 diabetes, especially in individuals with a family history of this type of diabetes. Anyone whose close relatives have Type 2 diabetes have a two to four times higher risk of developing the condition than people without such a family history.

Investigators in the Department of Physiology at S. Nijalingappa Medical College in India looked at fitness in healthy individuals with a family history of Type 2 diabetes and compared them with volunteers with a healthy family history.

The study, published in the Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism in November 2011, included 64 individuals, 32 with a positive family history of Type 2...

    * the body mass index, and waist measurement were higher in the participants with a family history of diabetes than in those without a family history of diabetes, and
    * those with a positive family history of diabetes were slower to recover from exercise than those with a negative family history.

The causes of Type 2 diabetes are complex, and consist of interactions of:

    * heredity,
    * environment,
    * diet and
    * lifestyle.

Although specific genes have been associated with Type 2 diabetes, perhaps at least part of the risk associated with family history could be due to eating patterns and a sedentary lifestyle taught to children from their parents and significant others. If that is the case, then changing patterns... diet and activity, within a family could lower the risk of diabetes associated with family history. If not, healthy eating habits and exercise are still known to help prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes, so developing good eating and lifestyle habits in a family are bound to be beneficial.

Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away. After the feast has been consumed, instead of sitting around consider...

    * having a family nature hike and see how many colors of leaves and fall-flowering plants you can find. See if you can discover birds' nests that were hidden by foliage during the summer. (Don't take any of them; some birds return to the same nest each season).
    * a hayride is a good way to get out of the house and away from food.

For Christmas and Hanukkah in the northern hemisphere, think of toys that encourage activity, such as:

    * sleds,
    * skis, or
    * ice skates.

In warmer climates and in the southern hemisphere, surfboards and swimsuits will encourage physical activity. Try having a beach party for a different and healthy way of celebrating the holidays.

Easy Ways For Diabetics To Keep Their Body At A Healthy Weight!

Whether you are pre-diabetic or have been diagnosed with full-blown Type 2 diabetes, returning your body to a healthy weight and keeping it there, is crucial to help you live a long, healthy, happy life. No one wants to go through life feeling cruddy and not fitting into their clothes. Thankfully, there's a lot you can do each and every day to keep yourself living in a healthy body.

Here are some tips to get you started:

    * set goals that are realistic. You don't want to set such unobtainable goals you become frustrated. That just sets you up for failure.
    * keep a record of everything you eat and drink. This will allow you to see patterns and know what you are doing wrong.
    * cut out sugary drinks. You will be surprised at how much weight you can lose just by getting rid of sugary soft drinks, sweetened juices and sweet tea. These are just empty calories that you don't need.
    * use smaller plates. When you eat off a smaller plate, you can fill it up and feel like you are going to eat a lot more food than you would be eating from a larger plate.
    * dip your fork. Instead of putting dressing all over your salad, put it on the side and dip your fork in it before each bite. You will still get the taste, but with a lot fewer calories or kilojoules.
    * slow down when you are eating. Savor the taste of your food. Don't watch TV or do anything else that will distract from enjoying each bite of your meal.
    * never shop for groceries when you are hungry or tired.
    * start each meal with a salad... how about a green salad with kidney beans and raw vegetables. You will feel full faster, but get more nutrients and fewer calories.
    * don't eat in your car.
    * choose lean proteins such as skinless chicken breast, and beans.
    * eat vegetables at every meal.
    * put your fork down between each bite of food. This will slow down your eating and allow you to really taste what you are eating. It also takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to get the message your stomach is comfortable and that you can stop eating.
    * don't eat standing up, your brain and stomach are much more likely to register you are eating if you are relaxed and enjoying your meal.
    * snack on raw fruits and veggies.
    * use fruit for dessert... with a few chops of a knife, you can turn a few pieces of fruit into a beautiful fruit salad. Drizzle a little lemon or orange juice over the top to cover the fruit with it.
    * drink at least 8 to 10 glass of water each day. Why not drink a glass of water before eating each meal.

Just following these simple rules will help you to lose weight and keep it off. Remember, it is a lifestyle change and not a diet. You should strive to live this way for life. Keeping a healthy body is critical to making sure that you live a longer life.

The only way to lose weight without medication or surgery is to take-in less energy (calories or kilojoules) than your body needs. There are no magic ingredients or food combinations to change this basic metabolic fact.

What Are Some Alternative Diabetes Treatments?

Millions of people today suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Those with this type of diabetes have problems controlling blood sugar levels because the body doesn't produce enough insulin or because the body has built up an insulin resistance. In many cases, patients are given prescription drugs to help control glucose levels. For those dealing with more advanced problems, insulin may be taken on a regular basis to keep levels of glucose stable. While some people do need medical intervention to treat their Type 2 diabetes effectively, many alternative diabetes treatments are available as well. Some people have found that using alternative measures to treat the problem is enough to help them get off their medications. Here is a look at some of the alternative diabetes treatments to consider if you're interested in a natural way to control your blood sugar.

Chromium

One of the potential alternative treatments for diabetes is chromium, which happens to be a trace mineral. This mineral is important because it has a lot to do with fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It is also known to aid the cells of the body in responding correctly to insulin as well. Research has found that many people with diabetes have low levels of this trace mineral and some studies are showing that supplementation of this trace mineral may be able to help those who suffer from diabetes.

Cinnamon

Another of the potential alternative diabetes treatments to consider is cinnamon, which is a well known spice. Studies that have been done on cinnamon have shown that those with Type 2 diabetes see an improvement in their blood sugar control when taking cinnamon on a regular basis. One study looked at six groups of people, with the first three groups of people taking 6g, 3g, or 1g of cinnamon. The last three groups had placebo capsules of 6g, 3g, or 1g. At the end of this study, the three groups taking cinnamon all showed a significant reduction in their fasting blood glucose levels. Other benefits included lowered cholesterol, and lower triglycerides. Other studies have also been done on cinnamon, showing that it can have a positive impact on blood sugar levels in those with diabetes.

Ginseng

Several types of ginseng are available, but when it comes to an alternative treatment for diabetes, it is North American ginseng that shows the most promise. Studies on this type of ginseng have shown that blood sugar may be better controlled when taking North American ginseng on a regular basis.

Zinc

When it comes to the storage and production of insulin within the body, zinc is an important mineral. Research has shown that those dealing with Type 2 diabetes often have less zinc than needed because of an increased excretion rate and problems with a decreased absorption of zinc. Zinc can be taken as a supplement, but it also can be found in a variety of different foods, including chicken, almonds, beef liver, egg yolks, pecans, fresh oysters, buckwheat, walnuts, lima beans, lamp, and split peas.

These are just a few of the alternative diabetes treatments to consider if you're looking for a natural way to treat your Type 2 diabetes. Some other common alternative treatments include aloe vera gel, magnesium, vanadium, gymnema, vitamimn D, fenugreek, and momordica charantia. Of course, before trying alternative options, it is always best to discuss these treatment options with your doctor.

Checking for Heart Disease!

Type 2 diabetes affects the small (micro) and large (macro) blood vessels. Driven by the rapid beating of your heart, your cardiovascular system includes many, many miles of veins, arteries, and capillaries. If your heart stops beating, or if your major blood vessels clog, you could die.

The coronary arteries feed blood to the heart muscle itself, and a blockage can have serious consequences. Researchers in the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, looked at the coronary arteries of diabetics with blood vessel damage in other arteries, in order to determine whether their coronary arteries could be blocked as well.

Their study, published in the British Medical Journal in January 2011, included 112 people with Type 2 diabetes and diseased blood vessels in either the eyes, kidneys, hands or feet, or brain. It was found...

    * 79 per cent had heart muscle that was not getting enough blood.
    * 53 per cent had coronary artery disease with more than a 50 per cent blockage.

Men were over six times more likely to have coronary artery disease than were women. None of the diabetics had suffered any signs or symptoms of heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing 26 per cent of mortality. Coronary artery disease is the most common kind of heart disease. The Centers for Disease Control list:

    * inactivity,
    * obesity,
    * high blood pressure,
    * cigarette smoking,
    * high cholesterol, and
    * diabetes

as risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Type 2 diabetics are advised to be monitored for blood pressure, weight, cholesterol levels and blood fats on a regular basis. If high blood pressure, overweight, obesity, high cholesterol, or abnormal blood fats are discovered, they should be addressed sooner rather than later.

A prime indicator of heart health is your blood pressure. If blood pressure is found to be high, being overweight or obesity is frequently the cause, so both can be treated with a low-calorie, high nutrient diet, and exercise. Taking a walk after dinner every night is one way to begin lowering blood pressure. So is a low-fat diet. Which brings us to the problem of high cholesterol. Diets low in meats and dairy products are best for lowering cholesterol levels. The position of the American Dietetic Association is that vegan diets, without any meat or dairy products, are best for controlling Type 2 diabetes, so the best diet for diabetes is also the best kind for the heart.

When diet and exercise are not enough, medical and even surgical methods are available. Many kinds of medication are available for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and helping with abnormal blood fats. Some doctors recommend an aspirin a day for preventing heart disease in diabetics over 30. Surgical methods of weight control are also available and have shown success in some people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Turmeric And How It Works To Help Diabetics!

The root of the turmeric plant, Curcuma longa, has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian traditional medicine. Curcumin (turmeric) is a strong antioxidant, and has actually been associated with treating complications in Type 2 diabetes. It holds in check oxidation (an internal rusting), because it protects against free radicals that are brought about by high blood sugar.

Tumeric prevents:

    * free radical damage,
    * reduces oxidative stress associated with diabetes, and
    * helps to remove or "clean up" metabolic waste.

Researchers at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Kerala, India, looked at the chemistry of turmerin, a protein found in turmeric, to find how it might help to control of Type 2 diabetes. Their work was published in the journal Natural Products Research in November 2011.

Plants contain enzyme inhibitors to protect themselves from being broken down. Turmerin was studied for its possible potential for inhibiting enzymes. It was found to inhibit the enzymes alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, as well as having antioxidant activities. It was therefore concluded that turmerin's biochemical activities could be the reason that turmeric is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase are enzymes that break down carbohydrates into simple sugars. One way of treating diabetes is by the use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Acarbose, or Precose, and miglitol, or Glyset, are two medications used to inhibit alpha-glucosidase. Inhibiting the breakdown of carbohydrates to sugar helps to lower blood sugar levels after meals.

Other health benefits have been attributed to turmeric and are under investigation. Some possible uses of turmeric include:

    * treating psoriasis,
    * delaying liver damage due to cirrhosis,
    * reducing cancer-causing compounds from eating meat,
    * inhibiting the growth of skin cancer,
    * preventing the spread of breast cancer,
    * making cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy,
    * treating arthritis,
    * preventing Alzheimer's disease, and
    * treating irritable bowel disorder and other gastrointestinal discomfort.

Tumeric is also a very good herb for the liver, which is affected in diabetes.

Turmeric is used as a spice in southern Asia, and many tasty vegan recipes use the spice often and in great amounts...

    * thatsfit.ca has a recipe for quinoa lentil soup that also includes vegetable stock, turmeric, onion, russet potato, garlic, basil and pepper.
    * allrecipes.com suggests making Marrakesh vegetable curry with sweet potato, eggplant, bell pepper, carrots, onions, olive oil, garlic, turmeric, curry powder, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, garbanzo beans, almonds, zucchini, raisins, orange juice, and spinach.
    * also from allrecipes.com comes a recipe for okra with tomatoes, onion, vegetable oil, ground turmeric and ground pepper.

Turmeric is a great spice to complement any recipes that feature lentils.

The deep color of turmeric can cause it to easily stain. Wear kitchen gloves when handling tumeric to prevent staining your hands, and if you spill tumeric... quickly wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent a lasting stain.

Type 2 Diabetes - Turmerin And How It Works To Help Diabetics!

The root of the turmeric plant, Curcuma longa, has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian traditional medicine. Curcumin (turmeric) is a strong antioxidant, and has actually been associated with treating complications in Type 2 diabetes. It holds in check oxidation (an internal rusting), because it protects against free radicals that are brought about by high blood sugar.

Tumeric prevents:

    * free radical damage,
    * reduces oxidative stress associated with diabetes, and
    * helps to remove or "clean up" metabolic waste.

Researchers at the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Kerala, India, looked at the chemistry of turmerin, a protein found in turmeric, to find how it might help to control of Type 2 diabetes. Their work was published in the journal Natural Products Research in November 2011.

Plants contain enzyme inhibitors to protect themselves from being broken down. Turmerin was studied for its possible potential for inhibiting enzymes. It was found to inhibit the enzymes alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, as well as having antioxidant activities. It was therefore concluded that turmerin's biochemical activities could be the reason that turmeric is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

Alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase are enzymes that break down carbohydrates into simple sugars. One way of treating diabetes is by the use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Acarbose, or Precose, and miglitol, or Glyset, are two medications used to inhibit alpha-glucosidase. Inhibiting the breakdown of carbohydrates to sugar helps to lower blood sugar levels after meals.

Other health benefits have been attributed to turmeric and are under investigation. Some possible uses of turmeric include:

    * treating psoriasis,
    * delaying liver damage due to cirrhosis,
    * reducing cancer-causing compounds from eating meat,
    * inhibiting the growth of skin cancer,
    * preventing the spread of breast cancer,
    * making cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy,
    * treating arthritis,
    * preventing Alzheimer's disease, and
    * treating irritable bowel disorder and other gastrointestinal discomfort.

Tumeric is also a very good herb for the liver, which is affected in diabetes.

Turmeric is used as a spice in southern Asia, and many tasty vegan recipes use the spice often and in great amounts...

    * thatsfit.ca has a recipe for quinoa lentil soup that also includes vegetable stock, turmeric, onion, russet potato, garlic, basil and pepper.
    * allrecipes.com suggests making Marrakesh vegetable curry with sweet potato, eggplant, bell pepper, carrots, onions, olive oil, garlic, turmeric, curry powder, ground cinnamon, cayenne pepper, garbanzo beans, almonds, zucchini, raisins, orange juice, and spinach.
    * also from allrecipes.com comes a recipe for okra with tomatoes, onion, vegetable oil, ground turmeric and ground pepper.

Turmeric is a great spice to complement any recipes that feature lentils.

The deep color of turmeric can cause it to easily stain. Wear kitchen gloves when handling tumeric to prevent staining your hands, and if you spill tumeric... quickly wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent a lasting stain.

Sweet Potato Pie and Layered Salad Recipes That Are Delicious for Diabetics

One thing those who receive a diagnosis of diabetes need to remember is that they can still enjoy tasty meals. The days of a tasteless diabetic diet or bitter desserts are long past. The recipes in this article will show you just how tasty your meals can still be. For me personally, the diagnosis was not devastating as I had experience with diabetic recipes before my diagnosis. I had grown up next door to my grandparents and watched as my grandfather's food was measured and cooked in some rather mundane ways. Years later, I took care of my diabetic mother after she suffered a major stoke. I did a lot of nutritional research and was surprised at how far diabetic diets had changed. But more importantly was the changes in artificial sweeteners. Gone was the bitter after taste from my grandpa's sweeteners to the ones of my mother. Now I am able to prepare meals that I can enjoy and that my grandchildren enjoy with me. Try these recipes and see for yourself just how tasty your meals can be!

SWEET POTATO PIE
3 medium to large sweet potatoes
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups Splenda granulated
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup low-fat evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

Cook the sweet potatoes covered in water to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer about 45 minutes until tender.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Drain the potatoes and when enough, peel, remove blemishes, and mash. Add the butter, Splenda, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, beat mixture until smooth. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell.

Bake pie at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. If crust begins to get too brown, cover edge with a foil rim.

Note: Cinnamon is a blood sugar regulator so I have more cinnamon in this recipe than you may be used to.

SUNDAY LAYERED SALAD
1 head lettuce, chopped
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1 can (8-oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained
2 cups mayonnaise
2 tbsp Splenda granulated
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 bacon strips, fried crisp & crumbled

In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish layer ingredients in the order listed above. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight before serving.