Sunday, August 31, 2008

Living Well with Diabates

Living Well with Diabetes
 
When you were diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor probably told you that your blood glucose levels were too high. Indeed, high blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, is the hallmark of diabetes. Regardless of your knowledge of diabetes at that time, you may have wondered what the significance of high blood glucose levels was for you. The answer is that hyperglycemia is linked to the development of long-term diabetes complications, which include nephropathy (kidney disease), retinopathy (eye disease), neuropathy (nerve damage), foot and skin problems, heart and blood vessel disease, and tooth and gum disease. That's why individual treatment plans for people with diabetes focus on preventing hyperglycemia and keeping blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Keeping blood glucose levels close to normal requires learning how to balance food intake, physical activity, and the effects of any diabetes medicines your doctor may prescribe to lower your blood glucose level. For some people, the balancing act also involves learning to avoid hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose.
 
Blood glucose goals
 
In healthy people who don't have diabetes, blood glucose levels typically run in the range of 65–110 mg/dl and may rise to 120–140 mg/dl one to two hours after eating. A diagnosis of diabetes is made when a person's fasting blood glucose level is above 126 mg/dl on two separate occasions or when a person has symptoms of diabetes (such as excessive thirst and urination) and his nonfasting blood glucose level is greater than 200 mg/dl on two separate occasions.
 
Until recently, a diagnosis of prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are high but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes, was made when a person's fasting blood glucose level was between 110 mg/dl and 126 mg/dl. More recently, an international expert committee on diabetes recommended diagnosing prediabetes when a person's fasting blood glucose level is 100 mg/dl, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has adopted this recommendation.
 
On the basis of research showing that maintaining near-normal blood glucose levels significantly reduces the risk of diabetes-related complications, both the ADA and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) have established recommended goals for blood glucose control for most adults with diabetes (see "Blood Glucose Targets"). These goals may be modified for certain populations. For example, the goals for blood glucose control are typically lower for women with diabetes who are pregnant. For children and the elderly, particularly those who take insulin as part of their treatment plan, the goals may be higher for safety reasons. Because each person's situation is different, it is important to work with your diabetes care team to set individualized blood glucose goals that are right for you.
 
Over the last several years, alternative and complementary therapies—from herbs and supplements to massage—have become increasingly popular for treating a variety of ailments. Though widely used, many alternative and complementary therapies are not well studied, and some have more evidence in their favor than others. If you're considering an alternative or complementary treatment, it's important to talk to your doctor about how it fits into your diabetes treatment plan, as well as to understand the treatment's potential benefits and risks. The articles in this section can help you learn about potentially helpful alternative and complementary therapies
 
My name is Kamran Rezapour and I'm not only the founder; but also a Health Advisor for Nutrition for Health. I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to educating yourself about alternative health to addressing blood sugar problems. For years I had struggled with my own personal health battles. Like so many of us in this great country, I did everything medical doctors told me to do; unfortunately, my health battles were not getting any better.
 
That's when I decided to take personal responsibility for my health. Quality health and well being comes as a result of making good choices for your self and thank God we live in a country that allows us free liberty. It is your health and your responsibility, and no one cares about your health more than you.
 
Because of new found studies through modern day technology, advances in alternative medicine have made it easier for us to make safer choices of good health than ever before. Although some (but not most) prescription drugs have their place, alternative medicine is becoming more and more acceptable because they are safer and more effective. Let me now share with you some important facts that can dramatically change your personal health and well-being for the better!
 
Managing your diabetes with the proper diet, excercise and the implementation of Diapan can lead you to living well with the disease.  Following the links below, will give you additional information, perspectives and diabetes facts that will help with  your overall diabetic education.
 
Kamran Rezapour-Health Advisor Nutrition For Health
 
 

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