Common Myths about Diabetic Diet Debunked!
November 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Diabetic Diets
When one hears the phrase ‘diabetic diet,’ one would think of a complicated and strict diet which absolutely restricts sugar intake, sweets, and most favorite foods. But just what exactly are myths and what are facts?
Too much sugar intake causes diabetes. Some people believe that eating too much sugar can cause diabetes. The truth is that diabetes occurs when something disrupts your body’s natural ability to convert the food you eat into energy.
A diabetic diet is complicated. Sure, you will have to plan your meals and choose what you eat carefully. However, the main goal is to eat the right type of foods that will work well with your activities and medications in order to maintain a normal blood sugar level. It’s as simple as that.
Carbohydrates are bad. Proteins are good. A diabetic diet usually limits carbohydrates intake, but this doesn’t mean it’s totally bad. Carbohydrates are part of what makes up a balanced diet, so it is also beneficial for diabetics when consumed in moderation. They contain many vitamins and minerals that can benefit the body. The trick is to choose quality carbohydrates.
Another myth is that protein is better than carbohydrates. The problem with eating too many proteins though, is that it may be filled with saturated fat and could raise your risk of heart disease. A balanced diet of the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins and fats is recommended.
Eat all you want. Adjust medicine doses later. If you’re using insulin to treat diabetes, you might learn how to adjust the doses of insulin according to the amount of food you consume. But this doesn’t mean that you can let go of your diet and eat whatever you want, then use the drugs later on to stabilize your glucose level.
Say goodbye to sweets. No, you don’t have to say goodbye to sweets and your favorite desserts. You can have your cake and eat it too by using artificial sweeteners, or using nutritious ingredients like fresh fruit, whole grains, and vegetable oil. You may also cut back on your regular servings, and even use the dessert as a reward to motivate you in sticking to your diabetic diet plan.
Diabetes: Different Types, Different Causes
There are different types of diabetes which means there are also different factors that trigger the development of this fatal disease. The various types of diabetes are classified as Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This article will focus on the main cause of diabetes depending on each type. This article will also present general causes that deal with the development of diabetes.
The primary cause of diabetes is the irregular increasing of glucose level in an individual’s blood. In the case of a Type 1 diabetic, the cells that produce the hormone insulin are malfunctioning. In this way, without the insulin, the glucose our body extracts from the food we eat stays in the blood rather than being distributed to different parts of our body and transformed into energy. Since the body of a Type 1 diabetic does not produce enough insulin, it is imperative for him or her to have daily intake of insulin.
For Type 2 diabetic, the primary cause of diabetes is that the hormone insulin produced by the body is not being used properly. The insulin does it job, however, some of the internal organs do not react with the actions taken by the insulin, this is called “insulin resistance”. Since there is over-produced insulin within the body, the performance of insulin is disrupted. Too much insulin in the body overworks the pancreas which may result to production of abnormal insulin.
These two types of diabetes vary on the manner they develop, however, there are some factors as well that should be considered to the development of diabetes. These factors trigger the development of diabetes regardless of level of insulin being produced, age, gender, and racial backgrounds. It is believed that one common cause of diabetes is the individual’s diet. Our body needs a balanced diet which means too much of something is harmful. It is imperative then for us to be conscious of what we eat.
In line with our dietary habits, one common cause of diabetes is obesity. If we will not be aware of what we eat, we might be taking in too many unnecessary fats that could make us obese. Eating too many foods result to higher glucose level in our blood. These foods also store too much fat resulting to the malfunction of insulin. The insulin helps our body absorbs the glucose from the food we eat, but because of too much fat, our body is slowly becoming resistant to insulin.
The Inside and Out of Diabetes Type 2 In Children
November 6, 2009 by admin
Filed under Control Diabetes
Are you diabetic? Diabetes type 2 in children is pretty common. Ever wondered if your children are also affected? Worry no more for this article will guide you on how to detect diabetic symptoms among your children. Your children might look physically healthy but make sure you consider checking your children’s internal health. This would help you detect if your children are already suffering from the dreadful illness of diabetes.
Basically, diabetic symptoms among children and adults are the same. The common mistake is that most of us do not take the initiative to find out what these symptoms are. Fearsome truth is that these symptoms do not manifest instantly. These symptoms first affect the internal organs which is why diabetes is considered as a serious disease. Once diabetes has massively affected the internal organs, it would then be physically visible.
Common diabetic symptoms are unusual thirst and urination, constant infections, wounds do not easily heal, tainted vision, irregular weight loss, aggressive appetite, some numbness in hands or feet, and irritable most of the time. If you notice these symptoms on your children, might as well visit your doctor and have them diagnosed. It would always be better to prevent the disease rather than curing it.
Once you have spotted these diabetic symptoms on your children, and the doctor has confirmed that they are subject to diabetes, take immediate action. Treating and trying to prevent the disease from progressing will save your children from unlikely situations. The worst scenarios would include amputations and blindness. Diabetes may also cause your children’s kidneys to malfunction resulting to multiple complications. The disease may also lead to more serious affections like heart diseases and nervous breakdown.
Now that you know some of the diabetic symptoms, it would be imperative not to take this illness lightly. Diabetes is a slow killer. The disease is also a backstabber for it damages the body slowly yet surely if left unattended. Act quickly by consulting the doctor and run through diagnostic tests. Follow some preventive guidelines to stop the progression of the disease. Arm one’s self with adequate knowledge and rest assured that you can win the battle.

