Get More Out Of Life While Managing Your Diabetes

By Brandon Hall

 

When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 21, I had not given the first thought to living a healthy diabetic lifestyle. As far as I was concerned, a healthy lifestyle was reserved only for fitness junkies and overweight moms.

 

I didn't know squat about the benefits and overall happiness a healthy lifestyle would lead to.  I was perfectly content eating frozen pizza, smoking cigarettes, and binge drinking on a regular basis.  After I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had a lengthy discussion with my doctor that resulted in an epiphany, "Everything I love is killing me!"

 

First, we'll define what I mean by healthy lifestyle. When I asked the question, "What is a healthy lifestyle?” the common answer seemed to be, "Don't smoke, don't drink, eat only vegetables and protein, and make sure to exercise every day."

 

My first thought was, "You can give that crap right back to the birds."  I was 21, loved to party, and absolutely chock full of testosterone.

 

The ideas, practices, and benefits a healthy lifestyle provided sounded great for managing my diabetes, but I sure didn't like the idea of my social life falling off the face of the planet. Believing in the power of moderation, I made some compromises with my disease:

 

1. Smoking

 

I quit smoking cigarettes and only smoked cigars on special occasions such as bachelor parties, Super Bowls, or the birth of my first child.  That last part was a joke. After many years of searching, special occasions are the only reason I can find to put nicotine or smoke of any kind in your body.

 

2. Drinking

 

For me, this was a big one. I'm not really the type of guy that likes to meet girls at church, and school was not really an option for me, but drinking was all my friends and I did.  As a result, drinking alcohol (sadly enough) was a major component of my social life.  From that day forward, I laid down some basic rules.

 

No liquor. Liquor causes severe instability in blood sugar levels, and will cause serious problems. I stick only to beer and wine with a maximum of three drinks.  If you monitor your sugar regularly and eat beforehand, you should be able to enjoy a nice night out.

 

3. Eating

 

Of the areas available for improvement in my lifestyle, eating was the easiest for me to adapt and overcome.  When I learned that protein had a minor effect on my sugar that was good news, any hamburger and steak-loving American would be happy to hear that, but the bad news was that French fries, baked potatoes, and (my favorite) sweet potatoes were off limits.  That meant I had to learn to love vegetables.

 

From that point forward, I began cooking veggies with light butter and cayenne pepper.  I know that sounds odd, but I like spicy food.  As far as your diet is concerned, for the sake of your happiness, find your favorite spices and seasonings and begin experimenting with healthy foods.

 

4. Exercise

 

When it comes to exercising many people (including myself) do not follow through for long enough to see substantial results.  Personally, I believe in living an active lifestyle instead of becoming a fitness and free-weight junkie.  What worked for me? Basic exercises (lunges, squats, and crunches) in front of the television every morning followed by a 15 minute walk.

 

Complying with the guidelines I listed above, I'm still able to have a fun, active lifestyle while controlling my diabetes.  Finally, I need to say that I'm not a doctor, just a guy with Type 1 Diabetes. The practices I listed worked for me to maintain the young-adult lifestyle that I wanted.  You may be different, and understanding your own personality traits is critical to successful moderation and control of your diabetes.

 

Brandon C. Hall is an online business owner and Type 1
Diabetic who runs many websites. For the latest articles
and news related to diabetes and the diabetic lifestyle
visit: http://www.diabetic-resources.com

 

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Double Diabetes -- Placing Your Kids at Even More Risk

By Michael Smith, MD

 

In some medical circles it's called Type 3 Diabetes.  Teenagers and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, if overweight or obese, can develop type 2 diabetes later in life.  It's a double whammy and the medical consequences of such a diagnosis don't look good.

 

First, let's briefly cover the basics of diabetes.

 

Diabetes is Elevated Blood Glucose Levels

 

Higher than normal level of glucose in the blood is diabetes.  Glucose is the main energy source for the brain and nerves and comes from digesting carbohydrates.  Because of its importance as an energy source, glucose blood level is normally kept within a narrow range.

 

Two hormones help to keep glucose in this normal range.  First, there is insulin.  Insulin is released by the pancreas as glucose levels rise after a meal.  It promotes the uptake of glucose by muscle cells.  Second, is glucagon.  This hormone causes the release of glucose out of energy stores during fasting.  The insulin to glucagon ratio helps to stabilize the normal  levels of blood glucose.

 

Two Types of Diabetes

 

In order to have consistently high blood glucose levels either insulin production and/or release from the pancreas is defective or the muscles don't respond to insulin when it is released.

 

Juvenile or Type 1 Diabetes -- Insulin production is defective.  Most often detected early in life.  These patients require insulin shots.

 

Adult Onset or Type 2 Diabetes -- The muscles don't respond to insulin.  In this case, glucose stays within the blood and not in the tissues.  The early stage is called Insulin Resistance.  Type 2 is associated with being overweight or obese.

 

The Atypical Type of Diabetes -- Double Diabetes or Type 3

 

A young man who has type I diabetes, if he does not follow a proper diabetic diet and an exercise program, could develop type 2 diabetes on top of his type I diagnosis.

 

This is a fear turned into reality for many type I diabetics and their families.  The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh states that 25% of children with type I diabetes are showing features of type 2.  The main feature shared by all of these children...obesity.  Dr. Dorothy Becker, a pediatric endocrinologist and leading double-diabetes researcher, feels the numbers will continue to climb.

 

And an ongoing study to determine the best treatment for children with type 2 diabetes is also uncovering many kids who harbor antibodies that signal they have or are developing the type 1 form.

 

No matter which type of diabetes came first in a child, it makes treatment that much harder for everyone involved.  So what is the best treatment?

 

Treating Type 3 Diabetes

 

The best treatment for type 3 diabetes is prevention.  Children, with or without diabetes, must exercise.  Toning and building muscle tissue is the only effective way to protect against type 3 diabetes.

 

Strong muscles are metabolic active and able to uptake glucose as expected when insulin is released into the blood.  Parents, start a supervised and doctor approved workout program with your children.  Something tells me that we may need a strong future.

 

To Healthy Living!

 

Michael A. Smith, MD
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website

 

Dr. Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for the Diet Basics Website, a content rich weight loss site dedicated to the on-line dieter.  Please visit his site at Diet Basics.

 

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Pancreas Transplants - A Solution For Type 1 Diabetes Sufferers?

By Valerian D.

 

Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as juvenile diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes matures quickly and symptoms are very visible.

 

This type of diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system destroys pancreatic cells. These cells are the insulin producing cells. This type of diabetes affects mostly children and young adults. Risk factors for type1 diabetes include autoimmune, genetics, and environmental factors.

 

Many clinical studies have shown that an option for type 1 diabetes treatment is the pancreas transplantation. For some patients, surgeons can restore the function of the pancreas with an islet cell transplant.

 

The most important benefit of pancreas transplantation is freedom from dependence on insulin. Although this is significant, this is not recommended treatment for diabetes unless there is a need for a kidney transplant as well.

 

On the other hand, pancreas transplants still remains problematic in that the immune system still can attack new pancreas cells. Some people who have transplants do find that the transplanted pancreas is attacked and the insulin-producing cells are killed off after operation.

 

At this time, pancreas transplants do not always provide permanent cures, and people who have transplants must take anti-rejection medication and immune-system suppressing drugs.

 

Many research teams are still  working on this immune system problem that seems to be the root cause of type 1 diabetes (sometimes called auto-immune diabetes).

 

This is main reason that pancreas transplants are still only being studied experimentally and are not considered currently to be an automatic cure for all patients with type 1 diabetes.

 

Valerian, freelance writer specialized in health issues affecting men

 

http://www.mens-health-events.info/diabetes.php

 

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Exercise and Diabetes – Answers To Your Most Asked Questions

Exercise and Diabetes – Answers To Your Most Asked Questions
By Ronnie Bussey

QUESTION: Why is it important for people with diabetes to be physically active?

ANSWER: Physical activity can help you control your blood glucose, weight, and blood pressure, as well as raise your “good” cholesterol and lower your “bad” cholesterol. It can also help prevent heart and blood flow problems, reducing your risk of heart disease and nerve damage, which are often problems for people with diabetes.

QUESTION: How much and how often should people with diabetes exercise?

ANSWER: Experts recommend moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week. Some examples of moderate-intensity physical activity are walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming, or bicycling.

If you are not accustomed to physical activity, you may want to start with a little exercise, and work your way up. As you become stronger, you can add a few extra minutes to your physical activity. Do some physical activity every day. It’s better to walk 10 or 20 minutes each day than one hour once a week.

Talk to your health care provider about a safe exercise plan. He or she may check your heart and your feet to be sure you have no special problems. If you have high blood pressure, eye, or foot problems, you may need to avoid some kinds of exercise.

QUESTION: What are some good types of physical activity for people with diabetes?

ANSWER: Walking vigorously, hiking, climbing stairs, swimming, aerobics, dancing, bicycling, skating, skiing, tennis, basketball, volleyball, or other sports are just some examples of physical activity that will work your large muscles, increase your heart rate, and make you breathe harder - important goals for fitness.

In addition, strength training exercises with hand weights, elastic bands, or weight machines can help you build muscle. Stretching helps to make you flexible and prevent soreness after other types of exercise.

Do physical activities you really like. The more fun you have, the more likely you will do it each day. It can be helpful to exercise with a family member or friend.

QUESTION: Are there any safety considerations for people with diabetes when they exercise?

ANSWER: Exercise is very important for people with diabetes to stay healthy, but there are a few things to watch out for.
You should avoid some kinds of physical activity if you have certain diabetes complications. Exercise involving heavy weights may be bad for people with blood pressure, blood vessel, or eye problems. Diabetes-related nerve damage can make it hard to tell if you’ve injured your feet during exercise, which can lead to more serious problems. If you do have diabetes complications, your health care provider can tell you which kinds of physical activity would be best for you. Fortunately, there are many different ways to get exercise.

Physical activity can lower your blood glucose too much, causing hypoglycemia, especially in people who take insulin or certain oral medications. Hypoglycemia can happen at the time you’re exercising, just afterward, or even up to a day later. You can get shaky, weak, confused, irritable, anxious, hungry, tired, or sweaty. You can get a headache, or even lose consciousness.

To help prevent hypoglycemia during physical activity, check your blood glucose before you exercise. If it's below 100, have a small snack. In addition, bring food or glucose tablets with you when you exercise just in case. It is not good for people with diabetes to skip meals at all, but especially not prior to exercise. After you exercise, check to see how it has affected your blood glucose level. If you take insulin, ask your health care provider if there is a preferable time of day for you to exercise, or whether you should change your dosage before physical activity, before beginning an exercise regimen.

On the other hand, you should not exercise when your blood glucose is very high because your level could go even higher. Do not exercise if your blood glucose is above 300, or your fasting blood glucose is above 250 and you have ketones in your urine.

When you exercise, wear cotton socks and athletic shoes that fit well and are comfortable. After you exercise, check your feet for sores, blisters, irritation, cuts, or other injuries.

Drink plenty of fluids during physical activity, since your blood glucose can be affected by dehydration.

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Treadmill Weight Loss Tips

Treadmill Weight Loss Tips
By Gary Gresham

These treadmill weight loss tips are a great way to help you shed a few pounds and shape up. A treadmill is designed for the most natural form of exercise which is walking. You don't need any special skills to use these machines because if you can walk, you can exercise on a treadmill.

Treadmill weight loss is one of the most successful methods of losing weight. Just be consistent and work within your fat burning target range for 45 minutes or more per session at least 5 to 6 days per week.

If you are looking to shed unwanted pounds, implement a treadmill workout routine along with a sensible, healthy diet. The treadmill allows you the convenience of exercising in a safe, comfortable, climate controlled environment anytime day or night.

If you are just starting out, check with your doctor before you begin any exercise regime. When you begin, start at a nice, easy pace, do shorter workouts for a few weeks and increase the length and intensity as your fitness level improves.

The main thing to keep in mind is to keep your body moving for as long and fast as you can but still remain comfortable. The faster the pace the more calories you will burn. The more calories you burn, the more weight you will lose.

Regular exercise on a treadmill will increase your body's metabolism and make it work more efficiently to burn more fat. The best treadmill workout plan is one that becomes a daily habit, just like brushing your teeth.

If you do a treadmill workout routine everyday you don't have to think about it, and it becomes a good habit. It soon becomes part of your normal day and you look forward to it. Consistency is the key to success.

Here are some important tips to remember when walking:

Maintain a proper posture, keep you head up, relax your neck and look straight ahead.

Let your arms swing naturally at your side and loosely cup your hands.

Hold your tummy in and keep your hips relaxed and loose.

Take steps that are comfortable for you, not too short or too long.

Concentrate on your breathing. Try to breathe normally, taking in deep, smooth breaths.

A few good tips to help break the boredom while exercising on the treadmill are:

Listen to up beat music, books on tape or teaching tapes.

Read a book or magazine.

Chat with a friend on the treadmill next to you.

Watch yourself in the mirror to work on your posture and walking technique.

Watch your favorite talk show or sitcom.

Walking a treadmill to lose weight will consistently provide you with quality results and lasting benefits. It allows you to work at your own pace to burn calories effectively.

If you apply these treadmill weight loss tips they will have a positive impact on your weight loss as well as many other aspects of your life.

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