Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in America today. Affecting 8% of the population, it is often referred to as the silent killer, due to its stealth like symptoms and immediate impact. Diabetes can be classified in two different types. Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is the result of a pancreas not producing enough insulin to transport the necessary glucose to the body’s cells. Type 2 deals more with the body’s inability to produce insulin as a whole.
Symptoms: The symptoms vary from person to person, but the most common signs for Type 1 and 2 diabetes are frequent urination, an increase in thirst and hunger. Other subtle signs including dizziness, headaches and nausea may also be signs, if coupled with the aforementioned.
Paying to attention to these signs is critical and important as one gets older. Although it’s impossible for one to diagnose themselves after feeling a few of these symptoms, its best to consult a physician about possibility.
Diet and exercise are the two major proponents of Diabetes prevention and dramatically affect the risks involved. Without narrowly defining what we eat and how we exercise, we become dependent on lifestyle choices that aren’t in line with a healthy diet. We see it commonly in America. The fact that our society is mainly consumption based, we are often subjected to the images and lifestyles portrayed in the media. Big breakfasts, big lunches and even more consumption at dinner is the American way. Most of us see thousands of advertisements a day involving unhealthy foods marketed towards the general population. Look around your room, I’m sure you can find at least one piece of evidence attached to an unhealthy lifestyle. A bag of chips, beef jerky, and a TV dinner perhaps? The bombardment of socially unconscious foods has become a staple in almost every community in the America.
Just imagine if the roles were reversed and healthy eating was the norm. Grocery stores like Trader Joes or Whole Foods, became the number one and two grocery outlets all across America. Most restaurants would offer low calorie options that taste good and satisfy the customer. Desserts, snacks and appetizers would no longer consume the menus. But rather healthy oat bars and sweet fruits would satisfy the hunger of patrons. In the past couple of years we’ve seen a shift to healthier options being offered everywhere. From Starbucks to McDonalds, food retailers understand that their customers want healthier options and that the trend is currently great tasting food with low calories. Even grocery stores are on an upswing with healthy alternatives, growing their natural and organic sections. A healthy diet is key in preventing diabetes because in the end, the body is only reacting to what you put in. The more sugars and fats, the more abuse you are putting on to your body. The idea of Moderation and making sure you eat a variety of different foods from the “pyramid” is key in eating healthy. By grabbing different nutrients and vitamins from various foods truly helps the overall diet.
Exercise is next on the list for prevention of Diabetes. Proper exercise is critical in making sure that your body is constantly active and using up the nutrients stored from food. Without exercise the food just builds up and unhealthy conditions begin to from. Diabetes is not only a dangerous disease by itself; it can also lead to even more severe complications (i.e. high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure etc…). By exercising on a regular basis, you are putting all vital functions to the test. Cardio is one of the most important aspects. When running, jogging spinning, swimming, sprinting and cycling, we are using our whole body. These full body workouts allow us to quickly engage in daily workouts that aren’t difficult and keep us active. Imagine waking up every morning and jogging 20 minutes around your area. This is all it takes to start living a healthy life. As the 20 minutes becomes, 30 and grows gradually, you’ll see the results and not have to make exercising such a big deal. With invent of the iPod and other music engaging devices, there has been an increase in those interested in exercising by themselves. We no longer need others to push us anymore. This should ultimately mean that we can no longer give excuses about not having the motivation to exercise. Instead we must motivate ourselves to keep up the healthy lifestyle. All this translates into keeping the risks of each type of Diabetes down. When we eat healthy and exercise regularly, it’s hard to acquire the disease.
One of the most common transmissions of diabetes is hereditary. If Diabetes is common in your family, the chances are greatly improved for contracting the disease. However, this doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. The truth of the matter is that if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, while knowing that Diabetes is rampant in your family history, chances of you acquiring the disease are highly likely. Family history checks are always helpful in finding out what disease may be chronic in your family. This also allows the doctor to put you on the correct diet, in hopes of lessening the chances of the disease.
As easy as it sounds diet and exercise are the two biggest lifestyle choices a person can make when trying to avoid this disease. Consulting your physician about possible diet plans, effective workouts and other health related protocols to lessen the chances of Diabetes are always good. Prevention should be the first option every time. This way, we won’t wait until the very end to change our lifestyle. Dictating our own health is important in the world today. With so many diseases, chemicals and global warming threats in the air, we all must take accountability for our health. It’s starts with our diet and making sure we’re eating a variety of different healthy options. If you’d like to stay strictly with the expensive Diabetes food, I recommend going online and seeing what foods work the best for those living with Diabetes. This way, instead of spending money on the name brand products, you might be able to experiment with different combinations.
New technologies and processes are being formed everyday to continue the fight against diabetes. Until they discover the all-important cure. Each of us should be practicing a healthy diet with an exercising combination. This way we’ll be able to cover all bases and make sure that we’re doing everything in our power to stave off the disease.
Comments
Marshall Norris
September 13th, 2010 - 11:31:48 AM
Please sent any information you can about diabetes. I just found out that I have it. Thank you for all your help. Marshall
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angela marcus
October 3rd, 2010 - 7:24:43 PM
i need help bad my sugars are out of control i cant get it under 300 even with insulin. i just misscarried probably because of the diabetes. please send whatever you can to me
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Mary Chambers
October 12th, 2010 - 12:55:44 PM
I think you portray Type 1 diabetes unfair. My 8 yo grand son acquired Type 1 diabetes and my family is about as active as they come. I am fifty and jog 5 days a week, He is very active and we eat foods that are good for you. yes we have the occasionaly treat. but these children did not do anything that caused this. Please get your facts straight and portray these children correctly.
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Mrs. T.W.
November 5th, 2010 - 2:44:55 PM
I do not like the way this article comes across at all...Look around your room and you will ilkely see traces of an unhealthy lifestyle...Seriously?? are you for real what a crock! I am a vegetarian,very healthy,I do not eat junk or sugar sweetened drinks or food and I am an avid swimmer and jogger, I just happen to be born with a case of diabetes, I have been giving myself insulin since I was very young, all the exercise in the world isn't gonna change this fact! please re think your article you seem to wanna blame this disease on the victims of it moreso than you want to be informative! I do hope no one reads this article and is utterly confused it is just some fools write up, please research yourself about diabetes on some other page!!!
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Mary Estes
November 19th, 2010 - 4:35:09 PM
Lighten up folks! The article didn't use the word "everybody" it used the following words "mainly," "often," "most," "ONE piece of evidence attached to an unhealthy life style," and "Almost every community. I have 4 siblings and they all have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Seeing their struggle with the disease, I did not want to get it. I began eating healthier and walking 3-4 times a week and I lost 45 lbs and now I am in a normal weight range for my height and have kept it off for 2 1/2 years. I may someday get it because it runs in my family but I am doing all that I can for myself to ward off this terrible disease.
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John E Shepherd
November 24th, 2010 - 6:15:46 PM
Dear Mrs TW there is more than one type of diabetes and they were right on for type 2 . I am sorry you have type one, but you are the one confussing people.
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PK
December 31st, 2010 - 11:08:48 AM
Please read "Diabetes Solution" by Dr. Richard K Bernstein. He is diabetes 1 since 65 years ago, and is in perfect control, and so are his patients, including me.
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Trish
January 27th, 2011 - 6:19:06 PM
I've been using 1,000 mcg Chromium Picolinate a day in addition to watching my diet and it really does help. When I quit taking it nothing seems to help. I researched it before starting on it, and it's readily available
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Donna Ford
February 25th, 2011 - 12:16:20 PM
I was trying to get an idea as to what fruits and vegetables I could eat. This hasn't helped a bit!
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Amy Levin
February 25th, 2011 - 12:45:30 PM
I am 59 and have had type 1 diabetes since I was 27. Having a family history of both Types, I wasn't completely surprised. It's not an easy disease to handle, but at least there is a proven treatment, as well as medication. Donna, no one can tell you just what foods are 'safe', as everyone's body can respone differently to different foods. The most critical thing to do, is to test, test, TEST! Test, eat, wait 2hrs then test again! Remember that as you age, your diabetes ages - and CHANGES. Never assume that you've 'figured it all out' - you can't. Look, I was diagnosed with both Diabetes AND Multiple Sclerosis at the same time. No matter what they say, there's NO treatment OR 'cure' for MS. (In comparison, Diabetes is GREAT!) Live your life, and Love it!
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mikkel
February 25th, 2011 - 5:52:16 PM
angela i have been like you. one thing i can tell you that mite help you is car intercept at wall mart and other stores. alot of diabets i have helped have gained control of their sugars and are living well. you can also find them at and known as carb blockers.
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patti jones
March 2nd, 2011 - 1:14:26 PM
my eldest son, now 28, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 8. we had no family history, nor was he obese. he was diagnosed after a very bad case of chicken pox. we were trained by his endocrinologist to exchange, it has worked for him for all of this time. i am now an adult onset diabetic. i got things in control through diet, however, i was diagnosed with lymphoma, hodgkins disease. due to the chemo and steroids involved in my treatment my sugars escalated out of control. I was ordered to go on insulin during my treatment. i am still on insulin, cancer free and out of treatment 2+ years. I believe that i will now be on insulin the rest of my life...
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Mary
March 9th, 2011 - 7:17:48 AM
I am type 2 diabetic and have been for 2 yrs now my dad was type 1 for 28 yrs before his death my mother is type 1 also and has been for 19 yrs and I can assure you it was not due to a poor diet we grow most of all our fruits n vegetables and preserve them for winter time use we eat only organic meats that is also grown ourselves we are a very active family I take 2 pills a day my mom and dad take 2 shots day my g-great grandma and several aunts n uncles died of diabetic we are very knowledgeable of this diese
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Dale Ransom
March 15th, 2011 - 7:53:49 PM
I came on your site looking for free meal plans for diabetes. but your site carries me to everything except what I needed.
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Livvy Gibb
March 26th, 2011 - 6:31:47 PM
Diabetes is condition that is affected by hormones and the immune system.chicken pox is a disease that stays in the body and Studies show that some diabetics manifest diabetes during pregnancy known as gestational diabetes. Scientists see a correlation between chicken and typeI diabetes. yes, that is me and I was always slender, active, and ate healthily. Unfair to say you can prevent diabetes. Obviously there is some limited knowledge here. Be careful!!!!!
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greenonblue
May 6th, 2011 - 4:02:30 AM
I was looking for written diets for diabetics. Instead I always find "exchange lists". Why not state the item intended. I am a diabetic and waste so much time searching for help. I find recipes for 4 or 6, I want recipes for me, 1 person.
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skeeter
July 9th, 2011 - 8:08:55 AM
ALL of the comments I've read here from people who are upset do not seem to realize there are TWO TYPES OF DIABETES. TYPE 1 DIABETES means that your body DOES NOT produce enough insulin. So your diet, exercise, etc. don't affect that. Usually the very young get Type 1,and YOU NEED INSULIN because your body doesn't produce it. HOWEVER, TYPE 2 DIABETES actually means your body is able to produce MORE insulin than you need. DIET, EXERCISE, LIFESTYLE makes all the difference in the world. (Don't you see the majority of TYPE 2 diabetics usually are overweight / obese and don't have a very active lifestyle? And love sugary, high-carb foods?) In just about every case, diet and exercise can keep TYPE 2 DIABETES IN CONTROL. These two medical problems -even though they have the same name of "diabetes" are VERY, VERY different in the way to manage them.
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JOE BAARS
August 9th, 2011 - 12:46:29 AM
INSTEAD OF LONG STORIES DRENCHED WITH COMMERCIAL SALES SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLICATED COOKING INSTRUCTIONS JUST WHAT WILL WORK? APPLES? NUTS? YOU ARE A DOCTOR? THANK YOU JOE
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wilma
August 29th, 2011 - 8:25:24 AM
WHERE IS THE TYPE 2 DIET PLAN?
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Sharon
August 29th, 2011 - 8:23:04 PM
I complained to my Dr. that my leg keeps tingling and hurting and I was having dizzy spells. I get pills for the dizziness and they take my blood. Nurse calls me and says "Your glucose is a little high, you may be on your way to diabetes so excerise, lose some weight and watch your diet." The more I excercise, the more my leg hurts, I don't know what I should or shouldn't eat but I have lost some weight. Just keep feeling worse, have an app. with Dr. in October, 6 months since they took my blood. Where's the help here????????
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bell smith
September 22nd, 2011 - 1:15:23 PM
thanks for your suggestion ihave type 2 diabetes and my doctor told me to eat right and exercise it is hard but i am trying to keep up with it, because i will benefit from doing it later. thanks. BELL
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Mary Lindner
September 26th, 2011 - 2:01:11 PM
I was diagnosed diabetic 10 yrs ago and managed it with wise eating.Open heart surgery in Jan 2010 changed it.They gave me insulin in hospital as sugars were high.Never had insulin prior.No appetite, lost weight I couldn't afford next six months.No one kept tabs on blood sugars.I kept bugging my GP & sent me to the diabetic nurse.They couldnt figure out if I was type 1 or 2.Gave insulin then stopped it.On my own went to endocrinologist.They dont have answer why I cant put on weight.Had breast cancer 14 yrs ago,so no estrogen allowed in my menu (like soy) on coumadin so limit on greens (vitamin K)Need to take in at least 2000 cals daily.Hard to find menus.Havent gained 1 pound back.All tests, thyroid, blood show I am healthy.Any help out there?
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Lora
October 6th, 2011 - 8:23:19 PM
I nearly went into an acoma in my doctors office, my sugar so high their meters could not register it. I was taken to ICU..spent nearly a week in the hospital with excellent care and teaching of giving my own shots. Long story short, within 30 days I was diagnoised with diabetic neuropathy in my hands, feet, legs and back. When I first came home from the hospital I could barely see & had to have help with my 4 shots a day plus meds & meals. I couldn't walk. Thanks to my dog I was able to take a step or two each day within 2 weeks I could get around the house well enough I could care for myself & my eyesight came back. First thing my doctor told me besides the diet to go by..is..WALK or you DIE! I pushed myself hard even tho it hurt horribly. I was determined to beat this disease but told that it's rare to none as to beating diabetes. I began to research diets, then how foods interacted with each other including what I drank and how or when I drank it with my meal.I put together my own diet along the guidelines of of my doctor's advice. At first I had to eat extremely small servings. I felt starved.I couldn't handle this but tuffed it out for a few weeks until I discoverd through my research how foods interacted and then I began to try my own way of eating, exercise etc. Within nearly 3 years of my diagnose I had lost 60lbs,went from 4 shots a day to 2 shots a day,to a pill for 3 months & on that third month my doctor took me off all diabetic meds. I do still take meds for my neuropathy damage but the damage was done due to my blood sugar getting far too high before I got to the right kind of doctor who got me the care I needed. I intend to write about my diet,the times it changed, my excercise...and when my legs hurt too bad how I still maintained my exercise. Here are a few of "MY" tips: Walk or you die!!! Push yourself best you can..a little at a time and if you have neuropathy which inhibits your walking, try getting a gazzelle, for it doesn't hurt but still gives you the same effect as walking. #2: If your sugar is very high...walk for 5 minutes or more..even if it is just to the mailbox or in the yard or on a gazzelle. The more you move it will lower your blood sugar!!! It sure makes life simpler! #3: Keep a log of every sugar test, what you eat and drink wether it is breakfast, snack, dinner, and supper. It is very crucial you keep a little notebook and take notes if something is odd or your are stress for example..just take notes along with your other records...then at every doctor visit you must show it to him or her and they can determine how you are doing, determine your meds..it can save your life. If you are not satisfied or getting results with your doctor...find one that will care about your needs and help you & make sure you look at the numbers of your results of your A1C test etc..it will help you understand more as you progress to getting better. Drink plenty of fluids..switch off and on with sweetners..eating a good breakfast is best..larger meal for lunch, and eat your smaller meal for supper...stay away from anything with flour in it,fried foods, chips & sweets. As your sugar gets regulated and you understand what your body needs you will know more how to care for yourself. sometimes it is best to eat several small meals a day but keep in mind to eat the things you would have in your daily meals..remember if you have fruit..you may not be aloud to have it later..mix it up what u eat as if u were eating a meal but not all of it at once. Here's a tip I've learned which helped me very much! Drink before you eat not during unless needed. Eat your fruit before you eat your meal. It's hard at first to adjust to type2 diabetes depending how bad you are..but tho it is rare, you can possibly beat it if you work extremely hard at it..it's up to you and how you want to live the rest of your life! I was represented by my doctor along with a specialist who was interested in how I manage to overcome this diabetes when I was a worse case scenario. This is where the log book comes in handy for our doctors learn how to help us better. If I can help..even be ur team friend..email me lorak1957@yahoo.com One thing I have to say here..please don't put down many people who write about diabtes for we all have different bodies and what might work for one will not work for another, but if you are determined enough to want to live..you will work you hinny off to do it! Have a Blessed Day! I love sites like these for it's interesting listening to so many different situations! I love to keep my research up..help me do that so I can help you and others. I do not know much about type 1 diabetes..for now my research is stricktly been on type 2. God Bless! Hat's off to those who are trying and email me if you need someone to talk to and learn from!
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Lora
October 6th, 2011 - 8:39:10 PM
I forgot to mention: type 2 diabetes is a complete lifestyle..but in time with work & knowledge life will get easier. I am not a doctor. I'm just a type 2 diabetic..or was so to speak...and if any of my knowledge may help you please email me..I don't claim to have all the answers..but promise to do my best to help anyone who emails me for suggestions and questions..or just a friend to talk to about this... lorak1957@yahoo.com also on facebook
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PERLENE COTTRELL
November 1st, 2011 - 10:43:24 PM
need to know what I should eat not eat.Please send info by mail if youcan 6104 Trappers Ridge Circle Louisville, Ky. 40216 Trappers Ridge Circle
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