Gum Health and Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association believes that people with type 2 diabetes can help control the disease by taking care of their gums. Several studies support this belief. A study of United States population data between 1988 and 1994 showed that having gum disease doubled a person’s risk of experiencing insulin resistance. A study from Stony Brook University linked severity of gum disease with degree of insulin resistance. Inflammatory chemicals produced by the infection in the mouth could enter the bloodstream and affect cells that deal with insulin. A study from the National Institutes of Health found that treating gum disease … Continue reading →

New Tech for Diabetics

We live in some pretty amazing times. We have some amazing technology available — and some amazing stuff coming down the pike. Let’s take a look at some new technology that will soon be available for diabetics. Nasal insulin sprays are currently being tested by two different drug companies (Bentley and Nastech). Early data from both drug companies is showing that insulin is absorbed more quickly when inhaled, rather than injected. This could mean that managing blood sugar will be faster and easier in the near future. Tired of pricking your finger and squeezing out a drop of blood every … Continue reading →

Insulin Pumps: The Basics

Insulin pumps — devices that can mimic the insulin delivery of a normal, healthy pancreas — were developed in the late 1970s. An insulin pump delivers insulin under the skin in two different doses: a low background dose given every few minutes to fulfill the body’s general insulin needs and a larger dose given to deal with meals and snacks. The pump holds a reservoir of insulin and uses a needle or a plastic infusion catheter to deliver the insulin. The needle or catheter needs to be replaced every few days. Why use an insulin pump? Diabetics who use an … Continue reading →

Diabetes Vocabulary

Having diabetes can mean learning a whole new set of vocabulary. If you or someone you love has diabetes, you’ll be learning the names of drugs, different tests, complications, and more. Here are some words and phrases you might run into: Blood urea nitrogen: a waste chemical excreted by the kidneys. Above-normal levels can indicate kidney damage. Diabetic nephropathy: kidney damage associated with diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy: nerve damage associated with diabetes. Fructose: a simple sugar that occurs naturally in honey and fruit. Glucagon: a hormone that can be injected to raise the blood sugar level of a person with hypoglycemia … Continue reading →

More Ways To Reduce Your Diabetes Risk

Little changes in your life can add up to a HUGE decrease in your risk of developing diabetes. You don’t have to do something dramatic to help protect your body. Drinking just one regular soda every day can raise your risk of developing diabetes more than eighty percent. All those empty calories can add up to weight gain — a major risk factor for diabetes. Switch to diet soda if you must drink soda; drinking water or unsweetened tea is much better for you! Skipping breakfast can raise your risk of developing diabetes as much as fifty percent. They don’t … Continue reading →

Reduce Your Diabetes Risk

There are two BIG things you can do to reduce your risk of developing diabetes: eat right and exercise regularly. But helping your body resist diabetes goes beyond just food and exercise. Belly fat can raise your risk of diabetes by more than three hundred percent! The fat in your abdomen may be producing compounds that make your cells resistant to insulin. The American Heart Association says that even at a normal weight for your height, extra belly fat can be a problem. Make sure your routine includes three to five sessions of cardiovascular exercise a week. Stress can raise … Continue reading →

Reading Food Labels When You Have Diabetes

If you have diabetes, it isn’t enough to just watch your sugars. Reading the labels on your favorite foods can help you understand your blood sugar fluctuations and manage your diabetes better. Step One: Read the Ingredients Ingredients on the label are listed in descending order. The thing at the top of the list is in your food in the largest amount; each successive item is in a smaller amount than the one before it. Look for healthy ingredients like whole grains and monounsaturated fats. Know your sugars — anything that ends in -ose like lactose and sucrose or -tol … Continue reading →

A Diet To Cure Diabetes?

A doctor in Kansas is taking a not-so-radical approach to diabetes. Most physicians abandoned the idea of a carbohydrate-free diet for diabetic patients back in the 1930s. Now Doctor Mary Vernon and other doctors are prescribing a carb-free diet and seeing their patients go through amazing changes. Vernon says that removing carbohydrates from a diabetic person’s diet can reverse symptoms and free them from a life of injections and medications. Since 1980, diabetes has increased in the United States by 47 percent. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease and comes with other possible complications like vision problems, nerve … Continue reading →

Can A Vegetarian Diet Help Diabetics?

Changing to a vegetarian diet may not be a cure for diabetes, but it may offer some health benefits over a non-vegetarian diet. There are different types of vegetarian diets — some allow dairy products and/or eggs; others do not — and your dietician and doctor can help you choose a diet that is right for you. A vegan diet is the strictest vegetarian diet out there. Vegans eat no meat and no products that come from animals. That means no dairy and no eggs. In general, vegan diets are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. But switching from a … Continue reading →

Interpreting Blood Sugar Levels

If you have diabetes, your doctor has probably asked you to monitor and record your blood sugar levels on a daily basis. So you do your finger pricks, record your blood sugar levels, and bring the chart to your doctor at the next visit. But do you know what all those numbers really mean? Testing your blood sugar levels periodically throughout the day will give you an idea of how your glucose levels change based on what you do and what you eat. Exercise should help lower your blood sugar levels. Your food choices can send your blood sugar level … Continue reading →