Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Steps to Diabetes Control - A Lifestyle Change

Type 2 Diabetes or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus generally affects

people over age 40 and has a significant correlation to being overweight. Diabetes

is sometimes also called a western lifestyle disorder. It has been shown that when

other cultures start adopting the western lifestyle primarily with regard to diet,

diabetes cases shoot up.

Controlling diabetes therefore would mean reverting to a more natural diet and to

a healthier lifestyle.

Some simple steps that can be taken to control diabetes are:

1. Diet - A high fat, high sugar diet completely throws off your body's ability to

process insulin. There is not enough insulin to process glucose to energy. You can

help your body by having a balanced diet and controlling your sugar intake. Avoid

refined food as much as possible. Incorporate whole grain foods like whole wheat,

brown rice, millets, corn, bulgur, buckwheat, bran, oats, wheat germ and couscous.

Try them in new recipes and you will find that changing your diet is actually fun

after all.

2. Exercise - Shun a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise helps in burning fat, reducing

stress and reducing weight. These are key ingredients of diabetes control. While

being a regular at the gym is great, you may not always have the time or

motivation for it. The best method is to work exercise into your life. Take the

stairs as much as possible, park at a distance and walk, walk about while talking

on the phone. Adopt simple habits that involve exercise. Diabetics however

should be careful to avoid weight lifting or other forms of exertion that involve

pushing or pulling heavy objects as these activities raise blood pressure.

3. Quit Smoking - You will be doing your body a world of good by giving up

smoking. Not only does smoking increase your risk of getting diabetes by 3 times,

but your body also is unable to respond to insulin. Smoking while having diabetes

also increases your risk of getting complications such as eye, kidney and nerve

problems.

4. Reduce Alcohol Consumption - Many alcoholic drinks contain sugar. Excessive

alcohol can decrease your blood sugar to dangerous levels and can also increase

triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Cut down on your alcohol consumption to no

more than 1 drink a day. Drink slowly and only with food. Avoid mixed drinks that

contain high sugar levels.

5. Vitamins and Supplements - Gymnema Slyvestre or Meshashringi is a herb that has

the curious effect of deadening the taste buds on the tongue to the taste of sugar

for a few hours. As a result sugar & foods containing sugar are simply not

attractive any more. In addition the Gymnemic acid has a hypoglycaemic effect thus

helping to control blood sugar. It is the most important herb in Ayurveda for

controlling blood sugar levels. Another important herb/vegetable is Bitter Gourd

or Karela. Vitamin B6 and B12 may help decrease the severity of diabetic

neuropathy and reduce insulin demands in Type 2 Diabetics. It has also been shown

that seasoning your food with cinnamon with about 1/4 tsp at every meal may help

regulate blood sugar levels.

Gymnema - Pure Herb for Diabetes Control

Karela - Pure Herb for Diabetes Control

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