Type 2 Diabetes - Learn How To Read Food Labels!

As a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic, the types of food you put into your body really matters a lot. Most food products have labels BUT do they fully reveal everything?

Every time you go shopping, always take a list. Never shop without a list or you'll buy more than you need. Never shop when you're hungry because you're more likely to buy unhealthy foods.

Read food labels on everything so you know whether it's healthy or should be left on the shelf.

Here are some tips to help you better understand how to read food labels:

Size matters. Don't assume a product is one serve. For example, a packet of 12 cookies is usually 12 serves. So if the packet says 143 calories (600kj) one cookie will be 12 calories (50kj). So eating one cookie isn't a bad thing unless it's full of sugar. But if you eat the whole pack, that's a different story!

The label will also tell you the amount of the other ingredients in the packet and per cookie. So if it says 60 grams of sugar, it will say 5 grams per serve. The same goes for protein, fats, carbohydrates and sodium. 0 grams of fats is the ideal number to see on your labels.

Your shopping list becomes very important because you can develop a master shopping list. Make a list of every product you buy and the break down of each ingredient. If you do this each time you shop, eventually you'll have your "master plan" shopping list to use as a guide when making up your weekly lists. Eventually you won't need to read labels if you're buying the same items each time

As a diabetic you know to avoid sugar, regardless of the name the companies use for it. Sugar has virtually no nutrients except for carbohydrates. So the empty calories will fill you for a brief time and then leave you hungry again so you will end up eating more often and gaining weight.

Apart from sugar, avoid these names on the food labels:

    high fructose corn syrup,
    fructose,
    molasses,
    honey,
    corn sugar,
    corn syrup,
    maltose,
    dextrose,
    cane sugar,
    brown sugar,
    agave nectar,
    glucose,
    corn sweetener, and
    fruit juice concentrate.

Avoid fats. You want 0 grams of cholesterol, saturated and trans fats. Avoid the phrase "partially hydrogenated vegetable oils." If you need to cook, use extra virgin olive oil and other similar healthy alternatives.

Keep an eye on the amount of sodium listed on the food labels. Too much salt in your diet isn't healthy so choose low salt options where possible and when planning your daily meals, look at the overall amount of salt for the day to see if you're having too much.

Type 2 Diabetes - Repeated Cases of Gestational Diabetes

In general, people who suffer a given illness are often vulnerable to developing that same illness again. Researchers at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research in St. Leonards, Sydney, Australia, carried out a study to determine if that were the case for Gestational diabetes or diabetes of pregnancy.

Their study, reported in the journal Diabetes Medicine in January 2013, included women who gave birth in New South Wales from 2001 to 2009, who did not have Type 1 or 2 diabetes at the time of their first pregnancy, and who gave birth at least twice...

    for women who developed Gestational diabetes during their first pregnancy, the rate of developing the condition with the second pregnancy was 41.2 percent.
    among women who had not suffered Gestational diabetes with their first pregnancy, only 2.7 percent had the condition the second time they were pregnant

Several other factors also made it more likely to have Gestational diabetes in the second or third pregnancy...

    women 35 years of age or older were more likely to have a repeated case of diabetes of pregnancy, as well as women of Middle Eastern, North African, or Asian background
    having had a premature baby or one large for its age was also more common in women with repeated cases. (Prematurity and being large for its age are conditions that can affect babies whose mothers suffer with diabetes of pregnancy).
    having twins or other multiples also put mothers at higher risk.
    hypertension along with pregnancy was also a risk factor.
    mothers who waited an extended period of time to have their second or third child also ran a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes again. (The extended period of time could have given the body time to progress toward Type 2 diabetes).

From this information it was concluded mothers who have suffered one case of Gestational diabetes are at a high risk of having another case. Women who have ever been diagnosed with the condition should let their doctor or midwife know so the pregnant mother can be carefully monitored.

To prevent Gestational diabetes between pregnancies, normalize your weight to within 20 percent of ideal. Playing with baby and taking him or her for daily walks in a buggy are good ways for both of you to get some physical activity and bond together.

When Gestational diabetes is diagnosed, special meal plans and daily activity can be planned to lower the chances of a sick baby, or one who is so overweight a Caesarian operation is necessary. Insulin injections can also be prescribed, together with blood sugar testing.

Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. It need not slowly and inevitably get worse. You can take control of the disease... having Gestational diabetes does not mean you have to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7497314

Type 2 Diabetes - Smart Eating Out Tips For Diabetics!

Everyone enjoys going out to a restaurant with friends and family to have a good meal. That enjoyment shouldn't stop just because you have diabetes. However, you will need to take precautions so you don't suffer as a result. Here are some great tips to help you...

The first, and probably the most important rule is never to reduce your caloric intake through the day so you can have a feast when you go out. You need your regular food intake and calories spread throughout the day so you don't have a major sugar spike or drop.

1. Try a fine dining restaurant. They serve great quality food but in smaller amounts. Then you're not overindulging but you can still enjoy something different, as long as it's healthy.

2. Go out with people who are also conscious about what they eat. It's usually easier to dine with people who have similar goals because you won't feel uncomfortable when ordering your food.

3. Have a healthy snack before you go to the restaurant so you're not starving. Then you will make a better meal choice and you won't need to stuff yourself with food to feel better.

4. After arriving at the restaurant, go to the bathroom and wander around the restaurant on your way there and back, so you can see what other people have ordered. That can help you decide on what to order and what to avoid because you will have seen the meal sizes as well as the food content.

5. Drink a glass of water before each course. That will partly fill you so you won't have to eat as much. You can usually order a carafe for the table so everyone can enjoy it. Don't have soft drinks and be wary if ordering alcohol, especially if your blood sugar is very erratic.

6. Try a clear soup or a salad instead of dips and bread. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the food. What sauces/dressings are available? How is the food cooked? Request your preferences as most chefs can accommodate them. Avoid fried food. Have sauces served on the side instead of all over your food. Get steamed vegetables.

7. You don't always have to order a meal just for yourself. If you're with a few people, you may decide you will each order a meal and share. This way you can have a little of a few dishes without over-indulging. It will also help you decide what to order if you go there again.

8. When it comes to dessert time, share. A few mouthfuls of a yummy dessert is often enough to satisfy your craving, but many desserts are too big to consume on your own. By sharing, you're eating less and you still get to enjoy something different without paying for it.

Symptoms and Treatment of Different Types of Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood glucose. Diabetes can also be caused by lack of insulin resistance by this hormone or for both reasons.

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process by which food is broken down and used by the body as energy.

Several processes happen when food is digested:

    A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body
    An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to take up glucose from the bloodstream muscle cells, fat and liver, where the sugar is used as a fuel

People with diabetes have too much sugar in the blood. This is due to the fact that:

    The pancreas does not produce enough insulin
    The cells of muscle, fat and liver do not respond appropriately to insulin

There are three major types of diabetes:

    Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood. Many patients are diagnosed over age 20. Because of this disease, the body produces little or no insulin. Are needed daily insulin injections. The exact cause is unknown. Genetics, viruses and auto immune problems may have an interest
    Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common type. It comprises most of the cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adults, but more and more young people are being diagnosed with this disease. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels in the blood, usually because the body does not respond well to insulin. Many people do not know they have type 2 diabetes, even being a serious illness. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common because of the increasing cases of obesity and lack of physical exercise
    Gestational diabetes is high blood glucose amount that occurs at any time during pregnancy in non-diabetic women. Women with gestational diabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the future

Diabetes affects over 20 million Americans. More than 40 million Americans have pre-diabetes (early type 2 diabetes).

There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including:

    Age over 45 years
    Father, mother, siblings with diabetes
    Gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 4kg
    Heart disease
    High blood cholesterol level
    Obesity
    Not enough physical exercise
    Polycystic ovary syndrome (in women)
    Impaired glucose tolerance
    Some ethnic groups (mainly African-Americans, Native Americans, Asians, those born in the Pacific Islands and Hispanic Americans)

Symptoms

Elevated levels of blood glucose can cause several problems, including:

    Blurred vision
    Excessive Thirst
    Fatigue
    Frequent urination
    Hunger
    Weight Loss

However, due to the fact that type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood glucose feel no symptoms.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes:

    Fatigue
    Increased thirst
    Increased urination
    Nausea
    Vomit
    Weight loss despite increased appetite

Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period. This disease is often diagnosed in an emergency situation.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

    Blurred vision
    Fatigue
    Increased appetite
    Increased thirst
    Increased urination

Treatment

The immediate goals are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. Because type 1 diabetes begins suddenly and have severe symptoms, people who have just been diagnosed may need to go to hospital.

The goals of treatment in the long term are:

    Prolong life
    Reduce symptoms
    Preventing complications related diseases such as blindness, heart disease, liver failure, and amputation of limbs

These goals are achieved through:

    Control of blood pressure and cholesterol
    Autotests careful blood glucose levels
    Educational measures
    Physical exercise
    Foot Care
    Meal planning and weight control
    Use of medications or insulin

There is no cure for diabetes. Treatment consists of medication, diet and physical exercise to control blood sugar and prevent symptoms.

LEARN THESE TECHNIQUES

The basic technique of managing diabetes helps avoid the need for emergency care.

These techniques include:

    How to recognize and treat low levels (hypoglycemia) and high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar
    What to eat and when
    How to administer insulin or oral medication
    How to test and record blood glucose
    As the urine test to check for the presence of ketones (type 1 diabetes only)
    How to adjust insulin or food intake when changing eating habits and exercise
    How to deal with the days when you feel unwell
    Where to buy diabetic supplies and how to store them

Once you learn the basics of diabetes care, learn how the disease can cause health problems in the long term and what are the best ways to prevent these problems. Review and update your knowledge, because new research and improved methods of treating diabetes are constantly being developed.