Simple and Easy Diabetic Recipes

January 4th, 2010

Diabetes is an illness where the body does not manufacture enough insulin. Insulin is basically a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into energy that is necessary for us to function daily. Although the causes of diabetes have yet to be determined, it is credited both to genetics and environmental factors, primarily obesity and lack of exercise.

Modern medicine recognizes many types of diabetes, and the principles four are type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes. Many of the signs of diabetes go undiagnosed because first and foremost they are so common. Some of the most common symptoms are recurrent urination, excessive thirst, acute hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision. When you are aware that you have one of the above signs, check with the doctor immediately. Timely detection and treatment reduce the chances of getting complications from diabetes.

Although diabetes remains a mystery and no cure has been found up to now, the disease can be controlled with suitable diet and exercise. There are a variety of healthy diabetic recipes that you can make yourself ranging from cakes to cookies, pies, bars and jam as well as salad and rice. You can create a delicious fruit salad from fresh fruit, whipped topping, buttermilk, etc. In addition to, you can make diabetic fudge cake from unsweetened chocolate, butter, vanilla and artificial liquid sweetener, etc. Delicious diabetic strawberry or peach jam recipes are also available with just a few ingredients. All the recipes are easily organized and prepared without much of a hassle.

To stay healthy and control your diabetic condition, you need to eat properly and exercise. Even when you are down with diabetes, you can still lead active lifestyles and partake in community activities as diabetes need not be draining to your health as long as you stick to a suitable diabetic diet with the recipes mentioned. If you want to know more information about diabetic recipes, let Diabetia.com help you.

Their recipes are designed to be suitable for Type 1 diabetics, who inject insulin. Most of their recipe ideas will be lower in sugar, calories and fat, than those in cookbooks. Their recipes are to enable you to enjoy delicious food with family and friends, for family meals, parties and holiday occasions. If you’re cooking for a friend or have someone visiting, cut down on the sugar content and allow them to take smaller portions of foods – this can be easier than trying a whole new recipe or menu! You can reach them by phone, by e-mail or by conventional post – whatever is easiest for you.

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Diabetes Prevention and Management

November 6th, 2009

Diabetes is a hormone disorder that can cause problems with the kidneys, legs and feet, eyes, heart, nerves, and blood flow.Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Diabetes is on the increase, probably because people are living longer, getting fatter and leading increasingly inactive lifestyles. Diabetes, without qualification, usually refers to diabetes mellitus, but there are several rarer conditions also named diabetes. The most common of these is diabetes insipidus in which the urine is not sweet; it can be caused by either kidney or pituitary gland damage. The term “type 1 diabetes” has universally replaced several former terms, including childhood-onset diabetes, juvenile diabetes, and insulin-dependent diabetes. “Type 2 diabetes” has also replaced several older terms, including adult-onset diabetes, obesity-related diabetes, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes. About 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes.

Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes mellitus—formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), childhood diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus—previously known as adult-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. Most people affected by type 1 diabetes are otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight when onset occurs. Diet and exercise cannot reverse or prevent type 1 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. Women with gestational diabetes may not experience any symptoms.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia. Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. About 54 million Americans have prediabetes. Medications have also been shown to provide similar benefit. Both diabetes drugs metformin and Precose have been shown to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in people with this pre-diabetes condition. A group of medicines known as ACE inhibitors are sometimes used to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular complications in diabetes and can also reduce the risk or progression of kidney and eye diseases. Microscopic or nanotechnological approaches are under investigation as well, in one proposed case with implanted stores of insulin metered out by a rapid response valve sensitive to blood glucose levels. Medications to treat diabetes include insulin and glucose-lowering pills called oral hypoglycemic drugs. Insulin preparations differ in how quickly they start to work and how long they remain active. Stop smoking, which hinders blood flow to the feet.

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Get To Know About Insulin

September 14th, 2009

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells, which lie inside the pancreas. For people with type 1 diabetes, the destroyed pancreas can no longer produce insulin. These people need insulin to utilize glucose from meals. People with type 2 diabetes have their insulin made by pancreas but the body does not respond to the insulin properly. Such people will require pills or injections to use glucose for energy.

Insulin fits into special receptors on body’s cells causing the tiny transport channels to open. This then allows the body cells to absorb the glucose to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, body cannot utilize insulin properly. As such, glucose does not enter into the body’s cells and builds up in the blood stream.

Insulin hormone cannot be taken orally as a pill because it is a protein that can easily be broken down. Once it is rapidly digested, it is no longer effective. Hence, insulin has to be injected into the fat beneath your skin so that it enters your blood slowly and remains there for a longer period of time.

There are different types of insulin according to their preparation, action in body and price. Long-acting insulin takes long time to reach blood and then stays there for up to 24 hours while rapidly-acting insulin swiftly reaches the blood and its effect lasts for only short duration. However, some insulin comes in mixed preparations. For example, you can use short term and long term insulin together in one bottle making it convenient to inject two kinds of insulin simultaneously.

Insulin can be easily destroyed by extremes of temperature so do not place the insulin bottle in the freezer or in sunlight. When more than one bottle of insulin is bought, it is advisable to store them in the refrigerator. Once bottle has been opened, it must be utilized within a month or 30 days to ensure its efficacy. Before using insulin, do check the bottle carefully. If there is any floating crystals or change in color, then you should discard the insulin and do not use it any more. Do take note that cold insulin is more painful to inject. Try to warm the bottle by gently rolling your hands or leaving it for some time at room temperature before injection.

Your blood sugar levels will be affected by the area where you inject insulin. The best location to inject insulin is abdomen as insulin absorption is more rapidly from abdomen as compared to arms or thighs. However, do not inject in the same place each time. Instead, you should move around the same area.

At Novo Nordisk, they’ve spent more than 80 years working to help make the lives of people with diabetes easier. Novo Nordisk created the world’s first insulin pen device, and now they are a world leader in production and distribution of these revolutionary insulin delivery systems.

Novo Nordisk offers a variety of insulin pens that make it easy for people to manage their diabetes, including Levemir® (insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection), NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin aspart injection, [rDNA origin]), or NovoLog® (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection) FlexPen®, the world’s #11 selling prefilled insulin pen. If you wish to make product inquires, you can call them or visit http://www.novonordiskcare.com/insulin-pens/ for more detail.

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