Lifestyle impacts your health.

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus, a term that means “the running through of sugar,” was first identified in the 1st century AD. The disease was described in old books as “the melting down of flesh into urine.” Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. This can be low insulin, a problem with the release of insulin, insulin that cannot work in the cells that need it, or insulin that is inactivated before it is able to function. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. Insulin is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The release of insulin by the pancreas is regulated by the amount of glucose in the blood. It is responsible for transporting glucose (from carbohydrates) into the cells for energy production. After a meal, when blood sugar increases, insulin release increases. Between meals, when blood sugar is low, insulin release is low. Insulin is released from the pancreas directly into the liver where some is used and some is broken down and eliminated from the body. The rest is released into the general blood circulation. By helping to move glucose into the cells, insulin decreases blood sugar. Insulin also decreases the breakdown of stored fat and builds triglycerides. Insulin is involved in the production of protein. The proper growth and development of children is dependent on insulin.

Diabetes can affect people of any age. Complications of diabetes include:

• increased the risk of chronic conditions like:
  
  • heart disease
  • retinopathy (a disease of the retina) and blindness
  • peripheral neuropathies (a disease of the nervous system)
• circulation problems that can lead to amputation
• problems with the immune system
• skin ulcers and poor wound healing

Approximately 17 million people in the United States, or 6.2% of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 11.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 5.9 million people (or one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes is diagnosed by lab tests, either a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or a two-hour plasma glucose (OGTT – oral glucose tolerance test).

Listen to a discussion about the glycemic index.
This 27 minute discussion covers:

• Three basic components of a healthy diet
• Role of protein, fats and carbohydrates in the body
• Definition of glycemic index
• How is the glycemic index measured?
• High protein, low carbohydrate diets
• Results of research into the low glycemic diet
• What is the glycemic load?
• How was the concept of the glycemic index developed?
• Effects of diet over blood glucose
• Effects of changing to low glycemic foods (very important to diabetics)
• Four ways a low glycemic diet promotes weight loss
• What do gut hormones do for us?
• How low glycemic foods promote intestinal micro flora
• The low glycemic diet link to heart disease and diabetes
• How can we change our diet to a low glycemic index diet?
• Low glycemic diet should be a lifestyle change for life!
• Visit the Official Website of the Glycemic Index and GI Database at www.glycemicindex.com

Lose weight with smart carbohydrates.

There are three major types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes - Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in people younger than 30 years of age. One in every 400 to 500 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes. It is thought that the disease is a caused by something in a person’s family history (genetic factor) that responds abnormally to the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. Islet cell antibodies have been found in 60-95 percent of persons with type 1 diabetes. Sometimes this unusual response by the body can be started by a virus, a vaccination, or a toxic fungus.
• Type 2 diabetes - Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Approximately 90-95% (16 million) of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Most of these individuals are over 40 years old. One in five patients is over the age of 65, and 80 percent are overweight. Many patients have increased blood sugar seven to ten years before symptoms occur. Type 2 diabetes appears to be caused by genetic defects that at first make a person not able to respond to the actions of insulin and, over time, the beta cells in the pancreas will stop releasing insulin. However, new evidence points to diet and lifestyle as important factors that may be responsible for the development of the disease. A person over the age of 45 and overweight is a likely candidate for developing type 2 diabetes. About
  30-39 percent of Americans are obese, and many more are overweight. Research has shown a strong connection between upper body obesity (people with “apple shapes”) and the development of type 2 diabetes. Excess abdominal weight does not stop insulin formation, but it does make the body less sensitive to insulin.

Pre-diabetes - Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that at least 16 million Americans have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 17 million with diabetes. Insulin resistance appears to be the first stage of the disease. It means that insulin cannot help glucose go from the blood into the cells. While the beta cells are able to release normal or even higher than normal amounts of insulin, glucose movement into the cells is sluggish and blood glucose slowly begins to rise. Therefore, blood sugar remains increased even with insulin being produced by the pancreas. Then the pancreas releases even more insulin, and hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin in the blood) begins.

• Gestational diabetes - Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.

Often diabetes goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem harmless. Recent studies indicate the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

Some diabetes symptoms of include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away!

Long-term complications associated with diabetes:

• Are serious, often life-threatening, and diagnosed in the late stages of the disease. These complications are due to continuous hyperglycemia from poor glucose control. Many of these chronic complications can be traced to changes in blood vessels that cause a decreased blood flow. These changes include coronary heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths, with adults having two to four times higher heart disease death rates than adults without the disease. The risk of stroke is two to four times higher in people with diabetes. Patient with diabetes develop more atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) than people without diabetes, and some 60-65 percent of patients with diabetes have high blood pressure.
• When high amounts of blood glucose are present in tissues such as the lens of the eye and nerve cells, the body finds other ways to handle the extra glucose in these cells. Enzymes (proteins that stimulate chemical reactions to occur in the body) work to breakdown the extra glucose, causing an increase in sorbitol and fructose (types of sugars). This excess sugar in these cells will then take on extra fluid, eventually damaging these cells.
• Retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years of age. Because of increased glucose, blood vessels weaken and microaneurysms (small swellings in the blood vessel) occur in the capillaries of the retina. The retinal cells can then burst and hemorrhage (bleed). This blurs vision and can lead to detachment of the retina.
• Nephropathy (kidney disease) is the leading cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis. The first sign is microalbuminuria (a type of protein in the urine), which leads to proteinuria (protein in the urine), and eventually end stage kidney disease.
• Neuropathy (disease of the nervous system) causes numbness and tingling in the arms, legs, hands, and feet, eventually leading to injury and the development of diabetic ulcers (wounds) in these areas. Diabetes is the leading cause of amputations in the U.S. Other changes that occur with neuropathies include GI problems, such as gastroparesis (a paralysis in the gastrointestinal tract), chronic constipation, or diarrhea; loss of sexual function, bladder function, and heart problems.

Listen to a discussion about Vitalizing Nutrition
This 23 minute discussion covers:

• What does vitality mean?
• What can just one study prove?
• The difference between maximal and mega doses of nutrients.
• Does how your nutrients are delivered to your body matter?
• How this nutritional system supports your whole body.
• Why delivering Vitamin B and Vitamin C slowly it better for you.
• What are carotenoids and why are they important?
• What is the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids?
• What are probiotics?
• Are your nutrients guaranteed to be pure?

Additional Information:Read an informative pamphlet about 80 bio-optimized nutrients clinically proven to create a foundation for a longer, healtiher life*

Discover how to rediscover your vitality!

Change Your Life:

• Maintain your ideal body weight. Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Excess weight can even make healthy people pre-diabetic. Weight loss reverses this problem. In most studies, type 2 diabetes has improved with weight loss.
• Exercise helps decrease body fat and improve insulin sensitivity. People who exercise are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who do not. People with type 1 diabetes who exercise require less insulin. However, exercise can induce low blood sugar or even occasionally increased blood sugar. Moreover, a preliminary study has shown that long-term physical activity was not associated with control of blood glucose in people with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, people with diabetes should never begin an intensive exercise program without consulting a healthcare professional.
• Consume a diet that meets American Diabetic Association (ADA) guidelines.

  A high-fiber diet may control blood sugar levels as well as oral diabetes drugs. In a study, the increase in dietary fiber was accomplished exclusively through the consumption of foods naturally high in fiber—such as leafy green vegetables, granola, and fruit—to a level beyond that recommended by the ADA. No fiber supplements were given. All participants received both the ADA diet (providing 24 grams of fiber per day) and the high-fiber diet (providing 50 grams of fiber per day), for a period of six weeks. After six weeks of following each diet, tests were performed to determine blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, and other values. When glucose levels were monitored over a 24-hour period, participants eating the high-fiber diet had an average glucose level that was 10% lower than participants eating the ADA diet. Insulin levels were 12% lower in the group eating the high-fiber diet compared to the group eating the ADA diet, indicating a beneficial increase in the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Moreover, people eating the high-fiber diet experienced significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol compared to those eating the ADA diet. They also had slight decreases in glycosylated hemoglobin, a measure of chronically high blood glucose levels.

  High-fiber supplements, such as psyllium, guar gum (found in beans), pectin (from fruit), oat bran, and glucomannan have improved glucose tolerance in some studies. Positive results have also been reported with the consumption of 1–3 ounces of powdered fenugreek seeds per day. A review of the research revealed that the extent to which moderate amounts of fiber help people with diabetes in the long term is still unknown, and the lack of many long-term studies has led some researchers to question the importance of fiber in improving diabetes. Nonetheless, most doctors advise people with diabetes to eat a diet high in fiber. Focus should be placed on fruits, vegetables, seeds, oats, and whole-grain products.

• Nutrition in the News: Protein Shakes Help Outsmart Diabetes
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet that concentrates on whole, unprocessed foods. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. In general, the more fruits and vegetables are processed, the less nutritive value they have. Eat whole grains or foods made from whole grains. Beans (legumes) are a healthy, low fat source of protein and vitamins. Seeds and nuts contain essential fatty acids. Eating carbohydrate-containing foods, whether high in sugar or high in starch (such as bread, potatoes, processed breakfast cereals, and rice), temporarily raises blood sugar and insulin levels. The blood sugar-raising effect of a food, called its “glycemic index,” depends on how rapidly its carbohydrate is absorbed. Many starchy foods have a glycemic index similar to sucrose (table sugar). People eating large amounts of foods with high glycemic indices (such as those mentioned above), have been reported to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, eating a diet high in carbohydrate-rich foods with low glycemic indices is associated with a low risk of type 2 diabetes. Beans, peas, fruit, and oats, have low glycemic indices, despite their high carbohydrate content, due mostly to the health-promoting effects of soluble fiber.
• Diets high in fat, especially saturated fat, worsen glucose tolerance and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, an effect that is not simply the result of weight gain caused by eating high-fat foods. Saturated fat is found primarily in meat, dairy fat, and the dark meat and skins of poultry. In contrast, glucose intolerance has been improved by diets high in monounsaturated oils, which may be good for people with diabetes. There is often difficulty in changing the overall percentage of calories from fat and carbohydrates in the diets of people with type 1 diabetes. However, modifying the quality of the dietary fat is achievable. In adolescents with type 1 diabetes, increasing monounsaturated fats relative to other fats in the diet is associated with better control over blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The easiest way to incorporate monounsaturates into the diet is to use oils containing olive oil. However, those who are overweight need to be aware—olive oil is high in calories.
• Drink 8 - 10 eight ounces of pure water. Reduce or eliminate alcohol, caffeine and refined sugar. Carbonated drinks should be severely restricted. Alcohol has been reported to worsen glucose tolerance in the elderly and in people with diabetes in some studies. People with diabetes who drink have also been reported to have a high risk for eye and nerve damage.
• People with diabetes who smoke are at higher risk for kidney damage, heart disease, and other diabetes-linked problems. Smokers are also more likely to develop diabetes; therefore, it is important to quit smoking.
• Follow your prescribed schedule for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Maintaining normal glucose levels is critical to preventing the complications of diabetes.
• Reduce your stress. There are numerous studies documenting the deleterious effects of stress on health. Make time for friends and family. Find ways of relaxing throughout the day. Consider meditation, deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques or prayer.

Helpful Supplements:

• The AMA has endorsed the need for a daily multivitamin.
• Nutrition in the News: Protein Shakes Help Outsmart Diabetes
• People with low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Vitamin E supplementation has improved glucose tolerance in people with type 2 diabetes in most, but not all, double-blind trials. Vitamin E has also improved glucose tolerance in elderly people without diabetes. Three months or more of supplementation may be required for benefits to become apparent. The amount used is at least 900 IU of vitamin E per day.

  In one of the few trials to find vitamin E supplementation ineffective for glucose intolerance in people with type 2 diabetes, damage to nerves caused by the diabetes was nonetheless partially reversed by supplementing with vitamin E for six months. Animal and preliminary human data indicate that vitamin E supplementation may protect against diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy, serious complications of diabetes involving the eyes and kidneys, respectively, though no long-term trials in humans have confirmed this preliminary evidence.

  Selenium enhances the action of vitamin E. Also supplement vitamin C, 500 - 1000 mg each day, as vitamin C converts vitamin E into its helpful form after oxidation.

• Chromium supplements improve glucose tolerance in people with both type 2 and type 1 diabetes, apparently by increasing sensitivity to insulin. Chromium improves the processing of glucose in people with prediabetic glucose intolerance and in women with diabetes associated with pregnancy. Chromium, is an essential mineral required for normal insulin function. Supplementation with chromium could potentially enhance the effects of drugs for diabetes (e.g., insulin or other blood sugar-lowering agents) and possibly lead to hypoglycemia. Therefore, people with diabetes taking these medications should supplement chromium only under the supervision of a doctor.
• Diabetes-induced damage to the eyes is more likely to occur in magnesium-deficient people with type 1 diabetes. In magnesium-deficient pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, the lack of magnesium may even account for the high rate of spontaneous abortion and birth defects associated with type 1 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association admits “strong associations...between magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance” but will not say magnesium deficiency is a risk factor. Many doctors, however, recommend that people with diabetes and normal kidney function supplement with 200–600 mg of magnesium per day.
• Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful natural antioxidant. Preliminary and double-blind trials have found that supplementing 600–1,200 mg of lipoic acid per day improves insulin sensitivity and the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. In a preliminary study, supplementation with 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid per day for 18 months slowed the progression of kidney damage in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• Supplementing with GLA has been found in double-blind research to improve nerve function and to relieve pain symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetics cannot convert GLA from linoleic acid. The recommended daily dose for diabetes it is 480 mg per day of GLA.
• Many people with diabetes have low blood levels of vitamin B6. Levels are even lower in people with diabetes who also have nerve damage (neuropathy). Vitamin B6 supplementation has improved glucose tolerance in women with diabetes caused by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 supplementation is also effective for glucose intolerance induced by birth control pills.
• Biotin is a B vitamin needed to process glucose. When people with type 1 diabetes were given 16 mg of biotin per day for one week, their fasting glucose levels dropped by 50%. Similar results have been reported using 9 mg per day for two months in people with type 2 diabetes. Biotin may also reduce pain from diabetic nerve damage. Some doctors try 16 mg of biotin for a few weeks to see if blood sugar levels will fall.
• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is needed for normal blood sugar metabolism. Animals with diabetes have been reported to be CoQ10 deficient. People with type 2 diabetes have been found to have significantly lower blood levels of CoQ10 compared with healthy people. In one trial, blood sugar levels fell substantially in 31% of people with diabetes after they supplemented with 120 mg per day of CoQ7, a substance similar to CoQ10. In people with type 1 diabetes, however, supplementation with 100 mg of CoQ10 per day for three months neither improved glucose control nor reduced the need for insulin. The importance of CoQ10 supplementation for people with diabetes remains an unresolved issue, though some doctors recommend approximately 50 mg per day as a way to protect against possible effects associated with diabetes-induced depletion.
• Zinc, plays a role in combating oxidative stress, which has been linked to aging and inefficient glucose regulation. People with type 1 diabetes tend to be zinc-deficient, which may impair immune function.
• Vanadium works with chromium, magnesium, and zinc to help balance your blood sugar, preventing energy ups and downs.*

Related Sites:

Online Risk Test

American Diabetes Association

Nutrition in the News: Protein Shakes Help Outsmart Diabetes

Cause of Diabetes Causes of diabetes and risk factors, Eating sweets may not cause diabetes, genetics and environmental factors, obesity and lack of exercise are the factors to cause diabetes.

Low glycemic index foods!

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.