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Will a Low Carb Diet Improve Kidney Function?
Improve Kidney – Having healthy kidneys is important because they help regulate your body’s water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance which is essential for the health of all cells in your body.
Kidney diseases are preventable or manageable and treatment options are available, but you can help keep them at bay with a low carb diet. A low carb diet is one that restricts the amount of carbohydrates consumed.
The general recommendation is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates consumed by 20-50% and replace it with a healthy fat.
Low Carb Diet and Kidney Stones
Carbohydrates are a staple in most people’s diet and a common source of kidney stones.
A low carbohydrate diet has also been linked to improving kidney function. By restricting the amount of carbohydrates your body is ingesting, you are reducing the glucose load on your kidneys. This will, in turn, reduce the need for your kidneys to work harder. This will reduce overall stress on the kidneys and help them to function better and improve kidney function.
By eating excess carbohydrates, your body will produce more glucose which will in turn overwork your kidney. In the kidney, excess glucose gets utrafiltrated at the kidney tubules and then gets reabsorbed before leaving the kidney. This toxic waste along with minerals will form crystals that can eventually form kidney stones. By reducing your intake of carbohydrates, you are limiting the amount of glucose you produce and reducing the risk of stone formation.
Benefits of a Low Carbohydrate Diet
A low carbohydrate diet is designed to produce better metabolic health and weight loss. When your body does not have enough carbohydrates for energy, it will turn to fat for fuel. On the other hand, a low carbohydrate diet also controls blood sugars.
By controlling blood sugar, you are helping to prevent diabetes as well as kidney stones. The improved health and weight loss benefit are also seen in the heart and brain function.
How to Improve Kidney Function
You can improve kidney function by:
- 1. Drinking more water
Drinking more water will help to flush out the toxins in your body and your kidneys are no different. By encouraging healthy hydration, you are helping to improve the health of your kidneys. When you drink more water, your kidney tubules will get cleaned as you excrete the excess water.
If there were kidney stones or minerals trapped in your kidney tubules, this will be flushed out too. The daily water intake a healthy person need is at least 8 glasses of water per day. A person with kidney stones should drink more water as it helps to flush out the toxins in his or her body.
- 2. Avoid smoking
Smoking is also a risk factor for kidney stones. When you smoke, nicotine can bind with calcium and other minerals in the urine and increase your risk for kidney stones. If you quit smoking, you will notice an improvement in kidney function.
- 3. Decrease coffee consumption
Many people consider coffee to be a healthy beverage, but this is not the case if you are drinking too much coffee. The caffeine in coffee can stimulate the kidneys and increase your risk for kidney stones.
This is because your kidneys will have to work harder in order to get rid of the excess caffeine. Avoid drinking too much coffee and drink more water instead.
- 4. Eat more low-carb vegetables
Eating more low-carb vegetables is beneficial for your kidney function. Leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale are low carb vegetables.
Bacteria, yeast, and fungi will all thrive on carbohydrates, so you need to eliminate the toxins in the food that you eat. Vegetables are rich in antioxidants and vitamins which will help your kidneys to flush out the excess toxins.
- 5. Avoid or limit alcohol intake
Doctors suggest that people with kidney stones should limit or avoid alcohol intake. Alcohol also contributes to developing and worsening kidney issues by depleting the body of vital nutrients and vitamins which are needed to help prevent stone formation.
All the ethanol in alcohol has to pass through the kidney, which may end up reacting with the calcium in your urine to form calcium oxalate crystals. This will eventually lead to the formation of kidney stones.
- 6. Reduce protein intake
Eating more protein can also increase your risk for kidney stones. Excess proteins are excreted in form of urea, which is a powerful toxin. Urea may react with the calcium in your urine to form calcitriol and urate, a chemical that is linked to kidney stones.
- 7. Physical exercise
Physical exercise will also help the kidneys to function better. If you have kidney stones, physical exercise can reduce the workload on your kidneys and make them perform better.
For example, when you bicycling, you need to pedal hard with adrenaline for a long time which will make your kidneys work harder. This will help the kidneys to perform better and help the stones get flushed out. Physical exercises will also encourage sweating which will help to remove toxins from your body.
- 8. Manage diabetes, hypertension, and other heart diseases
Kidney stones can also form in people who have diabetes or other heart diseases, such as hypertension and low blood pressure. If you already have kidney stones, it is important to control any conditions that may cause your kidneys to work harder. Diabetes and kidney stones are closely linked as excess glucose may lead to the formation of kidney stones.
High blood pressure is known to destroy the fine kidney tubules and may affect kidney function. If you have high blood pressure and kidney stones, you should check your blood pressure regularly and keep it under control.
- 9. Limit salt intake
Limiting salt intake will also help to improve the health of your kidneys. Salt is rich in sodium and intake of extra salt may affect your blood pressure. Excess sodium may also lead to the formation of kidney stones.
Kidney stones are just one of the many side effects that come with an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet is crucial for keeping your kidney health in check. Sugary and starchy foods that are rich in carbs should be avoided as they may be linked to the formation of kidney stones. Specialists also suggest that you should not intake excessive protein as it can also contribute to the formation of kidney stones.
What Should My Blood Sugar Be When I Wake Up?
The most important thing that you should do each morning as you wake up is to check your blood sugar. Essentially, you can be able to determine how you go about the activities for the rest of your day by fasting blood sugar readings. Having a morning blood sugar level chart will help you know how high or low your fasting blood sugar is every morning. This will then enable you to set your morning target or what things you can do for you to achieve your target. Continue reading to find out more details about morning blood sugar.
What should my blood sugar be when I wake up?
Managing your overnight and morning readings is crucial if you want to control your blood sugar. Here are some of the details on what your morning blood sugar range reading should be as you wake up: –
– Fasting/ On Waking Up
- If you are not diabetic, your blood sugar reading should be around 70 – 99 mg/dl.
- If you are diabetic then your blood sugar reading should be between 80 – 130 mg/dl.
- Should your blood sugar reading be below 70 mg/dl then you have low blood sugar and it indicates a hypoglycemic reaction. Moreover, you have a high blood sugar condition should the reading indicate over 130 mg/dl.
– 2 hours after Meals
Your blood sugar should compare as following if you check it 2 hours after taking your meals:
- When you do not have diabetes then your normal blood sugar reading should be less than 140 mg/dl.
- If you have diabetes then your normal blood sugar reading should be less than 180 mg/dl.
– With HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c)
Taking a Hemoglobin (HbA1c) test will enable you to determine your average blood sugar readings for the last 2 or three months. Additionally, you can take this test if you have not checked your blood sugar level reading for quite some time or if you have never checked it before since you think you do not have diabetes. After taking the test, your results are normal if:
- Your reading is less than 5.7% and you do not have diabetes.
- The reading is less than 7.0% and you have diabetes.
Symptoms of high blood sugar in the morning
You can determine whether or not you are experiencing the early morning hyperglycemia by having a routine check of your blood glucose each morning or by wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Further, you may be experiencing some signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia if you have the following: –
- Increased thirst
- Urination frequently and excessively.
- Eating more than you are used to.
- If you do not have a clear vision. Everything appears blurred.
How to Test Your Blood Sugar
You already have details on what your morning blood sugar range should be when you wake up. Consequently, you should also have information on the right way to test your morning blood sugar level. First, you should check your blood sugar level within the first 10 to 15 minutes after waking up in the morning for you to get an accurate reading. Second, it is recommended that you wash your hands thoroughly prior to taking or checking your blood sugar level when you wake up in the morning. Washing your hands thoroughly will help in getting rid of any contaminants that can cause inaccuracies in the results. Third, taking any caffeinated beverages before the test may lead to a spike in your blood sugar level. Therefore, you should avoid taking any caffeinated beverages at all costs if you want to get the correct blood sugar level.
What if Your Morning Blood Sugar Level is High?
You may have relatively higher blood sugar levels in the morning which is quite natural. The relatively higher blood sugar levels in the morning are because of certain hormonal changes in your body. Should this happen, your body will produce enough insulin that will aid in normalizing your morning blood sugar level. However, if you have diabetes, this may not happen.
You may also have a condition in which the fat cells and muscles in your body fail to use insulin effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance and it may lead to your blood glucose levels staying higher. Besides, if you have this condition, it will affect your liver functions and therefore lead to changes in the manner it processes and releases sugar, mostly during nighttime as you sleep.
However, when you have type-2 diabetes, the situation may be different since your liver will start releasing a large amount of glucose than is required in your blood. Therefore, it will lead to your blood sugar level elevating in your system because of your hormones and liver. When your hormones cause your blood sugar to spike and your liver also releases more glucose than is required the level of your morning blood sugar will stay higher unless you maintain a strict diet and exercise. Moreover, you may be required to take medications for better management of your blood sugar levels.
Ways to Help You Prevent High Morning Readings
As you already know, your blood sugar level when you wake is determined by whether you are diabetic or not. Luckily, there are certain things that you can do to help in preventing your blood sugar levels from rising above normal in the morning and they include: –
- Manage Your Body weight
Losing weight is essential in managing your glucose levels especially if you are overweight and have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes recently. Losing weight will help in regulating your hormones and increasing your insulin sensitivity hence lowering the sugar levels in your blood. When you are overweight and you want to lose weight, you should start by checking your diet for example by avoiding processed foods and eating a lot of fruits and veggies. You should also reduce the intake of less healthy foods in your diet. You can also improve your physical activities.
- Check your blood glucose before bed.
The glucose levels in your blood are likely to stay constant the entire night especially if they are high as you are going to sleep. You can lower your glucose levels if they are high before going to bed by changing the content of your food and eating time. Additionally, you can do light physical exercise like walking from 10 – 15 minutes to reduce your blood glucose levels should they be high. Despite adding some light exercise before bed, and changing what time you eat and what you eat, you may also need to adjust the quantity of mealtime insulin that you take to cover it.
- Avoid certain foods
The duration at which you take certain food before bedtime should also change. You should avoid taking large, late dinner or nighttime snacks right before going to sleep. Besides, it is recommended that you eat low-carb, take early dinner, and then no snacks afterward as per One strategy from Adam Brown.
- Insulin
Taking enough insulin quantity to cover your evening meal is also great in preventing high morning blood sugar readings. For example, your glucose levels will be elevated the entire night and in the morning readings if you take a low insulin dose. Therefore, you should ensure to take the right insulin dosage.
- Have a Bedtime snack
Before going to bed, you should eat something to help in stabilizing your blood sugar. However, whatever you eat should not contain more than 20g of carbs. Taking a bedtime snack will prevent your liver from producing an unwanted amount of glucose as you sleep. Some of the low-carb bedtime snacks that you can take include low-fat yogurt, frozen grapes, soybeans, a serving of fresh salsa and tortilla chips, and a small piece of fruit.
- Evening exercise
Another way of reducing your glucose levels in the morning is by doing exercise in the evening. Despite exercising before bed helping in bringing the levels of glucose down in the morning, it may be dangerous. This is because the exercise may lead to a lowering of glucose over the hours as you sleep hence leading to dangerous hypoglycemia.
- Morning exercise
The dawn phenomenon or another reason may cause your blood glucose levels to be high. You can lower the high glucose levels in your blood by doing morning exercise.
A Quick Tip
You should talk to your doctor before trying to manage your blood sugar levels. Additionally, you should also keep in mind your blood sugar reading, your lifestyle, your A1C results, and any other medication that you may be taking before trying to manage your morning blood sugar levels.
Your fasting blood sugar readings are also crucial since they will let you know how your body has worked while you are sleeping at night. Therefore, with the fasting blood sugar readings, you will be able to make the necessary changes that you may need for better control of your situation.
Common Diabetic Skin Conditions
When a person has diabetes, it throws their whole body off balance. They not only have to worry about the natural things that come with everyday life like eating healthy, getting enough sleep and exercising, but they also have to be mindful of all the complications that arise from their disorder. Diabetic skin problems is one of the most common concerns diabetics face. 30% of diabetics will develop skin conditions related to their diabetes.
Some of the most common skin conditions diabetics face are dry skin, and also itchy, red, and scaly legs. For the ones with type 2 diabetes, they are more vulnerable to developing a skin condition. Here is a close look on the common diabetic skin conditions.
Diabetic Dermopathy
This is a common skin condition that occurs in people with diabetes. It is characterized by reddish or light brownish spots on the legs. In most cases, it is found on top of the feet, thighs and shins. There have been reports that diabetic dermopathy can lead to permanent skin discoloration if left untreated.
Cause of Dermopathy
Dermopathy is the damage caused on the skin that leads to the formation of these brownish spots. This can be caused from dryness and itching due to poor circulation and itching. The disease is more common in older people and those with type 2 diabetes.
Mostly, after trauma or injury, these spots will take up to 2 weeks to form. Dermopathy is considered as a complication of diabetes and the lack of blood in the area where the skin damage occurs is responsible for this condition.
Dermopathy Signs and Symptoms
When the skin is in contact with water, it will form a dark ring around the damaged area. This dark ring is commonly seen when you are taking a bath or shower. Dermopathy will appear on the legs in areas like ankles, knees and thighs. The spots will turn brown and scaly as they enlarge.
Dermopathy Treatment
Dermopathy is not a serious skin condition. However, it is important to address the problem early to avoid further complications. People with diabetes should take good care of their skin by practicing good hygiene and using moisturizers to prevent further damage.
Diabetic Bullae
Also known as diabetic blisters, this skin condition develops when a person’s skin is exposed to too much moisture. It is usually found in the neck and armpits.
Cause of Bullae
In diabetes, the blood vessel in the skin becomes fragile, thus leading to increased blood flow and heat. When this happens, the blood vessels within the skin experience damage. In response to this damage, the skin will raise a blister on its surface.
Bullae Signs and Symptoms
The first sign of this condition is a reddish spot on the skin. The spot will expand and it will turn up to become red, painful, and itchy. The blisters should be popped and treated to prevent infection.
Bullae Treatment
To prevent infection of the affected area, it is best to wash the affected skin with antibacterial soap at least twice each day. The blisters should be popped as soon as they appear.
Diabetic Stiff Skin Syndrome
Also known as diabetic dry skin, this skin condition develops when a person’s skin cannot return back to its normal state after being stretched. It is usually found on joints like the fingers and toes.
Cause of Stiff Skin Syndrome
The stiffness of the skin is caused by the lack of collagen in your blood vessels. In diabetes, the amount of collagen produced by your body is less than normal. When this happens, the skin cannot return back to its normal state after being stretched.
Signs and Symptoms of Stiff Skin Syndrome
When this condition develops, the skin of a person will be rough and hard. The person will feel pain when stretching the affected area. In some cases, it can lead to the development of ulcers on the area.
Stiff Skin Syndrome Treatment
Stiff skin syndrome can be treated by restoring the blood supply to the affected area. This can be achieved by wearing cotton gloves when you are doing your daily activities. Also, it is important to keep the skin hydrated and moist to help in flushing out the excess waste your body produces.
Other Common Skin Conditions
Here are some of the other common skin conditions diabetics face:
1. Scleroedema – Scleroedema is a skin condition that occurs from the development of edema in the body. Mostly around the neck and upper back.
2. Scabies or pubic lice – This condition is caused when the body’s immune system is unable to attack and destroy the parasites.
3. Acanthosis nigricans – Most of the cases of this skin condition are seen on the back, chest and neck. It is characterized by dilated blood vessels that are dark and velvety-looking.
4. Vitiligo – This condition is characterized by white pigmentation loss of skin. It is caused by a lack of pigment in the hair and skin.
5. Corneal ulcer – This skin irritation occurs when the natural substances that protect the eye from infection is depleted or damaged.
How to Manage Diabetic Skin Conditions
To help manage your diabetic skin conditions, it is best to practice the following:
i. Maintain a healthy diet
Your diet plays an important role in your health. Eating the right kind of food will not only help prevent diabetes but it will also help you manage its complications. The foods you eat should be filling and provide sufficient nutrients to your body. Make sure that your diet is not lacking in fiber as it can help to purge toxins from your skin. Also, eat healthy fats like Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids.
ii. Manage your stress level
Managing your stress is one of the best ways to help combat diabetes. It is a stressful condition that can trigger or aggravate the skin conditions you have. One way you can manage your stress level is by exercising regularly. Exercise is an effective way to manage stress because it helps you to destress and relieve your body of excess toxins.
iii. Take care when showering or bathing
Avoid taking too hot of a bath or shower. The water will increase your skin’s temperature and it may cause the blood vessels to dilate and expand. Taking a hot shower can also dry out the skin causing it to become dry and brittle.
iv. Use moisturizers
Moisturizers help keep your skin moist, soft and supple. Apply moisturizer on your skin as soon as you get out of the bath or shower. This will help to prevent your skin from getting irritated and cracked.
Diabetes takes a toll on the body. It cannot only make you sick but it can also make you look old and unattractive. The condition can cause a variety of skin problems like the ones we discussed above. The good news is, managing your diabetes will also help you manage your skin. Follow the above guidelines and you will surely feel better about yourself.
What Are Common Diabetic Symptoms?
Diabetes affects up to 10% of the American population, according to the CDC. It is on the rise, with at least 1.5 million cases diagnosed yearly. Sadly, 1 in every 5 people is unaware they have the disease in the United States. Below shall be discussed the different diabetic symptoms.
The Negative Effects of High Blood Sugar Levels to the Body
The eyes
Diabetes increases your chances of experiencing dangerous vision problems that could lead to blindness. Some of these issues include:
- Glaucoma: Damages the nerve connecting your eye to the brain, leading to serious vision problems.
- Cataracts: The lens of your eye gets affected and becomes cloudy
- Retinopathy: The retina at the back of your eye changes.
The heart
Your heart’s nerves and blood vessels are at risk of damage after experiencing high blood sugar for a prolonged period. This increases the risk of heart diseases, including heart failure, stroke, and heart attacks.
The risk increases even more when you suffer from high cholesterol levels.
The kidneys
Diabetes affects the functioning of your kidney’s blood vessels. After a while, they may even stop working, leading to kidney failure.
The feet
With high blood sugar, blood flow to your feet is negatively affected. This leads to nerve damage which can cause sores, scrapes, and cuts not to heal in good time. With nerve damage, your feet may get injured without your knowledge leading to infections.
Sometimes, the infections get worse, and one may need an amputation.
The nerves
High blood sugar causes diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). The side effects include pain, numbness, and tingling sensations, primarily in your feet.
The skin
Your skin becomes weak when you have diabetes. Scaly patches, yeast infections, and itching are some issues you may experience on your skin.
Erectile dysfunction
Since high blood sugar affects blood flow and nerves in the body, it can get complicated for a man to maintain an erection. Men with diabetes may experience a hard sex life.
Is it Possible for You to Tell if You Have Diabetes?
Well, yes and no, depending on the type you have. Warning signs for type 2 diabetes are quite subtle and can go undetected until one starts experiencing long-term effects. For type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, the signs appear in less than a month and are much more aggressive.
Early symptoms are a result of higher than normal glucose levels.
Diabetes Warning Signs / Diabetic Symptoms
Early signs of diabetes are quite similar for both type 1 and type 2, and they include:
1. Feeling thirsty constantly and peeing more often than usual – Diabetic Symptoms
Normally, humans pee up to 7 times a day. However, with diabetes, the frequency increases. Our bodies reabsorb glucose from the kidneys, but high blood sugar makes it hard for the necessary amount to be reabsorbed.
This leads to the production of more urine, which requires fluid from your body. As a result, you pee more often than usual, and because of passing that large amount of liquid, you get thirsty more often than average.
Interestingly the more liquids you intake, the more you pee.
2. Blurred vision – Diabetic Symptoms
The lenses of your eyes may swell up due to changes in body fluid levels when you have diabetes. This leads to poor vision because the shapes of your eyes change.
3. Hunger and fatigue – Diabetic Symptoms
For energy, the body converts the food you eat into glucose. However, you need insulin to absorb the converted glucose into your body cells. With diabetes, your body may become insulin resistant or produce it in fewer quantities.
This leads to fatigue and feeling hungry more than usual.
4. Itchy skin and dry mouth – Diabetic Symptoms
With diabetes, you lose so much fluid from your body through urination. The body needs this fluid to keep your skin and mouth hydrated. Without it, your skin becomes itchy while your mouth experiences dryness.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
- Frequent nausea and vomiting
Our bodies burn fat and produce ketones. When you have type 1 diabetes, the ketone levels produced are higher than expected, and they can lead to a dangerous condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis.
High ketone levels make you feel sick in the stomach, causing you to vomit and feel nausea more often than normal.
- Unexpected weight loss
Since the body fails to absorb as much glucose as needed, it burns fats and muscles for energy. This will cause you to lose weight rapidly without even changing your diet. Taking foods high in trans fatty acids is advised to boost your health.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type two diabetes symptoms take some time to show. These symptoms occur due to high glucose levels in your body for a prolonged period, and they include:
- Numbness or pain in your legs and feet
These may occur due to nerve damage caused by the disease.
- Persistent yeast infection in different parts of the body
Men and women with type 2 diabetes experience yeast infections in parts of the body where it is warm, and the skin folds under the breasts, between the toes and fingers, and around the sex organs.
This is because yeast feeds on glucose, and these areas have plenty of glucose.
- Sores and cuts begin to heal slowly
High blood sugar levels affect blood flow and also cause nerve damage. Because of these, your sores and cuts start to heal slower than before.
What are Gestational Diabetic Symptoms?
When pregnant, you may experience no signs of high blood sugar levels. However, you may notice that you urinate more frequently and get thirsty often.
How to Tell you are Experiencing Diabetes Complications
Warning signs of type 2 diabetes include:
- Impaired vision
- Erectile dysfunction
- Cuts and sores heal slower
- Itchiness, especially around the sex organs
- Recurring yeast infections
- Your skin may appear darker or velvety around the neck, groin, and armpits. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans
- You may begin to gain weight
What is Hypoglycemia?
Also known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia occurs when your glucose and sugar levels in the blood are too low to produce energy. Some signs include:
- Trembling
- Nervousness
- Confusion
- Impatience and crankiness
- Dizziness
- Frequent hunger
- Always feeling sleepy
- Recurring fatigue
- Feeling cold, clammy, or sweating more than usual
- Numbness or tingling sensations around your cheeks, tongue, and lips
With hypoglycemia, you may notice these few changes in your body:
- Problems with body coordination
- Repeated seizures
- Your skin gets pale
- A faster heartbeat rate
- Recurring headaches
- Blurred vision
- Unusual nightmares and crying in your sleep
What is Hyperglycemia?
The medical term for hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS). This condition has many warning signs, including those we have listed for diabetes, and they are:
- Frequent urination
- Persistent hunger
- Feeling thirsty frequently
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Sugar in the urine
- Blurred vision
- Tingling sensations or numbness in the feet
- Skin and vaginal infections
- Unexpected weight loss
- Slow-healing cuts and sores
- Blood glucose levels that are over 180 mg/dl
Hyperglycemia is a severe condition in either type of diabetes (more common in type 2) which can lead to diabetic coma and sometimes death. When your blood sugar levels skyrocket, you end up more dehydrated, and symptoms include:
- Persistent thirst
- Dry mouth
- Blood sugar levels above 600 mg/dl
- Confusion and insomnia
- Recurring fever of over 101 F
- Dry skin that stays warm with no sweat
- Hallucinations
- Eventual vision loss
- One side of your body becomes weak
What can You do Lower your Risk of Diabetes?
Adopting a good lifestyle and feeding habits is a sure way to reduce your risk of getting diabetes. Make these few things a part of your routine:
Maintain strict blood sugar control
To avoid diabetes, try your best to maintain your blood sugar levels within these ranges:
Before meals: 70-130 mg/dl
2 hours after meals: below 180 mg/dl
AIC or glycated hemoglobin level at 7%
Keep an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Aside from diabetes, you may develop more severe health issues when your cholesterol and blood pressure rise above normal such as heart diseases. Try your best to maintain your cholesterol at or below 200 and your blood pressure below 140/190.
If it becomes a problem, your doctor can prescribe medication to help maintain these levels.
Go for checkups regularly
Your doctor can examine your blood and urine and perform other tests to detect any issues your body may be experiencing. These visits are vital because many diabetes complications have no obvious warning signs.
Avoid smoking
Inhalation of smoke raises your blood pressure and negatively affects your body’s blood flow. There are treatments available that can help you quit smoking.
Look for any cuts, bruises, ingrown toenails, redness, or swelling. Ensure you dry your feet after washing and apply some lotion to avoid cracked heels and dry skin. Protect your feet by wearing shoes outside and at the beach, and you can add socks during the cold weather.
Keep your eyes protected
Go for eye checkups at least once a year. This way, you will catch any issues early enough before they worsen.
Examine your feet every day
Before taking a bath, ensure the water is not too hot not to burn your feet, and always keep your toenails short and clean.
Keep your skin healthy
On areas where your skin rubs together, such as your armpits, apply talcum for protection. Avoid hot baths and showers or dry soaps and bath gels. Always keep your skin moisturized with hand and body lotion.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It is advised that you get tested for diabetes, especially if you have other conditions that might put you at risk or are above the age of 45. This will help you mitigate the side effects such as nerve damage.
Visit or call a doctor if you experience the following:
- Nausea and vomiting frequently
- Urinating a lot
- Consistent stomach aches
- You begin to breathe deeper and faster than normal
- Your breath smells sweet (like nail polish remover). This is due to high ketone levels in your body.)
When to Check Blood Sugar
If you are wondering when should you test your blood sugar then you are in the right place!
A glucometer helps in measuring blood sugar for people who are living with diabetes. The important thing is to know when to measure blood sugar. A Continuous Glucose Meter also helps in measuring blood sugar. It does so every few minutes and it’s a type of sensor.
You may think about when to check your blood sugar! And whether it’s for those who suffer from diabetes only.
Let’s find out today.
Why Checking Blood Sugar Is Important
It’s vital that you know why it’s important to check your blood sugar. Not checking the blood sugar means, it can vary and thus may lead to complications of the heart, kidney, and even problems in the vision.
It doesn’t matter whether someone suffers from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, checking the blood sugar level is important. It can help in keeping your health in check.
Lack of insulin, too many carbohydrates, certain medications, and a lot more can lead to rising in sugar levels. While too much insulin, too much physical activity, and other factors can also contribute to lower blood sugar levels.
The goal of checking the blood sugar levels is to keep the sugar levels in the blood in balance.
Constantly checking the blood sugar level may sound like a hassle but it’s important for the health of those who are suffering from diabetes. It’s also vital to be aware of your lifestyle and be mindful of your health.
When to Check Blood Sugar Level?
It’s vital to understand when it’s best to measure blood sugar levels. When you are aware of your blood sugar levels, it would give you a better understanding of how food affects your health.
Consider the following:
It’s best to measure the blood sugar level after taking the insulin. But it depends on whether the person needs to take the insulin or not. So, the best source of information and guidance here is the doctor.
Those with Type 1 diabetes would need to check before their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They would also need to check two to three hours after their meals!
For those with Type 2 diabetes, it would depend on the condition and how well they are maintaining their health. So, the doctor would give the best information. But, it’s possible to check first thing in the morning before eating breakfast, two hours after they have a meal, and before bedtime also! It can be up to four times a day.
Each individual is unique so it’s vital that you understand what works for you and what doesn’t. A healthy and active lifestyle would always help. Eating a well-balanced diet is always ideal. Always consult your doctor when it comes to diabetes!
How to Measure Blood Sugar Level?
Now that you have some idea about the significance of measuring the blood sugar level, it’s vital that you also know how to measure it correctly.
Consider the following:
A blood sugar monitor can help in measuring the sugar level in the blood. You may know this device by the name of a glucometer. People using this device would need to prick their finger and test the sugar level in the small amount of blood.
It’s also possible to use a continuous glucose monitor that senses information from the fluids that are between your cells. It goes under the skin, but it’s worn on the belly or arm. It monitors and tells about the blood sugar, but it’s usually a prescription device.
The data would be on your smartphone or any smart device. You can share the data with your healthcare provider. The purpose of using such modern means of technology is to keep a close watch on your overall health. After all, your health matters a lot for everyone around you and also for yourself.
Friends and family members can help in measuring blood sugar levels. It’s also possible to do it yourself. You can ask your doctor to guide you more! It’s always best to let your doctor guide you.
When using any device for the first time, you can definitely ask someone to help you. Once you are used to it, it would be easier!
You can also follow the instructions that come with the device. It’s best to know how to use it and make the most of it. All such modern means of technology are here to make your life better and help you live a better and longer life. Your health matter to the world and to everyone who is around you.
Consult Your Doctor
Despite tons of information available online and video tutorials, it’s best to talk to your doctor or Endocrinologist about your health. Your best source of information is your doctor. Your doctor can suggest the medicine and would tell you what works best for your health! With an active lifestyle and managing your health based on the plan of your doctor, it would be easy to know more about your blood sugar levels.
Living with diabetes may sound hard, but there are many people around the world who are managing their lifestyles. Start by controlling your weight and make a plan with your doctor that works in your favor. Your doctor knows what’s best for your overall health so bear that in mind.
The good thing is that if Type 2 diabetes is well maintained then people would not need to check blood sugar levels that often, but when it’s still there so keeping an eye would be important.
Wrapping It Up
Knowing and understanding your blood sugar levels is essential for your well-being. When you know what affects your health, it would be easy for you to manage. A healthy lifestyle can help, but you need to discuss your health and overall situation with the doctor.
Hyperglycemia Levels
Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the level of glucose in the blood increases. A subject with a fixed range above 126 mg/dL or 7 mmol/L is generally considered hyperglycemic, while a fixed range below 70 mg/dL or 4 mmol/L is considered hypoglycemic.
Human blood glucose levels vary at different times of the day and before and after meals. Hyperglycemia may occur in individuals with undiagnosed diabetes. It can also occur if a person with diabetes does not follow their treatment regimen. Hyperglycemia can cause various symptoms.
The three classic symptoms of hyperglycemia are frequent urination, frequent hunger, and frequent thirst. Some other symptoms may appear, such as blurred vision, poor wound healing, dry mouth, fatigue, and others. Symptoms may not appear until blood glucose levels reach 15-20 mmol/L (270-360 mg/dL) or higher. Blood glucose levels that are a little higher than normal can cause long-term damage.
Glucose Levels
The level of glucose in the blood should be maintained in the normal range. Homeostasis plays an important role in the efficiency of the body in performing physiological processes. Changes in blood glucose, whether it is rising or falling, can affect the processes of the body. It may also cause damage.
Hyperglycemia can damage the kidneys and retina. It can also damage the heart and blood vessels. This condition can be caused by several conditions such as diabetes, physiological stress, serious illness, or certain medications. Treating hyperglycemia is aimed at treating the underlying cause.
For people with diabetes, it is very important to follow the treatment regimen. They also need to monitor their diet and lifestyle. It is also important to check your blood glucose levels regularly. If symptoms of hyperglycemia appear, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor immediately. This is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis and choose the appropriate treatment. It is also necessary to prevent the development of complications.
Types of hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes can be of two types: fasting hyperglycemia or postprandial hyperglycemia.
Fasting hyperglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels exceed 130 mg/dL after fasting for at least 8 hours.
If you have postprandial hyperglycemia, your postprandial blood sugar should not exceed 140 mg/dL, except in rare cases associated with heavy metals. If postprandial hyperglycemia is persistently high, this may be a sign of the onset of type 2 diabetes.
In people without diabetes, hyperglycemia is usually caused by high levels of stress, medications, eating disorders, and a lack of regular exercise.
Meditation and stress sometimes disrupt blood sugar levels and develop into hyperglycemia. If you consume a lot of calories from complex and simple carbohydrates in your meals, your blood sugar levels will also rise.
Hyperglycemia Symptoms
The symptoms must be understood to know what to do when a person has hyperglycemia. You will usually notice hyperglycemia levels and high levels of sugar in your urine. Sometimes it also leads to frequent urination or increased thirst. Problems associated with hyperglycemia can be treated by starting appropriate treatment.
Common symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- Excessive weight gain
- Impotence in men
- Dry skin
- Rashes in the groin
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Impaired wound healing
- Excessive hunger
- Itchy skin
- Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Differentiate Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is caused by the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin to process glucose. Therefore, there is more glucose in the bloodstream.
In type 2 diabetes, cells are unable to receive and use the energy produced in the body. The glucose level remains high.
Blurred vision, dizziness, and mental confusion due to the inability to think clearly can be caused by severe hyperglycemia. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia can be fatal and can lead to ketosis and eventually death.
Treating Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia is caused by several factors. If you have type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemia is often the result of insufficient insulin. For people with type 2, this may simply mean that your body is not using insulin the way it should. Sometimes this is the result of eating more than you planned, and sometimes it can be due to stress or illness.
Many everyday factors can affect whether or not your blood sugar level is under control, so it is important to know what to do if it gets out of control.
The easiest way to tell if you have hyperglycemia is to check your blood sugar levels. However, if you experience frequent urination or increased thirst, this could also be a sign of a problem. You should talk to your doctor about how often you should check your blood sugar.
Reducing food intake can also help lower your glucose levels. If they do not work, you need to change the amount of medication or the dose of insulin. On the other hand, you can change the time you inject your doses. Problems that can arise if hyperglycemia is not treated
If you find yourself experiencing hyperglycemia, the quickest way to lower your blood sugar is through exercise. Eating small portions can also help. If you continue to have frequent hyperglycemia problems, talk to your doctor or dietitian about changing the doses of your medications or diet. Sometimes, simply changing the timing of meals or medications can help.
Without treatment, hyperglycemia can progress to a diabetic coma. Your body can’t use insulin to break down glucose in food, so it starts breaking down fats instead. The body produces waste products called ketones that are excreted in the urine.
However, if it cannot release waste products quickly enough, ketoacidosis occurs, which can be life-threatening. If you experience shortness of breath, bad breath, nausea, or a dry mouth, seek medical attention immediately.
Conclusion
People with hyperglycemia should work to improve their health. They should eat nutritious food, but a doctor may suggest a calorie eating plan. This calorie plan determines how many calories a person should consume. This is done to make sure that the person does not take in more glucose than the insulin can use. It is usually prescribed to diabetic patients.
However, because hyperglycemia can be caused by a variety of conditions, treatment is aimed at addressing the underlying cause. The person adheres to the treatment and follows the instructions of his treating physician. Failure to follow the treatment regimen can cause problems. One must also avoid bad habits. He or she must change their diet and lifestyle.
If a person has hyperglycemia, they should tell their doctor if they smoke or drink. He should also tell the doctor if he is taking medications other than those prescribed by the doctor.
Rooibos Tea Health Benefits
Five health benefits of Rooibos tea
(red tea)
1. Studies conducted on rooibos tea effects found that the polyphenol aspalathin present in the rooibos tea leaves helps regulate type 2 diabetes symptoms by fighting insulin resistance and balancing blood sugar levels. It would be correct to say that rooibos tea benefits diabetes.
2. Rooibos tea benefits diabetic people at risk of heart disease by being high in antioxidants, which is excellent for the heart because it boosts heart health and fights body inflammation. It is a perfect substitute for caffeinated drinks, known to cause heart palpitations and other illnesses.
3. The high antioxidants in rooibos tea help boost weight loss by speeding up the metabolism and burning body calories. Maintaining a good weight is beneficial to keep diabetes at bay. It also helps maintain a sound digestive system by easing gastric issues like diarrhea.
4. Rooibos tea benefits the body through its antibacterial properties by boosting immunity, especially during cold and winter seasons. Rooibos tea is especially beneficial to people with diabetes since it will increase their immunity, which is low due to the disease.
5. The polyphenol in rooibos tea benefits diabetic people with skin disorders by boosting skin health through its anti-aging properties and antibacterial abilities to help keep skin disorders at bay.
Rooibos tea can be found and purchased in grocery stores and online stores for those who can’t find it in their local stores. Rooibos tea has no known side effects due to its herbal nature; however, it is advisable to check with a nutritionist for people suffering from the chronic liver disease before adding to the diet.
Can Blood Sugar Affect Blood Pressure?
Yes! Most definitely.
To understand the entire process and the associated traits, we must first understand what blood sugars are in the human body and their functions.
Also referred to as blood glucose, these constitute the significant sugars found in the bloodstream. They are usually the major energy sources within the human cells, among other sugars and molecules like ketone bodies.
Blood sugar levels are usually of utmost significance to individuals, given that too low levels could prompt varied health conditions, including hypoglycemia. At the same time, too high levels could lead to hyperglycemia and associated symptoms.
The human body is thus equipped with sensory cells all over capable of detecting changes in blood glucose levels and effecting subsequent changes. For instance, if the blood glucose level goes above the optimal levels, the condition will be detected in the pancreas prompting the release of insulin hormone, which, in conjunction with other hormones, rectifies the surge.
Similarly, pancreatic cells will also detect low blood glucose levels, prompting the release of glucagon and even catecholamine hormones that collectively work to fix the condition by increasing blood glucose levels. The healthy average blood glucose level thus typically ranges between 70 and 120 mg/dL.
Extreme blood glucose levels are usually associated with the different types of diabetes. However, to advance to the diabetes stage must imply that the blood glucose level detection system, the alpha and beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, and the associated hormones are functionally impaired.
Hence, individuals with diabetes don’t often lose the ability to regulate blood sugar levels but rather the cells and systems involved.
How Your Body Regulates Blood Pressure
Despite near similar processes exploited in maintaining blood glucose and blood pressure levels, regulating blood pressure is often more complicated and critical. For instance, the body usually regulates blood glucose levels by making more blood sugars or exploiting alternative energy sources.
However, there is no way of making more or breaking down blood instantly within the body to regulate blood pressure. In fact, the body cannot make more or less ‘blood pressure’ like it does blood glucose. As such, blood glucose regulation is often much simple and achievable, unlike blood pressure regulation for the human body.
Take, for example, an individual with low blood pressure from low blood volume cannot instantly rectify their condition as more blood would be needed, something the body can’t manage to manufacture fast enough as it is with blood glucose. These individuals can suffer massive health implications like incapacitation and long-term brain and body harm. This hints at the severity and dangers associated with blood pressure imbalances.
Therefore, due to the limited blood pressure regulation options, the body often utilizes the hormones used in blood sugar regulation, catecholamine/adrenalin, and other hormones to facilitate the process. As such, if you have low blood pressure, the body detects this and releases catecholamines. These subsequently tighten up the blood vessels through vasoconstriction, making them narrower and thus more challenging for the heart to pump blood through the arteries, ultimately raising the blood pressure levels.
On the other hand, high blood pressure usually warrants reducing the arterial pressure build-up by lowering the overall blood volume in the vessels. This is often achieved through several avenues.
First, some of the blood glucose regulating hormones like insulin stimulate nitric oxide production by the endothelial cells, which initiates the vasodilation/expansion of the blood vessels. This subsequently reduces the arterial pressure and the pressure against the heart.
Expanded vessels also release water through diuresis in the kidneys, further lowering blood volume and thus blood pressure. These are just some of the few standard blood pressure regulation processes.
Similar to diabetics, imbalance in blood pressure prompts conditions like hypertension and hypotension. These individuals often can regulate their blood pressure but have impaired sensors and body systems responsible for controlling blood pressure levels.
How Blood Sugar Affects Blood Pressure
The blood sugar and blood pressure regulation systems are all interconnected, given that they depend on similar body hormones to affect changes in the body. For instance, as indicated above, insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose, is also associated with stimulating nitric oxide production in blood vessels.
It usually blocks the body’s ability to make nitric oxide which is significant for vasodilation of blood vessels and decrease in blood pressure. As such, if an individual with diabetes is utilizing insulin doses to facilitate blood glucose regulation, they should be aware of the underlying risks of high blood pressure, given that the body’s ability to lower blood pressure via nitric oxide production would be severely impaired.
Catecholamine hormones that regulate low blood pressure would also impact blood sugars by immensely raising the levels given the interconnected responses.
The same goes for low blood sugar individuals whose body systems utilize catecholamines to regulate the levels, subsequently prompting high blood pressure levels. This is a clear indication of how low blood sugar or low blood pressure could influence the rise/decline of the other.
It is also important to note that some blood pressure and blood glucose regulation medications may override the body’s natural protection systems and trigger these processes.
Can Diabetes Cause High Blood Pressure?
Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) often go hand in hand as individuals suffering from one are often likely to suffer from the other. An individual with diabetes is thus often twice as likely to have high blood pressure as opposed to healthy folks.
The high blood sugar levels among diabetes patients can also often damage blood vessels and nerves of the heart, and these, when coupled with high blood pressure and associated symptoms, often result in increased strain on the heart muscles and blood vessels. This further increases the risk of heart/cardiovascular disease and even stroke.
As such, diabetes and hypertension often occur comorbidly, either at the same time or simultaneously. This is usually evident among populations as nearly one in every three American adults have hypertension.
Subsequently, two out of every three patients with diabetes usually have high blood pressure or take respective blood pressure regulating prescription medications. Further reports also indicate that diabetes often doubles one’s likelihood of dying from stroke or heart disease compared to those without diabetes.
Experts in the field also believe that both the conditions, diabetes and high blood pressure, often have common potential causes and risk factors. They have thus been linked to;
- Oxidative stress
- Insulin resistance
- Inflammation
- Obesity
Essentially, diabetes is associated with elevated blood sugar levels. High glucose levels often stress the vessels causing damage, narrowing, and accumulation of plaque such as cholesterol and fats within the vessel walls. These plaques further narrow the vessels making it difficult to pass adequate blood through. As such, the heart has to pump even harder to compensate for the narrowing leading to high blood pressure throughout the body.
Subsequently, the plaque formation and build-up due to the blood sugar levels further causes atherosclerosis, a condition which, when coupled with the high blood pressure, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease for the associated individual.
Does Sugar Raise Blood Pressure Quickly?
People commonly associate salt with high blood pressure despite sugar also often playing a crucial role in blood pressure regulation. For instance, eating too much sugar may often inhibit nitric oxide production, eliminating vasodilation. This leaves an opportunity for vasoconstriction, which can result in high blood pressure. As such, sugar, just like salt, is also among the leading causes of high blood pressure.
Take fructose, for example, a simple sugar, which, upon ingestion, raises uric acid levels in the blood. High uric acid concentrations often inhibit nitric oxide production, which further eliminates flexibility and vasodilation capabilities of the blood vessels, prompting a rise in blood pressure.
Subsequently, excessive sugar consumption often leads to weight gain, and continued weight gain results in obesity. Since obesity is a major contributing factor to high blood pressure, increased sugar consumption thus raises blood pressure above optimal levels.
Sugars, more so added sugars, like table sugar and syrup, used in food preparation and processing have also been realized to contribute significantly to hypertension. This is because they are usually more harmful to human bodies, unlike the naturally occurring sugars in fruits and milk. Therefore, increased amounts above recommended range could result in high blood pressure.
Furthermore, hyperinsulinemia, a condition depicted by higher-than-normal levels of insulin in the blood, also contributes to high blood pressure if left untreated. Studies have actually shown that nearly half of high blood pressure patients often suffer from hyperinsulinemia or glucose intolerance.
The body often uses glucose for energy. However, with insulin resistance, associated individual systems often fail to respond to insulin as they should, prompting overproduction of the hormone to compensate for the high blood glucose and low energy levels. High insulin is usually associated with hypertension and together greatly increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Bottom line
Diabetes and high blood pressure are among some of the diseases claiming many lives globally. As such, individuals should always endorse frequent health checkups to determine their status with regard to the conditions. Subsequently, those living with either or both conditions should also invest in a close monitoring program to prevent treatment challenges and prevent unnecessary health complications.
What are the Best Fruits for Diabetes Type 2
Having diabetes type 2 changes everything. It stops you from enjoying the same things that everyone else takes for granted, like drinking a glass of wine or eating a piece of cake. And while there are many health benefits to taking care of yourself by avoiding sugar, your doctor might not be satisfied with just cutting out sugar and carbs.
If you struggle with processing sugars in your body just like so many people do, you might want to consider adding some fruits to help balance out your blood sugar levels. According to the American Diabetes Association, fruits contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals that can help you manage your diabetes levels. Here is their list of the best fruits for people with diabetes with type 2 and how they help:
1. Berries for a refreshing treat and disease-fighting antioxidants
Berries are a perfect snack for people with diabetes. Berries contain fiber and antioxidants, but they also pack a powerful punch of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and manganese. A cup of raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries contains about 6 grams of fiber, and it is recommended to have this amount of fiber each day. Berries are also very high in water content, making them hydrating for people with diabetes.
2. Tart cherries help fight inflammation
Tart cherries are among the best fruits for people with diabetes because they contain many anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been shown to reduce inflammation by reducing cytokines and proteins that cause inflammation, preventing LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and inflaming blood vessels. Tart cherries also contain potassium, vitamin K, fiber, and magnesium, which all help manage blood sugar levels in your body.
3. Peaches for metabolism-boosting potassium
Peaches are a very healthy snack because they taste great and are loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps your body increase insulin sensitivity, preventing it from damaging sugar molecules. Peaches also have potassium, fiber, calcium, and manganese, which help your body manage blood sugar levels.
4. Apricots for a scrumptious, fiber-rich bite
Apricots are a great snack because they are full of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. Fiber is essential for people with diabetes because it can help keep you feeling full and prevent sugar spikes in your body. Fiber also slows down digestion and keeps blood sugar levels balanced. A cup of apricots contains 7 grams of fiber which is a perfect amount to consume each day to improve your health.
5. Apples for a quick fibrous and vitamin C rich snack
Apples are an excellent snack for people with diabetes because they are high in vitamin C. Your body needs vitamin C to produce collagen, which helps keep your blood vessels healthy. Vitamin C also assists in insulin production and prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which can cause damage to your blood vessels. A medium-sized apple contains 2 grams of fiber which is an excellent snack for people with diabetes.
6. Oranges for a juicy source of vitamin C
Oranges are an excellent snack for people with diabetes because they are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your blood vessels remain healthy and prevents them from becoming inflamed. Vitamin C also assists in insulin production and prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which can cause damage to your blood vessels. Vitamin C makes oranges a great snack because it will help you fight inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease.
7. Pears for easy snacking, vitamin K and fiber
Pears are an excellent snack for people with diabetes because they help prevent your body from inflaming. Vitamin K is a powerful antioxidant that helps regulate inflammation in your body.
If you are having trouble preventing inflammation, add pears to your diet to keep yourself feeling healthy and energetic. A cup of pears contains 5 grams of fiber, giving you a great slow-burning fuel source to keep your stomach feeling full and help control your blood sugar levels.
8. Zesty Green Kiwi for Potassium fiber and vitamin C
Zesty green Kiwis are an excellent snack for people with diabetes because they contain vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Vitamin C helps prevent your blood vessels from becoming inflamed, which can cause oxidative damage, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.
Fiber is essential for people with diabetes because it can help keep you feeling full and prevent sugar spikes in your body. Potassium is also necessary for your body because it helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels and prevents diabetes from affecting you.
9. Plums for a healthy dose of fiber and manganese
Plums are an excellent choice for people with diabetes because they are high in fiber and vitamin C. Fiber is essential for people with diabetes because it can help keep you feeling full and prevent sugar spikes in your body. Plums also have vitamin K, magnesium, folate, potassium, and vitamin A. Plums are an excellent fuel source to keep you energized throughout the day.
10. Grapefruits for the antioxidant-rich and vitamin C
Grapefruits are an excellent choice for people with diabetes because they are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Antioxidants help your body fight free radicals, which can cause damage to cells. Vitamin C is also essential for a healthy immune system, blood vessels, and muscles because it prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which can cause damage to your blood vessels.
Benefits of Fruits for Diabetics
Consumption of fiber helps keep your blood sugar levels under control and boost your metabolism. Fruits are not only energizing, but they are a good source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help fight diseases and keep you healthy.
Fruits are low in calories, processed sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, making them a healthy alternative to junk food. Obesity contributes to diabetes type 2, so it is essential to control your calories and sugars.
Conclusion
Fruits are the perfect snack for people with type 2 diabetes because they can boost your metabolism, promote healthy blood sugar levels and fight diseases.
Fruits are tasty and have health benefits that can help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. If you are having a hard time losing weight, just like so many people do, switching to a fruit snack could be the answer for you. Try fruits other than bananas and apples, such as blue, purple, and red fruits like berries with low sugar content.
What Kind of Pasta can a Diabetic Eat?
Pasta is synonymous with convenience, which can be a dirty word for nutrition. And if you have type 2 diabetes, you may have heard that you need to avoid this product. But if you love pasta and want to make a few changes to your cooking tips, you may not need to say goodbye to this paid dish.
Although pasta has more carbohydrates than some other foods, it can fit into a healthy diabetic meal plan. People with type 2 diabetes who ate 50 grams of pasta had lower blood sugar levels than those who ate equal portions of white bread, potatoes, or rice. You need to monitor your portion sizes and cook this dish carefully, like limiting certain toppings and additives.
Innovative steps like these can help keep your blood sugar levels, weight, general health, and nutrition on track. Diabetes educators share their strategies for making pasta as safe as possible for diabetes.
Make vegetables the star of your bowl.
To make onions safer for people with diabetes, add color—apart from vegetables with this peculiarity, focusing a pasta dish on naturally low-calorie non-starchy vegetables increases food intake and adds vitamins and minerals.
Non-starchy vegetables are very high in fiber and very low in carbohydrates, which means less impact on blood sugar levels. It’s a good idea to fill about half a plate or an onion with options like cabbage, watercress, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, carrots, asparagus, and cucumbers, or mushrooms.
Use whole-grain pasta
Replace traditional pasta with high-fiber noodles. Whole-grain pasta is the best because it contains more fiber, which can help ease high blood sugar. According to Bob’s Red Mill, many typical white kinds of pasta are made from semolina flour, which is caused by grinding a variety of wheat known as durum wheat. While semolina can be a nutritious flour, significantly, when it’s fortified with vitamins and minerals from whole-grain pasta, it has a slight advantage.
Try the vegan pasta
If you’re intolerant of wheat or want to reduce your pasta dish’s carbs, try making vegan pasta even more. If you don’t have a spiralizer or mandolin—which are both kitchen utensils used to manually spiral food into a spiral—you can use a vegetable peeler. Take the soaked vegetable slices and place them in boiling water for 20 seconds, then transfer the noodles to a bowl of ice.
As long as they’re not made with pumpkin or starchy sweet potatoes, vegan snails are the lowest-carb option. In addition, vegetarian pasta is usually lower in calories but still rich in vitamins and minerals.
One cup of boiled zucchini, for example, contains only 27 calories and 5 grams of carbs, while one cup of cooked whole-grain Barilla pasta has 180 calories and 39 grams of carbs. The same serving of zucchini contains 23.2 mg of vitamin C, making it an excellent source, and 476 mg of potassium, making it a good start. Sweet peppers, broccoli, carrots, and beets are other low-carb vegan pasta options.
Top off the creamy sauce with butter
As with other “white” foods, ditch the white sauce when preparing foods that increase diabetes. Traditional cream-based spices tend to be higher in saturated fat and sodium than other options.
People with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease, so choosing heart-healthy foods low in sodium and fat is essential. Foods rich in saturated fats can raise blood cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Meanwhile, excess sodium in your diet can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease. It is good to choose sauces based on olive oil and fresh garlic, which are suitable for heart health.
Remember: olive oil contains healthy fats, but is still high in calories, so be sure to control your portions. Smithson suggests using ½ cup of olive oil and 4 to 5 cloves of garlic for every pound of cooked pasta. Spread the sauce evenly over each serving of pasta. Stick to a serving size of one-half to three-quarters of a cup. When shopping for packaged red sauce, choose a jar with no added sugar and ideally no more than 15 grams of carbohydrates and 140 milligrams (mg) of sodium per serving perf-cup.
Practice quantity control
Keeping portion sizes in mind is key to enjoying pasta when fighting type 2 diabetes. The goal is to keep your blood sugar very high. Portions of food, especially in restaurants, are much more prominent today than 20 years ago. Several studies have shown that people eat more food when they are given large portions and that they help themselves to eat more when they have large onions served in by the spoonful.
It is essential to include other food groups and controlled amounts when eating pasta. The exact amount of carbohydrates to target depends on age, gender, activity level, and any medications you’re taking. As a general rule, people with diabetes should consume 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
Reduce cheese consumption
Macaroni and cheese are a dynamic duo. And while people with diabetes don’t have to say goodbye to this tasty ingredient, moderation and choosing the right kind are vital to keeping onions healthy. Doing part control here can be edited.
According to the CDC, one serving of cheese weighs only one ounce, or about the length of your thumb from tip to base. Do your best to choose this thumb-sized meal. As for diabetes-safe cheeses, choose white cheeses like mozzarella or parmesan, which are lower in fat and calories than other options.
Include lean protein
By pairing your protein source with a carbohydrate meal like pasta, you can avoid sudden spikes in blood sugar levels. Protein digestion is slowly than carbohydrates. Plus, adding protein will make the pasta more filling, which may prevent you from overloading the carbs on your plate.
Choose a lean source of protein, such as skinless fried chicken and ground turkey. These foods tend to be lower in saturated fat and sodium than red meat or processed meats like bacon.
Conclusion
Pasta is a rich source of grains and carbohydrates and is part of a nutritious diet that provides the essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that the human body needs. Most international dietary guidelines recommend that 65% of your calories per day come from carbohydrates as part of a balanced diet. In addition to being a significant source of carbohydrates, pasta is also beneficial.
It is commonly eaten with nutrient-rich foods such as fiber-rich vegetables and beans, high-protein meats, cheese, monounsaturated oils, and tomato sauce. Antioxidants. This makes pasta bowls an excellent delivery system for highly nutritious meals.
