Diabetes Prevention
Alcohol and its Effect on Diabetes
Blood Sugar Support. Alcohol is a depressant. It depresses the central nervous system and affects every organ of 
the body because it is absorbed rapidly by the stomach and intestine and enters the bloodstream. Effects of alcohol on the body depends on how much it is consumed. Small amount of alcohol acts as stimulant and make people feel happy and talk a lot while too much alcohol can impair the body. Alcoholic drinks are full of empty calories, have no nutritional value and also has full of sugar. it can negatively alter the blood sugar levels and puts drinkers at a high risk of developing alcohol-related diabetes.
Drinking alcohol not only affects the blood sugar, it also increases the insulin secretion and leads to low sugar in the blood. Too much alcohol interrupts normal production of glucose and the hormones regulating it and leads to high blood sugar levels.
Effects of Alcohol
- Alcohol increases the blood sugar levels because it stimulates appetite which results to overeating. It can affect the will power by increasing bad dietary choices. Some medications should not be taken with alcohol. It can increase blood pressure.
- Too much alcohol can lead to symptoms similar to that of low blood sugar. This includes confusion, sleepiness, blurry vision, headaches, lightheadedness or dizziness, lack of coordination and unconsciousness.
People with diabetes should avoid mixing drinks and cocktails to prevent increase in blood sugar levels. Women with diabetes should not have more than one drink of alcohol per day and men should limit their drinks to only two per day. Sip drinks slowly and alternate your alcoholic drink with water so you can be clear-headed and to help you hydrated. Food helps slow down alcohol absorption and does not affect production of glucose, so don’t drink on an empty stomach or when your blood sugar is low. If you have to drink, choose the light beers or calorie-free drink mixes to help you keep your sugar in check.
Diabetic people should be wary of drinking alcoholic drinks. Stay on the recommended dosage to prevent reduction of the effectiveness of insulin and wipe out their energy storage. Check your blood sugar levels before and up to 24 hours after drinking and before going to bed.
Consumption of carbohydrates before drinking is advised to help keep steady blood sugar level. It has been found that moderate drinking of alcohol and taking in Blood Sugar Support supplements can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who do not. However, it is best to stay on the recommended consumption.
What is Hyperglycemia?
Natural Blood Sugar Supplements. Hyperglycemia is the increased glucose level or sugar in our blood. The food we ate are broken down into glucose which are carried into our blood to all the cells in our body and are converted into energy with the help of insulin hormone produced by our pancreas. Insulin helps move glucose into the cells. 
The body at times stop producing insulin as in the case for type 1 diabetes or the insulin produced does not work properly as in the case of type 2 diabetes. When glucose stay in the blood and is not carried into the cells of the body, this result in development of high blood sugar levels. Uncontrolled high sugar level may lead to dehydration and more serious complications may develop.
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus causes high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia maybe caused by too much intake of carbohydrates which the body of a diabetic person is unable to convert into energy fast enough and so resulting to high blood sugar levels.
Another cause of hyperglycemia is when insulin production is not controlled either thru injection or taking medicines for insulin production. Diabetic people has to balance diet, medication and physical activity to prevent increased blood sugar levels.
Other possible causes of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels are stress, no exercise or minimal exercise, illness, surgery or infections and certain drugs like steroids can also affect blood sugar levels..
Common symptoms of hyperglycemia includes dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination and night urination, dry and itchy skin, blurry vision, weight loss, increased appetite and fatigue or drowsiness.
If hyperglycemia persists for hours and dehydration results, other symptoms include difficulty in breathing, rapid weight loss, dizziness when standing, increased confusion and drowsiness and even unconsciousness or coma.
Home remedies or self-care
Home remedies or self-care for hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is regular check of blood glucose meter if it is higher than normal. Regular meals and scheduled medication should be observed. Sugar-free and caffeine-free liquids must only be taken. In addition, check your urine for ketones and take blood sugar readings until it is back to normal.
Ways to lower blood sugar level includes regular exercise, dietary regime solely for diabetics should be followed, and Natural Blood Sugar Supplements recommended by your doctor.
When hyperglycemia persists for more than three days or when ketones appear in your urine, you should immediately call your doctor to prevent complications.
Diabetics should follow their recommended dietary regimes, check their blood sugar regularly, do the recommended exercise daily and take the medicines as prescribed. A planned daily activities with a planned diet and Natural Blood Sugar Supplements will balance and manage blood sugar levels.
Vitamins Good for Diabetics
Vitamins for Diabetics. Vitamins or Vital Amino Acid are the nutrients our body need to maintain the proper functions of metabolism and immunity. Vitamins are vital because the body cannot manage itself without the help of these vitamins. These vitamins are acquired from outside sources like food and supplements. One major function of 
vitamins is for proper blood sugar control.
Diabetics are found to lose more vitamins than retaining them like when they frequently urinate. Washing out excess sugar when glucose are high in the blood also washes out water-soluble nutrients. Losing vitamins can worsen the ability of the body to stabilize blood sugar. It is therefore advisable to eat varied diet rich in natural vitamins.
Two Kinds of Vitamins
Water Soluble Vitamins. Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in our body. After the body takes what it needs from food, it excretes the remaining excess as waste. Water soluble vitamins are Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, Biotin, and Folate. Since diabetics tries to get rid of extra sugar from their body, they lose more water-soluble vitamins more than others. It is recommended therefore, that diabetics take these vitamins in larger than normal doses.
Fat Soluble Vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins are Vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins are stored in our fat cells for longer period than the water-soluble vitamins.
Diabetics needs to increase their intake of the appropriate vitamins to help their body to use insulin and thus stabilizing their blood sugar levels.
Six Vitamins That Are Best Supplements For Diabetics
Multivitamins. Multivitamins and mineral supplements significantly reduces infections and sickness in diabetic persons. Taking high quality multivitamins also reduces the risk of diabetes.
Vitamin B3. Niacin or Vitamin B3 have shown to help lower blood sugar, reduce fatty liver and prevent neuropathy.
Vitamin B6 and B12. Kidney damage cause by diabetes is said to have been reduced with the help of vitamin B6 and B12. It also improved arterial health of diabetics.
Vitamin C. diabetics are said to have low concentration of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is said to improve the widening of the arteries and thereby allowing sufficient flow of blood for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. It improves glucose control and protects blood vessels from the damaged caused by diabetes.
Vitamins should be taken with food for the easy absorption of the nutrients into the body. It is best to follow a healthy diabetes diet together with a regular exercise with the best vitamin supplement to achieve stability in blood sugar level.
The Risk of Smoking to Diabetes
Diabetes and smoking cigarettes is not a healthy combination. Smoking as we all know is very bad for your health and even more so if you have diabetes. Smoking increases the risk of complications and potential fatal diseases. Nicotine in cigarettes hardens and narrows your blood vessels thus curbing the blood flow in your body.
Risks of Smoking
Raises blood sugar. Your body becomes more resistant to insulin leading to a higher blood sugar levels when you smoke. Increased blood sugar levels can lead to serious complications like kidney problems, heart and blood vessels.
Heart and blood vessel damage. Smoking can also cause damage to the cardiovascular system just like diabetes. Persons with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease or have stroke.
Respiratory disease. Smoking can lead to pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disease since it directly affect your lungs. Diabetics are more likely to die from pneumonia than non-diabetic persons. Smoking seriously raises the risk of this respiratory disease especially when you have diabetes.
Damages eyes. Diabetes causes higher risk of cataracts and other eye disease like glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy is also at higher risk if diabetes is poorly controlled. Accelerated development of diabetic retinopathy and resulting to blindness can be due to smoking.
Tips to Quit Smoking
- Stop your smoking habits and exercise to relieve stress.
- Drink decaffeinated coffee and stop drinking soft drinks with caffeine and alcohol that gives you the urge to smoke.
- Keep yourself busy. Draw, type, knit and keep your hands full.
- Set a date when to quit smoking and tell your doctor about it so you will have his support.
- Spend your time in places where smoking is banned.
- Ask your family for their support. They can help you quit.
- Do things that you enjoy to keep your mind off smoking.
- Ask your doctor for nicotine replacement to curb your smoking cravings. You may use lozenges, patches, gums and nasal sprays.
Diabetes raises the risk of health problems. Smoking accelerates this complications. Nicotine raises your blood sugar. Stop smoking so that you can limit damage to your system and live a healthier life.
Warning Signs and Symptoms Common to both Types of Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition wherein a person has higher blood sugar levels than the normal. It is a metabolic disease that is caused by inadequate production of insulin or the cells of the body do not properly respond to insulin, or both.
Warning signs of diabetes are so mild that they are not noticeable especially in the case of type 2 diabetes. Only until they feel the long-term damage caused by diabetes do some people find out that they have the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the symptoms are quick and are much more severe. The common symptom of diabetes is increased levels of glucose or blood sugar in your blood.
Warning Signs and Symptoms Common to both Types of Diabetes
Fatigue and hunger. The food you eat is converted into glucose by your body for the cells to use for energy. Insulin helps bring the glucose in. If your produce inadequate insulin or when the cells rejects the insulin your body produce, glucose cannot get in and you will have no energy and thus feel tired and hungry more than the usual.
Frequent Urination. When diabetes raised up your blood sugar, your kidney cannot take all the glucose that is reabsorbed by the body land so excretes the excess ink the urine. The average rate of urination is between four and seven times. Diabetes may go for more than usual times.
Dry mouth and Itchy skin. Due to your frequent urination, you loss lots of fluids. You get dehydrated, your mouth feel dry and you feel itchiness in your skin.
Blurred vision. The changes in the fluid level in your body causes your lenses to swell up and changes its shape, making it lose the ability to focus.
Weight Loss. When you have diabetes, your body cannot anymore get energy from the food you eat. It derives energy by burning fat and muscles instead, making your loss weight.
Nerve damage. Diabetes makes you feel pain and numbness in your feet or legs as a result of nerve damage. Another nerve damage results to slow-healing sores or cuts because it affects your blood flow.
Nausea and vomiting. The burning of fats for energy instead of getting it from food you eat results to production of ketones. Ketones in diabetic ketoacidosis makes your stomach feel sick.
The moment you start feeling these warning signs, it is time to go to the doctor and have a scheduled diabetic test. With proper diabetes diet coupled with regular exercise and recommended medications, diabetic persons may live an active and productive long life.
How to Maintain Blood Sugar Level
Blood sugar or glucose is the main source of energy that is obtained from the food we eat. Glucose is the main sugar in our body that is carried to all cell through the blood stream. Our body regulates the level of blood sugar.
High Blood Sugar is manifested when you are losing weight, have blurred vision, very thirsty and tired and have frequent urination. When you have high blood sugar level, you may feel sick to your stomach, throw up or feel faint. It also causes you to lose fluid.
Low Blood Sugar is known as hypoglycemia. It is caused by too much insulin, delayed meal, missed meal, too much exercise or too much alcohol. It may also be a side effect from medicines taken for other health problems.
Ways of Maintaining Blood Sugar
Eat a low-processed and anti-inflammatory diet. Balancing carbohydrates and sugar with protein and fats in your diet and getting it from whole and real food is one way of managing and treating and preventing diabetes. Consuming carbs and sugar with protein fiber and healthy fats can slow down the absorption into the bloodstream of sugar, aid in managing your appetite and helps in your digestion and metabolism. Healthy fats include virgin coconut oi, nuts and seeds and avocado. High-fiber foods include veggies, whole pieces of fruits and beans and grains.
Other foods and drinks that also can help stabilize blood sugar are green tea, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, herbal tea, spices and fresh herbs.
Use alternative carbs and sweeteners. To aid in maintaining blood sugar, avoid using refined flour and added sugars like cane sugar, beet sugar or beet juice. Use natural sweeteners like raw honey, dates, pure maple syrup or molasses in small portions daily. Whole grain flours should be used or coconut flour. Drink water, seltzer, herbal tea or black tea and coffee only. And coffee should be taken only up to two cups. Stay away from sweetened alcoholic drinks.
Regular exercise. Exercise can manage blood sugar. It helps lower blood sugar as the cells in your muscles take up more glucose for energy and tissue repair when you do short exercise while helps make cells more susceptible to insulin and helps prevent its resistance when doing long-term exercises. Exercises like cycling, running, swimming and lifting weights increases insulin sensitivity enabling your cells to better take up glucose during and after doing exercises.
Manage stress. Stress raises release of cortisol, the stress hormone, and increases cravings for “comfort foods” and interrupts sleep. These factors cause high blood sugar level. Take time to de stress or try coping up with life struggles by doing the natural stress relievers like exercise, mediation and yoga. Spend more time outdoors, talk with friends and family or joining groups in your community are also helpful for diabetics and insulin resistant persons to manage stress and eventually lower down blood sugar.
Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can increase stress and appetite. These hormones like cortisol makes you hungry and crave for sugary snacks. Too little sleep, poor quality of sleep and sleeping at the wrong time impair secretion of insulin. In order to balance blood sugar, try to get enough hours of sleep of between seven to nine hours and stick to it.
Be aware of changes in your body. There are common symptoms that cannot be ignored and would indicate that you have fluctuating blood sugar levels and should manage the same. Fatigue, sugar cravings, thirsty all the time, weight loss, mood swings, frequent infections, heavy breathing and trouble exercising are one of these signs that should not be taken for granted. Manage your blood sugar, take in natural supplements that can help. Stabilize the level by taking on a healthy diet regime.
Sugar Detox
Sugar Detox is important. Sugar is a natural ingredient that is found mostly in plants, particularly in sugarcane and sugar beets and fruit and vegetables. It is a carbohydrate from which the body derives energy. The sugar we consume either from processed food or from fruits, are broken down by our body to glucose which is needed for the proper function of our brain, muscles and other major organs. It is an important source of energy that our body need in our daily lives.
However, sugar is known to be the root cause of almost all diseases when taken in too much than what is needed by the body. In whatever form, sugar is the reason for obesity, heart disease, cancer, dementia, type 2 diabetes infertility, impotence and acne.
Symptoms Of Withdrawal From Sweeteners Or Refined Sugar
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Detachment
- Palpitations
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Poor Sleep
Cutting back on all sources of sugar can aid in staying healthy and reduces the need for medication for diabetes related complications. Although consuming sugar is hard to break, there are lots of nutritious food that replace sugary snacks or treats. Try to clean up or remove sugar or unhealthy sugary food from your cupboards. Stay away from cakes and pastries.
A diet of whole grains, vegetable, other complex carbohydrates, and protein foods can help stabilize blood sugar and lessen sugar cravings.
Nutrients That Can Help Minimize Cravings of Sugar
- Vitamins B
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Amino Acid
- L-glutamine
- Trace mineral chromium. Chromium has been shown to actively reduce glucose levels.
Reduce sugar intake to gain overall health. It will boost your energy and help improve your skin and sleep by boosting also the immune system. There are available supplements that will help you kick the habit of consuming sugar out of your system. Not only will it boost your energy but also help you be more aware of your sugar intake and control it.
- Eat lots of protein especially for breakfast to balance your blood sugar and insulin and stop your sugar cravings.
- Eat a lot of green leafy that are non-starchy like broccoli asparagus, green beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, etc. These are carbohydrates that also make you lose weight.
- Eat good fat. It helps you feel full. It is needed for fueling cells and balancing of blood sugar.
- Get lots of sleep to fight hunger and cravings for sugar and refined carbs. Less sleep tends to affect your appetite hormones and make you overeat.
To achieve optimum health and to avoid raising our blood sugar levels that would eventually lead to serious diseases, it is best practice self-control and eliminate all unhealthy foods from our diet.
Balancing Blood Sugar
Blood sugar is the concentration of glucose in the blood that is derived from the food you eat. It is the main source of energy that blood carries to all cells of your body. Blood sugar levels fluctuates depending on the food we eat. Too high or too low blood sugar can make you sick.
Diet nowadays often is the main cause of unstable blood sugar level like processed foods, carbohydrates and sugar. However, there are food that are naturally helpful in balancing blood sugar in our body.
Food that Helps Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Turmeric. Turmeric has been used in East India and Middle East as a spice and as medicinal herb. It is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and is a strong antioxidant. The compounds found in turmeric has shown to help improve insulin sensitivity. It regulates the activation of genes and enzymes in the liver to stabilize the blood sugar.
Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy that has great health benefits that include dropping blood pressure, improves weight loss, stabilize blood sugar and skin health. its acetic acid content combined with meals helps control blood sugar fluctuations. It also improves digestion and reduces the cravings for carbohydrates.
Coconut. Known as an all-around food is best to be included in your diet. It contains a healthy fiber that stabilizes blood sugar when consumed with other carbs. There are lots of coconut based products that provide benefits for helping to balance blood glucose or blood sugar. There is coconut flour, butter, coconut flakes, coconut-based oil, butter and milk that can be incorporated with your diet and improve your health.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidant and helps in stabilizing blood sugar and aids in fighting candida. It improve insulin sensitivity and helps the efficient transport of glucose from the blood into the cells.
Raw Chocolate. In its raw form, chocolate it one of the most nutritious food known to man. It is also an antioxidant and is a good source of minerals like magnesium and chromium. Chromium in chocolates helps stabilize blood sugar and helps in reducing sugar cravings by improving the function of insulin in the body. It also has zinc that aids to stabilize blood sugar.
Organic Coffee. Organic coffee has antioxidants and minerals in caffeine which help improve metabolism of glucose and insulin sensitivity. It improves production of ketones which is a source of healthy fats for energy and eliminates blood sugar fluctuations.
Olives and Olive Oil. Has antioxidants that lessens chronic inflammation that causes blood sugar imbalance. It helps protect that body from the complications of diabetes like neuropathy and heart disease.
Avocados has minerals, fiber and healthy fats that aid in stabilizing the level of blood sugar.
Lemons and Limes has citric acid that helps lower glycemic contents in meals. It helps stabilize blood sugar.
Green Tea. Green tea has antioxidants that help improve burn fat and keeps blood sugar levels in check to lessen the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Consuming any of these food in its natural state or as supplements helps improve stabilize your blood sugar. It is therefore good to take time to work on improving your health and be conscious of your diet.
Balancing Blood Sugar
Gymnema Sylvestre and Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects metabolism. It is characterized by high blood sugar level brought about by inadequate insulin or the incorrect use of insulin or both.
Gymnema sylvetre from Africa, Australia, and Central and South India is a climbing woody shrub that is known in ancient times as “destroyer of sugar”. The leaves of Gymnena sylvestre contains a substance which known to inhibit the body’s ability to taste sweetness and ability to absorb sugar in the intestine. . Our ability to taste sweetness is said to stop or is affected upon chewing on the leaves of gymnena sylvestre.
Gymnema Sylvestre and Diabetes
Gymnena has been used to help lower blood sugar, lower LDL cholesterol, helps reduce amount of sugar absorbed by the intestines, stimulate insulin in the pancreas. It is used to treat liver disease, water retention and stomach problems. Its effectiveness is said to be due to its ability to increase insulin secretion which in turn helps lower blood sugar levels.
Although gymnema sylvestre is a herb that is normally safe to use and it appearing that there is no known drug interactions concerning gymnema, it is still very crucial to inform your doctor when and if you decide to use it to treat diabetes. Blood sugar level should be constantly monitored to prevent the possibility of lowering the sugar in dangerous level. It is not advisable for breast feeding women, pregnant and women who plans to get pregnant to use 
gymnema. And to avoid possible complications of negative reactions, gymnema should not be taken two weeks before having surgery. when taking anti-diabetic medications like aspirin, monitor intake of gymnema because aspirin lowers blood sugar and my lead to hypoglycemia.
Treatment of diabetes involves control of blood glucose levels and preventing eventuality of complications. Diet will be altered to regulate intake of carbohydrate and other important nutrients. Medications will be used to control blood sugar and insulin injection or insulin pump will be also given. Regular exercise and other physical activities will also be recommended to improve health and reduce the risk of complications like heart disease.
Gymnema is used in the form of pill or tablets and may also be consumed in the form of leaf extract or powder. Adding this to your diabetic diet may help suppress sugar and carb cravings. This will help in controlling your blood sugar levels and aid in managing weight control by suppressing such cravings.
Taking supplements may help counter the side effects of other prescribed anti-diabetic drugs, it is still advisable to undergo a healthy dietary regime and daily exercise.
Gymnema Sylvestre and Diabetes
5 Best Valentines Day Gifts For Diabetics
Valentine’s day is a special day that involves going out to dinner and treating yourselves with sweets from cakes to chocolate drinks. When you are a diabetic or your spouse is, how do you celebrate this day without making her or him feel left out? In this day and age it is no longer a problem for diabetics to eat their favorite cake or sweets because there are those that are especially made for them. And there are other healthy ways of celebrating Valentine’s day other than eating your favorite sweet treats.
5 Best Gifts for Diabetics on Valentine’s Day
Treat Your Spouse to Dinner
Take your spouse to a fancy dinner in a place that caters to diabetic preferences. If there is no such place in your town, you may wan to cook for her or him. There are now lots of recipes of cakes and other treats that use substitute ingredients to make it still palatable for diabetics and at the same time won’t let them feel left out on this special night of love.
Go Out For a Movie or Other Outdoor Activities
Make time to treat your diabetic spouse out on a movie night. Or go out for a hike or yoga or any activities that she is fond of but has no time to do herself. You make time and of course bring with you her sugar-free snack.
Give Flowers
Instead of giving chocolates, you can give flowers and sweet notes to your diabetic spouse.
Diabetic Socks
Although unusual, giving diabetic socks is best for your spouse. Restrictions in your feet and calf can limit circulation and eventually makes it had for the body to heal. This is often associated with diabetics. The diabetic socks will reduce pressure in the leg and foot, will prevent friction on the skin surface and will lessen moisture. The diabetic socks will help combat complications of diabetics and aid in preventing amputation in the future of even death brought about by foot injury.
Diabetic Supplements
Giving your diabetic spouse diabetic supplements could be the best gift you can give on Valentine’s day. It shows how much you care for their health. Blood sugar support is a supplement that helps maintain glucose levels stable. This may not be the usual gift, but it would surely have a lasting effect on your spouse than any other gift on valentine’s.
