Fighting an illness is never easy, but it can be even more difficult if you’re diabetic. When you’re sick, your body fights infection by releasing hormones that raise blood sugar levels and interfere with the effects of insulin.

It’s harder to manage your blood sugar levels and urine ketones if you have a fever or experience nausea, diarrhea or dehydration. If you don’t properly manage your glucose levels, you could end up in a diabetic coma.

People with Type 1 Diabetes may be at risk to develop ketoacidosis, while those with Type 2 Diabetes, especially older adults, may be more susceptible to a similar condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma. Both of these conditions can be life-threatening. Don’t let a minor illness turn into a major one: develop a sick day action plan and stick to it when the time comes.

Be Prepared: Make a Sick Day Plan Before You’re Sick

The best way to fight an illness when you have diabetes is to be prepared with a plan. That way, when you become sick, you will know what to do and have what you need on hand to manage your symptoms. Be sure to consult your doctor, diabetes educator and dietician for their input, and have their phone numbers handy in case you need to reach them at night or during holidays and weekends.

Your sick day action plan should include instructions regarding:

• How often to measure your blood sugar
• How often to measure your urine ketones
• What you should eat and/or drink and when
• What medicines you should (and shouldn’t) take
• When you should call your doctor

Measuring Your Blood Sugar and Ketones

Your health care professional is the most informed person with respect to the proper testing regimen for you.  However, as a good rule of thumb, if you have Type 1 Diabetes and you’re ill, you should consider measuring your blood glucose and ketones approximately every four hours. For those with Type 2 Diabetes, you should check your glucose levels at least four times a day. If your blood sugar is higher than 300, it is important to monitor your ketone levels as well.

It’s important to measure your ketones because they are more likely to build up if you’re sick, especially if you have an upset stomach. Any time you have an upset stomach, you should check your ketones. If left unchecked, the accumulation of these waste products can lead to ketoacidosis.

You can check ketone levels with urine test strips or a blood test.  The blood test is better mode of testing because urine ketones will always lag behind blood ketone levels.

Be sure to keep a record of all your glucose and ketone levels, noting the time of day and how you were feeling or what symptoms you were experiencing at the time and advise your doctor of any changes.

What to Eat and Drink

Even though you may not feel like it, it’s important to stick to your normal meal plan when you’re sick. If you need to modify meals, eat foods that are easy on your stomach, such as soup, crackers, regular (non-diet) gelatin. Be sure to eat enough so you consume your normal number of daily calories.

It’s also important to stay hydrated because fluids help to eliminate the excess glucose in your blood. If you’re able to maintain your normal meal plan, you should drink a lot of non-caloric liquids such as water and diet soft drinks.

If you’re not able to keep food down, you should drink liquids containing carbohydrates – approximately 50 grams of carbs every 3 to 4 hours. This includes juice, regular (non-diet) soft drinks and broth. Other choices include semi-liquids such as frozen juice bars, sherbet, yogurt and pudding.

Medicines You Should (and Shouldn’t) Take

Whatever you do, do NOT stop taking your diabetes medicines when you’re sick. You need your insulin or diabetes medication to counteract the increased blood sugar your body makes when you’re sick.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes, you may need to increase your insulin. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, you might need to increase your medication strength or dosage or supplement with insulin. Check with your doctor and to determine what is best for you based on your symptoms.

Before you buy or take any over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, check the label to see if they contain sugar. Small doses containing sugar may be okay, but you may want to ask your pharmacist or physician if there are any sugar-free alternatives.

Be aware, some OTC and prescription medicines that don’t contain sugar can also affect your blood sugar. If taken in large doses, aspirin can lower blood glucose levels, as can some antibiotics for those who have Type 2 Diabetes and take diabetes medication. Certain cold products, such as decongestants, can raise your blood sugars.

If you have to see a doctor other than your own, be sure to mention your Diabetes and what medicines you’re taking.

Know When to Call Your Doctor

If you have diabetes and you’re sick, call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

You’ve had a fever for 2 days and aren’t getting better You’ve been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than 6 hours You have moderate to large amounts of ketones in your urine You’ve increased your insulin but your blood sugar levels are still higher than 240 You take pills for your diabetes and your glucose level increases to more than 240 before meals and stays there for more than 24 hours You have symptoms of ketoacidosis or dehydration or some other serious condition (for example, your chest hurts, you are having trouble breathing, your breath smells fruity, or your lips or tongue are dry and cracked) You’re not sure what to do to take care of yourself

Your doctor will want to know how long you’ve been sick, what medicines and dosages you’ve taken, if you’ve been eating and keeping food down, if you’ve lost weight and what your temperature, glucose and ketone levels are, so make sure you keep an accurate journal of all the details while you’re sick.

Two million Canadians have been diagnosed with diabetes according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. That’s one in 17 and the diagnosis continues to grow in numbers with one third of individuals currently unaware they have this chronic disorder.

Diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Symptoms may include excess thirst, fatigue, and blurred vision, poor wound healing and frequent infections to name a few. Complications are vast, especially with uncontrolled blood sugar regulation. They include heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy and blindness, and autoimmune disorders [arthritis, thyroid disease, etc].

How can you best manage this disease?

Since diabetes is a condition in which your body cannot properly use and store food for energy, a healthy diet along with regular exercise is vital for diabetics and individuals with pre-diabetes and Syndrome X. Balanced meals containing whole foods (fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fibre and lean quality protein) are vital. Eating three times a day at regular times helps manage diabetes.

Whey Protein – an excellent form of lean protein, whey is immune-enhancing as it increases antioxidant protection. Whey helps minimize infection, improve gut health and when used in combination with exercise helps improve muscle mass and healthy body composition.

Healthy Fats – Omega 3 EFA’s [essential fatty acids] from fish oil rich in EPA and DHA protect against heart disease, help reduce triglycerides and apoproteins [markers of diabetes] and improves mood. Fatty fish [salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines] are excellent sources of omega 3 EFA’s. For those unable to consume adequate amounts of fish, the nutrition house omega 3 extra EFA supplement is the highest potency EPA/DHA in the natural health market.

Exercise and physical activity is essential to help manage [and prevent] diabetes. Weight loss including a decrease in fat mass and an increase in muscle mass can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control. Exercise can boost cardiovascular health, improve good cholesterol and mood.

Since early times, natural health supplements have been used to help improve quality of life or ease suffering in some capacity. Today, research continues to shed new light on the benefits of many natural remedies in various disorders and conditions. This is true of diabetes and its healthy management.

Nutritional and Herbal Supplements Specific to Diabetes

High Potency Multivitamin

Essential for most individuals, a high potency multi-vitamin is a must for diabetics. Many of the vitamins and minerals contained in these formulations carry a protective and necessary role for good health. For instance, vitamin E is considered the most potent and important fat-soluble antioxidant. It protects the lipid membrane of the cell walls [especially nerve cells] preventing free radical damage. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that amongst its many functions is vital for collagen production and wound repair. Its cardiovascular benefits include its ability to slow atherosclerosis and reduce blood pressure. Many diabetics are deficient in vitamin C. This important vitamin is normally found in high concentration in the eyes, so proper intake of this nutrient will support eye health. Speaking of deficiencies, diabetics often have low magnesium levels and those suffering from severe retinopathy appear to have the lowest levels. Magnesium plays an essential role in a wide-range of biological functions and deficiency appears to aggravate insulin resistance and predisposes diabetics to heart disease. The B vitamins are important for neurological health. Vitamin B6 helps prevent diabetic neuropathy while vitamin B12 supplementation may improve pain in patients suffering from neuropathy.

Chromium is a trace mineral that is required for carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. It facilitates the uptake of glucose into the cells. Deficiency of this nutrient is a factor in diabetes and obesity. Supplementing with additional chromium can help improve blood sugar control, decrease triglyceride and LDL levels. For individuals suffering from a chromium deficiency, the use of chromium may aid in weight loss and improve healthy body composition.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that is both fat and water soluble. It is known for its ability to protect brain and nerve cells from free radical damage. Research shows that it may help regenerate nerve fibres as it is known to improve blood flow to peripheral nerves. Lipoic acid helps improve blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity and can help increase energy levels.

Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb that has can support metabolic control through its ability to reduce intestinal absorption of glucose and enhances insulin function. Gymnema improves blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics.

The above are only some of the nutrients to support diabetics and their specific health needs.  Proper blood glucose control is imperative to reduce the likelihood of complications in order to improve quality and length of life. Becoming informed is the first step in any prevention program to fully understand your options. For more information on supplementation visit your local nutrition house store or visit us on-line at NutritionHouse.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin (Type 1), or does not properly process the insulin it is making (Type 2).

There are many differing causes for diabetes, including specific viral infections, genetic predisposition, and personal diet. In particular, Type 2 diabetes tends to manifest in patients whose diet is poorly managed. Currently there is no known cure for diabetes, meaning this is an illness that requires constant careful management.

A diabetic’s diet has a great deal to say about how the condition will continue to affect them. Proper diet can help prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes, but even in patients who have been diagnosed with either condition, a healthy diet can reduce the side effects and secondary illnesses that tend to crop up. Here are five factors to consider when managing diabetes.

1 – the Glucose Cycle

The primary element that requires management in diabetic patients is their glucose cycle. Glucose (a simple sugar) is brought into the body, then processed by way of insulin and removed. Diabetics’ bodies cannot accomplish this second task properly, which leads to glucose buildup and the development of secondary illnesses such as kidney damage. This is why many diabetic patients have to monitor their blood sugar.

A healthy diabetic diet must take sugar and glucose intake into account. High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can cause kidney damage, retina damage, or even a diabetic coma and eventually death if left untreated long enough. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is equally dangerous, leading to potential brain damage or fainting spells.

Being able to properly control glucose intake requires understanding where it comes from. Not all carbohydrates have glucose in them: while sucrose sugars have a high glucose content, crystalline fructose does not. There are many resources on the Web that list comprehensive breakdowns of glucose content, and your dietician should have a primer or guide as well.

A very important part of this is record keeping. Similar to a dietary journal for weight loss, a simple glucose journal is no more than a list of the foods and portions you had throughout the day. Kept up for a month or more and compared to your blood sugar over time, this will allow you to track the contents of what you’re eating and measure their effects.

2 – Mushrooms, Mushrooms!

As we’ve discussed, keeping your blood sugar level in check is an important part of diabetes management. Interestingly, there are certain mushrooms that are noted for their ability to lower blood sugar levels. The three most common are the reishi, maitake, and the agaricus blazei varieties. If you enjoy adding mushrooms to your recipes, consider including these with the usual shitaki or canned variety.

3 – Water, Water Everywhere

Water is always a vital nutrient to the body, and is even more critical for diabetics. Water promotes healthy bodily function, flushes out toxins and accumulated wastes, and maintains body temperature properly. When your body has the proper amount of water intake, you feel better, operate more healthily, and your system can adapt to greater strains, which include those brought on by diabetes.

The general guideline is eight to twelve cups of water per day under average conditions. If you perform greater exercise, you will of course require more water. The trick is not to flood your system at any one time, such as just drinking during meals. Drink at a rate of a cup every two hours to keep your system operating at peak condition, with more during meals. A bonus effect is that water imparts a sense of fullness, reducing the urge to snack on glucose-heavy foods.

4 – Whole Grain, No Pain

Fiber is a very important element in controlling blood sugar. The soluble fiber found in whole grain foods is particularly beneficial, since it slows digestion and allows your system more time to even out the process of managing blood sugar. This means insulin management is much more effective, making management of your entire condition much easier.

Good sources of whole grains include breads, oat based foods, and other sources. An additional benefit from the slower digestion caused by whole grains is that you gain a sense of fullness and feel full longer. This reduces the urge to snack between meals, and lets you keep meal portions to more manageable sizes. So consider replacing the afternoon snack with a whole-grain sandwich.

5 – the Doctor’s Orders

Before making any changes whatsoever to your diet, it is vitally important that you speak at length with your physician and dietician about your specific case. Diabetes is a highly individual illness, manifesting in different ways in every patient. Any changes to your diet should be checked for approval with your doctor, so you can be sure you’re going to get the best possible results. You don’t have to go it alone, so take your physician’s advice to heart.

A Final Word

Diabetes is a serious condition requiring diligent care. However, making smart changes to your diet, under your physician’s guidance, may naturally help prevent or alleviate many side-effects and promote your wellbeing.

As a person with type 2 diabetes, you are no doubt familiar with food and exercise recommendations as a part of your treatment. You may also be taking medication or insulin to help keep your blood sugar balanced. But did you know that many diabetics are adding supplements to their health regime? One important ingredient you’ll often find in a diabetic dietary supplement is Gymnema sylvestre.

To back up a bit, diabetes supplements are formulations that contain a variety of botanical extracts and nutrients. Each does something useful — helps lower blood sugar, enhances insulin use, or promotes good health in some other way. Although traditional healers have been using many of these botanicals for centuries to help control the symptoms of diabetes, western medicine is just starting to catch up. Research on the effectiveness of traditional remedies is very encouraging.

Chances are you’ve never heard of Gymnema sylvestre, but this plant is showing a lot of promise as an aid to managing diabetes. It grows in Indian tropical forests, and has been successfully used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for at least 2000 years. Recent studies have confirmed that this botanical extract has hypoglycemic effects (lowers blood sugar). It may help insulin circulate faster through the body, which results in faster glucose metabolism. It may also enhance insulin production by regenerating cells in the pancreas (the organ that makes insulin).

In addition, Gymnestra sylvestre when combined with vitamin C may contribute to weight loss and reduction of body fat, while promoting healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. With all these benefits, Gymnestra sylvestre is a valuable plant extract and is a preferred ingredient in a diabetic supplement.

There are many other botanicals that are known or believed to improve blood sugar control or improve insulin function. For example huckleberry, juniper berry, and cinnamon bark can all contribute to diabetes management. When you shop for a diabetic nutritional supplement, look for a product that has a variety of ingredients, not just two or three. If you’re buying online, be sure to review the customer comments and other available information before deciding which product may be right for you.

For the 24 million people living with diabetes in the United States, traditional holiday fare, increased stress, travel and cold weather can pose some of the greatest challenges to diabetes testing regimens and nutrition.

Diabetic Care Services (http://www.diabeticcareservices.com), a leading mail order provider of diabetes supplies and prescriptions, has partnered with Kent State University’s nutrition department to offer diabetes testing and nutrition tips for maintaining effective diabetes self-management when the holidays – and their biggest distractions – are in full swing.

Testing & Travel Management Tips

Marc Wolf – a registered pharmacist with more than 28 years of experience serving patients with diabetes and founder and CEO of Diabetic Care Services – provides tips on helping manage diabetes during holiday travel.

Set aside time to exercise and remember to bring your workout cloths if you are traveling during the holidays. It can help reduce stress, help control blood glucose levels and help boost your immune system. Access to proper meals at usual times may be limited while traveling or attending holiday celebrations, making it difficult to follow a normal nutrition regimen.  Always travel with snacks in pre-measured serving sizes just in case.  Glucerna and Extend both make travel bars for people with diabetes that are available at http://www.DiabeticCareServices.com. Continuing to monitor blood glucose on a regular schedule is imperative.  When traveling across time zones, carry a second watch or clock set to your home time for the first few days until you adjust to the new schedule. Always bring extra diabetes supplies.  It is a good idea to test more often when traveling because routines will inevitably be disrupted. If an insulin injection will be needed on an airplane, contact your insulin manufacturer for any special instructions to accommodate the pressure inside the plane. Always carry or wear medical identification that indicates you have diabetes. Travel with an extra set of supplies stored in a separate carrying case so there is a backup if the first set is damaged.  Never use test strips stored in cracked or damaged bottles.  When flying, pack supplies and medications in carry-on luggage to avoid having them damaged or exposed to extreme temperatures in the plane’s cargo hold. Be sure to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep to help reduce your immune system from getting run down during the stressful holiday season.

Diabetes Nutrition Tips

Jodie Luidhardt, a licensed and registered dietitian at Kent State University, provides nutrition tips for navigating the buffet table during the holidays.

Focus on piling your plate with colorful vegetables rather than white refined carbohydrates, like bread, chips, or pasta.  But beware of popular holiday casseroles, which may contain flour, butter and extra calories.  Instead, season green beans, corn or broccoli with parsley, tarragon or dill and pepper.  For an added twist, drizzle vegetables with canola oil and roast in the oven at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. Always choose whole grains when possible.  One simple nutrition tip is to substitute white dinner rolls for healthier, 100% whole-wheat rolls at holiday meals. Because carbohydrates are often top of mind for people with diabetes, it is easy to overcompensate with extra servings of protein.  But eating too much red meat can lead to heart disease.  Rather than a roast, ribs or steak, opt for chicken, turkey, ham, pork or fish. Research indicates that people with diabetes who have a higher intake of soy protein have a lower risk of kidney failure.  To include more soy in your holiday diet, opt for tofu or add edamame to salads. If you feel like indulging or do not have access to a healthier option -  compensate.  For example, use a small plate when selecting favorite holiday desserts, or opt for fresh fruit. Take your time and socialize while you are eating.  It removes the focus from the food and allows you to get fuller faster and consume fewer calories. Monitor your blood glucose levels often at holiday parties and adjust your eating, drinking and insulin accordingly.

About Kent State University

Kent State, one of the public Ohio universities for undergraduate and graduate students, is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 77 public research universities, and among the 76 top colleges and top universities in community engagement. It serves more than 34,000 students university wide. Kent State University is one of the largest Ohio universities and offers classes and degree programs for regional, national and international students interested in thousands of career pursuits. http://www.kent.edu

About Diabetic Care Services

Diabetic Care Services, headquartered in Cleveland is one of the nation’s leading mail order durable medical equipment suppliers dedicated exclusively to diabetes supplies and prescription medications for patients with diabetes. For both Medicare and private insurance customers, Diabetic Care Services delivers one-stop shopping, 24/7 personalized customer service and free doorstep delivery on more than a 1,000 brand name diabetes supplies and prescription medications. For more information, call 800.633.7167 or visit http://www.DiabeticCareServices.com.

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Are you urinating more frequently than the usual? Do you easily feel tired and weak recently? Are you experiencing some tingling and numbness of your extremities? And did you lose weight so suddenly during the past days? If you say yes to all these, chances are you are suffering from a disorder known as diabetes. If your not too familiar with this health condition, you might as well start doing your research now in order to learn more about it and find natural cures as much as possible.

Diabetes Facts

Diabetes is a health disorder whereas the body is not able to regulate the amount of sugar, specifically glucose, in the blood. Glucose functions mainly by giving you energy so you can perform your day-to-day activities. But if this regulates the amount of sugar in the blood, the insulin in turn regulates it so it will always be on the right level. And so, when the body produces not enough insulin or does not use it properly, then that’s when diabetes comes in.

Diabetes has three types: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. In type 1, the body does not produce insulin or produce too little to regulate the blood glucose level. Meanwhile, in type 2, there is enough insulin but the body is unable to use it partially or completely. And in gestational diabetes, pregnant women experience a sudden increase in blood glucose level during the second half of pregnancy. This, however, goes away once the baby is delivered.

Natural Cures for Diabetes

Although there are lots of prescription medications nowadays, you can always have that option to manage diabetes with natural cures. These may include changing your eating habits, having a healthier lifestyle by observing regular exercise, and going for a rawfood diet or vegan diet. Changing your eating habits means eating the right amount and eating the right food. If you are fond of eating fast foods, then it’s time you choose healthy snacks instead. And make sure that you don’t eat too much or too little. But to really manage diabetes, you have to combine good eating habits with regular exercise. It is important that you do various physical activities daily so you won’t gain too much weight. You should avoid being a diabetic and an obese as this would mean life and death for you.

Now, let’s go to raw foods and vegan diets. More people, including celebrities, have already proven that these really work not only in weight loss but also in managing diabetes. Fruits, vegetables, and other raw food snacks can help you achieve a controlled sugar level. So, instead of being dependent on sweet snacks, fast foods, processed meals, and drinks with high sugar content, why not go raw and natural this time?

Managing diabetes with natural cures may seem difficult to accomplish at first. But if you are focused on your goal of keeping your blood sugar at the right level, you can very much take these lifestyle changes as a challenge. Now, if you want to know more about raw foods, organic foods, and vegan diets, read on David Wolfe’s Sunfood Nutrition as it provides vital information about curing diabetes and other disorders the natural way.

If you are diabetic, you might already have a meal plan designed just for you. If you still don’t have one, please consult with your dietitian or nutritionist so you can work with them in creating a meal plan that not only is good to avoid the progression of diabetes but also cuts down the risk of heart disease.

Managing diabetes is not difficult if you follow the step below:
1. Always follow the already selected healthy and balanced diet plan – Diet plan or Meal plan of diabetics might be changed to keep blood sugar falling into the acceptable range. I have seen some diabetics at their late 20’s, without changing their meal plan for over a long period of time. Seniors might need to have their meal plan changed more frequently, because of aging.

2. Mange your Weight – There is no secret for weight-loss of diabetics. Most people don’t fail to lose weight, they fail to maintain the weight loss. Your meal plan besides keeping your blood sugar in the healthy range, helps to lower your cholesterol and reducing high blood pressure that causes heart disease. It also has a component helping you to lose weight. Be sure to understand and follow your meal plan wisely, because losing a few pounds is significant for diabetics.

3. Stop smoking – If you smoke, quit. If you don’t, do not start. Experts say that smoking just one cigarette reduces the body’s ability to use insulin by 15 percent. Smokers tend to eat less fruits and vegetables and more fats than non-smokers. Chemicals in the cigarette cuts the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, increasing your cholesterol levels and the levels of some other fats in your blood, damaging and constricting the blood vessels. Diabetic smokers are more likely to get nerve damage and kidney disease.

4. Reduce amount of alcohol – If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to 1-2 glasses a day. Drinking alcohol in people with diabetes can cause your blood sugar to rise. Alcohol may increase triglyceride levels, high blood pressure and flushing, nausea, increased heart rate, and slurred speech.

5. Be active – People with type 2 diabetes who manage to get in some exercise at work may reduce their risk for heart disease. Regular exercises will help diabetics to lose weight. Any weight loss will help to maintain your blood sugar and lower your high blood pressure by increasing more circulation in the blood vessels.

Adding natural remedies in your diet
Cinnamon: Even 1/2 table spoon everyday will help body cells respond better to insulin.

I hope the information will help you to manage your diabetes better, if you want to read more of above subject please visit: managing-diabetes.blogspot.com/

Kyle J. Norton
http://diabetics–nutritionandmealplanning.blogspot.com/
http://managing-diabetes.blogspot.com/

Managing Diabetes – How To Mangage Diabetes

==> Get a Free Diabetes Book worth $60 on Managing Diabetes Here

Everyone uses food for energy and growth but a metabolic disorder called diabetes stops this from happening. To maintain our energy levels glucose is moved around the blood stream to the cells and muscles etc.

As the main source of fuel for the body, glucose must get to where it is needed but diabetes stops this process from happening. As more and more glucose remains in the bloodstream blood glucose or blood sugar levels can rise too high.

==> Get a Free Diabetes Book worth $60 on Managing Diabetes Here

Information in this article is regarding the two major types of the condition. Mainly affecting children and young adults, type 1 or juvenile onset diabetes occurs when insulin production stops completely,affected individuals or diabetics must take insulin daily to survive.

The body uses insulin to ensure the glucose can be used by the body which in turn converts into energy.

The second type is called adult onset diabetes and happens later in life,this is caused when the insulin is either not being produced in sufficient quantities or there is a problem in its use, however a careful diet plan can usually treat the condition.

We all eat foods that are rich in energy which the body uses to convert into sugar for energy like pasta, potatoes, bread, rice and fruit.

Many health conditions can be caused by long term high blood sugar levels including: poor vision, heart complaints, problems with the kidneys and in some cases even limb amputation.

The importance of managing your diabetes condition cannot be underestimated and with a disciplined approached these serious conditions can be improved,a number of the conditions will actually get better while others will be slowed down.

It is possible to live a relatively normal life provided you stick to the plan laid out by your doctor,giving up smoking, keep you blood glucose and cholesterol levels stable as well as well as other blood fats are just some of the aspects that require special attention.

Apart from this, your blood pressure and weight should not go above the limits your doctor advised.

Diabetes once recognized in the sufferer will be with them for the rest of their lives. In the United States there are reports of it affecting over two and a half percent of the population.

However, it is estimated that about the same number of people again have the condition,around 600,000 US citizens contract this condition each year so you can see the problem is serious.