Treating Type 2 Diabetes with a Gluten Free Diet
Posted on | April 15, 2010 | No Comments
Diabetics most definitely benefit from a gluten free diet. This type of diet is a way of life for people suffering from diabetes as well as other diseases such as celiac, autism and many other diseases.
Many people especially diabetics have severe gluten sensitivities. Many illnesses have been associated with gluten consumption and one out of every hundred has gluten intolerances. People that suffer from infections such as diabetics develop this type of sensitivity.
Eating gluten free has helped people not only with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes but also diseases like celiac, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammation of the nervous system, peripheral neuropathies, anaemia, seizures and loss of balance.
What is a gluten free diet? Foods that contain gluten such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, pasta, cereal, beer and spelt should be avoided. Many processed foods also contain gluten. One can buy bread and pastas that are gluten free as well as many other products which can be obtained from most supermarkets and health outlets. All fresh fruits and vegetables are gluten free as well as potato, rice, soy, and buckwheat and bean flour.
Farmers that grow grain increase the amount of gluten in their products because grain having a higher protein content fetches a higher market price. However companies are aware of the fact that many people suffer from gluten intolerance are improving the taste of gluten free products. Those that suffer from gluten intolerances can also opt for integrative manual therapy which helps with physical pain and loss of function as in diabetics as well as change their diet to gluten free diet as it has been noted recently that there is a gluten sensitivity epidemic.
It has also been noted that those with gluten sensitivity have deficiencies in manganese, zinc and chlorophyll as well as smooth and skeletal muscle weakness which are linked to the large intestine and gluten. A gluten free diet will improve one’s health all round and also ensures that more nutrients will reach areas that have already been damaged and will also help stabilize blood sugar levels in diabetics.
There have been positive results and diabetics have reported back that their symptoms were alleviated after a few weeks when they changed to a gluten free diet. However it is important to remember that a diabetic patient should first discuss any and all diet plan with their primary medical practitioner or dietician.
Tags: controlling type 2 diabetes > cookbooks > Gluten Free > Gluten Free Diet > gluten free products
What Is Type 2 Diabetes
Posted on | April 14, 2010 | No Comments
Diabetes means high blood sugar and this is caused due to the body not producing enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t fully respond to the insulin the body produces. The pancreas produces this hormone which helps the body to absorb glucose and in turn produce energy. If the cells do not absorb glucose one will develop hyperglycaemia which will lead to other complications.
The two most common types of diabetes are Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 results from the body’s failure of producing insulin and the person will require insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes means the body is insulin resistant as the cells fail to use the glucose produced by the body.
Other types of diabetes are gestational diabetes, congenital diabetes; cystic fibrosis related diabetes, steroid diabetes as well as monogenic diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is treated with diabetes medication in pill form with some patients taking one or more pills, however the patient does not have to inject with insulin. However once you have been diagnosed with Type 2 it is considered to be a chronic condition of which there is no cure.
Without the correct treatment many other complications can manifest which include hypoglycaemia, non-ketotic hyperosmolar coma as well as ketoacidosis. In the long term one can develop complications such as chronic renal failure, cardiovascular disease and retinal damage. It is imperative that a patient receives treatment which includes medication and maintaining a healthy diet, and good blood sugar levels.
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type which affects around ninety percent of population of all race groups globally. The early stages show up as an abnormal reduction in insulin and can be improved by taking medications which will improve or reduce the glucose production. However if the disease progresses and the insulin secretion occurs the patient may require insulin therapy.
The signs and symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes is frequent urination, increased thirst as well as hunger and symptoms usually develop over long periods of time and the patient may also present with unexplained weight loss at the onset of the disease. Blood sugar concentrations are measure in order to make a diagnosis. With Type 2 there is also a high possibility of hyperosmolar non-ketotic states occurring which result in dehydration as well as skin rashes can break out. The causes of Type 2 are mainly defined by genes as well as lifestyle factors and obese people are more prone to developing diabetes.
Tags: blood > body > cells > diabetes > glucose > insulin > patient > type > what is
Why Exercise & Diet Is Important For Type 2 Diabetics
Posted on | April 14, 2010 | 1 Comment
Those suffering from Type 2 diabetes can change their lifestyle by maintaining a healthy diet and increasing their day to day physical exercise activities. It is recommended by professionals and the ADA that a Type 2 Diabetic needs to maintain a healthy weight as well as maintain an exercise program.
A diet that is low in saturated fats reduce the risk of developing diabetes and scientists have proved that people that live a healthy life style whereby they get plenty of physical exercise and don’t smoke as well as take in low levels of alcohol are considered low risk as opposed to those that eat foods that are rich in hydrogenated fats and take in a high consumption of alcohol as well as smoke.
People that have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are given oral medications, your doctor and your diabetes educator can go over the different types of medications, how each medication works and may even put you on a diet and exercise program without any medication. Diabetes management includes keeping the patient’s blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible and is maintained with the correct dietary management and exercise programs. There have been reported cases where a Type 2 Diabetic has to use both oral medication as well as insulin.
It has been proved that healthy eating has a positive impact on the symptoms as well as progression of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. A well planned diet does not mean that a diabetic has to eat special foods. A diabetic needs to maintain a diet that contains whole grains, fresh vegetable and fruit and an intake of less saturated fat. Fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats can be taken in moderation.
A Type 2 diabetic should not take any drastic diet measures such as low carbohydrate diets as this will only help short term as diabetes cannot be reversed and one needs to maintain a eating plan that lowers blood sugars as well as improves lipids and blood pressure. To devise the best eating plan a diabetic needs to visit a diabetic dietician. Your primary care doctor will be able to suggest a local dietician that specializes in diabetes.
Besides maintaining their diets diabetics need to participate in an exercise program and again there are no special diabetic exercises. An exercise program is usually devised that suits the patients needs. Any amount of exercise in better than none, walking is a very inexpensive way to start out. Some diabetics have already developed cardiac disease so yes their exercises will be different as they may not be able to do exercises that require exertion.
It is very helpful for both Types of diabetics to join a support group you can learn much from others and they will learn from you.
Tags: diabetic needs > exercise > exercise program > healthy diet > Type 2 Diabetes > walking
