Gestational Diabetes Diet

Gestastional diabetes can have negative consequences for both mother and baby. Gestational diabetes causes a pregnant woman to have high blood sugar levels even though she was not diabetic before pregnancy. The high blood sugar levels associated with gestational diabetes are often controlled with a gestational diabetes diet. If the blood sugar levels continue to be high, insulin injections may be necessary.

A gestational diabetes diet is similar to a diabetes diet. The difference is that the gestational diabetic diet must take into account the caloric demand of pregnancy. Therefore, the gestational diabetes diet may include more calories than the diabetic diet may include if the woman was not pregnant.

The obstetrician may recommend that the gestational diabetic patient meet with a nutritionist to devise a gestational diabetes diet. Like the diabetic diet, a nutritionist can structure a diet that specifies the servings of the food groups for each meal and snack. The nutritionist can educate the gestational diabetic patient on portion sizes and healthy food choices.

Fruit juice, large servings of starches, and sugar can cause blood sugar levels to spike. The gestational diabetic patients check and record their blood sugar levels after meals. If the blood sugar levels are too high, the nutritionist can make recommendations on foods to eat and those to avoid. If the first blood sugar level, or fasting blood sugar level, is too low, the nutritionist may recommend a snack at night that would help prevent the blood sugar level from becoming too low.   

If the pregnant woman’s blood glucose levels remain high, the baby’s blood glucose levels are higher than they should be. The high blood glucose levels of the baby causes the baby’s pancreas to produce extra insulin. The insulin turns the glucose into energy. The energy that is not needed by the baby is turned into fat. Babies whose mothers’ had gestational diabetes tend to be large due to this extra fat.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is eye damage, specifically to the retina, that is caused by diabetes. It can lead to blindness if not treated promptly. Most people with diabetes who have complications of diabetes that affect the eye only experience minor eye conditions and mild visual impairment.

The most common form of diabetic retinopathy is called nonproliferative retinopathy. Nonproliferative retinopathy causes the capillaries, tiny blood vessels, of the eyes to weaken. The capillaries balloon and become blocked.

The body naturally tries to replace these compromised capillaries, but the new capillaries are weak. These new, weak capillaries have a tendency to fail and leak blood into the vitreous of the eye. When blood invades the vitreous part of the eye, vision is blocked. This is called a vitreous hemorrhage.

The prevention of blindness from diabetic retinopathy is best if treatment is sought immediately after the onset of symptoms. Laser treatments target the failing capillaries to prevent them from causing further damage. Laser treatments do not reverse any vision loss or visual impairment. Potential side effects of some laser treatments include temporary blurry vision and loss of peripheral vision.

 In severe cases, a vitrectomy may be necessary. A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure during which blood is removed from the vitreous. Any scar tissue that formed as a resut of the diabetic retinopathy is also removed during the surgery. If the retina has become attached, an attempt to reattach the retina is usually made during the vitrectomy. The reattachment of the retina is only successful in about half the cases.

In addition to diabetic retinopathy, diabetic patients are at greater risk for developing glaucoma and cataracts. The best way to avoid blindness and other serious complications of diabetes is to manage blood glucose levels and seek prompt medical attention as soon as the symptoms of a complication arise.

Diabetes Diet

The diabetic patient should consider meeting with a dietician or nutritionist to develop a diabetes diet with which the patient feels comfortable. The dietician can not only device a dietary plan that can help control the diabetes, but can also include provisions that will help the diabetic lose weight if that is recommended or desired.

The typical diabetes diet includes a specified number of portions from each food group. The diabetic patient frequently has the freedom to select foods from the food groups as long as they follow the portion guidelines.

 For example, if the diabetes diet specifies that breakfast needs to consist of one protein, one bread, one fat, and one fruit, the diabetic patient has the freedom to chose which foods they will eat to fill those specifications. Among the various options, they may chose to have an egg, toast, butter, and juice or toast, peanut butter, and an apple.

A typical diabetes diet includes two servings of milk, six to eight starches, three to four vegetables, two to three fruits, up to four fats, and four to six ounces of meat or other protein. These portions are often outlined into the meals and two snacks. The dietician can provide a wealth of information on how best to structure and fill the dietary requirements.

Following a diabetes diet becomes easier with time. The diabetic patient is likely to learn what combinations of food are most pleasing and most healthy for the maintenance of the diabetes. Consuming large portions of starch without protein will often cause a spike in blood sugar levels as a non-diabetic dessert would. Therefore, just avoiding sugary sweets is not enough. Fruit juice also tends to raise blood sugar levels more than a piece of fruit would.

The diabetic patient should feel comfortable asking questions and being directly involved with the development of the diabetic diet. If the diabetic patient has a favorite food, it can often be worked into the diet with the help of the dietician. Just because the patient has to follow dietary specifications to control the diabetes does not mean that the patient must feel deprived or hungry. The formation and following of a diabetes diet can be a rewarding experience.

Diabetes Complications

Diabetes complications can be serious. Diabetes can cause nerve damage. Nerve damage caused by diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. People with diabetic neuropathy may experience numbness, pain, or tingling in the extremities or have no symptoms. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, especially for diabetic patients who have had diabetes for over twenty-five years.

People with diabetes have an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. Fatty deposits can accumulate inside blood vessels due to high levels of glucose in the blood. These fatty deposits constrict blood flow which can lead to heart disease. If a blood vessel in the brain or neck becomes clogged, it can cause a stroke.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with diabetes. Diabetes retinopathy is a condition that can cause the small blood vessels of the eyes to leak blood. This condition can cause blurriness, blank spots, dark spots, flashing lights, and pain or pressure in the eyes.

If diabetic retinopathy is left untreated, it can lead to blindness. If diabetic patients experience any vision problems, they should notify their physicians. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with lasers to stop blood vessels from continuing to leak into the vitreous of the eye.

Diabetes can cause kidney failure. People who have had diabetes for at least fifteen years are at greater risk for kidney failure. Diabetes impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood.  

There are some lesser-known complications of diabetes. Erectile dysfunction affects thirty-five to fifty percent of men with diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can increase a diabetic patient’s risk of tooth and gum disease.

Gastroparesis is caused my nerve damage affecting the nerves of the stomach. This complication of diabetes causes gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn, reflux, and nausea. Gastroparesis extends the amount of time it takes for food to digest. Partially undigested food can sit in the stomach for significant periods of time which can cause a blockage of the digestive tract.  

Signs Of Diabetes – First Signs Of Diabetes, Symptoms Of Diabetes

The common signs and symptoms of diabetes include an increase in thirst; the urgency to urinate more often, especially at night; feeling extremely tired; loss of weight; blurred vision; repeated episodes of thrush or genital itching. These symptoms of diabetes mellitus are generally the same for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, however, the development of the symptoms differ for each type. 

Diabetes mellitus occurs due to high levels of glucose in the blood because the body can not utilise it efficiently. In Type 1 diabetes, the body can not produce any insulin hormone, therefore, the glucose can not enter the body cells to be used as a fuel and as a result, remains in the blood. In Type 2 diabetes, only small amounts of the insulin hormone are produced – this is generally not enough or the insulin does not work properly.

The first signs of Type 1 diabetes are more obvious, severe and have a quicker onset, usually over a few weeks. Additional symptoms may include cramps, constipation and infections of the skin.

In contrast, those with Type 2 diabetes, their symptoms develop over a period of months and are less obvious, and some may experience no symptoms at all. Additional symptoms may include poor wound healing and the appearance of dark, smooth skin patches on your neck or in the armpits.

The above signs and sypmtoms of diabetes, regardless of the type can be quickly and easily relieved during treatment. Early treatment is necessary to prevent development of serious complications arising from the diabetes.

What Causes Diabetes

What causes diabetes is a lack of production or effectiveness of the body’s insulin. Insulin is necessary for the delivery of sugar to the body’s cells. When the effectiveness or amount of insulin is lacking, the level of sugar, or glucose, in the blood rises. High blood sugar levels are detrimental to the health of the affected individual.

Causes of diabetes coincide with the types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes. Due to the lack of insulin, the diabetic patient with type 1 diabetes must take insulin. This can be done with individual injections of insulin or insulin pump therapy.

Some physicians believe that type 1 diabetes may be caused by exposure to a virus either prior to birth or in childhood. Though the exact cause is unknown, a genetic influence or response to a virus causes the immune system to attack the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for the production of insulin. When the insulin-producing cells sustain damage or are destroyed, the individual is left with little or no insulin.

The cause of type 2 diabetes is an increased resistance to the effects of the body’s insulin. Type 2 diabetes can result if the pancreas begins producing less insulin than usual. The onset of type 2 diabetes occurs during adulthood. It is sometimes called noninsulin dependent diabetes since it can often be controlled by following a diabetic diet and exercise.

The cause of gestational diabetes is a resistance to insulin during pregnancy. The placenta produces hormones that can make the pregnant woman’s body more resistant to insulin than usual. If the pregnant woman’s pancreas fails to compensate by producing extra insulin, she develops gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is usually controllable with a gestational diabetes diet and exercise.

Insulin Pump Therapy

Insulin pump therapy delivers continuous insulin support to diabetics. The insulin pump is a small device which is about the size of a small cell phone. The device is worn outside the body and delivers insulin through a small tube.

The end of the thin tube, called the cannula, is inserted under the skin. The cannula must be reinserted under the skin twelve times a month. A reinsertion of the cannula feels like a needle prick. The reinsertions of the cannula is generally preferred to daily injections.

The insulin pump delivers the amount of insulin that the diabetic patient deems necessary. A base rate of insulin is delivered to the body. This mimics the normal production of insulin by the pancreas in those without diabetes. When food is eaten, the insulin pump user programs the pump to provide the necessary amount of insulin.

The use of insulin pump therapy eliminates the need for daily multiple injections of insulin. One of the benefits is the freedom that this therapy offers to the diabetic. Administering insulin by multiple daily injections often requires that the diabetic follow a strict schedule. With the insulin pump, the need for a schedule is minimized if not entirely eliminated. People using insulin pump therapy are reported to have more dietary freedom and less risk of complications from diabetes such as eye, kidney, and nerve disease.

The insulin pump user needs only to program the doses of insulin that are necessary to control the blood glucose level. The base rate of insulin can be adjusted in preparation of exercise or in times of illness or infection. The delivery of a base rate of insulin helps the diabetic achieve a steady blood glucose level. The cost of insulin pump therapy is higher than using insulin injections. For diabetics who have difficulty regulating their blood glucose levels, the pump may be the healthier insulin delivery method.

Diabetes Treatment

Though there is no cure for diabetes, with proper treatment, the diabetic patient can have a healthy life and avoid complications. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin production by the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a tolerance to insulin or a decrease in the body’s production of insulin.

Diabetes treatment for both types of diabetes involves monitoring blood sugar level and doing what is necessary to compensate for the loss or impairment of the body’s insulin. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed by diet and exercise. If their blood sugar levels continue to rise to unsafe levels, people with type 2 diabetes may need to use insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to use insulin since their bodies don’t produce insulin.

Following a diabetic diet and exercising are important components of the treatment of both types of diabetes. The diabetic diet is devised with the help of a nutritionist or dietician. Small, more frequent meals can limit spikes in blood glucose levels. However, this can make monitoring blood sugar levels more challenging.  

Diabetes treatment is a team effort. The diabetic patient, physician, and dietician work together to create a treatment plan that the diabetic can follow. The treatment plan may change if the original one is not effectively managing the illness. The diabetic patient needs to feel confident that they can follow the treatment plan. The dietician could devise the best diabetic diet ever conceived, but if the patient can’t follow it, it will be a failure.

Insulin may be an element of the patient’s diabetes treatment. Individual injections and insulin pump therapy are two options for the administration of insulin. With individual injections, diabetic patients check their blood sugar levels and inject the appropriate amount of insulin. When using insulin pump therapy, the device provides a continuous base rate of insulin to the body. After meals, the patient checks their blood sugar level and programs the insulin pump to deliver the necessary dose.  

Diabetic Desserts

Having diabetes does not mean that desserts are off limits. Diabetic desserts can satisfy cravings for sweets without jeopardizing the diabetic patient’s health. Besides fruit, which is okay on moderation according to the patient’s diabetic diet, there are desserts that can be bought or made at home that are dietetic.

When a food label says dietetic, it means that the food fits into a special diet. The special diet that dietetic foods are created and marketed towards is usually the diabetic diet. The diabetic patient should read labels carefully, especially when selecting dessert items. Technically, a food could be labeled as “dietetic” if it fits in any special diet, including a low-sodium diet. Therefore, people with diabetes should read the labels to ensure that the food is appropriate for people with diabetes.

Recipes for diabetic desserts can be found on the Internet. Dessert recipes designed for diabetic patients often use sugar-free ingredients. It is often possible for a diabetic patient to make desserts they loved before their diagnosis by substituting ingredients high in sugar content for sugar-free versions.

Portion control is an important element of following the diabetic diet. The dietician can advise the diabetic patients on the proper portion sizes for each food group. It is just as important to follow portion control with desserts as it is with the other foods.

The dietician can make recommendations for desserts that are both healthy and satisfying. Dieticians will often alter recipes for their clients. A diabetic patient can take a recipe to the dietician and work with them to make the appropriate substitutions. Occasionally, a recipe is just too unhealthy to change to a diabetic dessert without ruining the taste. In that case, the dietician can sometimes recommend a dessert that would offer the same or similar taste without being unhealthy.

Cheap Diabetic Shoes

Diabetic foot care is crucial in diabetes care. Diabetic foot care involves taking measures to prevent injury to the feet as well as seeking prompt medical treatment for any sores that may occur. Diabetic socks and diabetic shoes are designed to help prevent injuries to the diabetic foot.

People with diabetes often have nerve damage associated with diabetes. This nerve damage, or neuropathy, reduces the diabetic patient’s ability to feel sensations from the feet. Therefore, if the diabetic patient’s shoes rub or cause pressure on the feet, it may go unnoticed.

If sores or other injuries develop, the diabetic patient may remain unaware of the problem. Due to circulation problems that are complications of diabetes, sores take longer to heal. Even a small sore can become problematic. Sores can become infected before the diabetic patient knows of the existence of the sore. A small sore that becomes infected can ulcerate and lead to the amputation of the foot.

Prevention of sores is a priority in diabetic care. Diabetic shoes are designed to help prevent sores by reducing friction and pressure on the foot. Cheap diabetic shoes can be found on the Internet. Diabetic shoes are a form of orthopedic shoes. Online retailers that specialize in orthopedics may offer cheap diabetic shoes.

Cheap diabetic shoes should retain qualities that make them a part of diabetic foot care. Certain characteristics make cheap diabetic shoes a component of diabetic care. Diabetic shoes are wider that regular shoes in order to avoid pinching the toes and causing friction. They are designed to accommodate the orthopedic insoles that diabetic patients may have from podiatrists.

Cheap diabetic shoes should have good air circulation to help prevent the buildup of moisture in the shoes. There should be no seams inside the shoes that could rub against the sensitive skin of the diabetic foot. If there are seams, they should be covered.

If the cheap diabetic shoe is too big, it could cause friction by sliding on the foot. If the shoe is too small, it causes pressure and friction on the foot. The cheap diabetic shoes must fit properly.

Diabetes Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes can act as warning signs for the disease. These common symptoms of diabetes can let doctors know that the patient needs to be tested for diabetes. Excessive thirst and frequent urination are common initial symptoms caused by a diabetic condition.

These symptoms are both causally linked and due to high glucose levels. When the blood glucose level is too high, glucose tends to accumulate in the kidneys. The kidneys attempt to dilute the glucose by drawing water from the blood. Therefore, the person becomes thirsty due to the body’s need for more water. Frequent urination then occurs from the excessive amounts of water consumed and the kidneys’ action of drawing increased amounts of water from the blood.

Extreme hunger and unusual weight loss are diabetes symptoms. The weight loss can seem perplexing to the patient since the hunger may cause them to be eating more than usual. The patient may realize something is wrong since these symptoms would not occur together normally. Weight loss is more noticeable with type 1 diabetes.

Blurry vision can be a symptom of diabetes. Many people do not associate blurry vision with a sign of the onset of diabetes. Another symptom is tingling or numbness in the hands or feet. This is due to the onset of diabetic nerve damage, known as diabetic neuropathy.

Irritability and increased fatigue are more difficult symptoms to associate with diabetes since they can occur as symptoms of numerous illnesses. If people experience irritability and increased fatigue along with some of the other symptoms of diabetes, it can affirm the need for a blood glucose test to rule out or diagnose diabetes.

If a person experiences these signs of diabetes, they should consult their physicians. The doctor is likely to issue or prescribe a blood sugar test. The test results may indicate that the patient has normal blood sugar levels, pre-diabetes, or diabetes.    

Friends And Family Of Diabetic Patients

Friends and family of diabetic patients can be a source of support or a hindrance for the diabetic patient. Friends and family may sabotage the care of the diabetic patient by tempting the patient with food that would not be conducive to maintaining safe blood sugar levels. This sabotage is not done with evil intentions. Most likely, it is done out of a lack of education about the illness.

Diabetic patients must not only educate themselves, but also those around them. Physicians and the Internet can provide information about diabetes which can be shared with friends and family. Friends and family who are aware of the symptoms and treatment of diabetes and the possible complications of the illness can be the best support system for the diabetic patient.

Friends and family should be aware of how to act in the case of a diabetic crisis. Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar level dips dangerously low. It can cause dizziness, hunger, shakiness, and even seizures. If the diabetic patient is conscious, they should consume a half cup of fruit juice, five or six pieces of hard candy, or glucose tablets.

Glucose tablets are usually available at drug stores and should be kept on hand in case of hypoglycemia. Family and friends of diabetic patients should refrain from giving them food or drink during a hypoglycemic crisis if the patient is passed out. Instead, they should call emergency medical services.

Family can also take steps to decrease their risk for developing the disease since there is a hereditary component to diabetes. When a loved one develops diabetes, it can be a motivator for the family to follow a healthier lifestyle. Healthy diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight can help someone avoid developing diabetes. Creating these healthy routines can help both the family and the diabetic patient.

Diabetes Care

Diabetes care is crucial if serious complications from diabetes are to be avoided. Diabetes care consists of managing the level of glucose in the blood to prevent it from rising to unsafe levels. The management of diabetes involves monitoring the blood glucose levels, correcting the levels with insulin if necessary, and following a healthy lifestyle that encourages the maintenance of healthy glucose levels.

Monitoring the blood glucose levels is generally done periodically throughout each day. A typical regiment includes checking the blood glucose level upon waking and after each meal. The physician may prescribe a different schedule. It is important for the diabetic to work cooperatively with the doctor in order to control the diabetes.

The administration of insulin is sometimes, but not always, a necessary component of diabetes care, Insulin can be used with individual injections of insulin or with insulin pump therapy. With individual injections, the diabetic checks their blood glucose level with a monitor and takes the appropriate amount of insulin with an injection. The insulin pump provides a steady amount of insulin to the body with additional, programmed doses after meals and as needed.

Healthy living can help maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Exercise delivers more glucose to the cells from the blood. This can lower otherwise high glucose levels in the blood. Excessive stress should be avoided as it can cause problems with blood glucose levels. Exercise can help alleviate the negative impact of stress on the body.

Small, more frequent meals can aid in keeping the blood glucose levels steady, but eating like this can make it more difficult to monitor the blood glucose levels. A dietary plan should be developed with the assistance of a dietician who is experienced in working with diabetics. In an ideal situation, the diabetic patient, the physician, and the dietician work together as a team to devise a plan for diabetes care.

Diabetics Knowhow – What Diabetic Patients Should Know

Diabetic patients are likely to learn little tricks that can make their lives easier. Through their own experiences and the experiences of other diabetic patients, someone with diabetes can learn things that will benefit them as they follow a diabetes treatment plan. Here are some tips of diabetics knowhow and what diabetic patients should know.

Some diabetic patients experience pain or difficulty obtaining blood samples for checking their blood level. Difficulty getting the proper amount of blood can be especially problematic first thing in the morning or for those who have circulation problems.

Though the newest blood glucose meters require very little blood, if the patient’s meter requires more blood than is easily obtained, there are tricks to help. Squeezing the fingers to coax blood onto the testing strip is not recommended. The diabetic patient may find it helpful to run their hands under warm water before attempting to get a blood sample.

If pain is bothersome, some diabetics find it less painful to prick the sides of the fingers and avoid the fingertips. There are more nerve endings in the fingertips, so pricking them causes more pain. Alternating which finger is pricked can also help.

Sometimes diabetic patients feel limited by their diabetic diets. Eating a large variety of foods can help avoid a sense of being stuck with a specific diet. Changing the foods that are eaten can still fill the specifications of the diabetic diet and foster a sense of freedom of choice. If the diabetic patient has favorite foods, they can consult the dietician for ways to include these foods in the diabetic diet. Some recipes can be altered to make a food healthier and more acceptable.

Eating protein with starches tends to stop the spikes in blood sugar that can be caused by the starch. For example, if eating spaghetti causes blood sugar level to rise too high, eating a smaller portion of spaghetti with light sausage or black beans added to the sauce can help keep the blood sugar level at a safe level. The dietician could provide numerous tips for enjoying food that satisfies the requirement for the diabetic diet.

Watermelon And Diabetes

Watermelon and diabetes are possible only if the watermelon is eaten in moderation. Diabetic people usually self manage their blood glucose levels by monitoring their own carbohydrate intake, for example, by counting the grams of carbohydrate in a particular fruit.

Glycaemic index is the food classification according to how quickly a particular carbohydrate raises the blood glucose levels (or how quickly the carbohydrate turns into sugar). The higher the glycaemic index number, the greater the blood sugar response. Foods with a glycaemic index of 70 or more are said to be ‘high’; glycaemic index of between 55 and 70 are ‘moderate’ and a glycaemic index of less than 55 are said to be ‘low’.

However, a better indication of how quickly the effect of a standard portion of the food (for example, watermelon) raises your blood glucose is the glycemic load. In addition, the glycaemic load is the amount of the carbohydrate food multiplied by that food’s glycemic index. The glycaemic load of a food of more than 20 is said to be ‘high’; between 11 and 19 is ‘moderate’ and if it is 10 or less then it is considered low. Generally, you should try and aim to keep your glycaemic load to below 15.

Watermelon has a high glycaemic index, but the glycemic load per food serving (size of 120g) is only 4, which is relatively low. So unless you intend to eat lots of the watermelon at a particular time, it will not have a big impact on your blood glucose levels. However, due to watermelon being high in sugar, you should still limit the quantity you intend to eat.

If you are a lover of watermelons then remember to monitor your blood sugar levels after eating it, so that you can monitor its affects. If after eating the watermelon, it raises your blood sugar, limit the amount of watermelon you eat next time. Also, you could combine the watermelon with a protein or fat, as this will reduce the speed of sugar absorption.

Diabetic Desserts

There is a myth about diabetic desserts generally not benefiting people with diabetes and people with diabetes should avoid all sugar. This is because diabetic products are expensive, high in calories and fat, may have a laxative effect and will still affect your blood glucose levels. This is may be true for some diabetic products which can be bought on the market. However, if you make your own diabetic desserts at home, then the ingredients can be controlled and healthy. It is easy to just modify your favourite recipe by reducing the amount of salt, sugar and fat, and increasing the amount of fibre.

If you are eating out and really want a dessert, choose a fruit-based pudding or sorbet instead of cakes, pastries or cheese and biscuits. If possible choose a reduced-sugar version such as sugar-free jelly. The odd dessert or meal that contains high fat and sugar is generally fine, however, if eating out is a regular thing, then you need to be more careful when selecting your food dishes.

When baking desserts at home, try to experiment and reduce the amount of sugar used. Most sponge cakes will still rise when the sugar quantity is reduced by half. Examples of recipes that can be made without sugar include tea cakes, fruit scones and fruit cakes. Instead of using butter creams, icing or jams as a cake topping or cake filler, you could experiment with chopped fruits or adding these chopped fruits to fromage frais.

The following are some examples of what you could do when thinking about making your own desserts.
Instead of using traditional sour cream or double cream, experiment with light creme fraiche. It is stable in heat and can be served on hot or cold desserts. Use fromage frais in desserts instead of Greek yoghurt or cream. Try to use oils and fats which are high in monosaturates. The use of dried fruits instead of sugar in fruit cakes and scones will provide the sweetness. Intense sweeteners may be used if necessary, for example, in custard and crumbles.

Type 2 Diabetes – Prevention And Control

Type 2 diabetes usually begins in adulthood. It is often called noninsulin dependent or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled by following a diabetic diet. Exercise is also helpful in preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes.

The biggest risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes is obesity. Abdominal fat is especially linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent and control type 2 diabetes, but it is not a guaranteed method of prevention of the development of diabetes. Advanced age, inactivity, and heredity are additional risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

People of certain races are at greater risk for developing diabetes. American Indians, Hispanics, and those of Asian or African decent are more predisposed for the development of type 2 diabetes. If a woman had gestational diabetes, diabetes during pregnancy, she is at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a tolerance to insulin or a decrease in the amount of insulin being produced. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and enters the bloodstream. In the blood, the insulin delivers glucose in the blood to the body’s cells. When insulin is ineffective or there is not enough insulin to infuse the body’s cells with glucose, the glucose remains in the blood. When the amount of glucose in the blood increases, it causes diabetes and the complications associated with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is called noninsulin dependent diabetes because the body does produce insulin, so insulin injections are usually not necessary. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin, therefore insulin is a crucial element of treatment. However, if the diabetic patient with type 2 diabetes is unable to control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise, insulin may become part of their treatment.

Juvenile Diabetes

Juvenile diabetes is a common name for type 1 diabetes. It is called juvenile diabetes because this disease usually starts in childhood through late adolescence. The cause of juvenile diabetes is often genetics, but it can be due to exposure to a viral infection. In juvenile diabetes, the pancreas fails to produce insulin. Though juvenile diabetes occurs worldwide, the highest incident rate is in Scandinavia.

Common symptoms of juvenile diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, fatigue, drowsiness, and blurred vision. It can cause tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Breathing can also become labored and have a fruity odor.

Insulin is a hormone needed to metabolize sugar, or glucose, and starches. When insulin production and sensitivity is normal, insulin breaks down the sugar which is then delivered to the body’s cells via the bloodstream. When insulin production is compromised, the level of glucose in the blood rises to unsafe levels.

If left untreated or uncontrolled, serious complications can arise. High glucose levels in the blood increases the risk of certain diseases. Blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease could occur. Poor circulation and nerve damage can cause serious trauma to the feet which can lead to the necessity of amputation.

Treatment of juvenile diabetes consists of monitoring blood sugar levels, administering insulin, and watchfulness of the onset of any complications. Blood sugar levels are checked periodically throughout the day with the use of a blood glucose monitor.

Injections of insulin are commonly a crucial part of treatment for juvenile diabetes. An insulin pump may be used instead of individual injections of insulin. An insulin pump can help stabilize blood sugar level better than injections since it provides a constant base level of insulin. After meals, the diabetic programs the dose of insulin into the pump.