Five Factors in Managing Diabetes Naturally

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Article Title:

Five Factors in Managing Diabetes Naturally

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Article Description:

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses,

affecting millions of people worldwide and their 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.

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Distribution Date and Time: 2010-01-26 10:45:00

Written By: Janet

Copyright: 2010

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Five Factors in Managing Diabetes Naturally

Copyright © 2010 Janet

Mark and Janet

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/

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.

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Janet and her husband are health and nutrition

entrepreneurs and founders of Mark And Janet, a website

with uncompromising, premium products for your health

conscious family. For more on going green -- Visit us at:

http://www.MarkandJanet.com/ or check out our blog at

http://www.MarkandJanetBlog.com/