Diabetes Facts and Myths

In order to better prevent and control your diabetes, it is no secret that you have to eat right. What you put into your body has a huge impact when it comes to shedding pounds. Of course, exercise is vital to losing weight as well, so you aren’t off the hook. There are plenty of meals for diabetics out there, but after reading this you will be delighted to know that you can eat as normally as the rest of your family and friends, as long as it is in moderation.

I’m sure you often hear the phrase “eat right.” Well, what exactly does that mean anyway? Surprisingly, your nutritional requirements are actually pretty much the same as everyone else’s needs. You don’t really have go out and purchase ‘special foods’ for a complicated diet.

Dieting for diabetics simply means creating a healthy meal plan that is strong with nutrients, low in fat, and with a reasonable amount of calories. It really is a healthy diet for diabetics and non-diabetics alike! The only difference would be that diabetics need to pay extra attention to their food choices, especially the carbohydrates they allow into their bodies.

Upon your research of diabetic diets and health tips, you may, nay, you WILL, encounter many diabetes myths that I will attempt to debunk here and now, and inform you of the diabetes facts you really need to know.

Myth #1: You MUST stay away from sugar at all costs.

FACT: There is great news for you fellow diabetic; you can definitely enjoy your favorite snacks as long as you PLAN PROPERLY! Dessert does not have to be completely off limits! Just make sure to make it a part of a healthy meal plan and to always add exercise to your daily schedule.

Myth #2: The best diet is a high-protein diet.

FACT: Research has informed us that consuming excessive protein (esp., animal protein) can cause insulin resistance, a primary cause of diabetes. A healthy, nutritious meal plan includes protein, carbs, and fats. It is essential for our bodies to have all three in order to function correctly. The key, as always, is a balanced diet.

MYTH #3: You must dramatically lower your carb intake.

FACT: The key here is to simply eat a balanced diet. You should always consider the serving size and the different types of carbs you take in. Make sure to focus on whole grain carbohydrates because they are a very good source of fiber and actually take longer to digest, which means that they keep you blood sugar levels even.

MYTH #4: No longer will you be able to eat normal meals. You will need to consume foods specific to diabetics.

FACT: The key here is to eat IN MODERATION. Expensive meals for diabetics will not offer you any special benefits.

Reverse Complications of Diabetes

Have Diabetes? Reverse Your Complications! If You Haven’t Been Tested, Use Hemoglobin A1C Test To Determine Your Risk!

The year was 1946. This was the very year that the whole carb-diet phenomenon began. This was also the same year that one Dr. Richard Bernstein began to experience the long term complications of diabetes which ranged from heart disease to paralyzed digestion. This small event turned out to be the catalyst for a revolution in diabetes treatment.

In late 1969, Bernstein’s life changed forever when he came across an advertisement in a trade journal called Lab World. The journal advertised a new blood sugar meter that would give readings in a minute using a single drop of blood. The device was actually intended for nighttime emergency staff at hospitals to use to distinguish between an unconscious diabetic and an unconscious drunkard. The instrument weighed three pounds, cost $650, and was only available to certified physicians and hospitals.

Dr. Bernstein then began to measure his blood sugar about five times a day. He even adjusted his insulin regimen from one injection a day to two in order to balance his blood sugar levels. He also experimented with his diet by decreasing his intake of carbohydrates. However, three years after he began measuring his own blood sugar levels, his complications were still progressing, so he did some research on the matter. What he found was astonishing: complications from diabetes had repeatedly been prevented, and even reversed, in animals. Not through exercise, but through normalizing blood sugars!

Dr. Bernstein set out to achieve normal blood sugars, and within a year, he had refined his insulin and diet regimen to the point where they were normal around the clock. After years of chronic fatigue and debilitating complications, he felt healthy and energized. His serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were now in the normal ranges, and friends commented that his complexion was no longer gray.
In 1994, the ADA stated that people with diabetes could eat anything, even sugar itself. “There is no longer a diabetic diet. People with diabetes eat the exact same foods as anyone else,” says Nathaniel Clark, national vice president for clinical affairs at the ADA. “We do not believe there is any harm in eating carbohydrates.”

Bernstein does. He prescribes an extremely low carbohydrate diet, approximately 30 grams of carbs over three meals, for diabetics to achieve normal blood-glucose readings round-the-clock. To put it bluntly, Dr. Bernstein does not believe the ADA diet works for anyone. He’s not alone. You see, diabetes is a disease of `carbohydrate intolerance.’ Thus, meal plans should minimize carbohydrates because people with diabetes do not tolerate carbs.

A broader picture means a better diagnosis. Diabetes has been traditionally diagnosed using one of a number of blood glucose tests that give a snapshot of the patient’s blood glucose levels at one particular point in time. The Hemoglobin A1C test, on the other hand, shows a bigger picture. Because blood sugar levels can change considerably based on a number of factors, including illness, recent meals, and even the temperature of the room in which the blood was drawn, the Hemoglobin A1C test gives doctors a better idea of their patients’ blood glucose levels over a period of time, not just over one day.

Although there doesn’t seem to be any drawback to using the Hemoglobin A1C test to diagnose diabetes, it does represent a major shift in the way testing for diabetes has been done for decades. Using the scale below you can determine your risk for diabetes:

Hemoglobin A1C
<5.7 Decreased risk of diabetes
5.7 ­ 6.0 Increased risk of diabetes
6.1 ­ 6.4 Higher risk of diabetes
> 6.4 Consistent with diabetes

After Bernstein controlled his blood sugar for a few years, his complications started reversing. His kidney disease improved and he figured he should do his part by informing the public about the importance of diabetic testing, which equated to lower cholesterol and lower triglycerides for Bernstein.

Today, when people come to Dr. Bernstein for careful dietary guidance, he advises them to monitor their blood sugar level with diabetic test strips after meals.

Monitoring your post-prandial (after meal) blood sugar, helps people monitor the effects of adding carbohydrates, or knowing what carbohydrates do to your blood sugar levels. The only way to control diabetes is to find out your blood sugar levels. Glucose monitors, and diabetic test strips are relatively inexpensive, and help change lives.

In conclusion, we commend you on taking the initiative and investing in your health with us. We are proud to carry One Touch Ultra, currently the most popularly used diabetic test strip on the market, among other top quality brands, to help you monitor your health.

One Touch Ultra Test Strips – Indispensable Accessory For a Diabetic

One Touch Ultra Test strips are used for monitoring blood glucose levels by people suffering from diabetes. The test strips are used in conjunction with the One Touch Ultra Blood Glucose Monitoring System meter. These strips can be purchased in pharmacies where diabetes control products are sold. They can also be purchased online. The One Touch Ultra 2 meter requires the blue One Touch Ultra Test Strips. The other accessories to be kept ready to test blood glucose levels are One Touch Ultra Control Solution, One Touch Ultra Lancing Device and One Touch Ultra Sterile lancets.

Accurate readings can be guaranteed only with freshly manufactured test strips. One Touch Ultra Test Strips that are past the expiry dates are likely to give wrong readings and should not be used. Check the code number on the test strip vial before inserting the strip into the meter. These are used to calibrate the meter with the One Touch Ultra Test Strips that are currently being used.

To insert the One Touch Ultra Test Strips into the blood glucose meter, ensure that the meter is turned on. Remove the test strip from the vial and immediately insert it into the test port. The three contact bars should be facing the user. The strip can be pushed in as far as it will go. The test strip should not be bent. The test strip, once removed from the vial, should be used at once. The strip should not be cut or modified in any manner. Also ensure that the One Touch Ultra Test Strips are never reused.

One Touch Ultra Test Strips with the FastDraw design feature help to check the blood sugar level in a fast and easy manner. The channel in the test strip is gently brought against the edge of the blood drop for it to fill in. If the strip is pushed against the finger the channel may not fill completely. If the meter and test strip are held under the blood drop, it may flow in to the port and damage the meter. More than necessary blood should not be applied to the strip. The test strip should not be moved in the meter during the test. Wait for the confirmation window to fill completely to get reliable results. The blood glucose level can be read off from the screen. These numbers are automatically stored in the meter’s memory.

One Touch Ultra Test Strips thus provide an easy way to regularly monitor blood glucose levels.

Insulin pump supplies

Insulin pump supplies which most people with diabetes must take insulin to treat their disease. Most people who take insulin use a needle and syringe to inject the insulin under the skin. Several other devices for taking insulin are available and new approaches are being developed. Whatever approach is used for a person who takes insulin, the constant monitoring of blood glucose is important. Glycemic control can prevent complications of diabetes by using this new insulin pump supplies.

Insulin pump supplies provide a convenient and easy to use way to inject insulin, and may be less painful than a standard needle and syringe. Insulin pen looks like a cartridge pen. Some of these devices use replaceable cartridges of insulin. Pencils are pre-filled with insulin and are fully available after the insulin is injected. Insulin pumps supplies users to screw in a short and thin, disposable pen needle tip before injection.

External insulin pumps supplies are usually the size of a deck of cards or a cell phone, weighs about three ounces, and can be worn on a belt or pocket. Most pumps use a plastic disposable cartridge as a reservoir of insulin. Needle and the plunger are temporarily attached to the cartridge to allow the user to load the cartridge with insulin from a bottle. The user then removes the needle and the piston and full cartridge costs at the insulin pump supplies.

Insulin pumps contain enough insulin for several days. An insulin infusion pump transports the body by means of flexible plastic and a flexible tube or cannula is inserted under the skin. The units are available to help insert the needle. Narrow, flexible plastic tubing carries insulin pump infusion site. On the skin surface has a tape or a bandage infusion in place until the user replaces a few days.

Insulin pumps supplies always give users to set a constant flow or amount “base” of insulin continuously throughout the day. Pumps can also provide “bolus” doses, one-time dose of insulin at meals, and, at times when blood sugar is too high based on the schedule set by the user. Blood glucose monitoring is essential to determine insulin and to ensure that insulin is delivered.

Diabetic Supplies for Type1 and Type2 Diabetics

It is important for diabetics to keep their diabetic supplies handy and updated. A diabetic should check their insulin level at least once a day, and without adequate diabetic supplies this is not possible. Although most diabetics check their insulin levels before each meal, it really depends on what their physician feels is necessary. For type 2 diabetics, it may not be necessary to check levels as often as those with type 1 diabetes. Many things vary depending on which type a person has, including the kind of medication they may be given.

Type 1 diabetics are usually given insulin as their form of medication. Their diabetic supplies may consist of an insulin pump, which supplies their insulin at certain times throughout the day, insulin pens – which are used to administer their insulin shots, or syringes which have been used for years- these are simply needles which are used to administer the insulin underneath the diabetic’s skin. The pens and the pumps have been considered as a more safe and effective way of providing medication. Diabetic supplies also consist of glucose monitors and strips which measure their sugar levels. Keeping up to date diabetic supplies is important because if the strips are outdated, they may not measure levels correctly. They should also be sure their insulin is kept in a cool dry place.

Type 2 diabetics rarely take insulin. For those who do, their diabetic supplies will consist of one of the methods used by type 1 diabetics to administer insulin, and perhaps pills. Most type 2 diabetics however, are given pills to start. It depends on the physician- as always they are the ones to determine just what their patients need. Being a type 2 should not be taken for granted, it is just as important to follow the diabetic guidelines when diagnosed with this type of diabetes, just the same as one would with type 1.

Whether a person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, they will probably need a form of insurance to pay for diabetic supplies. It is important that they have what is needed to monitor their sugar levels, and without some form of insurance it can be expensive. However, once it has been determined what kind of diabetic supplies will be used for a patient, monitoring glucose levels and taking their prescribed medication will help them to live normal, healthy lives. Once they have become familiar with the process, using and maintaining their diabetic supplies will become second nature.

Getting The Right Kind Of Diabetes Supplies

Getting diabetes supplies on time is the basic thing that has to be given importance to ensure the well being of diabetic patients. Getting it at the right instance is the most critical aspect. Sometimes it is not possible to get the right kind of supplies from the regional stores. This is especially true when you live in a remote area. In such cases relying on online stores for getting diabetes supplies is the best option. The advantage of this is that you can access these online stores at any time and from any part of the world. Most of these stores do not charge any money for shipping and thus you can ensure that you get your supplies for the cheapest of prices.

Relying on local shops for the required products has become as old trend. Most of the shops will not be having the latest supplies and therefore people have to rely on the old and traditional supplies from these shops. The traditional ones are outdated and are less user friendly. Modern diabetic supplies have cutting edge technology to back them up and they are more efficient in performing their function. These supplies can be got easily from online stores. Buying from online stores has other advantages also. Prices can be compared and the cheapest of deals can be obtained by checking these online sites.

You have to be cautious while buying diabetes supplies from online sites. There are many fraudulent sites which offer bad quality products for cheap prices. You should not fall for these prices. You have to ensure the quality of the products before ordering them. Also the products should be brought from well known and reputed websites which offer good customer support. It is always better to get diabetes supplies with the prescription of a doctor.

The Difference Between Type One and Type Two Diabetes

The difference between type one and type two diabetes is that people with type one diabetes are insulin dependent and people with type two diabetes still produce insulin but possibly not enough, therefore, they must take pills to lower their blood sugar. People with type one diabetes must take insulin in order to move sugar from the bloodstream. Type one diabetes can be caused by a virus or an autoimmune disorder and the body attacks the pancreas where insulin is made. Therefore, people with type one diabetes must take insulin injections in order to lower their blood sugar and stay alive. There is no prevention for this type of diabetes. This type of diabetes usually happens before the age of forty and is known as Juvenile Diabetes or Childhood Diabetes.

Type two diabetes takes place when insulin that the body produces is not as efficient at moving sugar out of the bloodstream. Some sugar is moved out of the blood, just not as good as compared to a person with normal insulin efficiency. High blood sugars are a result of this but type two diabetes can be treated with a special diet, exercise and weight loss. Type two diabetes is common among people who are obese and don’t do enough physical activities. Most people with type two diabetes developed it later on in life and is called adult onset diabetes. Their body might produce enough insulin but it doesn’t work as well as it should. Eighty-five percent of diabetics are type two. This type can be prevented if it is caught early enough.

The difference between type one and type two diabetes is that the pancreas of a type one diabetic produces no insulin at all and has to have insulin injections in order to survive, while the body of a type two diabetic produces insulin but does not work as well as it should when it gets to the cell, called insulin resistance.

Managing Diabetics at Home

Blood sugar in diabetics should be monitored regularly at home using lancet, blood glucose test strips and glucometer. Diabetes is characterized by the presence of increased blood sugar. So patients are instructed well on how to personally check their blood sugar even if they are at home.This will save them the trip to the hospital just to check their blood glucose in the laboratory.

Diabetes has 2 types.Insulin dependent diabetes and non insulin dependent diabetes. Insulin dependent diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes. Very little or no insulin is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is needed to burn the blood glucose, absence of which causes unused glucose to remain in the blood and urine. The patient is usually given insulin injections daily using insulin syringe. Or a new way of insulin delivery is through insulin pumps. Some prefers insulin pumps because it is calibrated and has the ability to deliver insulin according to the patients needs.

The second type of diabetes is non insulin dependent diabetes other wise called adult onset diabetes. There is normal insulin production in the body but still the blood glucose is high. This is commonly caused by diet, sedentary life style, lack of sleep, stress, lack of exercise etc. Type 2 diabetes could still be reversed with diet and exercise. Losing weight greatly helps the patient. Medications are needed to control blood sugar. In worse cases, insulin will be given together with the diabetic drugs.

Diabetic patients have basic needs like glucometer, glucose test strips, sphygmomanometer, insulin pumps or insulin syringe, lancets etc. Having these will help them cope better with the disease. It is necessary to remember that maintaining a normal blood sugar is very important. This action alone can greatly help in preventing complications from developing. Some of the possible complications are hypertension, heart disease, renal disease, stroke etc.

The disease could last a life time but as long as they take their medications and follow doctor’s orders, diabetics can still live a normal life. They will just have to accept the fact that they can not live without the lancet, blood glucose test strip and glucometer.

Tips in Surviving Diabetes

Tips in Surviving Diabetes | One Touch Ultra 2 Strips

Being diagnosed of diabetes is frustrating and discouraging; in fact, sufferers fail to realize the vitality of One Touch Ultra 2 Strips. Of course, it is! But it is not the end of time for you, it is about time to draw some big lines and rectify the mistakes that you had in the past, which may have led you to diabetes. Most diabetes sufferer complicates their disease due to the lack of knowledge. The lack of knowledge of the ways and means to maintain or reduce the risk of diabetes may lead to unwanted death.

There are several products in the market, like the One Touch Ultra 2 Strips, that are not recognized by individuals that will surely help them. For such concerns, it is about time to have a revolutionary thought about diabetes. Here are some of the tips that you can take advantage:

Healthy Diet

One of the main things that you need to consider is your diet. The problem of diabetes lies in the food intake of the person, which maybe worsen by the hereditary impacts. For such, it is very important for the person to maintain body weight. With the excessive intake of food, the sugar level of the body may increase. It is very important to eat the four main categories of the foods to replenish and maintain the need of the body for the right set of nutrients and vitamins.

If you can use the One Touch Ultra 2 Strips, it would be a great deal. With the test trips, you will be able to monitor your glucose level or the insulin production of your body. Using the results as you basis, with the congruence and decision of your physician, you will be able to make necessary diabetic diet plan that you can use for your daily recommended meal content.

Monitor your Sugar Level

Out in the market, there are products that you can use in monitoring your sugar level. One Touch Ultra 2 Strips can be used in knowing the sugar level of your body. It is very vital to constantly check the level of your glucose in the blood from time to time. It is a way to aid you in deciding the right foods to eat or the calorie count that you will be taking in your body.

With the aid of the products like One Touch Ultra 2 Strips – and the results of the test strips, you will be able to make proper decisions on the weight of the food that you eat. Yes, it is good to weigh the level of the calorie that is present in each food that you eat. For one, vegetables have lower level of calorie content than meat and other foods.

Lifestyle: Exercise

The problem with most diabetes suffer is the wrong perception of the One Touch Ultra 2 Strips. They think that the product can bring the sugar level down. That’s not the case. With One Touch Ultra 2 Strips, you will be able to know the sugar level results only. It is necessary to reinforce the results with your determination in making exercises.

Exercises and the right lifestyle can help you bring the best results for your body. With One Touch Ultra 2 Strips, you will be able to have the best of surviving diabetes.

When Diabetes Strikes: Remember These Things

Preparing for something is very important – and preparing for the diabetes is very important, especially blood glucose meters.

The lack of preparation of the disease is the leading cause of much complications of diabetes. To avoid more problems, it is necessary to prepare before the thunder starts to roll and the lightning strikes.

To understand, diabetes is the result of the high or the sudden increase of insulin production and the high level of glucose of the body. With the aid of the blood glucose meters, you will be able to see the patterns of how glucose level rises in your blood. With such concerns, you need to remember important things that must be undertaken when diabetes strikes.

  1. Visit your physician.
  2. When you feel the symptoms of diabetes, it is necessary to visit the doctor. Do not buy blood glucose meters at once; you need to have a thorough examination in the hospital or the clinic concerning the disease. For some considerations, there may be some complications that must be avoided, say you have a recent surgical operation.

    Only a licensed physician can give you necessary medicines that you need for your disease. Prescription of the doctor is very necessary. There are medicines that will not work best for a person due to allergies or complications with other parts of the body – and only the physician can diagnose the right prescription.

  3. Buy diabetes materials.
  4. It is necessary to buy blood glucose meters. After you visit your doctor, you need to check the materials that you need for your disease. Prepare syringe, glasses, cooler for the insulin, glucose tablets,orange pills, operation gloves, and other items. With the right preparation, you will be able to have the right materials you need, when you need to check your glucose level or for emergency situations.

  5. Tweak your meal plan.
  6. With the congruence of the doctor’s help, it is necessary to tweak or change your meal plan. Eating the right set of foods from the four main groups will help you in getting the bets vitamins and nutrients that your body need for bodily processes without pushing yourself to the limit of excessive sugar level or calorie content. From time to time, you may change your meal plan after your doctor assessed the blood glucose meters results.

  7. Monitor your glucose.
  8. Do not believe in the idea of inaccuracy. With diabetes, curacy and precision are high materials. It is very important to keep with you blood glucose meters. Check the glucose level of your blood from time to time. The results will be used by the physician in making necessary actions your disease.

  9. Cure wounds and avoid complications.
  10. One of the worst things about diabetes is the open wound. There will sores in your body parts, especially the foot area. It is important to cure the wound immediately to avoid amputation due to worsened situation. There are other complications that must be avoided by constantly checking your glucose level with the blood glucose meters and the diagnoses of your physician.