When you find out about being pre-diabetic or diabetic, one of the first things you need to learn is about normal blood sugar levels, abnormal blood sugar levels, and how to monitor your blood sugar. The following blood sugar levels chart will make it easy for you.
Glucose, the main source of energy for human cells, is a type of sugar that enters your body whenever you consume carbohydrate foods. Glucose levels are regulated by insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas and released into the bloodstream whenever glucose levels rise.
Measuring your blood glucose has never been easier. There are literally dozens of types of meters that you can use at home or while travelling that allow you to easily and conveniently measure your sugar levels. Your doctor may also recommend a more sophisticated monitoring device that is also easy to use should you need more detailed data than a meter can supply.
The following is a simple blood sugar chart that will give you an idea what values you should be aiming for to maintain good health and avoid dangerous complications due to diabetes:
- Normal glucose range is between 70 and 150mg; these levels are typically lower in the morning, and rise after meals.
- Regardless of when you last ate, a random result of 200 mg/dL or higher means you have diabetes.
- A fasting blood sugar level taken, for example, when you wake up in the morning, should be between 70 and 99 mg/dL If it's 126 mg/dL or higher, you have diabetes.
When monitoring your blood glucose levels, it is crucial that you observe any patterns in your readings, and pay attention to what types of foods, medications or activities trigger undesirable increase or decrease in your readings.
Diabetes is a serious condition can have a devastating effect on the entire body, including eyes, kidneys, hear, nerve, ultimately leading to blindness, kindey failure, amputations, heart disease and stroke. Everyone who has diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2 is at risk, and even people who have pre-diabetes can be affected - so it's never too early to take aggressive preventive measures by changing your lifestyle choices.
What is important that you can prevent, and in most cases reverse type 2 diabetes because the disease is largely influenced by the person's lifestyle choices, most importantly dietary choices and physical activity/exercise. Do not wait until it is too late!
If your blood glucose levels are out of the normal ranges indicated above - you need to take action TODAY!
Saturday, 1 August 2009
A Lifestyle Makeover Can Help Prevent Diabetes Compleat
This year, the American Diabetes Association reported that 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes mellitus, a disease characterized by the body's inability to produce enough insulin (Type I), or use insulin (Type II). Of this number, five million are unaware of their condition and vulnerability to diabetes complications.
When a person has diabetes, sugar accumulates in the blood, leading to narrowing and hardening of the blood vessels, and eventually impairing the body's circulatory system. The condition can also result in such complications as chest pain, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, stomach nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, blurred vision and blindness, and numbness in the hands and feet.
While it is true that the disease has no cure, diabetics can actually do a lot of things to manage the symptoms and prevent a host of complications which can affect the the eyes, nerves, kidney and the heart. And far from what the common myths say, managing diabetes does not necessarily require dieting or dealing with lists of forbidden foods and activities.
Instead, diabetes management entails a lifestyle makeover that is based on making favorable and balanced decisions about meals, snacks, and beverages, as well as maintaining an active lifestyle and breaking off bad habits that lead to obesity.
To learn about these guidelines, diabetics should consult a doctor and find a dietician and personal trainer to outline a meal plan and exercise regimen, respectively. The Internet also offers a wealth of information available in forums, articles and even entire e-books devoted to the topic of diabetes and diabetes complications. Especially when they come from diabetics and medical professionals themselves, tips on how to conquer the disease can offer a smooth but effective transition to a healthier lifestyle.
5 Diabetes Symptoms You Should Know
As the baby boomers age, they are faced with an array of diseases that accompany the golden years. Along with grandchildren and retirement, they are faced with ailments from arthritis to diabetes. The thought of getting a disease such as diabetes can be worrisome, it helps to be aware of what diabetes symptoms are and be able to recognize them early enough to get the help you will need to get the disease under control.
1- There are some common diabetes symptoms that should be checked out by a physician. By themselves, each symptom is not a cause for alarm. However, if more than a couple are noticed at one time, an appointment with your primary care physician should be made without hesitation.
2- The first thing that you should know about diabetes is, it is very important to pay attention to your body. There are over one million new diagnoses of diabetes that are made each year. Diabetes is directly or indirectly the cause of approximately 200,000 deaths every year. It is estimated that 17 million people in America have diabetes, it is also estimated that approximately one third of these people do not even know they have the disease.
3- The reason that so many people do not know that they may have diabetes is because some people show no diabetes symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to have blood work checked every year after the age of 45. This is often part of a routine physical at this age, but it is always a good idea to check with the doctor to make sure the test is being run.
4- There are several diabetes symptoms to be on the look out for, they include, but are not limited to:
Sudden weight loss
Drinking excessive amounts of water
Excessive urination
Feeling a numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Having infections more often than usual
Being slow to heal from a wound
It is also important to note that any one person may have all, some or none of these diabetes symptoms. These symptoms can also be experienced in any combination.
5- Along with this list of symptoms, diabetes can also be accompanied by stomach pains, vomiting or nausea. If these symptoms occur in conjunction with the list, it could be the immediate onset of type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as insulin-dependent diabetes. When you call your doctors' office for an appointment, be sure to tell them you are experiencing possible diabetes symptoms and that you need to be seen right away.
1- There are some common diabetes symptoms that should be checked out by a physician. By themselves, each symptom is not a cause for alarm. However, if more than a couple are noticed at one time, an appointment with your primary care physician should be made without hesitation.
2- The first thing that you should know about diabetes is, it is very important to pay attention to your body. There are over one million new diagnoses of diabetes that are made each year. Diabetes is directly or indirectly the cause of approximately 200,000 deaths every year. It is estimated that 17 million people in America have diabetes, it is also estimated that approximately one third of these people do not even know they have the disease.
3- The reason that so many people do not know that they may have diabetes is because some people show no diabetes symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to have blood work checked every year after the age of 45. This is often part of a routine physical at this age, but it is always a good idea to check with the doctor to make sure the test is being run.
4- There are several diabetes symptoms to be on the look out for, they include, but are not limited to:
Sudden weight loss
Drinking excessive amounts of water
Excessive urination
Feeling a numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Having infections more often than usual
Being slow to heal from a wound
It is also important to note that any one person may have all, some or none of these diabetes symptoms. These symptoms can also be experienced in any combination.
5- Along with this list of symptoms, diabetes can also be accompanied by stomach pains, vomiting or nausea. If these symptoms occur in conjunction with the list, it could be the immediate onset of type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as insulin-dependent diabetes. When you call your doctors' office for an appointment, be sure to tell them you are experiencing possible diabetes symptoms and that you need to be seen right away.
Manage Your Diabetes
Some people may call it "sugar." But, for the 23.6 million people in the United States who are living with diabetes, they need to know the bitter realities, as well as the sweet steps that must be taken to live well. This “Manage Your Diabetes” tool is designed to help diabetics learn real-life strategies for diabetes management. The good news: diabetes is a manageable disease, especially when you’re armed with the right tools, information and support.
So, are you ready to start taking action? Then, let’s get started...
So, are you ready to start taking action? Then, let’s get started...
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