So what if you have been diagnose with diabetes? That does not necessarily mean that you need to be stuck at home. With the current advancement and breakthrough in research and technology, anything is possible even though you are suffering from diabetes.
Vacation Trips and Tips
Airline Travel, Vacations, Cruises and Road trips are all possible. You just need to do some planning and work. You need to plan the things that you need especially your diabetic supplies in case an emergency occurs, this will allow a safe and fun vacation for you and your family or friends. However, before everything else you need to inform your doctor about your plans. He will give you a list of diabetic supplies that you need. Most probably, it will include these items:
Insulin doses – these are indispensable diabetic supplies. Whenever you travel never, forget to bring this because this is the only thing that can save your life when you blood sugar shoots up to the highest level. Ask your doctor for any changes in the dose and an extra prescription in case you run out of supply. Diabetic food - you should carry snacks, juices and plenty of water. This will help you raise your blood sugar level during hypoglycemic episodes (low blood glucose level). Medical alert bracelet – this is also an important since it will inform everybody during an emergency situation as to who to call and what to do. Insulin Pump – if you are insulin dependent diabetic and you need to fly, insulin pumps are the most important diabetic supplies that you can use. Before you take them, do not forget to do some inspection. Definitely, it will set the alarm on metal detectors, if they want you to take it off, just remind them politely that you cannot do so because the needle is inserted under your skin. Once you are cleared at the metal detector and all your supplies are screened, here are a handful of diabetic supplies that you can also carry on board:
Urine Ketone Test Strips Glucagon emergency kit Disposal container for used syringes and test strips Insulin dispensing products such as vials, jet injectors, pens, infusers and any insulin preloaded syringes. A vial of insulin Syringes Cotton swabs Glucometer Lancets Testing Strips Remember when traveling always double check what you have prepared, specially your diabetic supplies. This will save you from any problems during your travel.
A diabetic menu that comprises of foods low in saturated fat plus a controlled blood sugar level and exercise is a recommended regimen for diabetics.
What foodstuffs are considered to be a diabetic food? If you see the thousand of ads in magazines, newspapers and in the television, you will definitely see sugar free colas, sugar free ice creams, sugar free cookies and whole lot more sugar free foods. If you go online you can also see thousands of companies catering to diabetic individuals, and majority of them are distributors of sugar free products. They claim that their product is a diabetic food or so.
The Truth
Thousands of people believe that because a food is not made with real sugar, it is considered as a diabetic food. Nevertheless, what is wrong with sugar? The answer is simple; people with diabetes cannot utilize the sugar or glucose coming from their food intake because they have little or no insulin at all in the body. However this belief that a sugar free food is also a diabetic food is really twisted. As a matter fact, in May of year 1994, American Diabetes Association stopped advising diabetic people to avoid sugar. Instead, they recommend focusing your attention on the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. Everything was a mistake regarding sugar intake.
The main predicament with foods called as diabetic food is that because they sugar free you can eat them as often as u want and as much as you can. The truth is these so called sugar free foods have loads of calories and fats in them that are not good for a diabetic person. Starch vs. Real Sugar
For how many years, people believed that simple sugars are to be avoided and replaced with starches. This belief is based on the assumption that simple sugars are digested faster that starches and with this; it easily shoots up the level of blood glucose. However, there is little evidence that supports this postulation.
What is more important than labeling or knowing if a food is a diabetic food or not is having discipline. Knowing the right amount of food to eat and at the right time is more important that getting sugar free product. If you know that this certain food is restricted by your doctor, then listen and follow. Don’t make excuses that just because it is sugar free or sugarless you can indulge in whatever your heart or your taste buds’ desire. Rest assured that as long as you discipline yourself you will not have any problems associated with your diabetes.
Diabetic neuropathy is a cluster of nerve damage caused by diabetes mellitus. It is a common complication that injures the nerves responsible for your feeling sensation. There are many ways how diabetes damages these nerves, but it all comes down to one reason, a blood glucose level that has been too high for over a long period of time. Manifestations of the Disease
Diabetic Neuropathy can lead to numbness, weakness and pain in the following area: Hands Arms Feet Legs Diabetic Neuropathy: An Overview It can also occur in any organ system of the body including the cardiovascular system, specifically the heart, the gastrointestinal system and reproductive system. It also appears to be widespread in people who have a hard time controlling their blood sugar levels, people with high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol, overweight and people over the age of 40.
The Common Types
The types of diabetic neuropathy are as follows:
Peripheral Autonomic Proximal Focal
The most widespread type of diabetic neuropathy is peripheral neuropathy. It is also called as distal symmetric neuropathy; it involves the arms and legs and causes pain or loss of feeling in the toes, feet, legs, hands and arms.
Autonomic Neuropathy is a diabetic neuropathy that is responsible for the changes in digestion, sexual response, bowel and bladder function and perspiration. It also affects the nerves in the heart and control in blood pressure. This can also cause hypoglycemia unawareness wherein the person involved will not experience any warning signs of low blood sugar. With this predicament, a diabetic patient should always see to it that his or her diet is a balanced diet. Not too much or too little sugar is advisable .You can choose dish up a good meal from the thousands of diabetic recipes in the internet.
Proximal Neuropathy can also cause pain in the thighs, hips and buttocks. Usually the pain occurs on one side only. It can also lead to leg weakness and the common treatment for this physical therapy and some medications. The recovery period varies from person to person and the type and degree of the nerve damage.
Focal neuropathy can result in sudden weakness of a specific nerve or a bundle of nerves that causes muscles pain or weakness. Oftentimes it occurs in the head, leg and torso .It can cause eye pain, double vision, Bell’s palsy or paralysis of one side of the face. This type of diabetic neuropathy is oftentimes unpredictable but it is self-limiting and will not cause long-term damage.
Diabetes diet programs over the last 25 to 35 years have changed for the better.Diabetics were thought to have to stay away from table sugar period back then. Now, it is known that a diabetic can eat sugar – but only in small amounts as part of a varied diet.Scientists and doctors alike are saying that the diabetes diet menu is just about the very same thing that is reccomended for all people to be eating anyway, the ysay we should be eating lower amounts of protein, more fresh foods that do not have preservatives and less fatty/processed type of foods.
You Can Still Eat Food
Finding diabetes diet books, recipes and suggestions are easier now than they ever have been. This is not only due to the Internet, but due to the demand of diabetics worldwide. Diabetic and hypoglycemic diet books and programs are available from your bookstore, library to even your supermarket. You might also want to check out what’s called the Glycemic Index diet which has been developed over decades.Diet programs that cater to the Glycemic Index diet programs can usually be found in many diet books and websites.
You will never have to look to hard to find the proper ingredients when looking at diabetes diets and programs.Diabetic gluten intolerant people used to have many problems trying to find the ingredients required, but now a days recipe books and cookbooks that cater to the diabetes industry are loaded with ingredients that you can probably find just about anywhere. The important thing is portion control. You can basically eat what you want – but only a small bit of it. You also need to eat regularly.If you have diabetes and you are thinking of doing something like a colon cleansing or any other type of a program, please don’t do it!
Can You Eat Out?
As long as you are able to know what is on the menu in advance you can still eat at your favorite places. Even if you get a huge plate of meat and potatoes, don’t eat all of it and insist on having veggies with it (and not just a sprig of parsley). Eating slowly helps your body adjust.One of the best advantages of having diabetes today is that you are part of a growing number of people with money that the big chain restaurants want to get there hand on. Always be sure of what you are ordering – never be afraid to ask questions. If you go online to the American Diabetes Association website (www.diabetes.org), you will find a lot of tips and suggestions for eating out on a diabetes diet.
You still must take your medication as your doctor has prescribed even though you have started following the diabetes diet guidelines, you should also be sure that you are getting plenty of exercise and following up with regular check ups with your medical professionals. Eating right won’t solve all your health problems, but it will certainly make less health problems for you.And it is one of the better ways to taking care of yourself or a loved one.
If you are looking for diabetes diet information please visit our site as we have the most up to date diabetes information for a diabetic by a diabetic.
I was recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I understand exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent me from getting diabetes type 2. I would like to know the specifics of a diabetic diet.
the best you can do to prevent diabetes is follow a pre-diabetic diet. It's mostly the same diet people with diabetes follow. You should try to avoid carbohydrates as much as possible. A good diet to follow is the glycemic index diet. More information can be found at http://www.diabeticmenu-blog.com/glycemic-menu.html