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Friday, August 6, 2010

Understanding Glycemia Levels And Diabetes

By: Moses Wright

Published: August 27, 2009

Physiological processes and the food the person eats affect the glycemia level. A glycemia level is a measurement of the concentration of glucose in the blood.

A diabetic patient can benefit from understanding glycemia levels and what affects them. Abnormally high glycemia levels can put the diabetic patient at risk for developing diabetes complications such as damage to the circulatory system or nervous system.

For a diabetic patient, the amount of food and the type of food eaten can directly affect their glycemia level. In people who do not have diabetes, their bodies release natural insulin to compensate for the raised levels of glucose into the blood after eating.

The naturally occurring insulin in the body of a diabetic patient is insufficient or ineffective for regulating blood sugar levels. Since diabetic patients do not have the benefit of natural insulin regulation, the diabetic patient must make a conscious effort to use other things to keep their glycemia levels within normal range.

Though the person's diet affects their glycemia level, diet is not the only thing that influences the glycemia levels. Exercise can be a helpful tool in the management of glycemia levels. Exercise forces glucose from the blood to be used as an energy source for muscles.

Glycemia levels can be problematic if they are too high or too low. Hypoglycemia is a condition of having low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia in diabetic patients is often attributed to skipping meals or using too much insulin.

Hypoglycemia can cause blurred vision, mental confusion, and faintness. A diabetic patient experiencing severe hypoglycemia can lose consciousness and enter into a coma.

Hyperglycemia is excess glucose in the blood. Hyperglycemia can cause dry mouth, fatigue, blurred vision, and recurrent infections. Increased thirst and hunger are common symptoms that the person with hyperglycemia may notice.

Diabetes patients can improve their diabetes management by educating themselves about the diabetic diet, risks associated with diabetes, and diabetes complications. The effectiveness of diabetes management can be improved by understanding glycemia levels and the factors that affect them.

There are many tools that a diabetic patient can use to keep their blood glucose levels within normal range. If a diabetic patient is using diet and exercise without good results, the diabetic patient should consult their doctor and dietitian.

About the Author:

Are you looking for the perfect diabetic diet so that you can do your diabetic diet plan better? Moses Wright can help you with that. Come to our site and get a better idea.

Natural Sweeteners Are Not All The Same, Choose Wisely

By: Jamis Hartley

Published: August 28, 2009

Are natural sweeteners right for you? Many believe all natural is the only way to go, therefore natural sweeteners are right for everyone. At this point the highest level of interest in natural sweeteners is found among those trying to lose weight or those who have a medical condition that is forcing them to reduce sugar intake. Fortunately, there are a lot of choices these days which are great all natural alternatives to sugar. But be careful, some may or may not be the right fit for you. Do a little research and make the right choice. This article will give you a few basics and recommendations to consider.

* Sugar: Has a Glycemic Index of 60 and 4 calories per gram

* Xylitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 13 and 2 and a half calories per gram

* Sorbitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 9 and 2 and a half calories per gram

* Isomalt: Has a Glycemic Index of 8 and 2.1 calories per gram

* Maltitol Syrup: Has a Glycemic Index of 52 and 3 calories per gram

* Lactitol: Has a Glycemic Index of 6 and 3 calories per gram

* Erythritol: Has a Glycemic Index of 0 and .2 calories per gram

Some of these natural sweeteners can cause more digestive problems. Also some, as you can see have a higher Glycemic Index than the others as well as carbohydrates (not included in the list). The only one that does not cause digestive problems is Erythritol. Erythritol, like Xylitol will not cause tooth decay, but Xylitol can cause digestive issues for some. The reason Erythritol does not affect digestion like the others is that it is partially absorbed by the small intestine and is excreted via the bladder (approximately 60-90%). This makes it a more suitable solution for those with current digestive problems.

Found naturally in many fruits and vegetables like pears, melons, potatoes and grapes, Erythritol is abundantly available. Erythritol has many of the desired qualities of sugar and is widely used as a replacement of sugar to sweeten drinks and add flavor to cooking recipes. It is approximately 70% as sweet as sugar but much better for the teeth and body. Diabetics appreciate the fact that Erythritol does not spike the blood sugar levels and makes managing their diabetes easier. There is plenty of information regarding all the different natural sweeteners online and you would do well to read through some portion of it before making the switch.

About the Author:

Jamis Hartley has been searching for sugar reducing and nutrient rich foods for years as an athlete and health conscious human being. Jamis has since found Erythritol as the preferred of all Natural Sweeteners for its taste, digestive and physical properties. Go now to DoctorGrands.com to learn more about Natural Sweeteners and other sugar free healthy whole foods.

What Is Hyperglycemia?

By: Moses Wright

Published: September 1, 2009

Hyperglycemia refers to the presence of high concentrations of glucose in the blood. People with diabetes or pre-diabetes are susceptible to hyperglycemia. Pre-diabetes is a susceptibility to hyperglycemia and an increased risk of developing diabetes.

Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are similar terms that should not be confused. Hypoglycemia is the opposite of hyperglycemia and described the condition of having low blood sugar. Both conditions are dangerous if left untreated.

The early symptoms of hyperglycemia are the same as the early symptoms of diabetes. These signs of hyperglycemia and diabetes are increased hunger, frequent urination, and increased thirst.

Fatigue, weight loss, impotence, dry skin, dry mouth, and recurrent infections such as yeast infections are symptoms of hyperglycemia. A person with hyperglycemia may also notice that wounds like cuts do not heal as well as they used to.

Hyperglycemia is worse for diabetic patients during illness or stress. During times of illness, diabetic patients may have difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. Many diabetic patients could benefit from stress management as part of their diabetes management plans.

Hyperglycemia may be triggered by illness or stress. During times of illness, diabetic patients may struggle to control their blood glucose levels. Stress management is often included in diabetes management plans.

People with diabetes test their blood sugar levels to check for hyperglycemia. If the blood glucose levels are high, diabetic patients often have medication such as insulin to take to reduce their blood glucose levels.

The levels of glucose in the blood can be reduced by exercising. Exercise encourages the utilization of gluclose from the blood by the muscles. Before exercising to reduce blood glucose levels, diabetic patients should test for the presence of ketones since ketones can cause blood glucose levels to rise from exercise.

Ketoacidosis is a dangerous medical condition that can be caused by hyperglycemia. Without the appropriate amount of insulin, the body cannot utilize glucose in the blood for energy. Therefore, the body begins to break down fats for energy which causes ketones to be produced.

Skipping meals and hypoglycemia can also make the person susceptible to developing ketoacidosis. Without enough glucose from food eaten, the body is forced to break down fat for energy which causes ketones.

The symptoms of ketoacidosis are nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dry mouth, fruity smelling breath, and shortness of breath. Ketoacidosis is a very serious condition that can lead to a diabetic coma or death. If someone suspects that they are developing ketoacidosis, they should seek emergency medical treatment.

About the Author:

Looking for a list of foods for diabetic to eat? Get your diabetic diet information at Moses Wright's diabetic diet resource site. Create your diabetic diet plans now.