Have you ever wondered how important your diagnostic lab results are to your Diabetes control? What if by running the right tests, your physician could determine not only where your diabetes stands right now, but also whether it is progressing or reversing? 
Stuart Seale, MD, Medical Director at Lifestyle Center of America and author of the book The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle, has outlined three important tests your doctor needs to do for you and why each test is crucial: Here’s the tests you should be sure your Doctor runs for you.
Lipid Profile
If you have Diabetes and do not get a yearly lipid profile check up, be SURE to ask your doctor about it. This test measures the levels of Total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Test results will indicate if you’re at risk for artery blockage. The most common artery blockage in the US (and the leading cause of death) leads to heart attacks. Another risk is stroke. Sixty five percent of those with diabetes will die of a heart attack or stroke.
Ideal results are:
a. Total Cholesterol - less than 150 mg%
b. LDL Cholesterol - less than 70 mg%
c. Total Cholesterol : HDL Cholesterol Ratio - 3:1 or less
1/3 of heart attacks happen when one’s cholesterol is between 150 - 180 mg%. So if your numbers are in that range (especially if above it), take immediate steps to lower them.
Fasting Serum Insulin & Blood Sugar Levels
You may have already had one of the tests done. However, the combination of the two is used to calculate Insulin Resistance, and that is key to stopping the progression of Diabetes.
Insulin resistance increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks, can damage the pancreas, eyes and nerve endings, and is a precursor to type 2 diabetes. This test is important in knowing whether your body is getting more resistant to insulin or not. At the very least, you must know what is Insulin Resistance and the ways to reverse it. Because most physicians do not run the tests simultaneously, they may not know how to calculate the results. Ask your doctor about it, be vocal.
25-hydroxy Vitamin D level
Most adults have suboptimal levels of Vitamin D (anything less than 40 ng/ml of 25-hydroxyl Vitamin D). Suboptimal levels will put you at risk of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes; depression; psoriasis; and cancers of the skin, colon, breast, prostate, ovaries, and lymph glands. Other manifestations of vitamin D deficiency include osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to lack of energy which is prevalent in people with Diabetes.
Be sure to ask your doctor for the 25-hydroxy, not the 1,25-hydroxyl Vitamin D test, as the second test is not completely accurate. The most effective way to treat Vitamin D deficiency is with a supplement such as cholecalciferol.
Its up to you
The three powerful tests outlined above can help you and your doctor preemptively stop the progression of your diabetes. That being said, the results can outline areas of improvement, but it is up to you to make changes that will stop diabetes in its tracks and start reversing its progress. Get started, right now.
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What comes to mind when you think about Valentines Day? Lots of Chocolate and Candy. Unfortunately Candy and Diabetes is a dangerous combination. So does this mean that a diabetic needs to miss out on that heart shaped box of chocolates? No way.
Sugar free candy has come a long way.
I can remember my grandfather, who was a diabetic and also a candy addict, eating these horrible tasting sugar free chocolates. I felt sorry for him, cos' I knew how much of a sweet tooth he was. I took one sample bite and I almost swore off Candies for the rest of my life. For a kid to turn down candy you know it has to be absolutely terrible.
Whether you’re diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes, finding candy that satisfies your tastebuds and yet doesn’t blow your blood sugar level out of whack can be hard. Fortunately, now there are good resources for diabetics, and the list of sugar-free candy choices is ever growing and improving. In fact, most major retailers carry sugar-free candy alongside the sugary stuff, and the internet is full of options for Diabetics with a sweet tooth.
Fortunately, there are a lot of options now
One of the better sites, www.diabeticcandy.com is particularly helpful. You can order almost any imaginable sugar-free treat from the site, including cordial cherries, pecan caramel nut clusters, licorice bites, jelly beans, and bridge mix. There’s even a “Kid’s Favorite” section to help parents with shopping for diabetic youngsters.
They have a great assortment of Valentine themed items including the traditional heart shaped box of chocolates that every girl needs to receive at least once in her lifetime. This site has really creative valentine gift baskets made for diabetics which include everything from jellybeans to saltwater taffy.
Amazon.com, Fudge House, Candy Direct, Old Time Candy also have diverse selections of sugar-free candy. Clearly, a diabetic with a sweet tooth has more options today than just a few years ago. Even Hershey’s has a webpage dedicated to explaining insulin resistance.
Diabetic Direct and 1-Stop Sugarless shop also have a wide range of sugar-free chocolates and candies to choose from, but that's not the end of their product lineup. Apart from their chocolates, they also retail a humongous variety of other sugar-free food products like Cookies, Desserts, Baking products and mixes, Cereals, Drink mixes, Pancake and Waffle mixes, Pastas, Sauces, Snacks, Soups, Syrups and other sugar-free Dishes.
So does sugar free candy taste just as good as candy with sugar?
No...not exactly, but they are still very good. And Diabetics still need to monitor their intake, because these sweets have carbohydrate content, which will increase one’s blood sugar. The difference is that the rate of absorption is controlled. But the fact that a diabetic is not harming themselves by eating it and they get to indulge in sweets on Valentines Day, even if in moderation, makes the sugar free candy a much better choice.
They are a very thoughtful gift...
I’m thankful not to have diabetes, but I’m also thankful that people who do can share my love of candy. What better way to show your Diabetic loved one how much you care for and support them having a healthy lifestyle than by taking the time to get them a healthy alternative this Valentines Day.
My girlfriend's sister has Diabetes and she loves chocolates, I think I'll gift a box of the special candies. I know she'll happily munch away on the stuff. Yep, seeing her sister make happy sounds with a box of chocolates sure will make my girl happier than any other gift I may give her. Happy Valentines Day!
You can buy sugar-free candy from:
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Gaiam and the Mayo Clinic have teamed up to produce and market a series of wellness solutions DVDs including one for Type Two Diabetes.
The $20 DVD has a significant amount of useful information on Type 2 Diabetes and the practical management of it in everyday life. It is NOT a documentary on diabetes, nor is it about avoiding the disease altogether. The main idea of the video is to offer tips on managing Type Two Diabetes so you can avoid some of the more serious complications like kidney damage, vision loss and nerve damage.
Most of the content is common sense like “eat a healthy diet” and “learn all you can about the disease” but there are a great set of meditation and yoga exercises by top yoga exponent, Rodney Yee. Also, some more in-depth advice that teaches you how to do things like examine your feet for sores or blisters.
The DVD has a 90 minute runtime and includes:
Part 1 - Understanding Your Condition
A 30-minute conversation with Mayo Clinic specialists. Dr. Brent Bauer introduces you to the integrative treatment approach, and Mayo Clinic doctors share everything you need to know about diabetes and an array of conventional and alternative therapy options.
Part 2 - Eat Well To Feel Well
Change your diet to feel better Dr. Donald Hensrud, Chair, Preventive Medicine, Mayo Clinic, takes your grocery shopping and shares smart ways to eat healthy every day. A Mayo Clinic dietitian follows up with making meal planning simple.
Part 3 - Soothing Therapies
Rodney Yee, America's favorite yoga instructor, leads you in a simple 40-minute session of gentle, restorative yoga and stress-relieving meditation. The movements are ideal for beginners and designed to keep you active, improve circulation and release tension.
Bonus
You'll also get the 52-page Mayo Clinic My Stress Solution booklet. Reducing stress will help you feel better faster. Take charge of your health today.
For many Indians and Americans it is simply too late to avoid getting Type Two Diabetes but we can all continue to learn every day about ways to live with, manage and treat the disease so we don’t end up with a severely diminished quality of life as a result. After all, why suffer needlessly if you can easily manage Type 2 Diabetes.
Buy the DVD Today!
The Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions for Type Two Diabetes DVD is available at the Gaiam Lifestyle Website and at leading online retailers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, MSN Shopping. Drugstore.com retails the DVD at a 25% discount for $14.98. Rent it even if you don't want to buy the DVD, NetFlix has it.
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Meet Thelma, a woman who's life was drastically altered after a routine physical checkup with her Doctor. She was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Watch the video where she goes on to describe how her doctor said that normal blood should be the consistency of water, but when she lanced her finger it was more like syrup sticking between her fingers.
“It is a miracle you are still standing.” her Doctor told her.
Goddammit! Do you still need a reason to start taking steps to avoid Diabetes? or at least keep it in control if you already have it?
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A 12-month plan for surviving diabetes
The most frightening moment for most people with diabetes is when they are first diagnosed. They are filled with questions: What can I eat? What should I do? Is there a plan for me to follow? While some people get a plan from their doctor, most people do not. Your First Year with Diabetes is the plan for everyone. It walks you step-by-step through a first-30-days survival plan, then shows a month-by-month program for what comes next. Everything from a basic explanation of diabetes, what you can eat right away, and instructions on how to check glucose to a deeper knowledge about diabetes nutrition, avoiding complications, and better management.
The first 28 days
The first 28 days are broken down into daily advice and guidelines. Some of the topics you'll read about are:
Mind Matters - This gives you a new outlook and mental approach to the disease by re-thinking your state of mind.
Diagnosis - This book simplifies the many types of diabetes, the effects on your body and the types of testing available and more!
Eat Wisely - The importance of eating healthy to control your glucose levels is truly explained in layman's terms as well as the basic guidelines.
Get Active - Yes... you've heard it before... but it is important and you'll get a new take on this from Theresa!
Check Glucose - Your options for glucose testing, how they work and the one most suitable for your needs.
A Tough Pill To Swallow - Do you take the medication? How does it affect you? This is an excellent discussion with great information.
Your Safety Net - The discussion of the importance of having people that support you.
But it doesn't stop after the 28 days... it continues to give you weekly guidelines for the rest of the year. One tool she provides is the checklist at the end of each chapter which is a great summary to guide you through what can be an overwhelming experience! The weekly reviews are also a great tool to help you keep up with your progress.
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