Thursday, March 30, 2006

Insulin Equipment: The Novolin Pen

Insulin Equipment: The Novolin Pen


Here is a picture of the pen I use equipped and ready to give an insulin shot to a person with diabetes. Insulin is the critical factor in keeping you diabetes under control, and having your insulin pen ready is the first step in that process.

Here you see the components of the pen. The tube with the orange top is the actual vial of insulin. This goes in the upper black tube, which screws into the bottom half. Once you have the insulin vial in the pen, the needle shown screws on top of the orange vial, as illustrated above.

You then dial the number of units you require to keep your blood sugar at a steady level, and the critical part of administering insulin will be done. Look for illustrations of the steps of giving a needle soon to come.

Regards,

Michael Kralj

Diabetes Diet

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Diabetes, the other silent killer

Diabetes, the other silent killer by Mayur Vibhakar

Figures from the American Diabetic Association show that diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S, killing approximately 210000 persons every year. Medical and other related costs can soar over $100 billion a year!!

The good news is there is a great deal that you can do to help manage the condition at an early stage. Being informed truly is the best medicine. Learning as much as you can about your diabetes, how to control your blood sugar, complications and how to prevent them, can help you stay healthy. As always, be sure to consult your physician first before implementing or changing diet or exercise routines or taking any over the counter medications or nutritional supplements.

Diabetes is a serious condition. It is a chronic disorder of carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism, characterized by fasting elevation of blood sugar level and a greatly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and loss of nerve functions.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type I and Type II.

Type I is also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and often occurs in children and adolescents. Individuals with Type I diabetes need to inject insulin everyday. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin (a hormone which helps deliver sugar from the blood to the body's cells).

Type II is also known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) and is usually an adult disease. In type II diabetes, insulin is present but not appropriately available due to insulin-resistance. For a variety of physiological reasons, the hormone (insulin) is unable to do its job. The pancreas produces insulin but the body's cells do not respond to its action and can't absorb the glucose from the blood so glucose levels rise in the blood.

There are a number of causes which give rise to diabetes. Some of the causes are listed below; however, they should not be considered a complete list.

Heredity plays a major role. Some individuals or ethnic groups may be genetically susceptible than others.

Experts are convinced that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle also play a major role in the development of diabetes.

Impaired digestion and an overworked pancreas.

Syndrome-X (results from a combination of disorders such as hypertension, high cholesterol, blood clotting abnormalities and insulin resistance)

Chromium deficiency.

Prenatal factors. Recent evidence supports the concept that the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy plays a role in determining whether the child will develop diabetes later in life.

Food with refined sugars and high glycemic index.

Imbalance between two critical hormones- insulin and glucagon.

Misplaced T7 (thoracic 7) vertebra.

Complications resulting from diabetes can be grave if not controlled. Some complications include but are not limited to:

Hypoglycemia and diabetic coma.

Cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, skin ulcers, gangrene leading to amputation, stubborn skin infections and heart disease.

There are some early warning signs you should be aware of if you suspect development of diabetes such as 1) Frequent urination 2) Constant thirst or hunger 3) Blurred vision 4) Numb or tingling hands or feet 5) Slow healing of cuts and bruises 6) Frequent skin infections.

Proper treatment is often delayed because diabetes is not diagnosed until a patient is already experiencing complications.

Diet is an extremely important part of diabetic therapy. Nutrition is the cornerstone for good health. A couple of diet considerations after consultation with your physician could include complex carbohydrates that are rich in fiber, fresh vegetables and fruits of low glycemic index, rather than simple carbohydrates such as breads and pastries.

Complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down and absorb and therefore provide a slower or more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. Your physician may even advise you to eat smaller frequent meals throughout the day. Along with diet, exercise is also of equal importance. Exercise will increase tissue levels of chromium and also increases the number of insulin receptors. In many instances, changes in diet and exercise may push borderline blood sugar down to a normal range.

The best prevention is adopting a healthy lifestyle. Because obesity is so strongly associated with TypeII diabetes, weight control is an important element of diabetic management. If you want to lose weight to control diabetes, high blood pressure and reduce the risk for developing heart disease then walk, walk and walk some more.

Insulin injections don't cure diabetes. They enable you to live with it.....that is if you call injecting yourself multiple times a day, "living". The key word is HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through diet, exercise and certain herbs and supplements.

For more information please visit http://www.innervibrance.com/diabetes/

About the Author
Mayur Vibhakar is the editor of http://www.innervibrance.com. A site dedicated to providing health information and articles.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Exercise and Diabetes

Why Exercise?

- May improve blood sugar control
- Increase circulation of blood to all parts of the body
- Helps in weight control
- May lower blood pressure
- Relieve Stress

Exercise lowers the blood sugar levels. In order to prevent your sugar dropping too low, you will need to reduce the amount of insulin taken, or increase the amount of carbohydrates taken to offset the exercise being done.

Always carry quick acting sugar, like lifesavers or sugar cubes, so if your sugar does go low, you can quickly bring it back to a safe level.

Please discuss with your dietitian how exercise will work with your food intake, and how to modify the intake to ensure your sugars do not drop too low.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Purchase cheap domain name registration for your Diabetic Diet website online.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Diabetes and Alcohol

Diabetes and Alcohol

Remember to discuss the issue of using alcohol with diabetes with your physician and dietitian. Alcohol is high in energy, meaning lots of calories

If your dietitian has said alcohol is permitted:

- Use when you have your diabetes is under well control
- Drink in moderation and sip slowly
- Do not drink on an empty stomach
- Try to avoid drinking sweetened mixes, liquers and wine coolers
- Upon taking insulin, do not substitute food with alcohol
- Wear Diabetes Identification like a Medic-Alert bracelet when away from home, so others can react to assist you

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Other Blogs of Interest: 2006 World Cup, Ultrasonic Liposuction

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Dietetic foods

Dietetic foods

You may see foods labeled Dietetic, but these are generally expensive and are not needed by a Diabetic.

Beware:
- Dietetic does not always mean Diaabetic
- Sugar-less is not the same as Sugar-free
- Light or Lite does not always mean smaller amounts of sugar

You may use:

Sugar-free gum
Sugar-free soft drinks
Sugar-free Kool Aid
Artificial Sweeteners

Say no to:

Diet Chocolate
Dietetic Cookies
Dietetic Ice Cream

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Other Blogs: Sump Pumps, Ultrasonic Liposuction

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Diabetes & Blood Sugar

Diabetes & Blood Sugar

After food is eaten, it is broken down to sugar appearing in the bloodstream. What happens in a diabetic, is the body down not produce enough insulin to remove the sugar from the blood. The sugar remains in your blood and cannot be used by the body for energy.

No cure exists for either Type 1: Insulin Dependent or Type 2: non-insulin dependant diabetes, however it can be controlled through:

- Diet
- Diet & Pills
- Diet & Insulin

Diabetic Goal

To prevent the level of sugar in your blood from becoming too high or too low.

How can we achieve our Diabetic goal?

By balancing the amount of food we eat, and the kind of food we eat with the amount of insulin available in our bodies and our physical activity.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Diabetic Diet, Ultrasonic Liposuction

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

What is a Diabetic Diet?

What is a diabetic diet?

A Diabetic Diet is a food plan designed for you that:

- Recommends the amount of food to eat
- Suggests how often and what time of day to eat
- Tries to maintain or achieve the best weight for you
- Allows you to eat foods you want to eat with a few exceptions

Some foods cause your blood sugar to rapidly increase because they have high concentration levels of sugar.

What to AVOID!

- Brown or White Sugar
- Iced Baked Goods
- Regular Soft Drinks
- Candy
- Jams / Jellies
- Regular Pudding Mixes

What to DO!

- Do not skip any meals or snacks
- Eat the quantity of food listed on your meal plan
- Measure / Weigh your foods to ensure accurate serving sizes are being taken

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Diabetic Diet

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Handy Portion Guide

Handy Portion Guide

Your hands can tell you alot of useful information about portion sizes with food.

Carbohydrates: The amount you should eat would equal the size of your two fists closed. If eating fruits, reduce this to one fist.

Protein: The amount should equal the size of the palm of your hand and the thickness of your little finger.

Vegetables: Eat as much vegetables as you can fit in both of your hands. Choose low-carbohydrate vegetables like broccoli or lettuce.

Fat: No more fat than the size of your thumb should be taken.

Just remember, as exercise and activity increases, your portion sizes may also need to increase. Consult a Dietitian for further consultation.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Diabetic Diet Meal Plan

Lemon Berry Crush Smoothie

Lemon Berry Crush Smoothie

Preparation Time: 5 min

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups skim milk
1 1/2 tsp. Crystal Light Lemonade Low Calorie Drink Mix
1 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 cup ice cubes

Place all of the above ingredients in your blender, and cover the blender. Then Blend on high speed until the drink becomes smooth.

Each Serving is 1 cup, and this makes 4 servings.

Diabetes Food Choice: 1 cup = 1 Carb & 1/2 Fats

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Other Blogs: Diabetes Recipes, Buy a New Car

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Partners

Partners:

Here you will find a list of Supporting Sites, who have been kind enough to link back to our web site or are affiliated with our Site.

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Dog Breed Info - learn about dog breeds, dog care and dog fundamentals.

Reverse Pre-Diabetes and Insulin Resistance Symptoms
Your weight loss goals may be compromised by pre-diabetic insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Find out how to reverse pre-diabetes symptoms here.

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For anyone looking to stop Bad Breath this site has everything you will need including a free copy of Dr. Katz's Bad Breath Bible (a $10.00 Value)

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Taking Insulin from a Diabetic Perspective

Taking Insulin from a Diabetic Perspective

I am diabetic and have been for over 12 years now. I was aware of having the disease when I was 13, and have managed my lifestyle ever since, including high school, university and work.

The Diabetic Diet is not the same for everyone. Some take pills and other take Insulin to control their sugar levels. I take Insulin.

I take a fast acting regular insulin for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while taking an NPH Novolin insulin prior to bed time. The regular fast acting insulin is great as it does its work within four hours and leaves your system. The NPH works over night and the tail end of it still works in the morning, allowing you complete coverage of your insulin intake and how it will control your sugar.

I will look to further explain this here on my blog, and explain what I eat in the morning, lunch and dinner, and how a change in the food contents requires a change in the insulin. This will be from my perspective, and consulting a doctor is advised to ensuring your insulin regimen is to your needs.

Just remember, the more you eat foods with higher content of sugar, will require extra units of insulin. If you eat less because you are not hungry, decrease the insulin intake or else the sugar will go low.

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Other Blogs: Bidet Toilets, Small Dog Care, Sump Pump Repair, Buy a New Car

What Is Insulin - The Complete Guide

What Is Insulin - The Complete Guide by Ray Kelly

You might have heard of insulin in connection with the disease known as diabetes. Still, you might be curious about insulin--what it means for the body and what can happen if the body does not produce enough of it. In addition, chances are you know little about the history of insulin and how science's knowledge of insulin has changed over the years.

To begin with, knowledge about insulin is a relatively new phenomenon. Berlin medical student Paul Langerhans first discovered insulin in 1869. Using a microscope, Langerhans noticed a heap of cells in the pancreas which later became known as the Islets of Langerhans. Later, scientists surmised that these cells produce insulin, which regulates carbohydrate metabolism. In January of 1922, Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetic, received the first insulin injection. Because the extract was impure, Thompson experienced a severe allergic reaction. As a result, doctors cancelled future insulin injections for Thompson. However, in later years, researchers were able to perfect insulin injections, making them the primary means of treating diabetes.

In addition to its role in metabolism, insulin controls the storage and release of fat, the cellular uptake of amino acids and electrolytes, and affects small vessel muscle tone. In fact, the concentration of insulin can affect the entire body. This is why diabetics can suffer a variety of side-effects, including blindness and slow healing of wounds. Those who suffer from type 1 diabetes require insulin injections in order to survive, while type 2 diabetes patients may need insulin if other medication and dietary changes are ineffective in controlling blood glucose levels.

At this point, it is not possible to take insulin orally. Instead, insulin is administered through syringes with needles, or insulin pens with needles. However, there are a number of problems associated with insulin as a treatment for diabetes. For instance, it can be difficult to determine the appropriate dose of insulin. The dosage, as well as the timing of the dosage, must often be adjusted, based upon eating habits, exercise routines, or the additional stress of illness. Insulin injections can be a nuisance for patients and, if the patient makes a mistake in terms of dosage, they can actually be dangerous.

Still, when it is used appropriately, insulin can help restore the body's metabolism to normal levels. As a result, through proper administration of insulin, athletes and artists can perform at their optimal level without difficulty. For instance, Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr. is an example of a diabetic who has been helped by insulin, while David Crosby of the singing group Crosby, Stills & Nash has also benefited from insulin injections.

In the year 2004, the former spouse of an international track star maintained that the athlete had used insulin to energize the body. The report promoted the idea that the hormone insulin could be utilized like a steroid in enhancing the body's functions. However, researchers say that insulin does not have the same effects as steroids. They say that eight decades of steroid use do not indicate that insulin could be used as a performance-enhancing drug for those who are not diabetics. While insulin can help to alleviate fatigue for those with diabetes, it does not have the same chemical composition as a steroid. Therefore, doctors say that the use of insulin by non-diabetics is, in fact, dangerous.

Proper use of insulin is essential for those with type 1 diabetes. It can enable them to lead a normal, productive life. However, while insulin is a legitimate treatment for diabetes, it is not a cure. Research is now underway to try to make diabetes a disease of the past and to make insulin injections unnecessary.

About the Author
Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his Free Exercise and Meal Planner at The Biggest Loser or http://www.free-online-health.com/


Other Blogs of Interest: Buy a Used Car, Sump Pump Installation, Diabetic Diet

Conquering Diabetes with Diet

Conquering Diabetes with Diet by Dr. Tara Barker ND

Finding the right nutritional approach when living with diabetes can be incredibly challenging, especially with the largely unhelpful diets that abound which claim to help but in reality do not.

For the uninitiated, when someone is diabetic they are unable to produce or correctly use insulin, which is the hormone that is responsible for getting sugar (glucose) into cells for use as energy. The sugar, unable to enter hungry cells, stays in the bloodstream building up to dangerous levels. Meanwhile, the person feels hungry and craves sweets.

This is why it is literally a matter of life and death that a proper diet is strictly followed. Blood sugar levels not controlled or the condition allowed to progress leads to feeling unhealthy, fatigue, ulcers, blood vessel destruction, eye problems, blindness, heart disease, loss of fingers, toes, or limbs, and life on medications, just to name a few complications.

One of the main goals for a diabetic diet is to lower your weight and maintain it. This alone helps insulin to better do its job. In addition, a proper diet is designed to help your body to heal and better maintain regular glucose levels in your body naturally. The proper diet supplies you with quality vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants fresh from healing food that your body cannot get on a devitalized, convenience, over-cooked, over-processed, fast food, and junky diet. The goal is to get out of the way and give your body what it needs to heal and live normally instead of abnormally. The goal is to get as healthy as you can and get off or at least really reduce the medications you are on.

Diabetes is a disease of lifestyle.

Since diabetes prevents your body from processing glucose the way it should, you will probably need to continue any current diabetes medications while following your diet until blood tests show your body needs less and less of the drug. The goal is that a proper diet and lifestyle will help you to keep your glucose normalized, blood pressure under control, weight becoming normal, and keep you moving in a direction of optimal health.

Overall, there is no official diabetic diet to follow and it really depends on the individual diabetic. Some people are more sensitive to foods and others need daily exercise more strictly. However, there is a fairly well defined lifestyle that will guide you on the path.

Foods to include in your diet are all fresh fruits and vegetables. Greens are by far the best and most healing foods for diabetes. Romaine, kale, chard, baby mixed greens, watercress, spinach etc. are all excellent choices. Sprouts of all kinds, celery, avocado, tomato, cucumber, zucchini, squash, green beans, peas, radishes, red peppers, etc, are all great choices for vegetables. All fruits are beneficial as well, as long as an eye is kept on their effects to your blood sugar. All foods should be consumed in as fresh a state as possible. Raw is best and steamed lightly is a good second place. Your focus should be eating as much fresh, raw, fruits and vegetables and keep a wide variety.

Foods to eliminate completely are: all fried foods, any and all food with sugar or sweeteners added (even concentrated fruit juice, slpenda, cane crystals, etc., and even in small amounts; no sugar), barbecued meat, preserved meat (slim jims, hot dogs, bacon, ham, etc.) and grains (this includes all wheat products, pasta, bread, cereals, oatmeal, couscous, rice, etc.). You should definitely eliminate all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats, additives, preservatives, and food dyes. Avoid all convenience foods, as these are not made to be healthy at all and you will find one if not all of the ingredients to be avoided in them.

The true convenience food for you is a piece of fruit or vegetables and a handful of non-roasted nuts. No trash, no waste, and it waits until you are ready! Fabulous combos are apples and brazil nuts, cashews and pears, pecans and mango, and sunflower seeds with fresh figs.

Occasional use of brown rice in small quantities, occasional use of milk, cheese, butter, eggs, and occasional use of a freshly cooked meat is acceptable as long as you are honest with yourself about your blood sugar values and your definition of occasional is not exaggerated. For health purposes, each of the above foods should only be eaten once a week if they do not negatively affect your blood glucose or blood pressure.

You should experiment with foods such as raw cheeses and milk, raw honey, stevia, unsweetened cocoa, dates, and freshly made (not pasteurized or heated) juices. Juices in particular are very healing and chock full of vitamins and minerals, but check how they affect you. Juices with carrot, beet, celery, kale, parsley, apple, ginger, lemon, and others are all very healing. Some of the choices used raw (such as dairy) may be more beneficial to you and allow you to eat them more often.

Some general guidelines on how a diabetic can stay healthy for many years to come:

10-30% of your daily calories on a diabetic diet should come from fats in foods, such as avocado, nuts, coconut, olives and olive oil, occasional raw cheese, occasional eggs, and meat. The rest of a diabetic diet should consist of simple and complex carbohydrates (sugars) coming fresh vegetables, greens and fruit. Emphasize the greens.

Exercise daily and do activities that you enjoy. Walking is one of the best. If you like, try all sorts of different activities and keep yourself moving, active, and enjoying life. You may like yoga, pilates, hiking, biking, gardening, running, swimming, any ball game, lifting weights, and even playing with your kids or dog. It is important for a diabetic to get regular daily exercise and for the session to last at least 45 minutes. Studies have suggested that anything shorter than this does not have the best impact possible on blood sugar regulation.

About the Author
Is your current diet meeting your health needs? Ask our excellent natural physicians your pressing health concerns. Get your free report, read articles, and more. Visit http://www.MyWebND.com today.

Diabetic Diet

Welcome to the Diabetic Diet Information Web Site. I have now been a diabetic for over 10 years. I was diagnosed when I was 13 years old with Type 1 Diabetes. I was not overweight as the common symptoms say, but my pancreas stopped producing insulin. Insulin regulates your blood sugars and keeps them in control to avoid complications in your body, and to keep it at a level that is normal.

Two Types of Diabetics exist. Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. A Type 1 Diabetic is Insulin Dependent, like me, requiring insulin shots to regulate their sugar levels. A Type 2 Diabetic is Insulin Independent, and can use Pills to help spur growth of insulin to regulate the control of blood sugars.

Both types of Diabetes require complete control of diets, and how it will effectively control sugars.

Learn from this site how to control your sugar levels, so future complications do not exist and so you live a Healthy Lifestyle!

Regards,
Michael Kralj
Use of this web site is subject to the following terms and conditions. The content of this site is for informational purposes only and for Canadian residents. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician for any questions you may have. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this site.