Diabetic Diet & Blood Gluecose

Changing to a diabetic diet when obese?

2011-08-27T16:50:06Z

My best friend (who has been trying to manage his obesity for years) has finally been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. Are there any easy ways to start him on diets for those who are pre-diabetic? Most of the sites we’ve tried seem just to say "Don’t be obese and get more exercise". Are there any resources which give diet sheets, or recommended brands for diabetics?

Your best friend clearly has blood sugar imbalances thus the prediabetes. Dietary changes can help so much in avoidng the diabetes diagnosis.

Eating unrefined foods, lean protein, and more veggies than starches are really important for you bf right now, low carb. Eating 5-6 small meals/snacks should be his pattern. Drink plenty of water. Try to exercise even walking 3X a day for 30 min will help stabilize glucose levels. Add more protein. Protein always helps in making me feel full and I don’t feel so hungry all the time. Fish, chicken, lamb, etc. are also good sources of protein. Beans have a good source of plant protein and fibers that stick with you longer and break down into sugar (as all food eventually does) in your blood stream more slowly. This is a good thing, as you won’t get a low blood sugar nearly as quickly. Try to avoid candy, juices, etc. are all turned into blood sugar very fast; they don’t stick with you. I know this is very hard but try to do it slowly eating less and less everyday. You will see how you will feel better following these tips. Think of these simple sugars as very short term fuel. If he needs to have sweets try sugar free its really good and fill that "sugar" absence. Eating correctly will help you straighten his dietary problems. Also, this helps when he can get into "portion" control eating smaller portions that makes it seem you are not on an actual diet.

David Mendosa diabetes.com can give you alot of help in setting up diet sheets and recommended diets and brands for diabetics. He also has systems that can help your friend track his glucose and set up reminders, etc. Mr Mendosa is a pioneer in the field of diabetes and his web site has an enormous amount of information for new diabetics as well as long time diabetics.

Try the above tips you’ll be surprised how well it works and how his blood glucose levels will drop. You are a good friend in helping him out and I’m sure he is a good friend to you too.

Hope this helps.

What do you do if you don’t know the difference between hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia?

2011-08-16T05:43:56Z

The options that are given are:

1) offer water
2) offer sugar
3) drive person to hospital
4) encourage them take slow breathes

please answer ASAP

Although your previous respondents have correctly stated the difference between hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia I’ve a strong suspicion that you’re asking what you need to do if you find someone in a diabetic state that you don’t know whether they’re having a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic event.

What you need to do is give them sugar, preferably stirred up in some water as this makes it easier to break down during the digestive process … unless they’re unconscious. If they are unconscious you telephone for an ambulance immediately. (There’s a very real danger that if you try to give anything orally, that the sufferer MAY choke to death.) Paramedics would first check the patient’s blood glucose level then decide what to do from then on. (If the person is hypoglycemic they would either give a glucagon injection or a glucose injection. Glucagon would be given intramuscularly. This stimulates the liver to release some of it’s stores of glycogen … the way it stores glucose … back int the bloodstream. Glucose injections are given intravenously. This puts glucose directly into the bloodstream.)

Hypoglycemia (lower than ‘normal’ blood glucose levels) is more immediately dangerous than hyperglycemia. Someone suffering a hypoglycemic event could easily slip into unconsciousness, leading to coma or death in a very short space of time, whereas hyperglycemia tends to evolve of many hours or even days. (You can also fall into unconsciousness, leading to coma and death with hyperglycemia, but as I say, it MAY take several days.)

Both situations are classed as emergency situations, but treatment for hypoglycemia tends to be more rapid, and may resolve in a matter of minutes or hours. Hyperglycemia would normally require hospital admission, and require the patient to be put on a drip of both saline and insulin.

Given the options that you have been given, if the patient is conscious, give sugar … even if you’re not sure of what’s happening with them. You must always err on the side of caution. i.e. treat which more immediately threatening.

Why would a person with Type One Diabetes taking insulin be likely to develop hyperglycemia?

2011-08-13T18:39:54Z

oops that should be hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia

They would be likely to develop either one. They are dependent on getting exact doses of insulin matched to their food intake and level of exercise. If the situation is right (or wrong) they can develop hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia within minutes.

Hypoglycemia = low blood sugar levels = caused by too much insulin, too little food or physical activity
Hyperglycemia = high blood sugar levels = caused by too much food, too little insulin or stress

Why would drinking too much Alcohol be a risk factor for Hypoglycemia in a diabetic?

2011-08-09T18:15:21Z

So obviously, hypoglycemia = too little blood glucose.

When drinking alcohol, the body converts that to glucose.

So if someone drinks a lot of alcohol, wouldn’t they have a lot of blood glucose that got converted by the liver?

How would that cause HYPOglycemia?

Alcohol LOWERS blood sugar.
That’s why people with alcohol poisoning die.

The alcohol stops the liver from producing glycogen.This keeps sugar levels at a normal level.
Without that or any high carb food, you will get lower and lower,

If you drink, do so moderately and always eat carbs when you drink and after you drink.

What illnesses and infections cause hyperglycemia?

2011-08-06T19:55:39Z

Hi, I have been looking to find more information on hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar); I have found some causes but I am wondering which illnesses and/or infections cause it. Thanks.
What causes it for those who are NOT diabetic

A high proportion of patients suffering an acute stress such as stroke or myocardial infarction (heart attack) may develop hyperglycemia, even in the absence of a diagnosis of diabetes. Human and animal studies suggest that this is not benign, and that stress-induced hyperglycemia is associated with a high risk of mortality after both stroke and myocardial infarction.

Plasma glucose >120 mg/dl in the absence of diabetes is a clinical sign of sepsis (blood infection).

Physical trauma, surgery and many forms of severe stress can temporarily increase glucose levels.

Hyperglycemia can be a serious problem if not treated in time. In untreated hyperglycemia, a condition called ketoacidosis could occur. Ketoacidosis develops when the body does not have enough insulin. Without insulin, the body isn’t able to utilize the glucose for fuel, so the body starts to breaks down fats for energy.

When the body breaks down fats, it produces a waste product called ketones. The body cannot tolerate large quantity of ketones and will try to remove it through the urine. Unfortunately, the body is not able to remove all the ketones and thus they build up in the blood stream, which can lead to ketoacidosis.

Ketoacidosis is life-threatening condition which needs immediate treatment. Symptoms include: shortness of breath, breath that smells fruity, nausea and vomiting, and very dry mouth.

Hope this helps.

Diabetic Diet: Total Carb intake for the Entire Day?

2011-07-30T11:19:21Z

Okay, I ve searched and searched to find out how many carbs are acceptable for a diabetic to consume when on a 2100 calorie diet in an entire day? If you can give me the website or source where i may cite this information…..It has to be the total carbs specifically for a DIABETIC can have in an entire day without putting their glucose in jeapordy.
Thank You

Maximum carbs for the day is as individual as fingerprints. My doctor has me on 270g or less. The important thing is to spread the intake over the entire day, not at just one or two meals. That would overload my sugar level. Also another important factor to consider at meal times is how fast the carbs are absorbed into the blood stream (glycemic index or glycemic load). Low GI/GL foods take longer to absorb, keeping your blood sugar from spiking too high.

Why do diabetic recipes always use EGG SUBSTITUTE?

2011-07-22T17:23:01Z

I’m not quite sure why every online recipe and cookbook tries to delete the egg from cooking. True, it is a source of fat and cholesterol, but it is also a source of protein. What does eggs have to do with how much sugar you can intake? Just curious since my family is new to all of this. Thanks in advance!

Congratulations for questioning the amount of sugar in eggs!!! There is none. Diabetics should use egg substitute only if they enjoy that more than they enjoy real eggs. My husband suffered with type 2 diabetes for over 20 years. We read a book and it changed our lives.
We eat bacon and eggs and I mean REAL bacon and eggs for breakfast for the past 8 years. All of his health markers have improved dramatically. Doctors are astonished and happy with his progress. He lost 80 pounds in 9 months, came off of 43 units of insulin a night in 3 months, reduced the neuropathy in his feet so much so that he doesn’t even feel it anymore. The neuropathy in his feet would not allow him to walk more than 75 feet before sitting down to rest. He was on pain medication for this condition. He hasn’t taken the neurotin for neuropathy in about 7 years.
We eat a low carb diet and we exercise at the gym regularly.
Carbs are things like, potatoes, breads of any kind including the whole grain breads (whole grain or not it is a carb and it turns to sugar in the body), fruits (the only fruits a diabetic should even think about eating are things like strawberrries, raspberries and small portions of blueberries). Fruit contains fructose which is sugar! Carbs are also all candy, cakes/bakery, rice, junk food like chips, pretzels, ice cream. Nuts are a good thing to eat but in limited portions.
You can eat all types of meat – all types. Eat green vegetables like green beans, lettuce, broccoli, etc.
Get the book, Diabetes Solution by Richard Bernstein, M.D. – it the book that changed our lives.
Good luck and God bless you.

What would be an interesting contest for people with diabetes to get involved?

2011-07-14T16:11:18Z

I am working on a project, and I would to come up with a contest that is ideal for people with diabetes. I just wanted to hear some ideas from people who have diabetes or anyone who knows someone with diabetes. I would truly appreciate it.

Anything from Marathon running and Cross Country to Chess. Actually we are encouraged to do any type of physical activity like playing tennis, golf, other hard sweaty activities and swimming. My doctor thinks anything that costs money like for court fees and greens fees is excellent, but doesn’t consider horse, llama, sheep showing to be good nor does he think agility training for dogs to be good.

I consider Agility training for dogs to be ideal for diabetes. Person has to run with dog through the course or the dog may miss turns and tunnels, ladders and ramps otherwise. I am training a 3 pound Chihuahua who can out run a cotton tail rabbit!

Show animals take strength and agility in the person and causes long walks teaching the animals to walk on lead.

Tennis, golf, etc all take $$$ to join a club and buy the necessary equipment before you can do it.

Where can I find recipes for a restricted diet?

2011-07-11T11:21:26Z

My mother is diabetic and also has problem with her kidneys. There are so many things she can’t have. She is getting board with the limited meals she does have.

She can’t have tomatoes, beans, organ meat. Those are a main issue as most low fat recipes call for these. Also, she needs to have a lot of protein.

There are many good internet sites for diabetic recipies. Here are a few to get you started:

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/diabetic-recipes/

http://www.dlife.com/diabetes/diabetic-recipes/

http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/

Note: You will need to cut and paste since my links are not ‘clickable’ yet as I am new to this forum.

Anyone know anything about the ReliOn Ultima Blood Glucose meter?

2011-07-08T13:01:07Z

Sold at WalMart ? Do you have to get the "Control Solution" the users manual talks about before the meter will actually work and give you a glucose reading ?

Hi,
I work with ReliOn. The Ultima is sold only at Walmart and Sam’s Club Pharmacies in the United States. You can get control solution for free by calling 800.992.3612, but you do not need it to start testing. We also have a couple of newer meters (micro and Confirm) that have the same pricing as Ultima.

More info is available at www.relion.com.

Thanks!