Controlling Your Blood Sugar Whilst Losing Weight

If you are a diabetic and are overweight or considered clinically obese, you can improve
your overall health and the management of your diabetes by losing weight.  It may seem
like an overwhelming goal if you have tried in the past to lose weight and have failed.  
But there are steps you can take and support you can utilize to help you reach your goals.

The first step to losing weight is to set a short-term goal for yourself.  You can do this on
your own but can also get help from your doctor or a dietician.  A good goal when
starting to lose weight is to take a small percentage of your overall weight and aim to lose
that much in your time frame.  For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds aim to lose weight
5% of your body weight to begin (10 pounds).  When you lose weight as a diabetic you
are helping your body by lessening your insulin requirements.  Weight loss will also
assist you in keeping your blood sugar levels under control.

Another method to lose weight is physical activity and exercise.  Getting your body
moving will increase your metabolism and that act will assist in losing weight too.  Not
only will increased metabolism aid in weight loss, it will also help in controlling blood
glucose levels.  Your body will be processing food more efficiently.

Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand with weight loss.  It also takes patience and time but
as you begin the road to weight loss the benefits you will derive as a diabetic will begin
right away.  And as you reach your goal weight you will gain better control of your blood
sugars.  If you are having difficulty losing weight on your own, speak to your doctor
about other options that are available to you such as medication or possibly surgery.

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High blood pressure is a concern for anyone but people with diabetics are more likely to
suffer from it than others.  If you are obese and diabetic, a high blood pressure can be
deadly leading to a fatal heart attack.  Like many health risks associated with diabetes,
good control of your blood sugars, a healthy diet and physical activity can help to keep
your blood pressure in check.

If you are suffering from a headache, your vision is blurry and you feel light headed or
dizzy you may have high blood pressure.  These symptoms are not just indicative of high
blood pressure though and you should seek medical attention to determine the cause.  
Other times there may be no symptoms at all when you have high blood pressure or it
may be slightly elevated.  It is smart to have your blood pressure routinely checked at
your doctor’s appointments.

When you are obese, the most effective way to reduce your blood pressure is to lose
weight.  Follow a meal plan that works for your diabetes, making sure you are consuming
enough food, and can still allow you to lose weight.  Other changes that you can make
that will improve your blood pressure are:

*    An exercise routine that is followed on a regular basis
*    Reducing stress in your life – mediation, yoga, letting go of some responsibilities
*    Quit smoking
*    Lessen the amount of salt you use for cooking or on your food

While you are making lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure your doctor may
decide to put your on medication.  If you have to take blood pressure medication it does
not have to be forever.  You can look at it as a short-term fix while you make the changes
necessary to lower your blood pressure on your own.

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Why any particular person gets diabetes isn’t completely known. Complicating the situation is the fact that there are different types of the disease, though Type 1 and Type 2 are the most common. Of those, Type 2 accounts for about 90% of cases.

Fortunately for those who are at risk, many factors are lifestyle choices and therefore can be altered. Even after contracting the disease, much of the management of the disease involves controllable issues.

Obesity is widely recognized as one of the leading risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. While there is a genetic influence - some shed or gain weight and body fat more easily than others - it is subject to influence by choices. A high BMI (Body Mass Index) is an adjustable number with the proper diet and exercise.

A BMI of higher than 27 correlates with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The number should not be taken as a sole determinant, however, since its diagnostic value is less for those who are very muscular or are pregnant. But a high BMI is an indicator of obesity and should be checked.

Beyond simply being overweight, where the majority of excess body fat resides plays a role in the odds of contracting type 2 diabetes. Those who tend to store body fat around the waist are at higher risk. While that in itself is largely a genetic issue - some individuals are naturally pear-shaped, others are not - the results can be influenced by diet and exercise.

Claims of supplements that target fat at the waistline are yet to be proven. Similarly, assertions that it’s possible to selectively remove waistline body fat through specific exercises are ill-founded. But an overall weight-reducing diet and general exercise program will help reduce large fat deposits, including those of the waistline.

More generally, a sedentary lifestyle increases the odds of contracting type 2 diabetes. Partly that’s the result of adopting a mindset that brings with it a number of less than ideal choices. But in particular, the lack of exercise is a direct cause of higher body fat percentage as well as a number of follow on effects.

Exercise certainly burns calories. But even the resting state burns about 70 calories per hour just to power metabolic processes. But regular movement helps stimulate the lymph system, strengthen and loosen muscles, oxygenate tissues and brings with it many other positive benefits.

Exercise helps control blood pressure, a factor in contracting diabetes. It helps regulate glucose levels, which have a major role in the disease since excess glucose in the blood is a defining attribute of diabetes. It alters cholesterol levels, another risk factor for contracting the condition.

Though the risk of contracting diabetes is present for anyone, it’s good to know you can drive it to much lower odds by adopting healthy choices.

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Both diabetics and obesity are linked to kidney failure.  There are many people who are
both diabetic and obese and they have an increased risk of being diagnosed with serious
kidney problems that lead to dialysis or the need for a transplant.  Kidney failure and
damage in a diabetic patient is known as diabetic nephropathy.

The kidneys’ job is to clean the blood but when the blood has excess sugar (glucose)
present it causes damage to the kidneys.  This damage can happen even before someone
knows they are diabetic or if they are not diabetic but are considered obese.  High blood
sugars that are present in the bodies of obese people and diabetics are a problem to these
organs and other functions in body.

There really aren’t any symptoms for the early signs of kidney damage.  You probably
will not know that it is occurring unless your doctor performs a test to check for protein
in your urine (done with a dip stick in the office).  If the doctor finds the presence of
protein it will be closely monitored depending on the amount of protein present.  During
the beginning stages of diabetic nephropathy the kidneys are still able to function and do
their job of cleaning the blood.  Action will need to be taken to get blood glucose levels
under control to prevent further damage to the kidneys.

If your kidneys fail you are at risk for high blood pressure and the build-up of toxins in
your blood because the kidneys are not able to filter them out.  The two options available
at this point are dialysis or a kidney transplant.  Dialysis is a method to clean your blood
using an external machine you are hooked up to that your blood is run through and then
put back in your body

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It is ideal to wait before your exercise if your blood glucose level is too low or high.  You
can do more damage than good if you do not.  It is especially dangerous if your blood
sugar is on the low side and you begin to exercise.  The physical exertion can cause your
blood sugar to drop even further which can become an emergency situation.  As a
precaution, if you are exercising at a gym make sure the staff are aware of your condition
and have emergency instructions and numbers to call.  If you walk or run on your own
outside, keep identification on you that advises you are diabetic along with contact phone
numbers, a snack, and instructions.

For other tips on exercising with diabetes, you can follow the same guidelines that make
sense for everyone else.  Stretch before and after exercising, drink plenty of fluids, and
don’t push yourself too hard.  It is a smart idea to check your blood sugars before and
after exercising and if you are feeling light-headed during your work-out check it then
too.

As feet problems are common in diabetics, wear proper footwear and socks.  If you
notice any sores on your feet that are not going away on their own, see your doctor.  If
they are not healing they can lead to an infection and other related complications.  Even
though there are risks involved to exercising, the benefits make it worth it.

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Many people suffer from depression at some point in their lives and people with diabetes
are no exception.  If you are obese and have type 2 diabetes you may blame yourself and
your lifestyle on the disease you now have.  It is hard to adjust to a new lifestyle.  Feeling
down or guilty about this is okay and even normal but if it turns into something more you
need to seek professional help.

It is normal to feel down about having diabetes in the beginning but once you learn more
about the disease and how to control it you can also feel more in control of your life
again.  Take charge, if you are obese and want to improve your blood glucose levels you
can.  By eating a healthy diet and regular exercise you can lose weight and improve your
blood sugars.

If your feeling of being down or hopeless will not go away and is accompanied by any of
the following as well you may be depressed.  If this is the case, contact your doctor right
away.

Signs of depression:

*    You are no longer sleeping like you used to (more or less)
*    Not enjoying life or everyday activities like you used to
*    No energy to do things you want or have to do
*    You are eating more or less or have sudden weight gain or loss

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you seek help.  Being obese and diabetic
can be trying both mentally and physically.  It is important to know that you can take
action to make things better.  Your diabetes may never go away but you can certainly
keep it under control and live a full life.  By losing weight, even a small amount, you can
make a huge difference in your health and diabetes.

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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that is based on your height and weight to
determine if you are underweight, an ideal weight, overweight, or obese.  The test is an
indication of the total body fat that you are carrying around.  The number ranges are
fairly accurate but there are some circumstances when the calculations may not be 100%
true.  As these results are purely based on numbers, you should take the number you are
given and discuss other contributing factors with your doctor (such as muscle weight or
body type considerations).

A BMI of 30 or over is considered obese.  The higher end of the scale for overweight
people (25 – 29.9) and people that fall into the obese category are at an increased risk for
developing type 2 diabetes. Other danger indicators are waist circumferences.  If you are
a man and your waist measures 40 inches or more and if you are a woman and your waist
measures 35 inches or more, there is an increased abdominal fat risk factor for diabetes
and other diseases.  

Maintaining a healthy BMI is all about being at a weight that is right for your height and
body type.  Both of these goals will bring many more benefits than just better controlled
blood glucose levels. You will also have increased energy, can reduce the amount of
insulin you are on, and give yourself a longer life expectancy.

Reduce your total body fat to bring your BMI into a healthy range (18.5-24.9).  Consult
your doctor and get advice on how to meet your goals.  And if you are just starting an
exercise routine, get the okay from your doctor first.  You do not want to overtax yourself
at the beginning and your doctor may have some restrictions for you to ensure you do not
suffer from injury or hypoglycemia.

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The symptoms of diabetes can be puzzling. Even the common ones may not be present in all cases. They may come and go. And the same symptoms can be produced by other conditions. Nevertheless, there are a cluster of common circumstances that tend to mark out the disease.

Unusually frequent urination is one of the classic symptoms that suggests the possibility of diabetes. One defining attribute of the disease is excessive glucose levels in the blood. Either the body produces too little insulin to deal with it (Type 1 diabetes), or the insulin isn’t used correctly (Type 2).

The body attempts to compensate by eliminating the excess glucose using the urine. The kidneys work at higher than normal levels to filter out the excess sugar. When they can’t remove enough, the remainder is passed through when other fluids are eliminated as waste products of metabolic processes.

One result, and an accompanying symptom, is excessive thirst. The diabetic feels as if he or she is always thirsty, and no matter how much fluid is taken in it never seems like enough. That in turn prompts still more urination.

Another common symptom of diabetes is continual fatigue. Since insulin isn’t performing its role properly by aiding the cells to take in glucose from the bloodstream, the diabetic may feel tired. Glucose is the major source of energy for powering an enormous variety of the body’s functions from cell repair to major muscle movement.

But other body systems can be affected by diabetes and show up as symptoms.

Blurry vision can result from any number of conditions, even simple age where it is often just presbyopia. Presbyopia results from reduced elasticity of the lenses as we age, leading to a lessened ability to focus. But the cause in the case of diabetes is very different.

High blood sugar levels reduce fluid in the tissues, including those of the eye and in particular the lenses. That affects your ability to focus. When the disease becomes more advanced it can cause new blood vessels to form in the retina. That again affects your vision. Though in this circumstance, the result is more often seeing dark spots or flashing lights, or rings around room lights.

In some instances, cuts (particularly on the feet) may be slower to heal when a person has type 2 diabetes. The reasons are not yet fully understood, but it is one more indicator. At the same time, the immune system is affected, leading to a lowered ability to fight off infection.

Since so many of these diabetes symptoms can be (and are) produced by a number of other conditions, the best course of action if you suspect you have diabetes is to seek a professional diagnosis. Simple blood tests can determine with a high degree of confidence whether or not you do in fact have the disease. They’re relatively painless and most are covered by ordinary health insurance.

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There are multiple aspects to the relationship between diet and diabetes. On the one hand, anyone with diabetes will need to take extra care with diet in order to help maintain the proper glucose level. On the other, those who don’t have diabetes - but have a genetic and/or environmental or lifestyle disposition to develop it - can help stave off the disease in part through good dietary choices.

It isn’t the case, for example, that eating sugary foods leads to diabetes. The causes of the disease are complex and not fully understood. But what is known shows that there is both a genetic and many possible environmental factors. Only part of that is the amount of sugar ingested.

Nevertheless, it’s true that those with a high sugar diet will tend to be overweight (as measured, in part, by a BMI over 27) and therefore are at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes. That’s particularly true for those who tend to carry that extra weight around the waist.

As such, a diet that is generally healthy for everyone is the same diet that will help stave off diabetes, or lessen its effects for those who already have the disease.

A diet that contains the proper amounts of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, as well as good protein sources, is helpful for everyone, including the diabetic. Fat itself isn’t to be totally excluded, but should be consumed in moderation.

Fat gets a bad reputation because (a) it’s over twice as high in calories than other foods (9 calories per gram as opposed to 4) and, (b) there are certain fats that are less healthy than others (transfats as opposed to healthier unsaturated fats). A certain amount is essential for good health.

While a diabetic should be prepared at all times to consume a snack or bar that will help stabilize glucose at the right level, in general it’s helpful to establish a routine. That makes it easier to monitor glucose level and to predict what it is likely to be when you’re not watching it. That also helps smooth out the level of glucose in the blood over time. Spikes or dips are to be avoided.

Those with diabetes who also want to reduce weight or body fat need to take extra care. After consulting a physician to establish a good diet for their particular circumstances, counting carbohydrates will need to become a regular routine. Most carbohydrates are what the body breaks down to produce glucose. That has a direct effect on the glucose-insulin balance so important for keeping diabetes under control.

While protein or fat consumption doesn’t directly determine the amount of insulin needed, these too should be consumed in carefully regulated quantities. Excess consumption can make anyone overweight and the diabetic is more negatively affected if that occurs than others.

Consistency is key. Establish a diabetes control diet plan for your individual circumstances and stick to it, making gradual adjustments as needed. In the long term, it will help minimize any problems associated with diabetes to the maximum extent possible.

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Diabetes, a disease characterized by chronic high levels of glucose in the blood, is not the major problem it once was. Prior to the end of the 19th century, it might well have been a death sentence for many. Excess glucose can have a number of ill effects, including poor cut healing or kidney damage, even coma. With the advancement of monitoring and insulin delivery methods, it’s often now little more than another daily task to perform.

Though the underlying causes are not fully understood, diabetes results from either too little insulin being produced or ineffective use of it by the body. In Type 1 diabetes, for example, the islet cells of the pancreas fail to produce an amount of insulin adequate to allow blood glucose to enter cells where it’s used for energy. In Type 2, the cells may resist insulin’s action, once again leaving too much glucose in the blood.

But though they’re not completely known, experts agree that the causes of the different types of diabetes are generally a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental or lifestyle factors. In some cases, one or the other may dominate. gestational diabetes, for example, affects about 3% of pregnant women usually from around 24-28 weeks into term. But it goes away after birth. Type 1, on the other hand, affects mostly juveniles and is largely genetic.

In all cases, the symptoms are usually roughly the same: excessively frequent urination, unquenchable thirst, sometimes accompanied by dizziness or stomach pains. Naturally, these common symptoms can have a number of causes. Anyone suspecting he or she has diabetes should be tested by a physician.

Those tests are simple and relatively painless, only requiring a small blood sample. Blood glucose level is measured, with normal running around 99 mg/dL, while diabetics have a level of 126 mg/dL or above. It may require more than one test to confirm the disease.

Once confirmed, regular blood glucose monitoring is a must. Fortunately, there are today many convenient ways to do that. Testing devices the size of a cell phone are common. A small sample of blood is smeared on a strip fed into the instrument, which delivers a number within seconds. Some recent devices measure glucose level through the skin using an infrared beam.

Treatments are equally easy for most diabetics. In some cases careful diet and appropriate exercise may be enough to keep the right glucose-insulin balance. In the usual case, insulin delivery is called for. But that too is much easier than in generations past. Small insulin-containing pens can deliver the exact right dose painlessly. Newer oral inhalers are on the market that have met with success.

Though no one wants to have to deal with diabetes, managing the disease is now easier than ever. The possible long term complications of untreated diabetes remain what they always were. By keeping them at bay with simple techniques, most diabetics can enjoy an active fulfilling life just as anyone else.

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