Type 1 Diabetes Forum

Margarine lowers the IQ of children. I know it sounds completely arrogant but it is true. According to researchers at the University of Auckland, children who ate margarine every day had significantly lower IQ scores by the age of three-and-a-half than those who did not (1). The saddest thing is that margarine is promoted to be a healthy alternative to butter which not true. Margarine is an artificial product that has been heavily processed and chemically refined. Due to these procedures it goes through it has acquired serious toxic and inflammatory properties. The vegetable oils used in most margarine are hydrogenated to make them solid. This turns the oil into highly unhealthy trans-fatty acids. These man-made fatty acids have been shown to raise “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower “good” cholesterol (HDL). They have also been linked to inflammation, one of the major causes of heart disease (2).

Another study, (3) tracked people for 20 years and recorded the number of myocardial infractions suffered and is also backed up by the world-famous Framingham Heart Study. The results completely contradict what we have been told so far. As margarine consumption increased, heart attacks went up. As butter consumption increased, heart attacks declined. During the second decade, the group eating the most margarine had 77% more heart attacks than the group eating none!

The famous Framingham study has been one of the major projects focusing on cholesterol and heart disease, running for many decades now. After 40 years, the director of the study had to admit: “In Framingham, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person’s serum cholesterol. . . we found that the people who ate the most cholesterol, ate the most saturated fat, ate the most calories, weighed the least and were the most physically active.”

References

1. Theodore, RF., Thompson, JMD., et al. Dietary patterns and intelligence in early and middle childhood, Intelligence. 2009; 37(5):506-513
2. C. Oomen, M. Ocke, et al, “Association between trans fatty acid intake and 10-year risk of coronary heart disease in the Zutphen Elderly Study: The Lancet, Volume 357, Issue 9258, Pages 746-751
3. “Margarine Intake and Subsequent Coronary Heart Disease in Men.” Matthew W. Gillman, L. Adrienne Cupples, et al. Epidemiology Vol. 8, No. 2 (Mar., 1997), pp. 144-149

Helen Davies is an experienced Medical Researcher with a Master Degree in Human Molecular Genetics from Imperial College London, UK. As the founder of Primal Health Company she has done extensive research Nutritional Genomics and Alternative Medicine.

Here are just some of the benefits of adding just alittle Psyllium to your diet.

Clears Constipation, Helps Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and Haemorrhoids. Reduces Bad Cholesterol and Improves Good Cholesterol.

A survey carried out recently by the National Fibre Council showed that 88 percent of Americans have no idea how many grams of fibre they need a day, or really the types of foods to eat in order to get that fibre.

If you have a poor diet, then the all natural supplement Psyllium may be the solution you are searching for for.

Psyllium is an annual herb that grows in fairly barren places in full sunlight to about sixteen inches in height, it has long occupied an important place among healing plants. Cultivated most often in West Pakistan and parts of India, it has also been experimentally planted in a few new areas, especially in Arizona.

Psyllium is well known for its binding properties, and is ordinarily used as a safe and effective natural laxative. As a soluble fibre food source, normal use reduces cholesterol absorbed by the body. Very rich in dietary fibre. Psyllium is also a great way to help in reducing your cholesterol. Many studies have shown it to be more beneficial than bran, in helping regularity.

Psyllium is mainly fibre so it doesn’t get absorbed by the body. Its calorie value is almost nil and it adds lots of bulk to help keep your digestive system moving. oftentimes used to treat and relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, haemorrhoids, and other intestinal disorders. High fibre foods, of which Psyllium is among the best, also help to reduce high blood pressure, heart disease, cholesterol, and weight (obesity).

It has also been found that Psyllium can help lessen the bad cholesterol in the blood while it raises the good kind of cholesterol needed by our bodies. The fibre in Psyllium is not broken down as it passes through the digestive tract. It becomes gelatinous when mixed with water and provides bulk, which moves digesting food through the intestines more easily. This form of soluble fibre adds bulk and volume to the digestive tract.

Other studies have also suggested that regular use of Psyllium husk supplements may help excrete more fat in stools, translating to weight loss. Other studies suggest it may also be helpful in lowering blood sugar counts. As it is non-abrasive, Psyllium is perfect for sensitive cell walls.

Psyllium husks are proven to be very safe and are used by millions of people throughout the world every day. In an eight-week trial of people who added Psyllium to their diets. It was recorded that. Total cholesterol fell by 14 percent and unwanted LDL cholesterol by 20 percent. In studies lasting more than two months, triglyceride’s came down to just over half the baseline levels.

Psyllium is very high in soluble fibre. Therefore, we only need to eat a small serving to contribute to the soluble fibre needed to help achieve a cholesterol- reducing effect. The mucilage content of a Psyllium seed is thought to range between 10-30 percent. Once the seed is placed in water, the outer walls swell up to 14 times its original size, as a thickened layer of mucilage forms around the seed. This process helps to line the colon with a slick film, increase the contractions of the lower bowel. Helping to absorb and excrete toxic substances.

Psyllium can be sold in a many different ways and it can be found in lots of health food stores. There are Psyllium powders, capsules, seeds and husks to name a few.

However way you decide to take it, remember you need to drink lots of fluids during the day as well. It is very absorbent, so you need to drink lots of fluids. Especially after you have taken your Psyllium.

My personal choice is Psyllium Husk Powder. I like to buy the Organic type as I have been told that in India and Pakistan, often many pesticides are used in it’s production. I mix it with water and just drink it like a smoothie, then I have a good sized glass of filtered water.

With the type of diet thought of as normal in the US and the UK these days, too many people have small sticky bowel movements. No doubt because so much of the food we eat is highly refined and is sticky by nature. Creating severe stress on our bowels, intestines and body.

Give your body a treat, start taking Psyllium, feel, look and be better.

Aiden has been writing and publishing articles on-line for over 4 years. Pilates and wellbeing is his greatest interest and his Sister Anne-Marie manages A Pilates Studio in San Diego. Here you will find fully Qualified Pilates Teachers and Trainers offering Pilates Classes and Workouts with all the latest Equipment. Located on Bernardo Centre Drive, Pilates Passion serves Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido, Scripps Ranch, 4S Ranch, Santa Luz, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Carmel Valley and North County San Diego.

Medical alert systems are more important now than ever before. We’ve reached a point where millions of baby boomers are reaching retirement age. When they leave the work force and face life at home alone new questions about physical safety are sure to arise.

Baby boomers aren’t the old people of the past. Today’s elderly continue to be active long after they reach retirement age. They aren’t sitting home alone watching TV. They are ferociously independent and have no interest in moving into retirement communities or nursing homes. This means that a wide range of the aging population is now living independent lives than we have seen in years past.

Do all old people need medical alert systems? probably not. That doesn’t mean that they couldn’t all benefit from having them around just that not everyone over the age of 65 actually needs the extra security that a personal emergency response system provides.

People at greater risk or in greater need of these systems are those who have fundamental disabilities, take a large amount of prescription meds, have diabetes, or live alone are the people who face a greater need for the ” insurance” provided by medical alerts for seniors.

It isn’t enough just to have medical alert systems. There are other things you need to do in order to protect yourself from possible falls, slips, or trips. Here are a few ideas that will help limit your dependency on others while also lessening your risk from injury due to accidents or dimenishing health.

1)   Simplify your life, home, and lawn. Low maintenance is a marvelous thing to people who are growing old. Not only will it allow you plenty of time to enjoy those dream vacations and holidays but it will also ensure that you are less probable to trip over things that are out of place or simply in the way. Throw away or sell things you don’t need. Get rid of the clutter in your home or in your yard. Sell or store bulky furniture that poses problems for accesibility within the house. This is a time in your life when less things to dust, manage, and maneuver around mean more time to concentrate on other things.

2)   Exercise. You just don’t realize how beneficial it is. Regular exercise will help you maintain a better sense of balance and coordination. These two things alone will help you avoid falls, slips, and give you better reflexes so you can right yourself before you hit the ground.

3)   Reduce prescription meds that aren’t absolutely necessary. The more prescription medication you take on a regular basis, the greater the risks of interactions or side effects that may impact balance and lead to falls. Find out if all the medications you take are absolutely required and what alternatives you might consider when it comes to diet and activity or even life style changes that might generate the same results.

The odds are good that while you may not need medical alert systems just yet you could benefit. Either way it’s insurance well worth having as you age and the potential for falls and other health problems grow.

There are many common conditions that a lot of people suffer from and diabetes is one such condition. One could suffer from low or high blood sugar. To control this condition and avoid low blood sugar problems, you will need to check your blood sugar levels at regular times.

The device used to measure the level of sugar or glucose in the blood is called a blood glucose monitors. Normally, a specialized type of coated strip that contains a blood sample is placed inside the blood sugar monitor that will then measure the glucose level in the blood sample. Afterwards, the results will be displayed in digital format. 

Blood glucose monitors are used mainly by a diabetic to check blood glucose levels which needs to be kept balanced to avoid risks of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Home test kits are also helpful in maintaining good glucose control with the help of proper diet, exercise and doctor-supervised medications.

There are several guidelines to help a diabetic person maintain a good blood sugar level and diabetes care is specially designed by a doctor for every individual patient. Some diabetics may need to use  blood glucose monitors more frequently than other patients. It will all depend on the recommendation of the doctor or diabetes educator. Self-monitoring of blood sugar is suggested to all diabetic people especially for people who take insulin.

One thing we need to be aware of is that not all blood glucose monitors functions the same way. Patients need to know how to use this equipment and interpret results and training from a diabetes educator is required to achieve this. A diabetes educator should watch a patient perform the test to be sure that the patient will know how to use the machine.The following information below is steps for using  blood glucose monitors:

1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Afterwards, dry the hands completely with a clean cloth.

2. Prick the fingertip using a needle or lancet. Hold the finger down until a small amount of blood drops onto a test strip.

3. Insert the test strip inside the blood sugar monitor and then record the test result.

4. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all blood sugar level monitors to have an easy to follow instructions (manual). It is also best to carefully read the manual in case a problem arises. A lot of blood sugar monitors use “error codes” whenever there is a problem and the manual can help interpret the error code and resolve the problem.

Using blood glucose monitors is a good way to help maintain good blood sugar level. For more information on the importance of this machine and how to use it, it is best to seek advice or assistance from a diabetes educator or doctor.

Diabetes is a condition featuring unusually high levels of glucose in the bloodstream.  Insulin, produced by the pancreas, is used by the body to lower blood glucose levels.  If someone’s pancreas doesn’t generate enough insulin, their body will develop diabetes.  

A short list of symptoms of diabetes would include severe hunger and thirst, more urge to urinate, and fatigue.  But the surest way of knowing whether you have diabetes is having a blood sugar test, also known as a Glucose Tolerance Test.

Type 1 diabetes is the more acute form. It is typically treated with special dietary restrictions, exercise and occasionally with insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually will be treated with special diet, exercise, and a weight loss plan before insulin is added.  This form of diabetes is considered an insulin dependent disease.

A less severe form of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is first treated with a diabetic diet,
exercise and weight loss.  If theses measures are not successful in controlling blood sugar and insulin levels, oral medications may be added.  Insulin is then finally considered if these also are unsuccessful.  Type 2 diabetes normally occurs in adults who are middle age or older, which is why it is sometimes called Late-Onset Diabetes In this case, he pancreas still produces the right levels of insulin but the body has become resistant to it.  

It is feasible to delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes if it runs in the family. Through losing weight, getting the right amount of exercise and controlling your diet, you can manage.  If Type 2 diabetes is not treated, eventually the same complications may ensue as those seen with Type 1 diabetes.  

Gestational diabetes is seen in pregnant women. Normally it disappears after the birth of the baby, however, treatment for the mother to stabilize the blood glucose levels will decrease the chance of complications to the baby as well as mother.

Juvenile Onset diabetes is another major form of diabetes that affects many children.  It is believed to be the onset of Type 1 diabetes.  If a child is showing even a few of the symptoms of diabetes, it’s vital that they be checked by a doctor.  It is estimated that over two million adolescents are in the pre-diabetes stage. This is mostly due to being overweight. In this condition, blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be considered diabetes.  Teens usually develop this between the ages of 12 and 19.

Eating Gluten Free doesn’t have to be difficult for diabetics.  But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can have delicious dairy-free alternatives and many other great tasting products.  Any gluten free products for diabetics should have a very small amount of allergens, as well as alternatives provided with perspective to the majority of recognized allergens, such as particular recipes which provide alternatives to nut products.

Diabetics that are living some sort of gluten free way of life tend to be experiencing a substantial decrease in their blood sugar levels. acombination of the gluten free diet plan jointly with a frequent exercise routine and therefore a person will experience reduce blood sugar levels as well as an improved energy level.

Initially you have got to fully grasp exactly what gluten is and how it can strike anyone that is diabetic. Gluten is some sort of protein which is actually found in grains, this specific gluten protein can not be digested by individuals suffering with the condition known as Celiac. An significant eating plan has been created in order to assist the enormous amounts of individuals which have Celiac disease.

Obtaining certain foods as well as recipes which are free from wheat, barley, rye, kasha, matzo meal, bulgur, semolina, farina and and many more can become a issue at times. Gluten can be present in food additives which stabilize as well as thicken foods.  Unfortunately most non gluten free products are processed which includes several alcoholic drinks. Any diet plan that’s entirely with out gluten is really a 100% commitment to being free of all whole grain products.

Obtaining gluten free foods as well as dishes which your whole household would eat for all three meals…breakfast, lunch and dinner each day can be a serious challenge. Being diabetic only adds to the troubles, but does not make it an impossible task.  The vast majority of individuals on gluten limited diet programs, understand that gluten free isn’t an either/or way of life this is a dedication to a method of eating.

It’s very important to be able to spot diabetes signs at a very early stage in the disease . Here are the top 11 most common and easiest to spot signs:

A sudden loss of weight  A persons weight is a very important determining factor in early onset diabetes . Most diabetics are actually overweight . However when the diabetes starts to set in sudden weight loss occurs. Sudden weight loss takes place because protein and fat stores are now being used by the body for the utilization of energy.

Often and frequent Urination   Frequent urination is the most classic symptom of diabetes . The symptoms occur because the body of the person is unable to reabsorb the water back into the body. The kidneys of the diabetic person becomes busy in extracting and flushing away more water because of the osmotic activity that is linked to increased level of glucose.

Are You Suffering From Unquenchable Thirst?  This relates to the frequent urination . To restock the supply of water the body gives signal that it is extremely thirsty.

Feeling extremely hungry right after eating   A diabetic person is compelled to eat more because of the excessive breakdown of tissues. The cells of the diabetic person are in the state of starvation specifically if left untreated at the mercy of diabetes.

The above mentioned diabetes signs are trademarks of this disease. In almost every diabetic the above symptoms can be found . These are the warning bells which puts a person from a non diabetic road to the diabetic path. If you spot any of the above you should get tested right away .

 We mentioned 11 signs, here are 7 more not so common signs you should look out for .

Blurriness in Vision: The increased blood flow towards the retina of the eye cause the vision of the diabetic person to blur.

Dryness of Skin:  The diabetics generally have to experience itchy or dry skin.

Numbness or Tingling In Extremities:  This is often interpreted as a heartbeat sensation in the extremities such as the fingers and toes .

Slow Healing Cuts and Wounds:  The breaking down of the tissue can also slow the healing process .

Recurrent Vaginal Infection in Women:  Yeast and Vaginal infections are very common in diabetic women.

Tiredness or Fatigue:  If you feel tired and fatigued even after just the smallest of tasks it’s possibly an early sign of diabetes .

Irritability:  The above mentioned changes in the body cause the person to get irritated or feel depressed.