Posts Tagged ‘Blood Glucose’

Outside the Normal Blood Sugar Range – 5 Damaging High Blood Sugar Effects You Must Know About

Comments: 0June 20th, 2010 by admin



You want to know about the normal blood sugar range? I can understand why.

Living outside the range means tearing your body down slowly in the short run. And the effects can lead to kidney failure, blindness and worse in the long run.

But that doesn’t have to be your story. There’s a lot you can do if you catch it early.

Here’s a chart for your normal blood sugar range. Make sure you read the warning at the end.

Waking range (after a night’s sleep but before breakfast): 80-120

Before meals: 80-120

120 minutes after meals: 170 or lower

Before bed: 100-140

Sleeping: 70-110

Fasting: 70-100

Of course there are caveats:

Always consult your doctor.

Also, there are LOTS of things in your life that can change the blood glucose you measure with meter – these can include exercise, mood, menstruation, and others.

So if you’re wondering, get your hemoglobin A1c checked. That will give you a better idea of your long run blood sugar count.

Here’s your warning: You don’t want to go above 170 mg/dl. Typically 180 mg/dl is when the glucose (blood sugar) starts to spill from your blood into your urine. That’s an indicator that some pretty unhealthy high blood sugar effects are taking place in your body.

1. Your kidney is getting overwhelmed. Sugar is in your urine because the kidney can no longer filter it out.

2. Your eyes may be suffering. They’re absorbing water to dilute the sugar. They’re swelling and can get damaged.

3. Your muscle and fat cells aren’t getting the energy they need and you’re getting weaker.

4. Some people are tearing down muscle and fat cells to get at the glucose in them. But it’s not working. The glucose goes into your urine and gets peed away.

5. Some people (women) may be having frequent vaginal infections as the fungus and yeast in your system feeds off the excess sugar in your blood, sweat, and other secretions.

The long and short is that if you are habitually outside the normal blood sugar range, you need to stop these high blood sugar effects before they do any more damage.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in anemia

Diabetes Information – The Beauty of Cinnamon

Comments: 0October 17th, 2009 by admin



I will call them rumors, referring to the stories I have heard about how cinnamon is supposed to help control blood sugars for diabetics. I have heard them for years. Every once in a while I even put cinnamon in my Starbucks thinking it’ll help. I finally got around to checking it out first hand.

First I did a little research and found that none other than our own USDA Agriculture Research Service has done exhaustive studies on a natural way to keep blood sugar levels normal beginning as far back as 1990. Why bother you ask?

Diabetes is a disease that affects 7% or 21 Million Americans and claims 240 million victims worldwide. Type 2 Diabetes is the biggest portion of those at 95 %. Another 14 million Americans have pre-diabetes where their blood sugars are elevated but below Diabetic levels. They are on the way to getting it and probably don’t have a clue.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism–the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.
In people with type 2 diabetes the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced.

So in short it is HUGE.

WHAT THEY FOUND. Chemist Richard A. Anderson looked at plants and spices that came out of folk medicine tales. They found that a few spices, notably cinnamon, made fat cells more responsive to insulin.

They discovered that cinnamon’s main ingredient increased glucose metabolism about 20 times normal in a test tube test of fat cells. They found this ingredient (MHCP) also was effective in preventing the formation of damaging free radicals-a bonus. Cinnamon is very inexpensive and is widely available.

So the next time you are at your favorite health food store get some water soluble cinnamon not the oil variety and give it a try. I did and it works!!

As with anything you do with the ‘big D’-check with your doc first.

To find out more about Diabetes check the link below.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Diabetes

Diabetic Dietary Supplements – The Importance of Cinnamon and Huckleberry in Managing Diabetes

Comments: 0July 21st, 2009 by admin



Medication, diet, and exercise have long been the main tools for dealing with diabetes. But an increasing number of diabetics are turning to natural supplements to help them stay as healthy as possible. These products contain a number of natural botanical ingredients that work together to enhance blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. Two ingredients you will often find in a supplement are cinnamon bark and huckleberry.

Diabetes is a condition that is not always taken seriously enough. Many people don’t realize that it can eventually cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and even some forms of cancer. Fortunately, many of these horrific complications can be avoided or minimized if you take the right actions.

As any doctor will tell you, controlling blood glucose is critical. In fact, it’s the primary challenge facing every diabetic. Yet it can be an ongoing struggle, and you may need all the help you can get. A diabetic supplement is something you can add to your recommended diet and exercise routines. When taken as directed, it can support healthy blood sugar and promote better overall health.

Cinnamon bark is rather well known as an aid to managing blood sugar and has been used as medicine for centuries in China and Egypt. Now modern researchers are taking note of cinnamon’s positive effects. It appears to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. It can also be helpful to persons who have not been diagnosed with diabetes but who have high blood sugar, such as those with metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes.

Huckleberry is another natural substance that can help decrease blood glucose. It’s been traditionally used by Native Americans, but current research is proving its effectiveness.

Of course, there are many other plant extracts that seem to be useful in normalizing sugar levels. For example, juniper berry and banaba leaf extract are attracting a lot of attention for their beneficial properties. You can expect to find several of these botanicals in any good diabetic nutritional supplement. It pays to review the product information before you buy, so you have confidence that you’re getting a variety of effective ingredients.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Diabetes

Cinnamon and Diabetes – Can a Spice Really Help My Blood Sugar?

Comments: 0June 30th, 2009 by admin



Cinnamon has been used for thousand of years by many different cultures as a medicinal aid. Some studies have indicated that cinnamon might improve blood glucose and cholesterol levels in those suffering with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon and diabetes may sound like an peculiar pairing because when we think of cinnamon we usually think of things we should be avoiding like rich pastries.

Researchers have believed for years that spices might help treat diabetes. Research has shown that cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, and turmeric have each exhibited good results in raising the action of insulin in the body.

Some may think that this is a myth based on ancient beliefs or a rumor spread by the alternative health crowd. But there is actually an increasing amount of research data concerning the positive effects of cinnamomum cassia, the more common type of cinnamon found in the U.S.

While it has been demonstrated to be impressive in the control of blood sugar, those with type 2, (non-insulin dependent diabetes) appear to be the only beneficiaries. Those with type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) appear to have received no real benefit.

Type 2 diabetes typically occurs in middle-age and causes the untimely death of 100 million people worldwide every year and has devastating affects on millions of other sufferers like heart disease, stroke and blindness.

It is important to note that cinnamon will not cure your diabetes. It may however provide a reduction in the quantity of insulin you take. It may as well benefit in the prevention of the disease.

Always be sure to check with you doctor or nutritionist before adding cinnamon to your diet. If recommended, use it exactly as suggested. Only a small, daily amount should be needed and can be added to foods and beverages you already consume. Many use the common powder or cinnamon stick. Cinnamon pills are available too, and can be purchased in stores or online.

While cinnamon and diabetes may initially seem like an odd couple, it could be beneficial to look into if you have type 2.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Diabetes