Posts Tagged ‘Triglycerides’

The Diabetes Cinnamon Cholesterol Connection

Comments: 0January 9th, 2010 by admin



If you or a loved one has diabetes, or high cholesterol, then the diabetes cinnamon cholesterol link is likely to be of interest.

Since early times, cinnamon has been one of the most loved of all spices. In history, a small amount could be sold for a huge fee, due to its scarcity on the open market.

Whilst cinnamon I readily available in most grocery stores and health stores today, it still remains a valuable aid to improving health

Traditionally cinnamon was used not only as an ingredient in native dishes, but also as a medicine. In fact, its pedigree as a medicine stretches back hundreds, if not thousands of years.

However, lets bring this article back into modern times, with new research that has taken place.

In studies cinnamon has shown great potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recently, a study in the Diabetes Care journal indicated that eating just half a teaspoon of cinnamon daily can significantly reduce the level of blood sugar.

Also, this same study identified that cinnamon is able to reduce triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (which is the bad cholesterol) and overall cholesterol levels in study participants.

Here are some of the other health benefits that come from including cinnamon in a healthy diet:

Improved digestion – Cinnamon, along with other related spices have been used as an aid to digestion for a long time. People that suffer from conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and other stomach and digestion disorders can often find that including cinnamon in their food helps with digestion. Better circulation and thinning of the blood. Just like garlic, cinnamon can act as a blood-thinning agent. Although it may not be as powerful as garlic in acting as a blood thinner, it does thin the blood and increase circulation. Toning of tissue in the body – There has been some studies that seem to indicate cinnamon has the ability to tone the tissues in the body. Pain relief and muscle stiffness – Many people who have cinnamon in their diet report that they often have reduced pain and lessened swelling in the joints. Menstrual pain – Cinnamon, has been used by women to reduce the level of menstrual pain and cramps they suffer with. Cinnamon is a strong anti-microbial agent and as such has the ability to kill common germs as E. coli and other bacteria. Arthritis pain relief – Research carried out recently has shown that cinnamon contains anti-inflammatory properties, which may be useful in reducing the pain associated with arthritis. Congestion relief – Cinnamon and other spices have been used for many years to reduce congestion. Improved urinary tract health – Those who have cinnamon in their diet have reduced problems and infections. Helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay – Again, there is evidence to suggest that cinnamon can help in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease.

Read further to sign up for our newsletter to learn about how other natural foods and supplements can help you lead a healthy, long life.


We started out this article by looking at the diabetes cinnamon cholesterol connection, but with all the benefits that cinnamon supplies is would be beneficial to include it as part of most peoples health diet.

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Posted in Diabetes

Diabetes Blood Sugar – Checking and Monitoring Your Lifeline

Comments: 0July 14th, 2009 by admin



Every diabetic knows the importance of blood sugar in relation to diabetes. Controlling diabetes blood sugar plays an important role in preventing the disorder from causing complications that will impair the nerves, eyes, kidney, and blood vessels of the diabetes sufferer.

Hence, upon confirmation of your diabetic condition by way of tests and consultations, you were advised to avail the services of a dietitian who will plan your diet in order to keep the levels in check. Diabetes blood sugar therefore should be constantly monitored and this will involve diabetes blood glucose monitoring checks.

Blood Sugar Monitoring Checks

Keeping a log or chart of your blood sugar is very vital in managing your diabetic condition. Your health care provider may require you to bring such records of information during checkups in order to determine how your body responds to your diabetes medications.

Finding out which part of your health care plan aside from the medications prescribed, will help your doctor, your dietitian and your diabetes educator to implement the necessary changes in treatments.

Here is a list of the information needed in making your diabetes blood sugar chart or logs:

1. A1C
2. Preprandial plasma glucose (checked before a meal)
3. Postprandial plasma glucose ( checked after a meal)
4. Blood pressure
5. Lipids
6. LDL (Low Density Lippoprotein)
7. Triglycerides
8. HDL (Heart Disease Lowering)

The information listed above will of course require the assistance of someone knowledgeable like your diabetes nurse in order to gather the correct information regarding your diabetes blood sugar levels and composition. In time, as you learn to live with your diabetes and its management, you or a member of your family will eventually learn how to monitor it and the relevant information.

Just to give you an idea, below is the basic procedure involved in checking your diabetes blood sugar:

Using a Blood Glucose Meter

This is a compact computerized machine designed and equipped to read your blood glucose or sugar. Through a sample of your blood, your blood glucose level will be shown on the screen in terms of numbers. The doctor or diabetes nurse will teach you how to extract your blood sample and how to use the blood glucose meter.

Log Your Test Results

When writing down your test results, indicate the food, the activity and the medicine that directly affects the results. Compare your results with the previous day’s log to ascertain whether the level is rising or descending.

Immediately refer any noticeable or abrupt changes that transpire especially if the results are considerably out of the normal range. By immediately, you don’t have to wait until your next visit but can be done through phone, since any changes might prove to be critical for your condition.

Urine Checks

In relation to the diabetes blood sugar checks, you may also be required to monitor your urine as they may also contain relevant information regarding your blood sugar. Information about “ketone” presence in the urine will indicate whether your body is making use of fat for fuel instead of glucose. This is indicative that there is still not enough insulin to enable glucose absorption.

Based on the results of your monitoring, your doctor or nurse will advise you when to test your urine for ketones. The life of a diabetic is about managing and controlling which you will have to learn to live with in order to maintain a normal life as a diabetes sufferer.

Checking your diabetes blood sugar and logging the test results are your vital tools for a better life.

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Posted in anemia

The Relationship Between Heart Disease And Kidney Disease

Comments: 0February 21st, 2009 by admin



When you suffer from some type of heart disease, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be very difficult. We all need to eat healthy, maintain a good regular exercise routine and have regular checkups from our health care provider. When heart disease is not managed well the effects on our kidneys can be catastrophic.

The kidneys job is to filter the blood to remove carcinogens that we take in daily through the ingesting of out highly refined and processed foods. In addition it also removes excess fluid from the blood stream. The kidneys filter the waist products from the blood stream by using the natural pressure of the blood supply.

When this excess fluid is not being remove then the heart will have to work harder to pump the blood throughout our bodies by increasing our blood pressure. Higher blood pressure will cause more damage to our kidneys causing less fluid and toxins being removed from the blood stream.
As you can see the cycle of the heart damaging the kidneys which in turn cause more damage to the heart is a leading cause of death for patients suffering from heart disease. This viscous cycle must be control as soon as possible before permanent damage is done to the effected organs.

The leading causes of kidney disease are as follows:

Decreased blood flow to the kidney is usually caused by clogged arteries. Arteriosclerosis, congestive heart disease, plaques or fatty deposits containing large quantities of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood stream can all cause a decreased blood flow to the kidneys.

Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN) is the death of tissue do to a loss of oxygen to the kidney. Long term decreased of oxygen to the kidney can be caused by congestive heart disease, clogged arteries, anemia, iron deficiency, cycles cell anemia and infections such as acute septicemia. Short term loss of oxygen to the kidney can be caused a heart attack or by direct kidney injury.

Damage to the kidneys can be the result of over exposure to metals, solvents, drugs and other pollutants.

Excessive amounts of alcohol will cause death of muscle and organ tissue. When tissue dies myoglobin is released into the blood supply. Myoglobin is very toxic to the renal tubular epithelium and may cause kidney failure. One of the blood test done after a heart attack is the testing for the amount of myoglobin in the blood stream. The larger amount of myoglobin found has a direct correlation to the amount of damage caused to the heart muscle by a heart attack.

High blood pressure will also cause damage to the filtering process of the kidneys.
Prevention is always better than a cure and knowing you are at risk for heart or kidney disease should go a long way in your ability to prevent long term damage to these vital organs. Take steps today to maintain a health life style and to improve the quality of life.

Common vitamins and and minerals can help with preventing disease such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, Cranberry Juice, Natural diuretics and Garlic.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Vitamin B taken together as a team perform vital biological processes including aiding in the healing process for congestive heart failure and reduces fluid retention. It is required for the development of red blood cells.

Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood. Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.

Vitamin E is known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.

Cranberry Juice may also help prevent kidney and bladder infections. If you are taking COUMADIN then check with your doctor before using cranberry.

Natural diuretics are contained in cranberries, anything that has caffeine and apple cider vinegar. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers contain a lot of water and will help increase urination.

Garlic counteract the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.

This report is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

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Posted in anemia

Diabetes – False Test Results

Comments: 0February 2nd, 2009 by admin



I recently got the results of my latest diabetes panel and within moments of checking the results on line I received a phone call from my primary physicians office. It seemed my LDL cholesterol had gone up significantly and I might add unusually so, up 75 points. I returned the call and a nurse got on the phone and explained to me I needed to pick up a prescription for 80 mg of simvastatin immediately. I assured the nurse that if she were to look at the full blood lipid panel results as well as my A1C (average three month blood sugar level) it appeared the test was in error and we simply needed to run another test. She retorted back the test could not be wrong and I was in danger of having a heart attack! I proceeded to tell her that 50% of people who have heart attacks have elevated LDL cholesterol and the other 50% do not. She asked me if I was willing to take that chance. I guess she didn’t get the math. Finally in frustration said she would have the doctor contact me.

I soon received an email from my primary physician who had the prescription ready for me to pick up. He also added that even if I didn’t have diabetes I would be in danger of having a heart attack. I stood my ground through the course of several days and emails with my doctor who insisted the test results were not wrong but finally if it would make me more comfortable with taking the medication he would order a new lipid panel.

He did, I did and the new results of course showed my LDL at 75 points less than the first test! Therefore because of my blood lipid panel, high HDL low triglycerides and reasonable LDL, my cardiac risk was actually very low. If I had listened to the medical fear propaganda being thrown my way I would have been on a high dose of a medication that has been well documented to have a multitude of side effects including causing muscle damage and heart attacks.

Why did I stand my ground? Because I’m in charge! It’s my body, my life and I make it a point to know about diabetes and the metabolic syndrome that accompanies it. As a whole the medical profession is taught to treat a symptom not a cause. In the impersonal world of medicine a test result comes back and if the number doesn’t match the “should be” chart, drugs are prescribed to make it so. In my experience no attempt is ever made to find the cause of the abnormality or to address the side effects of the drugs prescribed. This type of treatment results in a predictable myriad of side effects and prescribed medications ensuing in a downward spiral of poor health. This progression is never more evident than in the medical communities standard treatment of diabetes.

So who’s in charge? You are! Get educated, ask questions and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Choose Health!

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Posted in anemia