What is Insulin, Must I go on It As Diabetic Patient?

July 14, 2015
Kevin Angileri
health tips
1 Comment
What is insulin

Diabetes has become a very common problem all over the world. Rather the number is rising at such a great pace, that doctors and researchers are trying to find out ways to combat this issue and help humans to live a healthier life. Diabetes is caused when the body does not produce insulin naturally or in sufficient amounts to maintain blood sugar levels.

What is insulin & What it is made of?

Insulin is a hormone which is made by the body naturally in the pancreas. Its work is to maintain the levels of sugar in the blood. But due to various reasons, the system does not produce this specific hormone and it also happens that the body is unable to use the insulin produced by the pancreas. In such cases, blood sugar level rises and you are diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes has many other effects on the body. You become prone to diseases like heart attacks, hypertension, bone problems, vision deficiency etc. Hence the problem has to be treated immediately to reduce risks of other complications.

Most often, Insulin is administered to diabetic patients. It entirely depends on the blood sugar level and the doctor’s advice. If usual medications, diabetic diets and physical activities do not work well to control diabetes, Insulin is given. It cannot be taken orally as the digestive enzymes in the body destroy this insulin. So it is given by an injection under the skin surface.

When is Insulin administered?

Insulin is injected when you are diagnosed with Type1 Diabetes because in this case the body does not produce the hormone in the pancreas. You do not get the energy you require from glucose. So it has to be supplied to the body through injection. The amount of the hormone and the type of insulin is determined by your physician in accordance to the composition of your system and blood sugar levels. Age, weight, sugar counts, general health are the aspects that the doctor considers before starting the insulin plan. The responses received from the body after the first dosage, are of great importance. The amount that is to be injected depends on such responses.

It is very important for the patient to work in cooperation with his/her doctor to achieve the desired goals. You want to live a healthy life and for that end you have to follow every advice you are given. The best way to start off is by walking or jogging or going to a gym to get assistance from a fitness instructor and a balanced diabetic diet.

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Can Diabetes Be Cured

January 1, 2015
Kevin Angileri
Kevin Angileri Blog
1 Comment
How to control your diabetes

If you have been asking yourself, can diabetes be cured? the answer is, Unfortunately there is no current cure for Diabetes but there are many things a diabetic can do to relieve their symptoms.  It is a matter of maintaining good blood sugar control.  So it follows, that diabetics need to get on a healthy diet plan.  They should consult with a dietician, who specializes in Diabetes management.

Have A Healthy Diet Plan To Control Diabetes:

Most doctors agree, that diabetes can be controlled by diet. More fresh fruit and vegetables are very important.  Changing your diet to a healthy diabetic diet plan, will change your life.  Make it your goal to get off diabetic medications, with your doctors permission.

Take An Action Before It Is Too Late

Most of us procrastinate….now is the time to act and participate in your health care.  Set a goal for yourself.  The next time you see your doctor and get weighed, ask if thirty pounds would make a difference in your condition.  If your next appointment is in ninety days, make your goal thirty pounds in ninety days.  I am sure the doctor will be very happy.  Trust me, you will be.  Do it now.  Do it for yourself.

Diabetics are susceptible to many other medical problems including:

Heart disease and stroke – two of the main causes of death to diabetics.

Kidney disease – Nephropathy –

Eye problems – Cataracts and Glaucoma

Nerve damage – Diabetic neuropathy

Poor blood flow to extremities – causing the possibility of amputation

This is all, pretty scary stuff, but it is not too late to prevent these issues.  The key is learning how to control the disease.  Do not wait until a serious problem arises.  Start now, to improve your own health.

First things first, check with your doctor and explain, that you want to take an active roll in your health.  Ask what three or four things, you should do right now. The doctor can suggest the right people to talk with.  It is not too late to have a healthier life and with a little hard work, you can stop taking some of those expensive meds.  Do it for your family, but most importantly, do it for yourself.

I hope this message has given you some encouragement.  Be strong and be healthy.  We appreciate your visits to www.carbaholicsanonymous.com and hope you stop back.  Tell a friend about us and contact us at the top of this site.

P. S.  Here are a couple of free tools, that may help.  On the web, download the “Bing Health and Fitness” application” and “Healthvault”.  They are free and really helpful in designing healthy meal planning.  Good luck and God bless

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Turkey Stuffed Tomato Recipe

June 25, 2015
Kevin Angileri
Recipes
1 Comment
stuffed tomato recipe appetizer

Stuffed peppers are a very popular dish, but we thought of using a ripe firm tomato this time.  Just a little change up.  We used ingredients, we had on hand, just for convenience.  The nice thing about this Stuffed Tomato Recipe is that you can add or delete ingredients to suit your particular tastes.  The biggest difference is using ground turkey instead of ground beef.   Besides that, turkey is a little less expensive.  A bit healthier, too.

Prep time is about 30 minutes and cook time is about one hour.

Ingredients:

  • Six ounces of lean ground turkey
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of cooked brown rice.  Instant brown works, as well
  • 4 or 5 large ripe tomatoes with stems attached (they make a great presentation).  Make sure tomatoes are firm.
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup of frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons of EVOO(extra virgin olive oil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of dry Italian seasoning.  Most grocery stores have it in their spice racks.  Contains Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Rosemary and sage.
  • 3/4 cup of sweet onion, minced.
  • 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  • 1 cup of herbed Italian breadcrumbs.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook ground turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling with a spoon, until brown and cooked through.  Place in mixing bowl

Add cooked rice to the bowl with the meat.

Slice enough off the top of each tomato to remove the core. Scoop out the tomato pulp using a teaspoon or melon baller. Finely chop 1/2 cup of the pulp and add to the bowl with the rice and meat. Season the inside of the tomatoes with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper and Italian seasoning.

Add peas, onion, 1/4 cup cheese, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to the rice mixture. Stir to combine. Divide the mixture evenly among the tomatoes and place the tomatoes in the prepared baking dish. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, breadcrumbs, oil and garlic in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture on top of the tomatoes.

Bake the tomatoes until the crumbs are golden and the tomatoes are soft, 20 to 25 minutes.  Top with baked tomato tops with stems.

We hope you enjoy this variation of a great entry.

Please remember to like us on your favorite social media.  Thank you.

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What is Diabetes?

July 10, 2015
Kevin Angileri
health tips
1 Comment
What is diabetes

Diabetes has become one of the most common diseases that have raised an alarm all over the world next to obesity. It is a problem related to sugar level of the blood. It can strike anyone at anytime. Doctors often refer to Diabetes as Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes has been described by doctors as a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose or blood sugar. It is one of the life-long health conditions that affect total health of the patient. It has been found that about 4 million people in the UK have diabetes among which many individuals are not aware of the condition. Diabetes is that condition when the amount of glucose that is present in the blood is not properly used by the body and it becomes too high.

Reasons Why Body Cannot Use Glucose Properly

When we eat, the body turns food into glucose or sugars and that point the pancreas are supposed to release insulin. If this insulin is not produced in adequate amount or the cells of the body do not respond to insulin properly, glucose level becomes very high and you become a patient of diabetes.  Today diabetes has become so common that it seems like an epidemic that is taking lives of many too. The key factor that causes diabetes is lack of insulin that is naturally produced by the pancreas. Insulin opens the cells of the body and allows the glucose to enter that is used for energy.

Types Of Diabetes

Diabetes is of three types namely:

  1. Type 1 Diabetes:

    In this type of diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. This type 1 diabetes develops around 40 years of age and sometimes in teenage or early adulthood period also. Type 1 diabetes is not very common and is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes or early-onset of diabetes.

  2. Type 2 Diabetes:

    In this case, the body does not produce enough insulin for proper functioning or it may happen that the cells do not react to insulin properly or they are insulin resistant. Approximately 90% people around the world suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

  3. Gestational Diabetes:

    This type of diabetes affects women during pregnancy. Some females experience an increase in blood-sugar levels during pregnancy and then their bodies are unable to produce sufficient amount of insulin to transport all the glucose into the cells. This results in progressive rise in the levels of glucose.

It is therefore important to take care of the proper working of the pancreas that produces insulin to maintain balance of sugar levels in the body. Glucose is obtained when carbohydrate is digested and it also comes from the liver. But if there is insufficient or no insulin at all, the body cannot properly use the glucose as fuel for energy that is required for work, play and live an active life.

Symptoms Of Diabetes

When there is not enough of insulin in the body, or the body cannot use the insulin available, it cannot convert glucose or sugar into energy. As soon as you feel lethargic and lack energy to do your regular activities you can understand that something is not right with your health. It may be weakness though due to overwork, exhaustion or otherwise, yet it is important to see the doctor at once. Other symptoms that are associated with diabetes mellitus are:

  • Feeling of excess hunger and thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Blurry vision
  • Feeling of tiredness and weakness.

Visit your physician before these symptoms become too severe and treatment becomes difficult. It has been found that insulin therapy is often an important method of treating diabetes. If you know the part played by insulin in your body you can prevent complications arising out of diabetes. There are specific roles of insulin in the body which are:

  • Regulate sugar or glucose level in bloodstream.
  • Storage of excess sugar for energy.

How Is Diabetes Treated?

On examination of the blood sugar level of an individual when it is found that it is higher than what is considered as normal, doctors take steps to reduce the level of glucose at the initial stages by medications. Those who are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin injections almost for their entire life. They must also follow a restricted diet and carry out regular tests to monitor blood glucose levels.

Different types of insulin meet different needs. When you are diagnosed with high blood sugar and diabetes, the first protection that the doctor prescribes for you is the man-made insulin. It helps to control the sugar level during the times of the day when you need it the most. Each type of insulin takes care to control diabetes but it must be remembered that no one type of insulin is good for everyone. Every individual has specific insulin requirement and so it is wise not to try out any one’s medicine without consulting your own physician.

It has been found that excess stress or mental tension, grief or loneliness stops the production of insulin and leads to diabetes. Another reason when you need less of insulin is when you maintain a proper diet and healthy lifestyle. Hence only your diabetic advisor can tell you exactly how much to take.

Gestational Diabetes is harmful if not treated early. Such patients are not given medicines when treatment starts. She is advised to maintain a well balanced diet, exercises and control certain bad habits like smoking and drinking.

How Insulin Is Administered In Cases Of Diabetes

Since diabetes varies from person to person the administration of insulin also differs according to the patient. In case of severe diabetes, insulin injections are given at specific intervals. Monitoring the changes in sugar levels is also very important. Hence doctors prescribe according to the body’s needs. Insulin varies in how fast they can control the blood sugar level and for how long that level is maintained. Insulin is injected underneath the skin. Those who require more doses take these injections several times a day mostly before meals. There are different ways to take the injection like syringes where you need to use a new needle for the every dose. Injection pens or an insulin pump that provides a continuous infusion of insulin through a catheter underneath the skin is also used. Tablets are also available.

Harmful Effects Of Diabetes

The spread of diabetes has created a kind of threat to mankind as there are increasing cases of diabetes these days and the problems related to it are also quite severe. Some of the most dreadful effects of diabetes are:

  1. Blindness
  2. Kidney failure
  3. Heart failure and stroke
  4. Damages the nerves

To be safe and healthy it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as symptoms appear. Other ways to keep diabetes at bay are to maintain a healthy lifestyle, reduce weight for often obesity has been the cause of diabetes, avoid being lazy, look after what you eat, do not overeat and specially during gestation checking sugar levels is extremely important as unidentified diabetic problems can raise the risk of complications during childbirth and can even pass on to the newborn baby.

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Symptoms Of Diabetes

July 7, 2015
Kevin Angileri
health tips
1 Comment
Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

The early symptoms of diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, can come on harmlessly. Over time, you might even develop certain diabetes complications, though you may not display any typical diabetes symptoms.

According to centers for disease control & prevention 2014 report, more then 8 million people in the United States suffer from undiagnosed diabetes. However, to avoid being part of this statistic, you can understand the symptoms of diabetes and call for early diagnosis and treatment and lead a better life. If you experience any of the typical symptoms of diabetes explained below, speak to your doctor immediately:

Increased urination and excessive thirst:

If you suffer from diabetes, you will have an excessive build up of sugar or glucose in your blood. Your kidneys will be forced to work harder to filter and absorb the extra sugar. If they cannot keep up with the pace, the extra sugar will pass into your urine along with fluids taken from your tissues. This leads to urinating frequently, causing tiredness and dehydration. To get over your thirst, you will drink more fluids and this will cause you to urinate more.

Increased hunger:

Insufficient insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger.

Blurred vision:

Diabetes affects your vision when high blood sugar levels pull out fluid from your tissues and lenses, thus affecting your capacity to focus. If left untreated, diabetes can bring about the formation of new blood vessels in your retina, while simultaneously damaging those already established there. At this stage, this development does not cause problems with vision but if these changes progress without treatment, it could cause loss of vision and blindness.

Mood swings:

This is a commonly felt symptom of diabetes where the patient undergoes mood changes due to a variety of factors, such as quick changes in blood sugars, depression and the stress of managing this condition every day.

Dark skin patches:

If you suffer from diabetes, you will notice dark skin patches in soft and velvety folds, usually in the neck and armpits. This is due to insulin resistance.

Weight gain:

Diabetics experience an unusual weight gain due to the intense hunger they go through.

Fatigue:

Fatigue is a big factor for diabetes patients. This happens due to dehydration due to the many times one urinates and the body’s inability to function optimally since it is less capable of converting sugar into energy.

Weight loss:

When the body loses sugar through frequent urination, you lose essential calories too. Simultaneously, diabetes can prevent the sugar in your food from reaching the cells, making you feel hungry constantly. This entire process causes a rapid weight loss, particularly if you are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Tingling in the hands and feet:

An excess of sugar in the blood can cause nerve damage. Diabetics experience a loss of sensation or frequent tingling in the hands and feet and a burning sensation in the arms, legs and hands are also experienced.

Slow-to-heal sores or recurrent infections:

Diabetics suffer with frequent infections because high blood sugar levels damage the natural healing process of your body and its ability to fight infections. This is manifest as vaginal and bladder problems among women.

Nausea and vomiting:

As there is a rise and fall in blood glucose levels, the body metabolism can be interrupted and confused, causing nausea. The patient might suffer from low blood pressure or hypotension, causing dizzy spells.

Irritability

This is due to the lack of energy experienced by diabetic patients.

Red, inflamed and tender gums:

Diabetes may lower your immunity to disease, thereby increasing your risk for being infected, particularly in the gums and bones in the mouth that hold the teeth together. This results in your gums pulling away from your teeth, your teeth loosening, or pus pockets or sores developing in the gums. This happens when you suffer from gum infection as a precursor to diabetes.

Advanced Symptoms of Diabetes:

Sometimes diabetics do not have typical symptoms or have only very mild ones. However, untreated diabetes can be dangerous as it can lead to very high blood sugar levels or ketoacidosis. This condition is less common among Type 2 diabetes patients as insulin continues to be produced in this condition. However, it can lead to:

  • rapid and deep breathing
  • facial flushes
  • bad breath
  • coma
  • mental confusion
  • nausea or vomiting
  • stomach pain

Hypoglycemia or abnormally low blood sugar levels can cause:

  • rapid heartbeat
  • anxiety
  • fainting
  • drowsiness
  • cramps
  • sweating
  • dizziness and trembling
  • confusion

Diabetes symptoms unique to men:

Among men, diabetes can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) and other urological problems.

Diabetes symptoms unique to women:

Women experience many of the same symptoms of diabetes as men, barring a few. They are:

  • oral and vaginal yeast infections and thrush
  • female sexual dysfunction
  • polycystic ovary syndrome
  • urinary infections
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