Tag: type 2 diabetes

Metformin Used for Diabetes Depletes These Important Nutrients – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 481

Metformin Used for Diabetes Depletes These Important Nutrients – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 481

Metformin is often the first treatment option given to type 2 diabetics. While it has many advantages, this prescription medication can also deplete several nutrients that are essential to proper functions within the body.

New Study says Stevia May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

New Study says Stevia May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

Stevia is a natural, no-calorie sweetener that many have chosen as a replacement to the harmful but commonly consumed white sugar. This alternative sweetener is particularly popular among individuals with diabetes, as their need to control their blood sugar intake and maintenance is much higher. 

National Diabetes Awareness Month

National Diabetes Awareness Month

More than 29 million people in the United States have diabetes and 1 out of 4 of them have no idea.[1] In honor of National Diabetes Month this November, InVite® Health is urging you to take some time to understand the risk factors and preventative measures of this disease.

Diabetes is a vicious and life-threatening disease, where your blood sugar is continuously and seriously elevated (and your triglycerides are also). The excess circulating blood sugar is very destructive inflaming tissues in the heart and circulation, in the eyes, brain, kidneys, and nerve tissue leading to all manner of serious and life-threatening diseases.

This condition occurs due to various reasons, as your cells become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin (stores sugar in your cells). However, long before full-blown diabetes occurs, at a stage referred to as pre-diabetes, your blood sugar is already modestly increased and the beginnings of damage to your kidneys, your blood vessel walls, and to your eyes is already occurring (perhaps it should be renamed early-stage diabetes); even a modest elevation in blood sugar should always be looked at seriously.

There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational. Type 1 occurs because the body cannot make its own insulin to regulate blood sugar. It is less common in comparison to Type 2 and is not preventable. Type 1 refers to an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas; it is much less common. People with Type 1 always require insulin. Type 2 occurs when the body does not use insulin well or cannot regulate the blood sugar levels with the insulin it has. Nine out of ten people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, a preventable, more common disease that occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. This results in elevated levels of sugar and triglycerides in the blood. The most common cause of Type 2 diabetes is truncal obesity or having an apple-shaped body instead of a pear-shaped one. New evidence indicates that an increase in the circulating levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), an enzyme tied into inflammation and heart disease, is a major indicator of impending diabetes. Gestational diabetes (GA) occurs during pregnancy and occurs when the body is not able to produce or use the insulin needed during pregnancy.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, here are the major risk factors:

  • Being overweight
  • Being 45 years or older
  • Having a parents or sibling with type 2 diabetes
  • Being physically active less than 3 times a week
  • Ever having GA or giving birth to a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds
  • Race/ethnicity may affect your risk – African-Americans, Hispanics/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders and some Asian Americans are at a high risk of Type 2.

To determine your risk of developing this condition, your doctor will perform a blood test after you fast for 12 hours. If your blood sugar after fasting is lower than 99, you are likely normal. However, if the blood sugar is between 100 to 125 mg/dL you have impaired fasting blood glucose and your risk of developing diabetes is increased. You are also at risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

For many individuals diet, exercise, and particular nutrients are very beneficial at this point and can help restore blood sugar levels down towards normal. Some drugs are also prescribed for this effect. If your fasting blood sugar is above 125mg/dL you are considered to have full-blown diabetes and it must be treated aggressively.

Being diagnosed with this condition means you will have to constantly be sure your body is balanced – your food consumption, activity level, medication and blood sugar levels. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to manage your diabetes on a daily basis:

  • Follow a healthy diet
  • Be sure to be active for 10-20 minutes a day
  • Regularly take your diabetes medicine prescribed by your doctor
  • Test your blood sugar to understand and track your blood sugar levels

Managing this condition may be tedious, but keeping a record of your treatment plans, feelings and medications could help keep it manageable. Follow your ABCs– the A1C test, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and (not) Smoking.

For more information on diabetes and how you can prevent it, visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/livingwithdiabetes/index.html.

For more information, visit http://www.invitehealth.com/blood-sugar.html

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The Top Seven Myths About Type 2 Diabetes

The Top Seven Myths About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes affects 29.1 million people in the United States, which equals 9% of the entire U.S. population. While Type 2 diabetes makes up about 95% of that number, many people still do not fully understand how it works. Here are the top seven myths about 

New Study: The Link Between Diabetes and Memory

New Study: The Link Between Diabetes and Memory

Ninety-five percent of diabetes cases in adults are type 2 diabetes. Though several studies have shown that a healthy diet and regular physical activity can prevent diabetes all together, only a small amount of studies have been performed on the link between type 2 diabetes 

Working Long Hours May Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

Working Long Hours May Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

A new study suggests that working long hours may contribute to your risk of developing Diabetes. The study, published September 24th in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, found an association between long work weeks and the disease – but the risk involves other factors as well, including the type of job.

Researchers examined data from past studies involving 222,000 men and women from all over the world, including the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. These subjects were followed for an average of 7.6 years. Results showed that people who worked more than 55 hours a week at a manual labor job, or other types of “low socioeconomic status jobs”, were 30 percent more likely to develop diabetes compared to those who worked 35 to 40 hours per week.

‘More research shows that Vitamin D lowers the risk of developing Diabetes’ – Click here!

“Although working long hours is unlikely to increase diabetes risk in everyone, health professionals should be aware that it is associated with a significantly increased risk in people doing low socioeconomic status jobs,” stated Mika Kivimaki, professor of epidemiology at University College London in England.

Further research is needed to find out more about the association between long work days and diabetes risk. Possible causes of this link include the fact that those who work many hours don’t have any time left for healthy mind and body behaviors, like exercise, eating right, proper sleep, meditation and relaxation, time with friends and family, etc.

Balancing Blood Sugar by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Diabetes is a vicious and life-threatening disease where your blood sugar is continuously and seriously elevated (and your triglycerides are also). The excess circulating blood sugar is very destructive – inflaming tissues in the heart and circulation, in the eyes, brain, kidneys, and nerve tissue leading to all manner of serious and life threatening diseases.Diabetes occurs because for various reasons; your cells become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin, which normally stores sugar in your cells. However, long before full blown diabetes occurs (at a stage referred to as pre-diabetes) your blood sugar is already modestly increased and the beginnings of damage to your kidneys, your blood vessel walls, and to your eyes is already occurring. But even a modest elevation in blood sugar should always be looked at seriously.

Type 2 Diabetes is more common and occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. This results in elevated levels of sugar and triglycerides in the blood. The most common cause of type 2 diabetes is truncal obesity or having an “apple-shaped” body instead of a “pear-shaped” one. Type 1 Diabetes refers to an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and it is much less common. People with type 1 diabetes always require insulin.

Jerry Hickey, R.Ph suggests specific supplements and vitamins to support blood sugar. Click here!

Know your Test Scores

To determine your risk of developing diabetes, your doctor will perform a test on your blood after you fast for 12 hours. If your blood sugar after fasting is lower than 99, you are likely okay. However, if the blood sugar is between 100 to 125 mg/dL you have impaired fasting blood glucose and your risk of developing diabetes is increased. You are also at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. For many individuals diet, exercise, and particular nutrients are very beneficial at this point and can help restore blood sugar levels down towards normal. Some drugs are also prescribed for this effect. If your fasting blood sugar is above 125mg/dL you are considered to have full blown diabetes which must be treated aggressively.

A1C Test is a blood test that measures average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months and is the best way to measure overall glucose control. It should be measured 2 to 4 times a year and the goal is less than 7 percent. Symptoms may include feeling tired or ill, excessive thirst, frequent urination, sudden weight loss, blurred vision, slow healing of infections, and genital itching.

What are your thoughts on this new study? Do you have questions for Jerry Hickey, R.Ph? Leave us a comment to join the conversation!

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