I am the offspring of parents whom have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and are either medication free or keeping it under control through the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise. This is also an issue affecting today's youth - think about it, Adult-onset Diabetes, aka Type 2, affecting kids, it just doesn't seem right to me.
Dr. Zhong contributed the article below which provideds useful data and important tips on keeping it all under control. Take a look...and then share it with those you know are experiencing difficulties after their diagnosis.
Stay Well,
Making the Right Choices to Manage Type 2 Diabetes
By Lee Zhong, MD, PhD
According to government data released by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the number of people living with diabetes (or high blood sugar levels) in America is growing at an alarming rate, up three million cases – from 21 million to 24 million people – in the past two years. Approximately 90 percent of those cases are people with Type 2 diabetes, a disease linked to poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise.
When it comes to managing Type 2 diabetes and its associated health problems, eating right is critical. However, making the right diet and lifestyle choices can often be difficult for Type 2 diabetics because cornerstones of the American diet are sugars and finely processed carbohydrates – exactly the foods that should be limited! A diet loaded with refined carbs and sugars can set off dangerous and unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and other circulatory problems.
For people with Type 2 diabetes, their bodies’ ability to respond to the absorbed sugars and carbohydrates no longer functions properly, and many people experience abrupt blood sugar elevations 30 to 45 minutes immediately after they eat, a condition often referred to as “post-meal blood sugar spikes.” On the other hand, blood sugar levels in some patients can drop below normal levels right after the blood sugar spikes, because of the body’s “over-reaction” to blood sugar elevation, and therefore results in blood sugar fluctuations from high to low. Many studies have demonstrated that the blood sugar fluctuation is the leading cause of diabetic complications which is why testing blood sugar levels shortly after major meals is critical to managing Type 2 diabetes.
In order to manage the disease, most people with Type 2 diabetes rely on two or three different prescription medications, many of which can produce unwanted side effects, most notably weight gain.
The following tips are simple, safe and affordable ways to help achieve healthier lifestyle and healthier blood sugar levels, ultimately managing Type 2 diabetes:
- Keep moving: Staying active and fit are both extremely important for people living with Type 2 diabetes. Make it a point to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three times per week. Finding an activity or sport that’s enjoyable will make it easier to make regular physical activity a long-term, consistent part of the daily lifestyle.
- Drink water over soda: Drinking water over sugary sodas and other types of beverages is a much healthier way to hydrate the body. The calories and sugar content in sodas can really add up, which can contribute to weight gain. People with Type 2 diabetes should try to limit their soda intake, even diet sodas which often contain unhealthy artificial sweeteners and caffeine. To make drinking water more enjoyable, try squeezing lemon or cucumber juice into the water for added flavor.
- Make healthier food choices: It is critical for Type 2 diabetics to maintain a healthy diet. Making simple changes to eating habits will make a world of difference. People with Type 2 diabetes should start by eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as lean protein sources such as chicken or fish. Also, limiting the intake of processed, simple carbohydrates found in white bread, rice and pasta is highly recommended. For breakfast, try replacing a muffin or bagel, which contain a lot of carbohydrates with something lighter, like fruit and yogurt or granola.
- Avoid eating in front of the television: When people eat in front of the TV they tend to eat more because doing so can suppress feelings of being full. Additionally, when watching TV, people tend to pay less attention to the types and amounts of foods they are eating, which can result in weight gain. Instead of eating while watching TV, those with Type 2 diabetes should try playing some music or lighting a candle at dinner time to create a relaxing mood.
- Consider taking a dietary supplement: Natural dietary supplements can provide additional nutritional support for Type 2 diabetes patients, and some have shown to even stabilize blood sugar levels. An example of a natural ingredient which has shown particular promise is the mulberry leaf, the primary ingredient in a new over-the-counter dietary supplement called Glucocil. Published clinical trials conducted at the University of Minnesota (VA Hospital) demonstrate that the proprietary mulberry leaf extract found in Glucocil can assist in stabilizing blood sugar levels and inhibiting carbohydrate absorption in people with Type 2 diabetes. In these studies, the proprietary mulberry leaf extract was shown to:
- Reduce body’s absorption of sugars and other carbohydrates
- Lower post-meal blood sugar spikes in that critical 30-45 minute window following meals when blood sugar elevation is highest. One of these studies published in Diabetes Care, a widely read diabetes journal, reported an average 44 percent reduction in post-meal blood sugar elevations (or spikes) at the 30-45 minute post-meal intervals, which lead to more stable blood sugar levels throughout the day for patients tested.
- In an additional study, which published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the double blind, placebo controlled trial found that a tea drink (mainly containing this specific mulberry leaf extract) caused 25 percent reduction in carbohydrate absorption in human subjects.
The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be controlled or even reversed by diet and exercise. According to American Diabetes Association, just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, together with a loss of 5-10 percent body weight, can cause a 58 percent reduction in Type 2 diabetes. By following these recommended tips in addition to taking a dietary supplement like Glucocil for additional support, those living with the challenges of Type 2 diabetes can get more control of their blood sugar and more effectively manage their weight.
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Doctor and medical researcher, Lee Zhong, MD, PhD, president of Neuliven Health, Inc., based in San Diego, Calif. is a researcher and scientist who has spent the last seven years investigating the mulberry leaf’s effects on Type 2 diabetics. His proprietary mulberry leaf extract can be found exclusively in a natural dietary herbal formula called Glucocil. For more information, please visit www.glucocil.com.
To learn more about the clinical trials cited in this article, please visit http://care.diabetesjournals.
Note: as always, patients are recommended to first seek their doctor or medical professional’s opinion before beginning any new medications or therapies.
For those of
us whose kids attend public or private schools, we begin the
"back-to-school" process some time between the end of August to early
September. That's not to say that we haven't enjoyed the time off from
early wake up calls or the time we spent together "vacationing" at
home. Vacation, hmmmm, the funny thing is, when the kids
are on vacation, it doesn't feel like vacation to me- my idea of
vacation consist of a beach, no cleaning, no cooking; but that's just
me. Anyway, by the end of the Summer break I have to admit that
even I am looking forward to the first day of school. During the
school year we keep certain routines that make life a little less
complicated, plus I think the kids look forward to seeing their friends
again, meeting their new teachers and for some, making new friends. (photo by 
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