Type 2 Diabetes Diet Plan

Double Diabetes Means Double Trouble

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They say a picture says a thousand words. Picture an overweight Mom hugging her overweight daughter, with the caption, Double Diabetes Puzzles Doctors. This story (July 19, 2005, CNN.com) profiled a young girl with Type 1 diabetes who is exhibiting the symptoms of someone with Type 2 diabetes -- she is insulin dependent and insulin resistant.

The report attributes much of the problem to the growing rate of childhood obesity. More than 65 percent of American adults are overweight, which health experts say has led to an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes. And children are not far behind.

Double diabetes means double trouble.

Both Type 1 and 2 diabetes lead to increased risk for heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation, but theyre really two different diseases with similar symptoms.

Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, usually has a sudden onset, early in life. The pancreas stops making insulin, and so must be treated with insulin injections, usually multiple times daily.

Type 2 diabetes has a slower onset and was formerly known as adult diabetes, not commonly seen in kids. People with Type 2 are commonly overweight -- its a disease of insulin resistance and usually responds to weight loss and exercise.

The change in name from adult diabetes to Type 2 reflects how increasingly doctors are diagnosing younger people with Type 2 diabetes. Twenty-five to 30 percent of newly diagnosed children have Type 2. When a child is overweight, it increases his or her risk for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Its not clear why. The American Diabetes Association reports that 80 percent of kids diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

A 2003 study by Dorothy Becker of Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh showed that 25 percent of children with Type 1 developed Type 2 diabetes, but also more than 50 percent of overweight children with Type 2 developed features of Type 1 diabetes.

They need insulin to control their blood sugars, although Type 2 is commonly treated with diet and exercise and, often, oral medications. Insulin is a lifesaver for people with Type 1 diabetes, and with an insulin pump the treatment allows more flexibility, with users enjoying a more normal lifestyle. The insulin pump can be programmed to deliver a set amount of insulin on a schedule, so that people dont have to stop and inject themselves

Alcohol and Diabetes

To drink or not to drink, that is the question. And when you have diabetes, it is an important question to ask. The surprising answer is that if consumed in moderation, alcohol does not appear to upset blood glucose levels in those with well controlled diabetes. In fact, it may even have some beneficial effects. Of course, there are precautions to consider. Lets begin with the idea of moderation.

What is Moderation
Moderate alcohol intake is less than two drinks per day for men and less than one drink per day for women. One drink is equal to about 100 calories and is defined as:

5 ounces wine

12 ounces beer, preferably light varieties

1 1/2 ounces of distilled spirits (scotch, rum, gin, vodka and others)

It is important to realize that one drink is not what you feel like pouring into your wine or cocktail glass! This concept hit home with one of my clients who expressed her desperation at not being able to lose weight. When I inquired about her daily wine intake she simply stated that she usually drank two glasses. Upon further probing, it was found that her wine glasses held 12 ounces, and that she filled each glass nearly to the top. When she realized she was actually consuming 425 extra calories each day, she was no longer baffled about her lack of weight loss.

Benefits of Alcohol
Research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption may be heart-healthy. Some of the protective effects of alcohol appear to be related to the increase in the HDL, or good, cholesterol. Since the most frequent complication of diabetes is heart disease, moderate amounts of alcohol may be protective.

How much do you know about diabetes Find out

So, your wife is nagging you about your diabetes. She doesnt think you take it seriously. And you dont like it when she withholds dessert and checks your breath for chocolate after work.

You know she just wants the best for you. Diabetes is now the sixth leading cause of death in this country and a major cause of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputated limbs.

But it doesnt have to be that way. Most of the complications of diabetes can be prevented by how you choose to live. And its not just about sugar.

See how well you do on this quiz, adapted from the American Diabetes Association (www. diabetes.org):

Featured Expert: Christine E. Miller, MS, RD/LD, CDE (Diabetes Expert)
From her bio on the Expert Interaction page, Christine is a registered and licensed dietitian as well as a Certified Diabetes Educator. In her role as Diabetes Expert at eDiets, Christine moderates the Living with Diabetes support group, writes articles for the newsletter, answers individual questions, and conducts online meetings for diabetics. Her goal: to help individuals with diabetes realize health, healing and wellness by providing encouragement, information and practical tools for self-care.

What are the Benefits of a Low GI Diet
The benefits of low GI diets appear to be related to lower circulating levels of insulin and may include:

Lower blood sugar levels two to three hours after eating in those with diabetes.

Decreased hunger and increased satiety following lower GI meals.

Increased HDL (good) cholesterol and decreased triglycerides (blood fats).

The Glycemic Index and Diabetes
Diabetes Care recently published a review on the results of 14 studies testing the glycemic index in people with diabetes. The results showed that those subjects who ate a low GI diet saw a reduction in after meal blood sugar levels equal to those seen with some types of diabetes medications.

Which Foods Have a High GI, and Which Have a Low GI
Over 750 different types of carbohydrate foods have been tested and given a GI value. The surprise is that many sweet-tasting foods like grapes, bananas, strawberries and peaches have low GI values. These are the very foods individuals with diabetes may be avoiding for fear that the sweeter-tasting foods will harm blood sugar control.

Conversely, many traditional low-sugar foods consumed by people with diabetes like cornflakes, pretzels, Cheerios and baked russet potatoes have a high GI. For the sake of simplicity, it is best to think of a food in terms of whether it has a low, moderate or a high GI.

Eggs and DiabetesResearchers at Harvard have suggested that people with diabetes limit egg consumption even if cholesterol levels are normal. A connection between egg consumption and cardiovascular disease has been noted in people with diabetes, but not in the general population. As an alternative, consider egg whites or egg substitutes, which provide an excellent source of protein without fat or cholesterol.

Diabetes Denial: Whats Your Risk

Diabetes and denial

With Type 1 (also known as juvenile, insulin dependent) diabetes, it hits you so hard that its impossible to deny. In a way, thats better because you must treat it immediately. Theres no mistaking the dramatic symptoms of uncontrolled high blood sugar, including rapid and unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, frequent urination and, most telling, fruity breath from the unabsorbed carbohydrate. If not diagnosed and treated with insulin, diabetic coma and death is probable.

But Type 2 diabetes (also known as adult, noninsulin dependent) symptoms are usually easier to ignore and to deny, at the beginning. But the dangers are real. The longer diabetes remains untreated, the more potential for permanent damage from chronic high levels of blood sugar (glucose). Symptoms are often subtle enough for the person to get used to. Diabetes may not be diagnosed until damage is already done, and irreversible. Learn more about diabetes by joining the Living with Diabetes Plan.

New research from the Yale University of Medicine reports the impact of diabetes on America will profoundly change how we live, how we die and how much as a society well have to pay for the consequences. The study found that if the system remains unchanged diabetes-associated deaths will nearly triple from 213

Surviving the Holidays with Diabetes

The holiday season is just around the corner. Maybe this is your first time to experience the holidays with diabetes, or maybe last years celebrations left you feeling sluggish and you vowed to do it differently this time. By following a few simple guidelines, you can make it through the season joyfully, without sabotaging your diabetes control.

Dont get caught in the vicious cycle of high blood glucose. Overeating can create a vicious cycle that is hard to break. When you overeat, high blood glucose stimulates hunger and cravings. If you eat more, your glucose gets higher. High blood glucose in turn will also increase tiredness and fatigue, especially after eating.

Despite your best intentions, your exercise program may fall by the wayside as a result of plummeting energy levels. Abandoning portion control will only leave you sluggish, tired and heavier by the end of the season.

Avoid saving up for the big meal

Unfortunately, this concept doesnt work when you have diabetes. If you deprive yourself in preparation for the feast, you could have a low blood glucose reaction if you take insulin or certain diabetes pills. Dont skip meals or allow yourself to become overly hungry. Find out when the meal will be served and schedule your eating accordingly. Plan to eat a meal or light snack every 3-4 hours throughout the day to prevent overeating when the holiday meal arrives.

Toasting in the holidays

During the holiday season, parties, gatherings, and family events may present opportunities for over consuming alcohol. Too much alcohol can spell trouble for your diabetes control and can also stimulate overeating. Alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation if your diabetes is under control and a few guidelines are followed.

According to the American Diabetes Association, moderate alcohol intake is defined as less than two drinks per day for men, and less than one drink per day for women. One drink is defined as:

5 oz wine
12 oz beer, preferably light
1-1/2 ounces of distilled spirits (scotch, rum, gin, vodka, and others)

High blood glucose can result from mixing alcohol with juices or other sugar-containing mixers, which are high in carbohydrates. On the other hand, when the body is busy breaking down alcohol, it is unable to access stored glucose from the liver. This can cause unexpected low blood glucose reactions (hypoglycemia) when alcohol is taken without food. Therefore, always consume alcohol with a meal or snack if you take diabetes medications. Finally, always check your blood glucose before you drive, even if youve had only one drink

Diabetes. Every year 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with Type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes. High rates of obesity are driving this trend.

Women with Type 2 diabetes have a four-fold greater risk of cognitive decline than non-diabetic women, according to a recent study. Diabetes seems to affect mens mental acuity to a lesser extent, for unknown reasons.

A diagnosis of diabetes does not seal ones cognitive fate. A University of California-San Francisco study found that diabetics who do not control their blood-sugar levels are at the highest risk for mental decline later in life.

Poor Diet. High cholesterol is another risk factor for cognitive problems in old age, the Swedish study found. High cholesterol can be caused by a diet high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats and hydrogenated vegetable oils.

The Keck School research team, which is conducting the Study of Latinos at Risk (SOLAR) Diabetes Project, examined 63 overweight Latino children in Los Angeles ages 9 to 13 who are participating in SOLAR and do not have diabetes.

Dietitians determined childrens everyday dietary habits by using three-day records that tracked childrens food-and-drink intake. Then children were admitted overnight to the USC General Clinical Research Center, where they were given a standard dinner and evening snack. The next day, researchers took blood samples from children before and after giving them glucose (sugar). They then tested the blood for levels of insulin.

As Goran explains, beta cells in the pancreas create the hormone insulin in response to sugar from food. Cells in the bodys tissues need sugar, or glucose, for energy; insulin helps cells grab and take up glucose circulating in the blood.

Sometimes, though, the bodys cells gradually become resistant to the effects of insulin. In response, the beta cells initially create more insulin to overcome that resistance. But in certain people, when beta cells are faced with a difficult workload over time, the beta cells start to function less effectively and eventually produce less or even no insulin. Researchers believe this decline in beta cell function may result in the accumulation of sugar in the bloodstream that characterizes type 2 diabetes.

In the children studied, those who consumed more sugar on an everyday basis had signs of decreased beta cell function, implying they were heading toward type 2 diabetes. Sugars included glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose and galactose found in food and drink products

High-sugar Diet Pushing Some Latino Kids Toward Type 2 Diabetes

(HealthNewsDigest.com).. LOS ANGELES (Nov. 21, 2005)Overweight Latino children who consume lots of sugarespecially in sugary drinksshow signs of beta cell decline, a precursor of type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Nearly one of four Latino children in the United States is overweight, and the problem is worsening. Increasing obesity rates parallel the growing incidence of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes in overweight teens. Now researchers report in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that high sugar intake during childhood may play a key role in the development of diabetes in this vulnerable population.

If left untreated, overweight and poor diet among these children could have disastrous consequences for minority health and the health-care costs for future generations, says Michael I. Goran, Ph.D., professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School, associate director of the USC Institute for Prevention Research and the studys senior author.

Results of the recent research study from Australia were published in the July 2005 edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA). Ultimately, the researchers from the University of Wollongong concluded that dietitians and nutrition counselors should be advising people to include walnuts as a regular part of their total diet.

This will help achieve optimal fat intake proportions without adverse effects on total fat or energy intakes in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, says PhD student Lynda Gillen, lead author of the research paper.

According to Gillen, intake of 30 grams of walnuts a day along with 350g of oily fish enabled patients to achieve proper amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids for the management of diabetes.

Achievement of energy balance despite increased intakes of high fat foods is an important finding in terms of weight management in diabetes, Gillen says.

To read the complete research study, .

Proper diet is an integral part of managing diabetes. If youre ready to take control -- and maybe lose a few pounds along the way -- eDiets can help. to complete a free profile and get started with our Living with Type 2 Diabetes plan (or choose from 20 other weight loss plans).

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes and are looking for ways to protect your heart, you may soon get the following advice from your dietician, Eat a handful of walnuts and call me in the morning. In a nutshell, eating a small portion of walnuts each and every day may help type 2 diabetes patients ingest the recommended intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as omega-3s).

It is important and challenging, for people with type 2 diabetes to eat the right types and balance of fats, says Marion J. Franz, MS, RD, LD, CDE, former director of nutrition and health professional education at the International Diabetes Center. The fact that achieving nutrition goals became easier by including walnuts is helpful and useful news for persons with diabetes, and the clinicians and diabetes educators who provide nutrition counsel.