The Six Most Important Causes of Diabetes You Should Be Aware Of

By Jose Talavera

THE CAUSES OF DIABETES MAY BE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:



1. HEREDITY



Heredity is a key factor. That diabetes can be hereditary has been recognized for centuries. However, the pattern of heritage is not entirely understood. Statistics indicate that those with a family record of this ailment have a higher peril of developing diabetes than those with no such a background. The risk factor is 25% to 33% higher.



One of the causes of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes in a whole family is the existence of the diabetes gene. But even if it is caused by genetic factors away from your control, there is no motive to undergo it. Diabetes in most cases cannot be cured in full sense of the word, but it can be efficiently managed so that you would not feel the difference.



2. DIET



Diabetes has been defined by most health scientists as a "prosperity" disease, for the most part caused by regular overeating. Not only is consumption of too much refined carbohydrates detrimental, but fats and proteins, which are transformed into glucose, may also produce diabetes if taken with intemperance.



It is noteworthy that diabetes is almost unknown in countries where inhabitants are deprived and cannot afford to eat too much.



The occurrence of diabetes is straightforwardly connected with the consumption of foods rich in the refined carbohydrates, like bread, biscuits, cakes, pudding, chocolates, and ice creams.



3. OBESITY



Obesity is one of the major causes of diabetes. Studies show that a great percentage of overweight people tend to develop diabetes. In the United States of America, about 80% of type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetics are reported to be obese or overweight.



Excess fat prevents insulin from operating correctly. The more fatty tissue in the body, the more opposed the tissue cells and muscles become to body insulin. Insulin helps the glucose in the blood to go into the cells by working on the receptor sites on the exterior of the cells.



Older people frequently tend to gain weight, and at the same time, many of them build up a mild form of diabetes. Nevertheless, they can often improve their blood sugar simply by losing weight.



4. STRESS AND TENSION



There is a notorious correlation between stress and diabetes. That is why those who undergo stress or lead an unbalanced lifestyle need to take plenty of precautions and make the required lifestyle adjustments.



Sorrow, worry, apprehension resulting from examinations, death of a close family member, loss of a joy, business collapse and tense marital relationship, all make a deep pressure on the metabolism and may cause glucose to appear in the urine.



5. SMOKING



Smoking is an additional significant risk factor. Amongst men who smoke, the probability of developing diabetes is doubled. In women who smoke, the menace of developing diabetes is amplified by 40%.



6. LIFESTYLE RISK



People who are physically inactive have greater danger of developing diabetes. Contemporary conveniences have made labor easier. Physical movement and exercise help having more power over weight, use up a great deal of the sugar contained in the blood as energy and make cells more responsive to insulin. As a result, the workload on the pancreas is diminished, and you can easily eliminate one of the causes of diabetes.



About the Author: JOSE TALAVERA - Health advisor. Diabetes expert, consultant and author. If you like this article, please visit the web site below for more advice and resources for diabetics: http://conquer-diabetes.blogspot.com If you want to learn more you may download a free ebook at http://talaveras.net



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=436179&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

Diabetes Diet

Diabetes Diet: The Low Glycemic Index Diet is Much More Than Just a Fad Diet

By Jose Talavera

A diabetes diet is crucial when a person suffers from diabetes. The low glycemic index diet is not a special food package but is just a little more than a diet plan for healthy living for people in general. A low gi diet is not a special food that is packaged by a pharmaceutical company, and can be purchased off the shelf.



DIETARY CONTROL AND WEIGHT CONTROL



Dietary control in type 1 diabetes is very important. This diabetes diet focuses on balancing insulin intake with food intake and energy expenditure from physical activity. Diet counseling and teaching is a must for the diabetic to know what works out best for them. Weight control is an especially important part of the management of type 2 diabetes. Weight loss, in any case, should not be the only or even the primary goal for people concerned about their health. Nevertheless, weight loss should be a big concern since overweight conditions will typically aggravate the diabetic condition. Weight loss through diet and exercise is especially important for overweight people with pre-diabetes as well.



CHOLESTEROL



Diabetics should stick with unsaturated fats, since animal fats and trans fatty acids are a major source of cholesterol and have a variety of negative effects on the health of the heart, especially for the diabetics. For many years, soy was promoted as a food that could help lower cholesterol and improve heart disease risk factors. But an important 2006 American Heart Association (AHA) review of studies found that soy protein and isoflavone supplement pills do not really have any decisive effects on cholesterol or heart disease prevention. Reducing consumption of saturated fats and trans-fatty acids is the first essential step in managing cholesterol levels through a diabetes diet. Low-fat diets that are high in whole grains, fiber, legumes, and fresh produce offer health advantages for cholesterol control.



In diabetes diets fats should make up about 30%-35% of the caloric intake, but that does not mean just any type will do. Low carb diets generally restrict the amount of carbohydrates but do not restrict protein sources. The American Diabetes Association states that low-fat diets can help reduce weight in the short term (up to 1 year). Research indicates that chromium, zinc and magnesium-rich diets may help lower type 2 diabetes risk.



THE GLYCEMIC INDEX



People who have diabetes should use the glycemic index to select foods, especially among carbohydrates. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrates, certain foods or food groups, according to the effects they have on your glycemia, which can help you decide the best things to include in your diabetes diet plan. The glycemic index helps determine which carbohydrate-containing foods raise blood glucose levels more or less quickly after a meal. That is the basement of the low glycemic index diet. A major analysis suggested that choosing foods with low glycemic index scores may have a significant effect on controlling the surge in blood sugar after meals. Substituting low for high-glycemic index foods may also help prevent weight gain.



One easy way to improve the glycemic index of a meal is to simply replace sugar and starches with legumes (dried peas, beans, and lentils) and whole grains. Adding foods with organic acids (pickles, yogurt) to meals may reduce the impact of foods with high glycemic scores on blood sugar. A study on children with type 1 diabetes suggested that the glycemic index offered as many choices as other diets, i.g. the exchange diet, and they did not report feeling any greater limitations. Foods high on the glycemic index include bread, white potatoes, and pasta while low-glycemic foods include whole grains, fruit, lentils, and soybeans.



A healthy diabetes diet is basically a balanced diet. In general, a low glycemic index diet is not very different from the healthy, balanced diet doctors recommend for everyone. For people who have diabetes, the treatment goal for a diabetes diet is to achieve near normal blood sugar levels.



There is no such thing as a single diabetes diet, though. There is no longer a single diabetes diet that will suit everyone. Furthermore, if you are suffering from diabetes, then enhancing your knowledge level with more of diabetes diet information is a must. Though the administration of insulin and medication is necessary, a healthy diet based on the low glycemic diet information will go a long way in seeing you living a healthy life. The best way to control your blood sugar starts with the most up-to-date diabetes diet information available.



Go ahead, learn more about the low glycemic index diet. There are plenty of sites in the Internet to take this first step. And then, start your own healthy diet as soon as possible!



About the Author: JOSE TALAVERA - Health advisor. Diabetes expert, consultant and author. If you liked this article, visit the site below for more advice, resources for diabetics: http://conquer-diabetes.blogspot.com



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=402671&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet