How Effective Are Goji Berries For Diabetes?

Goji berries which are also known as Chinese Wolfberries, Tibetan goji, Mede berries, or Murali (India) are orange-red berries that come from scrubs that are native to China. They are also found in moderate and sub-tropical regions of China, Himalayas and Mongolia. These berries can be eaten raw, dried or cooked and are also used in

juices
wines,
herbal teas and medicine.

Goji Berries are very rich in:

polysaccharides,
zeaxanthin,
beta-carotene,
amino acids,
calcium,
potassium,
iron,
zinc,
vitamins, A, C, E, B6, B1 and B2,
flavonoids and trace minerals.

Goji Berries for Diabetes? YES!

. Improved vision Besides improving vision, the berries also make the eyes more adaptable to various environments, less prone to soreness and fatigue and more resistant to infections and diseases.

• Diabetic retinopathy Goji berries protect the eyes from diabetic retinopathy which is a very serious diabetes-related disease which can even lead to blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is a result of high glucose levels in the eyes resulting in the death of retinal cells due to oxidation of proteins. The berries contain a compound known as taurine which prevents loss of eyesight by protecting the retinal cells.

• Macular degeneration Macular degeneration is a disease which causes loss of vision in the center of the visual field and it is commonly associated with diabetes and its complications. Goji berries are very rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids and zeaxanthin which are vital in protecting and nourishing the macular. Therefore, eating goji berries is a great preventive measure for people who are at a higher risk of developing macular degeneration such as diabetics because these oxidants are easily absorbed from the berries.

• Eye fatigue and soreness Eating goji berries helps your eyes adjust rapidly to various levels of darkness because they revitalize the eyes quickly. This makes you less overwhelmed by the bright sun and less vulnerable in dark areas. The berries not only make your vision sharper but they can also help you when driving at night because they also fight eye fatigue. Carotenoids which give the berries a bright red pigment are a great source of vitamin A and they also act as antioxidants. Besides preventing eye disease, the carotenoids in these healthy berries are extremely beneficial for people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes related eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Although these conditions may not disappear completely, these healthy berries make them more bearable.

. Antioxidant Well, we all know how good antioxidants are for us! Goji berries play a very critical role as an antioxidant which lowers the risk of heart-related complications as well as preventing other age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. This is mainly because the antioxidants are very effective in minimizing damage from the free radicals that damage DNA and injure cells. The protective effects on DNA damages oxidative stress are a result of the reduction in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. The Chinese and Mongolians have been using goji berries for centuries to improve longevity and treat various health problems such as diabetes, hepatitis, cancer, male infertility, eye disorders and immune system disorders. Their antioxidant and anti-aging properties nourish the blood and are also used as tonic for kidneys, lungs and the liver.

For a great afternoon snack – try mixing some Goji berries with almonds or other raw nuts – yum!!

9 Top Super Foods to include in your Type 11 Diabetes Diet.

If you find yourself in the pre-diabetes category, (which is basically, higher than normal blood glucose levels, but not high enough to be classed as Diabetes type 2), and want to clean up your type 11 diabetes diet, you are going to have to make some pretty serious changes in your life to prevent the condition from blowing out into full diabetes. I am very much into healing the body with natural remedies, diet and regular exercise so today I’m going to share my “9 top Superfoods” that you should try and include into your diabetes diet on a regular basis, to get you well on the way to a healthier you!

BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are one of my favorites – they are one of the few foods that are naturally colored blue! They are high in vitamin K and vitamin C, fiber and manganese (vital for maintaining healthy bones and skin)

Blueberries are also high in antioxidants, and studies have shown that they may help reduce the risks of cancers, depression and anxiety – great addition to your type 11 diabetic diet.

1 cup of blueberries is equal to:

1.1 gram protein
0.5gram total fat
0.0 saturated fat
21.5grams carbs
3.6 grams fiber

And only 84 CALORIES

2. ROLLED OATS

This is my favorite breakfast cereal! – especially in the colder months. It’s full of soluble fiber, which slows down the absorption of glucose and as a result, helps with keeping your blood sugar levels under control. Evidence from a review published in ‘Nutrition Reviews’ showed oats to help reduce cholesterol and has good antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. It’s also a great source of manganese, protein, thiamine, iron, copper and zinc…..and potassium! So much goodness!

½ cup of oats is equal to:

5.3 grams protein
2.6 grams total fat
0.5 grams saturated fat
27.4 grams carbs
4.1 grams fiber

And only 153 CALORIES

3. ALMONDS

Almonds are a great snack between meals, if you are desperate for one! Make sure you eat the unsalted, raw nut. Almonds are high in vitamin E, protein, fiber, manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, niacin, calcium…the list goes on! Almonds also improve blood lipid levels (that’s blood fat levels). Don’t go wild…just a small handful for a snack is perfect! Awesome addition to your Type 11 diabetic diet plan.

1 ounce is equal to:

6.3 grams protein
15 grams total fat
1.2 grams saturated fat
5.5 grams carbs
3.3 grams fiber

And only 169 CALORIES

4. NON FAT YOGURT

Nonfat yogurt, is an essential part of anyone’s diet – more so for people following a type 2 diabetes diet. In a recent 11 year study in the eastern country of Norfolk, results concluded that people who included nonfat yogurts and low fat cottage cheese, were 24% less likely to develop diabetes, compared to the people who didn’t.

I love the Greek yogurt – it’s actually more beneficial to your health than some of the other brands, as it has twice as much protein. Whichever you prefer, just make sure that it states it contains ‘live cultures’.

There are many health benefits of non or low fat yogurt – many of them are related to the GIT (gastrointestinal tract) in particular, the colon. Yogurt is a high in B6, B12, protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, contains the friendly bacteria (probiotics) and once again, the list goes on!

1 cup is equal to:

12.9 grams protein
3.8 grams total fat
2.5 grams saturated fat
17.3 grams carbs
0.0 grams fiber

And only 154 CALORIES

5. QUINOA (pronounced keen-wa)

I love quinoa! It’s so versatile. I make salads with it, use it in place of rice when making curries and stews. It’s gluten free, so that’s a plus with all the gluten intolerance around these days. Makes a great breakfast, sprinkled with ground cinnamon, or stewed blueberries. It contains a great source of B6, Protein, fiber, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorus, copper, iron and zinc (just to name a few!)

1 cup is equal to:

8.1 grams protein
3.6 grams total fa
0.0 grams saturated fat
39.4 grams carbs
5.2 grams fiber

And only 222 CALORIES

6. FISH

Fresh fish have loads of great health benefits especially for diabetics, however the oily fish is the most beneficial, (like mackerel, salmon, pilchards and sardines) are so rich in omega-3 fatty acids. When cooking with sardines and pilchards, I buy the canned ones, generally combine them with some mashed sweet potato and finely chopped onion and garlic, 1 lightly beaten egg and heaps of fresh herbs (I put fresh herbs in almost everything I make!) They’re even great cold, for lunch the next day.

Oily fish is an excellent source of B6, B12, E, C, protein, niacin, thiamine, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, and of course, omega 3.

I’ll use pilchards as an example:

3.75oz / 92 grams is equal to:

19.1 grams protein
9.6 grams total fat
2.1 grams saturated fat
0.0 grams carbs
0.0 grams fiber

And only 168 CALORIES

7. KALE

Surely we’ve all heard of Kale by now – it’s everywhere! It contains twice as many antioxidants as any other green leafy vegies. This is one reason why Kale is known to be effective in helping prevent cancer and heart disease.

Kale also has a high level of lutein and zeaxanthin which has been associated with helping prevent diseases of the eyes, such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Another plus for Kale, is it’s high level of sulphoraphane, confirmed by a 2012 study in Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showing kale reduces the growth of colon cancer cells!

1 cup is equal to:

2.5 grams protein
0.5 grams total fat
0.1 grams saturated fat
7.3 grams carbs
2.6 grams fiber

And only 36 CALORIES!

8. BEANS

Beans are a great, cheap food to include in a type 11 diabetes diet, that can be added to so many dishes, quite simply! They are Low GI (glycemic index), they contain a high level of high quality carbohydrates, protein and soluble fiber and are excellent for helping to stabilize blood glucose levels.

You can purchase canned beans, chick peas, soya beans etc for convenience, or you can purchase the dry variety from a health food store or drugstore and start from scratch. It requires soaking overnight or at least 5 hours, so you need to be a little more prepared.

To be honest, I tend to go for the canned varieties of beans – as I’m usually pushed for time. Canned beans, still hold all their nutrients, however they may contain additional sodium or salt, so you must be aware of that if you are also following a low sodium diet.

I’ll use cooked black beans as an example

1 cup is equal to:

15.2 grams protein
0.9 grams total fat
0.0 grams saturated fat
40.8 grams carbs
15.0 grams fiber

And only 227 CALORIES

9. AVOCADO

Wow! How would I cope without avocados in my life! I find myself preparing them for one thing or another, every single day! Dips – salads – my favorite raw avocado chocolate pie! (Yum) Among others benefits, avocados are an excellent source of Vitamin B6, E, K, C, fiber Potassium, Manganese, copper, magnesium. They are stacked full of antioxidants, healthy fatty acids and have definite anticancer properties, especially concerning the prostate. Great addition to your Type 2 diabetes diet menu!

1 cup is equal to:

3 grams protein
22 grams total fat
3.2 grams saturated fat
12.8 grams carbs
10.0 grams fiber

And only 240 CALORIES

So there you have it! 9 of my favorite Super Foods to include in your type 11 diabetes diet.

Get the Facts on Prediabetes – Are you at Risk?

The Facts on Prediabetes, how to prevent diabetes — Are you at Risk?

Get the Facts on Prediabetes.

So you’ve had a great Christmas vacation – spent some great quality time with the kids – been off visiting family and friends. Maybe you’ve even overindulged a little?

So much good home cooking on offer, wine, a few beers?

Does this sound like you?

Your wife (or husband) is nagging at you to go have a check up at the doctors, it’s been about 4 years since your last one! Lo and behold..he tells you that YOU’RE PRE DIABETIC.!

It doesn’t have to be this way – diabetes is basically a non-communicable lifestyle disease that (much of the time) is self-inflicted.

Well, read on if you want to get off that path to diabetes and get the chance to change your life NOW.

So, what are the facts on Prediabetes?

It’s actually a bit of a grey area, but basically your body is not able to efficiently manage blood sugars after eating any more. Your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, but not quite high enough to fall into the Type 2 diabetes category.

How do you know if you’re at risk of Prediabetes?

Unfortunately, in most cases you can have it and not even know it! There’s no symptoms and no warning signs.

Being overweight is one of the main risk factors – especially excess fat around the waistline.

Without regular doctors checks, the increased blood glucose level that goes hand in hand with prediabetes, goes undetected.

Some who fall into the ‘prediabetic ‘ category, may also have some of the symptoms of diabetes. Here are a few of the main ones to watch out for.

Eye damage.

The most common type of eye damage for a diabetic, is retinopathy. (This is where the blood vessels in the retina, become week, damaged and may often bleed or leak.)

Some nerve damage.

This is referred to as neuropathy. About 50 % of diabetics end up with some nerve damage. You may get numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands and feet. (That is why regular exercise is so vital, especially if you are diabetic or fall into the prediabetic category.)

Nerve damage can affect so many parts of the body, stomach, abdomen – These in turn can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, problems with the bladder and even sexual dysfunction in men.

Kidney damage.

Damage to the kidneys caused by diabetes, is called nephropathy. (From the Greek nephros for kidney). Once again, its raised blood glucose levels, higher than normal blood pressure levels and excess blood fat levels that contribute to kidney damage in diabetics.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to detect kidney damage and sometimes even an examination by your doctor won’t pick up until it’s too late – sometimes patients can lose almost all of their kidney function before symptoms are apparent.

Problems with your teeth and gums

You may experience problems with your teeth and gums, as increased blood sugar levels also affect the flow of saliva lowering your infection fighting white blood cells.

Remember to brush twice a day and have regular dental checks!

Heart problems

Cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke) along with obesity and

How to prevent diabetes — Foods Diabetics Should Avoid

diabetes, is killing 18 million people a year – a large majority of these diseases are purely due to the modern lifestyle. Mums are out working now, fast food joints are everywhere, we are eating more food, more often and it’s a lot more processed, rather than fresh. Packaged food became much more attractive, cheaper and has a longer shelf life.

Do you have problems sleeping? You may be experiencing Prediabetes.

If you are one that only sleeps around 6 hours or less each night, and it’s a regular pattern for you, you may fall into the category of prediabetes. These are some of the things you could be experiencing that puts you within the prediabetes category.

The only way to find out for sure, is by visiting you physician and requesting a ‘fasting blood glucose test’. If this reveals you levels are between 6.1 to 6.9mmol/L, then there may be a further test required where you have to drink a really sugary drink (oral glucose tolerance test) to see just how well your body deals with it. This is the sure fast way to determine whether you need some radical lifestyle changes, to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. It may be as simple as just following a good diet for pre diabetes. Follow this link for some tips on a good Diabetic Meal Plan. Be sure to visit us here again soon, where you can find out more on the Facts on Prediabetes.

How a diabetic Alert Dog can Help

How a Diabetic Alert Dog Can Help.

For insulin dependent diabetics, I think this is such a great idea! They are often known by the acronym ‘DAD’. They are a service dog, specially trained to warn their human companion when their blood sugar is too low or too high. They can also remind their diabetic friend to take their insulin at the right time.

This of course can be very useful in managing your diabetes. A diabetic service dog also can help to save lives by preventing permanent health damage due to

seizures,
passing out, and
brain damage.

Diabetic Alert Dogs – smell great!

Pardon the pun, but in fact the canine nose has more than two hundred million scent receptors compared to a measly 5 million scent receptors in humans. Moreover, a large portion of a dog’s brain is devoted to processing olfactory (sensory) information. This makes a dog’s nose far superior to that of a human!

Dogs can smell things that humans simply cannot smell. The training they receive to become a diabetic alert dog teaches them how to hone in on specific scents associated with high and low blood sugar.

When a person’s blood sugar rises too high, they produce ketones that can be easily detected by a trained canine nose, while the human nose smells nothing different. When a person’s blood sugar drops too low, they produce excess nitrogen in the form of urea that escapes through the skin pores.

This can be easily detected by a trained canine nose but not a human’s nose.

Common Breeds of Diabetic alert Dog

The most common types of dogs that become service dogs for diabetics are

poodles,
labrador retrievers, and
golden retrievers.

These breeds are chosen because they usually have a good temperament, an extremely good sense of smell, and can be trained more easily than most other breeds.

How old you ask? is a Diabetic Alert Dog

A fully trained diabetic alert dog is usually one to two years old when they are paired with their diabetic friend. Sometimes these service dogs are also trained to alert a family member when their companion’s blood sugar goes too high or too low. This can be especially helpful with smaller children.

Sleeping can be a dangerous time for an insulin dependent diabetic because a sleeping person is unaware of their own symptoms of low blood sugar and high blood sugar. An alert dog can be a real safety net, especially for a young child. They are taught how to wake their companion up and signal to them if their blood sugar becomes too high or too low during the night. This is particularly important for sound sleepers who have extreme fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.
Driving is another potential danger for diabetics since blood sugar irregularities can cause black outs and sleepiness while driving. In extreme cases, some diabetics are advised to not drive because it can be too risky.

This can become quite frustrating, even just when driving to work, school, or just performing basic everyday life tasks, such as shopping for instance. However, having a diabetic therapy dog riding along with you can give you back your freedom!

Kids with diabetes are notoriously forgetful and or resistant to testing their blood sugar. I think the practice of adding friendly reminders to cell phones and social media services is a brilliant idea – but a lot of the time (like my good friends daughter) even with these kid friendly technologies, kids just don’t like to test! However, giving them a lovable playmate at the same time –allows kids to take a little of the seriousness out of their situation. Takes the focus off the fact that they may well be chronically ill.

Training for a diabetic alert dog.

Part of the training they receive is obedience training so they can fit into a normal household without causing any additional stress. In fact, a diabetic alert dog has a calming effect and help to reduce anxiety in their diabetic companions. This is a significant advantage of having a DAD that is a sometimes overlooked. These dogs help their diabetic companions cope with the day to day stresses of living with diabetes. Since these dogs are service animals, they can go almost anywhere with their companions.

If you need more info or wish to find out about getting a diabetic alert dog, please checkout diabetic alert dogs.

Latest News on Invokana for Diabetes.

Invokana for Diabetes

Are you interested in the latest developments on Invokana for diabetes? Today the European Commission (EC) announced that they have approved Invokana (canagliflozin) tablets in the European Union for helping to maintain glycemic control in adult type 2 diabetes sufferers.

Invokana is a prescription medication designed for diabetics to use in conjunction with a well monitored diabetic diet and exercise plan, to lower blood sugar levels. The way Invokana works is it blocks the re absorption of glucose by the kidney, which then increases glucose excretion, hence lowers your blood sugar levels.

When NOT to take Invokana for Diabetes

Invokana should not be taken by type 1 sufferers, also by
diabetes patients on dialysis,
those who have severe or late stage of renal disease, or
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (elevated level of ketones in the urine or blood)

Side Effects of Invokana

It is important to understand that Invokana may cause side effects in some diabetics. These are mostly apparent in the first three months of starting treatment and may include:

Dehydration
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Weakness
Yeast infections in both men and women.
Urinary tract infections

It is always vital you consult with your doctor or diabetes management team, before you start with any new medications. Also be sure to advise what other medications you are taking, as some medications may affect the way Invokana works and vice versa, some of these include:

Diuretics (water pills)
Rifampin (Tuberculosis medication)
Phenobarbital or Phenytoin (seizures)
Ritonavir ( HIV infection treatment)
Digoxin (Heart problems)

Before you take Type 2 Diabetes Medication – first Tell your Doctor:

If you’re pregnant
If you are breastfeeding
If you are having any form of liver of kidney problems.
If you are having allergic reactions to the drug.
What sort of diabetic diet plan you are following, ie low in salt etc..

So combined with a well managed diabetes diet plan, regular exercise and close monitoring from your physician, Invokana for diabetes, is one step closer to controlling your blood sugar levels and living a normal, healthy life!