Articles | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

The uses of the diabetic testers

For diabetics having and knowing how to use diabetic testers is vitally important. Diabetes is a disease in which the organ known as the pancreas stops or slows in the production of a chemical known as insulin. This chemical is responsible for all of the body’s energy. It takes the glucose (sugar) in the blood and changes it into energy that the body’s cells can use. If the insulin is low or nonexistent the blood sugar rockets to dangerous levels, at such high levels the body becomes damaged. The damage that can occur when the sugar levels in the blood are to high include; heart damage and disease, nerve damage, kidney damage and failure, and eye damage. The uses of diabetic testers are now evident when you take this into consideration. So how does it work?

Diabetic testers also known as blood glucose meter are small (generally) handheld devices that are used to measure the amount of sugar in the blood. First the finger, (or thanks to better technology) the arm, Is pricked with a small needle that draws a small amount of blood. The blood is then placed in a small plastic strip that is inserted into the unit. The unit then measure the sugar in the blood and displays the results on a small easy to read screen. This allows you to check your blood sugar at any time and keep your blood sugar in safe levels. One of the most important things when getting a meter is that you know how to use it correctly and that you are comfortable with it because your life depends on it. If you don’t have the ability to get diabetic testers can talk to your doctor and he may be able to help with getting free diabetic testers.

Foods with Glucose

In our present age when it seems that every aisle is covered with brightly colored wrappers and packages that be your attention and call out to you purporting to be the perfect food is is no wonder that foods with glucose are so prevalent. Glucose is a simple sugar that is needed as fuel by every cell in the body and if all goes well with the way the body handles glucose intake and metabolisis glucose can be a good thing. However in persons with diabetes glucose intake must be severely limited in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar.

Glucose, as a simple sugar is one of the chief building blocks of carbohydrates and therefore it is easy to know that foods that are high in carbohydrates are also foods that contain glucose as the body simply breaks the carbs down into glucose once it is ingested. This means that dairy products, potatoes, breads, pastas, potatoes and rice are some of the foods that contain the most glucose and can quickly elevate glucose levels in the body. Fruits are perhaps the best source of glucose as they generally contain the simplest of sugars and are excellent sources of glucose. Meats and fish as a general rule are not foods that contain glucose, as they are primarily sources of protein, though many cured, smoked, canned, and processed meat products have some form of sugar added and this makes them…you guessed it…foods that contain glucose.

Though glucose is absolutely essential for fuel to keep the body going, it must be remembered that too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. In a normal person, excess glucose is converted into fat and stored for use later, this results in weight gain. In cases of diabetes and other metabolic problems which effect insulin production or use glucose levels can rise to the point where this simple sugar can begin to damage organs and body systems and result in coma, or even death. Foods that contain glucose are an absolute essential for life, but their intake should be done with sense and moderation.

Normal Blood Sugar Count

As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise the question of what is a normal blood sugar count has become one of the most frequently asked questions in doctor’s offices all around the world. While there are no hard and fast rules, normal blood glucose is generally thought to be between 60 and 100 milligrams per deciliter. Though this the normal rule in some cases blood sugar levels can be affected by other underlying medical conditions, including the age, weight, and overall health condition of the patient, the only one who can determine what a normal blood sugar count for the individual is the individual’s physician.

If you are a diabetic, the best way to keep your diabetes in control and in check is by regularly checking your blood sugar level and maintaining them as close to normal as possible. Only by maintaining a normal blood sugar count can the worst of the health effects of diabetes be headed off. A healthy blood sugar level is the only way to prevent diabetes related neuropathy, blindness, kidney disease and other long term effects of abnormal blood sugar levels. Whether you have type one or type two diabetes, whether you control your blood sugar by diet alone, or with a combination of diet and medication, the blood sugar is the key to the prevention of long term detrimental health effects.

A normal blood sugar count can be maintained, but it does take a great deal of discipline, especially when it comes to counting carbs and regulating sugar intake as a means of keeping the sugar in check. Let’s face it the foods that we love the most are the ones that are highest in sugars and the kind of carbs that we shouldn’t be eating if we want to keep ourselves healthy. Regardless of the difficulty the only way to stay healthy is to wake up each morning aware of a normal blood sugar count and do what it takes to maintain it.

Good Foods for Diabetics

Good foods for diabetics are generally the kinds of foods that would be good for anyone. The key issue in controlling diabetes by diet is to eat foods that will provide good healty nutrition without throwing glucose levels abnormally high. Since glucose is a simple form of sugar which the cells of the body need for fuel and glucose is present in nearly all foods it is therefore important for the diabetic to simply limit the consumption of foods that contain high levels of sugars and carbohydrates or starches which can be converted by the body into a large amount of glucose. This limiting of the glucose, or sugar, intake has the result of decreasing calorie intake to a large degree and therefore many of the diets that sre designed for weight loss are also good foods for diabetics. This means that to help maintain a glucose level that’s not too high the diabetic should limit their intake of sweets, potatoes, breads, pasta, and rice. As a general rule, white foods contain a good deal of starch which is easily converted into large amounts of glucose.

When good foods for diabetics, or even for weight loss, is considered one key thing to remember is that high protein foods are absolutely essential to maintain the muscles and keep the body healthy. Carbohydrates must be a part of everyone’s diet because they convert into glucose which the body needs for fuel, so no healthy diet can be a simple matter of not eating, the key is to eat the right foods in the right amounts.

The best place to get advice about good foods for diabetics is from the doctor responsible for the diabetic individual’s treatment. The doctor will be familiar with the individual’s dietary needs, medications, and overall health condition and will be able to either directly offer dietary advice or put the diabetic in touch with a nutritionist for assistance.

Normal Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetics

What are the normal blood sugar levels for diabetics? This is becoming a question that is being asked more and more often in doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities all across the globe. In most places heart disease, stroke, and cancer rates are on the decline, but the numbers of new cases of diabetes continue to rise each year. Not long ago, very few people would have ever thought to ask such a question as “what are normal blood sugar levels for diabetics?” but nowadays the question may be the answer to the difference between a long and happy life and a shorter life plagued with diabetes associated health problems.

Diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells of the body have become resistant to the action of the insulin that is produced. In either case the lack of insulin action will not allow the glucose in the blood to pass into the cells to be used up for energy. This results in a build-up of insulin in the bloodstream. Glucose, a simple sugar, is usually used by every cell in the body as fuel, but when glucose levels get too high the glucose can cause damage to nearly every system in the body. This damage may manifest itself as heart disease, kidney failure, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, or even coma and death. So, “what are normal blood sugar levels for diabetics?” is a very important question.

“What are normal blood sugar levels for diabetics?” can be a difficult question to answer due to the fact that everyone is different, but generally speaking a blood glucose level between 60 and 110 is considered normal. If you or anyone you know begin to develop the symptoms of sudden increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination it may be time to visit the doctor and ask the question, “What are normal blood sugar levels for diabetics?”