concern | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

1500 Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan

When it comes to eating healthy for most people the main concern is excess weight, the 1500 calorie diabetic diet plan can, for diabetics, be a matter of life and death. There are many places where a list of healthy snacks for diabetics can be obtained, as a matter of fact, nearly any doctor can provide the information, but the key to a 1500 calorie diabetic diet plan is its effect on successful glucose regulation.

The body needs glucose since glucose is the fuel for cellular activity. In a normal person even the most sugary and fatty foods will not cause glucose levels to rise beyond acceptable limits because as glucose levels rise the brain signals the pancreas to release a hormone called insulin. Insulin allows glucose to cross over from the blood into the cells to be used as energy, and if there is still too much glucose after cellular energy requirements are met it is stored for future use. In a diabetic, either the pancreas no longer produces insulin or the cells are resistant to the effects of insulin, therefore the glucose level in the blood can rise to harmful levels.

Sugary foods such as candies, sodas, and other sweets can cause the glucose to quickly soar to much higher than acceptable limits and the diabetic should generally stay away from such foods. Starches like those found in white colored foods like whitebread, rice, and potatoes can also make glucose climb rapidly because the starches are broken down into glucose by the body. As a general rule, white colored and sugary foods should be avoided by the diabetic, and even in those who are just seeking to control their weight avoiding such foods can be beneficial. Even though not all foods are bad, the 1500 calorie diabetic diet plan helps with glucose regulation and weight loss.

The 1500 calorie diabetic diet plan is an important part of the overall health plan that every diabetic should follow to maintain healthy blood glucose levels and head off the worst health effects of diabetes.

What is a Normal Glucose Level

For an ever increasing number of people what is a normal glucose level is a really important question. The number of people diagnosed with heart disease, hypertension, and many forms of cancer, has been fairly steady or even slightly declining in recent years, but the number of people with diabetes continues to skyrocket. For those with diabetes what is a normal glucose level is important because low blood glucose levels can be just as much of a concern as high blood glucose levels due to the simple fact the for the body to operate at optimum levels the blood glucose generally needs to stay somewhere between 60 and 10 mg/dl. Diabetes is the number one cause of abnormal blood glucose levels due to the way it affects the way the body is able to metabolize the glucose that is taken in as food.

Glucose is a type of sugar that the body gets from carbohydrates, sugars, and fatty foods that are consumed. Glucose is important because it is used by each cell of the body as a source of fuel, and when glucose levels fall the body begins to shut down just as surely as a car shutting down when the fuel tank is empty. For most diabetics there is a fine line between too much and too little glucose, and they must check their glucose several times a day in order to balance their medication dosage and diet to keep glucose within healthy levels. All it takes is one misjudgment in insulin dosage, or one forgotten meal or snack to cause blood glucose levels to plummet to the point that the diabetic will lose consciousness and could even die without prompt treatment.

If you or someone you know is a diabetic the only way to keep from suffering from low blood glucose levels or high glucose levels is by staying on top of your glucose checks, keeping your diet right, and following your doctors recommendations. You surely don’t want to be on a long trip when your car runs out of gas, and you don’t want to allow your body to suffer from lack of fuel or from an overload of glucose. Be sure and ask your doctor what is a normal glucose level.

The Normal Fasting Glucose Level

Not long ago, a normal fasting glucose level was never a chief concern for very many people, as the main health worries of the day were heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Sure there have always been diabetics, but in recent times the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has skyrocketed, even as the number of people diagnosed with heart disease, hypertension, and many forms of cancer have begun to decrease. If the current trend continues, diabetes and diabetes related issues may well become the most important health care concerns of the new millennia. This means that for a growing number of people, having a normal fasting glucose level is more important than ever.

The symptoms to watch for in cases where diabetes may be developing include increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination, increased fatigue, blurred vision, and lightheadedness. If a person is experiencing two or more of these symptoms it may be time to schedule a test with their physician to determine if they are maintaining a normal fasting glucose level. This is especially true if there is anyone else in their family that has diabetes.

The most common glucose tolerance test is the oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT. For the OGTT the patient is usually asked to fast for 8 to 10 hours. After the fasting blood glucose level is determined, the patient is given a solution to drink which contains a known quantity of glucose. The blood glucose of the patient is them measured at intervals to determine if their body is correctly metabolizing the glucose which has been ingested. The normal fasting glucose level is usually considered to be between 70 and 99 mg/dl and any reading outside this range may mean that more tests should be run and a possible diagnosis of diabetes.

Low Blood Sugar Range

Diabetes can be any one of several metabolic diseases that affect the way the body metabolizes glucose, this means that for many people staying above the low blood sugar range can be a real concern. While diabetes isn’t the only culprit, it is usually to blame whenever a person suffers a bout of low blood sugar, and low blood sugar can lead to feeling weak, the inability to think clearly, and even coma and death. Usually the blood sugar should be somewhere between 60 and 100 mg/dl, though in some cases those with blood sugar abnormalities may have unknowingly functioned outside the normal range for so long that their blood sugar may be as high as 300 without their feeling it and a low blood sugar range could go as low as 30-40 mg/dl. At 30 mg/dl a normal person would at least be unable to think clearly and would probably be comatose.

When a diabetic or someone suffering from a similar metabolic disease begins to suffer from low blood sugar it is important that they get some type of simple sugar into their body while they are still conscious and able to swallow correctly. Fruit juices, sugar, non-diet colas, and candy are great sources of fast acting sugars that can quickly raise the blood sugar level. It should be remembered, however, that these types of sugars are a quick-fix, and will rapidly raise the blood sugar level and just as rapidly be depleted and allow it to fall. In order for blood sugar to be maintained for the long term, the person suffering from a low blood sugar range needs complex carbohydrates like peanut butter and crackers, or better yet a full meal.

If the sugar continues to fall into the low blood sugar range unconsciousness will quickly result. Never attempt to give any type of food or drink to an unconscious or nearly unconscious person as this can lead to the material being sucked into the lungs which will result in a severe infection or death. If the person has lost consciousness due to low blood sugar the only way to take care of the problem is by rapid emergency medical treatment which will consist of a glucose solution being given directly into the bloodstream via IV.

Low Blood Glucose Levels

For an ever increasing number of people low blood glucose levels are a real concern. The number of people diagnosed with heart disease, hypertension, and many forms of cancer, has been fairly steady or even slightly declining in recent years, but the number of people with diabetes continues to skyrocket. For those with diabetes low blood glucose levels can be just as much of a concern as high blood glucose levels due to the simple fact the for the body to operate at optimum levels the blood glucose generally needs to stay somewhere between 60 and 10 mg/dl. Diabetes is the number one cause of abnormal blood glucose levels due to the way it affects the way the body is able to metabolize the glucose that is taken in as food.

Glucose is a type of sugar that the body gets from carbohydrates, sugars, and fatty foods that are consumed. Glucose is important because it is used by each cell of the body as a source of fuel, and when glucose levels fall the body begins to shut down just as surely as a car shutting down when the fuel tank is empty. For most diabetics there is a fine line between too much and too little glucose, and they must check their glucose several times a day in order to balance their medication dosage and diet to keep glucose within healthy levels. All it takes is one misjudgment in insulin dosage, or one forgotten meal or snack to cause blood glucose levels to plummet to the point that the diabetic will lose consciousness and could even die without prompt treatment.

If you or someone you know is a diabetic the only way to keep from suffering from low blood glucose levels is by staying on top of your glucose checks, keeping your diet right, and following your doctors recommendations. You surely don’t want to be on a long trip when your car runs out of gas, and you don’t want to allow your body to suffer from lack of fuel.