disease | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Normal Glucose Readings

Everyone, it seems, is counting some type of medical readings these days, from counting carbs, to cholesterol levels, normal glucose readings, there is always a new number to be tracked and trended and kept as close to normal as possible. Of all the things that are tracked and trended nowadays there is possibly nothing more important to an ever growing number of people than normal glucose readings. The number of people who suffer the ill effects of hypertension and heart disease are actually on the decline, but the number of diabetics continues to increase daily and normal glucose readings are, for the diabetic, the key to a long and trouble free life.

When it comes to determining exactly what normal blood glucose levels are, the normally accepted range of 80-110 mg/dl can be influenced by such factors as body weight, age, and underlying health conditions. The only real way for an individual to find out exactly what their normal glucose readings should be is to consult with their doctor. It should be noted, however, that low glucose readings can be just as detrimental as high glucose readings, extremes in either direction could lead to coma or even death. The only good glucose readings are those within the normal range for the individual.

For those who have suffered from diabetes for years and those newly diagnosed organizations like to American Diabetes Association can be invaluable resources for information and support regarding the disease. Many companies now offer free glucometers to those who need them. Awareness of the risks and treatments of diabetes is being raised in the public eye like never before. Research continues into finding a cure for diabetes. Never before has it been easier or more important for the diabetic to maintain normal glucose readings than it is today.

Symptoms of High Glucose

When it comes down to it with every passing day the number of people who need to be concerned with the symptoms of high glucose is increasing each and every day. Many people are familiar with the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer, but not so many people are aware of the fact that the numbers of people actually suffering long term health effects from these diseases is actually on a slight decline. On the other hand, the numbers of new cases of diabetes is increasing every day, and so symptoms of high glucose are more of a concern than ever before.

Symptoms of high glucose can be many and varied, but all are a direct result of the fact that those who have high glucose have some dysfunction that either prohibits the pancreas from producing insulin or stops the cells of the body from responding to insulin as they should. Glucose, which the body produces from the carbohydrates that we take in as food, is important because it is the fuel that powers every cell of the body. In order for the glucose to power the cells it must pass through the cell wall, and this can only happen in the presence of insulin, which makes the cell wall allow the glucose to pass through. When the insulin is not produced or the cells don’t react to it properly the glucose levels in the bloodstream climb.

Symptoms of high glucose include a feeling of intense fatigue and lethargy, general malaise, weakness, rapid heart rate and respirations, and in severe cases coma and death. Usually the symptoms to watch for are, increases thirst, increased hunger, and increased urination. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, especially if they have a family history of diabetes, it is probably a good idea to set an appointment with a physician for a fasting blood glucose test to determine if the symptoms indicate high glucose and the onset of diabetes. The key to managing diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, and the only way to do that is to be familiar with the symptoms of high glucose.

Glucose Level after Eating

The glucose level after eating should be the chief concern of anyone with diabetes, and should be one of the most important tests associated with the disease.

In the world of medicine, the things that are considered normal are generally what are to be desired, however, upon close examination of the usual manner of establishing a fasting glucose to determine baseline blood glucose levels there is something decidedly abnormal in the test itself.

Normally the fasting blood glucose test is used to diagnose diabetes, but the manner in which the test is administered makes it abnormal when attempting to ascertain the glucose level after eating.

When a patient, or their physician thinks they may have some sort of glucose related abnormality the physician usually instructs the patient to fast from anything but water from midnight of the night before the fasting glucose test is to me administered. The patient arrives at the physician’s office and is given a solution containing a known amount of glucose to drink. The patient’s blood glucose level is then checked at intervals after the solution is taken to determine how well the body is metabolizing the glucose.

This is odd because in most cases the optimum amount of time that must pass between the last food intake is a full 8 hours, yet very few people go a full 8 hours without eating in their normal day to day life. Perhaps a better way to determine how well the body metabolizes glucose is to take the blood glucose reading around two hours after a meal. In a normal person the blood glucose level 2 hours after a meal should be no more than 140, and that normal glucose level after eating should be the target of the diabetic patient, regardless of what their “fasting” glucose level is.

Free glucose monitors and equipment

For many people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, may not be able to afford the equipment associated with diabetes so there is hope – free glucose monitors. Free glucose monitors, free glucose test strips and free diabetic supplies don’t go unnoticed to the people who need it the most.

For a lot of people in this horrible, low economy that we are in the paychecks doesn’t change, but the bills still come in and often times go up. Being a diabetic definitely puts a damper on things because there are so many extra costs associated with the disease. Diabetics have various medications, glucose test strips, glucose monitors and much more, but often times people find themselves choosing between their healths and putting food on the table.

There is hope; just like hospice is there for cancer patients and people with terminal diseases, there are associations that are in place to help people who can’t otherwise afford glucose monitors and diabetic supplies.

These associations will loan out or give out free glucose monitors, free glucose test strips and free diabetic supplies because they know the importance of trying to stay healthy and safe.

For many of these companies they get this equipment because other people have donated their equipment maybe after someone they know has passed or through donations.

Free glucose monitors and free glucose test strips are in top demand because to a diabetic being able to keep an eye and monitor their daily fasting blood glucose is often times the meaning of life and death.

By being able to get a free glucose monitor, a diabetic can keep their own journal or log without having to go into the doctor’s often frequently and they will be allowed a chance to have some form of independence. A free glucose monitor or free diabetic supplies too many is like opening a new present at Christmas time! It is a blessing.

Are you in need of a diabetic diet food list?

Have you just found out that you were diabetic and are in need of a diabetic diet food list? Diabetic diet food list are not hard to come by because you are not alone. So many people these days are finding out that they are diabetic so many more people are having to keep their low carb diet food list and diabetic grocery lists with them so that they know what to purchase when they go to the grocery store.

Where Do I find a Diabetic Diet Food List?

They can be found in a wide variety of places, you can get them from your doctor’s office, on the web or from a diabetic book. There are also several different options of lists to choose from such as diabetic grocery lists which can help you know what is right to get in the grocery store and what is not, diabetes food lists, low carb diet food list and even gestational diabetes food list which can help you know what to purchase and what not to purchase while you have been diagnosed with diabetes while you are pregnant.

A diabetic diet food list has been made up so that people with diabetes has a proper list to go by in order to keep themselves eating healthy and being able to lose weight at the same time. A diabetic diet food list is available for people with diabetes so that they can still eat healthy while maintaining their disease at the same time.

Just because you have diabetes or gestational diabetes doesn’t mean that you have to eat bland, yucky foods all the time when you still have options made available to you such as being able to shop by a diabetic grocery list or a gestational diabetes food list.

So if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with diabetes, access a diabetic diet food list to help you out. Check out more great healthy Super foods Perfect for Diabetics.