10 People You Need On Your Diabetes Care Team

So who is involved in diabetes care?

Diabetes affects every part of the body and there is no one provider who is skilled in offering resources to address all of those areas. Although it may feel daunting to have several professionals, it’s important to note that each of these providers offers a specific resource tailored to increasing the likelihood of overall success in managing diabetes.

Therefore, you should do the best to utilize the resources at your disposal, which includes time away from your normal schedule, money, and the ability to get to appointments via public transportation, your own car or virtually over your personal computer. With that in mind, here are the 10 people you need on your diabetes care team:

  1. Primary care physician (PCP)

Diabetes DoctorWhen it comes to type 2 diabetes, the primary care physician is the general health coordinator. This is the professional you’ll see for checkups, routine care, as well as concerns that are not linked to diabetes. That means they may recommend that you see other specialist for specific issues, follow up to understand what treatment plans you’ve been offered, and facilitate adherence to your care plan. They also keep an up-to-date list of all supplements and medications you are taking.

  1. Endocrinologist

An endocrinologist helps you with blood glucose management as well as other diseases related to the endocrine system. In addition to treating diabetes this doctor will also assess the need for blood-sugar-lowering medications and determine the best medications and right dose for you. Because diabetes is a life-long disease, your endocrinologist may have a close and long relationship with you.

  1. Dietitian nutritionist

An understanding of nutrition is a critical part of managing most health conditions, including diabetes. Building a diabetes-friendly diet involves knowing what you should eat and avoid while keeping your blood sugar level in check. A dietitian nutritionist will help with this and help you meet other goals such as improved blood pressure, weight loss, and improved cholesterol. Moreover, they can provide assistance in trying diet plans such as intermittent fasting or the ketogenic diet in a safe way.

  1. Pharmacist

This professional will help you understand your prescribed medications, how they work, and medication interactions. This is particularly important if you are taking several medications prescribed by different doctors. Pharmacists play an important role in type 2 diabetes care and can help reduce the number of low and high blood sugar episodes which benefits your health and helps you save money on your care.

  1. Diabetes care and education specialist

This healthcare professional helps you create a healthy lifestyle as well as put the diabetes management plan into practice. A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist usually spends more time with the diabetes patient compared to a Primary Care Physician.

This allows for specialized care so that patients can success in attaining their goals. Some Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are also trained behavioral psychology, which offers additional benefits for patients.

Such professionals act as accountability partners who can address various barriers, including adhering to medications and sticking with treatment. These are experts who understand their patients without judging them.

  1. Ophthalmologist

what is a diabetes doctor calledThis is an eye specialist who will help prevent eye diseases that are commonly caused by diabetes. An ophthalmologist will help you improve or maintain healthy vision by monitoring you for complications caused by uncontrolled or elevated blood glucose levels, including diabetic macular edema, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts.

  1. Podiatrist

This healthcare expert specializes in treating foot-related diabetes complications, and helps patients watch for and care for any complications in the lower extremities. Studies conducted by the American Podiatric association show that diabetes complications account for about 100,000 lower limb amputations annually. Scheduling regular appointments with a podiatrist to treat and monitor foot problems can decrease the risk of lower limb amputation by up to 85 percent.

  1. Dentist

Taking care of gums and teeth is important for everyone. However, monitoring gum health is particularly vital for people with diabetes because gum (periodontal) disease is a common complication of diabetes. Moreover, treating gum disease has been shown to improve blood glucose control.

  1. Your inner circle

Letting your close friends and family know what is going on and how they can help you goes a long way in supporting good habits as well as relieving the burden of the diagnosis. By offering positive support, your loved ones can help reduce the stress that comes with managing diabetes. In other words, your inner circle lets you know and feel that you are not alone.

  1. Support groups

Support groups connect you with other PWDs (people with diabetes) who understand the challenges and struggles and can offer strategies and tips for a healthy life.

Most support groups are virtual right now and they typically feature helpful forums for people with diabetes as well as their caregivers.

Diabetic Complications

Continue Reading10 People You Need On Your Diabetes Care Team

Benefits of Yoga for Diabetes

A large number of people suffering from diabetes are practicing regular yoga training in an effort to improve overall quality of life and keep their condition under control. Many health experts believe yoga can help lower blood pressure, enhance mobility, reduce levels of stress and improve overall wellbeing.

It is also well known that besides improving diabetes, yoga can also protect against other related complications such as heart disease. Moreover, people who undergo yoga training on a regular basis experience significant improvements in their physical and mental health.

The Benefits of Regular Yoga training include:

  • Reduced depression and anxietyBenefits of Yoga for diabetes
  • Relief from various chronic illnesses
  • Improved strength, flexibility and posture
  • Enhanced energy levels and concentration
  • Better sleep
  • Improved immunity, circulation and digestion.
  • Feelings of wellbeing
  • Enhanced efficiency of endocrine, neurological and respiratory organs.

How Does Yoga Treat Diabetes or Prevent it from Developing?

  1. Exercising the muscles

Yoga increases the uptake of glucose by muscular cells which helps improve circulation, lower blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases.

  1. Rejuvenating pancreatic cells

Yoga postures stretch the pancreas and aid relaxation which stimulates the production of beta cells which are responsible for producing insulin.

  1. Promoting weight loss

Regular yoga practice can improve weight control and help you reduce weight both of which are vital for protecting against various chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and type II diabetes, as well as the management of diabetes.

  1. Improving your mental attitude (makes you feel good)

Practicing yoga on a regular basis can help improve mental focus and create the right approach to dealing with conditions such as diabetes. Yoga stretches your muscles, helps you breathe more deeply, shifts your attitude and helps you feel better.

Yoga eases the body into recovery mode and helps to release chronic stress. Remember, breathing is both involuntary and voluntary. This basically means that we can choose to change the way we breathe but we don’t stop breathing if we stop paying attention to it. This is why most people who practice yoga consider it a vehicle between our body and mind. Calming your breath can help you calm your mind (it helps you shift from a fight or flight pattern to a more balanced pattern which facilitates complex reasoning).

Stress management (controlling mental stress) is one of the key factors of treatment of diabetes. Blood sugar levels increase when we’re stressed and high blood glucose levels increase the chances of developing various related complications including heart disease. This is one of the main reasons why it’s particularly important to practice yoga, controlled breathing techniques and other mindfulness-based techniques to invoke a relaxation response.

This relaxation response helps regulate stress hormones such as cortisol which increase blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It is essential to understand that both play a key role in the development of type II diabetes and other related complications.

Yoga is a cost-effective and promising option in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Data from several clinical studies suggest that mind-body therapies such as yoga can improve blood glucose control and reduce stress-related hyperglycemia. However, it is essential to consult with your physician and diabetes healthcare team before starting yoga classes.

Learn how low level laser irradiation can help with diabetes HERE!

Low level laser irradiation diabetes

Continue ReadingBenefits of Yoga for Diabetes

Natural cure for diabetes type 2

natural cure for diabetes type 2
natural cure for diabetes type 2

Considering that healthcare, like everything else, often runs through fads it should be no surprise that one of the new fads in healthcare is holistic or natural remedies for diseases, like a natural cure for diabetes type 2. One of the newest ideas to come down the pipes in diabetes treatment is the use of vanadium and other trace minerals in the treatment of diabetes because in higher doses these minerals can mimic the effects of insulin and lead to a lowering of serum glucose levels. There are also a great number of supposed herbal remedies that are purported to be a natural cure for diabetes type 2.
Diabetes type 2 is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia, high blood sugar, due to the body being resistant to the action of insulin, or not producing enough insulin. This condition usually presents itself during adulthood and may be associated with obesity and genetic factors as its cause. The classic symptoms of the disease are increased thirst, increased urination, and increased hunger, though blurred vision general malaise, and even coma may result in severe cases. Due to the serious health effects that can come rather quickly it is never a good idea to try a natural cure for diabetes  without a doctor’s advice and guidance.
There are many different types of natural cures for diabetes type 2 such as herbal medications, prescribed medications and many other natural cures such as plenty of exercise with a combination of eating right and changing up your diet so that not only can you live a longer healthier life but that you can also take care of yourself and prevent diabetes from hitting you.

Continue ReadingNatural cure for diabetes type 2

Blood Sugar Testing Machine

Blood Sugar Testing Machine
Blood Sugar Testing Machine

When someone mentions a blood sugar testing machine the device they are referring to is usually called a glucometer. A blood sugar testing machine is designed to read the level of glucose, or sugar, in a drop of blood so that the blood sugar level can be tracked.

The use of a blood sugar testing machine is pretty simple and straight forward.

To use the machine a special test strip is placed in the machine, then a drop of blood is collected by pricking the skin (usually on the finger) with a lancet, the drop of blood is placed on the test strip and the machine “reads” the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

Though there is a huge variety of different makes and models of blood sugar testing machines on the market, they all work in virtually the same way, some may require a little smaller drop of blood and some may “read” the sugar level quicker than the others, but the basic principal remains the same.

The use of a blood sugar testing machine has been quite common since one of the chief concerns in the proper management of diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.

With the use of the glucometer the diabetic patient can check their blood sugar quickly, and almost painlessly in the convenience of their own home. The ease of use of the blood sugar testing machine makes it possible for the blood sugar to be tested many times per day so that the blood sugar levels can be manipulated via dietary changes or medication administration.

The key to the proper treatment of diabetes lies in the ability to keep blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible. While insulin and other medications and dietary changes can be used to manipulate blood sugar levels, without the humble blood sugar testing machine this would be an impossible task.

Continue ReadingBlood Sugar Testing Machine

Vanadium for Diabetes

Vanadium for Diabetes
Vanadium for Diabetes

Considering that healthcare, like everythi should be no surprise that one of the new fads in healthcare is holistic ng else, often runs through fads itor natural remedies for diseases, like vanadium for diabetes. One of the newest ideas to come down the pipes in diabetes treatment is the use of vanadium and other trace minerals in the treatment of diabetes because in higher doses these minerals can mimic the effects of insulin and lead to a lowering of serum glucose levels.

It has been proven that vanadium for diabetes treatment does, in fact work. Vanadium and other trace minerals like molybdenum and tungsten can mimic insulin, but the effects are no instantaneous and take time to occur as the levels of the minerals build in the body. For those who are seeking a cure or treatment for diabetes that doesn’t involve doctors and pharmacists this may seem like a godsend and an opportunity to get away from insulin and drug based treatment regimens just by taking a few mineral supplements each day.

There are those who will grasp at straws and maybe even overlook proven treatments just in the hopes that they can somehow avoid the trappings and treatments of modern medicine, and it is just those types of people who will turn to vanadium for diabetes treatment.

Unfortunately, while the idea of making diabetes symptoms vanish with just a mineral supplement may be attractive, it may also be one idea that is best left in the realm of fantasy. It seems that vanadium, like many other trace minerals can, in the kind of dosages needed to effect blood glucose, lead to a whole host of other possible health problems. It seems that vanadium, while mimicking insulin, also blocks the action of certain other necessary biological processes. Due to this fact, vanadium for diabetes treatment may be just wishful thinking.

Continue ReadingVanadium for Diabetes