Normal Blood Sugar Count

 

Normal Blood Sugar Count
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.

Continue ReadingNormal Blood Sugar Count

Good Foods for Diabetics

 

good foods for diabetics
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.

Continue ReadingGood Foods for Diabetics

1500 Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan

 

1500 calorie diabetic diet plan
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.

Continue Reading1500 Calorie Diabetic Diet Plan

What are acceptable blood sugar levels?

 

acceptable blood sugar levels
acceptable blood sugar levels

We all wonder what is an acceptable blood sugar level? Is there a right answer to this question, is there really an acceptable blood sugar level that meets everyone’s needs and criteria?

There are doctor’s all over the world and physicians who will all argue various numbers are acceptable blood sugar levels for diabetics. There are so many factors they play a vital part in people’s acceptable blood sugar level that it is hard to pinpoint one certain number that everyone can fall into or under.

Acceptable blood sugar levels are normally determined on a person’s fasting blood glucose level. The best way for a doctor or physician to determine a person’s acceptable blood sugar or average is by having them log or keep a daily journal for a certain period or length of time which will then give them an average blood glucose level in which the doctor will determine as their own personal acceptable blood sugar level.

An acceptable blood sugar level can be determined by several different factors such as a person’s age, weight, height, race, ethnic background, gender or health history. The national acceptable blood sugar level falls within a range of 78-102, below 78 is considered low and above 102-115 is considered high. The national acceptable blood sugar level has been determined by taking and comparing people’s glucose levels all over the world in order to determine an average or acceptable blood sugar level.

If your blood sugar level doesn’t fall into one of these categories then don’t sweat it or get upset because you need to remember that this is just an average based on other people and may not be an acceptable blood sugar level for yourself. Everyone has a different body type, age, height and weight so we all need to remember what may be acceptable or okay for one person may not be the same acceptable blood sugar level for yourself.

Continue ReadingWhat are acceptable blood sugar levels?

Diabetic Menu Planner

Diabetic Menu Planner
Diabetic Menu Planner

Diabetic Menu Planner, the phrase probably conjures up images of bland foods, with very little sugar, and nothing at all fried in order to keep the fat content of the food down. The truth is a diabetic menu planner is not a bad meal plan, and with careful consideration those who suffer from type 2 diabetes can enjoy a good tasting and varied menu. As a matter of fact, once a diabetic menu planner is examined and seen for what it is then it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for some of us who are non-diabetic to follow the same food regimen. One thing that menus for diabetics have in common with most menus for weight loss is control of carbohydrate intake.

The whole reason those with type 2 diabetes have to follow menu plans is because their body does not process glucose, the sugar derived from food, correctly. This puts some people under the incorrect belief that the type 2 diabetic can eat anything they like with no worries as long as there is no sugar added. This is simply not true. Many common foods, especially starchy foods like rice, potatoes, and even white bread are quickly broken down by the body into simple sugars, and if too much of this is eaten it can lead to unhealthy or even dangerous blood glucose level increases for the type 2 diabetic.

The whole goal of planning a menu for a diabetic is to control the way their blood glucose behaves by eating complex carbohydrates and proteins. One of the rules of the thumb is that unless the food is a protein, like chicken or fish, white foods are bad foods. When a diabetic carefully plans their intake of carbohydrates they can better control their amount of body fat, and keep their blood glucose levels fairly close to normal. By using an appropriate diabetic menu planner a type 2 diabetic may be able to effectively manage their disease with diet and exercise alone and so live a full an healthy life.

Continue ReadingDiabetic Menu Planner