About Diabetes

Trying to Lose Weight? Fall in Love with Vegetables

2010-02-01T07:11:12Z

Maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of diabetes management. If you have weight to lose try this easy way to get a jump start on your diet. Vegetables are low in fat, nutritious and filling. Bump up your servings of veggies and you won't have room for unhealthy snacks or high fat foods.

Vegetables don't have to be boring. Explore your produce aisle and find good buys in season. Try out some new recipes. Try sauteing some greens in a little lowfat chicken broth, or roasting some cauliflower. With a little creativity, you can increase your nutrition while decreasing your weight.

Try these great veggie recipes from About.com Guides...

Or if you'd like to get a little exotic, try...

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Trying to Lose Weight? Fall in Love with Vegetables originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 07:11:12.

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7 Steps to a Healthy Heart

2010-01-27T22:35:39Z

The American Heart Association suggests taking 7 steps towards a healthier heart. When you have type 2 diabetes, your risk of heart related problems increases. Following these 7 steps can help protect your heart.

Life's Simple 7

Get Active - increase your exercise
Control Your Cholesterol - with diet, lifestyle changes and meds, if prescribed
Eat Better - Follow a healthy diet
Manage Blood Pressure - with diet, lifestyle changes and meds, if prescribed
Lose Weight - with diet and exercise
Reduce Blood Sugar - with diet, exercise and meds, if prescribed
Quit Smoking - no explanation needed. Smoking is bad for your health.

Take control of your health. Your heart will thank you.

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7 Steps to a Healthy Heart originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 22:35:39.

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Counterfeit Alli Prompts FDA Warning

2010-01-25T22:24:01Z

The FDA has issued a warning that counterfeit bottles of Alli, the popular over-the-counter weight loss drug have been found. The counterfeit capsules contain sibutramine, a drug that is also known by the brand name, Meridia, a prescription weight loss drug that is a controlled substance.

Alli contains orlistat, a medication that works by blocking the absorption of fat from food. Sibutramine works by triggering the brain to make a person feel full or satisfied while eating less.

The counterfeit Alli does not contain orlistat. It contains sibutramine, which can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which can cause serious problems in people with cardiovascular conditions.

If you have purchased Alli recently, especially from the internet, be aware that the product may contain sibutramine.

According to a press release from the FDA, the counterfeit Alli has these distinct characteristics.

Outer cardboard packaging missing a "Lot" code
Expiration date that includes the month, day, and year (e.g., 06162010); authentic Alli expiration date includes only the month and year (e.g., 05/12)
Packaging in a plastic bottle that has a slightly taller and wider cap with coarser ribbing than the genuine product
Plain foil inner safety seal under the plastic cap without any printed words; the authentic product seal is printed with "SEALED for YOUR PROTECTION"
Contains larger capsules with a white powder, instead of small white pellets

Report adverse events that may be related to the use of these counterfeit products to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, or by mail at: MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.

Counterfeit Alli Prompts FDA Warning originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 22:24:01.

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Do You Know the Symptoms of Diabetic Kidney Failure?

2010-01-20T23:00:28Z

One of the complications that can occur with diabetes, is nephropathy or kidney damage. High blood sugar levels over the course of years, can damage delicate structures in the kidneys, causing damage and ultimately kidney failure.

Good blood sugar control can help reduce the risk, but it's good to know the symptoms of kidney failure.

Here's what to look for...

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Diabetes

More from your diabetes guide...

Kidney Disease in Diabetes

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Do You Know the Symptoms of Diabetic Kidney Failure? originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 23:00:28.

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More on Quitting Smoking, Weight Gain and Type 2 Diabetes

2010-01-19T22:42:38Z

A recent study from John Hopkins Medicine showed that people who quit smoking are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. The weight gain that often accompanies quitting smoking is the factor that puts you at risk, not the quitting smoking. So, what to do to keep your weight in check while you quit?

The January issue of Women's Health Magazine advises one simple strategy for avoiding that weight gain. Regular exercise while quitting helps keep the weight off, and it also helps manage the anxiety and craving that also go hand in hand with quitting smoking.

It doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming. A 30 minute walk every day will help you quit smoking without gaining weight and will decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.

More from your diabetes guide...

Walking and Diabetes - What You Need to Know

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More on Quitting Smoking, Weight Gain and Type 2 Diabetes originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 22:42:38.

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Quitting Smoking? Weight Gain May Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

2010-01-11T13:08:41Z

A press release from John Hopkins Medicine announced last week that according to results of a study, quitting smoking may actually increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

But is it the act of quitting smoking that increases the risk, or is it the weight gain that often accompanies quitting that actually raises the risk of diabetes.

That's what the researchers set out to prove. The study looked at 10,892 nondiabetic middle-aged adults. They followed them for 17 years, collecting health data including, diabetes status, glucose levels, and weight.

The people who smoked the most and gained the most weight when they quit smoking had the highest increase in type 2 diabetes.

It's not the quitting that causes type 2 diabetes. It's the weight gain. Quitting smoking is still the best thing you can do for your overall health. It is a good idea to also watch your diet and get enough exercise while quitting, to avoid the added weight and increased risk of diabetes.

What do the scientists involved in the study suggest if you're trying to quit smoking? They "recommend lifestyle counseling, aggressive weight management and the use of nicotine-replacement therapy, which seems to blunt the weight gain related to quitting. Another key step is more frequent blood glucose screening to assure the earliest detection of diabetes."

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Quitting Smoking? Weight Gain May Increase Risk of Type 2 Diabetes originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 13:08:41.

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Follow These Steps to Healthy Feet

2010-01-07T00:37:41Z

When you have diabetes, it's important to take proper care of your feet. Neuropathy, a complication of diabetes, can affect the circulation in your feet and lower legs, with numbness or tingling sensations.

If you can't feel your feet, it's difficult to know if you have open areas or sores, which could become severely infected.

What's the best way to take care of your feet? Read here...

Type 2 Diabetes Foot Care

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Follow These Steps to Healthy Feet originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 00:37:41.

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Do You Know What Euglycemia Means?

2010-01-07T00:18:36Z

Euglycemia is the word used to describe normal blood glucose levels. People without diabetes are typically euglycemic. To find the full definition for this and other diabetes terms, check out the glossary on this website...

Glossary of Diabetes Terms

And to find out more about blood glucose levels, read here...

Recommended Blood Glucose Levels

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Do You Know What Euglycemia Means? originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 00:18:36.

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Glycemic Index Found Beneficial for Managing Blood Glucose Levels

2010-01-06T23:32:42Z

A recent study from Ohio State University shows that when people with diabetes learn to use the glycemic index when planning their meals, it helps them to manage their blood glucose levels better.

The glycemic index rates foods by how much they raise blood glucose. Candy, sugar, cake and cookies have a high glycemic index, while whole grains have a lower glycemic index.

The study taught participants how to use the glycemic index in a 9 week education program.

According to Carla Miller, senior author of the study and associate professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University, "We found that with education, people with diabetes were able to adopt a lower glycemic-index diet. And it had a significant improvement in their weight control and glucose control."

The glycemic index can be used as a diabetes management tool to help keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.

More from your diabetes guide...

Using the Glycemic Index for Managing Blood Sugar

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Glycemic Index Found Beneficial for Managing Blood Glucose Levels originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 23:32:42.

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Have Type 2 Diabetes? What Should You Eat?

2009-12-29T22:33:21Z

The new year is upon us, and it's time to focus on eating a healthy diet. When you have type 2 diabetes, it's especially important to eat right.

Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out what to eat. Stay away from empty calories and processed, high carb foods. A healthy diet is one that features lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and monounsaturated fats.

Read more about healthy food choices here...

What to Eat for Type 2 Diabetes

More from your diabetes guide...

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Have Type 2 Diabetes? What Should You Eat? originally appeared on About.com Diabetes on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 22:33:21.

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