Carbohydrates are not all created equal. Some of them rise more than others the amount of circulating blood sugar. The body response is to create insulin in the pancreas. If this happens too often, an insulin resistance may develop: the pancreas produces more insulin than the body needs. This is called diabetes type 2 and it is not good for you. It may bring along blindness, heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, inflammation and colon and prostate cancer.
Obesity is another result of high blood sugar values. Sugar is a very readily source of energy for the muscles, easier to process than fat. This means that the muscles will first burn the sugar and then the fat. From here on, it goes in a circle, a vicious circle: more fat will block cell's insulin receptors and prevent your body from responding to insulin triggering the onset of type 2 diabetes.
An indicator of the effect of carbs on blood sugar is the Glycemic Index (GI). It measures the increase in circulating blood sugar within three hours after consuming 50 grams of a specific digestible (non-fiber) carbohydrate. The problem with the glycemic index is that some carbohydrate foods have way less than 50 grams in a serving, while others have a lot more.
A more comprehensive indicator is the Glycemic Load (GL). It takes into account not only the rise in blood sugar but also the amount of the carbohydrate in that specific serving of food hence providing a more realistic picture. To calculate the glycemic load just multiply the glycemic index by the amount of carbs (in grams) in a typical serving and divide the result by 100.
For both glycemic index and glycemic load the lower the better. Values of glycemic index of less than 55 are considered low where more than 70 are high. Similarly for glycemic load, values less than 10 are low and more than 20 are high.
So how can you deal with type 2 diabetes or reduce the risk of developing one?
The first thing you can do is quite obvious: eat foods with low glycemic index and even more important, with low glycemic load values.
The second best thing to do is to exercise regularly (yet another good reason to exercise). Why? Because the sugar once in the blood stream is deposited in the liver or in the muscles. If the muscles get their fill then the liver will take the sugar overflow and trigger the pancreas response. Empty muscles though, can absorb sugar from the bloodstream whenever you eat and prevent blood sugar levels from rising.
Thirdly, in order to reduce your blood sugar you have to relax. Various studies showed that there is a mean connection between diabetes and stress. Stress hormones like Cortisol may alter blood glucose levels directly. It is also known that stress blocks the body from releasing insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. A double impact with devastating results. Meditation is very effective in reducing stress. It is simple to do with no side effects and fully natural
So if you took the metabolic typing self test and found out that you are a carbo type then it is important to select only the good carbs. Exercise more and relax and you will be all right.
There are two forms of the disorder--type 1 is characterized by an inability of the body to produce sufficient quantities of insulin, a hormone that is responsible for carbohydrate metabolism. Type 2 is characterized by the body's inability to use the insulin that is produced. Type 1 diabetes is generally the more serious of the two and almost always requires the use of diabetes medication, whereas type 2 diabetes can often be treated with lifestyle adjustments.
Diabetes is a disorder that impacts multiple organ systems, so the symptoms of diabetes can be quite diverse. The most noticeable short term symptom that many sufferers notice is a very severe and persistent thirst. This thirst is the body's reaction to elevated glucose (sugar) levels in the blood as it attempts to obtain more water the dilute the glucose levels. Sufferers generally find that they drink so much water that they find it difficult to sleep all night long without having to urinate in the middle of the night. The long term side effects of the disease are much more severe than just a nagging thirst. Constant high levels of glucose in the blood can damage many organs, with the kidneys being particularly susceptible. It is not unusually for advanced diabetes sufferers to experience kidney failure which requires the use of a dialysis machine or a kidney transfer. Circulatory problems are also common side effects, and sufferers may experience severe foot problems related to impaired blood flow to the extremities. Another common long term side effect of the disease is blindness caused by retinal damage.
Clearly, the disorder is serious enough to warrant that all patients must actively monitor their blood sugar levels and take corrective action when levels get beyond acceptable levels. For those with type 2 diabetes, the best way to control the disease is to carefully control their diet to ensure that they do not consume excessive levels of carbohydrates. Typically the physician will send the patient to a dietician to work out a diet plan. Those with type 2 diabetes should also follow their doctor's advice on starting and maintaining an exercise regimen. Those who have type 1 diabetes must rely on supplementary insulin in order to metabolize carbohydrates combined with vigilant monitoring of blood sugar levels. Insulin can be taken via injection or in pill form. Some sufferers wear an insulin pump that provides measured doses of insulin at regular intervals. Currently, scientists are working on a device, known as a closed loop insulin pump, which will actively monitor insulin levels and dispense insulin as needed. This device will revolutionize the way in which diabetes is treated.
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Constantine George has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Depression Cure and Diabetes Treatment. Constantine George is an accomplished practitioner of meditation and yoga.For more details on specific nutritional values including the glycemic index and glycemic load please follow the link:. Constantine George's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.
Dustin Cannon has sinced written about articles on various topics from Work From Home, Marketing and Baby Shower. Dustin Cannon is owner of JustArticlesVIP.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this topic Dustin recommends you visit: . Dustin Cannon's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.