The most important part of any diabetes symptom management is monitoring blood glucose levels. There are three main ways that glucose levels in the blood can be monitored.

1. Fasting Blood Glucose:

Fasting blood glucose or fasting blood sugar is taken after an eight hour fast and measures the level of glucose in the blood at that time. Depending on the lab conducting the test the normal value of this test should be between 70 to 110 mg/dl. If the diabetes is uncontrolled these fasting glucose levels are much higher then normal.

2. Glycosylated hemoglobin:

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HgbA1c) is produced through a process that is irreversible. Hemoglobin combines with glucose as the red blood cells circulate through the blood stream and forms glycohemoglobin. Depending on the amount of glucose in the blood stream a certain amount of glycohemoglobin is formed during the red blood cells 120 day life span. Because of this the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin is a good measure of the average amount of blood glucose level over that 100 to 120 day time span before the test. The more glucose in the blood stream the greater the end value. Short term factors such as food, exercise and stress will not affect this value making it easy to take a blood sample at any time and is much easier then scheduling a fasting blood glucose test.

3. Self-monitoring.

This type of blood glucose test can be done in the diabetics own home with a glucometer or blood glucose meter, which is available for purchase at any pharmacy. This device is used to monitor glucose levels at any time but in particular before and after eating and before bedtime. The glucometer is used with a drop of blood obtained through a finger prick to measure blood glucose levels at specified times during the day. By self monitoring the diabetic can chart their glucose level which is important to maintain glycemic control. Through this method the affects of their meal plan, exercise program and other factors can be evaluated to see if the goal of their medical nutrition therapy is being met.

These charts generated from the self monitoring should be reviewed by the diabetic’s health care team to make determinations about their food intake, insulin requirements and exercise plan. This allows their doctors and nutritionists to individualize the care plan to the particular diabetic’s needs. This makes the older method of offering general diet plans and tear-off diet sheets a thing of the past.

The type of diabetes and treatment that is prescribed will determine the number of times the diabetic will need to test the glucose levels in their blood. Some may even need to monitor up to ten times a day, before and after each meal and again at bed time.

Diabetic blood glucose monitoring is the lifeline that allows all diabetics to control their disease and live a normal life.

To learn more about diabetic blood glucose monitoring please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

I was in a Wal Mart store when I discovered I had diabetes. I had had my semi annual blood work done two days before and my doctor was calling to tell me that my blood tests showed that my blood sugar level was a little over five hundred. I knew this was something serious because he had never called me before about anything! Calmly I asked him what the normal reading should be and he said around seventy. I hadn’t realized that I was sick!

Actually, I hadn’t been feeling so great for the last month. I was unusually tired all the time, even when I had had a restful day. My energy was gone and I couldn’t figure out why. Little did I know that my blood sugar was way out of range.

My wife had told me to see a doctor just the week before. It wasn’t my physical health she was concerned about at the time, but my mental state. She said that my mood swings were driving her nuts. I argued of course, there wasn’t anything wrong with my moods. I thought I was always on an even keel emotionally, all sweetness and understanding. She thought otherwise.

Looking back, I can see where I had begun showing symptoms of diabetes, but at the time I didn’t take them seriously.

One problem I had was frequent urination. It was driving me nuts, because it seemed like I was going to the bathroom every twenty minutes, whether I had had anything to drink or not! It was worse at night. I was getting up in the morning already tired from lack of sleep the night before. Also I was losing weight even though I was eating more because of the late night snacks when I got up to go to the bathroom at all hours of the night.

Another symptom of type 2 diabetes, or adult onset diabetes, is that any cuts or sores you have on your body are extremely slow in healing. About a month before my visit to the lab for blood work, I had had dental surgery. A month passed and I was still hurting and having infections. I was visiting my dentist at least once a week. The antibiotics he prescribed were not working and the pain pills kept upsetting my stomach. The dentist couldn’t understand why I was not healing, but he must have suspected something because he asked me one time if I was a diabetic. At the time, I told him I was not!

My biggest concern at the time was with blurred vision. I thought it was because I hadn’t had my glasses changed in about 2 years and it was time I visited the eye doctor. Later my family doctor explained the problem in language I could understand. He said, “When your blood sugar is out of range the sugar crystals adhere to the lens of your eyes, therefore blurring your vision.” I’m sure the medical interpretation of my problem would be a little more precise, but that was enough to scare me into taking him seriously.

Diabetes is not something to take lightly. It can get ugly pretty fast. There are other warning signs such as itching of the skin usually around the groin or vaginal area, impotency and dry mouth. If you are having some or all or these symptoms, hurry to a doctor. Diabetes can be a nasty disease, but it can be controlled. Look for the symptoms.

Do not think that you might be a little bit diabetic. Either you are or you are not, just like being a little bit pregnant.

Bob Alexander is the author and sole owner of this copyrighted article. Bob is an accomplished backyard barbque chef as well as being well experienced in leisure activities. Visit his sites:
http://www.barbquebob.com
http://www.homeandgardenbob.com

Diabetes is a very common disease and in the United States 20.8 million people or 7% of the population of both children and adults have some form of this disease. For those who have this disease it is good to know that it can be controlled with a few lifestyle changes. Unfortunately for many people changing their daily habits can be both hard and frustrating. The foods they have always enjoyed are off limits and are replaced with healthy foods that can take some getting used to. This is particularly true for people who have a sweet tooth and find giving up sugar to be a hard proposition.

Fortunately for people who have diabetes finding foods that help control their condition is easy with a little research and the help of a nutritionist. While your doctor may be the place to start with when it comes to treating and controlling your diabetes he or she may not be the most the up to date on the foods that you can and cannot eat. A licensed nutritionist is the way to go create a diabetic diet plan full of healthy foods that taste good.

Because diabetes is such a common disease there is a whole food industry built up around it offering many foods that are a match for even the most sugary treats to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. That means if you used to enjoy chocolate cakes chances are you will be able to find an artificially sweetened chocolate cake that will taste just as good as the real thing. With the advent of the many artificial sweeteners there are many options when it comes to creating a diabetic diet plan.

Even though you may no longer be able to enjoy all your favorite foods there are many foods options available to you. The American Diabetes Association has a wealth of resources available for people with diabetes including a comprehensive list of foods that diabetics can include in their diet plan. These include meats, vegetables, fruit, breads, dairy and fats.

Their website has this information readily available for free along with a multitude of other free resources across the World Wide Web. You can also find many books at your local book store with complete lists of diabetic foods and the diet plans you can use with them. When the sugary sweets and foods have to go because of diabetes one does not have to stop living and enjoying good tasting food.

If you are diabetic or know someone who is and you want to learn more about diabetic diet plans please visit the website Diabetic Diet Plans by clicking here.

It is important for all individuals to maintain an active lifestyle for good mental and physical health. It is just as important for the older person who has type-2 diabetes to stay physically active for their good health. The reason is that exercise can actually improve the sugar control that is so important to managing diabetes. Contracting and relaxing muscles uses up energy.

As the body produces energy it uses the sugar supply in the blood during the time that you are exercising. This reduces the blood sugar level in your system. Exercise also increases the body’s ability to use insulin. This equates to your body needing less insulin in the process of taking sugar into your body cells, which can also reduce the blood sugar levels.

It is wise to let your physician know that you are thinking about starting a new exercise program. Your doctor will advise you regarding your diabetes and how to design a program around your ability, age and health needs.

Some of the questions you may have:

How long to exercise? How Often? How hard do you exercise?

Normally you need to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes in order to improve you fitness level. If you have difficulty doing 30 minutes, start out at 10, then increase to 15 until in a few weeks you work up to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Those persons needing to lose weight you may want to set a goal of 60 or more minutes of exercise.

Three times a week is how often to exercise that is usually recommended, your physician can give you a better individual guideline.

Determining how hard to exercise may be a little more difficult. In order to determine the degree of exercise, it’s extremely helpful to determine your heart rate. Some exercise equipment comes with monitors to help you determine this. You want to increase your heart rate and breathing rate to sufficient levels so that you are doing your heart well without causing exhaustion. Generally if you can sing while doing the exercise, you are not exercising hard enough. If you can talk, but are a little out of breath, you are at the appropriate level. If, however you cannot talk at all during exercising, you are in the “too hard” level and you need to take it down a level.

Exercise Tips:

Start with mild exercising if you have been inactive for a while. Gradually increase the time you exercise and how hard you exercise.

Start with 3 times a week and work up to 5 times a week.

Drink plenty of water before during and after exercising. Dehydration can affet your blood sugar levels, so stay hydrated!

Always carry diabetic identification with you while exercising

Choosing low-impact exercising is kinder to your bones and will lower your risk of injury. Good low-impact exercising: walking & swimming

Yoga and Pilates are great strengthening and flexibility activities

Avoid doing exercises that are high in intensity or involve lifting weights.

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance and Diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is an impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose. Pre-diabetes is often a sign that type 2 diabetes is developing. Most people who develop type 2 diabetes will have symptoms of pre-diabetes first. Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body is not able to make enough insulin or does not respond to the insulin it makes properly. Type 2 diabetes can lead to several heart, nerve and kidney problems as well as stroke.

Pre-diabetes is often asymptomatic. A staggering 50% of people who have prediabetes do not know it. This silent condition that has no symptoms and can come upon you somewhat suddenly. You can, however, be prepared for the risk of developing pre-diabetes if you know that you have a family history of diabetes. Obesity and lack of exercise can also cause the onset of pre-diabetes. Even if you are healthy, you must be aware that you have an increased risk for developing this condition.

Your medical history, physical examinations and blood sugar tests will diagnose pre-diabetes. This condition is often discovered at routine check-ups or appointments for another condition or illness. If your fasting blood sugar levels are between 100 and 125 milligrams per deciliter, your doctor may diagnose pre-diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is often preventable. If you make certain lifestyle changes, often eating a healthier diet and exercising regularly, you can avoid type 2 diabetes. This may mean that you need to spread your carbohydrates throughout the day, eat foods that are low in fat and high in fiber. Regular exercise and losing weight can also help prevent type 2 diabetes as well as coronary artery disease and stroke.

There are also several different types of supplements that can be used to aid an individual in preventing diabetes. These include supplements such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, and magnesium.. These supplements are often found in foods naturally but they are also available in a pill form for supplementation. Alpha-lipoic acid has been found in liver, spinach, broccoli and potatoes. This product can help to lower blood sugar levels, but you must use it carefully as it may lower it too much. This supplement also has an antioxidant component. Chromium is a trace mineral that can be found in meats, fish, brown sugar, coffee and tea. This supplement can be good if you have been determined to be deficient in chromium. Magnesium is a mineral that is found in leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds. Magnesium deficient type 2 diabetics may aid these people in control their blood glucose levels.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects how your body is able to use the food you eat for energy. This disease develops when the pancreas is unable to make enough insulin or the body is unable to use it correctly. This is a slow process that develops through pre-diabetes if action is not take to prevent pre-diabetes from turning into type 2 diabetes. When insulin is not available or is not being used correctly by the body, then the person will have high blood sugar, which may lead to a variety of other serious health problems.

Serious complications with type 2 diabetes can be avoided. You can control your blood sugar levels through eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and losing weight can help people with type 2 diabetes maintain an active lifestyle. These factors can also be used to prevent pre-diabetes from developing and progressing into type 2 diabetes. There are several symptoms of type 2 diabetes that include:

- Feeling thirsty
- Urinating more than usual
- Feeling hungrier than usual
- Losing weight without dieting or exercising
- Feeling tired and cranky

Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes eating healthier foods and getting regular exercise. Some people may require medications. Most people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight and do not exercise. By simply changing your diet and exercising regularly you may be able to reduce your chances of developing diabetes and prevent pre-diabetes from turning into full-blow type 2 diabetes.

One of the major roles in the prevention of diabetes is knowledge. The fact that 50% of people with prediabetes are unaware that the condition exists makes it extremely hard to prevent this silent killer from altering our lives and letting us live diabetes free.

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit Your Diabetes Cure and learn more about more about living without diabetes