Are you suffering from high blood glucose levels?
You are not alone, as according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there were already 415 million sufferers worldwide as of 2015, which means one in 11 adults worldwide have diabetes.
This figure is expected to rise to a staggering 642 million by the year 2040.
Another frightening statistic from IDF worth mentioning is that every six seconds, one person dies from diabetes. Five million deaths recorded in 2015 were caused by diabetes.
How disturbing is that?
Does that mean one should sit back in helplessness and allow the complications of this dreaded disease to take control of your remaining years?
Think about the quality of life you aspire to. Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys.
In addition, diabetics are at higher risk of developing infections.
In most high-income countries, diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations.
About 60%-70% of diabetics have some form of nerve damage, while the risk of leg amputation is 27.7 times greater in diabetics. In fact, about 50% of all amputations occur in people with diabetes.
You are not alone, as according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there were already 415 million sufferers worldwide as of 2015, which means one in 11 adults worldwide have diabetes.
This figure is expected to rise to a staggering 642 million by the year 2040.
Another frightening statistic from IDF worth mentioning is that every six seconds, one person dies from diabetes. Five million deaths recorded in 2015 were caused by diabetes.
How disturbing is that?
Does that mean one should sit back in helplessness and allow the complications of this dreaded disease to take control of your remaining years?
Think about the quality of life you aspire to. Consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys.
In addition, diabetics are at higher risk of developing infections.
In most high-income countries, diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations.
About 60%-70% of diabetics have some form of nerve damage, while the risk of leg amputation is 27.7 times greater in diabetics. In fact, about 50% of all amputations occur in people with diabetes.
A good diet and additional nutritional support is not enough. Regular exercise is important too. Photo: Shutterstock
Many people with type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have had it for quite a few years prior to being diagnosed.
By that time, some form of organ damage may already have taken place.
Nerve damage is most common, with symptoms such as nerve pain, numbness, tingling and a burning sensation.
Isn’t it time we take control of this menacing disease and help our diabetes-inflicted loved ones halt, or at least delay, the progression associated with its complications?
Below are some lifestyle modification recommendations, from diet and exercise to beneficial supplements, to help with better blood glucose management.
A healthy balanced diet
Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and also add flavour and variety to every meal.
They may also help protect against stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers.
Everyone should eat at least five portions a day. Go for a rainbow of colours to get as wide a range of vitamins and minerals as possible.
Limit intake of potatoes, white rice, white bread and pasta as they are all high in carbohydrates, which are rapidly broken down to glucose in the body.
Better options for starchy foods include whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, and basmati, brown or red rice, which contain more fibre, and thus, helps keep our digestive system working well.
They are generally more slowly absorbed (that is, they have a lower glycaemic index), keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
Meat, fish, eggs, pulses, beans and nuts are high in protein, which helps with building and maintaining muscles.
Stay away from cakes, cookies, muffins, and generally anything that is made from refined sugar.
Contrary to the fact that fruits are good for health, fruit juices can actually do more harm as they tend to spike your insulin levels, which is not desirable in any case.
Nutritional supplements
While eating a healthy, balanced diet is essential for controlling blood glucose levels, nutritional support is also important in managing high blood glucose levels.
We all know that vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are the fundamental nutrients vital for growth and normal body functioning.
Those with high blood glucose levels have different nutritional needs, especially their need for more potent antioxidants that can help counteract the negative effects of oxidative stress that could lead to diabetes-related complications.
In addition, the daily prescription drugs for controlling high blood glucose and frequent urination can lead to loss of vital nutrients that protect the body.
Anyone who has diabetes should take a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement every day. Research has shown that taking a potent daily multivitamin dramatically reduces the incidence of infection and the number of sick days taken by patients with type 2 diabetes.
When choosing a comprehensive multivitamin formula to help support healthy blood glucose levels, look for one that contains key nutrients, specifically alpha lipoic acid, vanadium, chromium and biotin.
Alpha lipoic acid is a naturally-occurring antioxidant found inside the body that helps improve glucose uptake by muscle and promotes removal of glucose from the blood.
It has been used in Germany for over 30 years for peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by diabetes.
Alpha lipoic acid also has the ability to regenerate and recycle other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione to act against free radicals.
Vanadium is an essential trace mineral that exerts an insulin-like effect in the body, promoting glucose uptake into muscle, liver and fat cells. It has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose levels in those with type 2 diabetes.
Chromium is an essential mineral that is required for normal insulin functioning. It helps to improve the action of insulin by increasing both the number of insulin receptors on cells and the activity of these receptors, thus increasing the efficiency of glucose uptake into cells.
Supplemental chromium has significant positive effects on glucose, insulin, HbA1c and cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetics.
Biotin is an important water-soluble B vitamin that tends to be lower in those with type 2 diabetes. It enhances insulin sensitivity and increases the activity of glucokinase for better blood glucose control.
When combined with chromium, biotin has been shown to improve glycaemic control in diabetics.
Mecobalamin is another crucial nutrient that was discovered by Japanese scientists. It is the active form of vitamin B12.
Research has shown that mecobalamin is more effective than regular vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) in regenerating damaged nerves in diabetics.
Mecobalamin has also been shown to help protect against diabetic nerve damage, prevent nerve inflammation, as well as repair and heal damaged nerves.
General health tips
A good diet and additional nutritional support is not enough. Regular exercise is important too.
You need to get at least 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week, or a total of 150 minutes per week, as exercise helps improve blood glucose control and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Chromium is an essential mineral that is required for normal insulin functioning. It helps to improve the action of insulin by increasing both the number of insulin receptors on cells and the activity of these receptors, thus increasing the efficiency of glucose uptake into cells.
Supplemental chromium has significant positive effects on glucose, insulin, HbA1c and cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetics.
Biotin is an important water-soluble B vitamin that tends to be lower in those with type 2 diabetes. It enhances insulin sensitivity and increases the activity of glucokinase for better blood glucose control.
When combined with chromium, biotin has been shown to improve glycaemic control in diabetics.
Mecobalamin is another crucial nutrient that was discovered by Japanese scientists. It is the active form of vitamin B12.
Research has shown that mecobalamin is more effective than regular vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) in regenerating damaged nerves in diabetics.
Mecobalamin has also been shown to help protect against diabetic nerve damage, prevent nerve inflammation, as well as repair and heal damaged nerves.
General health tips
A good diet and additional nutritional support is not enough. Regular exercise is important too.
You need to get at least 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week, or a total of 150 minutes per week, as exercise helps improve blood glucose control and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to help keep blood glucose levels under control. Regularly test your blood glucose level and try to eat at regular mealtimes.
Get a comprehensive annual foot examination by your healthcare professional to check for nerve damage.
Remember, diabetes can be better managed with some positive lifestyle modification plans such as eating healthily, exercising regularly, taking your prescribed blood glucose control medications and starting a daily nutritional support programme incorporating a comprehensive multivitamin formula.
You can live life to the fullest with diabetes.
http://www.star2.com/health/nutrition/2016/11/06/vital-nutrients-for-diabetes/
Get a comprehensive annual foot examination by your healthcare professional to check for nerve damage.
Remember, diabetes can be better managed with some positive lifestyle modification plans such as eating healthily, exercising regularly, taking your prescribed blood glucose control medications and starting a daily nutritional support programme incorporating a comprehensive multivitamin formula.
You can live life to the fullest with diabetes.
http://www.star2.com/health/nutrition/2016/11/06/vital-nutrients-for-diabetes/
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