10 Bad Habits That Raise Your Diabetes Risk
1 / 11 Bad Habits That Raise Your Diabetes Risk As you pick up your morning coffee en route to work, you contemplate a glossy iced donut in the display case. You know it’s not good for you, but you deserve a treat, right? But before you make a grab for those tempting baked goods, consider this: These seemingly harmless everyday diet decisions aren’t linked just to the obesity epidemic in the United States, but also to the worldwide rise in type 2 diabetes. It’s time to ditch some bad everyday habits — before a diabetes diagnosis forces you to. This isn’t just idle advice, either. A British study of nearly 4,000 people found that such lifestyle fixes were key to stabilizing blood sugar and reversing metabolic syndrome, a condition that leads to diabetes. So what are you waiting for? Here are some important changes you can make to trim your waistline and cut your diabetes risk. Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes Causes
Type 2 diabetes has several causes: genetics and lifestyle are the most important ones. A combination of these factors can cause insulin resistance, when your body doesn’t use insulin as well as it should. Insulin resistance is the most common cause of type 2 diabetes. Genetics Play a Role in Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes can be hereditary. That doesn’t mean that if your mother or father has (or had) type 2 diabetes, you’re guaranteed to develop it; instead, it means that you have a greater chance of developing type 2. Researchers know that you can inherit a risk for type 2 diabetes, but it’s difficult to pinpoint which genes carry the risk. The medical community is hard at work trying to figure out the certain genetic mutations that lead to a risk of type 2. Lifestyle Is Very Important, Too Genes do play a role in type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle choices are also important. You can, for example, have a genetic mutation that may make you susceptible to type 2, but if you take good care of your body, you may not develop diabetes. Say that two people have the same genetic mutation. One of them eats well, watches their cholesterol, and stays physically fit, and the other is overweight (BMI greater than 25) and inactive. The person who is overweight and inactive is much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes because certain lifestyle choices greatly influence how well your body uses insulin. Lack of exercise: Physical activity has many benefits—one of them being that it can help you avoid type 2 diabetes, if you’re susceptible. Unhealthy meal planning choices: A meal plan filled with high-fat foods and lacking in fiber (which you can get from grains, vegetables, and fruits) increases the likelihood of type 2. Overweight/Obesity: Lack of exercise and unhealthy me Continue reading >>
Eating Habits That Cause Diabetes
Updated: Friday, December 13, 2013, 12:56 [IST] Diabetes due to unhealthy eating habits is becoming a common crisis among urban dwellers. With multinational companies promoting ready-to-eat processed food and their range of fast food range, people are getting addicted to a lifestyle that is prone to high risk of diabetes. The most troubling phenomena of this trend are youngsters, in some cases children, becoming obese. Obesity is a major health hazard that leads to diabetes and other chronic heart diseases that plague people with unhealthy eating habits. It has been established that the onset of diabetes can be prevented if our food habits are corrected. Eating High Glycemic Index (GI) Foods, foods that are turned quickly into glucose are high GI foods, tend to create extreme spikes in the blood sugar levels. These include, white bread, pasta, carbonated drinks, refined flour baked items etc,. Consuming such foods on a regular basis exposes people to high risk of diabetes. Saturated fats found in dairy and animal products are pro-diabetic. These are also referred to as trans-fats and are found in heavy quantities in packaged, fast food items. Red meat, dairy products and foods containing semi-hydrogenated oils are unhealthy. Diabetes is essentially the inability to maintain uniform sugar levels in the body. Hence, irregular eating habits due to stressful and busy lifestyle increase risk of diabetes. Habits such as skipping breakfast results in imbalance of sugar level in your body resulting in sugar cravings and hunger pangs. Skipping breakfast is a sin committed by most people against their hungry body, resulting in imbalance of sugar level in your body. This in turn makes you crave for sugar treats and hunger pangs. Eating high Glycemic Index foods such as white brea Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms, Signs, Diet, And Treatment
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which cells cannot use blood sugar (glucose) efficiently for energy. This happens when the cells become insensitive to insulin and the blood sugar gradually gets too high. There are two types of diabetes mellitus, type 1 and type 2. In type 2, the pancreas still makes insulin, but the cells cannot use it very efficiently. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make insulin due to auto-immune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells. Type 2 can be caused by: Lack of activity (sedentary behavior) Genetics Risk factors include: Being overweight Being sedentary including watching more than 2 hours of TV per day Drinking soda Consuming too much sugar and processed food The signs and symptoms of this type of this type of diabetes are sometimes subtle. The major symptom is often being overweight. Other symptoms and signs include: Urinating a lot Gaining or losing weight unintentionally Dark skin under armpits, chin, or groin Unusual odor to urine Blurry vision Often there are no specific symptoms of the condition and it goes undiagnosed until routine blood tests are ordered. A blood sugar level more than 125 when fasting or more than 200 randomly is a diagnosis for diabetes. Treatment is with diet and lifestyle changes that include eating less sugary foods, and foods that are high in simple carbohydrates (sugar, bread, and pasta.) Sometimes a person will need to take drugs, for example, metformin (Glucophage). People with both types of diabetes need monitor their blood sugar levels often to avoid high (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). Complications include heart and kidney disease, neuropathy, sexual and/or urinary problems, foot problems, and eye problems. This health condition can be prevented by following a Continue reading >>
Six Bad Habits That Put You At Risk For Diabetes
Six bad habits that put you at risk for diabetes These easy ways can cut down the risk of diabetes. Picture courtesy: AP. Who is at risk for diabetes? If you had asked your doctor this question a decade back, he would have probably replied by saying - 'someone old, obese or with a family history'. Today, however, diabetes has turned into an epidemic. "Diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India with more than 65 million being affected by it. Also read: Silent killer: Watch out for these early signs of diabetes The country seems to have the fastest growing burden of diabetes and the numbers will be double in next 20 years. The more worrisome fact is that diabetes among young adults is also increasing," says Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman, Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon. Thanks to the sedentary lifestyle, the condition is becoming more common than ever. "There is an increase in prevalence of insulin resistance among Indian population today. Lifestyle plays a crucial role here. Factors such as lack of physical activity, poor dietary habits, lack of sleep and stress increase the risk of diabetes. Also, more than the old age, it's obesity that is becoming the leading cause of type 2 diabetes," says Dr Rajesh Khadgawat, additional professor, department of endocrinology. AIIMS, New Delhi. Also read: Bariatric surgery helped her control her diabetes According to experts, widening waistline is a leading cause of diabetes and heart diseases around the world. "Fat accumulation around the torso often results in high blood pressure and blood sugar levels," says Dr Mithal, adding that the condition doesn't occur overnight. "It's called the slow poison for a reason," he says. There are certain bad habits that increase the risk of diabetes. Small yet significant lifes Continue reading >>
10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutions
Home Drugs & Diseases Health News Healthy Recipes 10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutions 10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutions 10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutionsby choluoxyon .10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutions10 Bad Habits Cause Diabetes, And Solutions Here are a few things of daily living habits could be the causes of diabetes: 1. Sweet tea The explanation is simple. The high intake of sugar causes blood sugar levels soaring. Yet the risk of excess calories. A glass of sweet tea contains approximately 250-300 [] Here are a few things of daily living habits could be the causes of diabetes: The explanation is simple. The high intake of sugar causes blood sugar levels soaring. Yet the risk of excess calories. A glass of sweet tea contains approximately 250-300 calories (depending on density). Caloric needs of an average adult woman are 1,900 calories per day (depending on activity). From our sweet tea was able to 1000-1200 calories. Currently plus three meals of rice and side dishes. Should be assumed that every day of our excess calories. End: obesity and diabetes. Substitute: Water, tea without sugar, or limit consumption of sugar is not more than two teaspoons a day. Because of the small, one fried not enough for us. And fried is one of the high-risk factor triggering degenerative diseases, such as cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. The main cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the blockage of coronary arteries, with one of the main risk factors was dyslipidemia. Dyslipidemia is a disorder of lipid metabolism characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, and decreased levels of HDL (good cholesterol) in the blood. Increasing the proportion of dyslipidemia in the community d Continue reading >>
7 Good Habits To Give Up For Type 2 Diabetes
You know managing type 2 diabetes isn't just about taking medicine. So you've been trying to make better food and lifestyle choices. But figuring out what's healthy and what isn't can be confusing. Take these habits. They may seem like they're good for you, but they could actually be sabotaging your efforts. The supermarket is full of things that appear to be diabetes-friendly because they don't have added sugar. But many have sugar substitutes that contain carbs. That means they have the potential to send your blood sugar levels soaring. Before you put something in your cart, check the nutrition facts to see how many grams of carbs are in each serving and how much sugar is added. 2. Swapping meals for meal replacement bars Losing weight can help, and meal replacement bars may seem like an easy way to slim down. Many meal replacement products are aimed at athletes. So they can be high in calories. Others contain ingredients like sugar alcohols (sorbitol and mannitol, for example), which can cause stomach trouble. Occasionally, munching on a bar for breakfast when you're pressed for time is OK as long as you pay attention to the nutrition info. But it's smarter to stick with real meals. 3. Loading up on vitamins and supplements A diet with lots of fruits and vegetables should give you all the nutrients you need. A multivitamin may help fill in the gaps, but it still can't match the real thing -- food. Some people take supplements like cinnamon or chromium to try to keep their blood sugar levels stable. It's unclear whether these work. If you choose to try them -- or any supplement -- tell your doctor. He can make sure it's safe for you and won't interact with any medication you're taking. Natural doesn't always equal healthy. One cup of apple juice, for example, has 25 Continue reading >>
Your Daily Smoothie Habit Could Cause Diabetes
Fruit really is one of nature's most precious gifts: delicious and nutritious, full of antioxidants and fiber, fruit even helps prevent certain types of cancers and heart disease. But it turns out how you consume fruit makes a huge difference in how healthy it actually is for you. Video of the Day According to recent research published in the U.K. journal BMJ, drinking mass-produced supermarket juices every day may cause significantly more harm than good, thanks to the high amount of sugar in these drinks. Researchers examining long-term health records of thousands of people noticed those consuming smoothies with high amounts of fruit juice were upping their risk of developing diabetes by as much as 21 percent. Meanwhile those who ate two or more servings of whole fruits like pears, blueberries, grapes, raisins, apples and prunes were 23 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Many of the most popular fresh fruits, such as nectarines, mangoes, peaches and cantaloupe, are high in sucrose and fructose. Fructose causes blood sugar to spike and crash, which is why you can feel hungry so soon after eating fruits and drinking smoothies with high levels of the fruit sugar. Now, before you panic at the thought of losing your delicious daily smoothie, keep in mind there are plenty of ways to continue enjoying it. Try blending the fruit with almond, soy, or coconut milk for a delicious and healthy alternative. Adding protein powder is also a great way to help the body process sugar more slowly. Are you at all surprised by how juicing or making smoothies can cause your blood sugar to spike? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Continue reading >>
The Lifestyle Habits That Causes Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder affecting over 18 million people and is characterized by high blood glucose levels. Chronic elevation of blood glucose is associated with increased incidence of heart disease, kidney disease, nerve dysfuncyion, and eye damage. In fact diabetes is o ne of the leading causes of death in us and increasing. There are two types of diabetes. Type I diabetes usually occurs in the young and is due to abnormally low levels of the hormone insulin; it is often called insulin-dependent diabetes. The cause o this type of diabetes is now thought to be the immune systems destruction of the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type II diabetes often occurs in overweight, middle-aged adults due to reduction in the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the blood into cells. This form of diabetes generally is due to the lack of sensitivity of the cells to the action of insulin. Although the specific cause of the problem is not known, it is clear that obesity increases the severity of the disease. Because type II diabetics generally do not have a problem producing insulin, they generally do not require insulin treatment, and referred to as non-insulin-independent diabetes. LIFESTYLE HABITS THAT CAN CAUSE OF DIABETES Are you one of those people who eat when you feel sad, mad, stress and hopeless? Some people have the tendency to eat whatever they like when they are emotional. Emotional eating is not because of hungry but to just as comfort, the problem is the comfort food as they call it is mostly colourful and sweets foods, such as ice cream, cakes, donuts and everything nice. Emotional eating will make things bad, as this might cause diabetes type II. In order to prevent emotional eating, you need to learn to identify your triggers and find Continue reading >>
7 Surprising Habits That Can Lead To Diabetes
You're cutting back on coffee iStock/Wavebreakmedia Your java habit might not be such a bad thing. Studies show that coffee consumption (both caffeinated and decaffeinated) can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. One study analysis by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that those who sipped six cups a day had a 33 percent lower risk of developing the disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. Certain components in coffee seem to reduce insulin resistance and may also boost glucose metabolism, the process of converting glucose to energy. Follow these healthy habits to prevent diabetes. You're a chronic night owl iStock/Marilyn Nieves If late night is your favorite time of day, you might be putting yourself at risk for diabetes. A recent Korean study found that people who stay up until the wee hours of the morning are more likely to develop diabetes than those who hit the sack earlier, even if they still get seven to eight hours of sleep, MensHealth.com reported. Night owls tend to be exposed to higher levels of artificial light from televisions and cell phones, a habit that is linked to lower insulin sensitivity and poorer blood sugar regulation, study author Nan Hee Kim, MD, said in a press release. Staying up late is also linked with poor sleep quality and sleep loss, which can disrupt your metabolism. Ignore these diabetes myths that could be sabotaging your health. Your diet is light on probiotics iStock/SilviaJansen "The risk of diabetes increases when you have more bad bugs [bacteria] than good bugs in your gut," says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic. Your stomach needs good bacteria, called probiotics, for proper digestion; low levels can lead to inflammation that may eventually lead to insulin resistance. Eat f Continue reading >>
Junk Food And Diabetes
Junk foods are everywhere. You see them in vending machines, rest stops, stadiums, and hotels. They’re sold at movie theaters, gas stations, and bookstores. And if that wasn’t enough, incessant advertising promotes junk food on television. Junk foods are high in calories but low in nutritional value. In general, these foods include processed and prepared snack foods with long, often unpronounceable ingredient lists. Consuming excess sugars and fats found in these foods can contribute to weight gain. This excess weight is associated with diabetes. One of the top risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes is being overweight. When you carry too much fat tissue, especially around your midsection, your body’s cells can become resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar out of your blood and into your cells. When your cells are unable to use insulin properly, your pancreas mistakes this as a need for more insulin, so it pumps out more. Eventually your pancreas will wear out and stop producing enough insulin to keep your blood sugars under control. This causes you to develop diabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. Junk foods are highly processed and high in calories. They tend to have few vitamins and minerals, and are usually low in fiber. Junk foods also often contain large amounts of added sugar and are high in saturated fats and trans fats. This can cause them to digest more quickly, which can spike blood sugar levels and increase bad cholesterol levels. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), saturated fat raises your cholesterol level. This puts you at a greater risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. The ADA recommends people get less than 10 percent of their calories from saturated fats. Trans fat Continue reading >>
Seven Daily Health Habits To Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Seven Daily Health Habits to Manage Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes can push you into a healthier life than you had before. To succeed at it, though, you have to make self-care a daily habit. Set up a routine for yourself that includes these seven things. They dont take the place of eating well or finding the best medications and remedies, but they are equally important. You wont be able to get them all going at once, but you can start where youre at and build up. 1. Brush and floss your teeth. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Research shows that diabetes can put people at higher risk for gum disease , because extra sugar in your saliva feeds germs. Gum disease makes diabetes much worse , because it creates constant inflammation that can spread through your body and make it harder to control blood glucose levels. Studies show far higher rates of heart disease in people with gum disease. Dental flossing helps prevent gum disease. Flossing cleans out the plaque from between teeth. This may be the single most important self-care step you can take. 2. Check your feet. Diabetes can damage circulation to the feet, making infections easier to get and harder to heal. Thats why diabetes is the leading cause of lower-limb amputations in the United States. Look at your feet every day for blisters, cuts, sores, redness, swelling, and other problems. Apply alcohol-free lotion to them (but not between the toes). Make sure your shoes are comfortable and not too tight. Before you put on shoes, check inside them with your hand to make sure there are no sharp threads or pebbles or anything else that might cause injury. 3. Move your body. Bodies need to move, and insulin-resistant bodies need to move more. Walking, strength training, and stretching exercises are all goo Continue reading >>
Food Habits That Cause Diabetes
It seems to affect people without any discrimination for gender, age or race. It has been established that the onset of diabetes can be prevented if our food habits are corrected. Thus, food habits responsible for causing diabetes should be properly understood. This includes: Common Diabetes Causing Food Habits: Eating High Glycemic Index Foods Glycemic Index (GI) is the calculation of how fast a type of food consumed by us is turned into energy, i.e. into glucose. Foods that are turned quickly into glucose are High GI foods. Such foods tend to create extreme spikes in the blood sugar levels. High GI Foods include common food items like: • White bread • Pasta • Rice • Candy • Backed items or snack foods made from refined flour • Pastries • Carbonated drinks • White potatoes • Pasta • Noodles • Sugary cereal foods • Instant, ready-to-eat food items Such food items are also called Easy Carbohydrate Foods. These foods have minimal or absolutely zero fiber which makes it further easier for the body to digest them. Such, quickly-digested foods create a glycemic overload by inducing excessive sugar in the blood stream. This is also referred to as a Glycemic Load. The intake of such foods should be restricted. Instead of choosing such fast-release carb foods, the emphasis should be on fibrous, slow-release carb resources. A fine example of this is fruits like apples or peaches. Since fruits contain a lot of fiber, the release of sugar into the bloodstream is slower. This helps to negate severe fluctuations in the levels of insulin (the hormone deciding ability of bodily to absorb glucose). Easily Preventable Food Habits that Cause Diabetes: Consuming Unhealthy Fats There is common misconception even among health conscious folks that all fats are bad. As Continue reading >>
Causes Of Diabetes - Irregular And Unhealthy Eating Habits
Causes of Diabetes - Irregular and unhealthy eating habits Food can maintain or save life; it can destroy life as well. Proper food serves the purpose of medicine while improper food works as poison and causes disease. We may take pride in calling ourselves highly civilized; but we have started to flout all the norms about the quality and quantity of food. Attracted to material pleasures, we have become slaves to our tongues. We have deleted bran from the flour; we mostly eat processed foods and refined sugar. In short, we have drifted away from mother nature, thereby initiating a rise in the incidence of diabetes. This fact is applicable to all the developing countries which have been influenced by western culture and lifestyle. By offering chocolates, cakes and ice creams too often to our children, by giving the refrigerator a place in our homes and by attending parties every other day, we in fact invite obesity and diabetes. for the origin of diabetes, excessive food is as much to be blamed as improper (i.e., refined and processed) food. The body has to produce more digestive juices and insulin to digest excessive food. Under the pressure of such excessive work-load, the pancreas gland weakens and ultimately breaks down, leading to diabetes. Many a renowned researcher holds the belief that a deficiency of vitamin B6(pyridoxine) in our diet may also be a cause of diabetes. Lack of Vitamin B causes the transformation of tryptophane (an amino-acid present in our diet) into xanthurenic acid which harms the beta cells of the pancreas to cause diabetes. Consumption of food containing excessive animal proteins, saturated fats and calories also stimulates the production of xanthurenic acid inside the body. A similar effect is produced by the penicillin group of drugs. Some Continue reading >>
Diabetes, Heart Disease, And Stroke
Having diabetes means that you are more likely to develop heart disease and have a greater chance of a heart attack or a stroke. People with diabetes are also more likely to have certain conditions, or risk factors, that increase the chances of having heart disease or stroke, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. If you have diabetes, you can protect your heart and health by managing your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, as well as your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you smoke, get help to stop. What is the link between diabetes, heart disease, and stroke? Over time, high blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. The longer you have diabetes, the higher the chances that you will develop heart disease.1 People with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than people without diabetes. In adults with diabetes, the most common causes of death are heart disease and stroke. Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without diabetes.2 The good news is that the steps you take to manage your diabetes also help to lower your chances of having heart disease or stroke. What else increases my chances of heart disease or stroke if I have diabetes? If you have diabetes, other factors add to your chances of developing heart disease or having a stroke. Smoking Smoking raises your risk of developing heart disease. If you have diabetes, it is important to stop smoking because both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels. Smoking also increases your chances of developing other long-term problems such as lung disease. Smoking also can damage the blood vessels in your legs and increase the risk of lower leg infections, ulcers, a Continue reading >>
