Joint Disorders Associated With Diabetes

Joint Disorders Associated with Diabetes

Among the many side effects of diabetes are bone and joint problems.
There are a variety of musculoskeletal problems that can cause pain in the fingers, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck, spine, hips or feet.
There are many different types of musculoskeletal disorders, and some are unique to diabetes. The musculoskeletal system includes the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. Problems in these areas can affect mobility or cause deformities, joint pain or stiffness, numbness or a "pins and needles" sensation in the arms or legs.
The statistical correlations between joint disease and diabetes are strong – the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 52 percent of people with arthritis also have diabetes – but the process tying the two together has not been determined. Diabetes is also the foremost cause of neuropathic joint disease in the U.S., with the foot as the most commonly affected region.
Charcot Joint
Charcot joint, also known as neuropathic arthropathy, is a diabetes-related disorder that results in damage to lower-limb joints. The deterioration is the result of nerve damage, a common side effect of diabetes. While occurring primarily in the feet, the ankles and hips may also suffer damage. Symptoms of the disorder may include pain, numbness or tingling, and the affected joint may become unstable or deformed.
Dupuytren's Contracture
People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing Dupuytren's contracture. Dupuytren's contracture causes knots to form in the layer of tissue underneath the skin of the palm. As these knots harden, they eventu Continue reading

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What Happens to Stomach Problems, Diabetes, and Free Radicals When You Use Pomegranate Like This

The pomegranate is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and was cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. This nutrient dense, antioxidant rich fruit has been revered as a symbol of health, fertility, and eternal life.
A compound called punicalagin found only in pomegranates shown to benefit the heart and blood vessels. Punicalagin is the major component responsible for pomegranate’s antioxidant and health benefits. It not only lowers cholesterol, but lowers blood pressure and increases the speed at which heart blockages melt away, too. (i)
Nutrition Value in 1 Cup of Pomegranate Seeds
Calories: 144
Fat: 2g or 4% of DV
Protein: 2g
Fiber: 6g/ 28% of DV
Vitamin C: 18g/ 30% of DV
Vitamin K: 28mcg/ 36% of DV
Vitamin E: 1mg/ 6% of DV
Folate: 66mcg/ 16% of DV
Small studies seem to suggest that drinking pomegranate juice might lower cholesterol. It’s also thought that pomegranate juice may block or slow the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries of people who are at higher risk of heart disease. It is also found that drinking pomegranate juice might lower cholesterol and work better than Lipitor drug for managing cholesterol. (ii)
It is believed that pomegranates support the function of nitric oxide, which is involved in the constant repair of the cells that line the arterial walls. An antioxidant, pomegranate is shown to reduce the oxidative status of the bad cholesterol by a whopping 90%. (iii)
The 4 Pomegranate Benefits for Your Health
Disclaimer: While the history and research point to potential benefits of pomegranate, nothing in t Continue reading

Tree Nut Benefits For Those With Diabetes

You need to heed your doctor’s dietary advice and make diabetes management a priority, but do not avoid eating nuts just because you think they cause weight gain.
Research indicates the opposite is true, that consuming nuts regularly promotes weight loss, and is associated with heart health and a reduced risk for diabetes.
Pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, and hazelnuts contain an amino acid called l-arginine, known to support cardiovascular health. Plus, those who partake of nuts tend to have lower blood pressure and fewer metabolic syndrome risk factors (e.g., abdominal fat, high fasting glucose).
Tree Nut Nutrition
Macadamias and Pecans
Tree nuts generally contain a good balance of healthy fats, quality protein, and carbs. Pecans and macadamia nuts, for instance, each provide high levels of healthy fat with smaller amounts of carbs and protein.
More than half of the fatty acids in macadamia nuts is the heart healthy monounsaturated fat oleic acid—comparable to the beneficial fat content of olives. Macadamias are also a rich source manganese, magnesium, and thiamin.
Luscious pecans are bursting with 19 plus minerals and vitamins, and research suggests they help lower LDL cholesterol and support arterial health.
Walnuts, Almonds
Snacking on a quarter cup of walnuts gives a day's worth of omega-3 fatty acids, plus plenty of copper, manganese, and biotin. The walnut’s skin, though some people find it bitter, is dripping with antioxidants. To get the most from a walnut, we should eat them with the skin intact.
An almond’s skin is also full of antioxidants (e.g., Continue reading

While his parents slept, this 7-year-old boy’s life was saved by Jedi, his diabetes-sniffing dog

It was the middle of the night. The lights were off, the house was still, the six members of the Nuttall family were sound asleep. The machinery that monitors the blood sugar levels of 7-year-old Luke Nuttall, who suffers from dangerous Type 1 diabetes, was utterly quiet.
But Jedi, Luke’s diabetes-sniffing dog, was not.
The black Labrador retriever jumped on and off the bed Luke shared with his parents, thumping onto the mattress in an attempt to wake the slumbering adults. When that didn’t work, he lay on top of Dorrie Nuttall, startling her out of sleep.
She clambered out of bed and examined her son’s continuous glucose monitor, but its reading was normal. Still, the dog was unrelenting. He bowed again and again, repeating the signal he’d been trained to send if he sensed that Luke’s blood sugar had gotten too low.
“Then I knew he meant business,” Nuttall wrote in a Facebook post describing the incident. “The sleepy fog started to wear off and I began to think clearer. I suddenly was fully awake and I knew there was an issue.”
She pricked her son’s finger and got a blood sugar level that was almost half as high as the one on the monitor — much too low, and falling fast.
Nuttall quickly gave her son a glucose tablet and warily monitored the tense tableau: attentive dog, sleeping boy, a frightening number on a screen.
Then she took a photo.
“Luke was laying right next to me, just inches from me, and without Jedi I would have had no idea that he was dropping out of a safe range,” she wrote in her post that has since gone viral.
“… This is a pict Continue reading

10 Foods That Are Great For People With Diabetes

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, or have been living with diabetes for years, you’ve definitely heard that it’s important to watch what you eat. And while there are a lot of myths surrounding just what that means, the truth is, people with diabetes don’t have to follow a special “diabetic diet.” In reality, it’s recommended that people with diabetes try to stick to the same well-balanced diet everyone else is recommended.
But what all does that entail? Well, most medical professionals suggest opting for whole foods, such as vegetables (especially the non-starchy variety) and fruits, over processed foods, when possible. Further, they recommend choosing foods that are rich in calcium, vitamin D, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Heart-healthy foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are also encouraged, as people with diabetes are at increased risk of heart disease.
In the list below, you’ll see some of our favorite diabetes-friendly foods. Take a look!
10. Dates
Not only are dates delicious, they’re also loaded with fiber! Just seven dates contain up to 4 grams of fiber. Further, they contain more antioxidants than oranges, grapes, peppers and broccoli, explains Prevention. Since dates still contain sugar, they should be consumed in moderation, but they make a terrific substitute when baking! Make sure you’re eating fresh dates over dried, as it’s easy to consume a lot more sugar than you mean to when eating dried fruit.
9. Berries
Berries contain antioxidants known as polyphenols and provide a good source of fiber– a cup of blueberri Continue reading