Mindfulness And Diabetes Management: A Perfect Match

Mindfulness and Diabetes Management: A Perfect Match

“Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.” ~ Louis L’Amour
Mindfulness is putting our full attention on the thoughts, activities, or sensations of the present moment—while giving criticism and judgment a rest.
Being more mindful does not do away with life’s problems, but helps us deal with tasks and difficulties more calmly, including those related to diabetes management.
Present moment awareness of what we think, feel, and do - what is going on in our mind and body - helps us see clearly and more objectively. This makes it easier to avoid auto-responding to situations in unhealthy ways. For instance, instead of automatically reaching for a bag of cookies when hit with a carb-craving, we can mindfully notice and acknowledge the craving, take a moment to weigh options, and maybe decide to munch on a few almonds instead.
Simple Mindfulness Practices
Thankfully, practicing mindfulness is easy, and can often be done as we go about our daily business. Here are a few suggestions:
For a minute or two, look at a familiar object with fresh eyes. Suspend what you know about your car keys, a lamp, or your toothbrush, and identify any details you hadn’t noticed before. Or, try looking at familiar objects as if you had never seen or used them before.
When in a conversation suspend your thinking mind and give your full attention to what the other person is saying.
When driving, be mindful only of what is going on around you. No daydreaming, thinking about the putt you missed, or worry about tomorrow’s busi Continue reading

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One Fruit Can Help Regulate Insulin Levels and Beat Diabetes

A sedentary lifestyle combined with poor nutrition can lead to the development of diabetes. Each day more and more people are being diagnosed with this possibly deadly disease. While there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can actually be regulated through diet and exercise in most cases.
If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, or simply looking for a healthy food to help you control your insulin and blood sugar levels, consider adding bitter melon to your diet.
Many people avoid bitter melon because they do not enjoy the bitter taste of this fruit. However, there are many health benefits of eating it.
Health Benefits of Bitter Melon
There are several ways that bitter melon can help control type 2 diabetes. There are at least 3 or more active substances found in bitter melon that has anti-diabetic properties.
These substances are charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-p. Charantin has been shown to lower blood glucose. All three of these substances work together in order to help reduce your blood sugar levels.
In addition, bitter melon has a lectin that helps reduce the blood glucose levels. It works by suppressing the appetite in a similar way that insulin does in the brain. It is thought to be one of the major factors of why there is a hypoglycemic effect developed after consuming bitter melon.
Bitter melon also has several other health benefits as well. It has been used for treating fevers, colic in babies, chronic coughs, burns, and even some skin conditions. In some areas of the world it is used to help with childbirth, heal wounds, and to treat or prevent malar Continue reading

Cinnamon Essential Oil for Cancer, Diabetes and More!

Warm, spicy, fragrant, powerful, even dangerous? What comes to mind when you think of cinnamon essential oil? Even as a potentially sensitizing and irritating oil, we shouldn't make the mistake of avoiding cinnamon altogether. There are many benefits of this classic spice and essential oil.
In this article, you will learn all about:
While we know cinnamon as simply sticks, powder, or oil, there is much more to it than a simple cinnamon source. The flavorful “sticks” we know are derived from the inner bark of a Cinnamomum tree, of which there are many different varieties. In fact, cassia essential oil comes from a cinnamon tree – Cinnamomum cassia. This is a cheaper version of cinnamon and doesn't contain the heath benefits that cinnamon does, even though it has a pleasant smell and is nice for aromatherapy.
As always, variety effects composition, and cinnamon essential oil most commonly comes from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree. From there, either the inner bark or the leaves can be harvested for distillation. This should be indicated as either “cinnamon bark” or “cinnamon leaf” on your bottle of essential oils.
And yep, you guessed it: the bark and leaf oils have their own composition, as well.
Cinnamon bark essential oil, on the other hand is steam distilled from cinnamon bark, is reddish/ brown in color and contains mostly cinnamaldehyde (63.1-75.7%) and much less eugenol (2.0-13.3%). It's a known sensitizer and irritant.
Cinnamon leaf essential oil, for example is steam distilled from cinnamon leaves, is yellowish in color and contains high amounts of euge Continue reading

New stick-on diabetes device offers a break from finger pricking

Diabetics who must prick their fingers to test blood sugar levels every day often end up with sore and calloused hands – which is why needle-free devices are always a welcome arrival in the treatment market.
A gadget developed under British scientist Jared Watkin is now on the scene that can be worn on the back of the upper arm and monitors glucose levels for up to 14 days. The Libre sensor can work for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Express reports, and it continuously monitors blood sugar levels from a 5mm-long prong that is nestled under the skin and reacts with bodily fluids.
“This system will help people considerably because it will be so much easier for them to work with," said Dr. Gerry Rayman, who recently started a trial with the device on patients in Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk. "I have a 12-year-old patient who has had diabetes for five years. She has been very good but has just hit a brick wall and cannot continue with finger-sticking. Her fingers are all calloused and painful."
Device could lead to better diabetes management
Finger pricking can lead to poor diabetes control if patients struggle to prick often enough due to irritation or inconvenience, Rayman explained.
“Finger-pricking is a hassle and can be embarrassing," he said. "Many people forget to do it so don’t have a complete picture of their condition. Failing to control long-term diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy, renal failure and foot complications that can lead to amputation."
Without consistent readings, patients can't get an accurate picture of their daily blood sugar patterns � Continue reading

Type 2 Diabetes and Aging: What You Need to Know

When you become older, there are some conditions that you need to begin to worry about more, such as type 2 diabetes.
For people who have not been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but who struggle with weight problems or prediabetes, age can make a big difference in diagnosis. However, age is also an important factor for someone already struggling to manage his or her diabetes.
Higher Risk of Type 2 as You Age
Research has shown that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with age. One reason for this is because as we age, we tend to gain weight and become more sedentary. However, there may be another factor at play besides weight gain and lack of exercise. Recent research conducted by the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., examines the role of beta cells and the pancreas, and their relation to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the elderly. This study specifically looks at the decline in production of beta cells in the pancreas that comes with age.
These cells store and release insulin, and they are essential to helping our body process this hormone. Researchers at Vanderbilt speculate that with age, these beta cells no longer reproduce at the same rate, and that they also experience apoptosis (cell death) at a higher rate as we age. Researchers say that one of the reasons this might occur is because the body is unable to process key nutrients such as potassium and calcium, which are key to beta cells. This could also be due to the fact that most organs lose their regenerative capacity with age. The study concludes that more research must be conducted Continue reading