Traveling With Diabetes

Traveling makes diabetes management harder. Diabetes doesnt take a vacation just because you do. Here are some guidelines on traveling safely from experts and bloggers. (Many of these tips have to do with insulin, but not all.)
Get your supplies together. The travel insurance company Insurancewith says , Its often advised for [people with diabetes] to carry a pack in their hand luggage, with everything theyd need for the journey. This would include injection pens, insulin, sensors, pumps, and spare pump batteries. Insulin and blood sugar monitoring equipment and emergency snacks should always be readily available. If you check them in, you may not have them when you need them. Or they may end up lost.
Our blogger Amy Mercer found out about keeping supplies handy on a trip to the Bahamas. Changing planes in Atlanta, she wanted to eat, but she had no syringe for her insulin. She had used the one in her carrying case and forgotten to bring others in her carry-on luggage. Her sugar climbed to over 300 before the plane landed and she could get her insulin syringes back.
Insurancewith says bring twice as many supplies as you need. Double up on all of it. Your trip could run long, supplies could be damaged, or you could need more than usual because of the demands of traveling.
You should also consider bringing a back-up pump and monitoring equipment.
Kathleen Stanley, a certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian in Lexington, Kentucky, says If you take insulin with syringes, think about how youll carry and dispose of your syringes or pen needles.
Padded insulin t Continue reading

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Berberine Has the Goods to Beat Diabetes

Count berberine among the few compounds with antibacterial properties that offer an effective alternative to antibiotic medicines that are losing ground in the ongoing battle against superbugs. It gets even better, though. Berberines other pharmacological effects includes blood glucose-lowering capabilities that make it useful in helping to treat diabetics.
Berberine is a natural alkaloid, which puts it in a class of organic compounds that have their origins in plants. It contains primarily nitrogen atoms that have been shown to have significant physiological actions on humans, per draxe.com . Its not like this is a recent discovery, though. Using berberine for medicinal purposes is a practice that dates back thousands of years to China and India, where it has been part of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines.
Numerous studies have shown that the use of berberine has been able to improve disorders that involve glucose and lipid metabolism. One of the more noteworthy of those studies was one in which volunteers were 500 milligrams of berberine two or three times a day for three months while a control group took the well-known diabetes drug metformin. The natural alkaloid could control blood sugar and lipid metabolism as well as metformin did.
After berberine is ingested, usually in the form of nutritional supplements, it is digested and then transported via the bloodstream to cells scattered throughout the body. Once it takes up residence in cells, berberine binds to various molecular targets, per authoritynutrition.com , and alters their respective functionaliti Continue reading

Basics of Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus is defined as the impaired response of the human body to insulin. This results in increased levels of glucose in the blood that causes different complications. The increased levels of glucose in the blood are called hyperglycemia. , in other words, s Diabetes Mellitus is the name of hyperglycemia and resulting complications that is due to an impaired response of the body to insulin.
Types of Diabetes Mellitus:
There are two types of DM:
Insulin Dependent Diabetes or Type 1 Diabetes:
In this type, insulin is not produced properly by the body. This causes decreased uptake of glucose by the cells from the blood. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood rises causing hyperglycemia. As insulin is deficient in this type of diabetes, the patient must receive insulin regularly to keep the glucose levels in the blood within normal ranges. That is why this type is called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.
Insulin Independent Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes:
In this type, Insulin is produced in a proper amount by the body but the receptors on the cell where insulin binds, are defective or less in number. That is why the body is resistant to insulin. The end result is again decreased uptake of glucose into the cell from the blood which results in hyperglycemia. As the insulin is sufficient for this type that is why it is called Insulin Independent Diabetes Mellitus.
What is insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that binds to their receptors on the body cells and causes entry of glucose from the blood into the cells. This glucose is then utilized b Continue reading

Diabetes Support Groups: How To Find The Perfect One For You

Diabetes Support Groups: How To Find The Perfect One For You
Haveyou ever felt overwhelmed by diabetes? On a bad day, it can seem impossible to get your blood glucose under control, no matter what you do.
I feel you. To manage your condition well, there are just so many things you need to do from figuring out the foods you can eat, what to do when your blood glucose levels are high or low, and whether your exercise plan is really working. The learning curve for diabetes is reallysteep.
But.. youre not alone! Your friends, family and healthcare team can be an important source of support and motivation. Its easier to cope with diabetes when you have a strong network of people supporting you.
More importantly, other people with diabetes can make a big difference in your life too. Imagine being able to talk freely and share experiences with other people facing the same problems and issues that you are, and who understand what youre going through first hand. Thats something your doctor or nurse wont be able to provide, as knowledgeable as they are.
What kinds of diabetes support groups are there?
Generally, most support groups can be divided into in-person and online groups. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Tech savvy & younger people often prefer an online support group, where they can ask questions which can be too embarrassing to bring up at an in-person session. Such groups are bridge geographies and are accessible from anytime and any location.
Other people may be prefer an in-person support group, which often has strong ties to community resources and k Continue reading

Diabetes Alert: Biotin and Chromium Help Control Glucose Levels

Diabetes Alert: Biotin and Chromium Help Control Glucose Levels
Diabetes affects people worldwide and can be incredibly difficult to manage. The significant impact that this condition has on the body can lead to severe fatigue, pain in the extremities, and fluctuations in weight. Because these symptoms can be debilitating, combatting them and the condition that causes them can be frustrating. One of the greatest challenges that comes with a diabetic condition is regulating blood sugar levels. This is further exaggerated for those who are obese. Thankfully, as more information becomes available regarding diabetes, better means of treatment are becoming known.
A great deal of research has been put into understanding and treating diabetes but many who suffer from this condition still have trouble managing proper blood sugar levels. Eating right, properly medicating, and being mindful of ones insulin and glucose levels are important in combatting diabetes. Even if someone is successfully doing these, they may feel as though they need more assistance. Fortunately, there are elements available that further aid in keeping blood glucose balanced. Studies have found that biotin and chromium provide notable benefits for those looking to combat diabetes.
Vitamin B7, also known as biotin, belongs in the powerful family of B complex vitamins . This group is known for aiding various bodily functions that promote better health. Biotin is of particular interest for diabetics because of the role it plays in regulating blood sugar levels, the metabolization of fatty acids, and glucose p Continue reading