admin, Author at Klinio

Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar levels and high levels of fats for people with diabetes may lead to a serious nerve damage disorder called diabetic neuropathy. Although it is definitely preventable, not properly taking care of your condition and lifestyle can lead to irreversible damage.

Diabetic neuropathy is specific in the sense that it can differ due to the affected body part. It’s quite dangerous for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes because each nerve damage has different symptoms and can seem hidden until it’s too late.

In this article, we’ll look at the 4 types and symptoms of this nerve disorder and discuss the possible options of how to avoid it.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Typically damaging the feet and legs, peripheral neuropathy is the most common nerve damage type, with almost 50% of people with diabetes affected. Its symptoms include:

Pain or burning sensation
Cramps
Tingling or numbness
Loss of sensation
Greater sensitivity to touch
Weakness
Unsteadiness
Hot or cold feelings in the feet and legs
Joint and bone pain
Sores and ulcers in the feet and toes

In rarer cases, this type can affect the arms or hands and is dangerous as you might not feel pain or sores straight away. It’s essential for people with especially low blood circulation to periodically visit their health care provider for a medical check-up.

Proximal Neuropathy

The pain and sensations in the mid-region, upper legs and thighs, buttocks, abdomen, lower back, and even chest are signs of proximal neuropathy. Although much less common than peripheral neuropathy, this type can cause severe pain, affects only one side of the body, and can make it difficult to even stand up. The most typical symptoms are:

Pain in hips, thighs, buttocks
Weakness in thighs and legs
Pain occurring when you stand up
Loss of reflexes
Muscle wasting, more so in the thighs and legs
Weight loss

Fortunately, this type is usually treatable and, in some cases, can disappear after a few years.

Autonomic Neuropathy

This nerve damage type affects the function of your internal organs. It’s especially dangerous as people with autonomic neuropathy might not notice that their blood glucose levels are low, resulting in hypoglycemia. Depending on which organs are affected, you can experience these symptoms:

Dizziness
Fainting
Sexual dysfunction
Bladder or urinary infections
Digestive problems like bloating, vomiting, heartburn, poor digestion
Vision problems
A heart rate that does not increase with activity
Excessive sweating or no sweating

Focal Neuropathy

Focal neuropathy is also known as mononeuropathy. Unlike other types, this one is limited to only single nerves. As it affects only one part of the body, you should be on the lookout for symptoms like:

Vision disturbance or double vision
Pain behind one eye
Face paralysis on one side
Hand weakness, making holding things difficult
Frequent tripping
Hearing problems
Chest, stomach, lower back, pelvis, or flank pain

Why Does Diabetic Neuropathy Occur?

As it is a progressive disease, its symptoms only worsen with time. Initially, when you are diagnosed with diabetes, you are probably more vigilant and keep your sugar levels under control. As time passes, you may not even be aware that your sugar levels are constantly high unless you monitor them regularly, depending on your diabetes type.

High blood sugar levels can disturb the oxygen and nutrient supply into your nerves, and over several years, this can damage the nerves slowly and steadily.

As many as 70% of people with diabetes may suffer from diabetic neuropathy over the course of managing the disease for more than 10 years.

What Are the Stages of Diabetes Neuropathy?

It’s vital that you familiarize yourself with the initial signs and symptoms of neuropathy so that you can get the required treatment. In the early stages, it may be possible to reverse the damage or at least put an end to the progression.

Here are the 5 stages you should be aware of that will help differentiate when you actually need to seek medical attention:

Stage one – you may feel occasional numbness or pain in your feet or legs, a slowing of reflexes, or other problems. As this may occur once in a while, you may not even relate it to diabetes. You may go for weeks or months without any symptoms.
Stage two – when the sensations become more constant, and you realize something is off, by then you are in stage two. If you still ignore the symptoms, you are likely to face irreversible damage.
Stage three – when the pain increases and you experience many symptoms together, you really need medical advice if you have ignored the signs. Constant pain, numbness, loss of sensation, poor wound healing, frequent infections are all signs of diabetic neuropathy.
Stage four – if you feel a constant loss of sensation and more numbness but very little pain, you are in this stage. This is dangerous and shows that your nerves are damaged, probably beyond repair. You may have already suffered some organ damage.
Stage five – when you have lost feeling in your legs and feet, when you find it difficult to walk and require a wheelchair, perhaps, you are in this stage. By this time, it will be impossible to reverse any damage, and you may even need amputation if your nerves are badly affected.

How Fast Does Diabetic Neuropathy Progress?

This complication of diabetes can take place over several years before you notice any symptoms. As much as 50–70% of people with diabetes may develop different kinds of neuropathies from between 10–20 years after diagnosis.

People with type 1 diabetes are at 20% risk of developing neuropathy after 20 years. This is possibly because they have to monitor their blood sugar more closely and balance it with the insulin injections. Those with type 2 diabetes, however, are at 50% risk of developing diabetic neuropathy after 7–10 years or earlier.

What is more surprising, and you need to be aware of this, is that even if you have not been diagnosed with any form of diabetes, you can still suffer from diabetic neuropathy if you just have pre-diabetes. In this case, the damage can also take place over months or years.

The earlier the damage is diagnosed, the greater the chances of controlling or even reversing the harm.

What Are the Treatment Options of Diabetic Neuropathy?

There are many treatment options, depending on the stage of neuropathy and where it occurs. Many are directed at the particular part of the body or organ that it affects. Your doctor usually suggests a multidisciplinary approach and may give you:

Anti-depressants for nerve pain
Analgesics for pain
Bladder training for urinary problems or antibiotics for infections
Medicine to treat erectile dysfunction in men
Lubricants or hormonal creams for women with vaginal dryness
Various types of medicine or a change in diet for digestive issues
Hot and cold patches or treatment such as baths or soaks
Topical application of creams, lotions, gels for pain relief
Compression stockings for dizziness or hypotension
Physical therapy and stretching exercises to relieve pain and strengthen muscles
Medicine for high blood pressure, if that is an issue

Most of these offer symptomatic relief. It is important to manage the problems and the pain and prevent them from worsening.

Measures to Prevent It

As there is no known cure for diabetic neuropathy, it is best that you adopt all the measures to prevent it. Some important steps to take:

Keep sugar levels under control.
Monitor your sugar levels regularly and adjust insulin or medicine dosage.
Lose weight if required.
Get in some exercise regularly.
Make dietary changes, eating more whole foods, fruit, vegetables, and include some white meat and fish in your diet, reducing your dependency on red meat and processed foods.
Don’t smoke.
If you have high blood pressure, make sure to keep it under control

You can also try alternative remedies like acupuncture, natural supplements, and herbal remedies after checking with your doctor. Do take conventional remedies and change your diabetic medicines if called for. And always be aware of the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Key takeaways:

Diabetic neuropathy is not inevitable – if it is caught early enough, it can be manageable as long as you ensure that your sugar levels are under control.
Even occasionally, feeling “off” can be a sign of neuropathy – in the initial stages, you may feel some pain or numbness or poor reflexes or loss of balance once in a while. One or more symptoms signal the start of neuropathy.
Keeping your sugar levels at bay is crucial – higher than normal blood sugar levels can damage organs and nerves.
Diabetic neuropathy is largely irreversible – symptoms can be managed with various treatments, and the damage controlled or reversed.

The basal rate is crucial for body functioning and health. It defines how much background insulin a body requires for efficient use of energy for basic bodily processes.

Breathing, blood circulation, brain function, heart beating, digestion, and other activities require energy. And it is insulin that helps to use the food for energy.

The basal rate in the body is not fixed. It varies from person to person. When you eat food, you need more insulin. When you are incredibly active, you may require less. In a healthy person, this activity carries on in the background quite efficiently as the body releases insulin as required.

How Does Insulin Occur

The all-important pancreas has beta cells that produce insulin and release it into the body. This hormone enables glucose from the foods you eat to be used by the body. When your body does not produce insulin at all or not enough of it, you need insulin by external means.

If you don’t get the insulin you need, the sugar from foods will circulate and build-up in your bloodstream and eventually damage organs. You will feel hungry constantly, thinking that you have not eaten enough and experience other symptoms of diabetes.

How Is Insulin Used in the Body

After you eat and the food is digested, the sugar levels in your body rise. This is a sign to the pancreas to release insulin to use this sugar. This hormone tells the cells to open and enable the glucose to enter. This metabolic process enables the cells and the entire body to use the energy.

Excess glycogen is stored in the liver for future use. The kidney, too, has a role to play in all this – in a typical person, it makes sure that no glucose is excreted in the urine. In a person with diabetes, with a shortfall of insulin, sugar is released in the urine.

A person who does not know he has pre-diabetes or even diabetes will pass urine more frequently and drink more water – these are common symptoms of diabetes.

Without insulin, the body simply cannot use the energy. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you need insulin in the body. You either need to take insulin via injections or a pump or take medicines so that the pancreas can make more insulin (in type 2 diabetes).

The Basal Rate in Diabetes

The basal rate is the amount of insulin that is continuously supplied to the body, also known as background supply. This constant flow is approximately 50% of the requirement of a person with diabetes. It is also how the human body works – there is some continuous supply to manage body processes, and the rest is covered by increases after you eat.

You have to take larger doses of insulin when you have type 1 diabetes during meals. When you have type 2 diabetes, you may be required to take medicines at specific times so that insulin production is maintained in your body or your insulin sensitivity increases.

With an insulin pump, you can set doses and times and program the pump accordingly. This will vary according to your physical activity level and your food intake, health, and many other factors. If you are injecting insulin and not using a pump, your healthcare provider will explain the kind and amount of insulin to take and at what times of the day.

Long-acting insulin will act for the basal processes, whereas short or rapid-acting insulin will be needed during meal times.

Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes

When you have type 2 diabetes, you are usually on one or more medicines to enable the pancreas to make more insulin or improve insulin sensitivity to regulate your blood sugar. But there are some conditions when you may need some insulin as well. These include:

When you are having surgery or in the hospital for any other reason
When taking some medications that interfere with insulin production
When your diet and exercise plans and medicines are not enough to normalize the blood sugar levels
When there is an emergency situation, and your blood sugar levels have to stabilize fast
When you are not able to meet your treatment goals via oral medicines

Diabetes might progress and, if you have type 2 diabetes, oral medicines may not suffice. Over time, these may not be enough to improve insulin sensitivity or produce more insulin. In such a scenario, you will either need to complement your medicines with insulin or switch over to insulin completely, depending on several factors.

The basal rate is covered around 50% via basal insulin if you have type 1 diabetes and a varied percentage for type 2 diabetes with oral medication.

There may be a situation when you need to take bolus insulin. This is a dose of fast or rapid-acting insulin taken before, during, or after a meal to balance the extra calories you take while eating.

People who have type 1 diabetes will take long-acting insulin once or twice a day, which will supplement the basal rate. They will take fast or rapid-acting insulin at mealtimes. The dose will have to balance the sugar intake.
People who have type 2 diabetes may start with basal insulin (if necessary) and then take bolus insulin if that is not sufficient in addition to oral medicines.

When you take insulin injections via pump or pre-filled pens, you should ideally always keep some sugar or sweet with you. If you feel hypoglycemic or experience low sugar symptoms because you took too much insulin or did not eat enough carbohydrates, immediately take the sugar or sweet to balance the insulin intake.

In any case, if you have diabetes, you do need to closely monitor your blood sugar levels and go for regular medical check-ups. When you watch your diet, exercise as required, and eat regularly, you can live a long and healthy life despite diabetes.

Blood sugar testing is a vital part of diabetes management, and your basal rate may be too low if your blood sugar increases by 35-40 mg/dL, or the basal rate may be too high if your blood sugar decreases by 35-40 mg/dL. In either case, you will need to adjust your insulin or medicine dosage.

Key Takeaways

The basal rate is the rate at which insulin is slowly released by the body. Insulin is vital for the body to function, for breathing, blood, heart, brain, and all organs working, regardless of whether you are active or sedentary.
Insulin is necessary for the cells to function. All bodily processes require energy in the form of glycogen to carry out their activities, and this energy can only be released and used thanks to insulin.
Bolus insulin is rapid-acting insulin taken around meal times – this helps balance the extra calorie intake from meals and normalizes blood sugar levels. This may be taken by people with type 1 and even type 2 diabetes (if called for).

Did you know about the connection between stress and blood sugar? If you have diabetes, you must be aware of how eating specific foods affect sugar control.

But food is not the only cause of high sugar levels. Stress is also a factor.

In fact, stress impacts your health in many ways. It can cause digestive disturbances, headaches, mood swings, and increased sugar levels. For improved health, you have to learn to manage your stress levels.

What Is Stress?

Stress is the way you experience any change. It can impact your body and health physically, psychologically, emotionally, mentally, and chemically. You may suffer from work-related, environmental, financial, or health stresses at different times. Sometimes you may have more than one stressor.

The highest stress-causing events are death, divorce, disease, or loss of a job. Basically, any type of loss or change can be stressful.

Different kinds of stress are:

Acute stress – this occurs for a short period. If you face a dangerous situation or an event where you feel powerless, you may experience the flight or fight response. Humans experience this from time immemorial as it was part of a survival mechanism when they faced danger from the wild and from others. This kind of stress usually resolves when the threat has passed.
Chronic stress – when a stressful situation continues over a long period, you can suffer from chronic stress. This can happen if you are in an unhappy relationship, you are not satisfied with your job, or you have a health condition that may or may not be resolved, or any other reason. Occasionally acute stress can turn chronic if you cannot deal with the stressor and get on top of it.
Traumatic stress – a traumatic event can cause this kind of stress. If you face danger to your life during the war, accident, or natural disaster, you can feel highly stressed, and this may take time to resolve. Some people suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that impacts their life in many ways. This needs professional help.

When any form of stress impacts your life, it also affects your health.

Is All Stress Bad?

While stress has negative connotations, all stress is not bad. If you had no stressors in your life, you would not be able to get lots of things done. For instance, if you do not have deadlines, you may keep procrastinating. Stress that has positive effects is known as eustress.

If you are in a new job, relationship, house, or state, you may feel stressed, but in a good way. You will feel excited and look forward to new situations and being able to cope with them. This kind of stress improves your physical and mental well-being.

Similarly, when you exercise or adopt a new fitness regimen, you expose your body to stress. Every time you lift weights, you are stressing your muscles, bones, and even your skin. This helps keep you fit and tones your body.

The Connection Between Stress And Blood Sugar

Any time you face a stressful situation, your body releases hormones to deal with it.

The three main stress hormones are:

Adrenaline – also known as the flight or fight hormone and is released by the adrenal glands. It allows you to feel focused, gives you more energy and strength to deal with a situation. Once the incident is over, you may feel your heartbeat has increased, and you are sweating more than usual. You may also feel exhilarated at coming out of the situation or feeling nervous about what you just faced.
Norepinephrine – this chemical is released by the adrenal glands and the brain. It works similarly as adrenaline but is a back-up hormone. It can work alongside adrenaline or, instead of it if your body does not release sufficient adrenaline.
Cortisol – this is actually the stress hormone. It is released slower than adrenaline and norepinephrine. When a lot of cortisol floods the system during acute stress or a constant stream is released during chronic stress, it increases blood sugar levels in the body.

Since the body’s reaction to any stress requires more energy from you, it releases more sugar into the system. This is how stress and blood sugar are connected.

What Is Diabetes Distress?

Do you know there is something known as diabetes distress? This is yet another form of stress that is experienced by people who have diabetes. This kind of stress is an example of the direct connection between stress and blood sugar.

A diagnosis of diabetes can up-end your entire life. Suddenly you have to be aware of what you eat, how much you exercise, how much medicine or insulin you need to take. You must have a great deal of knowledge and information on how to tackle your diabetes, more so when there is no one-size-fits-all treatment.

This self-management can also cause stress, and this is what is known as diabetes distress. Daily testing, daily changes, not being able to eat the foods you want, restricting or eliminating alcohol, sweets, sodas, and eating only low glycemic index foods to manage your diabetes can also cause stress.

Diabetes distress can result in poor sugar management and increased sugar levels in your body. Apart from stress releasing more sugar into your body, poor management aggravates the sugar levels, and this tells you how stress and blood sugar are connected. It can cause exhaustion and even lead to risk-taking behavior that can increase sugar levels further, becoming a vicious cycle.

How Can You Overcome Stress?

When you have diabetes, you have all the more reason to take care of your stress. It is vital to managing your diabetes better and not letting it permeate all parts of your life.

Here are some things you can do to overcome stress (or make it work for you):

Exercise – even brief periods of walking can help relax you and enable you to deal better with stress. If you can exercise in a gym or join an exercise class, you are away from whatever troubles you, and you can just focus on your physical fitness. This decreases stress levels in your body and reduces blood sugar levels in more ways than one.

Meditation – any kind of meditation can help. Whether it is spiritual meditation, cognitive therapy, or even mindfulness while exercising (yoga, tai-chi), controlled breathing. All these have a positive effect of reducing stress.

Journaling – keeping a gratitude journal or writing your thoughts down in a diary will prove to be a stress-buster. If you write down all that you are grateful for daily or any positive things that happened to you every day, you will calm your brain down and release positivity. This will decrease stress and improve blood sugar control.

Hobby – develop a hobby that takes your focus away from you and what is distressing in your situation. You can also simply relax, read a book, listen to music, or take some quiet time and de-stress.

When you know how stress and blood sugar are connected, it is up to you to stay on top of stress and keep your sugar levels under control.

Key Takeaways

Stress is part of modern life – you must learn to manage your stress levels and not permit it to negatively affect your health.
For people with diabetes, stress can be dangerous – stress and blood sugar have a strong cause and effect connection.
Stress hormones cause the body to release more sugar for quick energy, and this increases sugar levels in the body.
Stress has several positives associated with it since it improves focus and concentration, but constant or chronic stress can be debilitating. Managing diabetes can by itself become a stressor for some people.
Once you manage stress, you can stay on top of your sugar levels – you really don’t need any extra work to manage your diabetes and high blood sugar levels, so keeping stress at bay using any form of relaxation is essential for people with diabetes.

Did you know that you may have high blood sugar after exercise? If you suffer from diabetes, this is important because you should know how to deal with it.

At the same time, you cannot do without exercise. It is crucial to keep yourself physically fit, keep your weight under control, and improve your health. When you have diabetes, you should ensure that you do the right kind of exercise and at the correct time.

The relationship between sport and blood sugar

People with diabetes have to manage their food intake, their insulin levels, and their physical activity. It is a delicate balance.

When you exercise, your blood sugar levels fluctuate. This fluctuation varies among individuals and depends on the amount of insulin or medications you need, your physical fitness, and the intensity of exercise. Exercise usually reduces blood sugar levels over 24 hours.

Your body reacts to exercise in different ways.

Exercise uses sugar (calories). So it reduces blood sugar levels in the body. If the sugar in the bloodstream is not enough, the liver releases glucose from its stores to make up for any deficit. This does not have any adverse effect on an average person or one who has controlled blood sugar levels.

If you have diabetes that is not well-controlled, exercise may not be an option till your sugar levels are lower. Intense exercise, when you start, can actually release stress hormones, spiking sugar levels further.

If your body does not have enough insulin to balance sugar levels, then the liver will release more sugar, increasing sugar levels further. You may suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis if there are ketones released, which may happen if the body turns to fat for energy. This can be dangerous as it can lead to coma.

That is why you must carefully time your food intake and exercise routine to avoid high blood sugar after exercise.

It is a good idea to exercise one to three hours after eating so that your body has enough available sugar to carry out physical activities. Research says that one and half hours after eating is the best time to exercise.

Avoid exercising before a meal and even after dinner, as your blood sugar may go drastically low when you are asleep.

Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia

Knowing about the symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is a must. When you notice any of them, you can take corrective action fast and avoid any severe consequences.

Exercise can cause hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia in people whose blood sugar levels are not well-balanced and who may over-exercise.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar include:

Increased thirst
Higher frequency of urination
Weakness
Blurring of vision
Fast heartbeat
Irritability
Nervousness or anxiety

Symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar include:

Lightheadedness or feeling faint
Hunger
Feeling shaky
Sweating
Reduced concentration or focus
Fruity smelling breath
Seizures

Depending on the sugar levels you have, the medicines or insulin you are taking, and the exercise, you may feel more than one symptom.

High blood sugar after exercise

When you exercise, you use energy, so it seemingly does not make sense why there should be high blood sugar after exercise. Say your blood sugar is under control under normal circumstances. Why should it spike after exercise, which is supposed to have the opposite effect?

Here’s why it can happen.

If you exercise hard or for a long time, the body releases adrenaline. This hormone increases blood sugar levels. At the same time, the insulin in the body is not enough to utilize the available sugar. The liver and kidney will release more sugar in response.

This becomes a double whammy. Low insulin and high blood sugar can be dangerous.

How to deal with high blood sugar after exercise

Exercise has many health benefits for everyone, even more so for people with diabetes. If you are worried about high blood sugar after exercise or have already experienced it, here are 3 things you should do.

Test

You should know your blood sugar levels to control them before, during, and after exercise. This is particularly true if you are just starting out to exercise after a diabetes diagnosis.

If your blood sugar is 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), it is too low, and you need to balance it by taking some glucose tablets, a sweet, or a snack.
When your blood sugar is 100 to 250 mg/dL (5.6 to 13.9mmol/L), you are in the safe pre-exercise range.
With a blood sugar of 250 mg/dL (13.9mmol/L) or more, it is high, and you should test your urine for ketones.
If your sugar levels are over 300 mg/dL (16.7mmo/L), your urine test will reveal ketones, and you will need to take some insulin or medicines and then wait and test again. Only when there are no ketones is it safe to exercise.

Recheck your blood sugar levels after exercising and several hours later so that you don’t suffer from low sugar levels when you are asleep.

Rest

Avoid exercising till your sugar levels have stabilized. And then start slowly and don’t do strenuous exercise. A steady rate of cardio is better than short but intense bursts of activity if this causes sugar spikes. Once your sugar levels are under control, you can do some more strenuous exercise.

Hydrate

Drinking more water helps remove high blood sugar. Even minor dehydration can affect sugar levels in people with diabetes and lead to 50-100 mg/dL higher sugar levels. Exercising in summer can increase your water requirement, so make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses or more of water daily.

Apart from this, you must check with your health care practitioner what kind of exercise is suitable for you. They will advise the best course of action given your age, weight, physical fitness levels, diabetic management goals, and blood sugar levels.

Always listen to your body. If you show any signs or symptoms that something is wrong, get checked.

Key takeaways

Contrary to the widespread perception that exercise reduces sugar levels, some forms of exercise can cause high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This happens when your body’s insulin levels are not enough to use up the sugar, and the adrenaline released increases sugar stores even further.
Balance your exercise, insulin (or medicines), and food and water intake. They will help prevent high sugar levels after exercise and prevent any health problems.
Test your blood sugar often enough – it is easy enough to test your sugar yourself, thanks to the monitors available. And don’t forget to follow medical advice before starting any new exercise and diet routines.
Take the correct action to avoid hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Eat the right foods at regular intervals and drink sufficient water instead of soda and sweet beverages to prevent sugar spikes and crashes.

Meal plan: Meat Lovers

Day 1

Breakfast : Tomato-Basil Quiche with Bacon and Spinach

Lunch: Tandoori Roasted Cauliflower Soup and 3-ingredient Massaged Kale, Avocado Salad

Snack: Anti-inflammatory Herb Tea + Handful of almonds and blueberries

Dinner: Chicken Meatballs + Mint Citrus Snap Peas with Pistachios

Post dinner snack: Sugar-free Almond Bark

Day 2

Breakfast : Brain-Boosting Protein Avocado Green Smoothie

Lunch: Leftover Chicken meatballs on top of Easy Salad Bowl

Snack: Veggie Chips

Dinner: Crispy Salmon Arugula Salad

Post dinner snack: Cinnamon Spiced Apple Slices

Day 3

Breakfast : Cacao Protein Power Smoothie

Lunch: Easy Salad Bowl/Leftover Tandoori roasted Cauliflower Soup or Tomato Basil Quiche

Snack: Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Slices

Dinner: Turmeric-Spiced Chicken Drumsticks + Creamy Cauliflower mash

Post dinner snack: GMO-Free Popcorn with Cinnamon Melted Coconut oil

Day 4

Breakfast : Two hard boiled eggs and 1/2 cup of blueberries or raspberries

Lunch: Quick and Easy Salad Protein Bowl/leftovers

Snack: Edamame

Dinner: Herbed Chicken and Sweet Potato Casserole

Post dinner snack: 3-ingredient 85% Cacao Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries

Day 5

Breakfast : Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Buckwheat Pizza

Lunch: Leftovers from Yesterday

Snack: Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Slices

Dinner: Roasted Tomato and Shrimp Zucchini Spaghetti Squash

Post dinner snack: Salami Slice with Rice Cakes

Day 6

Breakfast : Sweet Potato Crusted Sausage Quiche Casserole

Lunch: Butternut Squash Lentil Carrot Soup or Delicious Avocado Hemp Salad

Snack: Anti-Inflammatory Herb Tea + Handful of cashew nuts and raspberries

Dinner: Almond Flour Cottage Pancakes with Blueberries

Post dinner snack: Celery Stick with Hummus

Day 7

Breakfast : Leftovers (Sweet Potato Crusted Sausage Quiche Casserole or Cottage Pancakes)

Lunch: Chicken Steak with Low-Carb Veggies

Snack: Edamame

Dinner: Lamb Stuffed Zucchini with Greek Spices

Post dinner snack: Salami Slice with Rice Cakes

Do you know what the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes is? When you hear about diabetes, you may have some vague idea that it is a severe disease but can be managed with lifestyle changes, diet modifications, and medicines.

Both types of diabetes have the same diagnostic tests and symptoms. However, their causes and treatments are very different. Let’s see what the differences are.

What is type 1 diabetes?

To understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, you should know what these variants are.

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease. At one time, it was commonly called juvenile diabetes because it affects youngsters more frequently than adults. It is also called insulin-dependent diabetes.

That is because the immune system in the body destroys the cells in the pancreas responsible for insulin production. Usually, there is no insulin in the body that can be used for this reason.

The reasons that this variant develops are not very clear. It may occur due to genetic reasons or even an attack by viruses, as some people develop type 1 diabetes after an illness. Some babies may even be born with this disease.

Typically, it can be found in children between the ages of 4 and 14, though it can occur at any age. Often, it happens without warning and quite suddenly.

The symptoms

Among the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are:

Extreme thirst and hunger
Frequent urination
Weight loss
Digestive problems and nausea and vomiting
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Repeated infections in the skin or genitals
Mood swings
Bed wetting in older children or smaller kids who have been dry for long
Smelly urine or breath, often a fruity smell that comes from ketones

Most symptoms occur very quickly, so when several symptoms are suddenly present, it is wiser to get checked.

The risks

Poorly controlled type 1 diabetes carries many risks, no matter the patient’s age. Diabetes can cause:

Kidney disease
Cardiovascular problems (heart disease and stroke)
Dental problems with the gums getting affected
Nervous system disorders
Eye disease and vision disorders
Persistent skin infections
Foot problems like ulcers or tingling

You will need to maintain normal blood sugar levels to fight it.

Treatment options

Your body needs insulin at regular intervals. It can be done via injections given 3 times a day or more frequently as advised.

Alternatively, the insulin can be delivered with an insulin pump, which delivers calibrated doses of insulin at timed intervals. The actual pump is worn outside the body, while the needle is usually inserted in the abdomen.

Different types of insulin, such as short-acting, rapid-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting, may be combined. It depends on your body’s response to it. Regular blood sugar monitoring is also necessary, and you may have to take your blood sugar 4 times a day. Some pumps can do all this automatically.

At the same time, you must watch what you eat, have more fruits and vegetables and whole foods and grains instead of processed foods. It is also essential to balance your intake with adequate amounts of exercise.

What is type 2 diabetes?

When you want to know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you should know more about the variations. This is the form of diabetes that affects 90% of all patients with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance in the body. Either the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the body cannot use the insulin it makes. Since the sugar is not used by the cells, it stays in the blood and increases sugar levels in the body. And high sugar levels, because of diabetes, can cause many health problems.

Research has not found any definitive cause for Type 2 diabetes. Risk factors include age (over 45), high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, low diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, family history, and race. Usually, a combination of factors results in Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is often not diagnosed in the early stages as symptoms are easy to overlook and often creep up slowly. Some people may not even have many symptoms or put them down to other causes.

The symptoms

Among the many symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are:

Frequent need to pee, particularly at night
Thirst
Hunger
Weight loss
Tiredness
Tingling in hands and feet
Dry skin
Blurred vision
Moodiness
Slow healing of cuts, wounds, and sores
More than normal infections

Unlike type 1 diabetes, where many symptoms appear quickly, undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes can be more dangerous in the long run.

The risks

When excess sugar is in the bloodstream constantly, it can damage organs and cause many health problems. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled type 2 diabetes can cause:

Heart disease
Kidney disease
Foot problems
Neuropathy
Vision problems (including vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy)
Urinary problems, including frequent urinary tract infections
Gum disease and dental issues
Sexual problems (loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and more)

It is vital to manage the sugar levels optimally to avoid these severe health problems.

Treatment options

Type 2 diabetes affects each person differently. As there are many medications available to treat this, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Your doctor will have to personalize your combination of drugs. This depends on how your body reacts to the medicines and your sugar levels.

Medicines for type 2 diabetes have diverse ways of working; they include:

Metformin – lowers blood glucose levels, improves the body’s response to insulin.
Sulfonylureas and meglitinides – improves insulin production and stimulate pancreas.
Thiazolidinediones – improve insulin sensitivity.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists – improve blood sugar levels by slowing digestion.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors – don’t allow the kidneys to reabsorb glucose into the blood and sending to the urine.

Depending on your sugar levels and how you react to the medicines, your doctor may put you on one or more drugs to manage your diabetes or offer you insulin injections. Any change in medication and dosage must be closely monitored until your sugar levels stabilize.

Type 2 diabetes is not just another disease that will yield to medicines. You have to be on top of it and balance your diet, exercise, physical activity, and medicine to achieve balance and normalize blood sugar levels. It is also crucial that you lose weight if you are overweight, reduce stress levels, and be physically active (150 minutes of exercise a week is recommended).

Key Takeaways

Type-1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease, often affecting younger people – it can occasionally affect older people.
Type-2 diabetes is more common, affecting 90% of patients.
Know the symptoms and seek medical advice as soon as you feel something is not right.
Both types of diabetes can be managed—type 1 with insulin injections and type 2 with insulin or other medicines and lifestyle interventions.
Knowing the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabeteswill enable you to take steps to stay healthy.

Whole foods are unprocessed, or minimally processed vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They’re loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

Whole foods are usually a little bit more expensive, so we highly recommend shopping at local farmer’s markets instead of trendy “whole food” stores. Naturally, you won’t find organic milk at a farmer’s market, but you will definitely find some delicious fresh veggies and fruit.

Follow these tips to include more whole foods in your diet:

Consume whole grains instead of refined grains whenever possible.
Replace white flour with whole-wheat flour.
Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruits.
Include beans in your meals and snacks: they’re a great source of plant protein, fiber, phytochemicals, and other nutrients.
Eat fewer convenience and processed foods.

Smoothies are a regular meal choice in the average household. Fortunately, people with diabetes can also enjoy these drinks despite their condition as long as they do it right.

Specially formulated diabetic smoothies aren’t harmful to blood sugar levels and won’t trigger spikes when consumed in the correct quantity. These drinks aren’t exactly different from the usual ones. However, there are moderations to specific recipes to make diabetic-friendly smoothies healthier, and this article highlights them.

What to Expect?

How Smoothies Benefit Diabetes?
How Can People with Diabetes Enjoy the Health Benefits of Smoothies?
Top 5 Diabetes-Friendly Smoothies

How do Smoothies Benefit Diabetes?

We can’t underestimate the benefits of smoothies for diabetes. Some diabetic smoothies’ recipes control blood sugar and even reduce it to normal. Most diabetic management plans will always include this special drink due to its remarkable effect in preventing blood sugar.

So where are diabetic smoothies so effective against diabetes? The answer is simple — fruit and vegetables.

Smoothies are majorly made from vegetables, fruits, and natural sweeteners. Moreover, natural sweeteners aren’t always present, as most smoothies barely have any need for sweeteners.

The fruits and vegetables that make up the majority of most smoothies are usually very low in calories and glycemic load. This means they’re not easily converted into glucose — the primary cause of blood sugar spikes.

The ingredients of most smoothies make smoothies extremely rich in vitamins and protein. There could be healthy fat in a smoothie if it contains avocado or smoothie. However, it’s just enough to benefit the body rather than cause any genuine concern.

The fact that smoothies are incredibly high in vitamins, healthy fats, and proteins while offering extremely low amounts of carbohydrates simply makes them the perfect diabetic diet. Nutrient experts and health professionals generally recommend smoothies for their patients as a good diet choice.

Diabetic smoothies usually have varying appearances thanks to their different ingredients. Chocolate or strawberries will give a rich and creamy smoothie, while leafy and green ingredients will yield a fine, thick color.

You could have a healthy breakfast smoothie or even have it as dinner. Notably, it’s quite beneficial and helps regulate blood sugar spikes in the morning and night.

How Can People with Diabetes Enjoy the Health Benefits of Smoothies?

While smoothies help people with diabetes control blood sugar and prevent complications, altering the natural ingredients that make each smoothie can dilute the health benefits. This section highlights specific guidelines to ensure a healthy smoothie drink.

Don’t Add Artificial Sweeteners

As a diabetic, one thing you shouldn’t add to your smoothie is an artificial sweetener. Similarly, you should omit table sugar and other added sugars in diabetic smoothies. Even honey and related carbs aren’t exempt from the list of smoothie ingredients to avoid as they alter the drink’s health benefits.

Too many sweeteners may become counterproductive and increase blood sugar. Furthermore, to prevent consuming any harmful nutrients, you should make it a rule of thumb to always use natural ingredients, sparkling water, and frozen fruits instead of ice cubes.

Choose the Right Smoothie

All diabetic smoothies are deemed healthy. However, they’re all different in calories as each smoothie recipe differs. This means that you should choose a smoothie that’s in line with the stage of your diabetes.

A pre-diabetic could easily go for any type of diabetic smoothie and enjoy consistent blood sugar regulation. However, someone already experiencing severe complications from diabetes may want to stick to keto green smoothies — they have zero sweeteners and are great in healthy fats.

There are so many smoothies that have been experimented on and are great for varying stages of diabetes. All you have to do is meet your doctor for a diagnosis and get expert advice on the exact smoothie that can work very well with your diet.

Don’t Overdo It

One thing that you shouldn’t do with smoothies is to take excessively high amounts. Smoothies are incredibly rich in vitamins and fats, but that doesn’t mean they lack calories — even the ones with some of the biggest greens have up to 50 calories. As a result, taking too many smoothies can lead to a counterproductive effect.

Top 5 Diabetes-Friendly Smoothies

There are different diabetic smoothie recipes that you can add to your diet and they do not necessarily have blood sugar spikes. These smoothies can serve as breakfast or a complete meal. You can also add a light snack if you want something solid.

The fruity mix outlined in this list can serve as pre-diabetic smoothies for people who experience blood sugar spikes and are vulnerable to diabetes. They can also serve as healthy diabetic smoothies as they are confirmed to be rich in vitamins while having an extremely low glycemic index.

That said, here are the top 5 diabetic-friendly smoothies you can go for.

Superfood Smoothie

The superfood smoothie is indeed super in every way.

As far as this smoothie is concerned, there’s no one-size-fits-all recipe as you can mix it with different fruits, and it’s subjective to ethnicity. This means that someone from Europe may have a different idea of what a superfood smoothie is to an American. However, the bottom line is that the smoothie has to be extremely healthy and very nourishing.

A smoothie can only be a superfood smoothie if it’s extremely rich in vitamins and calcium and very low in carbs. This inherent feature makes it an excellent choice for people with diabetes.

Superfood smoothies are low in carbs and pass as excellent breakfast and dinner options. Their glycemic indexes are usually low as they contain just vegetables and fruits.

A common feature in pretty much all superfood smoothies is almond milk which serves as the base for the other additions. Almond milk is extremely rich in vitamins and is perfect for people with diabetes.

Other essential ingredients that you can add to make your smoothie food include the following:

Carrots
Dates
Blackberry
Chia seeds
Bananas
Cinnamon
Turmeric

You may choose to consume the superfood smoothie as a complete meal or decide to take it with a very light snack to avoid stacking up carbs.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder Avocado Smoothies

For many, calories are the first line of thought at the sight of cocoa. While excessive calories don’t benefit diabetics, the unsweetened cocoa powder avocado smoothie is one enjoyable drink that doesn’t increase blood sugar levels and trigger glucose spikes. Thanks to its rich amount of avocado and its unsweetened cocoa powder, this smoothie has low carb and calorie content, with a serving offering nothing more than 80 calories.

This particular smoothie may be ideal for those that miss the sweet feeling of cocoa. There are no artificial sweeteners, though, so you don’t have to worry about high sugar intake.

The primary ingredients are avocado and coconut milk. Other complementary additions are a pinch of salt, water, and mint (optional). Hence, in total, there are five main ingredients in addition to the greens and cocoa.

Preparing the unsweetened cocoa powder avocado smoothie isn’t difficult. You can take the following as a guide when preparing one:

Get all the ingredients: Cocoa powder, avocado, coconut milk, salt, water, and mint (optional).
Put all the ingredients inside a blender except the fresh mint, which you may include later after the whole process. The water added should be just sufficient for successful blending.
Blend on high speed until you notice a fine thick creamy texture.
Introduce fresh mint to the mix if you wish.

This chocolate avocado smoothie with coconut milk can help you lose weight and make every exercise worth it.

Avocado Smoothie With Leafy Greens

Avocado is one crucial food choice that plays a vital role in helping people with diabetes handle their condition without complications. The fruit has a very low glycemic index and, as such, doesn’t trigger a rise in blood sugar.

The avocado smoothie with leafy greens is one of the best choices that a diabetic can make for a healthy breakfast. The smoothie is remarkably tasty, which is a good thing, as diabetics will find it refreshing and yummy.

To avoid a rise in blood sugar spikes at night, nutrition experts usually advise that diabetics go for smoothies such as the avocado smoothie. The good thing about the drink is that it’s not difficult to make. The main ingredients are avocado, mint, lemon, and healthy greens.

You won’t get a sweet taste with this smoothie; it’s simply creamy and tangy. However, its associated health benefits make it one of the most preferred options to go for.

Here are the steps to follow when making this healthy drink:

Get all the ingredients: Kale, spinach, avocado, water, mint, lemon juice, and ice cubes.
Blend all the ingredients until they all form a fine mixture.

You can add drops of stevia or tiny amounts of honey for sweetness but don’t overdo it, so you don’t alter the drink’s health benefits.

Low-Carb Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Here’s yet another smoothie that you can go for to avoid and control sudden blood sugar spikes. This low-carb smoothie bowl is one mix that you can probably never get tired of. It’s a fresh, tasty, rich, and creamy smoothie with many nutritional benefits.

Nutritionally, a serving of this smoothie diet includes:

370 calories
10 g of carbs
24 g of fat
18 g of protein

The ingredients of the mix include Greek yogurt and soymilk, which eliminate the need for artificial sweeteners and effectively control high blood sugar. Adding chia seeds only makes the drink much better as it improves the fiber content, which also helps regulate blood sugar increase.

Additionally, you can make this drink without adding cheese. However, if you want a bit of whey protein, adding a small cheese quantity won’t cause significant harm.

Here are the steps to follow in preparing this drink:

Gather the following ingredients:
- 5 strawberries of medium sizes
- A cup of unsweetened soy milk
- Half a cup of Greek yogurt
- Six ice cubes
Blend the ingredient until a smooth mix is formed and serve as desired. It’s important to note that a serving contains up to 100 calories.

Green Keto Smoothie With Avocado and Peanut Butter

This leafy green smoothie brings a lot to the table for people with diabetes. It’s extremely low in calories, controls blood sugar, and ensures a full stomach.

Of course, with the keto tag, there’s no doubt that it contains healthy fats (due to the avocado and peanut butter present in it). The drink isn’t exactly sweet, but there’s an undertone of sweetness due to the peanut butter and almond milk additions.

If you desire a smoothie that complements your diabetes diet, then this drink is the exact go-to option. The complete ingredients for this drink are quite easy to find, and they include:

Cucumber
Kale
Peanut butter
Almond milk

There’s no need to add any artificial sweetener as the drink is best taken naturally. Moreover, the only fats present in this drink are healthful fats.

Nutritionally, a serving of this drink offers:

141 calories
4 g of protein
9 g of carbs
11 g of fat

Like the other smoothies, all you need to do is simply blend with little water until it forms a fine mixture.

Conclusion

There are many smoothies you can enjoy, even as a person with diabetes. Apart from those discussed in this article, others include the peach smoothie fortified with spinach and others that provide vitamins and healthy fats.

In other words, the types of smoothies that you can add to your diet as a diabetic are almost endless, and it’s just about you choosing the ones you love most. If you love more than one healthy smoothie, then getting our digital meal planner to help you properly plan them out is extremely important. More specifically, a digital app will help you prevent too much intake of unhealthy smoothie recipes that could eventually lead to extremely low blood sugar or hypoglycemia.

Individuals with diabetes are at higher risk during the COVID19 global pandemic. There is a good chance your daily routine is somewhat different than before. The good news is that you can use the quarantine period to boost your immunity system through a balanced healthy diet.

Simultaneously, you should also adhere to all the basic guidelines laid out by WHO and CDC to remain safe. Naturally, people with diabetes do not want to face complications after the contraction of the virus.

That said, the data does indicate that people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk. And that is because when you are ill, it becomes difficult for people with diabetes to manage the right level of glucose. By eating specific foods, however, you can boost your immune system.

How is the Virus Spreading So Fast?

As of now, the COVID19 virus spreads largely from individual to individual via respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing. Furthermore, the virus could live on numerous surfaces for 2-3 days. You might not display all the symptoms (i.e., coughing, fever, or shortness of breath), but you should still protect yourself to prevent the spread of the COVID19.

What Could Happen?

Well, the information is not to scare people away, but to enlighten the possible risks of COVID19. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is clear about folks with diabetes who develop the virus are inherently at higher risk of developing a severe illness like pneumonia.

Technically, people with diabetes under stress or other illness can increase their blood sugar levels. In fact, the state of diabetic ketoacidosis could happen when an individual with diabetes does not have sufficient insulin in the body to handle the elevation.

As a result, your body starts to break down fats to get the required energy, which leads to the development of ketones in your blood cells. Ketones turn your blood more acidic and can cause severe health issues. Well, now that you know the worst, it is time to move on to the part where you learn to boost your immune system.

Boost Your Immune System

Here is the thing; there are many foods that can boost your immune system, which means protection against COVID-19. However, you should consult with your doctor and dietary physician before starting a diabetic diet.

There are numerous nutrients, such as folate, iron, copper, selenium, or zinc that can build immunity. Similarly, vitamins A, C, D, B6, or B12 can also play a vital role in your immune system. Ideally, eat a balanced and healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits.

As much as eating healthy matters, you cannot sit on your couch all day. Any continuous physical healthy activity in your house would be enough to reduce stress. Additionally, get as much sleep as you can to regulate your immune functioning.

In essence, make sure you meet your dietary requirements. After all, minerals and vitamins are crucial to maintain good health and normalize your immune system. Once you start to eat a healthy and balanced diet, it would provide all the required nutrients your body needs. However, if you face difficulties in meeting dietary requirements, you can include nutrient supplements.

What Exactly Can You Add in Your Diet?

Seeds and Nuts

Nut butters – almond, peanut, and cashew

Nuts – walnuts, almonds, and peanuts

Seed butters – seed, sunflower, or tahini

Seeds – sesame, flax, sunflower, chia, or pumpkin

Beans & Peas

Dried and canned beans – black, white, garbanzo, kidney, or split peas

Grain Foods

Whole-grain and bean pastas

Whole grains – barley, brown rice, quinoa, millet, couscous, farro, or oatmeal

Whole-grain bread, crackers, or muffins

Whole-grain cereal

Canned Vegetable and Fruit Items

Select a variation of no extra salt vegetables – asparagus, corn, green beans, tomatoes, beets, artichokes, carrots, roasted peppers, potatoes, or mushrooms

Select fruits packed in water or juice – pineapple, pears, mandarin oranges, applesauce, or fruit cocktail

Soups & Broths

Soups – minestrone, reduced-sodium vegetable, or chicken noodle

Broth – beef, reduced-sodium chicken, vegetable stock or broth

Other Protein Sources

Pouches or tuna Cans, salmon cans, sardines’ cans, chicken, clams, or ham

Fish or beef jerky

Shelf-based tofu

Control Your Glucose

One of the most valuable elements in any infection control for diabetic patients is the maintenance of glucose levels. When your glucose levels are in control, you could significantly decrease the risk of complication and as well as the seriousness of the infection.

It All Comes Down to YOUR Diet Plan

It is high time you start a meal plan that can guarantee a balanced diet. Besides, people with diabetes cannot afford to let the luck run its course. Instead, use a diet plan that offers you sufficient required nutrients and vitamins to remain healthy. You can, of course, follow a web-based diet plan that will allow you to boost your immunity more naturally.

Don’t Overlook Common Preventive Measures

While you boost your immune system through a balanced diet, follow the precautionary safety rules of WHO and CDC. If you have to go out, maintain a distance of at least 2 meters (6 feet) from the person who might be contagious.

In addition, wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water. If you are out of soap, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% of alcohol. Wash your hands if you touch door handles, tabletops, or countertops. And most importantly, do not touch your nose, mouth, or eyes with those unwashed hands. And practice physical distancing religiously.

Conclusion

The truth is COVID-19 is a lethal virus, and it is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges faced by medical professionals all around the world. The infectious nature of the disease spreads like wildfire because of the close physical contact.

Diabetic patients, for instance, should have a family member, friend, or neighbor on a speed-dial. And if you feel unwell, contact your trusted doctor online. Your doctor can make the right call because of the knowledge of your diabetic history.

The best course of action for people with diabetes would be to prepare beforehand. Whether you contract the virus or not, improve your immunity all the same. Apart from preparedness, stay informed about any new information that might make all the difference.