Overcoming Diabetes

Obesity does not cause diabetes. They are commonly related because they are both results of the same type of lifestyle. Not all diabetics are overweight.

Like many ailments of the elderly, it can best be prevented, controlled, or cured through diet and exercise. There are literally hundreds of pharmaceutical products that deal with blood sugar levels and diabetes. No product or combination of products can come close to the effectiveness of a solid program of diet, exercise, and weight control. If this is true, why do so many people still suffer from this dangerous disease? Perhaps the answer lies in the attitude and motivation of the afflicted.

Attitude...How you view day to day life has a real effect on your total well being. Optimists and people with positive attitudes are healthier and live longer than pessimists and people with negative attitudes. One psychology report states that older individuals who viewed aging in a positive light lived 7.5 years longer than those who had a negative view of aging. So how do you change from negative to positive? In the words of a seventies song "don't worry, be happy". Over 95% of the things people worry about never happen. Also positive people are more 'now' thinkers and seldom waste energy on the past or future over which they have little control. With practice, you can control your attitude by changing your thinking. Change your thinking; change your life.

Motivation...Do you agree with the statement "Nothing is more important than feeling good"? Is it important enough to walk a brisk two miles every day? Is it important enough to give up fast foods, processed foods, boxed foods and replace them with fresh fruits and vegetables? Is it easier to take a pill than to significantly change your lifestyle?

"But I don't like fresh vegetables." Do you like diabetes better?

"I don't have time to prepare fresh foods." Is whatever is taking your time more important than your health?

"But I can't walk two miles." Can you walk two yards..two hundred feet..two blocks?

You are right when you say you can't do something. It's psychologically impossible to do something you are convinced you cannot do. But you can make sensible decisions about your health, your attitude, and your lifestyle.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity is a minimum for any wellness program. Walking is one of the easiest and best. Bicycling or swimming laps are also great. One of the main things about any exercise routine is that it's a confidence builder. It gets your thinking right. You know it's essential to feeling good and your commitment contributes to a healthy attitude.

DIET

People concerned with diabetes should start with a common sense diet: lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. There is some disagreement about how much of the diet should be from carbohydrates. Moderation may be the answer.

What not to eat

Eliminate partially hydrogenated oils and trans-fats [i.e. trans-fatty acids, such as margarine] from the diet.Avoid processed foods, including fast food, canned foods, and boxed foods.Limit sugars, starches and fried foods and alcohol.

Interesting good things

• Omega 3....Individuals with diabetes tend to have high triglyceride and low HDL levels. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise HDL.
• Cinnamon....This is a wonderful spice with many health benefits. There is a growing body of information and knowledge about the value of Cinnamon cassia...the most common form of cinnamon used in this country, having value in not only the management of serum blood sugar levels but also triglycerides, LDL lipoprotein and total cholesterol.
• Ginseng....An extract from the ginseng berry could prove to be an effective treatment for diabetes and obesity. The ginseng extract could normalize blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity and lower weight by helping to reduce appetite. It is important to note that the extract must be from the berry and not from the root.
• Magnesium....Two new studies suggest magnesium-rich foods can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, even in obese people who are at high risk for the disease. Green vegetables such as spinach are good sources of magnesium. Some legumes (beans and peas), nuts and seeds, and whole, unrefined grains are also good sources of magnesium.
• Grapefruit....a citrus fruit with a typical, refreshing flavor has several medicinal properties that help fight diabetes. It can bring down the blood glucose level within a time span of just three days.
• Water....It is common knowledge that diabetics are always thirsty. By drinking water throughout the day, you can flush thousands of impurities and reverse the effects of diabetes. Don't drink anything but pure water. Soda, fruit drinks, alcohol or coffee won't flush the system like water and may actually require more water to digest. Caffeinated or alcoholic drinks are diuretics and will dehydrate you. Every 6 oz. of caffeine or alcohol requires an additional 10 to 12 oz. of water to re-hydrate you. Drink at least 3 liters (ten 10 oz. glasses) of water daily if you are average weight. Increase the amount you drink by the percentage that you are overweight.

Taking total responsibility for your own health is the only sure way to retain youthful vitality. Your attitude toward life and your determination to feel good are the determining factors. Change your thinking; change your life



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