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Posts Tagged ‘Prediabetes’

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Pre-Diabetes: Control it before it becomes a Monster

In Health, Healthcare, Medicine on August 22, 2012 at 8:00 am

Did you know if you are 45 years old or older, overweight, and inactive, you may have prediabetes?

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes means you have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Glucose is a form of sugar your body uses for energy. Too much glucose in your blood can damage your body over time. Prediabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

If you have prediabetes, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Being overweight and physically inactive contributes to prediabetes. You can sometimes reverse prediabetes with weight loss that comes from healthy eating and physical activity.

How do I know if I have prediabetes?

Most people with prediabetes don’t have any symptoms. Your doctor can test your blood to find out if your blood glucose levels are higher than normal.

Who should be tested for prediabetes?

If you are 45 years old or older, your doctor may recommend that you be tested for prediabetes, especially if you are overweight. Being overweight means your body mass index (BMI) is over 25. BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height. If you’re not sure, ask your doctor if you are overweight.

Even if you are younger than 45, consider getting tested if you are overweight and

  • are physically active less than three times a week
  • have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
  • have high blood pressure
  • have abnormal levels of HDL cholesterol or triglycerides, two types of blood fats
  • had gestational diabetes-diabetes during pregnancy-or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
  • are African American, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome
  • have dark, thick, velvety skin around your neck or in your armpits
  • have blood vessel problems affecting your heart, brain, or legs

If the results are normal, you should be retested in 3 years. If you have prediabetes, you should be tested for type 2 diabetes every year or two.

What can I do about prediabetes?

Losing weight-at least 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight-can prevent or delay diabetes or even reverse prediabetes. That’s 10 to 20 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds. You can lose weight by cutting down on the amount of calories and fat you consume and being physically active at least 30 minutes a day. Physical activity also helps make your body’s insulin work better.

Ask your doctor if you should also take medicine to help control the amount of glucose in your blood.

The National Diabetes Education Program’s “Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 Diabetes” campaign has more information about preventing diabetes.

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Apple Cider Vinegar: Unharnessed Wonder Drug

In Health, Healthcare, Medicine on May 28, 2012 at 8:00 am

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I have a story to tell. As a first time home buyer, I was very excited to do things around the house to make it look like a dream home. I  had the layout of decor and painting which I started working on in Summer of 2009. Me and my wife had some colors and themes for all the walls in the house. We started painting. Many evenings and a few weekends later, our house was finally painted the way we wanted. It looked beautiful. But what was not beautiful was the shoulder pain that I started getting  on my right side. It’s good to be a doctor, but sometimes it is not. Doctors tend to neglect their symptoms sometimes. I kept on suffering for almost 6 months thinking that one fine day, I will wake up with my pain gone with the dreams. Unfortunately, it did not happen. It got worse to the point where it started affecting my daily life. It was time to get an MRI, which no surprisingly showed Bursitis(Inflammation of bursa, a small fluid-filled sac lined by synovial membrane with an inner capillary layer of slimy fluid, similar in consistency to that of a raw egg white. It provides a cushion between bones and tendons and/or muscles around a joint. This helps to reduce friction between the bones and allows free movement). Over next 1 year, I had 3 cortisone shots and months of physical therapy for my shoulder with no relief.  The only way left was surgery. Being into natural ways of healing, I started researching what could be the best non-surgical options. I came across Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV). Within few weeks of daily intake, my shoulder pain was almost gone.

I also had borderline Diabetes with sugars in 100-110 range. My sugars now run in 70’s range. Now ACV is a part of my life and I take it atleast twice daily everyday for good health.

Apple Cider Vinegar  is a very potent, natural bacteria-fighting agent that contains many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine that are vital for a healthy body.

Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made by crushing fresh, organically grown apples and allowing them to mature in wooden barrels. This boosts the natural fermentation qualities of the crushed apples, which differs from the refined and distilled vinegars found in supermarkets. When the vinegar is mature, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacterial foam called mother, which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for making more Apple Cider Vinegar. Natural vinegars that contain the mother have enzymes and minerals that other vinegars in grocery stores may not have due to over-processing, over-heating, and filtration. For this reason, it is recommended that you purchase only Natural Apple Cider Vinegar, with an ideal acidity (pH) level of 5 to 7.

Multiple clinical and experimental studies have shown the benefits of ACV in:

1. Weight loss: A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2009  found that obese people who consumed acetic acid daily for 12 weeks experienced significant decreases in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference, and triglycerides. In tests on mice, another 2009 study (published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry) found that acetic acid may help prevent the buildup of body fat and certain liver fats.

2. Diabetes: In a 2007 study published in Diabetes Care, researchers found that type 2 diabetes patients who consumed two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar at bedtime showed favorable changes in blood sugar levels the following morning.

3. Joint pains(arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis)

4. Chronic fatigue

5. Detoxification

6.  Skin Health (Acne, cellulite, yeast infection)

7. Gastrointestinal problems (heartburn, upset stomach, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, IBS)

8. High Blood Pressure

9. Reduction of Bad Cholesterol

ACV should be taken in a natural form like ‘Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar‘ (which I use), 2 TSP in a glass of water 2-3 times daily with meals. Make sure to rinse your mouth with water after each intake to avoid enamel damage.

Who should avoid? People with low potassium and osteoporosis. Avoid pill forms as it may damage esophagus sometimes. Apple cider vinegar may interact with certain drugs such as digoxin (heart medication), diuretics like lasix (furosemide), prescription laxatives and insulin.

Consult with your doctor before you start taking any of those medications to make sure it will not interact with any of your prescription medications.

It turned out to be a wonder drug for me. You should also try it. ACV is a ‘One Stop for all the most common Medical Issues.’

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