Diabetes

You Can Beat It!

Thom Shelkhare, 28, a software professional, was referred to a psychiatrist for ‘depression’.

Reason?

During a check-up, a doctor had told him that his ‘goose was cooked’ as both his parents were diabetic.

"Can’t divorce your parents" he grinned.

And that’s what got Thom depressed.

But the fact is, you can beat this disease, regardless of the gene issue.

Since our gene pool has not changed over time, if only genes mattered, diabetes should have been as rampant in the times gone by as it is today.

But there has been a significant rise in the incidence of the disease lately, which means it is not just genes.

Just as a seed germinates only if the soil is right, the genes express themselves only if circumstances are favourable.

Favorable circumstances such as a carbs and trans fats rich diet, being overweight, a couch potato existence, fast-paced life, mental stress and absence of adequate natural ""Super Foods" in the diet such as antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and conversely the presence of undesirables such as alcohol, make for a pro-diabetes environment.

Here’s how you can make a difference.

Please...eat properly!

Eat more nature made foods than man made (processed) foods.

"Super Foods" are even better

Sprouts, salads, papayas and guavas, gooseberry and coriander chutney, real grain cereals and pulses with the seed coat (eg: green gram rather than moong dal), fibre-rich foods such as banana stem.

Cook to taste, adding fenugreek, turmeric powder, and curry leaves, which are natural antioxidants.

Go easy on oil (get a sprayer).

Sugar is best avoided, but munching on fruit is fine as such complex carbohydrates satisfy your sweet tooth without the risk of instant rise of glucose in the blood.

Also avoid excess salt consumption.

If you are diabetic already, add quality antioxidants, omega3 fatty acids, good protein and natural vitamin supplementation to your diet and exercise.

Then see how you fare on symptoms and sugar control.

Note that doctors are divided on the benefit of artificial supplements.

Stay fit

Maintain your ideal body weight.

If overweight, get on a scientific weight management program.

This single measure will not only reduce your risk of diabetes but also stroke, hypertension, arthritis and even cancer risk.

Walk! Walk! Walk!

Walking makes muscle cells take in more glucose and blood levels of glucose naturally come down.

It is recommended that we walk 10,000 steps a day (roughly 5 km).

For starters, walk 30 minutes a day, five times a week.

Do body midsection exercises to get rid of waist fat, because today we know that a thick waist is not good, as it increases cardiac risk, the bane of diabetes.

Sleep!

Avoid daytime sleep though a short nap after lunch is okay.

Do try and get six to eight hours of sleep at night.

Avoid night jobs laden with deadlines no matter how fancy the salary.

Sleep deprivation can hasten diabetes.

Slow down!

Avoid late nights so you can get up early.

That gives you time for a morning walk and time to complete your tasks before getting ready for work, making your lunch, eating breakfast, etc., in a relaxed mode.

‘Hurry hormones’ push up blood sugar levels.

De-Stress!

I like to "chillax"!

Tension results in release of stress hormones which can precipitate diabetes.

Immunise yourself against fright, fight, flight reactions by building habits that help the mind remain calm.

Ohhhhhhhhm.

Negative thoughts translate into altered chemicals in the nervous system which increase stress hormone levels, all of which push up sugar levels.

Satsangs, bhajans, art of living courses, meditation, yoga, regular prayers, faith in one’s self, reading positive books, positive self-talk, positive company, voluntary service... all of these increase your ability to cope with stress.

Breaking News - April 05/06

Cinnamon may aid battle against diabetes.

Cinnamon may be another weapon in the fight against diabetes, U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers say.

Researchers, led by Richard Anderson of the federal agency's Beltsville, Md., Human Nutrition Research Center, presented two papers on cinnamon to the Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco.

In one lab study, the team said it found that cinnamon contains polyphenols, or antioxidants, that boost proteins that are important in activating insulin, transporting glucose and responding to inflammation, Web site WebMD reported.

The second study extracted proanthocyanidin, a type of polyphenol in the commonly used spice that researchers say may have insulin-like properties.

In earlier research, Anderson fed large doses of cinnamon to type 2 diabetics, whose insulin sensitivity improved during the study and diminished once they stopped taking cinnamon, the report said.

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Marilyn and I would like to also mention that Herbal Essiac Tea Is Working Wonders In Lowering Blood Sugar Levels For Diabetics and the site is worth looking into.

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