Using Herbs to Manage High Blood Sugar
Sustainable blood sugar control is critical to a diabetic patient's health over time. Often, as a diabetic patient ages, insulin-reducing medications begin to lose their effectiveness. Treatment with herbs, along with carefully controlled nutrition and daily exercise, can help diabetic patients keep blood sugar levels under control over the long term. (Gymnema Sylvestre, Bitter Melon, Pterocarpus marsupium, High Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

Obesity And High Blood Sugar Linked To Prostate Enlargement
The risk of developing benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in older men, increases with obesity and high blood sugar levels. (Obesity, High Blood Sugar, Prostate Disease, Diabetic Complications) (Complete Article)

"Little-Known" Natural Remedies for Diabetes
There is extensive research regarding herbs that positively affect blood sugar. Learn about 5 important herbs for diabetic health. (Diabetes Management, Diabetic Product) (Complete Article)

Why Should You Care About Your Blood Sugar?
Unless you're diabetic, chances are you haven't given a moment's thought to your blood sugar before now. So why should you care about it? (Type 2 Diabetes, Blood Sugar Levels) (Complete Article)

The Villainous Role Your Blood Sugar Plays
Your body needs blood sugar. Like gas in a car, it's the fuel that makes you go. Without it, your life would quickly grind to a halt. But when your gas tank is full, you don't need any more fuel. There's no point in pouring gasoline all over the upholstery, the steering wheel, and the dashboard! (Diabetes Management, Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

High Blood Sugar - A Sticky Situation
Think about what happens when you spill honey; it gets on your fingers, sticks to everything you touch, and generally gums up your entire kitchen counter. Now imagine a honey spill taking place inside your bloodstream - which is essentially what high blood sugar is. (Diabetic Complications, Neuropathy, Cardiovascular Disease) (Complete Article)

Blood Sugar Control Impacts Stroke Risk
Impaired glucose tolerance, a precursor to full-blown diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of stroke in non-diabetic patients who have already experienced a minor or mini-stroke, Dutch researchers report. (Diabetic Complications, Mini-Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack) (Complete Article)

Diabetes And The Holidays - Tips To Control Stress And Blood Sugar
Celebrations around the holidays tempt all party-goers to disregard healthy habits, but calorie-laden festivities pose a special challenge for the millions of Americans living with diabetes. Usually managed by diet, exercise and medication, diabetes can get out of control when portion sizes grow and careful food selection is abandoned. (Diabetic Meal Planning, Exercise, Low-Carb Diet) (Complete Article)

Prevent & Protect - Control Blood Sugar To Prevent Diabetic Complications
Three out of five people with diabetes have one or more complications from the disease. In the United States, more than 200,000 people a year die from all types of diabetic complications. (Diabetic Complications, Heart Disease, Stroke, Neuropathy) (Complete Article)

Men, Moods and Diabetes
As men age their hormonal health changes dramatically as testosterone levels are depleted and oestrogen levels rise. This is known as Andropause. When these hormonal changes are also compounded with the blood sugar fluctuations of type 2 diabetes, some unusual patterns of mood and emotions can manifest in older men. (Type 2 Diabetes, Andropause, Testosterone) (Complete Article)

Diabetes And Your Memory - Tips For Staying Sharp
As if you don't already have enough reasons to control your blood sugar, here's another: preserving your memory. Research has shown that uncontrolled diabetes can lead to mental decline, including memory loss. (Diabetic Complications, Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease) (Complete Article)

Study Links High Blood Sugar And Cancer Risk
A large European study has found that people with high blood sugar levels are at an increased risk of developing cancer, even when they do not have overt signs of diabetes. This study adds to evidence that abnormal sugar metabolism (which usually includes insulin resistance, high sugar levels and high insulin levels) can be cancer-promoting. (Cancer, High Blood Sugar, Insulin Resistance, Diabetic Complications) (Complete Article)

Diabetes Tied to Enlarged Prostate
Researchers report that, BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia, is a common condition in older men, but the risk of developing the condition seems to be increased by obesity and high blood sugar levels. (BPH, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, Diabetic Complications) (Complete Article)

Mastering Your Diabetes (Before Diabetes Masters You)
If you have numbness in your feet, is there any point to controlling blood sugars? (Neuropathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Complications) (Complete Article)

Pterocarpus
Pterocarpus is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds that are reported to have blood sugar lowering effects in laboratory studies. (Diabetes Nutrition) (Complete Article)

Jambolan
Jambolan, also known as Java Plum or Jambul, has recently gained interest because the seeds, fruit, leaves and bark have been shown to lower blood sugar. (Diabetes Nutrition, Diabetes Research) (Complete Article)

Cinnamon
Cinnamon appears to fight inflammation and help insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. (Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetes Research) (Complete Article)

Nature's Diabetes Defense
Taken regularly over time, certain herbs can help lower blood sugar, others improve cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and strengthening blood vessels, which are two crucial elements for people with type 2 diabetes. (Type 2 Diabetes, Cinnamon, Fennugreek, Gymnema) (Complete Article)

Getting The Magic Back
High blood sugar damages the blood vessels and nerves that are necessary for normal sexual function and response. Keeping blood sugar under control is vital to preserving your sexual health. (Diabetic Complications, Sexual Health) (Complete Article)

Battling A Sweet Tooth
Do you have a huge sweet tooth? Find out how you can ease your sugar cravings. (Diabetes Diet, Sugar Cravings, High Blood Sugar, Low Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

Diabetics Who Control Blood Sugar Today
People with diabetes who keep their blood sugar in check today will probably have a far lower chance of developing foot pain or other nerve damage tomorrow, according to new research results from a national study. (Diabetes Research, Neuropathy, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes) (Complete Article)

Stress
Stress results when something causes your body to behave as if it were under attack. When stress occurs, the body prepares to take action. This preparation is called the fight-or-flight response. In people who have diabetes, the fight-or-flight response does not work well. Insulin is not always able to let the extra energy into the cells, so glucose piles up in the blood. (Stress, Diabetic Complications, High Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

Why You Shouldn't Wait
People with type 2 diabetes - often bungle, misunderstand, or simply ignore the crucial moment when blood sugar tests reveal that diabetes is progressing. (Diabetic Complications, Heart Attack, Stroke) (Complete Article)

ADA Blood Sugar Goals for Diabetes
Are you wondering what your blood sugar goals should be? These goals provided by the American Diabetes Association are determined from studies that examined the effects of near-normal blood sugar levels on the rates of diabetic complications. (Blood Sugar Level and Diabetes Management) (Complete Article)

Plants As Means Of Blood Sugar Control
Before the advent of insulin, diabetes and hypoglycemia were treated with plant medicines. In the last 20 years scientific investigation has, in fact, confirmed the efficacy of many of these preparations, some of which are remarkably effective. (Diabetic Product, Herb for Diabetes, Gymnema Sylvestre, Bitter Melon, Fenugreek, Bilberry, Pterocarpus) (Complete Article)

Menopause and Blood Sugar Control
If you have finally figured out how to control your blood glucose levels through a combination of meal planning, exercise, and oral diabetes medications or insulin, you should realize that menopause can throw your diabetes management plan out of balance. (Women's Health, Diabetes Management) (Complete Article)

5 Healthy Tips For Holiday Parties
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is not eating all day in anticipation of a party. They arrive at the party feeling ravenous, and their blood sugar has become so low that their appetite is out of control. (Diabetic Meal Planning, Diabetic Diet) (Complete Article)

If I Don't Feel Sick, How Can High Blood Sugars Hurt Me?
Complications from diabetes come on over time, and damage has often started before we realize something is wrong. The belief that "as long as I feel well I must be well" does not hold true for the complications of diabetes; they come on quietly. (neuropathy prevention, diabetic complications, diabetic neuropathy) (Complete Article)

Pediatric Blood (Sugar) Glucose Test
Concerned that your child's blood glucose levels may not be normal? The most common use of the blood glucose test is to check for diabetes mellitus. The test is also used to see how well the body is metabolizing glucose and the function of organs involved in that process: the pancreas, the liver, and the receptors that bring glucose into cells. (Blood Glucose Testing, Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Blood Sugar Level) (Complete Article)

Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Extra Help Taming Diabetes
Researchers have discovered that the potent antioxidant, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, may be an effective treatment for a common complication of diabetes, known as diabetic neuropathy, which develops when high blood sugar levels damage delicate nerve endings. It may also help control blood sugar in diabetics, possibly by lowering insulin levels and increasing the transport of sugar into cells. (Diabetic Nutrition, Diabetic Product, Diabetic Neuropathy) (Complete Article)

Alpha-Lipoic Acid- Nature's Perfect Antioxidant
Alpha-lipoic acid is an approved drug in Germany for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Although alpha-lipoic acid's primary effect in improving neuropathy is thought to be the result of its antioxidant effects, it has also been shown to lead to an improvement in blood sugar metabolism, improve blood flow to peripheral nerves, and actually stimulate the regeneration of nerve fibers. (diabetes treatment, diabetic nutrition, preventing neuropathy) (Complete Article)

Diabetic Nerve Change Begins Early
Recent research reports subtle changes in nerve conduction as the first reliable sign of nerve complications from diabetes.  The researchers said that change can be measured long before other symptoms or signs of nerve damage develop. About half of people with diabetes develop some type of neuropathy caused indirectly by high blood sugar levels. (Diabetic Neuropathy, Neuropathy Symptoms, Diabetes Research) (Complete Article)

The Natural Solution For Lowering Your Blood Sugar
Some of the most promising alternative treatments for high blood sugar come from nature's pharmacy, which isn't surprising.  Read more about these all natural alternatives, including Gymnema sylvestre, Fenugreek, Bitter melon, Chromium and Vanadium. (Diabetic Product, Herb for Diabetes and Diabetes Nutrition) (Complete Article)

How Stress Affects Blood Sugar
Researchers have linked dozens of physical symptoms to stress overload, from fatigue to weight gain. Add another symptom to that list: the risk for high blood sugar. Learn more about how to take control. (Diabetes Management and High Blood Sugar and Stress) (Complete Article)

Formula For A Healthy Smile
Having higher than normal blood sugar levels increases your risk of developing dental problems, such as tooth decay and loss, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), periodontitis (infection of the gums), and other infections. Read more about what you can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums. (Diabetic Nutrition and Diabetes Care and Sign of Diabetes) (Complete Article)

Type 1/Type 2 - Cold Weather Increases A1Cs
A team of researchers working in Veterans Health Administration centers across the country has found a link between cold weather and higher A1C levels. Read more about this study of more than 272,722 veterans with diabetes. (Diabetes Research, blood sugar level, alc) (Complete Article)

Understanding Insulin Resistance
In people with type 1 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the body's own immune system and can no longer produce any insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the problem is somewhat more complex. The pancreas produces insulin-sometimes more than normal. But the insulin doesn't work properly. The result is the same: the sugar remains in the blood in high concentrations, setting you up for a number of health problems. ( Diabetic Symptoms, blood sugar levels, Syndrome X) (Complete Article)

Hypoglycemia In Youth With Diabetes
Hypoglycemia (also known as an "insulin reaction," or just "low blood sugar") occurs when blood glucose goes too low. Hypoglycemia can be caused by many things: too much insulin, not enough food, too much exercise, eating late, or eating too little carbohydrate. It's important to recognize the symptoms that are unique to you so that you can treat it before it becomes serious. (Symptom Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes) (Complete Article)

Diabetes Alert: Halt Digestion Distress
If you've got diabetes and also have digestive discomfort--such as tummy pain, gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea--don't overlook this hidden cause: uncontrolled blood sugar. Read more about what you can do. (Diabetes Education and Diabetic Meal Planning) (Complete Article)

Blood Sugar Testing
What is a good blood sugar range for a person with diabetes? How do you check your blood sugar? When should you check your blood sugar? What is your A1c test? Learn the answers to these and other important questions regarding blood sugar testing. (Normal blood sugar level and Diabetes Management) (Complete Article)

Waking Up With High Blood Glucose Levels
Morning readings can be so frustrating! Do you go to bed with a blood glucose of 120 mg/dL (6.6 mmol/L) and wake up with a blood glucose of 170 (9.4 mmol/L) or more? Is this happening in spite of following your diet, exercise and taking your medications as your doctor prescribed? Well, don't worry; all this may be happening due to the Dawn Phenomenon or the Somogyi Effect. (Diabetes Management and High Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) can occur when you don't have enough insulin to meet your body's needs. Normally your body uses carbohydrate (glucose) for maintenance, but when there isn't enough insulin in your body, your cells can't access the glucose in your blood. Your body then resorts to burning fat in an unhealthy way. Your liver becomes involved in fat-burning, and the by-product is ketones. (Diabetic complications, High blood sugar level) (Complete Article)

Eat Healthy - Diabetes
You can help control your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) and diabetes when you eat healthy, get enough physical activity and stay at a healthy weight. Using the Food Guide Pyramid helps you eat a variety of healthy foods. Variety means eating foods from each of the food groups every day. Read more about the six food groups. (Diabetic Menu, Diabetic Food List, Diabetes Diet) (Complete Article)

Fish Oil Lowers Triglycerides
The results of 18 trials conducted over a 10-year period show that fish oil supplementation for patients with type 2 diabetes lowers triglycerides but has no significant effect on blood sugar. (Diabetes Research and Essential Fatty Acids, EFAs, Omega 3) (Complete Article)

Type 2 Review
If you've  become accustomed to the blood sugar roller coaster unleashed by refined sugars and processed foods, you've probably had fleeting thoughts about the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes. Perhaps other factors also put you at risk for diabetes. But you should know that relatively simple lifestyle modifications can prevent type 2 diabetes. ( Diabetic Risk Factors, Diabetic Symptoms, Preventing Diabetes) (Complete Article)

Managing Hypoglycemia - Helpful Supplements (Part II)
This article lists many supplements that are suggested as useful for hypoglycemia in the literature. Outlines the importance of the B vitamins in  metabolizing fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Calcium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc are discussed.  (Low blood sugar) (Complete Article)

Managing Hypoglycemia - Basic Guidelines (Part I)
Hypoglycemia can be the precursor to Type II diabetes and other insulin resistance related ailments. The good news is that treatment is easy  to understand, and you can manage it yourself.  Best of all, the treatment is without risk, whether or not you actually have hypoglycemia because the treatment is simply a change in diet. (Low blood sugar) (Complete Article)

Sweet Sleep: It's Key To Your Quality Of Life
Research has shown that a lack of sleep causes a "sleep debt," which increases insulin resistance and causes more stress hormones to be released. The result: higher blood sugar levels. Sleep plays a critical role in your personal maintenance program. (Complete Article)

Sustained High Blood Glucose May Damage Brain's Key Memory Center
An inability to quickly bring down high levels of sugar in the blood is associated with poor memory and may help explain some of the memory loss that occurs as we age, according to a new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers. The study raises the possibility that exercise and weight loss, which help control blood sugar levels, may be able to reverse some of the memory loss that accompanies aging. (Diabetes Research and High Blood Sugar) (Complete Article)

Why You Need the Bs
B-complex vitamins are essential for your body to convert sugar and starches to energy, a chemical process called carbohydrate metabolism.  A shortage of any one of them can cause problems.  Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to glucose intolerance, which is an abnormally high rise in blood sugar after eating. (Diabetes Nutrition and Diabetes Management) (Complete Article)

Glucose and Immunity
Eating sugar also reduces the body's ability to fight infections. In 1908, researchers noted that diabetics were more susceptible than non-diabetics to infection. It took researchers until 1942 to discover that the bacteria-engulfing white blood cells of diabetics were essentially sleeping on the job. (Blood Sugar and Glucose and Diabetes Diet) (Complete Article)

The Truth About Sugar-Free Products
When Free Isn't Really - What most people don't realize is that most sugar-free products still contain carbohydrate and will make your blood sugar levels go up. Anything that has starch or sugar--whether naturally occurring or added to it--contains carbohydrates. (Diabetic Meal Planning and Sugar Alcohols)  (Complete Article)

Diabetes and Colorectal Cancer
People with diabetes may be three times more likely to develop colorectal cancer, a recent study shows. Almost 10,000 adults between the ages of 45 and 79 were tested for a marker in the blood sugar, then were followed up six years later. Researchers found that those with diabetes or abnormal glucose metabolism were more likely to develop bowel cancer. (Diabetes Research) (Complete Article)

Gymnema Sylvestre, Bitter Melon, Cinnamon Extract, Vanadium & Chromium
If you are trying to get your carbohydrate-craving and weight-storing chemistry under control, gymnema may be of benefit. Bitter melon can help by improving blood sugar balance and reducing the amount of sugars in the blood. A compound in cinnamon bark has been shown to increase glucose metabolism. Research on vanadium indicates that it may produce insulin-like activities in the body, making it of potential value for those with diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Chromium is thought to stimulate fat metabolism and to have a lowering effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. (Diabetic Nutrition, Diabetic Product) (Complete Article)

Chromium
Excessive blood sugar promotes diabetes and all the destruction that goes with it. Studies show that if you have high blood sugar, chromium supplements will bring it down. Chromium increases the power of insulin to process sugar, so you need less insulin to do the job, and blood levels drop. (Chromium, High Blood Sugar, Diabetic Nutrition) (Complete Article)

Cinnamon: The Spice That Cuts Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
Can cinnamon reduce blood sugar levels? The latest diabetic nutrition information regarding the effect of cinnamon on blood sugar reveals encouraging news. (Diabetes Diet and Diabetes Management) (Complete Article)

Balancing Blood Sugar Metabolism
Scientific evidence continues to mount regarding the effectiveness of natural substances in normalizing blood sugar in diabetics. Gymnema Sylvestre, Bitter Melon and Cinnamon Extract show significant impact on normalizing blood glucose levels. (Insulin Resistance) (Complete Article)

Diabetic Neuropathy: What Can I Do About It?
People who don't control (or can't control) their blood sugar very well seem more likely to get diabetic neuropathy. Symptoms can include numbness in your feet and toes, pain in your legs, a feeling of lightheadedness that causes you to fall, diarrhea and constipation and failure to get erections (in men). (Complete Article)

Gastroparesis & Diabetes
Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. It often occurs in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Gastroparesis can also complicate efforts to control blood sugar levels with medication because it disrupts the timing of the digestive process. (Complete Article)

Developing An Age Reduction Plan
Type I diabetics as well as Type II diabetics who take charge of their condition, vigilantly keeping their blood sugar levels within normal ranges, can significantly reduce the manifestations of premature aging. By managing diet, insulin, and exercise-- diabetics can avoid much of the aging that high blood sugar causes. No matter what ails you, the aging damage that a chronic condition causes is always improved by proper management. (Complete Article)

Many Diabetics Not Controlling Blood Sugar
This year, specialists for the first time are urging every diabetic over age 50 to get tested for the leg disease, called peripheral arterial disease or PAD. Studies suggest one in three diabetics over age 50 may have PAD. Anybody can get PAD. At least 12 million Americans are thought to have it, most of them undiagnosed. (Complete Article)

Take Care of Yourself ... Take Care of Your Diabetes
There's a lot you can do to stay healthy. Research shows that if you keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol close to target, you may prevent or delay serious health problems. (Diabetes Education) (Complete Article)

Diabetes: Dealing With Holidays
Diabetic nutrition can be a real challenge during holiday festivities. Diabetes food choices are reviewed with practical tips on how to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Sticking to a low carbohydrate diet does not mean missing all the fun! (Complete Article)

Glycemic Index: New Way to Count Carbs?
The latest news in diabetes diet planning is that even foods with the same carbohydrate content can trigger a wide difference in blood sugar levels. Diabetes researchers have developed a system for measuring  the glycemic index of foods. Healthy carbs are those with a low glycemic index.  This information takes the exchange diet to another level to help establish a diabetic food list that helps normalize blood sugar. (Complete Article)

Low Blood Sugar Symptoms
Low blood sugar occurs much more frequently in people with Type I diabetes, whose bodies don't produce any insulin, than in people with Type 2 Diabetes. Exceptions to this may include people with Type 2 diabetes who are taking hypoglycemic agents, and particularly those who are taking insulin. (Complete Article)

Blood Sugar Levels - Guidelines for Diabetes
Whether you have type 1 or type II diabetes or gestational diabetes, the goals of achieving control of blood glucose levels are similar: to keep blood glucose as close as possible to that of a person without diabetes. (Complete Article)

Chromium
In addition to helping to create normal blood sugar levels and regulating your cholesterol - without the side effects of diabetes medication - chromium may also improve muscle tone and burn fat, according to studies published in Sports Medicine. (Complete Article)

Diabetic Complications
Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to long-term complications such as accelerated development of cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and foot problems. Diabetes education on how to recognize signs and symptoms. Details diabetes symptoms of eye problems, nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy and foot ailments. (Complete Article)

Low Blood Sugar - Hypoglycemia
When people first encounter the diet prescribed for hypoglycemia, they are often baffled by the ban on sugar. They have been given a diagnosis of low blood sugar and yet they must avoid sugar. Hypoglycemia is the opposite of diabetes, and diabetics cannot have sugar, therefore, surely the hypoglycemic sufferer must eat lots of sugar? This is a common misunderstanding. (Complete Article)

A1C - An Important Blood Test
The fasting blood sugar test (FBS), which is still the most commonly performed test for Diabetes, does not reflect the true picture of diabetic control over a long period of time. The glycated hemoglobin a1c test is a more accurate diabetes test to reflect overall blood sugar control. (A1C or aIc, blood sugar testing) (Complete Article)

Diabetic Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
Don't ignore high blood sugar. All the long-term complications of diabetes (diabeties) are believed to result from prolonged periods of high blood sugar or poor control of blood sugar levels. Diabetes information from Dr. Richard Bernstein's book on new approaches to diabetes treatment. Know the conditions that can be a sign of diabetes. Diabetes symptoms of high blood sugar may include confusion, headache,tingling to the fingers or tongue, buzzing in the ears, elevated pulse, unusual hunger and trembling hands. (Complete Article)