I need to know some helpful hint in dealing with Diabetes!!!?

Question

My mother in-law just found out that she has it and asked me to find out what she really needs to know about diet, things you should do things you should look out for and just normal everyday things like that! So any information I could get would be wonderful!

Answer 1

Her doctor or endocrinologist should develop a treatment plan, including when and how often she should test her blood glucose, what her target range should be, etc. Additionally, she could (and probably should) speak with a registered dietitian at the local hosptial, whio can help develop a meal plan based upon her caloric needs (does she need to lose weight, or just maintain it?, etc.). For some more specific ideas on nutrition and diabetes, she (and you) could check here: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/overview.jsp
And, she should get into a regular exercise regimen of some sort, be it joining a gym or just walking for 30 minutes a day, or anything in between. It's important that she make and adhere to a committment to keeping her body healthy, which means sticking to her meal plan, keeping with her exercise regimen, and taking her prescribed medications as dosed and scheduled. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Your mother in law should see a nutritionist as soon as possible. Until that time she should be aware of foods that will make her blood sugar rise. Many people believe that if you have diabetes you only need to stay away from sugar and nothing could be farther from the truth. Your Mother-in-law should find the glycemic index on the internet and eat foods that are LOW on the index. White, processed foods will send her blood sugar through the roof. Rice, potatoes, bread, crackers, cookies are all high on the glycemic index. Instead she should be eating whole grain, fresh fruits and veggies and some proteins.

Exercise is key for anyone with diabetes. If you body is not using your insulin correctly, then you need to exercise to lower your blood sugar. Brisk walking, bike riding or swimming is awsome.

Tell your mother to watch her food intake and portions. No sugary sodas. Drinks that contain Splenda or aspartame are OK. Plain water is best and a lot of it.

Answer 4

Wow, there are many great answers for your MIL's benefit. But I'm going to throw this in anyway--

I realize that conventional health care is necessary and appropriate. That having been said, there are also many things WE can do to overcome type II diabetes, and improve life as a Type I diabetic. I've been researching alternative medicine, and the amount of help that's available to diabetics is amazing.

Natural remedies are quite effective, and include:

Cinnamon
Bitter Melon
Gymnema Sylvestre
Nopal cactus
American Ginseng
Fenugreek
Chromium picolinate

Cinnamon regulates glucose, and has a polyphenol compound called MHCP that mimics insulin and activates cell receptor sites. A quarter teaspoon twice daily makes a difference. Fenugreek increases blood flow and inhibits the growth of infectious organisms. Everything on the list has a use in fighting diabetes. Learn how to use these herbs and don't fall victim to diabetes needlessly.You can find out about about them on line, or in a book I read cover to cover--

"One Son's Quest for the Cause and Cure of Diabetes", ISBN 7890766313

The author, a doctor, lost his mother to diabetes and spent the next 20 years finding a way to overcome it. My brother was dying of diabetes, and I was just starting to need insulin when we came across this definitive work which came out in February 2005. We both lead mostly normal lives now. It's a life saver, and the best money you'll ever spend on the subject if you decide to go that way.
You might want to check Abe Books, Alibri's, or Amazon.com for a good used copy cheap. I bought mine new, and I think it was about $35. I don't get any money from anybody for telling you this--just want to help, and the techniques in this book is what made the difference for me and mine. Best of luck.

Just recently found this 8-minute non-profit video http://www.rawfor30days.com/view.html , about diabetes diet. Click on the link, then click 'View Windows Media' to watch it.You'll be glad you saw it.

Answer 5

The very best advice I can offer is to talk with a nutritionist, as well as her doctor. If she doesn't have an endocrinologist, she needs to find one; if she can get one that specializes/concentrates on diabetes, that's even better. Another VERY good thing she can do is join the American Diabetes Association; while they concentrate primarily on type-1 diabetes (and since this person is old enough to BE a mother-in-law, I'm presuming she has type-2), they have very good resources for both types of diabetics.

Answer 6

She just found out she had it? From who? A doctor, or Yahoo!

So, is there a hospital near you? Many of them have classes and seminars (free) on how to live with diabetes. Does she have a podiatrist??? And why didn't she (or you) ask the doctor?
You ((or her)) should be getting advise from medically trained people, not Yahoo!!


Diabetes can kill you if you let it.

Answer 7

There is this really great site that offers free wellness workshops on a variety of health related topics, and diabetes is one of them. The workshops are done online, but they're by reservation only. I've attended one before, and found it to be very informative.

The site: http://athomewith.ahealthcafe.com.

Answer 8

Stay away from regular soft drinks, drink diet soda or none at all. Also, try to stay away from bread, it is a major offender. Kick all the sweets and just keep testing your sugar levels. My hubby is going through this and we are knew to everything. My grandfather has diabetes and this was his advise to us.

Answer 9

visit the best website i have found.
http://www.mendosa.com/

learn about the glycemic index.

join a multi weekly group exercise program.

also take daily walks.

and don't listen to most people about their diets for diabetics...
most aren't diligent enough and eat too many carbs or bad carbs...

don't eat or drink anything made for diabetics as they are usually bad for the body.

stay way from processed foods
stay away from aspartame or NutraSweet. Only use Stevia.

don't eat too much protein its bad for the kidneys.

lose weight.

don't eat breakfast until your/her blood sugars are low.

learn to love salads (lettuce salads)
and more vegetables

eat fat or protein with carbs and fruit to flatten out their blood sugar effect.

don't eat low or non fat items, eat or drink full fat items. like milk or yogurt.

a good substitute for milk is unsweetened soy milk.

learn to love tofu

no caffeine or decaf

no alcohol

never eat anything after 8-9 pm.

exercise before going to bed.

certain supplements are perhaps helpful... chromium picolate, alpha lipoic acid, bitter melon

test blood sugars often

if she can afford a nutritionist to cook for her do so if only for a short while for her to learn a new diet.

Answer 10

My nutritionist says, "there isn't anything you can't have and the moment you try to convince yourself that you can't then your body wants more of it. It's a trade off if you want a candy bar for one of your snacks then you give up the sugared soda for that snack."
Ex. would you rather have a med baked potato or 15 french fries? Both have the same amount of carbs.

Substitute sugar with artificial sweetner in all your drinks. This was a big one for me cause I'm addicted to sweetend tea. Drink your 8 glasses of water everyday even if it's flavored water with artificial sweetner.

Peas, Potates, Corn
Never have these together or combine them with another carb at one meal. They are very high in Carbs.
READ YOUR LABELS
RULE 15g of total carbs=1 carb you are allowed 2 carbs for every meal and snack and need to eat 2 carbs at every meal and snack
Have only 1 serving of each of the five food groups during mealtime. Try not to skip any of the food groups or any snacks or meals. (skipping will not help you.) It's a good way to balance and fill you up. If you must eat more then fill up on meat and lower carb veggies. Diabetes is a balance with food and exercise. Look at your plate each food group should be no bigger than the palm of your hand. Does it look heavier on one side? If so than your portions are probably off. I think of it this way I get to eat again in two hours! Here's an example of what my nutritionist says is a good breakfast. 1st breakfast 1 slice of toast with butter & 1 c of milk @ 6am, 2nd breakfast @ 8am 2 overeasy eggs, 3-4 slices of bacon, 2 slices of wheat toast, mid morning snack @ 10am an apple and some peanut butter, noon I have a hot ham and cheese sandwich(condiments are great it usually take 3 servings of them to equal 1 carb one exception is mayonaise) and a small side salad or throw the salad on the sandwich....yum
@2p have some graham crackers and milk @4p have a root beer float popsicle and a diet pop. @6p I have supper. (Good rule of thumb for meat is the size of an Eye of Round steak is the size of meat you want.) Eye of Round steak, A med bake potato with Ranch dressing, Green beans, peaches. @8p popcorn with butter and salt or Molly mcbutter. 10p banana and a glass of tea @ midnite a small salad
I eat everything I did before except in a different way and watch what I eat together. This is alot of food! I eat more now than I did. I'm on metformin and I love it. I've lost 30 lbs in 6 months.
Exercise, Exercise,Excercise
I don't care if it's a 15 minute walk or just exercising in your chair for a half hour. Any amount helps of exercise helps. I know when you have diabetes you feel sluggish and you just don't feel like doing anything BUT if you try even for 5 mins a day and you do your new eating lifestyle. You will rather feel like the after than the before. IT IS WORTH IT!. If you fall off the wagon one day. Try again the next. Nobody is perfect. Allow yourself room for error. I'm sorry this is so long! The best advice is to get to a Dr. any Dr. they will help you until you can get to your specialists.

Levels
Morning fast <100
2 hours after you eat <120