Coping With Diabetes: A Day To Day Struggle

Unknown to most people, Diabetes is not just a single disease but rather a group of complex diseases which have stemmed from various causes resulting in people having an above average blood glucose count or more commonly know as hyperglycemia. Diabetes affects all gender and age groups and is very common among people with a prolonged medical history of high blood pressure, heart ailments and kidney problems among others. Besides adults, children are also affected with this disease which clearly states that Diabetes itself may not only be a matter of eating the wrong diet, but may even be caused by hereditary genes that may be a sign of receive genetically traits passed on from one generation to the next and being triggered by the simple reason as indulging in a bad dietary habit or even an onset of some diseases. Diabetes has been categorized as a metabolic disorder in where the body malabsorbs the food that it digests as energy for the body to use. The natural occurrence of the body to breakdown carbohydrates, particularly with the sugar and starches that it contains into glucose, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream is the key cause of diabetes. Insulin which is a natural hormone that is produced by the the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach, which releases enzymes into the duodenum when food is being digested in the stomach. Insulin effectively breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which can then used by the body for energy. As a result, the failure of the pancreas to produce any substantial amount of insulin with accordance to the amount of the body's carbohydrate intake will eventually trigger the blood sugar levels of the body to rise at a very alarming rate. The inability of the body to correctly utilize the amount of blood sugar in its system can result in a lot of serious damage to the most vital organs in the body, which among them in particular are the kidneys, the liver, the heart and even the brain. Hyperglycemia produces detrimental substances in the blood stream which may not be toxic to say the least, but it can damage the cells of these vital organs that are mentioned without being immediately manifested over a prolonged duration of time. Diabetes is considered as one of the most lethal diseases in the world as it can result in inflicting damage to your vital organs and often times, cause damage to conjoining organs simultaneously if not given the correct amount of preventive measure upon discovering its onset. Most people who have diabetes often discover the disease when it's already in its advanced stage, as most people tend to shrug off any intentions of regularly visiting a doctor from time to time to submit themselves to an annual physical examination due to some personal reasons.

Sometimes, over complacency may get the best of most of us, particularly those who resolve themselves for not feeling anything that may give them the urge to visit a doctor unless they feel that there is something wrong with them, which in most cases may be a little bit too late for preventive medications. Over time, high blood glucose level damages nerves and blood vessels, leading to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, dental disease, and amputations. Other complications of diabetes may include increased susceptibility to other diseases, loss of mobility with aging, depression, and pregnancy problems. No one is certain what starts the processes that cause diabetes, but scientists believe genes and environmental factors interact to cause diabetes in most cases. There are two types of Diabetes that are prevalent among people today, which is type 1 and type 2 Diabetes along with a third type which is called gestational diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Other uncategorized Diabetes are usually caused through genetic inheritance, diseases that cause the pancreas to produce an insufficient supply of insulin, diseases caused by prolonged use of drugs or over exposure to chemically detrimental substances and natural diseases which may affect the body's immune system.

The most common Type 1 diabetes is a result of the pancreas not being able to sufficiently produce insulin due to the damage to its beta cells. Type 1 diabetes can also be considered as an “autoimmune disease” in which the immune system attacks the beta cells, though it's a bit ironic for the immune system to attack the body since its main task is to protect it from infections by correctly identifying foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses from harming the body. This occurrence can be a result of some genetic flaw on the way the hormones intercede with the process of precisely identifying substances and organisms that enter the body. Type 1 diabetes or more commonly called juvenile diabetes or diabetes mellitus respectively, occurs among children and young adults and can manifest itself on almost within this age group without much physiological characteristics commonly found in older individuals other than frequent body fatigue and the common symptoms of mild to moderate irregularities of ocular vision. In Type 2 diabetes, manifestation of symptoms usually occur at the age of 30 years old upward and may show signs that are similar to that of Type 1 diabetes, in which it will be a bit difficult to determine since both types of diabetes have a common characteristic. Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) usually suggest that the beta cells of the pancreas had already been damaged though it can still produce its own insulin although it will be insufficient to comply with the need of the body to fully convert the carbohydrates that it has digested to convert the sugar and starch into glucose for the body to efficiently convert it into energy. At this stage of the diagnosis, patients would require insulin shots on a prescribed basis to comply with the body's need of insulin to effectively dilute the rising level of blood sugar to control and reduce the occurrence of hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes can be caused by a certain number of reasons and factors such as the body's inability to fully produce insulin or its resistance thereof, in which case where the muscles, fat tissues and liver fail to use the insulin produced by the body efficiently. The inability of the body to produce insulin may also be a triggering mechanism for the pancreas to stop producing a sufficient amount of it that it relies on the body's ability to compensate its need for insulin with its ability to produce it. Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes could develop gradually and is hardly noticeable that it remains undetected until such time that it manifest itself in which it's already in an advanced stage. Food and the way that we eat has a direct effect on the way our immune system reacts to the way our body responds to certain diseases and since the administration of insulin can only provide a certain amount of prevention only up to a point. Environmental factors, viruses and toxins play a key role in the way our body reacts to every aspect of how it will defend itself from threats such as these on a daily basis, although environmental impact may have less of a direct effect on our bodies, the kinds of food that we eat has more to do with how we maintain its ability to fully utilize the nutrients and energy that we get from the foods that we eat. More particularly with people that have diabetes, who are more susceptible to diseases since their immune system is gradually being affected by their body's ability to produce insulin. As a preventive dietary approach, the reduction of carbohydrate intake of the body should be given careful consideration since carbohydrates produce more than 60% of the total blood sugar in the body, along with other factors such as saturated fats and sweets. Although environmental factors may have an indirect effect on how our immune system reacts to the environment, the food we eat has an even more direct effect that we unknowingly weaken our immune system from effectively protecting our bodies from diseases such as viruses and bacteria. Added to this, modern methods of how food manufacturers prepare their products have a huge impact on the quality and integrity of the food that we eat that the natural nutrients that our bodies get from processed food is slowly being degraded that it does not provide us with the needed sustenance that it should give us despite claims from food manufacturers who make them. The rise of diabetic cases came about during the early 1900's at about the same time when the world was slowly evolving into the “IndustrialRevolution”. Direct proportional indicators point out the rise of industrial related diseases such as respiratory illnesses and cancer with the amount of pollutants that was a result of industrial waste. The use of synthetic chemicals in various industries has also been implicated as one of the main reasons why there was a steady rise in various diseases between the 1900's to 2010 compared to that during the early 1800's. In a genetic point of view, Scientists and researchers have concluded that the human gene is slowly changing with accordance to its environment that for the past 100 years, our bodies have become more susceptible to most common diseases. It may just be coincidental that the rise of certain diseases that were not even known prior to the rise of the Industrial Revolution, could have had a direct involvement with the way our bodies react with our environment. The way of how we eat and the way of how our food is made have a similar effect on our bodies but one that has a more frightening result according to geneticists. Human DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is not only a blueprint of how the physical aspect of our bodies are put together with regard to the genetic characteristics that we have inherited from our parents, but it was just recently discovered that DNA was more than just an inherited genetic attribute, but it was also a learning gene that slowly adjusts with regard to conforming with its environment. In comparison with viruses that are becoming resistive to common anti-biotic such as penicillin that have developed a resistance to its environment, such is the same with our DNA in coping with the various changes in our surroundings. It is no wonder why viruses and bacteria are becoming more and more resistive to modern day medicines as they have learned to develop a means of protecting themselves. Genetic mutation, with regard to our DNA can also be triggered by the way we eat and since human beings were not naturally considered as carnivores, with regard to the way our teethes have evolved, eating meat was simply a means of survival during man's early stage of evolution. The enzymes that can be found in meat were speculative of causing such genetic susceptibility to such diseases such as cancer among others and has been particularly implicated as a reason for the development of high blood pressure among those who are regular meat eaters. Synthetic chemical additives in food processing has also been one of the reason why the human gene has become more susceptible to diseases as these chemical preservatives have a more direct effect health wise with regard to our body's need for natural nutrients derived from foods that are organic. Since industry standards in food manufacturing has adapted a more convenient means of processing and distributing food to the market, one can not help but think if there are more alternative means to get the most of what we eat on a daily basis without having to contend with a synthetically manufactured food product that can eventually do us more harm than good.

Another growing concern is the steadily rising acceptance of using G.M.O. with regard to food production. Genetically Modified Organisms (G.M.O.) is the latest technological breakthrough that involve manipulating the D.N.A. of plants and animals, particularly those that we utilize in food production. These G.M.O. food products were designed to endure the most harshest environment that could inhibit natural growth of conventional crops due to reasons of lack of adequate irrigation. G.M.O. crops and livestock ensures that most people living in the world today will have a better chance of having a steady supply of food crops that are highly resistive to diseases. Although it seems to be a sound alternative that answers the question with regard to where we will get our food supply in the coming days, there are some ethical issues that question the validity and safety of using G.M.O. products.

Chapter 2

Diabetes is primarily all about the way we eat and what we eat that really matters as our diet has a tremendous effect on how our bodies use the essential nutrients that we get from the foods that we eat. Although having diabetes can greatly inhibit you from eating what you like most, particularly meat, carbohydrates and sweets, you may want to consider thinking about reducing if not fully leaving off eating such detrimental substances as it can greatly worsen your condition without you knowing it. Sweets are one of the most tempting foods that are very hard to ignore even though you know that it will give you problems with regard to your condition as a diabetic. Sweets have a direct effect on your blood sugar that partaking even just one small quantity of even a gram of it can exponentially increase your blood sugar to critical levels. Even drinking sugar-free beverages such as sodas are not guaranteed that you will not be ingesting sugar of any minimal amounts as it is better to avoid drinking it entirely. For people who have Type 2 diabetes, there had been some cases in which some them tend to go below the normal level of their blood sugar that it has the same effect of symptoms that manifest similar to that of hyperglycemia, which could be dangerous as well. Since most people with diabetes tend to get very concerned with the blood sugar levels that they though that it would be an advantage to totally avoid any sugar intake which has dire consequences. It should be noted that having diabetes is a condition that one has to be very well versed in keeping their blood sugar at a balance, meaning that it is a precarious condition that obliges you to monitor your blood sugar levels at a regular basis. Monitoring your blood sugar levels starts at the moment that you wake up in the morning and taking measurements with the use of a glucometer which can give you an approximate value as you determine your GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) which is essential since blood sugar levels vary at different intervals of the day, depending upon your diet, age and daily activities. Prior to having breakfast in the morning, For normal people who are not diabetic, the normal value of blood sugar is between 70 to 100 mg/dl and should no less exceed 140 after 2 hours of eating. For people with early signs of diabetes, a minimal value of 101 to a maximum of 126 mg/dl should be the allowable level prior to breakfast and a 140 to 200 mg/dl after 2 hours of eating. For those who have established diabetes, a minimal level of 126 mg/dl and a 200 mg/dl after 2 hours of eating should be kept only up to this point since anything more than this can induce a hypoglycemic attack which is dangerous. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways in which people with diabetes can easily control the levels of their blood sugar regardless of the type of diabetes that they have with just a simple regimen of eating the right kinds of food and getting the proper daily exercise to burn the excess blood sugar from their system.

Healthy Fats:

Carbohydrate intake is one of the most concerning reasons why the body produces too much glucose in the case of people with diabetes. But there is an alternative to slowing down the absorption of glucose into the blood stream that evenly controls the level of blood sugar without having too much or too little of it as to affect your body's response with regard to its need to produce adequate amounts of insulin to convert glucose into energy. Having a regular diet of healthy fats such as those found in fish oil or even olive oil helps slow down the absorption of glucose into the blood stream that it keeps sugar levels at an equilibrium. The reason for this is the ability of healthy fats in keeping our bodies more fuller and satisfied after every meal that we become more content in the amount of the food we eat. Interestingly enough, a low fat diet could only make us more susceptible to hunger pangs that we tend to eat more than what is allowed of us, especially for people that are diabetics. Since sugars and carbohydrates are more satisfying and more filling than a low fat diet, people are often tempted to find satisfaction with foods that they eat through these substances. What types of fats are considered healthy? It is best to avoid anything that is manufactured using corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil and even margarine since these substances are highly saturated fats. Consider using olive oil, natural butter, egg yolks and even coconut oil as an alternative to cooking your foods since these type of healthy oils do not become saturated in your blood stream and can easily be excreted through the urinary tract.

Eating Small Does Not Necessarily Mean Eating Good:

This has been a long standing belief among diabetics with regard to reducing carbohydrate intake which was believed to lessen the production the of glucose being absorbed into the blood stream, however, eating carbohydrates, even the healthy ones such as root vegetables and fruits in frequent moderations can also elevate your blood sugar to very unhealthy levels as well. Studies have shown that there that there is no direct proof that smaller meals can contribute to anything advantageous to the present condition of your diabetes. Contrary to the “less is more” dietary approach, larger meals in less frequency could actually be more conducive for most individuals that are going through these conditions such as diabetes as increasing healthy fats and proteins in their meals along with eliminating carbohydrate based food substances such as grains and noodles offer you more time to be satisfied with the amount of food that you have eaten in between meals, enabling you form partaking small “in between” meals that could eventually result in eating more than what is allowed for you.

Always Eat Breakfast to Balance Your Blood Sugar:

Never skip breakfast no matter what your reason for not partaking it even though you may not feel like eating, which clearly states that you might be suffering from slow digestion due to the inability of your stomach to fully dissolve the meal that you have eaten the night before and can even indicate that your stress hormones are not functioning properly. Stress hormones are very useful since it is the one partially triggers your hunger as seen with most people that eat to relive their stress. The result of skipping breakfast results in these same stress hormones to increase its production to breakdown the fats that you have digested and since you did not eat breakfast, these hormones will turn to your muscle cells instead to use it for energy, which clearly means that you loose muscle mass instead of body fats. Ideally, breakfast should be consumed within 30 to 45 minutes after getting up from bed which should include a healthy regimen of proteins, a source of healthy fats and a source of good carbohydrates such as a whole fruit and a half of sweet potato. You should consider in weighing in your protein intake and the most that you can consume of it is about 40 grams which can beneficially stabilize your blood sugar for the entire day. If you may find that a 40 gram protein may be a nit too much, you could always start with as little as 20 grams of protein each morning.

The Importance of Protein to Blood Sugar Levels:

Healthy fats can slow down the absorption of glucose into your blood stream and proteins help sugar be processed to a level that your body can use it for energy along with carbohydrates which produces glucose as the main source of fuel. These three macronutrients work hand in hand to enable the body to get the most of what you eat the trouble starts the moment your body fails to properly consume them out of proportion. The failure of your body to process these macronutrients can easily deplete fat soluble vitamins such as A and D which can contribute to a more erratic level of blood sugar. Processed protein supplements are not a healthy option regardless of their natural source as undergoing production strips them of their natural nutrients much less removing the natural fatty acid that is required to properly use the proteins.

Gluten: Avoiding a Wheat Based Diet

Due to the modern genetic composition of wheat and the methods of how wheat products are processed, wheat that is processed into flour along with other grains contain one or more ingredients that can cause localized or even systemic inflammation with regard to people that are suffering with diabetes. Post processing ingredients such as vegetable oils, refined sugar and soy additives alter your blood sugar balance in a few ways. First, these additives can cause systemic inflammation even before they manage to trigger a rise in blood sugar levels such as cellulitis, secondly, regardless of any signs of onset of inflammation, it can eventually trigger the rise of blood sugar due to the fact that there is a substantial amount of refined sugar that was included during its processing. Even though a breakfast cereal box may indicate “low fat” or “high fiber” it can still contribute to increasing your blood sugar levels which also can cause systemic inflammation regardless of assuring their customers of being “complex carbohydrates” that presumably releases glucose slowly. Another reason to avoid such carbohydrates is the damage that it can cause to the villi and micro-villi which could be found in the small intestines which are responsible for absorbing all of the nutrients that the body has digested.

Replacement Carbohydrates:

Although wheat and grain based carbohydrates are not favorable for diabetics since the glucose content of these products can cause systemic inflammation which causes imbalance to your blood sugar levels, there are other sources of carbohydrate alternatives which provide you more with regard to getting a healthy diet and at the same time, maintain an ideal blood sugar level without causing hunger pangs that lead to excessive eating. Fresh whole fruits and root vegetables can provide just about the same amount of carbohydrates as that of wheat based products without any inflammatory ingredients.

Seasonal fruits, whether they are fresh or frozen for that matter, can be a good source of carbohydrates along with sweet potatoes, celery, carrots and beets that provide a nutrient rich source of healthy carbohydrates.

You Can't Go Wrong With Exercise:

Cardiovascular activities such as walking, jogging and running are highly recommended to help you rid the excess build up of blood sugar in your system and depending on your age, there are a lot of physical activities that can easily lower the levels of your blood sugar but it is best to keep in mind that considering your condition as a diabetic, you should only keep a regular exercise regimen that will benefit your body's ability to control and counter act the negative effect of your blood sugar and its good to keep in mind of not overdoing it. Since getting too much stress can tire you out that it could increase your stress hormones that it can produce free radicals that can push your blood sugar out of balance. It is best to consult a health expert before indulging yourself with any unplanned physical exercises since it is best to have your physical condition evaluated first with regards to your diabetes and your capacity to maintain a regular physical regimen.

Chapter 3

Diabetes, just like any other disease is considered debilitating in many aspects not only physically, but also mentally as well. Understanding how diabetes affects a person as a whole means understanding the effect of this disease beyond what it can really to a persons means of dealing with it and the emotional aspect that affect not only the person with the disease, but also the people around them. Understanding that living with diabetes is a life long process of healing along with the support of the people of those who are inflicted by it. Emotionally, people with diabetes tend to blame themselves for their condition that it affects mostly the people around them. The importance of psychological support could alleviate some of the negative emotions that people might feel during times of solitude and it is important that people with diabetes get all the support of people around them in fighting the depression that usually follows through upon realization that they have to deal with their condition. Like any chronic or progressive diseases, the physical aspect of having diabetes can be challenging and we have to understand the physical, psychological, social and even spiritual aspect that can give a person inflicted by this disease, all the support they need to overcome it's negative effect on the way they perceive the world around them.

Being diagnosed with diabetes for the first time is a very appalling experience for anyone that the thought of having such a disease can cause stress on a daily basis. Dealing with a variety of psychological emotions such as grief, denial, anxiety, depression, guilt and even shame can be a foregoing manifestation for a person that is undergoing the struggle with coping up with accepting the truth about the disease that they have. Grief usually starts right after being diagnosed with the disease and may be a daily occurrence up to the day that obvious signs of complications should manifest themselves. The subsequent feeling of grief may latter be accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and self denial, after which depression sets in. Denial is usually the minds natural reaction in dealing with any type of diagnosed disease which is in one part, a defense mechanism that people who are inflicted by this disease use to stave down the complications that usually show up later. Subconsciously, a person that is undergoing a very stressful situation such as dealing with the obvious implications that diabetes can do on a physical aspect, usually blocks out the actual reality of their condition, forcing themselves to believe that it could be just a misinterpreted prognosis that could be disregarded and that it would just go away. Regardless of how a person may deal with diabetes on a personal level, most people would even deny having the disease entirely.

Although most of these emotional manifestations could in fact be detrimental to one's psychological wellbeing, denial could stand out differently among the rest of these emotions as it has one beneficial effect to people that are inflicted with diabetes and that is that individuals who are affected with the disease would usually seek out for themselves and find out if they are truly inflicted with the disease that they will usually seek out secondary opinions with a number of physicians. Because of this need to really find out the truth with regard to their condition, they will take into their own initiative to seek out treatment if they find confirmation that they are indeed inflicted with diabetes. Denial also makes people who have diabetes question the reality of their condition and ask themselves “Am I really a diabetic?”. Moving further on, they would now begin to search the cause of how this particular disease came about, trying to recall any moment in their past as to point out what really caused them to be diabetic and would ask themselves if there was anything that they could have done that could have prevented it from happening. Finally, after all the emotional anguish has cleared out, realization sets in along with acceptance in recognizing the truth of the problem which is the beginning of the actual healing process and after all of the denials, the inevitable starts to surface.

Anxiety is probably one of the most stress causing emotions regardless of any given situation and it is much amplified when a disease is involved. Though it will always be a constant manifestation all throughout the duration of the disease, learning to control it from a supportive point of view can be very beneficial to the person who is inflicted with the disease. Anxiety, with regard to diabetes is caused by the sudden reality that the person that is inflicted with the disease should do something with their present lifestyle. Abrupt changes in the way we eat, conduct our daily activities and even the way that we correspond to people that we know could be affected. Realizing that one is indeed diabetic gives a person a clearer perspective with regard to one's mortality and vulnerability as a person which was never realized prior to being diagnosed with the disease. Other causes of anxiety might stem from realizing that you will have to be relying on a doctor, for the rest of your life since maintaining your health would mean having to go to regular checkups which would mean additional expenditure on your part, including the need to buy medicines on a regular basis. There is also the apprehension of having to deal with the inevitable onset of complications brought about by your disease in the future which may include manifested symptoms of hypoglycemia. Besides all of these emotions, one that should be carefully monitored with regard to people with diabetes is the onset of depression which is considered as the most grueling psychological deterrent that people can not avoid dealing with.

However, the onset of depression can never be manifested at once and can sometimes be delayed from showing itself since it is one of the most deep seated emotions that could destroy a persons sanity with regard to dealing with a debilitating disease such as diabetes. The delay is sometimes caused by the patients inability to fully understand the implications of their physical condition. Within the onset of depression, people are most often found to feel shame on what has happened to them which is putting the blame partly on to themselves along with a subsequent feeling of guilt of blaming themselves for doing something bad that they suspect could have direct or indirect reasons with regard to their present condition. Seeking out psychological intervention can greatly lessen the onset of these negative emotions that accompany the disease itself and it does not involve just the patient themselves, but also the people around them that they share an affinity with, whether that be family, friends or co-workers since it is not just a disease that you can learn to deal with, but rather the effect of having the disease itself and understanding the anguish and frustration that it brings to the affected person. Caring and understanding has always been an important part in alleviating the heavy burden of coping with the emotions that can worsen the condition of a person with diabetes as it already is and is one method of lessening the hardship to enable that person to start life anew.

Chapter 4

After much thorough examination, the test results come in and confirm your worst fear, that you are indeed diabetic. Obviously, to most people it would come as a shock that will stun them for a moment or two and since most of us know what diabetes means, it can surely be the most life changing news that you will hear from your doctor. Nothing is more upsetting than coming home from your doctor's appointment bearing the bad news as if you were handed over with your own death sentence. Yes, diabetes is lethal and it is the 2^nd most debilitating disease next to hypertension which has an equally high mortality rate if not properly managed. People who are between the ages of 30 years old and above are most likely to feel the burden of having to deal with their condition which goes without saying that it's quite hard to accept that someone who has their lives affected with this disease can become disoriented with regard to accepting the reality of life. But adults are not the only ones that could be affected by this disease, but children as well. If you think that you are having a hard time in accepting your condition, you should take a look at children who are as young as 12 years old who have the same situation as you have. These children have their whole life ahead of them and the have dreams and aspirations that they want to fulfill.

But to say the least that children are more vulnerable to the emotional roller coaster when it comes to confronting diseases with life threatening consequences, you will be surprised how most of these children are high spirited compared to most adults in accepting their condition being a diabetic. Adults who are feeling the disparity of their situation should look at the way children handle themselves with regards to their disease, as most of them often take such a serious situation very lightly that they don't seem to mind the degree of how this disease could affect the way they will live their lives on a daily basis. Diabetes is not a dead end despite the the reality of what it can really do and despite of its debilitating nature, consider having this disease as a way of changing your life's perspective point of view. Yes, having diabetes if a life changing situation, but you may want to consider it as a means of re-evaluating yourself on how you look at the way you live your life. It solely depends up to you if you want to accept it negatively and spend the rest of your life wallowing in despair or turn the situation to your own advantage and make the best of what you have to improve the way of how you look at life. There will be changes in your life, but consider those changes for the better as you slowly struggle with altering the lifestyle that you once have taken for granted and start out as a completely new person. Having diabetes is not the end of the road as most people consider it but rather a new beginning in your own personal journey of rediscovering yourself as a different person who values life more than you did before. It can also change the way of how you deal with people, particularly those who are within your family and with your friends and acquaintances as well. Debilitating as it may seem, having this disease gives you a chance to make the most of the time that you have in your life to make things better than it was for you and the people that support you in your struggle with this disease. After accepting the truth, no matter how grave it could be, there is always room for happiness to grow far beyond how you usually perceive it. Seeing the world with much more vibrancy and understanding your own mortality is the best thing that could happen to your life in which most of this aspect you have taken for granted in the past. If children can smile about it, so can you and sometimes it only takes a child's point of view to make you realize just how fragile life is. If there will be changes in your life, try to make it a change for the better regardless of how serious the situation may be and not letting the disease affect the way you interact with people, especially the ones you love. Try to make the most of your time to make the most of what you have and keep a happy disposition since it's more endearing than spending the rest of your life in reclusion and sadness. Being happy makes other people around you happy as well and it is those happy moments that count as the best things that you can share with people.

Chapter 5

People are scared when they are confronted with a disease especially if they do not know a thing or two about it. Fear usually stems from not knowing anything about the disease that they have and it is this fear that drives them to the deepest abyss of their depression. Finding every available information about diabetes is the first step in conquering your fear of it and understanding how it affects your body will lead you to numerous information on how to control it properly. Typical symptoms that most diabetics experience is body fatigue even though they did not do any physical activities that may lead them to feel tired. This usually occurs when the blood sugar is bellow or above the normal acceptable levels. It's a clear indication that the glucose in your body was not properly converted into energy as it should be, thus the lack of energy. The feeling of being constantly thirsty is is the most common indication that your blood sugar is above the normal level as this affects the salivary glands as it momentarily stops functioning, making your mouth feel dry. Another indicator that your blood sugar is beyond normal levels is the need for you to urinate much more than needed. This indicates that there is already a high level of uric acid in your blood stream and urination is a means of excreting excess uric acid from your body.

It has been said that diabetics have to take care when being bruised or wounded since the body's natural healing process is affected by the the way blood sugar levels are affecting the white blood cells which are responsible for protecting the body from viral and bacterial infection. Also, the ability of the body to heal wounds is greatly affected for the reason of how blood sugar levels affect the hemoglobin of the blood which coagulates and seals off the scared tissues of the body. Hemoglobin is responsible for the blood's ability to coagulate in order to protect the open wound and seal it from infection until the cells regenerate. Infections on a cellular level is what concerns most diabetics that the only way to protect themselves is to boost and improve their immune system. There are numerous ways on how you can improve the way your immune system responds to your condition, usually with medical intervention, although there are other alternatives such as implementing a natural method of dietary program that utilizes natural organic foods such as fruits and vegetables, insulin injections are usually the most common means to control blood sugar on a regular basis. The truth in what diabetes can really do to your body is no laughing matter as it is one of those degenerative diseases that can damage a lot of vital organs in your body that could lead to complications such as heart ailments, blindness, nerve damage that renders numbness, inflammation of the gums and kidney problems. Avoiding stress as necessary can lower your blood sugar levels since stress along with hypertension is the main reason why blood sugar levels rise. Learning to relax and take every situation slowly, one step at a time can help you control your anger and thus let you lower your blood sugar since being relaxed means not having to worry about the little things that might cause you distress on a daily basis. Choosing the right and adequate meal plan is one of the most important part in controlling your diabetes and is considered as one of the best preventive measures that can help you stabilize your condition on a daily basis without having to rely too much on maintenance medication. Sometimes, too much medication can affect your immune system as well. Choosing foods that are low in calories and saturated fats, transient fats, sugar and salt can give you an upper advantage in turning the odds to your favor. Increasing fiber intake from such foods as fruits and high protein intake from such foods as vegetables, low fat skimmed milk and cheese can help you improve your digestion, improving the way your stomach and intestines absorb the foods you eat. Omit from drinking any carbonated drinks such as sodas and bottled fruit juices since most of these products have a substantial amount of caffeine and sugar that can be detrimental to your present condition and is highly recommended that you take water instead. When eating a full meal, make sure that half of your plate is filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with lean protein such as white meat such as chicken or turkey (without the skin) or even beans and legumes and a quarter with brown rice and any product made from whole wheat.

Make sure that you get proper physical exercise for at least 10 minutes for three times a week and if possible, indulge your self with a light weight training regimen that can help you increase your muscle mass since diabetes primarily causes you to loose weight with regard to reducing your muscle fibers. Control your weight by staying focus on your meal plan and exerciser regimen and never over eat beyond what's necessary. Take your medication as much as possible as prescribed by your doctor so you can control your blood sugar. Check you body for any signs of bruising, swelling and spots on a daily basis in order for you to get an idea of how your body is going along with regard to your condition and it would be a good idea to keep a journal of everything that you experience everyday as to dive your doctor a clearer view of your condition as well. Quit all your vices either that be smoking or drinking no matter how attached you are to them since its your health that lies in stake here. Giving importance to your health is far greater than giving into the urges of your vices, and besides, smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages lowers your body's immunity level and increase the chances of you to get an infection. Always check your blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels on a regular basis to determine how well your body is responding to your dietary regimen along with your regular physical activities.

Chapter 6

The only natural way to take control over your disease is the way you eat your food, particularly the way on how you prepare them. Being diabetic does not mean that you have to contend with eating tasteless food that is less than appealing to the taste buds. There are a lot of food preparations specifically made for people with diabetes that are nutritional, healthy and tasty that it can be compared to any regular meal. The main purpose of a meal plan is to rid most of the unwanted fat and cholesterol in the food s that you eat without loosing its flavor and nutrients. Choosing leaner, fat free cuts of meat ids the first important thing that you have to consider when you are cooking your meal. Fat without a doubt, is the primary reason why meat gets its superb flavor, along with poultry as well. In the case of poultry products such as chicken and turkey, be sure to remove any substantial amount of skin since this is where most of its fats come from. If necessary, avoid eating processed meat products such as hot dogs, deli meat aqnd ham since these products have a substantial amount of chemical preservatives that go into them during their manufacturing process. If you can not avoid eating red meat, make sure that you are only consuming no more than 4 ounces of it, with a maximum eating frequency of 3 times a week. Increase you fruit and vegetable intake as much as possible which should consist of half of what you eat on each meal.

When cooking, make sure that you are using either olive oil or canola oil since these type of cooking oils do not contain saturated fats and will not adhere to the arterial linings of your blood vessels which makes them quite ideal for general cooking purposes. As much as possible, limit your cooking methods to the following when preparing your meals such as grilling, broiling and stir frying instead of frying or much worse, deep frying since we are trying to avoid the use of substrate oils as much as possible. If you need to put some flavor in your food preparations, always use as little salt as possible since salt is not really the most important part of your cooking, but that of the over all flavor of the meal itself and to add more flavor to your meals without putting on too much salt, the use of herbs and spices to season your meal will help divert your taste buds from wanting to have a salty taste to your meal. If you will be including any form of soup stock into your meal, it is best to put them in a refrigerator overnight to enable you to remove the fatty deposits that form on them since we want to have less residual cholesterol from entering our body. When using canned fruits and vegetables, always rinse them out with water to rid any residual chemical preservatives which can do you more harm than good and always remember to use anything that says “low-fat” and “non-fat” with regard to every meal preparation that you do.