Posts Tagged ‘blood sugar’
Diabetic Children’s Camps
Written by on January 30, 2010 – 2:25 am -As any sufferer knows, there are two types of Diabetes, type I and type II. The latter is sometimes called adult onset diabetes, and over 90% of diabetics suffer this type.
It therefore takes no great leap of imagination to realize that the vast majority of diabetics are adults. But children can also suffer from diabetes, and for such kids, there are problems to face that are very different to those of their diabetic seniors.
For example, a child with diabetes will obviously need close monitoring, and a great deal of constant care and attention from parents. This in itself is not a problem, but it may mean that the child may never spend a night away from home, and it is not uncommon in these circumstances for a child to have never met another child of their own age with diabetes. Effectively, this is a very isolating period in a diabetic child’s life.
For theses reasons, many countries are now establishing special camps for diabetic children, to address these problems, by bringing a higher degree of normality to the life of diabetic children. Such camps provide 24 hour professional medical supervision and care to all the children, and are an extremely effective way to give young people living with diabetes a chance to be independent and learn about their condition with the support of their peers and trained health professionals.
They provide an enjoyable and safe camping experience in a supervised environment, and often focus, at least to some degree, on increasing the children’s ability to manage their own condition. Such camping conditions also create an environment which allows the interaction between young people with diabetes that may otherwise be denied through geographic isolation.
These diabetes education and recreational camps are, of course, designed to be fun as well as educational. Generally, they will offer a wide range of sporting facilities, which allow participants to try out new sports and other recreational activities, particularly team based activities, that they may often be otherwise denied.
On the medical side, nothing is left to chance. Prior to camp, each participant is normally required to supply a detailed medical history and an indication of the management skills of the child. Based on this knowledge, the camp can then offer the child the opportunity to learn further self management skills and how to interact with other young people with diabetes under professional supervision.
Other people benefit too. Often, many of the “helpers” in such camps are volunteers, with little first hand knowledge of diabetes, and these people will learn a great deal from their exposure on a day to day basis to the children.
Even the health care professionals themselves can gain a valuable insight into the management and lifestyle of young people with diabetes that no textbook can provide. These people usually report that they do learn a lot, and even the most experienced educators say they are moved by the realities of living day to day with these children.
And, last but by no means least, the parents enjoy a break from the daily routine of caring for a young person with diabetes, with the real likelihood that their child will gain confidence and increase their self management skills.
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Tags: blood sugar, body, diabetes, diabetes symptoms, Health
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Foods to Avoid When You’re Diabetic
Written by on November 9, 2009 – 6:09 am -Watching what you eat is an important component of diabetes management. If you eat the right foods, you can establish a balance in your body’s glucose levels, keep your diabetes under control, and avoid the complications caused by diabetes. But if you eat the wrong foods, you could be counteracting the effect of your diabetes medication and aggravating your condition. Your doctor should inform you about the foods you can eat and the foods you should avoid. Generally speaking, high-protein foods are safe for diabetics whereas foods foods with high-glycemic index are big no-no’s. If you read on, you’ll find an overview of what foods to avoid when you’re diabetic.
Starchy foods
Starch is a complex carbohydrate that naturally occurs in beans, grains, and vegetables. For a normal person, starch is an excellent source of energy. For a diabetic, however, starchy foods should be avoided or consumed in limited amounts. Starch will only increase your blood glucose levels to uncontrollable levels, but the problem is that most starchy foods like potatoes are also rich in other vitamins.
The best way to strike a balance is to avoid consuming refined starches – processed grains that no longer have their nutritious and fiber-rich parts, leaving only the starchy interior behind. These refined starches can be found in pasta, cereals, pastries, and white bread. Since potatoes are rich in potassium, they can be consumed in very limited amounts, and only if they are baked without heaps of butter. Beans are also a healthy starch food because they provide fiber and anti-oxidants. Other starchy foods that are safe to consume are oats, barley, whole wheat flour, rye flour, or brown rice.
Refined sugars
Refined sugars can raise your glucose levels faster and higher than any other foods. For most diabetics, avoiding foods with refined sugars is the most difficult part of following a diet; it was probably through eating sugary foods that their diabetes developed in the first place! However, being diabetic does not mean you can never have something sweet to eat after a meal. It’s only a matter of finding sugar-free alternatives to your favorite desserts, and limiting the consumption of your favorite sweet treats. Natural sweeteners like honey and molasses are also safe to use in moderate amounts.
Avoiding refined sugar doesn’t end at dessert. Be careful of what you drink as well! Most commercially available drinks and sodas contain as much refined sugar as a slice of cake. Unless you’re sure that the drink you’re buying uses natural sweeteners, stick to diet sodas, natural fruit juice, or water.
Fatty foods
Not many people know this, but it is also important to cut out fatty foods from a diabetic’s diet. Although fatty foods may not necessarily affect your glucose levels, they can increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack, two of the most common complications of diabetes. Avoid all fatty meats and processed foods that contain trans-fats, saturated fats, and monosaturated fats. All processed meats, including hot dogs, bacon, sausages, and chicken skin, must also be cut out from your diet.
Arif Rahim
Tags: blood sugar, diabetes, diabetic, glucose
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