Type 2 Diabetes and Sleep Troubles

Having type 2 diabetes and trouble sleeping create the ultimate catch-22: You need sleep to stay healthy, yet the condition can make it hard to get a good night's rest. Here's some advice.

By Wyatt Myers

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Sleep is important for everyone, but it’s especially important when your body experienceschanging blood sugar levels and other symptoms of type 2 diabetes. “Sleep deprivation causes changes in the effectiveness of the body's control of appetite, which can lead to weight gain, higher blood sugar, and increased resistance to insulin,” says Richard Castriotta, MD, director of the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Although sleep is very important when you have type 2 diabetes, you may find you can’t sleep when you need it most. One explanation for the problem seems to be the connection between diabetes and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that’s characterized by periods of halted breathing while you’re asleep, which wakes you up repeatedly throughout the night, leaving you fatigued and not well rested in the morning.

Both type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea are health concernsthat are linked to obesity, so experts have long recognized a connection between the two. However, only recently has it been realized how closely these conditions are tied to one another. “There’s much more interrelation between the two conditions than we thought,” says Betul Hatipoglu, MD, a physician in the Cleveland Clinic’s department of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. “In fact, one may actually contribute to causing the other, and vice versa. Recent studies have shown that sleep apnea actually increases insulin resistance, hunger, and other type 2 diabetes symptoms,” Dr. Hatipoglu says. “Other studies have shown that treating sleep apnea also improves the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.”

Other Sleep Issues You Might Face

Another problem that disrupts sleep is frequent urination, a common symptom of type 2 diabetes. You can’t sleep if you have to keep getting up to go to the bathroom. Hatipoglu says this problem is usually tied to high blood pressure, which is also common with type 2 diabetes. As your blood pressure goes up throughout the night, the need to urinate increases. “If this occurs more than once a night, we view it as an issue that needs to be treated,” Hatipoglu says.

Having type 2 diabetes may also lead to other disorders that make it harder to sleep. “In addition to sleep apnea, people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for restless leg syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), as well as neuropathy and pain-associated sleep disruption,” Dr. Castriotta says. “RLS causes difficulty falling asleep because of strange feelings in the legs beginning in the evening before sleep. PLMS may cause either sleep-maintenance insomnia (difficulty staying asleep) or a feeling of non-refreshing sleep and daytime sleepiness due to slow, rhythmic limb movements during sleep.”

Tips to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

The first step in managing your sleep problems with type 2 diabetes is to see a doctor or a sleep specialist. Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening problem that needs medical attention to remedy. Frequent urination and other sleep-depriving issues should also be treated by a medical professional.

In addition to talking to your doctor and seeing a sleep specialist, here are some additional strategies that may help you sleep:

• Reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeinated beverages can keep you up at night and increase the urge to urinate throughout the night. If you can’t cut caffeine out entirely, Hatipoglu recommends to at least eliminate your intake in the afternoon and evening.
• Curb the use of electronics in the bedroom. Television is a no-no in the bedroom, as it will keep you up when you need to be focusing on resting. Watch TV in another room, and turn it off at least an hour before you want to nod off. Try reading a book or listening to relaxing music instead.
• Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and calm. Removing all light from the room, using light-blocking curtains, and outfitting your bed with appropriate bedding helps to create an atmosphere that is conducive to sleep.
• Create a regular bedtime schedule. Hatipoglu says you need to train your body to get a good night’s sleep. One of the most important ways you can do this is to create a scheduled bedtime and stick to it as closely as possible each night. You can incorporate things into this routine that get your body ready for bed, such as having a few sips of relaxing chamomile tea, meditating, or doing deep breathing exercises before you close your eyes.

Sleep issues are a troubling side effect of type 2 diabetes that can leave you feeling tired all the time. By taking these steps and working with your medical team, you should be able to have sweet dreams every night.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Depression and Sleep: Getting the Right Amount

Lack of sleep can upset your biologic clock and make your depression worse. At the same time, depression can influence your sleeping habits.

By Chris Iliades, MD

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

A change in your sleep habits is one of the most common effects ofdepression. Lack of sleep can start before depression, be a symptom of depression, and make depression worse.

"Depression and sleep are closely related. Depression is a brain illness, and it affects many types of brain functions, including the sleep-wake cycle. Once this biologic clock has been disturbed, it can make sleep even more irregular and that adds to the depression. It can become a vicious cycle for many people," says Prashant Gajwani, MD, associate professor and vice chairman of clinical affairs in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

Effects of Depression on Sleep

People with depression commonly experience disturbed sleep patterns, but the way depression affects sleep varies widely.

"Difficulty getting enough sleep is a major symptom for most people with depression, but for about 10 to 20 percent of people, the effects of depression result in sleeping too much," says Dr. Gajwani. Depression commonly causes:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Waking up early in the morning
• Oversleeping
• Sleeping during the day
• Poor quality of sleep
• Waking up feeling tired

Effects of Sleep on Depression

The amount of restful sleep you are getting can affect your emotional health. "Lack of sleep for a long enough time can cause depression," says Gajwani. Although it is unlikely that lack of sleep alone is responsible for most cases of depression, it may contribute to depression in some people. The fact that many people who have sleep problems develop depression may indicate that sleep disorders and depression have similar causes or risk factors. Links between depression and sleep have been found in many studies, for example:

• Research shows that people with insomnia have a 10-fold higher risk of developing depression.
• Other types of sleep-related disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome, are associated with high rates of depression. For people with obstructive sleep apnea, depression often improves with apnea treatment.
• Research shows that children with depression who experience a lack of sleep or who sleep too much are more likely to have longer and more severe episodes of depression.
• Experts suspect that chronic lack of sleep caused by physical illness is one reason older people have higher rates of depression.

Tips for a Good Night's Sleep

If you’re having a hard time sleeping at night or are sleeping away too much of the day, setting a bedtime schedule may help. "It is very important for people with a history of depression to keep regular hours of sleep,” says Gajwani. “You should go to bed about the same time and get up about the same time, and use your bedroom only for sleep or sex." Here are some other tips to sleep by:

• Exercise. "Make sure to get regular exercise and spend some time outdoors in the sunlight every day. This is a good way to set your biologic clock, and it helps maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle," says Gajwani.
• Skip the nap. Avoid afternoon naps, which can lead to nighttime insomnia.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol, especially later in the day.Caffeine is a stimulant and can keep you wide awake, while alcohol can disrupt sleep quality. "Alcohol before bedtime will interfere with sleep,” warns Gajwani. “It may help you fall asleep, but you are less likely to sleep through the night."
• Get up if you can’t sleep. "Don't waste time lying in bed looking at your clock," says Gajwani. If you find yourself lying awake, the best thing is to get up and do something relaxing until you feel tired.
• Shut off the TV. "Avoid watching television late at night. Most shows in the evening are too stimulating and do not promote good sleep,” says Gajwani. “Better to read a book or do some relaxing activity in the hours before bed."
• Practice good sleep hygiene. This includes using your bedroom primarily for sleeping. Avoid distractions in your bedroom, like phones, computers, too much light, and too much noise. Make sure your bed is comfortable and that the room temperature is comfortable for sleeping.

Changes in sleep patterns can be an effect of depression or an early warning sign of it. Let your doctor know if you are not able to sleep or if you are sleeping too much. "Over-the-counter sleep aids are not a good solution for people with depression and sleep problems,” says Gajwani. “Practice good sleep hygiene, get regular exercise, and work with your doctor or therapist to get your depression under control." Taking care of yourself, including getting the right amount of restful sleep, can help you manage your depression.

6 Emergency Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can control your health. Help prevent these serious diabetes complications by learning the warning signs.

By Hedy Marks, MPH

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of many serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, vision loss, and amputation. But by keeping your diabetes in check — that means maintaining good blood sugar control — and knowing how to recognize a problem and what to do about it should one occur, you can prevent many of these serious complications of diabetes.

Heart Attack

Heart disease and stroke are the top causes of death and disability in people with diabetes. Heart attack symptoms may appear suddenly or be subtle, with only mild pain and discomfort. If you experience any of the following heart attack warning signs, call 911 immediately:

• Chest discomfort that feels like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest, lasting for a short time or going away and returning
• Pain elsewhere, including the back, jaw, stomach, or neck; or pain in one or both arms
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or lightheadedness

Stroke

If you suddenly experience any of the following stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately. As with a heart attack, immediate treatment can be the difference between life and death. Stroke warning signs may include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially if it occurs on one side of the body
• Feeling confused
• Difficulty walking and talking and lacking coordination
• Developing a severe headache for no apparent reason

Nerve Damage

People with diabetes are at increased risk of nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, due to uncontrolled high blood sugar. Nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes can cause a loss of feeling in your feet, which makes you more vulnerable to injury and infection. You may get a blister or cut on your foot that you don't feel and, unless you check your feet regularly, an infection can develop. Untreated infections can result in gangrene (death of tissue) and ultimately amputation of the affected limb. A recent large study from Sweden of 2,480 patients with diabetic foot ulcers found that certain factors increased the likelihood of amputation, including being male and having had diabetes for longer than 23 years.

Diabetes can also make it more difficult for your body to fight infections, causing skin problems. Various skin conditions are linked to diabetes, and even the most minor cuts or sores can turn serious fast. Any bumps, cuts, or scrapes should be cleaned and treated with an antibiotic cream and monitored carefully.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, see your doctor:

• Inflammation and tenderness anywhere on your body
• Red, itchy rash surrounded by small blisters or scales
• Cuts, sores, or blisters on your feet that are slow to heal and are not as painful as you would expect
• Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your hands or feet, including your fingers and toes
• Sharp pain that gets worse at night
• Muscle weakness that makes walking difficult
• Bladder infections and problems with bladder control
• Bloating, stomach pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal dryness in women

Kidney Disease

Type 2 diabetes increases your risk of kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, a condition in which the blood vessels in your kidneys are damaged to the point that they cannot filter out waste properly. If left untreated, dialysis (a treatment to filter out waste products from the blood) and ultimately a kidney transplant may be needed.

Typically, you won’t notice symptoms of kidney disease until it has advanced. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor:

• Swelling in your ankles and legs
• Leg cramps
• A need to go to the bathroom more often at night
• A reduction in your need for insulin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness and paleness
• Itching

The best way to prevent type 2 diabetes-related kidney problems is to have your urine, blood, and blood pressure monitored regularly and to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control.

Eye Problems

People with type 2 diabetes are at risk of several eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy (which affects the blood vessels in the eye), glaucoma, and cataracts. If left untreated, these conditions can cause vision loss.

Call your doctor if you notice any of these warning signs:

• Blurry vision that lasts for more than two days
• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Floaters, black or gray spots, cobwebs, or strings that move when you move your eyes
• A sensation of seeing "flashing lights"
• Pain or pressure in one or both eyes

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia means you have too much sugar in your blood. High blood sugar doesn't always produce symptoms; therefore, it is important to check your blood sugar regularly, as indicated by your doctor. When symptoms of hyperglycemia occur, they may include:

• Frequent urination
• Extreme thirst
• Feeling tired and weak
• Blurry vision
• Feeling hungry even after eating

If you frequently have high blood sugar, tell your doctor. He or she may need to make changes to your medication and suggest diet and lifestyle modifications to help you gain and maintain better blood sugar control.

The key to preventing many of the complications of diabetes is to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. To do this, eat right, exercise, monitor your blood sugar as recommended by your doctor, and don't smoke.

Report any unusual signs or symptoms to your doctor. Together you can work to prevent these diabetes-related health complications.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Why Carbohydrates Are Important for Your Diet

Carbohydrates are an essential part of any diet. Learn about the best carbohydrate choices for diet and weight loss.

By Chris Iliades, MD 

Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

Carbohydrates are all about energy and are found in foods like fruits, vegetables, breads, pasta, and dairy products. Your body uses these foods to make glucose, which is your body's main energy source. Glucose is a type of sugar that can be used right away for energy or stored away to be used later.

"Carbohydrates provide the body with the energy it needs and are a good source of many vitamins and minerals. However, not all carbohydrates are created equal," says Donna Logan, RD, a registered dietitian at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, the best carbohydrates are those that contain a lot of fiber, like vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. These types of carbohydrates take longer to break down into glucose and give you the most nutrients along with your calories. Refined carbohydrates are sometimes referred to as "bad” carbohydrates. These are carbohydrates that have been processed to remove parts of the grain and have had sugar added. Common examples of refined or processed carbohydrates are white bread, cakes, and cookies.

Low-Carb Diets and Weight Loss

"One of the best weight-loss guidelines is to eliminate sources of simple sugars such as soda, sweets, candies, cakes, cookies, and similar snack foods," says Logan. "Choose foods with few or no grams of sugar. Foods high in fiber are best because they provide optimal nutrition while giving a sense of fullness.”

If you choose a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss and take in fewer calories, you will lose weight. Generally these diets involve eating less bread and pasta and more vegetables, fruits, and meat. Although low-carbohydrate diets work well early on, after six months they do not work any better than any other diets for weight loss.

“If you stop eating carbohydrates, you rapidly lose water weight as your body breaks down the stored carbohydrates," explains Darwin Deen, MD, senior attending physician at Montefiore Medical Center's Department of Family and Social Medicine in the Bronx, New York. "The problem is that a low-carbohydrate diet is not a normal balance of physiologic nutrition. As soon as you start eating carbohydrates again, your body replenishes your carbohydrate stores and your weight comes back," says Dr. Deen.

Eat the Right Carbohydrates for Weight Loss

"Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which can add variety, color, and flavor to meals. Whole grains such as whole wheat, corn tortillas, and brown rice are great sources of healthy carbohydrates. Check the nutritional label for carbohydrate information, including total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and sugars,” says Logan.

Here are ideas for getting the right carbs in your diet: Start your day with a breakfast of whole-grain cereal and fruit. Add an extra serving of vegetables to lunch and dinner. For easy between-meal snacks right at your fingertips, keep raw, cut-up vegetables in the refrigerator. Substitute beans as a main course in place of meat once every week. Eat a whole fruit as your dessert.

Get Your Personal Carbohydrate Guidelines

U.S. guidelines suggest that between 45 and 65 percent of your calories come from carbohydrates. At the USDA Web site, you can enter your age, sex, height, weight, and activity level to find out exactly how many calories in your diet should be from carbohydrates. You will also find the “Easy Fiber Estimator,” which will tell you how many grams of fiber ought to be in every 1,000 calories you eat. For example, if you are on a diet of 2,000 calories, you will want to get 28 grams of dietary fiber.

Concentrate on Calories and Nutrition

The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends a balanced eating pattern. If you need to lose weight, you should decrease your calories gradually and increase your physical activity. Choose fiber-rich carbohydrate foods and avoid added sugars. Making healthy carbohydrate choices while reducing calories and increasing physical activity is the healthiest path to weight loss.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Kitchen Tips for Diabetes-Friendly Recipes

There's no need to toss your favorite recipes after a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Try these fixes that modify the ingredients while keeping the flavor.

By Jan Sheehan

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

It's one of the first questions that most people have after a diabetes diagnosis: "What do I eat?" The good news is that a healthy diabetes diet is pretty much the same way we all should be eating. And you don't need to discard your favorite recipes — as long as you apply a little know-how.

However, managing type 2 diabetes does mean being careful about how your food is prepared. You may need to switch to more healthful cooking techniques and ingredients than you used before your type 2 diabetes diagnosis, but these steps will add up to an overall healthier you.

And you needn’t be a world-class chef to prepare meals that follow adiabetes diet. “Little changes in recipes can make a big difference in improving management of type 2 diabetes,” says dietitian Sue McLaughlin, RD, diabetes educator and president of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association.

Type 2 Diabetes Diet Tips: A Fresh Start

Start with these easy changes:

Experiment with healthier cooking techniques. “One of the best ways to adhere to a diabetes diet is to use non-frying methods of cooking,” says McLaughlin. Stir-fry, bake, or poach instead of frying or sautéing. Baking and poaching require no cooking oil at all. To stir-fry, you heat just a small amount of oil in a wok. Then add fish, chicken, or lean meat. When the meat is almost done, add your veggies and cook for a few more minutes.

Cut the fat. Replace saturated fats, namely butter and lard, with olive oil or canola oil when some fat is needed. Other saturated-fat substitutions for a diabetes diet include:

• Skim milk instead of whole milk
• Fat-free cream cheese instead of regular varieties
• Fat-free plain yogurt when a recipe calls for sour cream

You can often skip the fat-based toppings, too. “Lemon or lime on fish and vegetables are much healthier choices than butter or sauces for people with type 2 diabetes,” says McLaughlin.

Make sugar substitutions. Try some of the various artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda (sucralose), to reduce sugar in recipes. “With a little creativity, many sugar-free recipes can be just as tasty as standard recipes containing sugar,” says McLaughlin. Instead of sugar in baking, try sweet spices, such as ground cinnamon, or add vanilla extract. If a recipe calls for fruit, it’s best to always use fresh; the next choice is frozen. If canned is your only option, make sure that fruits are packed in their own juices or water, not in sugary syrup, advises McLaughlin.

Stash the salt shaker. Flavor your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt. Try garlic salt to slash the amount of sodium. If you must use regular salt, opt for sea salt. “Most sea salts contain slightly less sodium than regular table salt,” says McLaughlin. Another option: If a recipe calls for a teaspoon of salt, use half a teaspoon and substitute fresh herbs for the missing salt. Your food will actually be more flavorful.

Go with whole grains. Refined grains — white bread, white rice, and white pasta — are not good choices for people trying to stick to a diabetes diet because much of the glucose-friendly fiber has been removed in the refining process. Fiber helps keep blood sugar levels under control by releasing glucose at a leisurely rate. “If you eat a big meal of refined grains, your blood sugar can soar,” says McLaughlin. So make brown rice instead of white rice and use whole-grain bread for sandwiches. If you’re craving spaghetti, buy whole-grain spaghetti.

Choose cheese wisely. Cheese is loaded with saturated fat, but there are ways to make cheese better for a diabetes diet. Use a strongly flavored cheese, such as sharp cheddar, blue cheese, or feta, instead of mild cheddar, American, or Swiss. A little bit of sharp cheese goes a long way. “The stronger flavor will allow you to cut down on the amount you use in recipes and on burgers,” says McLaughlin. And less cheese means fewer calories and saturated fat.

Prepare healthy meats. Use skinless chicken and lean cuts of meat; for example, if you like bacon with breakfast, substitute Canadian bacon or turkey bacon to reduce the fat. Make your burgers with extra-lean ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey. Or use half ground beef and substitute a non-beef ground meat, such as turkey, for the other half. Having a cookout? Use aromatic woods on the grill, such as mesquite, to help disguise substitutions.

Reduce portion sizes. King-size portions of high-carbohydrate foods can send blood sugar levels and your weight skyrocketing. To prevent weight gain and out-of-control glucose levels, cut your portion sizes. When dining out, resist the temptation to finish those generous servings; instead bring half home in a container.

Transforming standard cooking instructions and old family favorites into tasty diabetes-friendly dishes may take some effort and creativity. “But going the extra step in the kitchen will make sticking to a diabetes diet much easier,” says McLaughlin. And that’s a recipe for good health.

Stop the Progress of Prediabetes

You can prevent this precursor to type 2 diabetes from developing into full-blown disease.

By Madeline Vann, MPH

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

Nearly 24 million American adults are living with diabetes, according to figures released last month by the International Diabetes Federation. But what may be even more alarming is that there are also about 79 million Americans with a condition known as prediabetes — and many aren't aware of it.

Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes.

"In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting," explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. "In between, you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease."

Research has also found that prediabetes may be more common in men than in women.

Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention

If you are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.

"Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years," says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.

Cutting your weight is crucial. "One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes," Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: Who Should be Tested?

Prediabetes is a "silent" condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.

For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.

The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:

• Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes)
• Physically inactive lifestyle
• Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage
• Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis
• Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight
• High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis
• Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck
• History of heart disease

If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.

Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests

There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:

• Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight)
• Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician.

If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

he Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy Will Astound and Surprise You...

The Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy will astound and surprise you. 

Why doctors don't tell you these things is a mystery. But you will be 

surprised to learn that MANY of the Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy 

are NUTRITIONAL- surprise you? It did me too..

 

Neuropathy is a painful nerve condition of the lower extremities 

(usually- but can be anywhere in the body) that is usually of very long 

duration. Most often called 'idiopathic neuropathy', this means that no 

cause is able to be found for this condition and usually people are left 

in chronic pain with only a few ineffective Neuropathy Medications 

to try to ease the pain.

 

But what if the 'idiopathic' part of the Idiopathic Neuropathy simply 

means that doctors have stopped looking or refuse to look for any other 

possible causes of peripheral neuropathy that have been researched -

simply because they were not taught these causes or they don't believe 

that they could possibly be a cause?

 

Well, in the case of idiopathic neuropathy, the literature clearly states that

 in many cases, the causes of peripheral neuropathy are:

 

Nutritional


Viral


Oxidative Stress

Some Pharmaceutical Drugs






Yet doctors not only don't look for viral or nutritional causes of 

peripheral neuropathy - but they really don't even believe in them! Even

 though this condition completely destroys the quality of life for the sufferers. 

Instead, they give you dangerous narcotic drugs and tell you that there is 

nothing that you can do for your constant pain and decreased sensation.

 Lets see why your doctor is Dead Wrong and you DO have other options...

  

Why Malabsorption is one of the 
Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

 

While most people are unable to believe that they could be nutritionally deficient or 

'malnourished', it's VERY likely that this is one of the MAJOR causes of peripheral neuropathy.

 

This malabsorption is likely either from:


Increased Intestinal Permeability

The need to Increase Stomach Acid


Gluten Sensitivity

 

But no matter what the cause of the malabsorption, the result is the same-

 the nutrient deficiencies that are outlined below...

 

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

 

Vitamin B12 Deficiency is probably one of the MOST common nutritional 

causes of Idiopathic Neuropathy, yet it is almost universally ignored! 

Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the very FIRST problems that alternative 

practitioners think of when someone complains of neuropathic pain.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by dietary factors, an inability to 

absorb b12 and from the use of Dental Nitrous Oxide as well as several 

other drugs that can decrease Vitamin B12 Levels.

 

If you think that vitamin b12 might be your problem, then an inexpensive 

trial of high dose Vitamin B12 supplementation is virtually problem free, 

inexpensive and can work quickly to reverse the problem IF Vitamin B12 

deficiency truly is the problem.

 

However, the reason that YOUR doctor did not suggest this to you is that 

doctors require evidence for the cause of a problem before they will attempt 

ANY treatment. And in order to look for vitamin B12 deficiency, doctors 

will look ONLY for a condition called Macrocytic Anemia- a problem of 

enlarged red blood cells. But macrocytic anemia will often only occur YEARS 

after Vitamin B12 deficiency has begun. 

 

So, for doctors- lack of macrocytic anemia is evidence for lack of Vitamin 

B12 deficiency- even though this is NOT the case at all. 

 

Vitamin D Deficiency

 

Ignore this section at your own peril!!

 

If you have Vitamin D Deficiency, you can have DRAMATIC symptoms 

of pain and neuropathy. Surprisingly, there is even a HUGE relationship 

between the pain of Fibromyalgia and Vitamin D Deficiency- which often 

ALSO has a LARGE component of 'overactive nerves' and nerve pain that

 is very likely a type of 'all over' neuropathy. But many people believe that 

because they get Vitamin D in their multivitamin or that they get "Plenty" 

of sun that they can't have Vitamin D Deficiency.

 

If you have Idiopathic Neuropathy and you ignore this section, you are doing 

yourself a HUGE disservice.

 

The vast majority of people with Chronic Pain from Vitamin D Deficiency 

suffer for years- sometimes even decades- before it is found that Vitamin D 

Deficiency is their problem. Doctors are just simply not aware that 

idiopathic neuropathy can be a Vitamin D Deficiency Symptom - 

and most believe that Vitamin D Deficiency is rare anyway 

(if you think that up to 85% of the population is 'rare').

PS Melabic is a combination of the 9 all natural most effective diabetes fighting ingredients. To find out more how they can help you normalize your blood sugar levels and take back your health visit me at Melabic.com

Nearly Half of Americans Drink Soda Daily

But soda drinkers don't necessarily weigh more than non-soda drinkers, a new Gallup poll on beverage consumption finds.

By Annie Hauser, Senior Editor

WEDNESDAY, July 25, 2012 — After all the news about the health dangers of soda consumption, almost half of all Americans still consume at least one soda each day, Gallup's annual Consumption Habits poll finds. This is Gallup's first measure of soda consumption.

Among soda drinkers, the average daily consumption is 2.6 12-ounce glasses with 28 percent of survey respondents drinking one glass per day. The survey does not specify whether Americans drink more regular or diet soda.

Coffee consumption, however, has remained unchanged since 1999, with two-thirds of all Americans reporting at least one cup per day. Ten percent of survey respondents say they drink four or more cups of joe every day.

Because black coffee has zero calories and no sugar, it seems logical to assume that soda drinkers are heavier than coffee drinkers, but Gallup found that not to be true. Instead, soda drinkers were just as likely as non-soda drinkers to report that they are either very or somewhat overweight. Those who drink one soda per day are lightly more likely to classify themselves as overweight, the survey found, leading researchers to believe that single soda drinkers reach for regular while the heaviest soda consumers drink diet.

Men and women are equally likely to drink coffee while whites are more likely than non-whites to get their caffeine fix through coffee. Middle-aged and older adults are more likely to drink it than the 18 to 34 set. Soda is more common among nonwhites, men, and adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

Soda vs. Coffee: What's the Difference?

For most, the decision to drink coffee or soda undoubtedly comes down to taste and convenience. But when it comes to health, one beverage is a clear winner — though excessive caffeine in any form can be damaging to your health. Here's why you should reach for black coffee over full-calorie soda.

Diabetes. Because of its sugar content, regular soda consumption has longed been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. But women who drink four cups of coffee daily are less likely to develop the disease than non-coffee drinkers, a UCLA study found. Coffee's high levels of magnesium and chromium, which may help control blood sugar, is thought to be why.

Stress and emotional health. Forget the Twinkie Defense: For some people, it's soda that makes them act out violently or suffer rapid mood swings. One study of Boston teens even found that heavy soda drinkers were more likely to carry a weapon than non-sugary drink consumers. On the flip side, whiffs of coffee have been shown to ease stress in rats.

Dental health. You know sugary drinks can contribute to cavities, but did you know the acids in soda can also erode tooth enamel? Coffee, however, has a compound called trigonelline that's thought to block cavity-causing germs and the bacteria that damages enamel.

Heart disease. A moderate coffee habit might be the sweet spot for heart-disease prevention, Dutch researchers found. In a study, those who drink two to four cups a day lowered their heart disease risk by 20 percent compared to those who drank more or fewer. Even without soda-related weight gain, soda's sugar puts drinkers at a 20-percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease, a study published in the journal Circulation found.

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