Treatments and remedies that can relieve the pain, swelling, and itching — As a type 2 diabetic, I have to be always alert to diabetes complications. One of these is varicose veins. For two years now, I am fighting the onset of this very painful condition in my right leg. Thanks to this pain, I had to give up riding my two-wheeler…

Tips to prevent type 2 diabetes — One of the first questions that comes to mind when we hear about diabetes is — can you actually prevent it? Type 1 diabetes Also called insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. We need the hormone insulin to allow sugar (glucose) to enter our…

With easy lifestyle tips to plan your weight loss — The most important benefits of weight management in diabetes are better control of your blood glucose levels and blood fats including cholesterol and blood pressure — reducing the risk of developing long-term complications. Why weight management in diabetes? Being overweight makes it tougher to control diabetes. The excess weight makes…

Risk factors, symtpoms, complications for metabolic syndrome and how to manage it — Syndrome X or metabolic syndrome or Insulin resistance syndrome is related to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other diseases. Metabolic syndrome is quite common and mostly found in those with type 2 diabetes, poor blood sugar control, or kidney disease. …

Recognizing, treating, and preventing yeast infections — For those with diabetes, the high sugar levels make them prone to yeast infections. Thrush is the most common form of yeast infection which thrives in warm and damp parts of the body, most commonly the male and female genital organs, mouth, underarms, groin, and some areas of the skin…

Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney disease with tips for prevention — The kidneys are our body’s filtering system with millions of minute blood vessels that filter out approximately 200 quarts of blood including 2 quarts of extra water and waste products via urine. They also perform the role of producing some hormones, besides regulating blood chemical levels. This filtering system can…

The role of insulin and insulin therapy for diabetes — When insulin is mentioned, most people naturally assume that it is medication for diabetes. Did you know insulin is a natural hormone produced by our body in the pancreas? …

Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataract, and eye care tips — When you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, vision and eye care are important aspects of your regular health checks. High blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, resulting in a condition called diabetic retinopathy. High levels of blood glucose can also cause cataracts and glaucoma…

Testing for ketones, recognizing diabetic ketoacidosis, and tips for prevention — An awareness of ketones in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is crucial as it can lead to a medical emergency. Ketones occur in the blood when the body starts to burn its own fat. …

Living with Type-2 Diabetes series-1 — I am starting the living with type 2 diabetes series with the ABCs of diabetes. Controlling these builds the foundation for managing diabetes. When you have these in control, you give yourself the best chances of living a healthy life. What are the ABCs of diabetes? A — A1c This test measures your average blood glucose…

Why worry about blood pressure and tips to keep it under control — A majority of people living with type 2 diabetes suffer from high blood pressure and are on medication to keep it under control. Why worry about blood pressure? High blood pressure or hypertension can be a silent killer because in most cases, there are no symptoms. It increases your risk for other health problems caused…

And why it matters if you are living with diabetes — Let me say straight off that regardless of whether one has diabetes or not, cholesterol plays an important role in our health. Unhealthy cholesterol levels can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which is why people with diabetes are advised to get their blood cholesterol and…

The short answer is yes. Read on for the long answer — “Can a diabetes diet include desserts?” This is a relevant question for diabetics, especially when we are right in the middle of the festival season. If you think desserts have no entry into the diabetes diet, think again. Of course, you need to be more careful about what you eat but that doesn’t mean you must…

And the role carbs play in the diabetes diet. — The moment someone hears I am living with type 2 diabetes the first question is — what do you eat? I have to confess that when I was diagnosed in 2014, I imagined giving up everything I enjoyed eating — thanks to all the myths I’ve heard. The good news…

Myths and truths about the diabetes diet — In spite of diabetes being a common condition in a significant part of the population, there are several misconceptions about what you can eat when you have diabetes and what you should avoid. And as always, there are more diabetes diet myths than we can count! Let’s bust at least 10 diabetes diet myths right away 1. Consuming too much sugar causes diabetes

How does it affect the blood sugar levels when you have diabetes? — I am sure you’ve heard of low GI and high GI foods in relation to healthy eating and especially with reference to diabetes. The phrase glycemic index gets thrown around a lot and until I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I didn’t really dig deep. …

Types, Symptoms, and Tips to prevent diabetic neuropathy — Nerve damage from diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy. Some form of nerve damage is common in those suffering from type 1 or type 2 diabetes, especially if they’ve had the condition for some years. If ignored, this can lead to several complications. By the time I was diagnosed with type…

It is the best thing you can do to manage your diabetes well — The three things that help you manage your blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight when you live with type 2 diabetes are diet, medication, and exercise. Being active also helps avoid diabetes complications like heart disease. After my own diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in 2014, I took…

Complications, the effect of diet, and tips to take care of oral health with diabetes — Living with type 2 diabetes brings with it a host of other health problems. Diabetes can cause eye damage, kidney damage, nerve damage or neuropathy, heart health issues — in fact, every part of the body is at risk for diabetes complications. …

Here’s a handy checklist for your footcare — The focus of diabetes management is to stabilize blood sugar levels, take care of your diet, be active, take your medicines on time and keep your doctor’s appointments. You’re probably wondering where your feet come into the picture. But it is one of the essential aspects of diabetes management. Most…