Diabetes is an extremely common condition in our society today where the body does not or cannot produce enough of the pancreatic hormone, insulin. Insulin is a very important part of the internal system as it controls the amount of sugar in the blood as well as the rate the glucose is absorbed into the cells. Glucose is an important component to produce energy and is also the food for our brains, which makes maintaining the proper levels essential to overall health.

Understanding the foods that affect your blood sugar is important for anyone suffering from diabetes as this is the only way to thoroughly and properly maintain your proper sugar and therefore glucose levels.

Every hour throughout the day blood sugar levels vary in everyone, including those who are not diabetic. It is possible for your sugar to reach low levels where general reasoning becomes impossible and if it gets too high, this person may have diabetes. By eating a meal that contains protein and carbohydrates you are raising your blood sugar levels by 120-130 milligrams per deciliter. This then causes the release of insulin from the cells and opens the cells throughout the body, allowing the glucose to enter them freely. As the glucose enters the cells, the blood sugar level will return to normal and your insulin production will decrease until your next meal containing proteins or carbohydrates.

There are two different types of diabetes and Type 2 is by far the most common with over 90% of diabetes patients included in this category. People who have this type of diabetes usually get it later on in life due to the small quantities of insulin produced by the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes only affects about 5-10% of those with diabetes throughout America. People with this type of diabetes usually have it at young ages due to the immune system attacking the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. According to the American Diabetes Association 18.2 million Americans suffer from diabetes, which makes it essential we all know how to deal with this condition and manage it appropriately so it does not have to affect our lives negatively. Some of the natural alternative healing methods, which have the ability to help anyone maintain their blood sugar levels include:

• Visiting a dietary nutritionist to help you create the perfect diabetic diet should be your first form of action in order to learn which foods are beneficial and which foods should be avoided.
  
  
• Eliminate consumption of cookies, white bread, high fructose corn syrup and fruit juice to name just a few.
• Alpha-lipoic acid helps reduce blood sugar levels and treats peripheral nerve damage that is commonly found in diabetic patients.
  
  
• Zinc is a common deficiency, which has been found among those with diabetes and should be taken in dosages of 50-80 mg daily to avoid this deficiency.
  
  
• Bitter Melon is an herb recognized as an effective alternative treatment for diabetes as it regulates blood sugar levels. Read my article on Bitter Melon for more information on this medicinally used herb.

Diabetes is a common condition that millions of people live with throughout the country today and utilizing your natural resources such as diet and natural supplements is the best way to ensure proper blood sugar levels on a daily basis.

Diabetes Part 2