High Blood Sugar and Diabetes

The Diabetic Prevention Workout

I received several emails about helping the reader repair their diet.  There is a diet plan link I refer people to at Diet Plan motivating and humorous picture as well as a free downloadable sample week of diet information.  I also have a newer plan called the Food Plan.   However, you should visit a registered dietician if you are severely overweight or pre-diabetic as many of these foods may not be the right choice for you.

 

Pre-diabetic refers to Type II diabetes and usually occurs in older and/or obese people who do not have to have a family history of diabetes. 80% of type II diabetics are overweight.   This type of diabetes can be prevented or significantly delayed by watching processed sugar intake, add fiber foods, and regular daily exercise.

This week’s question is related to the above paragraphs.  The former Army soldier writes, “My doctor says my blood sugar is too high and I have tried exercise, a no carbohydrate diet, and am having trouble keeping my blood sugar and my weight down.”

As you know I am not a doctor, but there are still two areas you need to focus on. The fact that you stated your sentence in the past tense causes me to ask – Are you still fairly active and exercise regularly?  Daily? And – Are you watching portions and types of foods you are eating? 

You can have high blood sugar because you are eating foods or soft drinks or juices with sugar in them.  It could be as simple as adding more fiber to your diet by eating fiber rich fruits / vegetables.  But it can be fairly complicated as well as your body can make glycogen (blood sugar) just about anything.  Glycogen is your go-to fuel source and is sometimes referred to as blood sugar. It is used by the body for major body functions and high intensity workouts.  It is made from glucose which is found in almost every food, and is converted into energy.  Your insulin and/or exercise helps you regulate that blood sugar and if insulin does not work or you are not exercising regularly, you can continue to have high blood sugar issues.

 Properly timed eating and exercise will allow you to burn the blood sugar before it has a chance to turn to fat AND it will burn your stored fat as well, thus causing a weight loss.

             The two areas to focus on for at least 3-4 months faithfully are:

 1)      Food intake - To control your high blood sugar you have to watch your intake of carbohydrates – TRUE – but you do not have to eliminate them as required by the Atkin’s Diet.  High sugar sodas, fruit drinks, processed foods are bad, but carbohydrates in fruits, vegetables that are also high in fiber are good fuels sources for your body, so do not eliminate them from your diet. See the Article Archive for more ideas of daily routines.

2)      Exercise – There are two types of exercise:  Aerobic and Anaerobic.  Aerobic means ‘with oxygen” and refers to exercise that maintains a level of activity capable of moving oxygen through your lungs, blood, heart and to your muscles.  This is a great fat burning zone and requires you to keep your heart rate at 50-70% of max heart rate, which is theoretically (220-age).  Keep it conversational pace, meaning be able to talk, but it is not that easy to talk and breathe regularly.

Anaerobic means “without oxygen” and refers to exercise that causes the heart to race in the 70-90% of maximum heart rate and includes sprinting while running, biking, swimming, and even weight training or high repetition calisthenics exercises (resistance training).  Your heart and lungs cannot keep up with the demand for oxygen your muscles are placing on them, so you will tire out fast BUT burn a significant amount of blood sugar (glycogen).

 So – back to the Army soldier’s question. Start exercising everyday by doing something!

Along with weight loss, your goal will be to begin program of physical activity, if you are not exercising regularly now. Physical activity will help you use the insulin you produce to convert the food you eat into energy. This will help keep your blood glucose lower. A great example - It is always a good idea to follow a meal with a brisk walk.  

 More tips: 

• Choose a variety of foods from all food groups

• Limit sugar and sweets

• Reduce the amount of fat you eat

• Include foods high in fiber

• Limit salt, alcohol and caffeine.

• Choose heart healthy fats such as canola and olive oil.

• Eat at regular times
   

If you can make sure your exercise combines aerobic and anaerobic activity every day, then you will have a better chance of lowering your blood sugar.  And you need make sure your refined sugar intake is limited.   

The bad news is this.  Many people with type 2 diabetes find that despite their best efforts, weight control, exercise and diet aren't enough to keep their blood sugars in a healthy range. One theory is that some people's insulin-producing cells are resistant to the effects of insulin.  So, try to focus on the above recommendations for at least three months.  Go to your doctor again, and talk about the possibilities of diabetes treatment options. 

Related Article: 

Cardio v Resistance Training – Which One First?

More on Diabetes from Diabetes Writer:

Allow me to share 2 proved methods that really help people to lower type 2 diabetes risk

Were you aware that excess fat is probably the number 1 risk factor for diabetes?

Yes, additional circumstances, such as genes and aging do cause type 2 diabetes. But a global Obesity Task Force estimated in 2002 that 60 percent of diabetes cases all over the world were due to weight gain, plus Western nations it absolutely was closer to 90 percent.

If you are obese or overweight, you're 90 times as prone to develop type 2 diabetes as somebody who is not, according to overview of medical literature published in 2003 by University of Kentucky along with other researchers.

Based on Gerald Bernstein, MD, director of the diabetes management program in the Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute at Beth Israel Hospital in Ny, fat cells that go in and around your belly work to dam the act of insulin, that is important to lower the blood sugar levels.  Insulin normally triggers the liver to take up extra blood glucose and store the energy for future use. When the liver is submerged in fat tissue, insulin can't get the liver to react.

As a result, blood sugar levels accumulate in the bloodstream, where it can damage organs all over your system. But obviously any good relatively moderate quantity of fat loss and exercise can protect you from diabetes.  Routine workout makes cells more sensitive to insulin, in order that they absorb more blood glucose levels. Exercise also improves your cholesterol and lowers blood pressure level.  The 3 factors are essential. Those with either prediabetes or diabetes have a much greater risk of cardiac problems than other folks in the population and controlling all three can lower that risk.

In the 2002 study, individuals with prediabetes reduced their risk of diabetes by 58 percent after reducing weight, eating better, and exercising 150 minutes weekly when compared with those that didn't.  One common goal is by using a pedometer and aim for walking a minimum of 10,000 steps every day.  Exercise helps even though you don't shed weight. But if you undertake, you've got added protection against the disease. Do not need to lose a lot of weight to learn.

As outlined by Nadine Uplinger, RD, a certified diabetes educator and director of the Gutman Diabetes Institute at the Albert Einstein Health-care Network in Philadelphia, Losing approximately 7 percent of the weight will prevent or delay diabetes.  So you? What you will be expecting? Start to eat healthy and exercise from today!

About the writer: Dolly Ohara is writing for the Diabetes Needles website, her personal hobby blog devoted to suggestions to help individuals to avoid Diabetes and improve the awareness on healthy eating.

 

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Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle - check out the StewSmith.com Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive at StewSmith.com. To contact Stew with your comments and questions, e-mail him at stew@stewsmith.com.