BLOOD SUGAR: ARE YOU HYPERGLYCEMIC OR HYPOGLYCEMIC?

Blood sugar problems such as Type 2 diabetes are becomming rampant in the America and the rest of the world. You must learn about blood sugar to understand how to naturally prevent and help blood sugar problems.

Monosachharides – also known as simple sugars – are sugars in your blood.  As long as your sugar levels are within the normal range, you should be fine.  Your body and brain are "in sync."  But when your sugar levels shoot up, you should start worrying.  When your sugar levels go down significantly, you should also be worried.  Depending on the severity of your sugar levels, your doctor may want to put you on medication that will keep your glucose levels balanced. 

There are two – actually three – conditions associated with blood sugar.  One is hyperglycemia.  It means that you have too much sugar.  Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, means that you don't have enough sugar. 

The third condition – euglycemia – is what we should all strive for.  It means our sugar levels fall within the normal range of 3.5 and 5.5 mmol/liter.  When your sugar level registers below 3.5, you have hypoglycaemia; when it registers above 7.0, you may be diagnosed with hyperglycaemia.  Being hyperglycemic all the time does not bode well for your health.  You could be a candidate for diabetes.

There are times when having low blood sugar is only temporary.  It can be triggered when you've skipped a meal and you feel very hungry.  It can also be triggered when you take certain kinds of medication on an empty stomach.  Generally, hypoglycemia symptoms are not as bad as hyperglycemia symptoms.  Hyperglycemia symptoms range from mild (hunger, sweating, numbness), to moderate (changes in mood, headaches, blurred vision, incoherent speech) to severe (failure to concentrate, prolonged confusion, losing consciousness, and even changes in personality).  

Natural Remedies for Blood Sugar Control

In the past, my blood sugar levels were not always consistent; that's because I lead a hectic life and tend to skip meals or eat on the run.  Or else I binge on sweets and sweet wine during special occasions – and then sugar blood levels go up.  I also noticed that my sugar levels would go up during the holidays.  I know I've overdone it because I feel some of the symptoms mentioned above.

I have always been careful with my blood sugar, though, because the last thing I want to have is diabetes.  What I've done in the last three years is taking natural remedies for hyperglycaemia to keep my glucose levels in check.  I'm extremely satisfied with the dietary supplements I've been taking.  They're all made in the USA so I am assured that the ingredients have been tested and formulated under rigorous lab conditions.

Since natual blood sugar supplements are 100% natural, there is minimal risk of experiencing any side effects often associated with prescription meds.  When looking for natural treatments for blood sugar and type 2 diabetes to stabilize glucose levels, look for products that stimulate proper utilization of insulin.  Also, be on the lookout for supplements that have GTF chromium as an active ingredient.  Chromium is an important factor for glucose tolerance. 

Another great supplement for blood sugar balance is cinnamon bark powder or, cinnamon bark capsules– most of the literature I've read suggests that cinnamon has been recognized as a natural treatment for type II diabetes because it can help lower blood sugar.

Many people have not heard of Gymnema Sylvestre. It has a strange name, but has been shown to help with blood sugar problems.

Whatever supplement you take, you should understand more about Insulin Resistance. Good luck and stay healthy.

Insulin Resistance: A Culprit In Today's Health Crisis

You may have heard of insulin, but do you really know all of its functions in the body and what insulin resistance is doing to you?

Insulin: An anabolic hormone for growth and repair.

Insulin:

• Stores excess nutrients
• Stores blood sugar for future energy requirments
• Stores Magnesium
• Retains Sodium
• Mediates blood lipids (fat)
• Stimulates cell division
• Stimulates sympathetic nervous system

You may be saying, so what, insulin does all these great things, what's the big deal? Here's the problem.

When we eat carbohydrates (sugar, pasta, bread, grains) the body converts them into glucose. The liver only stores about a one day supply of glucose (stored as glycogen). What do you think happens to the rest of it? It's stored as FAT (about 98% is Palmitic acid---a saturated fat).

SORRY TO GET SO TECHNICAL

So, a high carbohydrate diet is really a high glucose (SUGAR) diet. Insulin needs to be secreted to help store this added glucose and there is a large secretion of insulin. However, the cells try to protect themselves from the toxic effects of insulin (which in large amounts is irritating to the cells) and they down regulate their receptors and the number of receptors.

When this happens, the pancreas secretes more and more insulin because the receptors aren't sensing that there is so much insulin circulating in the blood. Finally the pancreas gets tired and Type 2 Diabetes can result.

Negative Affects of Insulin Resistance

Now that you understand why so much insulin is secreted due to our diets, I want you to understand the negative affects of insulin resistance, so that YOU will resist from eating so many carbohydrates in the form of pasta, donuts, muffins, cake, bread, sugar, cereal, etc.

Insulin is involved in the storage of magnesium. When the cells are resistant to insulin, magnesium is secreted in the urine. One of magnesiums major jobs is to relax muscles. With lower magnesium levels the smooth muscles in the blood vessels can't relax and they constrict, causing--high blood pressure.

To add insult to injury, magnesium also is involved in intracellular energy, so you also feel weaker and tired all the time.

Insulin is also involved in sodium retention. With the added sodium, you get fluid retention and you guessed it, yet higher blood pressure.

Insulin also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and you get further vasoconstriction (higher blood pressure), increased heart rate, increase in ability for blood to clot, increased respiration and an increase in blood sugar and cholesterol in the blood.

Since insulin is a mytogenic hormone, you also get increased cell division, which leads to increase in cancer and aging.

There is so much more insulin does, but I think you are getting the idea by now.

There Are Things You Can Do

Doesn't it sound like many of the medications you or your family and friends are on are designed to reduce the effects of insulin resistance?

Think of these: Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, cancer.

These are all preventable illnesses that have nothing to do with our genetics. It's our lifestyle that is killing us. There is hope if you begin now to change your lifestyle.

You must eat right, exercise right and think right to be a healthy human being. It is easier than you think. It's a lot harder to be sick than healthy.

Begin by:

• Drinking 2-3 liters of pure water each day
• Stop Smoking
• Eat fresh fiber throughout the day---veggies, fruit
• Limit your intake of sugar and other carbohydrates
• Eat Grass Fed Meats---high in Omega 3's...nothing wrong with good fat
• Take Cinnamon Bark or GTF Chromium to help lower your blood sugar
• Exercise 30-60 minutes EVERY DAY...you must get your heart rate up
• Meditate or Pray Daily.
• Love yourself, and your friends, family and the planet.

If you are not physically fit, you should always discuss with your doctor before beginning exercise or changing your medication.

More information on Diabetes Remedies...