Employee Health Screening

One of the problems that women face is blood sugar. There are a number of factors that can cause high glucose levels. Pregnancy and menopause change estrogen levels which affect metabolism and how body processes fat. In turn, that affects glucose levels. Menstruation also affects blood sugar, at least indirectly. Everybody has heard about “those pesky hormones” and all about craving certain foods like salty items such as chips or everyone’s favorite treat, chocolate. With some dietary changes and a little help from supplements you can achieve a healthy balance in your glucose levels.

Tackling the Diet

Carbohydrates are important for your body, but eating too many of them in your diet can cause your blood sugar to have more drastic highs and lows. In addition, you’ll find that more fat gathers along your midriff and hips. By being selective in the types of carbs you ingest, you will still get what you need in your diet but without those blood sugar swings.

Just say no to processed foods. Basically white foods – anything with white flour and sugars – are converted more quickly to glucose in your body. This causes a spike in your glucose levels that lasts just a short time. Before you know it, your energy plummets and you feel lethargic because that “sugar rush” is gone. Then, for get that energy level back up, you eat more carbs and the cycle starts all over again.

By picking  carbohydrates that are found in whole grain foods, your body has to work harder to process them. What this means for you is that extreme high-low factor goes away and you are left with a more balanced blood sugar level and your energy level is more consistent. And because your body works harder to process these types of carbohydrates, you are expending calories, meaning less fat gets deposited in your mid-section.

Vitamins and Supplements

While taking care with your diet helps greatly, sometimes you just need an additional boost. This is where women supplements and vitamins for women come in. Business is booming with herbal supplements and special vitamin formulas. But which ones help with your blood sugar?

When your glucose levels fluctuate, it can be draining on your body and leave you feeling a bit sluggish. Taking supplements for women that contain chromium might give you a boost and alleviate some of that fatigue. If you have diabetes or might  be prone to developing it, ginseng can also be beneficial. It has been known to boost metabolism and help control blood sugar.

If you are looking for vitamins or supplements you have to be certain you only purchase high quality products. Be certain to always look for products from companies that only specialize in vitamins and supplements products for women. Among the companies that makes nutrients for women and specializes in supplements for women health is nutraOrigin.

There are a number of other women vitamins and supplements that could also be beneficial. However, make certain the check with your doctor to determine which ones may  be best for you. If you are taking other medications, certain vitamins or women supplements might counteract with them.

It all boils down to common sense. Do your research into the different vitamins and supplements. Make positive changes in your diet. Women are built differently than men. Therefore, you must be more diligent with your body and what goes into it for your health.

The glycemic index diet or G.I. diet is gaining a reputation as a healthy way to lose weight. Although more of a way of eating rather than a diet, more and more people following the G. I way achieve their weight loss goals. Many health experts agree that the Glycemic Index diet, if followed correctly, can be a great way to weight loss success, especially for those who struggle with conventional low calorie diets or dieters who have trouble controlling their appetite.

The G.I diet is similar to the low carb diet but it is not as strict and targets the types of carbs rather than the quantity of carbs for each meal. There is also a focus on the correct timing of the two basic types of meals – a carb or protein meal. The science behind the timing and types of meal makes G.I dieting a potent way to help lose fat stores, safely and relatively quickly.

The G.I diet is all about Insulin and controlling blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate our blood sugar; actually it lowers glucose levels by stimulating cells to absorb any excess sugar from the blood. The problem with Insulin is it also causes fat cells to take up excess fatty acids from the blood. Often we ingest a meal which includes both sugar and fats so if any meal includes foods which have a high Glycemic Index then the fat from that meal can be easily stored on the hips.

There is an established theory that if one can control insulin levels then one can control how much fat the body will store from each and EVERY meal. Fat can only be stored when Insulin is present, and Insulin is only released when blood sugar levels become elevated.

What raises blood sugar?

Carbohydrate in foods will raise blood sugar if it is absorbed too rapidly. The types of foods which cause rapid absorption of sugar are all those with a high G.I index rating.

The basics of the G.I index

The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrate foods by assigning them a number ranging from 0 to 100. The number indicates the rate at which the food raises blood glucose levels during its absorption. The higher the value the quicker the sugar is absorbed.

A high Glycemic index food has a value of 70 and above. A G.I value of 56-69 is considered medium and any foods lower than 55 are considered a low Glycemic index food. Foods with a low G.I are best as they digest more naturally and help provide a steady supply of energy over the while several hours, it also makes us feel fuller for longer.

Is the G.I Diet simple?

The diet sounds simple because foods are generally chosen from the low G.I food list, but it gets complicated when you create a meal made up of many different food items, each with a unique G.I value. The idea is to make sure most items which make up every meal have a low Glycemic index, thus the overall G.I of the meal stays within the low to medium range.

Gaining complete nutrition

There are some foods which have a high G.I rating but are considered a healthy nutritious food. In these cases healthy high G.I foods can be combined with low G.I foods to maintain low-medium G.I value, plus help create a complete nutritional intake. an example is baked potato (high G.I) topped with baked beans (low G.I). There are also low G.I foods which should be limited. Fresh meat and poultry contains no sugar so the G.I. will be very low, however, they do contain lots of fat and protein so the energy content will be high. Don’t forget calories do still count!

One positive point about the G.I meal plan is it is possible for dieters to enjoy the odd “treat” item once or twice each week, maybe an occasional dessert after a light dinner. As long as these “bad” items are NOT eaten alone it shouldn’t ruin the diet plan.

Advantages of G.I. way of eating –

1. Enjoy tasty foods but limit storage of fat

2. Enjoy some favourite foods AND still lose fat

3. Increased energy level and wellbeing

4. Control of blood sugar

5. Less hunger feelings

6. Less craving for sugary foods

7. Less bloating feeling after meals

8. Ability to eat more food if desired

9. Less risk from diabetes and other diseases

10. No strict calorie reductions

Diabetes is a condition in which too much sugar is in the blood. This means that your blood sugar level is too high. But what happens when the blood sugar level drops too low? This is a condition known as hypoglycemia, and diabetics, who have blood sugar that is too high, are at risk for it.

In diabetics, the blood sugar level can drop too low as a result of having too much insulin. This usually happens to diabetics who are insulin dependent, but can also happen to those who are not insulin dependent.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, sweating, hunger, dizziness, confusion, extreme sleepiness, problems speaking, weakness, and feeling anxious. If hypoglycemia occurs while you are sleeping, you may experience nightmares, or wake up drenched in sweat. You may also feel tired upon waking, or wake feeling confused or irritated.

Again, note that hypoglycemia isn’t a side effect of diabetes. It’s a potential — but uncommon — side effect of the treatment of diabetes. Most instances of hypoglycemia can easily be combated by eating or drinking something that contains carbohydrates. However, if hypoglycemia isn’t addressed, it can lead to unconsciousness.

Although hypoglycemia is often caused by having too much insulin, there are other causes. If you do not eat enough or you skip meals, you may become hypoglycemic. If you increase your physical activities — above the norm — you may experience hypoglycemia. Another common cause is drinking too much alcohol.

To avoid hypoglycemia, be certain that you eat well-balanced meals, at appropriate times. Don’t skip meals. Also, be certain that you are monitoring your blood sugar, and if it is underneath the normal range, eat or drink something that has carbohydrates in it. If hypoglycemia occurs once in a while, it shouldn’t be a immense concern. You should, however, let your doctor know about it. If it is occurring often, your doctor will most likely want to change your medications, or see a log of what you are eating and drinking, what activities you are participating in, and the times of those events.

You had another hard day at work. You are aroused about getting home. Now, you are home. There it is, your favorite chair. It looks so inviting, so comfortable. You have been best buddies for years. You sit down in your chair. Ah, it feels so good, so familiar. It is time to turn on the tube, watch your favorite sitcoms or catch up on the day’s current events. It is time to waste the night away, with a snack and a beverage, watching what you please.

Well, don’t get too comfortable! You may have diabetes or may be on your way to getting Type II diabetes. Your lack of exercise, puts on extra pounds, and does not do anything to help control your blood sugar. Be sure to get up and get moving. Be sure to get those lower limbs in motion. Not watching one of those TV shows, could be beneficial to your health.

You think, running, ” that should be the answer. ” For a small percentage, it may be the answer. You certainly, burn more calories in a shorter amount of time. Most of us are not prepared to run, initially. Running the first day is a bad idea. While you are running , you may not feel it. But, the next day, you will be sore and aching. You’ll not get the full benefit of your program. You might decide that running is too hard on you. You probably thought you were going to run farther and longer. This could discourage further exercise endeavors.

Begin smarter and slower. It will be good for you in a little time. Jogging, may be the answer for some. Sore knees, shinsplints, breathing difficulties are common when jogging. Also, if this is all new for you, don’t push yourself too hard. Too hard, could be discouraging for you. You want to be enthusiastic, not discouraged.

It’s a good idea to start with walking. Start walking. Start at an above average pace, just a little faster than your normal walking speed. Walk with a goal in mind. Choose a place you want to walk to, or a certain number of laps around the track. Choose the amount of time in which you want to finish. Be certain to keep note of these, you will refer to them as you progress to new goals. Again, start gradually. Don’t forget, when you walk to the spot you select to walk to, you are only one-half done. You still have to walk back.

As you progress, this should become a daily exercise. You should walk for one-half hour. You’ll increase the distance you walk. You’ll increase your walking speed. As you increase these, You’ll lose weight, burn fat, and get lower, steadier blood sugar levels. Increasingly, lower levels will be the normal for you. This is exciting. This will inspire you to do more.

Comfort is important in any kind of exercise. Wear shoes that are designed to take the impact of walking. There are many out there. Walking shoes, cross-training shoes, running shoes all work good. Loose, comfortable clothes, make the walks easier.

Wait to get in the evening chair, until after you walk. Make certain to get a program together for yourself.  This is important, for yourself. You do not want to compare your progress to others. Everyone is different. All have different tolerances and recovery speeds. None of us are the same. Go at your own pace. But consistently, increase the distance or speed at which you walk. As always, check your blood sugar levels. These will be beneficial, in seeing results, positive results. You’ll enjoy seeing changes when you look into the mirror, also.

Many of us suffer from our blood sugar level being out of balance. If you have high blood sugar levels (diabetes), then you will hopefully be under the supervision of a medical practitioner. This article is about low blood sugar levels, sometimes referred to as hypoglycaemia.

There are many causes of low blood sugar, including stress, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies. However, here we are focusing on three ways in which we can all make changes to our habits to greatly reduce the likelihood of suffering low blood sugar – our intake of sugar, coffee and tobacco.

Sugar

Refined grains and refined white sugar are probably the most significant factors involved in hypoglycaemia. As well as the sugar we ourselves add to drinks and food, surprisingly large quantities of sugar are added to many processed foods and drinks, even savoury ready meals. Refined grains are stripped of their nutrients and only a few are replaced. E.g. up to 98% of chromium is lost and 78% of zinc. These two minerals are critical for blood glucose control. Refined grains are not only depleted of nutrients, but they use up your body stores of nutrients in the process of trying to deal with them.

Solution –  Purchase only natural ingredients and resist the temptation to add sugar to your food and drinks!

Coffee

Coffee can drastically lower your blood sugar level. Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands, which encourages the liver to breakdown its glycogen stores, and release it back into the bloodstream as glucose. The dependable quick fix of a cup of coffee with sugar is like a double â..whammy’. The body is flooded with an immediate source of sugar into the bloodstream, while coffee adds to the total sugar load by acting through the adrenal glands and liver.

Solution –  Try to cut back your coffee consumption, and gradually reduce the amount of sugar you take with it.

Tobacco

Studies have shown that nicotine rapidly increases glucose levels by as much as 36 percent, followed by a rapid drop shortly after the cigarette is put out. This sudden drop in blood sugar level after a cigarette helps to explain the addictive nature of nicotine and the craving for the next cigarette soon after. Although the mechanism isn’t clearly understood, tobacco use can cause a severe deficiency of vitamin C. This vitamin has many roles in the body and a deficiency is associated with many degenerative diseases.

Solution –  Quit smoking if you can. If you can’t, bettering your diet by eating more fruits and vegetables can help to reduce cravings, thus making it easier to quit smoking in the long run.

The next question perhaps would be – What’s blood sugar testing? – It is mainly a test of the amount of glucose in one’s system. It will show whether one has below or above normal levels of sugar in his blood. Correspondingly, conditions of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia may become more obvious after such tests.

If asked, what is blood sugar testing frequency appropriate for one? It’ll all depend on your current situation and your doctor’s advise. If one has pre-diabetes, the doctor may require testing on regular intervals. If you are a known diabetic however, you may be asked to closely monitor your glucose levels several times a day – prompting you to do self-checks at home, with the use of blood sugar meters. A hemoglobin A1c test might also be ordered by your doctor along with blood sugar testing for a better monitoring of glucose over a period of time.

Blood sugar testing may however be done to healthy, asymptomatic individuals for screening of diabetes. As one may know, diabetes starts with a few symptoms and thru such tests – one will be able to find concrete results of his true health standing.

In emergency settings – perhaps where symptoms of fainting and unconsciousness are seen, blood sugar testing may also have to be administered. Such tests would determine whether an abnormal glucose level – low or high – is contributing to the symptoms of the patient.

In workplace health programs, an information drive is usually done to answer –  ”what is blood sugar and blood sugar testing?” – And actual blood sugar testing is also being done here. Public health fairs also have this.

In routine physical exams, blood glucose testing may form part of the tests one has to undergo. It’ll help screen and diagnose diabetes. The sooner one knows his true condition, the earlier the appropriate treatment can be administered to him – and preventive measures can be taken to control one’s glucose levels to normal.

Many people have their predispositions about the word “diet.” Do you remember Richard Simmons’ line? “Don’t die it; live it!” You may have your own, and that’s okay. But, can I tell you, friend, that I’ve an acronym of “diet” that is empowering and useful? Here it is –

Doing what’s right

Identifying the bad food vs. the good food

Energizing your heart, mind, and body

Taking control of your life

This acronym is nothing like a ball-and-chain or a weight to hold you down and depress you! It’s a helpful tool to remind you that a diet plan has many wonderful rewards. Doing what has right has to do with following your doctor’s prescribed diabetic diet plan to maintain your healthy glucose levels. Learn to identify the bad food versus the good food by looking at the labels when grocery shopping. Energizing your heart, mind, and body is a result from these healthier lifestyle options. Make certain to take control of your healthy life. This involves living life to the fullest with the ones who love and care for you. What can be better than that?

Still skeptical about the diabetic diet foods, huh? Well, I’ll answer any questions you have. Let’s get started!

What are the foods that I should eat? Do not worry, I am not going to say bark or dried-out chicken! These foods are healthy and tasty!

o  Broccoli

o  Spinach

o  Green Beans

o  Unsweetened oatmeal

o  Strawberries

o  Sparkling Water

o  Fish and Lean Meats

o  Cinnamon

o  Yogurt

o  Fruit

That is right! You can have tasty and healthy foods!

Do I have to give up all my favorite foods? Healthier options is the answer, my friend. Yes, the best answer is to give up those dangerous foods for good, but reality and real life is present. Moderation and complete exchanges of unhealthy foods for healthy and tasty foods is the best answer. I know this is going to be hard, so I will give you some helpful hints –

o  Exchange high-fat foods for low-fat foods.

o  Disguise the small portions by serving it on a dessert or salad plate.

o  When eating out, ask for a “to-go” box and put half of your meal in the box before you eat.

o  By drinking a glass of water 10 minutes before each meal, you will not eat as much.

o  If you’re still hungry after your meal, wait 20 minutes.

o  Do not eat with the TV on.

Okay, I know how to eat, but how much should I eat? Portion control is a sensitive subject, is not it? Well, it’s much easier controlling the amount of food that it’s taking huge amounts of medication. Here are some helpful portion comparisons –

o  A deck of cards is one serving of meat.

o  A slice of bread is one serving of bread.

o  A scoop of ice cream equals one serving of pasta.

Why should I keep to a healthy diet? The rewards are endless and are very healthy –

o  Healthful glucose levels.

o  Steady and healthy weight management.

o  Your family.

o  Your life.

Chia’s soluble fiber slows and regulates the uptake of glucose into the blood stream thus blood blood sugar levels rise evenly and steadily rather than quickly.  Steady and even insulin levels can calm cravings for sugar, junk foods, or simple carbohydrates (e.g., processed or refined white flour products or foods containing concentrated sweeteners such as high-fructose corn syrups or refined sugars, as well as certain artificial sweeteners.)

Insulin levels follow blood glucose levels, therefore there is no spike in insulin, and no corresponding “crash” in glucose levels…thus keeping energy levels steady, and lowering hunger (due to the body’s not requiring additional sugar to compensate for suddenly low glucose levels).

Chia’s soluble fiber allows for the slow, even release of food sugars into the blood stream during and after digestion. This unique characteristic of chia seeds allows for a smooth insulin response that is exactly the opposite of the “highs” and “lows” that accompany processed sugars.

Besides its soluble fiber chia seed oil consist of 64% omega 3 fatty acid which balance out the high omega 6 fatty acid intake of our modern western diet. Chia seeds are well known to elevate stamina. Not only do chia seeds give you a boost of energy that lasts it also provides stamina and endurance. Sun runners and Aztec warriors where known to carry them (The Mayan word for chia is strength).

Each chia seed can absorb liquids many times its own weight (makes for great recipe ideas), wont go rancid like flax seeds and can be stored for many years without losing nutrients or flavour.

A diet rich in fiber has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood sugar in diabetics. Many diabetics can significantly lower their blood sugar, and as a result, reduce their diabetic and cholesterol medications or stop taking them altogether, by eating lots of high fiber foods.

A recent research study  published in the May issue of The New England Journal of Medicine found that blood sugar levels were lowered by 8.9% on a high fiber diet. It also lowered cholesterol and triglycerides.

Fiber comes from the cell walls of plants. Additionally, fiber and water work together to keep the bowels regular.

Unfortunately, the majority of high fiber foods also contain a high amount of carbohydrates, and if you are diabetic, those will increase your blood sugar levels dramatically.

Below are lists of low-carb foods that are also high in fiber, along with the approximate number of grams of fiber they contain.

The fiber content shown is for a quantity of 1/2 cup.

Low-Carb Fruits

 Blackberries, 4.9 grams

 Avocado, 3.8 grams

 Medium-sized Apple, 3.6 grams

 Raspberries, 2.6 grams

 Blueberries, 2.1 grams

 Cherries, 1.5 grams

 Strawberries, 1.4 grams

Low-Carb Vegetables

 Brussels Sprouts, 3.1 grams

 Broccoli, 2.7 grams

 Greens, cooked, 2-4 grams (beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, and turnip greens)

 Mushrooms, canned, 2.0 grams

 Green Beans, 1.4 – 2 grams (broad beans, pole beans, and snap beans)

 Asparagus, 1.8 grams

 Okra, 1.6 grams

 Zucchini, 1.3 grams

 Yellow Summer Squash, 1.3 grams

 Cauliflower, 1.4 grams

 Onions, 1.3 grams

 Celery, 1.1 grams

 Peppers, 1.1 grams

Including more of the above foods in your diet will help in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

You ought to make changes to your diet to include more high fiber foods, and do it gradually. Just add a few grams at a time so that your digestive system can adjust.

It’s best to increase the amount of fiber in your diet over several weeks. This avoids problems with stomach-aches, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

In fact, there are several well-known and highly respected glucose support herbs that might help control glucose levels for diabetes sufferers. In fact, in the past two decades there has been an explosion of interest in natural medicine as millions of people around the world have an ever-increasing appetite for information on diet, nutrition, nutritional supplements, medicinal herbs, and natural remedies.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention to you that the most important aspect of managing diabetes is ensuring that you eat a healthy, balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and get regular exercise. Further, supplements work best, including glucose support herbs, when you also make these health enhancing lifestyle changes.

Now, before we delve into herbs that may be helpful for diabetes sufferers, it’s important to understand that herbs and/or dietary supplements are not meant to replace the advice of your physician and you should never stop using your medications or insulin, or alter your dosage, without your physician’s approval. Indeed, you should always talk with your physician before taking any glucose support herbs and/or any dietary supplements.

That said, let’s take a look at some of the most highly respected glucose support herbs that may possibly help you or a loved one.

Gymema Sylvestre, also known as the “sugar destroyer,” is highly touted as one that has the ability to block the taste of sweetness, and, as such, it helps to stave off the “cravings of sweets.” Gymema Sylvestre has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a lot of centuries to regulate blood sugar levels. In fact, gymnema is a well-known and highly respected Ayurvedic remedy used to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Bitter Melon- Ayurvedic physicians for centuries have used bitter melon, often along with other herbs, to treat type 2 diabetes. Bitter melon is said to regulate blood sugar levels. Truly, one of the chemical components of bitter melon called polypeptide-p is said to lower blood-sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes. As reported by the well renowned tome Prescription for Herbal Healing written by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC who states –

Since, unlike insulin, polypeptide-p does not stimulate the movement of fat into fat cells, it has been considered as a replacement for at least some of the injected insulin that people with type 1 diabetes must take each day, although the herb cannot completely replace insulin. When used to treat this type of diabetes, polypeptide-p is effective only in injection form. (Page 32).

Fenugreek seeds are among the list of glucose support herbs. It’s been shown to reduce cholesterol and glucose levels in clinical and experimental studies. Clinical studies in India have found that large doses of fenugreek seeds lowers blood-glucose levels in kind 1 and kind 2 diabetes. However, there is a negative side to this glucose support herb. You’ve to take a lot (15 to 100 grams daily) of fenugreek seeds to obtain an effect, and it’s also associated with mild gastrointestinal upset.

Banaba Leaf Extract – Banaba is a medicinal plant that grows in India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines that is climbing the charts as a one of the glucose support herbs. Truly, banaba has been used in the Philippines to promote blood sugar control. Banaba contains a compound known as corosolic acid, that is believed to have actions in stimulating glucose transport into cells and, as such, plays a role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. In Japan, there has been some research done with banaba. However, we have not come across published human studies on this glucose support herb. Conversely, our research indicates that there has been at least one human study with corosolic acid, that is an extract found in banaba and it showed to be effective in reducing blood sugar levels in kind II diabetics.

But wait, there are more glucose support herbs…

Garlic and Onions are best known for decreasing cholesterol. However, according to two Indian studies, this duo has also shown to lower blood sugar levels.

Ginseng was found effective in lowering glucose levels. In a small Finnish study, people newly diagnosed with non-insulin-dependent (Type II) diabetes received either 100 or 200 milligrams of a ginseng extract or placebos every day. Compared with individuals in the placebo group, the people in both ginseng groups not only reported lower glucose levels, but also greater improvement in mood in addition to enhanced performance on physical and psychological tests. However, those taking 200 milligrams of ginseng experienced more benefit than those who took 100 milligrams.

Bilberry is an herb that is traditionally advised to promote healthy blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. In addition, it is used to promote healthy insulin production as well. However, there’s more to this herb. Bilberry is a powerful antioxidant, which makes it an great source to help fight against the continuous onslaught of free radicals. Bilberry is also hailed for its ability to promote vision health. It appears to strengthen the tiny blood capillaries that carry oxygen to the eyes, which may account for its wide use in Europe to treat diabetic retinopathy.

Other glucose support herbs that may help lower or improve blood-sugar levels include –  Garlic, Psyllium, Burdock, and Nopal (prickly pear cactus).

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre’s Opinion on Glucose Support Herbs

In fact, people with diabetes can benefit  greatly from a number of herbal and dietary supplements, but before you begin to ingest any of these glucose support herbs, please have a discussion with your doctor to see if they are appropriate for you.

It’s important to note that the mineral chromium seems to help lower glucose levels and is worth discussing with your physician.

Lastly, there are many different comprehensive diabetes formulas that are designed to support diabetes health. For  instance, the product may be formulated using carefully selected ingredients to help maintain healthy insulin levels as well as the health and functioning of the liver, heart and pancreas. Therefore, it’s important to understand the how and why of what makes some of these comprehensive diabetes formulas useful, that is an important factor in making an informed option.