Which sounds more attractive: taking daily insulin pills or injections, or eating healthy foods? Or what about this choice: spending hundreds of dollars on prescription medicine that can cause side effects like dizziness, nausea, and headaches or using a natural remedy for diabetes that involves vitamins, supplements and easy to do lifestyle changes? If you opt for the natural diabetes remedies, then you are not alone. Each year, thousands of people learn that they have pre-diabetes or diabetes, and upon diagnosis, choose a natural remedy for diabetes. Interestingly, many of these people who are diagnosed with pre-diabetes never develop full-fledged diabetes because of the diabetes remedies that they adapt into their lifestyle.

Diet and Diabetes Remedies:

• Be sure your diet includes an abundance of foods that are high in fiber, plentiful in colorful fruits and vegetables and low in sugars and white flours.
• Eating breakfast is an important aspect of implementing a successful natural remedy for diabetes. Be sure you frequently include protein sources such as omega 3 eggs, a soy protein shake, or nut butters.
• Controlling diabetes does not mean skipping meals or snacks. Rather, you should eat a healthy snack/meal at least once every 4 hours. Great snack choices include nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables, or even 2-3 ounces of dark chocolate (this should contain at least 70% cocoa).
• When planning your meals, be sure that they include foods that are high in items that rank low on the glycemic index. Some of these items include lentils, chick peas, soybeans, edamame and green leafy vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, kale, collards, spinach, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
• Don’t limit yourself by not trying new vegetables, fruits or meats. Some extremely beneficial, though unsung heroes of the produce world are detoxants like watercress, bok choy, and Chinese cabbage; anti-oxidants like collards, beets, leeks, and bilberries, and anti-inflammatory foods like wild fish, red and purple berries, nuts and orange sweet potatoes.
• Replace salt with other seasonings. Try creating your own salt-free blend of seasoning. Garlic is especially helpful as it aids in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Foods That Are NOT Part of a Natural Remedy for Diabetes:

• Any type of processed food
• Foods rich in white flour or sugar
• Foods high in fructose corn syrup
• Artificial sweeteners
• Starchy, high glycemic foods
• Processed fruit juices and canned vegetables
• Non-organ organic or grass-fed red meat or organ meats
• Predatory fish such as swordfish, shark, tuna, or tilefish
• Alcohol consumption of more than 3 glasses of red wine per week.

Exercise and Diabetes Remedies:

Exercise plays an important role in increasing insulin sensitivity. By exercising at least 30 minutes a day, you will not only loose unwanted pounds, but improve sugar metabolism, reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and hypertension, and can sometimes reverse diabetes.

Vitamin Supplements and Diabetes Remedies:

There are many vitamins that are used as diabetes remedies. To get you started, here is a short list of vitamins that are a natural remedy for diabetes:

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E
• Fish oil
• Chromium
• Biotin
• Alpha Lipoic acid
• Banaba leaf
• Konjac fiber
• Cinnamon

Treating diabetes naturally is not as impossible as it may sound. Yes, it will take some adapting, but given the choice of insulin injections and diabetes medication or implanting these diabetes remedies have much to offer and are a lot less invasive.

The South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, the grapefruit diet – everywhere you turn someone somewhere is talking about another diet program. With so much information available, it can be somewhat overwhelming. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be confused about which food choices are best. To help out, here are some tried-and-true ways to manage your type 2 diabetes and diet.

Simple Steps for Controlling Your Diabetes and Diet

According to an old adage, we truly are what we eat. In order for a diabetic to achieve and maintain proper glucose levels, A1C, triglycerides and an assortment of other health-related concerns, paying attention to one’s diet cannot be stressed enough. Consequently, implementing these simple steps can make a big difference in maintaining your diabetes and diet.

It is important to understand what foods are essential to type 2 diabetes and diet. Depending on your current medical situation and goals, your daily amounts of grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk and beans will be unique to you. Once you know how many servings you need each day, you are ready for the next step in maintaining your diabetes and diet.

Size Matters

Today’s society expects larger portions, but these mega sizes are resulting in a surplus of health problems, and type 2 diabetes is no exception. Proper diabetes and diet can be maintained better by using the following serving amounts:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables: 1 cup
• Starchy vegetables or dried legumes: 1/2 cup
• Canned, unsweetened fruit: 1/2 cup
• Cooked vegetables: 1/2 cup
• Bread: 1 slice
• Dry cereal: 3/4 cup
• Cooked cereal: 1/2 cup
• Rice or pasta: 1/3 cup
• Lean meat: 3 ounces
• Dairy: 1 cup
• Oils, butter and margarine: 1 teaspoon

Design a plan for your type 2 diabetes and diet. Things to keep in mind as part of your diabetes and diet plan are:

• Choose foods you like to eat.
• Pay attention to blood glucose levels.
• Don’t forget to include snacks (at least three) throughout the day.
• Be careful when eating out. Don’t hesitate to ask for substitutions or to only eat half of the serving, then get a takeout box for the rest.
• Get plenty of exercise-at least 30 minutes each day.

Learn How to Shop

For your type 2 diabetes and diet planning, you will need to approach grocery shopping from a new perspective. For the most part, you will find that shopping the perimeter of the store is the best way to find healthy foods. When you do venture down the aisle, be sure to pay attention to the food labels. Not only do you want items that have high amounts of fiber, protein and other nutrients, but foods that are low in sugars and fats as well.

Including these steps in your type 2 diabetes and diet plan is a great way to keep your glucose levels, A1C, blood pressure and related concerns in check. No, it won’t happen overnight, but step by step, you can make the change for a better way of life.

What do orange juice, green tea, black tea, and plain water have in common? If you answered that they are important parts of a diet for diabetes, then you are correct! Can you believe it? Who would have thought that merely watching what you drink could make a difference in your blood sugar levels? When you include organic drinks in your diet for diabetes, it can offer tremendous benefits. As most of us know, one of the signals for diabetic testing is increased thirst (along with increased appetite, frequent urination, constant tiredness and several other factors). Consequently, once you know you have diabetes, it is important to include healthy drinks as part of your diet for diabetes.

To Drink or Not to Drink

In the world of liquid pleasures, imagination is the limit. However, for the diabetic (as well as others who choose to make good nutrition a way of life), it is important to avoid drinks that are high in carbohydrates, sugars and alcohol. We have all heard that we should drink at least 64 ounces (eight cups) of water per day. And this is even more important in a diet for diabetes. Since water has no calories, sugar or unnecessary ingredients, it is clearly the best of all organic drinks. It is important to note that it is okay to add a bit of taste such as the flavor packets, a dash of citrus or even a splash of flavored syrup – just be sure that your flavoring is sugar-free.

If you are a fan of fruit juice, it is crucial that you do not drink too much of it. Contrary to popular opinion, juice is not as healthy as you may think. This is because it is high in carbohydrates (albeit natural) and low in fiber, which means it ranks rather high on the glycemic index. Consequently, if you are craving a fruity taste, then opt for eating a ripe apple or orange rather than adding excessive fruit juice as part of your diet for diabetes.

One recent surprise in the world of organic drinks is that green tea, black tea and oolong tea (a combination of black and green) are excellent additions to a diet for diabetes. In 2006, retrospective cohort studies were done in 25 cities across Japan. The test subjects consisted of 17,414 people (6,727 men and 10,686 women) between the ages of 40 and 65. During the five-year study, it was noted that those who drank at least six cups of tea a week were 33 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. In addition, women who drank the tea had a lower risk than men for developing diabetes.

Recently, a study was performed at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). It involved a three-month study performed on diabetic mice and found that including green tea in a diet for diabetes not only lowered blood sugar, but also inhibited diabetic cataracts. So, how much green tea should you consume? Based on studies, a 143-pound person will need to drink 4.5 8-ounce cups of tea each day.

To drink or not to drink… it’s up to you. But taking the time to eat right and make healthy drink choices can make a big difference. Bottoms up!

Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans. The most common form is Type 2 diabetes (when the body does not create enough insulin or when cells are insulin resistant) and it makes up about 90-95% of the diabetic population. Since the body’s cells require glucose (sugar), the pancreas produces insulin, which allows the glucose to be used by the body’s cells. For the diabetic with low insulin levels, the glucose builds up in the blood, which ultimately depletes the body of energy and needed sugars.

Traditional medical treatment for diabetes focuses primarily on daily insulin pills or injections, along with assorted tests and medications. However, there has been much research done by purveyors of holistic treatment methods in regards to natural remedies for diabetes. These natural diabetes remedies range from eating specific foods to using herbal supplements and following alternative medicine practices. However, before including the following natural remedies for diabetes, be sure to talk to your doctor or nutritionist.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes

Before items are qualified as natural remedies for diabetes, they must be shown to lower blood sugar levels. In the last decade, studies all over the world have made remarkable discoveries using the following supplements as natural remedies for diabetes.

• Ginseng-The North American variety, Panax quinquefolius, has been shown to improve blood sugar. It also promotes mental clarity and anti-aging while making menopause more bearable. Studies show that 150 mg a day is all that is needed to achieve and maintain low glucose levels.
• Magnesium- This is one of the most readily available natural diabetes remedies. You can get it in pill form or by a diet that is rich in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains such as rye and wheat. In order to be effective in regulating blood sugar, you should get at least 750 mg a day.
• Zinc- Recently, some studies have shown zinc to be effective in the production and storage of insulin. Foods that are high in zinc include ginger root, lamb, pecans, split peas, egg yolk, rye, beef liver, lima beans, almonds, sardines, chicken and buckwheat.
• Black raisins- Although a bit bitter, this is one of the natural diabetes remedies that is gaining popularity. The black raisins are used by soaking them overnight in water, then drinking the liquid in the morning. It is recommended that you do this at least 3 times a week to achieve and maintain optimal glucose levels.

Additional foods that have been shown to lower blood sugar levels are bitter melon, apple cider vinegar (8-10 ounces of water, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and a dash of cinnamon is one of the easiest ways to incorporate this item), grapefruit juice okra, and broccoli.
Studies focusing on natural remedies for diabetes have grown in popularity due to the many people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year. These natural diabetes remedies combined with eating healthy and getting plenty of regular exercise can lower your risk of diabetes related problems and the need for extra medication. Who knows, maybe someday, diabetes can be a part of your past!