Discover the Truth about Lower Back Pain Causes

When most people think of lower back pain causes, they immediately think of injuries caused by lifting items improperly or sitting at a desk for an extended period of time. Those things certainly cause the majority of the lower back pain that doctors treat every day. However, they aren't the only causes of lower back pain.

One of the lower back pain causes that is often overlooked is a kidney infection. Obviously, not all lower back pain will be caused by a kidney infection but it should definitely be kept in mind, especially if a person doesn't recall injuring their back in any way, shape, or form recently. Kidney infections are often accompanied by a fever. Most often, the fever can spike rather high. Kidney infections are a serious emergency and need to be treated right away. If left untreated, permanent kidney damage can result.

Another potential lower back pain cause is having a spine that isn't aligned properly. Proper alignment of the spine is crucial not for just lower back health but body health in general. Pinched nerves and reduced blood flow can result if a person's spine is even the tiniest bit out of alignment. Thankfully, a misaligned spine is easy to fix.

A trip to the chiropractor's is usually all that's needed to get everything straight again. If the problem is particularly bad or been left untreated for a long time, multiple trips might be needed to get everything perfectly in alignment again. Fortunately, most chiropractor appointments are inexpensive. Even if you don't have insurance or your insurance doesn't cover a chiropractor, you should still be able to afford the appointments you'll need.

A pinched nerve is also one of the lower back pain causes. Pinched nerves can be extremely painful, depending on where the nerve is pinched at. You can get a shooting pain from a pinched nerve when you move certain ways. Occasionally, the pain can even feel like a constant stabbing pain. Either way, a pinched nerve will need to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

Obviously, the most common lower back pain causes are muscle injuries of one sort or another. Muscle injuries tend to be throbbing in nature while nerve injuries feel like stabbing, shooting pains. Since muscle injuries to the lower back are fairly common, it's easy to find products you can purchase over the counter to help ease the aches and pains you may be feeling. Medications, heat wraps, and ice are commonly prescribed. Exercise and stretching can help heal an injured lower back quickly and prevent injuries from happening in the future.

Lower back pain doesn't need to be a part of life. It can be avoided all together in most instances. All you need to do is listen to what your body is telling you, learn proper lifting techniques, and become familiar with the various lower back pain causes. Being educated about them will help prevent injuries in the future.

Discover The Truth About Severe Lower Back Pain

Discover the Truth about Severe Lower Back Pain

Most people are accustomed to dealing with the occasional aches and pains that spring up in our lower backs from time to time. These minor pains can be caused from a wide variety of things: overdoing it at the gym, not picking up a box properly, sleeping in an odd position, even sitting for an extended length of time. Most of the time, these minor aches and pains can be treated with a heat wrap, some aspirin, and a little TLC. Sometimes, the problem isn't as easily solved.

Sometimes, you can have severe lower back pain.

Severe lower back pain can be extremely depressing and debilitating. It's been proven that people that deal with chronic pain are more likely to be suicidal or on antidepressants. People get depressed and upset when they can't do the things they once enjoyed doing. It can easily color your entirely outlook on life in general.

There are many different causes of severe lower back pain. A slipped disc, pinched nerve, seriously sprained or torn muscle, even muscle spasms can cause pain so bad that all a person wants to do is take a handful of pain medication and curl up in bed. Even though severe back pain can be devastating there is good news. Once what's causing the pain is identified, a treatment plan can then be put into effect.

Part of determining what's causing the severe lower back pain is discovering whether it's a nerve problem or muscle problem. The doctor will ask you to describe your pain. Nerve pain is often described as sharp, stabbing, or shooting. Muscle pain is an ache, throbbing, or tearing pain. While the differences may seem trivial to some, it will make all the difference in any tests the doctor decides to run and in the treatment plan prescribed.

Once it's established whether it's a nerve or muscle causing the severe lower back pain, the doctor might order a series of tests. MRIs are often used to identify if a muscle is torn. An EMG can also be performed to determine just how damaged various muscles might be. Nerve conduction studies or nerve biopsies can be done to determine if there is any nerve damage or to help locate where a pinched nerve might be.

As soon as the extent of the injury causing the severe lower back pain is figured out, the doctor can then work with you on a treatment plan. Often, a treatment plan will consist of physical therapy, medication to relieve pain and swelling, possible surgery, and follow-up appointments down the road to see how things are progressing. If, at any time, the treatment plan doesn't appear to be working as well as it should, you and your doctor can sit down and discuss changes to your overall plan of care.

The truth about severe lower back pain is there’s hope. Hope for a treatment. Hope for a cure. Hope that one day, the pain will be gone.

Tips About Exercises For Lower Back Pain

Searches on the internet for exercises for lower back pain continue to increase almost daily, it seems. It's not hard to guess why. Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints seen in doctors' offices today. More work days are being missed every year due to lower back pain. The missed work days affect everyone, not just the employee that is out of work due to lower back pain and the company they work for.

Deadlines are missed resulting in longer wait times for products and services, not to mention the smaller pay checks, which means people have less money to spend. Since many lower back injuries occur at work, a lot of companies are having to file on their Worker's Compensation Insurance. More claims mean higher rates. Higher rate means less raises. Less raises mean money for employees to spend. Truly, lower back pain affects us all.

More and more people are turning to exercises for lower back pain instead of medication. As the FDA recalls more drugs every day, it's no wonder people are afraid to take anything for pain. Medications can also lead to addictions. At the very least, while medications can take the pain away for a short while, they often have nasty side effects and don't really address the root of the problem, which is the injured, lower back. Exercises for lower back pain do.

Now, bear in mind, these sorts of exercises aren't for everybody. Before beginning any exercise routine, it's best to talk to your doctor first. If you can, speak to a physical therapist, as well. They will be able to tell you which exercises are the best for the type of lower back pain and injury you have. You definitely don't want to make your injury worse by doing the wrong sorts of exercises. Making the injury worse completely defeats the purpose of doing the exercises for lower back pain completely.

Once you figure out which exercises are the best for you and your individual circumstances, it's time to work out an exercise schedule. Make a date for yourself to do your exercise every day or every other day. Be certain you check with your physical therapist the best frequency for you to follow. After the date has been made, stick to it! Your back won't heal very well on its own. If you're dedicated to getting better, you need to be dedicated to getting the exercises done regularly.

Also, start out slowly. Don't rush into the exercises. Don't feel like you need to complete a billion reps. Listen to your body as you do the exercises. They may be uncomfortable at first but they shouldn't hurt. If they hurt, stop! Pain is your body's way of telling you something isn't right. Look at the instructions for how the exercise is to be done again. Make sure you were doing it right. If you were, talk to your physical therapist again about alternations to your exercises for lower back pain.

Tips About The Causes Of Lower Back Pain

There can be a wide variety of causes for lower back pain. For instance, repetitive injuries at work, improper lifting techniques, and poor posture are but a few of the more common ones. There are also other things that can be causes of lower back pain such as various illnesses and diseases.

Kidney infections are one of the prime causes of lower back pain that often go undiagnosed, ultimately resulting in disastrous consequences. An undiagnosed kidney infection can cause severe damage to a person’s kidneys. Once a kidney is scarred or otherwise damaged, it’s impossible to heal. If too much damage is done, it can cause a kidney to stop functioning entirely. If a kidney stops functioning, a person will be on dialysis for the rest of their life or will need a kidney transplant. Anytime you have lower back pain that’s accompanied by a fever, you must see a doctor immediately in order to rule out a kidney infection as the culprit.

Pinched nerves are also one of the causes of lower back pain. When discussing nerves, it’s important to note that nerve pain and muscle pain feel different. Nerve pain is typically a sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain. Muscle pains are more aching, throbbing, or tearing pains. Knowing the differences in the two kinds of pains should help you determine exactly what is causing the pain to begin with. If it’s a pinched nerve, you will need to seek treatment at a doctor’s office. Various tests can be done to determine which nerve is pinched and what is causing it to become pinched. From there, a treatment plan can be discussed. A pinched nerve can become permanently damaged so it’s important to get treatment for it right away to prevent that from happening.

Perhaps the most obvious causes of lower back pain are muscle related injuries. They can happen in a wide variety of ways. Muscle strains and sprains are perhaps the most common. Active sports, using improper techniques when lifting or exercising, pretty much anything you do that requires use of a muscle in the your back can cause lower back injuries and pain. It’s important to be aware at all times of what you’re doing and how you’re doing it if you wish to avoid injuring your back. If you have any questions about a particular exercise or lifting technique or need any help whatsoever with lifting an item or exercising, don’t hesitate to ask. It just may mean the difference between a healthy back and a serious injury.

While there are certainly many different causes of lower back pain, they can be easily treated with the proper mix of rest, exercise, and occasionally medication. If at all possible, it’s best to avoid an injury to your lower back entirely to begin with, however that’s not always possible. At the very least, now that you know more about the causes of lower back pain, you know how to handle it better.

Discover The Truth About Lower Left Back Pain

Many people immediately associate lower left back pain with any muscle strains or injuries to the area. With how common muscle injuries are to the lower back, it's no wonder that that's everyone first assumption. The problem is, not all lower back pain is caused by muscle sprains or strains. It can be dangerous and even downright deadly to immediately assume that's the cause and not seek treatment right away.

Most lower back pain associated in the center of a person's lower back is probably caused by some sort of strain or inflammation in the area. If you're having lower left back pain, or even lower right back pain, you seriously need to sit up and take notice. Don't dismiss it as having slept oddly the night before or being a little stiff after sitting at your desk at work all day.

Back pain that's located more on one side over the other could signal a potentially life threatening situation known as a kidney infection. Chances are, by the time someone is feeling lower left back pain from a kidney infection, the kidney infection has been going on for awhile. Kidney infections can cause permanent damage to a person's kidney. In a worst case scenario, a kidney infection can cause a person's kidney to stop functioning entirely. That can result in the need for dialysis and a potential kidney transplant later than life. Often times, kidney infections are accompanied by a fever. Sometimes, the fever can spike extremely high, very quickly.

Kidney infections can be caused by bladder or urinary tract infections. If you're prone to them, you really need to immediately seek treatment if you have lower left back pain. Bladder infections can be asymptomatic. That means, you can have one and never know it because you don't feel it. Bladder infections can cause kidney infections by allowing bacteria to go into the kidneys. That's why any lower left back pain really should be evaluated by a doctor to see if it's the beginning stages of a kidney infection.

Another potential cause of lower left back pain could be a pinched nerve. Many nerves branch out over our entire body from the spinal cord. They run through muscle, around blood vessels, even through spaces between our bones and joints. If a muscle becomes inflamed, it can cause nerves to rub up against the bone, effectively causing the nerves to become pinched between the muscle and bone. If bones become misaligned, it can cause nerves to pinch between the bones. Any sharp, stabbing pain in your lower left back needs to be treated by a doctor. There are different treatments for pinched nerves than muscle strains so it's important you are getting the proper treatment for your lower left back pain if you want to avoid injuries in the future.

As you can see, there are many different causes and treatments for lower left back pain. The important thing is to get proper treatment for your particular injury.

What You Need To Know About Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization, a few decades back diabetes was an uncommon disease, in both developed and developing countries. Today, the story is different. It is currently estimated that over 143million people worldwide are affected by the disease. This figure is ever increasing, by 2020 over 220million people are expected to be living with diabetes, if the current trend continues.

In the United States alone, there are 18.2 million people (6.3% of the population) living with diabetes. While another 13million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, 5.2milion (or nearly one third) are unaware that they have the disease.

The figure for Nigeria is not readily available, but it is estimated that over 1.5million people have diabetes in Nigeria.

In developed countries, most patients of diabetes are over sixty, but in developing countries, diabetes is found to affect people in their prime.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes Mellitus (or simply diabetes) is derived from the Greek word 'Diabeinein', meaning 'To pass through' describing copious urination, and Mellitus from the Latin word meaning 'Sweetened with honey'. These two words signify sweetened urine or sugar in urine.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use Insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed, in the body, to control the rate at which sugar, starch and other food are converted into glucose required as energy for daily life. The hormone is produced and released

into the blood by an organ called 'Pancreas'. This insulin help to maintain the blood glucose level within a normal range. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts this normal range between

60 - 100mg/dl (Before taking any food for the day, hence this value is called Fasting Blood Glucose). In health, despite several demands for glucose in different situations, the blood glucose rarely exceeds this value.

After a meal the liver stores the glucose from the meal as glycogen and releases it into the blood in between meals. The role of insulin is the control of this storage and release of glucose. It ensures that the amount of glucose in the blood at every particular time does not go beyond or below the normal range.

TYPES OF DIABETES.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), five classes of diabetes are recognized, these are; Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) or Type I Diabetes, Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) or Type II Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes Insipidus and Bronze Diabetes.

INSULIN DEPENDENT/TYPE I DIABETES: This type of diabetes was initially called Juvenile onset diabetes because it affects adolescents and young adults. It is caused by a sudden failure of the pancreas to produce Insulin. It is, therefore, an acute disease, presenting with thirst, polyuria (passing large amount of urine), diuresis and weight loss. Type I diabetes is not common, it accounts for less than 10% of all diabetes cases.

NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT/ TYPE II DIABETES: This is the most prevalent type of diabetes, accounting for more than 80% of all diabetic cases. It is found in adults and the elderly. This type of diabetes develops gradually over a long period of time (unnoticed) and is characterized by insufficient insulin, deficient insulin in the blood or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin resent (Insulin resistance). Because of its slow and gradual occurrence, it is mostly undetected until one or more of its long-term complications appear.

Unlike in Type I Diabetes, the Insulin in the blood of a Type II diabetic may be normal or even high, but lacks the desired effect, due to insulin resistance, and this is prevalent among obese people.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES: This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and disappears after delivery, within 3weeks. An estimated 3% of all pregnancies are accompanied by gestational diabetes and almost half of these patients are prone to developing permanent diabetes later in life.

WHAT CAUSES DIABETES.

As with hypertension and other non communicable diseases, no clear cut cause(s) can be attributed to the most prevalent type of diabetes (Type II Diabetes, Type I diabetes being secondary to failure of the pancreas). However, some factors are known to increase one's chances of becoming diabetic and these are called risk factors. For example, indolent and well-fed populations are 2 - 20times more likely to develop type II diabetes than active and lean population of the same race. Some other factors known to increase one chances of getting diabetes include:

OBESITY: It is estimated that three quarter (¾) of all Type II diabetes patient are obese. Indolent and affluent lifestyles tend to contribute to this. It is believed that a 10kg loss of weight can reduce fasting blood sugar level by almost 50md/dl. An active lifestyle with frequent exercise is also known to increase Insulin sensitivity.

The International standard for measuring overweight and obesity is based on a value called BODY MASS INDEX (BMI). This value is derived by dividing the body weight (in Kilograms) by the square of height (in metres).

i.e. BMI = Body weight (Kg) / Height2 (Metres).

Note: 1ft = 0.305metres.

For adults, a BMI less than 25kg/m2 is preferred.

25 - 29kg/m2 is considered overweight and above 30kg/m2 is Obesity.

FAMILY HISTORY: A family history of diabetes increases one's chances of getting the disease. In such a situation, leading a healthy lifestyle and constant monitoring of one's blood sugar level becomes very important.

AGE AND RACE: Most Type II diabetes patient are over 40yrs at presentation of the disease. However, the proportion of increase in the incidence of this disease with age is higher for those with a family history of diabetes, obese and probably those leading sedentary lifestyles. Moreover, diabetes tends to be more prevalent among Africans, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans. Belonging to any of the races is a risk factor in itself.

HISTORY OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES: in a woman also increases her chances/possibility of developing permanent diabetes later in life.

YOU CAN PREVENT/DELAY DIABETES!

Diabetes have no permanent cure once it develops, it is managed al through life. But you can prevent ever falling into this life long pain. Before diabetes present in people, it is almost always preceded by a situation called PRE DIABETES. A situation where the blood glucose is higher than normal, but not yet enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Saddening, however, you cannot know when you fall into this category, if you have not being monitoring your blood glucose regularly.

Pre Diabetes is itself a serious medical situation, though can still be reversed by making changes in diet pattern and increasing physical activity. To determine one's blood sugar a test called Fasting Blood Glucose has to be conducted. This test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in one's blood before taking any meal for the day. It is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).

A value below 100mg/dl is generally accepted to be normal, while a value greater than 100mg/dl but less than 120mg/dl is not full diabetes yet, so it is regarded as Pre diabetes. An individual with a pre diabetes blood glucose level need to take urgent steps to reduce his blood glucose or risk life long diabetes.

It should be emphasized, however, that the racial and genetic factors predisposing to diabetes are still beyond human comprehension and control. It makes common sense, therefore, to reduce all human controllable factors to the barest minimum. Most of these factors have to do with social occupational and diet habits.

The following tips can help reduce your diabetes risk:

* Reduce weight. Obesity seems to be the single most significant factor in diabetes. Reducing body weight and fat and maintaining an average body weight is very essential. To this end a body mass index (BMI) less than 25kg/m2 for males and less than 24kg/m2 for females is recommended.

* Increase Physical Activity. It is an established fact that diabetes is more common among people that lead a sedentary affluent lifestyle. Simple dynamic exercises like brisk walking for 30-50mins daily or 3-5times weekly has been shown to be very helpful. Exercise reduces bodyweight and fat, increases functionality of the heart, reduces the chances of diabetes and also boosts emotions and healthy living.

* Cut down or cut out alcohol. Alcoholic intake of more than 2units per day has been shown to adversely affect the body. Alcohol being an addictive drug makes it very difficult to maintain a definite amount of intake for a long time. It is better therefore to strive to cut out alcohol completely.

* Avoid Smoking. Cigarette smoke has been shown to contain several poisonous substances. Cigarette smoking and alcohol have been related to several disease. Stopping smoking will definitely reduce the chances of several other ailments apart from diabetes.

* Lean good eating habits, such as;

* Cut down on fatty food and junks

* Eat more of fish and poultry (without the skin is better).

* Garlic reduces blood pressure cholesterol; add it to your meal plan once in a while.

* Cut the number of eggs you take to 3- 4 weekly (better boiled than fried).

* Reduce salt intake to less than 5.8grams daily.

* Eat more of vegetables and fibre rich food, especially fruits.

* Finally, constantly monitor your fasting blood glucose, as this is the only way to know when you are getting into trouble.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes and Hypertension being so interlinked requires a comprehensive plan of care, and this revolves round one's dietary habits, social and environmental factors. Several lifestyle changes like regular exercise, maintaining a moderate body weight, reduction of fat intake and high fibre diet all help to live a normal healthy life. These measures are known to increase insulin sensitivity and also reduce blood pressure.

Conclusively, it is very important to create a more health conscious individuals in the populace. A people who practically believe that it is better and cheaper to prevent an illness than to treat it, when it has become stronger. Moreover, preventive health cannot be divorced from regular medical checks, as this two go hand in hand. There is no way to detect several non-communicable diseases without undergoing regular medical checks. The importance of these checks cannot be over emphasized.

Be alive to your health. Know your Blood glucose values and live a healthier life free from the pains of diabetes.

Mr. Adefemi Kazeem is a graduate of Human Anatomy from a Nigerian University and who wishes to specialize in Public Health, soon. You can contact him by e-mail ? yemupz@yahoo.com; Phone ? 234-803-613-6741.

Facts About Diabetes

Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 54 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.

The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

There is also pre-diabetes which is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms may vary from person to person but most of the time anyone with diabetes will experience some or all of these symptoms. Some symptoms are: going to the restroom more often, staying thirsty, fatigue, blurred vision, stomach pain and occasionally people suffer from weight loss.

Type 1 diabetes is normally only found in children and type 2 diabetes is found mostly in adults but not always. There are some cases where children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some people may be diagnosed with being borderline diabetic, which normally ends up turning into full blown diabetes but not always.

Some of the most important things people with diabetes should know is a healthy, nutritional diet and a regular exercise program can help in treating the disease. Speak with your doctor about what kind of diet you should consider following, along with a moderate exercise program. The doctor or a nutritionist should be able to tell you exactly what kinds of foods you should be avoiding and give you some tips on how much exercise you need every week. Doing this has many health benefits and will also make you feel so much better about yourself.

You should know the truth about some of the most common myths about diabetes. Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else. No. Although we don't know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth #2 People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods. A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone - low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Diabetic and "dietetic" versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth #5 If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta. Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut healthy.

Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses. No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis.

Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. No, insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory, there is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, some physicians were fearful that insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. But it doesn't.

Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken. Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.

Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is ok to eat as much of it as you wish. Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. Because fruit contains carbohydrate, it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and types of fruits you should eat.

Myth #10 You don't need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent. The better your glucose control, the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes. An A1C in the sevens (7s), however, does not represent good control. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent. The closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent), the lower your chances of complications. However, you increase your risk of hypoglycemia, especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you.

There is no cure right now for diabetes but there are several different forms of treatment available for you. Do not give up hope on feeling better and living a long, healthy, happy life. Even if you are one of the many that has been diagnosed with this disease, it does not mean that your life as you know it is over. It simply means you may need medication and you will have to consider certain lifestyle changes that will have an amazing outcome once you have done so. There are many other treatment options that could eventually be available to you but are currently undergoing more detailed research.

Janice Lockeby has been successful in keeping her husband's blood levels in a consistently normal range since he was diagnosed. Find out how she does it at http://www.newbloodsugar.com