Blood Glucose Journal: Fill & Download for Free

Well you can’t. In order to diagnose diabetes, you should have your plasma blood glucose checked (using laboratory studies, not using the portable blood glucose meter). Here’s why.First of all, there are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.Type 1 diabetes happened when your insulin secretion is impaired, leading to insulin deficiency. Viral infections and autoimmune disease may be involved in the destruction of beta cells (cells that produce insulin). This type of diabetes usually congenital (present from birth).Type 2 diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin.Insulin resistance means your body can’t use the insulin properly, but the insulin is there, that’s why it’s also called relative lack of insulin.According to American Diabetes Association (ADA), the diagnostic criterias are:A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level ≥126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L), orA 2-hour plasma glucose level ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), orA random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) in a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisisPlasma blood glucose is blood glucose (sugar) checked via venous blood (drawing blood from your vein), not via peripheral one. Peripheral blood means pricking your finger to obtain blood.Fasting plasma glucose is blood glucose level done by checking plasma blood glucose level after not eating for minimal 8 hours. Drinking water is allowed, but tea, candy or anything sweet is prohibited.Oral glucose tolerance test measures the body's ability to use glucose, our body's main source of energy. It is done by loading some amounts of glucose to your body and see how it reacts to the glucose.Random blood glucose is blood glucose level that obtained anytime.Classic symptoms of hyperglycemia includes:Polyphagia: feels hungry and eats a lot while your weight keeps decreasingPolydipsia: feels thirsty all the time.Polyuria: urinate often.image source: Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology 13th EditionNB: Thou your portable blood glucose test can’t be used as diagnostic criteria, but it can shows you how high your blood glucose level is. When your blood glucose is high, you should check to your doctor for further evaluation.Hope it helps!references:Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology 13th EditionMedscapeAmerican Diabetes Association Supplement Journal Volume 38, 2015 (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/suppl/2014/12/23/38.Supplement_1.DC1/January_Supplement_Combined_Final.6-99.pdf)MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS STANDARDS OF CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES (http://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa509.pdf)

Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common. So, unsurprisingly, are many of the factors that cause it.One of the best established of these causes is not something you would expect can contribute to type 2 diabetes.It has nothing to do with unhealthy food, lack of exercise, obesity, or heart health. It is something that occurs almost exclusively at night.Numerous reports published in academic journals prove that insomnia interferes with glucose metabolism and can even cause type 2 diabetes.The first studies that found that sleep deprivation led to an increase in blood glucose levels were published in the 1960s and 1970s. They were criticized for restricting the subjects’ sleep to only four hours, which is less than most insomniacs sleep. Moreover, many experts disputed that such studies in an artificial laboratory setting can be generalized to the real world, but their conclusions that such sleep deprivation reduced glucose sensitivity by as much as 40 percent made a valuable contribution to the subject.A 2007 report in the journal Sleep took results from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1982 and 1992 and calculated that people who slept five hours or less were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than normal sleepers were.This study was scientifically quite advanced, as it had the medical details of over 9,000 subjects and could therefore rule out obesity, physical activity levels, alcohol use, depression, and a whole range of other factors that could have caused the diabetes. After ruling out all other factors, they concluded that it was definitely the insomnia that caused it.Similar studies with equally good scientific controls have been conducted on:– 2,649 Japanese men for eight years (published in Diabetes Care in 2004),– 6,599 nondiabetic Swedish men for approximately fifteen years (published in Diabetes Care in 2005)– 4,140 and 4,129 non-diabetic German men and women (published in Diabetologia in 2005)– and many more…Therefore, the thesis that insomnia causes type 2 diabetes seems quite well established. If you sleep five hours or less on average, you have a larger risk of losing control over your blood glucose and developing type 2 diabetes.But why does this happen?Your night’s sleep can be divided into five stages: sleep stages one and two are light sleep, stages three and four are deep sleep, and stage five is REM sleep during which you dream. You get most of your important restorative sleep during the deep sleep of stages three and four.Glucose metabolism is slower during deep sleep because your brain needs and uses very little energy. This is the sleep that insomniacs lack. Their bodies demand energy almost 24 hours a day, so their blood glucose must be maintained and their pancreases must continue to secrete insulin.Remember that type 2 diabetes occurs when your blood glucose level and your insulin secretion are consistently so high that your body loses its sensitivity to insulin. If blood glucose and insulin secretion can never be dropped, as is the case with insomniacs, it is unsurprising that insulin insensitivity follows.Other hormones responsible for increased blood glucose are also secreted in larger amounts if deep sleep is lacking, for example, growth hormone and cortisol.Discover the 1 Green VEGGIE that WORSENS Diabetes Type 2 Symptoms, You might be eating this veggie every day - Click Here to Read

When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 22, I asked that exact same question.The year was 2002, and no matter where I turned, all signs pointed towards eating a low-carbohydrate diet as the only solution to managing blood glucose and insulin use in type 1 diabetes.So began my journey into understanding the optimal diet for people living with type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 diabetes, pre diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes.At the age of 22, I was the first to admit that I didn’t know anything about diabetes, only that it had something to do with old people and chocolate cake.For the first time in my life, I was faced with a series of challenging questions for which I had no answers:How do I inject insulin?How much insulin do I need?How often should I inject insulin?What is an appropriate amount of insulin?What are the dangers of too much insulin?What are the dangers of too little insulin?What should I eat to control my blood glucose?What should I NOT eat?When should I eat?Can I still exercise?How much should I exercise?What happens if I don't eat?What's going to happen to me in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?Am I destined for a heart attack?Am I going to gain weight on a low-carbohydrate diet?Plagued with chronically high blood glucose, excessive thirst, low energy, bad breath and constant anxiety, I listened to everything that my doctors and nutritionist told me at the time. Without reservation, they recommended that I eat a low-carbohydrate diet, because that was “the only way to manage blood glucose.”So I did. I minimized my carbohydrate intake, and did my best to avoid fruits, breads, cereals, pastas and rice. Instead, I increased my intake of foods containing fat and protein, including peanut butter, cheese, milk, fish, eggs, poultry and vegetables.“Great,” I thought to myself, “My doctors are prescribing my favorite foods!”During the first year of my diagnosis with type 1 diabetes, even though I was eating a low-carbohydrate diet and enjoying my food very much, I noticed a few things that were very alarming:My blood glucose was extremely hard to controlMy blood glucose meter was effectively a random number generatorMy insulin use seemed quite high (35-42 units per day)My energy levels fluctuated rapidly and randomlyMy breath was terribleI was very irritableI knew that something was terribly wrong, I just had no idea how to fix the problem. Because I was trained as a mechanical engineer, I decided to take a scientific approach to answering finding the solution. I researched all types of diets, and decided to try a plant-based approach, given that it made the most logical sense.I switched from eating a low-carbohydrate diet to a low-fat diet comprised mostly of plants. I began eating large quantities of fruits and vegetables, and minimized my intake of fat-rich foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, coconuts and olives.I ate more fruits and vegetables than I had ever eaten in my life, which directly refuted the anti-carbohydrate wisdom that was all around me. I was nervous that my blood glucose would increase, due to an increase in carbohydrate intake, and I was also nervous that my insulin use with skyrocket.What actually happened? In the first 3 months, I achieved the following:My total daily dose of insulin fell from about 42 units/day to about 25 units/day, a reduction of more than 45%My blood glucose stabilized and became significantly easier to controlMy A1c fell from about 7.5% to 6.2%My energy levels increased dramaticallyI returned to playing soccer, weight lifting, cycling and runningMy anxiety about my diabetes health reduced significantlyThe Truth About InsulinAfter seeing such positive change in my personal health, I attended graduate school to earn a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from UC Berkeley, to study the molecular level details of insulin resistance and carbohydrate metabolism.In the process of more than 5 years of research, I learned the ins-and-outs of many holistic approaches to manage diabetes. What I learned was nothing short of mind-blowing.Most medical professionals will argue that the #1 goal of any treatment program for people with type 1 diabetes is to minimize your total insulin use, and drive it down as close to zero as possible. As a result of this, millions of people across the planet living with type 1 diabetes have the same and goal in mind: minimize or eliminate insulin altogether.What most people don't realize is that insulin is a required biological hormone for life, and that without insulin, you and I would die. Period.All mammals require insulin, and humans are no different. Take a look around - all mammals have a biological requirement for insulin, including your pets and human friends:Dogs secrete insulinMonkeys secrete insulinCats secrete insulinMice secrete insulinPigs secrete insulinGoats secrete insulinYour non-diabetic friends secrete insulinIf you believe that insulin is the enemy, then you are tricking yourself into believing erroneous biology, which may lead you towards a low-carbohydrate diet that increases your risk for chronic diseases and all-cause mortality.The goal of any good type 1 diabetes management program is not to eliminate insulin injections, but to inject your physiologically normal amount of insulin. Excess insulin increases your risk for chronic disease in the long term, and eliminating insulin injections altogether can lead to premature death.Your goal as a person with type 1 diabetes is to inject a physiologically normal amount of insulin, not to eliminate insulin injections altogether.Holistic Approach #1: The Ketogenic DietKetogenic diets are considered very-low-carbohydrate diets, and advocate eating a maximum of 30 grams of carbohydrate per day. By doing so, you achieve a metabolic state known as ketosis, in which your liver converts fatty acids into ketone bodies, then uses those ketone bodies as your primary fuel source.Those eating ketogenic diets consume foods like:MeatFull-fat diary products (cheese, butter, milk, ice cream etc.)PoultryFishEggsOlive oilNon-starchy vegetablesLeafy greensAvocadoesNuts and seedsMost of these foods are very high in saturated fat, even if they come from grass-fed animals.Those on a ketogenic diet are told to stay away from the following:FruitsStarchy vegetables (potatoes, squash, root vegetables)RiceQuionaWhole grainsCornThe main benefits of a ketogenic diet for those living with type 1 diabetes are the following:Flatline blood glucose (easier to control your blood glucose)Decreased need for insulinWeight lossKetogenic diets were originally invented for epileptics, and are effective at reducing seizure incidence. However, ample evidence shows that ketogenic diets come with a laundry list of unwanted side effects that simply cannot be overlooked.These side effects are chronic health conditions that are fueled by a diet low in carbohydrates, high in fat, high in protein and low in water, antioxidants, vitamins, fiber and water. Most importantly, low-carb diets increase your risk for all-cause mortality, which increases your risk of death from any cause.The list of ketogenic diet side effects is here:DiarrheaNauseaConstipationVomitingAcid refluxHair lossKidney stonesMuscle cramps or weaknessHypoglycemiaLow platelet countImpaired cognitionInability to concentrateImpaired moodRenal tubular acidosisDisordered mineral metabolismStunted growth in childrenIncreased risk for bone fracturesOsteopenia and osteoporosisIncreased bruisingSepsisPneumoniaAcute pancreatitisHyperlipidemiaHigh cholesterolInsulin resistanceElevated cortisolIncreased risk for cardiovascular diseaseIncreased risk for atherosclerosisCardiomyopathyHeart arrhythmiaMyocardial infarctionMenstrual irregularitiesAmenorrhea (loss of period)Increased risk for all-cause mortalityIt is important to understand that even though a ketogenic diet makes your blood glucose easier to control in the short-term, in the long-term it significantly increases your risk for a wide variety of chronic health conditions that may ultimately shorten lifespan and decrease your quality of life.Holistic Approach #2: The Low-Carbohydrate DietSimilar to the ketogenic diet, a low-carbohydrate diet involves minimizing your intake of carbohydrate-rich foods, and maximizing your intake of fat-rich in protein-rich foods.The main difference between a low-carbohydrate diet and a ketogenic diet is in the total quantity of carbohydrates. Those on a ketogenic diet usually keep their total carbohydrate intake below 30 grams per day, while those on a low-carbohydrate may eat as much as 75 grams of carbohydrate per day.Those on a low-carbohydrate diet may not enter a state of ketosis if their carbohydrate intake exceeds 30 grams per day. In this case, their carbohydrate intake is low, and they are still able to use carbohydrates (glucose) for energy without the need to synthesize ketone bodies.The main problem with low-carbohydrate diets is that even though they promote weight loss in the short-term, they increase the risk for all chronic disease in the long-term, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, many types of cancer, and all-cause mortality (death from any cause).Dr. Michael Greger from NutritionFacts.org refers to low-carb diets as equivalent to being obese.Holistic Approach #3: High-Fat Raw Food DietPioneered by Dr. Gabriel Cousens, the high-fat raw food diet is a blend between a plant-based diet and a ketogenic diet. This diet incorporates 100% plant foods, and focuses on eating high-fat plants such as:Nuts and seeds (often sprouted)AvocadoesCoconuts and coconut oilOlives and olive oilFoods that are not allowed on his program include the following:All animal productsAll grainsPeanuts, pistachiosCornWhite potatoesMushroomsSugarAlcoholCoffeeProcessed vegetable oilsSoy sauceHis program is divided into 3 phases, including:Phase 1 (very low-carbohydrate)Phase 1.5 (low-carbohydrate, includes low glycemic index plants like berries and carrots)Phase 2 (increase raw vegetable consumption and higher glycemic index fruits as an occasional treat)People with type 1 diabetes are recommended to follow phase 1 for 3 months before transitioning to phase 1.5 or phase 2.The benefits of following this approach are similar to the benefits of a ketogenic diet:Flatline blood glucose (easier to control your blood glucose)Decreased need for insulinWeight lossDr. Cousens has helped some people with type 1 diabetes become insulin free, claiming that a 100% plant-based approach is the most powerful weapon against diabetes, and the most effective way to minimize your need for insulin.Dr. Cousen’s Phase ChartHolistic Approach #4: Low-Fat, Plant-Based, Whole-Food DietA low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet is the most effective method of minimizing insulin resistance, a condition that is present across all forms of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 1.5 diabetes, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance results in an increasing need for insulin over time, resulting in excessive insulin use.Insulin resistance is a risk factor for many chronic health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney failure, stroke and nerve damage.Adopting a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food approach is the single most effective way to increase your insulin sensitivity, which allows you to eat more carbohydrate for less insulin.The most effective method of maximizing your insulin sensitivity is to reduce your total fat intake to between 20-30 grams per day, depending on your height, weight and activity level.Take a look at the following graphic for an illustration of green light, yellow light and red light foods on a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet:The benefits of adopting a low-fat, plant-based, whole-food diet in type 1 diabetes (as well as all forms of diabetes), is that your can achieve the following:25-60% reduced insulin usePredictable blood glucoseReduced A1c (1.0-6.5%)Consistent weight loss over time (5-150 pounds)Significantly more energyImproved athletic performance and recoveryImproved mental clarityReduced risk for chronic diseases, including heart disease, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disease and obesityTake Home MessagesAs you can see, there are a number of holistic approaches to managing your diet living with type 1 diabetes.While each approach has its pros and cons, it is extremely important to not only control your blood glucose living with type 1 diabetes, but to develop a long-term plan that minimizes your risk for the development of other chronic diseases.References1. 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Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2004 Oct;20(5):383–93.30. Suo C, Liao J, Lu X, Fang K, Hu Y, Chen L, et al. Efficacy and safety of the ketogenic diet in Chinese children. Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy. 2013 Apr 1;22(3):174–8.31. Kang HC, Chung DE, Kim DW, Kim HD. Early- and Late-onset Complications of the Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2004 Sep 1;45(9):1116–23.32. Research paper (PDF): The ketogenic diet: From molecular mechanisms to clinical effects [Internet]. ResearchGate. [cited 2017 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7253814_The_ketogenic_diet_From_molecular_mechanisms_to_clinical_effects