Coffee, Tea and Diabetes?

Here is an interesting health tip that will interest those who like coffee and tea. Is seems that coffee and tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing Type
2 diabetes than others.

BBC Health reported that they have looked at 18 separate studies and found that people who drink 3-4 cups a day cut their risk by a fifth. Is that good news or what?

What is Type 2 diabetes? This is a form of diabetes where the body is not able to produce sufficient insulin as opposed to cases where the body is unable to produce any insulin. It could also be that the insulin produced does not seem to work as required.

This identification of the active component in tea and coffee opens up new therapeutic options.

Source: Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, 17 Dec 2009

Cardio Health: Combating Diabetes

Most diabetics die from heart disease. If you are insulin insensitive type II diabetic, that means your body produces sufficient insulin, but the cells at the receptor sites do not respond because the receptor sites are clogged up by fat and cholesterol, becoming insensitive to insulin.

The damaged receptor sites cause the fluctuations in blood sugar, that leads to inner arterial wall damage. The major cause of insulin insensitive type II diabetes is uncontrolled diet with high intake of saturated fats. If you don't change your diet, the continual build up of high levels of cholesterol in arteries and receptor sites will make them even more difficult for blood to pass through, causing severe cases of diabetes, leading to higher blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. These are the risk factors and you must take steps to protect your heart.

Here are 3 tips that are recommended for you to protect your heart if you are a diabetic:

1. Control your cholesterol:
Even if your cholesterol falls within the healthy range, as a diabetic you still have to be conscious of your cholesterol level. Exercise and a healthy diet featuring plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain; and cut back on meat and saturated fat would help you to get your cholesterol in line.

2. Reduce the Pressure:
Your risk of high blood pressure doubles as a diabetic and high blood pressure causes up to 75% of all heart disease in diabetics. But to get your blood pressure in the range of 135/85, you must have a proper diet---low in red meat, saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

3. Give up smoking and alcohol:
The easy way to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease is to quit smoking and cut down on drinking. This is something many of us hear all the time, and it is true.
As a diabetic, your risk of getting heart diseases is roughly 4 times higher. Please do take good care of your heart and cut down on sugars, it will do you good!