Researchers say that if we avoid an excessive amount of artificial sweeteners and balance the natural taste of foods and drinks in our life, we will enjoy a great benefit, which includes the preservation of more unwavering blood sugar and insulin levels, controlling our body weight and also decreasing the challenging outcomes of an excessive usage of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

People ask various questions that should they use honey as a substitute in their tea, coffee or other foodstuff and drinks. Well the simple answer to this is that the natural pure and original honey is always better than the so called factory made sugars and artificial sweeteners.

On the other hand, research says that the use of adulterated honey can cause severe side-effects. Hence, an attempt should be carried out to get pure and unmixed honey as much as possible, because it includes acids like citric, folic and nicotine. As for mineral, it includes, calcium, copper, iodine, iron, phosphorous, potassium, silver, sulphur, sodium and zinc. Its composition includes rich in glucose, fructose, plus vitamins like A, B1, B2, B3, B12, C4 and K.

Raw honey as well has a gift to process glucose and decrease the symptoms of allergies. You will balance your complete healthy body in the company of strong muscle if you apply a pure natural honey in spite of artificial sweeteners. However a pure and natural one is a mandate for its expected effect.

Also, as a substitute to honey, you can use pure maple syrup or the natural non-caloric sweetener stevia. These are some better options than refined sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Cinnamon:

Cinnamon is not only a great flavoring agent but is also known for its ability of lowering bad cholesterol levels in blood and controlling blood sugar levels. The herb is absolutely safe for diabetics and can be used for adding flavors to sugar free dishes like oatmeal, apple crisp and pumpkin cookies.

Ginger:

Some tests have revealed that ginger has positive effects on cholesterol levels and insulin sensitivity of humans. Two studies conducted in India respectively in 2004 and 2005 have shown that ginger can effectively reduce triglycerides, blood pressure and lipids. Several Asian recipes require use of ginger as a flavoring agent. Some ideas of using ginger is food include using it for adding seasoning to homemade salads, soups and chicken items.

Fenugreek:

Fenugreek seeds are known for their ability of reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics. A study conducted at Canada’s University of Guelph has revealed that these seeds work by lowering the insulin resistance of cells. Another study conducted in Delhi has identified the herb’s ability of fighting reactions which leads to diabetes related cataract. You can add Fenugreek power for flavoring vegetables and beef dishes.

Some other seasoning options for diabetics:

Diabetics can also be benefited by using substances like coriander, cumin, raw garlic, turmeric and chili pepper for adding flavors to their foods.

Use of the term cerebral diabetes is more frequent in research papers compared to the medical procedures. The term according to the people involved in medical studies of diabetes and related health problems indicates fluctuation in glucose levels in human brain leading to mental health disorders like schizophrenia. According to R.J. Holden, the famous medical researcher, fluctuation of glucose levels in our brain has direct links with onset of suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia. Medical theories suggest that a person develops schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts due to instability in production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These two brain chemicals are also responsible for mediating glucose metabolism in our brain. As a result, fluctuation of cerebral diabetes i.e. fluctuation of blood sugar level in our brain can trigger mental disorders in diabetics.

Overconsumption of carbohydrates is the most common cause of cerebral diabetes or blood sugar fluctuations occurring in our brain. However, one must not consider the symptoms of mental illnesses as resultants of too much eating of carbohydrates; limiting carbohydrate intake will help in lowering blood sugar levels, but will not work as a remedy for mental illnesses. The term cerebral diabetes is itself not a disorder; it merely describes a state of our brain resulting from fluctuation of blood glucose levels. So, you cannot also expect to get rid of it only by use of insulin or diabetes medication. This state of the brain leading to mental disorders must be managed with conventional treatment of mental illnesses.

Ginseng: Several studies involving North American Ginseng have revealed that this herb might help in controlling the blood sugar levels and producing a hemoglobin type called glycosylated hemoglobin. A clinical study carried out in the UK involved participants who consumed fiber and ginseng; each of these participants experienced significant reduction in their blood glucose levels. Ginseng acts as a more potent ingredient than many medications meant for controlling blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is known for its ability of regulating blood sugar levels. Findings of several medical studies also stand as testimony to this ability of the herb. During a clinical study for finding out effects of cinnamon on blood glucose levels, 60 individuals taking part in the study were divided into 6 groups. Participants of 3 groups consumed different quantities of cinnamon every day whereas the participants of the remaining 3 groups had placebos. This continued for a around 30 days; the 3 groups having cinnamon in different dosages not only experienced significant reduction in their fasting blood glucose levels, but there was also decrease in their LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Aloe vera: A medical study conducted in Thailand involving 72 showed that consuming 1 tablespoon aloe vera juice every day for 6 weeks can help in reducing the blood glucose levels by as much as 43%. Out of the 72 participants of the study 39 received the above mentioned dosage of aloe vera. The remaining 33 belonging to the control group experienced an increase in their blood sugar levels by over 2% after 6 weeks.

The other factors leading to increasing blood sugar level include excess an obese body, stress and anxiety and lack of proper exercise. It can also be hereditary in some cases. Ayurveda shows some great ways of dealing with this health condition. Let’s check them out.

A few Ayurvedic tips for lowering blood sugar levels are mentioned below:

Bitter melon is the most common and effective herb for bringing the sugar levels down in a diabetic body.

“Karela” or bitter gourd is the best medicinal vegetable for lowering of sugar. Some people have the cooked vegetable everyday while others prefer to have a tablespoon of its juice for maintaining their health.

The family in which increasing blood sugar level runs in the genes, they can have three leaves of curry plant which are fully grown every day in the morning for prevention purposes. The similar treatment can also be applicable in those cases where obesity is the reason for the prevalence of the ailment.

The mixture of a tablespoon of amla juice and the same quantity of the juice of bitter gourd, taken for two months regularly, helps in bringing the sugar levels to a much more normal state.

Powdered Fenugreek seed helps in curing the ailment to a large extent.

Leaves of the Butea tree can be another nice option of controlling your sugar level.

Pads and insoles:
Diabetics must handle the conditions which can escalate their risk of having feet damage proactively. The chances of having feet injuries can be reduced significantly by wearing protective footwear even when at home. Diabetics must trim their nails regularly and also treat the problematic areas of their feet. They should also wear supportive insoles like arch supports, heel wedges and gel pads while going out; these insoles are placed within the shoes. Supportive insoles help in absorbing the shock and also ensure even weight distributions. A diabetic must purchase insoles that are designed for reducing the pressure exerted on the most susceptible parts of the feet.

Foot care soaps, balms and creams:
To prevent infections, you must keep your feet absolutely dry and clean. Medical experts suggest that diabetics must clean their feet every day using a mild soap and lukewarm water. Using strong soaps must be avoided as they might cause harm to the delicate skin of diabetics. A diabetic might lose his ability of sensing cold and hot; this feature of the disease make the patients extremely susceptible towards burns. So, while washing the feat, a diabetic must check the temperature of water by putting his finger into it. Once the cleaning procedure is over, the feet of the diabetic individual must be dried meticulously; this is because moist skin areas increase chances of developing infections. The application of a foot care cream or balm is the next step of diabetic foot care. This will ensure that the feet do not get cracked, which is another risk factor for foot infections. You will get bathing oils, powders, foot balms and foot creams in the market that are meant for the diabetics.

Support socks:
The support socks are for inducing support and comfort to the feet of the diabetics. They are made from special fabrics, which ensure that the skin of our feet can breathe even if we wear the socks.

Dark patches on the skin:
Medical experts suggest that dark patches on the skin of elbows, armpits and knees or appearance of dark ring on the neck are some of the indicators of prediabetes. The medical term used for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans. Acanthosis nigricans acts as a key evidence of the fact that the patient has developed insulin resistance and must seek medical attention.

Increased blood sugar levels:
The other most significant prediabetes symptom is elevated levels of blood sugar. The blood sugar levels of a suspected prediabetes patient can be checked using 2 methods. First, the patient’s blood glucose level is checked when he is an empty stomach in the morning; this is done for obtaining the fasting blood sugar levels. If the patient has prediabetes, the blood sugar levels will be more than the normal levels, but not high enough for qualifying as diabetes. People who has fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 is said to be suffering from prediabetes. The other method used for checking blood glucose levels is glycated hemoglobin testing; during this test the average blood glucose levels of an individual for a period of 2 to 3 months is measured; elevated results indicate occurrence of prediabetes.

Decreased glucose tolerance:
Oral glucose tolerance tests are performed for measuring the blood glucose levels after staying in an empty stomach for a minimum of 8 hours; the test is again repeated 2 hours after consuming sugary liquid offered by the laboratory. When the results reveal that you have blood glucose levels higher than the normal levels, but not yet high enough for being considered as a diabetic, you will be categorized as a prediabetic.

During the study, over 1,400 people with type-1 diabetes were followed by the researchers. Each of the participants was in the early stage of diabetes when they entered the research. It was found that the participants, underwent intensive treatment i.e. a minimum of 3 insulin shots per day or were using insulin pumps, were 50% less likely to develop kidney disease decades later compared to the participants receiving standard  treatment.

According to Doctor Ian Boer, who is one of the world’s most renowned kidney specialists and one of the members of the group of researchers involved in this study, the act of achieving blood glucose levels near the normal limits can be extremely challenging for people with type-1 diabetes. However, Dr. Boer feels that this particular study on the effects of type-1 diabetes treatment is providing strong evidences supporting the advantages of achieving the blood sugar goals early for slowing or preventing onset of kidney disease.

The findings of this study apply only towards type-1 diabetes; a condition affecting 5-10% (statistics suggest that currently US has around 3 million people with type-1diabetes) of the diabetics in the US. Type-1 diabetes is categorized as an autoimmune disorder that forces our body to destroy its ability of producing insulin; this impairs our body’s ability of breaking down sugar properly. Majority of the cases of type-1 diabetes is diagnosed among young adults and children.

1. Start by replacing 50% of the sugar to be used in the recipe with an artificial sweetener. This will allow you to understand whether or not you can successfully prepare that dish using artificial sweeteners. It is advisable to use sucralose or aspartame for preparing cold items like salads, fruits and puddings. When these sugar substitutes are used in high temperature, they break down; this causes decrease in their sweetness resulting in collapse of the breads and cakes.
2. The aspartame based sweeteners should be added to the dish only before 2 to 3 minutes before removing it from the heat. If you leave these sweeteners in hear for a longer duration, they will end up damaging the entire dish. It is also advisable to add advisable to add aspartame to the dish just before serving it. The process will go like this: add the sugar substitute to the dish when it is still on stove, but it prepared fully; stir it well so that it mixes nicely with the dish and serve it immediately.
3. If you are preparing a dish that requires use of 1 teaspoon sugar using sugar substitute, the quantity of sugar substitute used in it should also be 1 teaspoon. This is because both aspartame and sucralose are known to generate similar sweetness. However, the acesulfame-k sweeteners are stronger than sugar.  So, you will have to replace every 2 teaspoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon of these sweeteners.

Side effects of Acarbose are minor in most of the cases and can be easily treated.  Serious side effects of Acarbose are rare in occurrence but severe in nature. These serious side effects need immediate medical attention. Common side effects of the drug include diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas.  Undigested carbohydrate within the intestines is the main cause of these side effects.

Patients might experience symptoms of high blood sugar like increased in hunger, thirst and urination after using the drug. Blurred vision, fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea or vomiting might be noted in some patients.  In some cases symptoms of low blood sugar might be seen after using Acarbose.  Sweating, shakiness, dizziness and cold sweats are noted as the side effect of this medicine. Some times change in behavior, loss of coordination and irritability are found in patients which need immediate medical attention. Difficulty in speaking, confusion, seizures might be seen in some patients. Signs of skin problems might be experience by some patients. These skin problems are skin rashes, excessive itching, and hives.  Skin allergies and reactions are the serious side effects. Unexplained swelling might be seen might seen after using this medicine. Dehydration is also known as major side effect of Acarbose.