Fasting Blood Sugar Test

This test shows how well your body uses sugar called glucose. This test may be done to check for diabetes.

To Prepare

Do not eat or drink anything, including water, after midnight before the test. This includes coffee, gum, candy and mints.

Do not smoke after midnight before the test.

If you are to take your medicines the morning of the test, take them with sips of water only.

During the Test

A blood sample is taken with a needle from your arm.

After the Test

You can eat and drink your normal diet.

Test results are sent to your doctor. Your doctor will share the results with you.

High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar means having too much sugar called glucose in the
blood. High blood sugar is also called hyperglycemia. The body’s cells
need blood sugar. A normal blood sugar level is 70 to 100. A blood suga
level above 140 is too high. You may not feel any signs of high blood
sugar but damage can be happening to your body. High blood sugar ove
years can damage the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, heart, nerves and
feet.
Causes
High blood sugar can happen with diabetes where your body is not
making enough insulin or is not able to use insulin, as it should. High
blood sugar can get worse because of:
•     Stress
•     Infection    or    illness
•     Certain    medicines    such    as    steroids
•     Pregnancy
The most common reasons for high blood sugar in people
with diabetes are:
•     Not    taking    enough    insulin    or    diabetes    pills
•     Missed,    skipped    or    delayed    diabetes    medicine   
•     Eating    too    much    food   
•     Eating    foods    high    in    sugar    or    carbohydrates

Signs
High    blood    sugar    affects    people    differently.    Some    people    have    no   
warning signs. High blood sugar may happen slowly over time.
You may have one or more signs of high blood sugar. Family members
may notice these signs before you do.
•     Extreme    thirst
•     Urinate    often
•     Increased    hunger
•     Blurred    vision
•     Weight    loss    or    gain
•     Feeling    tired    or    sleepy
•     Feeling    moody    or    grumpy
•     Slow    healing    of    wounds
•     Numbness    in    feet    or    hands
•     Vaginal    itching    or    have    vaginal    infections    often
•     Impotence
•     Skin    itching
•     Skin    infections    such    as    boils
Your Care
See    your    doctor    if    you    have    signs    of    high    blood    sugar.    Talk    to    your   
doctor about the cause of your high blood sugar. You may need to take
medicine to control your blood sugar, or you may need to change how
you    eat    and    exercise.   

If    you    have    diabetes,    control    high    blood    sugar    by    following    your   
diabetes treatment plan:
•     Follow    your    meal    plan.
•     Take    your    insulin    and    pills    as    directed.
•     Test    your    blood    sugar    often    and    keep    a    record    of    the    results.
•     Follow    your    activity    or    exercise    routine.
•     Contact    your    doctor    if    you    see    patterns    of    high    blood    sugar.
•     Follow    your    sick    day    plan    if    you    are    ill.
If    not    treated,    high    blood    sugar    can    lead    to    coma    and    even    death.

Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar means not having enough sugar, also called glucose, in
the blood. Low blood sugar is also called hypoglycemia, insulin shock or
insulin reaction. Glucose is needed by the body’s cells. A normal blood
sugar level is 70 to 100. A blood sugar level below 70 is low.

Causes
Sometimes the cause is not known, but it may be from:
•  Too much insulin or diabetes pills
•  Meals that are skipped or delayed
•  Too much exercise or unplanned exercise

Signs
There may be no warning signs or you may:
•  Feel dizzy, shaky, nervous, weak or tired
•  Sweat
•  Feel hungry
•  Feel moody or grumpy or not think clearly
•  Not be able to speak
•  Have blurred vision
•  Feel a fast heart beat
•  Feel numb around the mouth or lips
•  Have a headache

Your Care
When your blood sugar is low, you need to eat or drink food with sugar.
Do not eat too much. Your blood sugar may go too high. Eat or drink
one of these:
•  ½ cup or 120 milliliters of juice or soda (no diet, sugar free or calorie
free drinks) 
•  3 or 4 glucose tablets
•  1 tablespoon or 15 milliliters of sugar
•  1 cup or 240 milliliters of milk

Check your blood sugar in 15 minutes. If you blood sugar is still less
than 70 or if you are not feeling better, eat or drink another serving of
food or drink from the list.  

When your blood sugar is 70 or more, you still need to eat something to
keep your blood sugar from dropping again.  
•  If it is time for your next meal soon, eat your normal meal.  
•  If your next meal is more than an hour away, eat a snack. Try one of
these:
  Half a sandwich and 1 cup or 240 milliliters of milk, or
  3 crackers, 2 ounces of cheese and a small apple

To Prevent Low Blood Sugar
•  Follow your meal plan. Eat meals and snacks at the same time each
day. Do not miss or delay meals.  
•  Check and record your blood sugar levels. If you have low blood
sugars more than 2 times in a week, call your doctor or diabetes
educator. Changes may need to be made to your diet, medicine or
exercise routine.
•  Take your diabetes medicine as directed. Do not take extra diabetes
medicine without your doctor’s advice.  

•  Exercise regularly.

To Stay Safe
•  Keep food such as crackers, gels and juice with you at all times.  
•  Tell other people who work or live with you that you have diabetes
and how to treat low blood sugar.  
•  Wear a medical bracelet or necklace to tell others that you have
diabetes during a medical emergency. 
•  If you have Type 1 diabetes, people close to you should learn how to
give a glucagon shot. Glucagon is a hormone used to raise blood
sugar when a person is not alert or awake. A nurse can teach them
how to give a glucagon shot.  
•  Call your doctor when you have frequent low blood sugars or wide
swings from high to low.
•  Talk with your doctor and dietitian before starting a weight loss diet.
•  Keep all your appointments with your doctor, diabetes nurse and
dietitian.

13 WAYS ALOE VERA CAN HELP YOU

  CURTAILING HIV INFECTION.

An extract of mannose, one of the sugars in aloe, can inhibit HIV-1. 
In  a 1991  study  in molecular biotherapy, HIV-1  cells were  treated  in  vitro
(outside  the body) with a mannose extract. Aloe slowed virus  reproduction
by as much as 30%, reduced viral  load, suppressed the spread of virus from
infected cells, and increased the viability of infected cells.


NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR HIV PATIENTS.


In  a  four  month  nutritional  support  programme  for  HIV  patients,  29
patients were given 100% pure aloe Vera juice(5 ounces, 4times daily) along
with  an  essential  fatty  acid  supplement  and  another  supplement  containing
vitamins,  minerals,  and  amino  acids.  Patients  were  told  to  continue  with
their normal diet and not to take other supplements.
After 90 days, all of  the patients had  fewer occurrences of opportunistic
infections, thrush, fatigue, and diarrhea, as well as increased white blood cell
counts.


STIMULATES IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST CANCER.


Researchers  found  that  a  compound  from  aloe,  when  injected  directly
into tumors, activated the immune system to attack the cancer. Aloe turns on
the  immune  system  by  activating  macrophages,  causing  the  release  of
immune  activating  substances  such  as  interferon,  interleukines,  and  tumor
necrosis factor. In addition, aloe promotes the growth of normal cells.


BENEFITS LUNG CANCER.


Aloe’s  protective  effect  was  confirmed  in  a  study  of  673  lung  cancer
patients  in  Okinawa,  Japan,  published  in  the  Japanese  Journal  of  Cancer
Research.  This  survey  looked  at  the  connection  between  smoking,
comparative  amounts  of  17  plant  foods  in  the  diet,  and  the  occurrence  of
lung cancer over a five-year period. Aloe was the only one of the plant foods
that was protective against cancer. 


HELPS HEAL WOUNDS.


Applied  to  wounds,  aloe  gel  is  a  mild  anesthetic,  relieving  itching,
swelling  and  pain.  It  also  is  antibacterial  and  antifungal,  increases  blood
flow to wounded areas, and stimulates fibroblasts, the skin cells responsible
for wound healing.


  SUPPORTS SURGICAL RECOVERY.

Speeds up wound healing when used in dressings along with surgical gel.

  SOOTHES BURNS.

Burns dressed with aloe gel healed more quickly than those with petroleum
jelly. 

  MINIMISES FROSTBITE DAMAGE.

Use  of  aloe  vera  cream  along  with  standard  treatments  for  frostbite
(antibiotics, ibuprofen and re-warming) showed better healing without tissue
loss. Researchers concluded that aloe prevented a decrease of blood flow  to
the frozen tissues, a common cause of tissue loss in frostbite.


  SCREENS OUT RADIATION.

Aloe protects  against  skin damage  from X-rays.  It  acted  as  an  effective
antioxidant,  mopping  up  the  free  radicals  caused  by  radiation.  It  also
protected two of the body’s healing substances.


  HEALS PSORIATIC LESIONS.

The  use  of  0.5%  aloe  Vera  extract  in  a  mineral  oil  based  ointment
showed  quicker  healing  of  psoriatic  lesions  than  that  of  the  placebo
controlled group.

  EASES INTESTINAL PROBLEMS.

Aloe Vera juice can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Ten  patients  were  given  two  ounces  of  aloe  juice,  three  times  daily,  for
seven days. After one week,  all patients were  cured of diarrhoea,  four  had
improved bowel regularity, and three reported increased energy.
Researchers concluded  that aloe was able  to rebalance  the  intestines by”
regulating  gastrointestinal  pH  while  improving  gastrointestinal  motility,
increasing  stool  specific  gravity,  and  reducing  populations  of  certain  fecal
micro organisms, including yeast.” Other studies have shown that aloe Vera
juice  helps  to  detoxify  the  bowel,  neutralize  stomach  acidity,  and  relieve
constipation and gastric ulcers.

  REDUCES BLOOD SUGAR IN DIABETES.

Five  patients with NIDDM were  given  half  a  teaspoon  of  aloe  extract
daily  for  up  to  fourteen  weeks.  Blood  sugar  levels  were  reduced  in  all
patients by an average of 45%, with no change in their total weight.

 REDUCES ARTHRITIC SWELLING.
Aloe  can  help  prevent  arthritis  and  reduce  the  inflammation  in  joints
already affected by arthritis. Aloe can also  inhibit  the autoimmune reaction
associated with certain forms of arthritis.

DIABETES

Diabetes means high level of blood sugar and it is also characterized by the excretion of the excess glucose through urine. The main cause of diabetes is lack of insulin or absolutely no insulin. Today there are more cases of diabetes and the number of diabetic patients is ever increasing. Even young generation people are found with diabetes. In case you doubt whether you have normal blood sugar level, then you can find it out by doing blood glucose level test. This disease is more common in those who are overweight.

Type-1 diabetes, Type-2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes are the main three types of diabetes. In Type-1 diabetes the body stops producing insulin or produces very less insulin. In Type-2 diabetes the body is unable to use the insulin produced by the pancreas. This kind of diabetes can be easily controlled by diet, exercise and proper weight loss. Gestational diabetes happens to pregnant ladies in the second half of their pregnancy and it automatically gets cured after they deliver their babies.

Causes and symptoms: as usual any chronic disease results due to long standing stress and strain. Besides this, diabetes is primarily caused by overeating and consequent obesity. Grief, worry and anxiety have a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine.
Diabetes feels hungry and thirsty most of the time, does not put on weight and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally. He looks pale and may suffer from anemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital, palpitations and general weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex than a normal person.

HEALING DIABETES WITH MASSAGE
Massage improves insulin absorption, for example, by increasing serum insulin in type 1 diabetes or increasing tissue insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes.

Massage helps normalize blood glucose levels.

Massage provideS relief of symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy.

It is strongly suggested to take suggestion from doctor before choosing course of massage and should be performed by an expert only.One should not rely on massage only and should never stop medication or insulin, as massage is not substitute of these.

Magnet Therapy:
The north and the south poles of strong magnets should be placed side by side on the middle of the back for 30-45 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. (Preferably an hour after meals or breakfast)

The right palm (or sole) and the left palm (or sole) should be placed on the south and the north poles respectively, of strong magnets for 15-20 minutes, once or twice a day.

The north pole of a small magnet should be stuck on the leg-four finger breadths below the lower margin of the round knee bone.

Magnetized water should be taken 4 to 5 times a day.


Home remedies for Diabetes:

One of the best home remedies for diabetes is include bitter melon in your diet. For three months eat one dish made from bitter melon. This will help in keeping the blood glucose level in control.

Fenugreek is also very effective in diabetes control. Drink one cup of fenugreek juice every morning. Also eating the seeds of fenugreek will help you in controlling the blood sugar level. This remedy is also very effective in bringing the glucose level down.

Put some black raisins in water and keep it overnight. Next day morning strain this water and drink the clear water solution. Follow the same procedure for few days to get good results.

Eating jamun, tomatoes and oranges are also beneficial in controlling diabetes. Taking these fruits in your diet in a limited quantity say about 300 grams on a daily basis will be very effective.

Take fenugreek, bitter melon and amla all these three things together in equal proportion. Dry them in sun for few days and then grind them into fine powder form. Take this powder three times in a day. This will help you to control the diabetes if you will follow this for about a month and see the difference.

Mix juices of raw mango and Indian plum in equal amount and drink this about three times in a day. This remedy is very useful if you will drink these juices without fail for about one month.

Dry the bay leaves in sun for two days and then grind them into fine powder. Take about five grams of this powder in a warm glass of water and drink this. Do this for about ten days. This will surely help in controlling the glucose level of the blood.