The increase of diabetes in the United States has health care professionals very concerned.
There are two types of diabetes, juvenile and adult onset.
Both have grave implications for those who contract the disease, but fail to confront and take care of the three main drivers of health complications.
The good news is that with proper oversight, most diabetics can avoid serious complications that lead to blindness, loss of limbs through amputation, and coronary heart disease What are the three most important issues to control? For a diabetic, whether they suffer from juvenile or adult onset diabetes, monitoring blood glucose levels is the difference between success at managing the disease, and suffering from extreme complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and much more.
Today, with the advent of blood glucose monitors, it is easier than ever to test you blood sugar level, anywhere, any time.
The ideal range for sugar in the blood stream is between 80 and 110 mg/dl.
When your pancreas is working correctly and putting out the hormone insulin, your body and specifically your pancreas, deliver the right amount of insulin to keep your sugar level in check.
Sugar, or glucose, is the energy of our body.
It performs the same way as gas in your automobile gas tank.
This energy is derived from the breakdown of foods into glucose during digestion.
When the glucose level in the body is excessive, meaning out of the range of 80 to 110mg/dl, great damage is caused to body organs.
The benefits of Omega 3 fish oil The good news is that Omega 3 fish oil and the fatty acids found within cold water fish have clinically proven properties to help fight many of the complications associated with diabetes.
Make no mistake, keeping your blood sugar levels in range will do more to prevent the damaging effects of diabetes than anything else, but, fish oil can play a very important role in supplementing this process.
The second element to keep your eye on Just as monitoring your blood glucose level is extremely important, so too is paying attention to your blood pressure.
High blood pressure leads to the strong possibility of heart attack as well as stroke.
Remember, in diabetics, the cause of many complications like high blood pressure is excessive glucose in the blood.
Keep that under control first.
Secondly, maintaining healthy blood pressure with a diet high in Omega 3 fish oil will help to combat the complications of stroke and heart attack.
The fatty acids found in fish oil, namely EPA and DHA work to reduce blood pressure while clearing the coronary arteries that lead to the heart.
This helps to increase blood flow according to the American Heart Association.
The third primary factor to monitor The third most important element to constantly check is the cholesterol level in the blood.
For diabetics, clogging of the arteries with the waxy sticky substance known as (LDL) or bad cholesterol is a primary contributor to heart disease.
(LDL) or low density lipoprotein is the main cause of blocked arteries.
Clumps of this cholesterol are formed and attach to the artery walls causing restricted blood flow to the heart.
If this problem increases in severity, the possibility of a heart attack increases.
Clinical studies including research at the University of Maryland Medical Center have proven a direct link between lower cholesterol levels and the fatty acids found in fish oil.
DHA or docosahexaenoic acid, and EPA, known as eicosapentaenoic acid, are the powerful fatty acids common in cold water fish.
A diet rich in Omega 3 fish oils in conjunction with moderate exercise, and foods low in saturated fats will go a long way in maintaining healthy cholesterol.
The take away For diabetics, being vigilant about these three issues will increase ones odds of living a normal and healthy life.
When your doctor prescribes medications to combat diabetes, be sure to ask about the benefits of all natural Omega 3 fish oil, and the role it can play in maintaining your good health.