Do Sugar, Alcohol, and Diabetes Mix?

from Everyday Health

Do Sugar, Alcohol, and Diabetes Mix?

Sugar and alcohol once were forbidden fruits for people on a diabetes diet. Using caution and common sense can allow you some leeway to indulge.

By Dennis Thompson Jr.

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

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People with diabetes know they must carefully watch their sugar intake as part of their diabetes diet and limit their alcohol consumption. And for the most part, it is wise to carefully control how much sugar you’re eating and alcohol you’re drinking as part of your diabetes management plan.
But following a diabetes diet does not mean you need to completely eliminate sugar from your daily meals and snacks. You just need to be smart about what you eat and keep close tabs on the sugars in foods.
The same goes for alcohol — if you pay close attention, you should be able to drink a little when you attend a social gathering or are out casually with friends.
Diabetes Management: Sugar and Diabetes
A major part of diabetes management involves keeping your blood sugar levels stable. No matter what type of diabetes you have, this is an ongoing challenge:

• Type 1. People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin, the hormone the body uses to regulate blood glucose levels. The amount of sugar or alcohol consumed has a direct effect on the amount of insulin and other diabetes medication you must take.
• Type 2. With type 2 diabetes, you’ve developed a resistance to insulin, but can still produce the hormone. Controlling blood sugar levels can help you avoid having to take insulin or diabetes medications.
• Gestational. Diabetes during pregnancy means you have high blood glucose levels, which can do damage to both you and your unborn child.

Sugar is a form of carbohydrate that the body quickly converts to glucose, meaning that, when eaten, it has the ability to cause blood glucose levels to quickly rise and create a condition known as hyperglycemia. This is why doctors and diabetes educators warn people to track and limit the amount of sugar they consume.

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SODA NO! NO!

A Glass of Juice or Soda a Day Can Lead to Gout, Study Says

 by Leta Shy

 

Ah, high fructose corn syrup. The highly debated sweetener in many processed foods and drinks, recently the subject of a marketing campaign and name change, is again in the news, and it's not good for its image makeover. An extensive 22-year study released this month that followed almost 80,000 women has found that drinking non-diet sodas regularly, leads to an increase in the risk for gout.

Gout, a painful form of arthritis, is caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. While some foods can trigger a gout attack, the illness is not the "rich man's disease" (caused by a meat- and alcohol-heavy diet) that it was previously believed to be. But this new study does show that diet does play a part, and regularly drinking beverages sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup is a major cause — and so are fruit juices like orange juice, since they are high in fructose as well. To find out how much drinking one regular soda or two glasses of orange juice a day increases your risk of developing gout, read more.
Compared with women who drank less than a soda a month, those who had one soda a day had a 74% increased risk of developing gout. Women who had two sodas increased their risk 2.4 times. Drinking two servings of orange juice also increased the women's risk of developing gout by 2.4 times. Those who drank diet sodas didn't have any increased risk of developing gout.
Yet another reason to go easy on the juices and sodas. While moderation is key if you want to drink the sweet stuff, if you find yourself craving something more flavorful than water regularly, try these seven ways to spruce up your H2O.
Source: Flickr User JoeInSouthernCA

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Whole Grains, Whole Health Benefits

Food plays a very special part in our health and wellness, simply having a fat diet predisposes our body to illness, such as heart ailment, stroke etc. But just simply add some grains in your diets can be really much much beneficial and your body is still pack with energy.


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Leaf Long

Make like a rabbit: Eating veggies such as carrots and kailan is associated with a lower risk of dying from heart disease, a study in the Journal of Nutrition reports. Researchers followed 559 men for 15 years and found that those ate more alpha-and beta-carotenes-the compounds in fruits and vegetables that help bring out their orange, red, or yellow color-had about a 20 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate less of the compounds. Similar results have been seen in women, says lead author Brian Bujisee, M.Sc., of the German Institute for Human Nutrition. So fork up daily servings of carrots (if served cooked, they're the carotene kings), sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, and spinach.

Put the Blame on It - Fact 4

Fact 4: Ditching the razor is not the only solution

Dr. Marquez suggests daily therapy in the form of deodorants or creams with not only lightening, but also moisturizing ingredients. Look for mallow, peppermint, or turmeric extracts, linoleic acid (found in sunflower seed oil) Vitamin C, glycerine, and ceramide, which lighten and protect underarm skin. It's the daily pampering that the skin under your wings deserve.

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Fact 3: Abrasions cause hyper-pigmentation

When these micro-abrasions heal, they lead to skin discoloration or hyper-pigmentation. "When wounds heal, melanin form deposits in the scar, giving it its dark color," says Dr.Marquez. Melanin is the brown pigment responsible for skin color. That's how shaving leads to dark underarms. Since hair grows faster in the armpits than the legs or other body parts, women shave more often, leave more scars, and cast darker shadows on the armpits.

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Fact 2:  Shaving damages Underarm skin

Shaving scrubs off the tender layers of the skin, tears the normal cell structure, allows the loss of water and lipids, and irritates skin by leaving a micro-abrasions or bruises and cuts. When you accidentally push the blades too deeply, you might even leave a permanent scar.

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Fact 1: Skin in the armpits is sensitive

"The area under the arms is a thin as that in your groin. It's very sensitive, as it has a lots of nerve endings in addition to the sebaceous, sweat and apocrine glands beneath its thin layers," explains Dr.Jean Marquez, M.D a Dermatologists at the Philippine Dermatological Society. Because it is thin, it easily absorbs chemicals. Because it is sensitive, it becomes prone to irritation.

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Put the Blame on It

Blame The Blades

Research proves shaving can darken underarms.

The secret is out: regular shaving is among the major causes of dark underarms. The constant friction of blades against the skin irritates its sensitive layers, causing small bruises, bumps and burns. Like any wound , when these micro abrasions heal, hyper pigmentation occurs-skin discoloration due to over production of melanin, making one are darker than the rest. Does this mean you ought to let hair grow? Read and Judge.

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Poisoning during Pregnancy

Exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy may affect the mother and induce changes in the physiology and development of the embryo, fetus, neonate or infant.

The Environment Health Criteria document number 30 on "Principles for Evaluating Health Risks to Progeny Associated with Exposure to Chemicals During Pregnancy" (1984) was prepared by the IPCS as an aid in the design and assessment of studies on the association between exposure to chemicals during pregnancy and defective development. This document is being updated.

The effects on the health of mother and child will depend on the type of chemical, dose and length of exposure, and period of pregnancy during which the toxic exposure occurred (first, second or third trimester). For example, labor may be affected by pharmaceuticals if absorbed near the time of delivery, as in the case of aspirin overdose, which may induce postmaturity and increase the duration of labor, as well as the incidence of antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage.

Circumstances of exposure to chemicals during pregnancy may be accidental, environment, occupational or intentional.

The incidence of accidental poisoning in pregnant women follows the usual trends of accidental exposure to chemicals in the population. However, the consequences of anoxic injury to the mother and fetus may have severe consequences. For example, acute accidental exposure to carbon monoxide and pyrolysis products during fires or incomplete combustion in non-ventilated areas may affect the mother and produce ferotoxic effects (Elkharrart et al, 1991; Ellenhorn, 1982). Over-the-counter drugs and other pharmaceuticals are used during pregnancy to avoid vomiting, stress, insomnia, headaches and hypotension, and no drug is considered 100% safe to the developing fetus (including topical preparations). In fact, the effect of a drug on the fetus may not necessarily be the same as the intended therapeutic effect on the mother.

The exposure of the pregnant women to environmental pollutants such as methylmercury, lead, polyhalogenated biphenyls (dioxines) and pesticides has produced adverse effects on the mother and especially on the offspring. Some of the incidents were tragic due to the large population groups affected and the severity of the effects (e.g. Minamata Bay). One of the most significant occupational and public health concerns is excessive lead exposure form lead-based paint, drinking water, household dust, contaminated soil and air near membrane rupture, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy hypertension and premature delivery (Winder, 1993; Davis et al 1993, Mushak, 1993).

Occupational exposure of pregnant women occurs more frequently in countries where labor regulations are loose, or where the potentially adverse effects of industrial and agricultural chemicals on human health are ignored. It is estimated that approximately 42% of pregnant women are also working women (Brix, 1982). If pregnant women work in the chemical industry, in areas where pesticides are heavily used, or in cottage industries where safety measures are poor, the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals is high. Women who work in rural areas may also be exposed to envenoming due to poisonous or venomous animals. For example, the bite of Bothrops snakes has been reported to cause disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure and abruptio placenta with stillbirth (Zugaib et al, 1985)


However, one of the main areas of concern ( expressed mainly by developing countries) relates to exposure to agrochemicals during reproductive years and pregnancy.

Intentional poisonings tend to be rare during pregnancy. It is generally accepted that pregnant women seldom attempt suicide. However, pregnancy (especially if unwanted) can be an associate factor in about 5% of all female suicides (Whitlock and Edwards, 1968). Abortion attempts through the ingestion of highly toxic products or plants concoctions are common in some countries, where abortion is illegal and unacceptable by the family, the local community or society. Abortion with high doses of synthetic prostaglandins use intravaginally has been implicated in complications such as bleeding, sepsis and uterine rupture (Austin et al 1997; Costa and Vessey, 1993).

Drug abuse may lead to acute overdoses and adverse health effects on the mother and the child. Cocaine overdose may cause headache, blurred  vision, abdominal pain and seizures in the third trimester of pregnancy symptoms associated with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (towers et al, 1993; Weddington, 1993). In countries whgre the incidence of drug abuse is high, special attention is need to diagnose and manage the course of overdosed in pregnant women.

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Summary
Characteristics and Epidemiology

Characteristics and Epidemiology of Toxic Exposures in Women

by:  Dr. Jenny Pronczuk de Garbino

The main objective of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) are: chemical risk assessment and communication, reduction, of chemical risks and strengthening national capacities and capabilities for the appropriate environmentally-sound management of chemicals. Its unit on Poisoning, Prevention and Treatment (PPT) deals essentially with activities for the prevention of, preparedness for, and response to emergencies involving human exposure to chemicals, as well as with the diagnosis, management and prevention of poisoning. The unit on Assessment of Risk and Methodologies (ARM) deals mainly with risk assessment and management.

The IPCS is developing a number of activities specifically addressing health issues related to gender and chemicals, and its first phase addresses women's health and chemicals. The activities undertaken relate the two specific issues: (i) the impact of toxic chemicals on women's health, and (ii) the relevant role of women in the prevention of poisoning.

Incidence and circumstances of poisoning.

Although accidental, occupational and intentional poisonings affect both men and women of all ages, the incidence and characteristics of poisoning vary according to gender.

Statistical data is available but is usually limited to specific area, population groups or chemicals of concern, such as pesticides. Therefore, no general conclusions or extrapolations can be made concerning the global incidence of poisoning according to gender. Comparability of data is not possible due to different data collection and analysis methodologies applied. A growing number of publications concerning gender issues are available in the medical literature, but these are predominantly Anglo-Saxon and,in general, not fully descriptive of the specific circumstances of exposure and related issues (e.g., social, economic, demographics, cultural aspects).

A survey undertaken by the IPCS in 1992-1993 on statistical data registered by Poisons Control Centers (PCCs) demonstrated that, in general, poisoning cases tend to be more frequent in males (only 9 out of 33 PCCs reported higher incidence of poisoning in females) The higher incidence of poisoning in males may be explained by the fact that (a) accidental poisoning is more frequent in small boys, and (b) occupational poisoning predominantly affects the male population. If these two specific circumstances of poisoning are excluded, poisoning in adolescent, adult and elderly women is more common than in the male population. Another study was undertaken reviewing the annual reports produced by 27 PCCs in 1991, 1992 and 1993. The global incidence of toxic exposure was approximately the same i men and women. However, it was observed that data reported by centers which provide occupational health services, showed a higher incidence of toxic exposures in women.

Global figures show that the incidence f poisoning is approximately equal in both sexes. However, differences do arise when global figures are analyzed in relation to circumstances of exposure and age groups affected. For example, Small boys are more prone to accidental ingestion of chemicals or plants than girls, and men are exposed to chemicals in the industrial setting more frequently than women. The suicide and parasuicide rate among women is higher in some Asian countries as compared to that of Western countries. This may be explained by tradition which favors boys, and places less value on the lives of girls. Furthermore, traditional literature and theater often portrays suicide as an honorable choice for women in distress rather than an act for which they may be stigmatized (The Economist, 1997). Suicides and parasuicides tend to be successful in countries where the health sector is not appropriately trained or equipped to handle severe cases, such as poisoning by pesticides or other very ubiquitous and popular poisons. Therefore, the death rate due to poisoning tends to be high in developing countries.

In other countries, anxiolytics, antidepressants, analgesics, and barbiturates are commonly ingested by women, usually with alcohol, in order to commit suicide (Barraca et at, 1993; Mendelson and Rich, 1993; Krut and Zarafiants, 1991; Milev and Mikhov, 1992; Hawton and Fagg, 1992; Henderson et at, 1993; Naidoo and Pillay, 1993).

Another type of poisoning affecting women in particular and reported with increasing frequency in the medical literature is that which is related to the use and abuse of products for losing weight. Hepatocellular liver injury has been reported following the chronic use of herbal "diet" medicines (Pauwels et al, 1992). Around 60 cases of renal insufficiency occurred in Belgium due to toxic plants present as contaminants in Chinese herbal medicines used in diet (Tastemain, 1993). Cases of tetany, rhabdomyolysis, hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia have been reported in relation to surreptitious diuretic ingestion in women concerned about obesity (Brucato et al, 1993). Myopathy and other health effects have been described in women with eating disorders using ipecacuanha syrup as an emetic (Thyagrajan et al, 1993).

Women are also exposed, as well as men, to workplace and environmental pollutants, the effects of which are a matter of concern, particularly in young girls and women of childbearing age. The work done by the IPCS on "Indoor air pollution and its health effects in China - a review" (Chen et al, 1992) demonstrated that indoor pollution is particularly harmful to the health of women and children, especially elderly and reduce its impact on the health of the exposed women.

Some special circumstances and condition in a woman's life are related to the type of toxic exposures they suffer. They are: living and working conditions (e.g., exposure to indoor air pollution, work in the flower or microelectronics industry), pregnancy, social and nutritional discrimination and poor access to health services.

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EPIDEMIOLOGY OF POISONING IN WOMEN: INTERNATIONAL DATA

by: Dr. Jenny Pronczuk de Garbino

Summary

There is limited epidemiological and statistical data on poisoning in women. Variations on poisoning between males and females are due to differences in the circumstances of exposure and of age, and attributable to changes in social, cultural and economic conditions.

There are certain specific circumstances in which the victims of poisoning worldwide are predominantly women. For instance, women who work indoors are subject to pollution, as are women who work in the flower industry where pesticides are used. Another condition unique to women is that of pregnancy and abortion where women are affected because of exposure to drugs and chemicals. In some societies, women are not given equal status as men and are therefore, deprived f nutrition. These socio-nutritional relationships can affect the health of women. Women's access to health services are also generally poor worldwide. Lastly, women use cosmetics and dyes as dictated by social norms, and are therefore at risk of various chemical exposure.

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Crushing Constipation

by Aida C. Alarcon

Constipation is a disorder which causes decreased frequency of bowel movements, resulting in waste matter remaining in the colon and becoming dry and difficult to expel.

  Insufficient muscle tone in the intestinal or abdominal wall due to lack of exercise, excessive fatigue, nervousness, anxiety or excitement may make one prone to constipation. A poor diet lacking in fluids and roughage can bring about constipation.

Constipation's troublesome symptoms include moodiness, depression, bad breath, fatigue and headaches. There symptoms can be avoided through the following simple tips:

1. Avoid low-fiber foods like white flour products, white sugar and heavily processed foods.
2. Eat moderately fatty foods like hard cheese, eggs, red meats.
3. Include-grains-like unpolished rice, oats, corn, wheat germ-in the diet.
4. Include fruits and green leafy vegetables in the diet.
5. Drink adequate amount of water (approximately eight to 10 glasses (eight oz.) a day).
6. Exercise
7. Massage the lower abdomen in clockwise motion.

Using laxative as a substitute for exercise, rest, and diet may result in dependency. The diet should provide adequate fluids and roughage in the form of fruits and vegetables high in water content.


Vegetable Supreme
1/2 kilo cauliflower
1/2 kilo broccoli
1/4 kilo carrots
100 grams chicharo (chinese)
1 can whole kernel corn
1 piece onion
1 tablespoon garlic
1 piece red pepper
1 piece green pepper (optional)
2 tablespoons oil
1 can cream of mushroom soup (or 4 tablespoons cream of mushroom soup powder diluted in one cup water)


Procedure. Prepare the cauliflower, and the broccoli including their young stems and leaves. Saute garlic until brown. Add onions and vegetables. Add water and, when almost done, the mushroom soup. Don't overcook. Garnish with red and green pepper.

How to Cope with Stress

by Ted Hamilton M.D

We are assaulted by stressors every day. The economy is uncertain, the world political scene is volatile, our cities are crime-ridden, and our homes are often fragmented. Are we simply to victimized by stress, to await in anxious anticipation the day that the "hose pops"? Or is there something we can do? Can we become more effective managers of the unavoidable stress that characterizes our lives, and reduce the inevitable deleterious impact of stress on our bodies?

Recognition is the first step in coping. We must learn to listen to our bodies and understand the meaning of body signals. A headache may be the initial warning of undue stress for one person, while another may experience abdominal pain and indigestion. To ignore or minimize these messages is unwise and can be dangerous.


Equally important is conscious acceptance of the possibility that our symptom or symptoms are stress-related. The young woman knew she was sick-she was frightened enough to go to the emergency room-but she was unable to accept the possibility that her illness was directly related to stress. recognize your symptoms and accept their relation to stress.

Now, just cool down. Yes, cool down! It may not be easy at first, but it's essential. Dr. Elliot's hot reactors are individuals distinguished by characteristics of hostility, impatience, and competitiveness-truly lethal combination. When you feel the tension begin to build, step back mentally, take a deep breath, think about something soothing, and allow yourself to relax a bit.

A balance diet, comprised of a wide variety of nutritious foods, helps prepare your body to cope with stress. Fressh fruits and vegetables, along with nuts, grains, legumes, and dairy products, provide all essential nutrients required for energy, growth, and body upkeep.

Aerobic exercise induces the production of biochemical substances within the body that help resolve the strain of stress. Thirty minutes of walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming, enjoyed three to four times weekly, produces an invigorating "training effect", toning the muscles, strengthening the cardiovascular system, and calming the nerves.

Just an important as vigorous physical activity is adequate rest and sleep. The body's physiological "batteries" require the periodic recharging that takes place during sleep. Sleep disturbances may contribute to decompensation caused by stress and may likewise be among its first recognized symptoms. An occasional long holiday or vacation may be necessary to allow sufficient opportunity for needed rest.

Friends can be a big help when you are confronted by difficult or stressful circumstances. A listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, or a reassuring smile may be just what is needed to restore hope and provide incentive to face life's challenges productively.

Feelings, attitudes, and beliefs are increasingly recognized as major determinants of the state of health. It naturally follows that the ability to manage stress constructively depends on a healthy emotional state, a positive mental outlook, and a belief that life has transcendent meaning. Trust in God, accompanied by meditation, prayer, and worship, can provide relief from the anxieties and burdens of life when all other remedies and techniques prove inadequate.

Uncontrolled stress, with its progeny of illness and unhappiness, is a serious problem for many in today's world. But it can be managed effectively when it is recognized, accepted, and approached with the "good sense" application of proven techniques for successful coping.

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Stress and the Body

by Ted Hamilton M.D

Dr. Robert Elliot, a noted heart specialist, has studied the physiological effects of stress. He identifies two types of people, "hot reactors"and "cold reactors," based on the way the body responds to artificially induced stress. He states unequivocally that one cannot remain in a hot reactor indefinitely without suffering unwanted consequences.

He should know. Dr. Elliot experienced a heart attack at the age of 44. He was then chairman of the Department of Cardiology at the University of Nebraska, working energetically, even frantically, to achieve his goals and establish a national reputation. Administrative delays and detours only caused him to push harder, but not without frustration, aggravation, anger, and fatigue. At the end of a particular difficult day, while lecturing on how to prevent heart attacks, he experienced the chest pain of his own heart attack.

Upon recovering, Dr. Elliot began serious investigation into the effects of stress on the body. He learned that stress initiates the flow of powerful biochemical substances, including epinephrine, cortisone, and cholesterol, into the bloodstream. The nerves and blood vessels of the body respond to this potent concoction by preparing the body for battle-the heart rate goes up, while the pressure against which the heart must work (peripheral resistance) increases as well. It's not unlike placing a clamp on the garden hose, then turning on the water full force. Sooner or later the weakest point in the hose will pop.

When the "hose pops," some organ or system of the body has simply lost the ability to recover spontaneously, and illness is the result. Dr. Elliot and the young woman from the emergency room have a lot of company. An estimated three fourths of all visits to family physicians are related in some way to stress.

The symptoms of stress-induces illness may suggest disease in any part of the body. And patients often express multisymptoms, including various combination of the following: nervousness, sweating, trembling, fatigue, faintness, indigestion, headache, neck pain, back pain, shortness of breath, and chest pain. These symptoms may reflect real disease. A heart attack is a real, life-threatening disease. And indigestion may represent peptic ulcers, very real sores in the stomach and duodenum.

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What is Stress?

by Ted Hamilton M.D

Stress has been defined as an activity or condition that requires coping. Physical causes of stress, or stressors, may include an element as uncontrollable as the weather, noxious noise, pollution, or disease-causing bacteria and viruses. A broken romance, financial disaster, and the death of a loved one are serious social stressors. Even positive experiences, such as marriage and child birth, require significant coping. And the emotions connected with stressful times-anger, frustration, joy, grief, fear, happiness, embarrassment-are sources of psychological stress.
Individual responses to stress vary greatly. Aging seems to make some people more vulnerable, or perhaps less resilient, when stressed. Certain occupations are perceived to be inherently stressful. Ans some lifestyle factors, such as use of alcohol and caffeine, are thought to compromise ability. Perhaps the single most significant determinant of the stress response, however, is one's attitude toward life. 

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Conquering Stress

by Ted Hamilton M.D

It was the morning after. The morning after her visit to the emergency room, that is. She was 27 years old, an attractive young woman who appeared in my office at 9:14 a.m. seeking an explanation for her symptoms. Now quite composed, she told me that she had experienced an episode of severe chest pain with shortness of breath and a terrifying feeling of numbness in her hands and fingers the previous evening. She had been rushed to the emergency room for evaluation and treatment, and later feeling somewhat better, released with instructions to follow up with her family doctor.
"Have you been under unusual stress or tension lately?" I asked.
"No. nothing out of the ordinary."
"How are things at home? Any family problems?"
"No, the man I'm with is good to me, not abusive like my former husbands."
"How many times have you been married?"
"Four."
As we talked, a story of incredible coping emerged. She told how she was attending night school but finding it difficult to study in the daytime because of her mother's recent hospitalization, which left her with responsibility of caring for her younger brother. Neither she nor her husband (who had just been arrested for shoplifting) was employed, and the landlord was threatening eviction. She had undergone two major surgeries in recent years, and was a heavy user of caffeine and tobacco.
Her body was trying to tell her what she was unable to understand or accept on conscious level-that she was under severe tress and in need of relief. Admittedly, her story, while entirely true, is unusually dramatic. Most of us aren't faced with the multitude of challenges confronting this young woman. But we all must deal with stress, and the manner in which we cope has far reaching implications for our health and happiness.

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