2 simple ways to control blood sugar -- and save your life

Exercise like it's a prescription:
That means at least 20 to 30 minutes every day. It takes only a few days of missed workouts and poor eating to worsen a person's insulin resistance, says Barry Braun, Ph.D., an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. To make sure you stick with it, choose the exercise that you enjoy the most.

If you have high blood glucose:
...take alpha lipoic acid. "This supplement is unexcelled as a blood-sugar nutrient and is a prescription item in Europe," says Bowden. He recommends taking 300 milligrams twice a day. Puritan's Pride Alpha Lipoic Acid is reasonably priced and passed purity tests at consumerlab.com.



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90% of systemic diseases are inflammatory in nature

I see many patients who have periodontal, diabetes, heart and respiratory disease. We now know that 90% of systemic diseases are inflammatory in nature. Our current healthcare model treats us when we are sick. It doesn’t focus much on wellness and prevention. We dentists have been saying for years that periodontal disease can lead to heart disease. Finally, a couple of years ago, the medical profession agreed. We tend to see many of the symptoms of disease much earlier than our medical colleagues. Patients tend to see medical doctors in times of acute pain but not as often for general checkups. They do, however, tend to visit the dentist even when they are healthy. This puts us in a great position to help our patients stay healthy.

Simple Exercise Improves Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes is ravaging the United States in epidemic proportions. If you're one of the over 20 million Americans with diabetes, it is important that you get this condition under control, for it is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, and amputation.


Exercise can substantially reduce your need for diabetes medication. In fact, exercise not only lowers your blood sugar levels but also increases your body's overall sensitivity to insulin. Furthermore, weight loss, which is so important in diabetes, is virtually impossible without regular exercise.

Type II diabetics who are overweight can often completely reverse their condition simply by losing weight by following a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Diet is particularly important in managing diabetes, and it is a key component of your diabetic treatment program. Even Mayo Clinic says you must control your blood sugar levels!

Diabetes Isn't Caused by a Sweet Tooth but Nearly Half of People Believe It Is

Nearly half (42 per cent) of people still think eating too much sugar causes diabetes and a quarter (25 per cent) of people object to people with diabetes injecting insulin in public, according to a survey by Diabetes UK.


Diabetes UK is concerned that findings from our Diabetes Myths survey, which questioned 2,032 people, show that some beliefs are still worryingly widespread. We want to kick start Diabetes Week (13 – 19 June) by raising awareness of diabetes and dispelling the myths that still surround the condition.

Simon O’Neill, Director of Care, Information and Advocacy Services at Diabetes UK, explains: “These sorts of myths are not helpful and can lead to discrimination and bullying. Sadly, we often hear of children who are bullied at school because their peers believe they’ve brought their diabetes on themselves from eating too many sweets. People with diabetes have a hard enough time living with their condition without being made to feel ashamed or different from their peers.”

Fact over fiction

Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Sugar does not cause diabetes. However, eating a diet high in sugar can cause people to become overweight which increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

O’Neill continues: “Diabetes UK is appalled that some people object to injecting in public. For people who treat their diabetes with insulin, this is not a choice - insulin keeps them alive and injections have to be administered at specific times. People should be able to inject in public without fear of being mocked or shunned by those around them.”

The survey also discovered that 50 per cent of people think that people with diabetes benefit from food and drink labelled “suitable for diabetics”.

The truth about diabetes

O’Neill explains: “Diabetic foods have no extra nutritional value and are more expensive. Diabetes UK advises that people with diabetes have the same healthy, balanced diet (that is low in fat, sugar and salt) as people without the condition. We are calling for an end to the use of the terms ‘diabetic foods’ and ‘suitable for diabetics’ on food labels altogether.

“Diabetes UK is hoping to destroy these myths by shedding light on them and replacing them with the truth - it is vital that people with and without diabetes have accurate information about the condition.”

Can Gum Disease Make It Impossible To Control Your Blood Sugar Levels?

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.


A study in the November issue of the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well-controlled diabetics are. Research has emerged that suggests that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways - periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications. Thus, diabetics who have periodontal disease should be treated to eliminate the periodontal infection.

This recommendation is supported by a study reported in the Journal of Periodontology in 1997 involving 113 Pima Indians with both diabetes and periodontal disease. The study found that when their periodontal infections were treated, the management of their diabetes markedly improved

Choose Tried-and-True Methods To Treat Gum Disease

Miracle cures, or quick fixes, have been around for centuries; certain foods, ointments, or potions have claimed to cure everything from hair loss to cancer. Marketed as quick, easy, and painless, these miracle cures often are not backed by science or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means that they may do more harm than good. Similar quick fixes that claim to treat periodontal disease are no different. Though elements of these quick and easy periodontal “cures” may be FDA-approved, there may be little or no scientific proof that they are effective in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. In fact, periodontal “miracle cures” may actually harm your oral health.


Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, and has been associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. If you opt for a treatment for periodontal disease that has not been backed by scientific evidence, it's possible that the treatment won't effectively treat (or could even worsen) your condition. Just because a treatment is deemed “new” or “innovative” doesn't mean that it works properly or better than more traditional treatments. By choosing the quick fix route first, your oral health may remain in poor condition and you may require additional treatment.

Instead, a better idea is to schedule an appointment with a dentist when you notice signs of periodontal disease (red, swollen or tender gums; bleeding while brushing or flossing; gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth; loose or separating teeth).

Without Good Dental Health...There Cannot Be Good General Health

Gum disease can affect the state of your whole body. Over the past few years, studies have shown a definite link between your oral health and your general health. Here are some problems that can be aggravated by poor oral hygiene:

1) Stroke - Those with adult gum disease may have increased risk of stroke.
2) Respiratory Infections - Inhaling bacteria from the mouth and throat can lead to pneumonia.
3) Dental plaque buildup creates a dangerous source of bacteria that can be inhaled into the lungs.
4) Heart Disease - Those with adult periodontitis (gum disease) may have increased risk of fatal heart attack, and are more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
5) Bacteria from the mouth may cause clotting problems in the cardiovascular system.
6) Osteopenia - Reduction in bone mass (osteopenia) is associated with gum disease and related tooth loss.
7) Severity has been connected to tooth loss in postmenopausal women.
8) Uncontrolled Diabetes - Chronic periodontal disease can disrupt diabetic control. Diabetes can contribute to bacterial overgrowth in the mouth.
9) Smokers with diabetes increase their risk of tooth loss by twenty times.
10) People with type II diabetes are three times as likely to develop periodontal disease than are non-diabetics.

Remember, there are a number of advanced oral care remedies available to control or eliminate periodontal disease, such as antimicrobial mouth-washes, flossing regularly, and certain medications... and you thought all you needed was a toothbrush!

What Else Can Happen To My Mouth And Teeth With Diabetes?

A fungal infection in the mouth (oral candidiasis) appears to occur more frequently among persons with diabetes including those who wear dentures. Your dentist may prescribe antifungal medications to treat this condition. Good oral hygiene is critical. Lichen planus is a skin disorder that produces lesions in the mouth. A more severe type of Lichen planus involves painful ulcers that erode surface tissue. Although there is no permanent cure, your dentist may prescribe a topical anesthetic or other medication to reduce and relieve the condition. Some diabetics have reported that their taste for sweets is diminished, although the taste impairment is usually not severe. Altered taste sensations, barely perceptible to most diabetic patients, may influence their food choices in favor of sweet tasting foods with highly refined carbohydrate content. This may worsen the diabetic patient's dental health and overall health.

Chronic Periodontal Disease Could Lead to Diabetes

Chronic periodontal disease may contribute to diabetes, according to a review of recent research presented today. While it has been established that people with diabetes are more prone to developing periodontal disease, new research is suggesting that periodontal disease may, in turn, be a risk factor for diabetes. The research review was presented at an American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) symposium on periodontal systemic connections in Bethesda, Md.
Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and activate immune cells. These activated cells produce inflammatory biological signals (cytokines) that have a destructive effect throughout the entire body. Once this happens, it may induce Type 2 diabetes, even in otherwise healthy individuals with no other risk factors for diabetes," explained presenter Anthony Iacopino, D.M.D., Ph.D. in the Division of Prosthodontics at Marquette University's School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wis.
The next step to determine for sure whether or not periodontal disease can cause diabetes is to perform clinical studies and intervention trials, which answer the question, when periodontal disease is treated, does the risk for diabetes decrease? "Until we have results from intervention studies to better understand the role periodontal disease may play in diabetes, as well as heart disease, preterm births and respiratory disease, the best advice is for people to take excellent care of their oral health to help ensure they keep their teeth as well as maintain overall health," said Michael McGuire, D.D.S., president of the AAP.