copyright 2013 www.yourdailymotivation.com
YOUR BODY
Dodging Diabetes
three easy tips on keeping you from becoming a statistic
20 million Americans are living with Diabetes and over 40 million have pre-diabetes, thus making this disease almost like an epidemic. [1] This disease is caused by high blood sugar levels. There are a few different types of diabetes, and it can come into someone's life at any time, and may or not be reflective of their diet. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas in the body that helps the take glucose (sugar) into the liver to store, or be used by cells. Some people are dependant on a insulin prescription because their body has stopped producing it. Aside from Type I diabetes, where the pancreas fails, we each have control of regulating our blood sugar levels, and can get them tested to see how our body is functioning.
Here are a few ways to keep your blood sugar levels in check:
1. Protein-Eat things like eggs, chicken sausage, turkey bacon, or whey protein in the morning to “break-the-fast” from the night. Protein helps keep blood sugar levels more stable, unlike starches which spike and then decline, and leave you wanting more when glucose drops. Calculate your bodies needs with this handy tool http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/protein.asp?Submit=Close
2. Don't Skip-Many people go without breakfast, lunch and catch up at night, or perhaps don't snack. It is important to eat small frequent meals to keep your bodies metabolism in a working state. Often people have weight gain, because they are actually starving their body, which responds by storing fat, as a mechanism of survival. The more often you eat, the more you are “using” your metabolism and thus won't “lose” it with weight gain, which puts you at risk.
3. Exercise-Daily ideally, or at least a few good workouts a week will make your body become more efficient at making insulin. Decreasing body fat also allows for greater use of insulin, known as “sensitivity”. Combining cardiovascular and weight training, when approved by your doctor, can give you many more benefits too. [2] Many people argue that they don't have time to exercise, well think of this, a cartoon from Randy Glasbergen, “What fits in your schedule better, exercising one hour per day, or being dead 24 hours per day?” (see cartoon at http://www.glasbergen.com/?s=dead+24+hours )
Good health is a function of healthy diet and lifestyle, and both of these things are controlled by you!
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/
[2] http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/exercise-guidelines
This information and other information is intended for general reference purposes only and is not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.
YOUR SPIRIT
Using Your Power
Self-Determination
by Madisyn Taylor
When your choices are your own, you will be more likely to accept and be satisfied with the outcome of those choices.
Our lives are defined by the decisions we make each day. When we choose one option over another, whether we are selecting a restaurant or considering a cross-country move, we shape our lives. The decision-making process can be empowering, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of self-determination. Yet it can also be a source of anxiety because decisions force us to face the possibility of dissatisfaction and inner conflict. As a result, many of us opt to avoid making decisions by allowing others to make them for us. We consequently turn our power over to spouses, relatives, friends, and colleagues, granting them the stewardship of our lives that is ours by right. Though the decisions we must make are often difficult, we grow more self-sufficient and secure each time we trust ourselves enough to choose.
Ultimately, only you can know how the options before you will impact your daily life and your long-term well-being. Within you lies the power to competently weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each selection. Even if you feel incapable of making a decision, your inner wisdom and your intuitive mind will give you sound counsel if you have faith in yourself. Try to come to your own conclusions before seeking the guidance of others, and even then, treat their suggestions as supplementary information rather than votes to be tallied. Before making your choice, release your fear of wrong decisions. Perceived mistakes can lead you down wonderful and unexpected paths that expose you to life-changing insights. If you can let go of the notion that certain choices are utterly right while others are entirely wrong, you will be less tempted to invite others to take the reigns of your destiny.
When your choices are your own, you will be more likely to accept and be satisfied with the outcome of those choices. Your decisions will be a pure reflection of your desires, your creativity, your awareness, and your power. Since you understand that you must live with and take responsibility for your decisions, you will likely exercise great care when coming to conclusions. As you learn to make informed and autonomous choices, you will gain the freedom to consciously direct the flow of your life without interference.