It is no secret that diabetes is on the rise. In fact recent medical news states, it is reaching epidemic levels. It is like a plague that is sweeping across the United States and around the world. What is really troubling about it is that we are doing it to ourselves. Diabetes (in most cases) is a lifestyle disease. The good news is that since it is a lifestyle disease, we can fight it by helping people change their lifestyles. In many cases, people have actually been able to reverse diabetes.

I personally believe that a big part of why people do not take diabetes seriously is that they do not understand just how dangerous the disease is. Many people think that it if they are diagnosed, they will simply need to take a shot each day and they will be fine. What they do not realize is that they risk losing fingers, toes, or entire limbs. The can become blind, develop heart disease, and yes, die. And they are doing it to themselves.

How To Reverse Diabetes
There are 2 big things that diabetics and pre-diabetics need to focus on, and they are the same things that even the healthiest person should be focusing on. They are nutrition and exercise. The right blend of these 2 components will not only help fight diabetes, but may literally save your life.

Nutrition To Fight Diabetes
You can read book after book on diets for diabetics, but they are all going to point you to the same place. You need to eat a balanced, highly nutritional, low calorie diet. In a nut shell, stay away from heavily processed foods, such as white or bleached breads and pastas. Soda is your worst enemy! Drink lots of water. Eat your fruits and vegetables. Vegetables are typically some of the lowest foods on the glycemic index. If you are not familiar with the GI, the lower the score, the better the food is for you. Anything scoring under 55 is considered low-glycemic. These foods are especially important for someone who wants to know how to prevent, or how to reverse diabetes. Low GI foods cause minimal fluctuations in your blood sugar. They also help keep you feeling full longer, leading to less calorie consumption throughout the day.

Exercise to Fight Diabetes
Exercise is crucial if you seriously want to know how to reverse diabetes. When you exercise, you are not only burning calories, which in turn leads to weight loss. Exercise also helps your body become more sensitive to insulin, which is very important for diabetics.

When patients are diagnosed with diabetes they are advised to improve their diet, exercise and lose weight. These natural remedies for diabetes become the cornerstone of their treatment. Natural health products are key to fighting diabetes head on. In that same vein, patients may become more interested in natural ways to reduce blood sugar levels and may seek help from supplements. With so many supplements to choose from it may be difficult to find ones that will actually help the diabetic patient. Unfortunately much research is still needed before any of these substances can become widely used for diabetic patients. However, below is a list of promising natural substances that may help diabetic patients.

1. Alpha Lipoic Acid: Alpha lipoic acid is a very powerful antioxidant. This substance helps the body remove damaging particles and is thought to also play a role in sugar metabolism. Alpha lipoic acid may help diabetic patients by preventing damage to nerves and blood vessels from dangerous free radicals that are generated in higher amounts in diabetic patients. The research is so promising for alpha lipoic acid that it is actually an approved treatment for diabetic nerve damage in some European countries.

2. Bitter Melon: Bitter melon’s role in diabetic treatment can be traced back for centuries. This bitter tasting tropical fruit has numerous chemicals that have been found to play a role in sugar processing within the body. At this time, there is no firm recommendation for the use of this substance to treat diabetes. In addition, the optimal dose for improving hemoglobin a1c is not yet known. More research is needed to fully understand how bitter melon can help the type 2 diabetic patient.

3. Fenugreek Seeds: Like bitter melon, the use of fenugreek dates back many years. Laboratory studies have linked chemicals in fenugreek to insulin production and the breakdown of glucose. As with bitter melon, much research is still needed to understand how this substance could help a diabetic because it is not clear what dose is needed to reduce sugars. In addition, the potential side effects and toxicity remain unknown.

For those that are interested in taking a natural supplement to help improve blood sugar, these are among the most promising supplements available. Unfortunately, more research must be done to determine how to dose these supplements to achieve the best result without causing side effects. It is best to discuss any new supplement with your doctor before your begin taking it. In the future, it is possible that one of these natural supplements could be recommended by your doctor for the treatment of your diabetes!

Diabetes is a common disorder that affects at least 346 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Diabetes has become more noticable with the advent of fast food and the lack of physical exercise. The blame is not on fast food, but they are part of the problem. Lacking a core exercises routine and a balanced diet will lead you down the path of possibly getting diabetes. It is the most common of the endocrine disorders and at its most basic level, it is the body’s inability to produce enough insulin or respond to insulin which results in a person having very high blood sugar levels. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the uptake of glucose (sugar) by the body’s vital organs. There are various types of diabetes. Let’s discuss the types and treatment so you know what the risks are and how to face them.

Diabetes is the body’s inability to regulate blood sugar and there are three manifestations of this failure:

Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 is caused by the body inability to produce insulin. This is the most serious form of the disease and it currently requires that a person inject insulin on a daily basis. Failure to do so can result in vomiting, dehydration, and at worst diabetic coma and death.

Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 is characterized by insulin resistance; the body and its cells are unable to properly process insulin. Generally not as dangerous as Type 1, Type 2 causes a person to suffer from long-term high blood sugar and this can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other health problems.

Gestational Diabetes: The gestational form of the disease that pregnant women, generally without a history of diabetes, develop the condition for the duration of their pregnancy. They suffer from high blood sugar during their pregnancy, and this can sometimes lead to the development of Type 2 later in life.

The good news about diabetes is that it is a very manageable disease, provided the affected have access to a good level of medical treatment. People suffering from diabetes must live a lifestyle that has a diet that regulates their blood sugar levels in addition to taking any medication that may be required. It is crucial that people who suffer with the condition are properly diagnosed and medically treated; failure to do so can be catastrophic and even fatal.

People can be born with diabetes, but it is also a disease that can develop at any point in life. Type 1 is often attributed to genetics and it cannot be prevented, but Type 2 can. There is a strong link between obesity and the development of Type 2, meaning that a diet that is high in sugar and fats can lead to diabetes. It is important that you prevent your chances of developing Type 2 by engaging in healthy eating practices that include a healthy balance of fruits, grains, vegetable, and protein. Some things, like Type 1, you can’t control, so it is important that you take control of the things you can by creating a lifestyle that prevents Type 2.

Gastric bypass surgery, which makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the stomach, is often used for both weight control and Type 2 diabetes help. I know some people who would love to scuba dive, but they are too big to do it, which is case they tunr to a quick fix with bypass surgery. Some diabetics have had excellent results with it, but scientists continue to search for ways of improving blood sugar levels in more people with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the Imperial Weight Centre of the Imperial College of London in the UK looked at the possibility of improving blood sugar control with a new plan.

Their study, published in November 2011 in the journal Obesity Surgery, tested a plan for blood sugar control after a surgical operation termed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, or RYGB. Ninety-nine people who had the procedure for diabetes management were included in the study. After their surgery:

• 50 diabetics were discharged with metformin, glargine and insulin adjusted according to their needs, while
• 49 study participants were discharged with standard management.

After one year, the group on the new plan showed greater improvement in lowering their hemoglobin A1c levels (HbA1c), and a higher rate of remission from Type 2 diabetes than those on the standard plan.

As management becomes better tuned, stomach bypass surgery is likely to become a better option in those people for whom conventional weight loss techniques yield poor results. Most people lose more than half the weight they need to lose after the Roux-en-Y procedure, if they follow their healthcare team’s dietary plans and get enough exercise.

The Roux-en-Y procedure:

• is usually considered when the body mass index (BMI) is over 40, which is termed morbid obesity. An individual 5’7″ tall with a weight of 255 pounds (116 kg) would have a BMI of about 40. Several easy-to-use internet BMI calculators are available.
• can be carried out using a large incision, but a small incision in the abdomen is more common.
• after the operation, some abdominal pain is possible and often medications are given to relieve this pain.
• only soft foods and liquids can be eaten at first, and diarrhea, faintness, and nausea can be a problem for about the first month after surgery.

As solid foods are added to the eating plan, the stomach feels full sooner than it did previously, and then the person must learn to eat only until they feel full. Overeating can stretch the stomach, while drinking a large quantity of high-calorie fluids will foil any attempts at weight loss. Since part of the intestine is bypassed less absorption takes place, and patients often need to take supplements of calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B12 to avoid brittle bone disease and anemia.

Bypass surgery is not a magic bullet, but for the right patient it can be the right treatment.

For many people an external insulin pump is the convenient way for a diabetic to be sure they are getting a steady dose of insulin as needed. But are all insulin pumps created equal? Not exactly. There are some key areas that you will need to consider in a model if you are in the market to purchase one. Another area to look into in correlation to the insulin pump is low testosterone in Boise Idaho becuase testosterone helps men reduce body fat and improves the way the their bodies handle insulin. Regulation is a key factor.

First, you need to look at who the model is designed for. There are actually kid-friendly versions that have a feature for delivering the equivalent of a child’s dose of insulin. This keeps the child, a parent, or another child from accidentally administering too much of the drug. If the pump is for an adult, this feature is obviously not necessary.

Second, you will need to consider the range of dosages available that can be administered through an external pump. For example, each diabetic is different in what their body requires. The unit will have a range of both basal and bolus dosages. For those who require considerably large amounts of insulin at a time, choosing a pump that can accommodate these injections is much easier to maintain… and safer to use.

Third, you need to know about the software that is included with the pump. Unfortunately, some pumps do not have this capability, so it is best to go with one that does to avoid having to keep a written record of levels.

Most pumps come equipped with software to download information to your computer so your blood sugar levels can be charted and recorded for your doctor’s observation. Pumps don’t have the ability to store readings in their own memory. But this software is useless unless it is compatible with your computer. Making sure that your computer’s operating system complies with the needs of the pump’s software will make record-keeping much simpler and efficient.

Fourth, has to do with new equipment. As technology advances, so do the pumps and their abilities. They are made sleeker to allow them to be easily concealed and come with more capabilities. But these advancements come at an increased price. This price may not be something that your insurance carrier is willing to foot the bill for.

Take a close look at the warranty that accompanies the pump. How long is it for and what does it cover? If you have an existing pump, when does the warranty expire? And will your insurance cover replacing it with a newer model?

Is an insulin pump for you?

• if you are willing to invest time and effort in the early days,
• if your control has not been good using injectables,

you should look into this option. Pump usage is not a treatment to be carried out on your own in the early days. You need an endocrinologist to help with insulin dosages, a dietitian to help with amounts of of bolus dosages based upon your carbohydrate intake, and someone from the manufacturer to show you how to set the pump and deal with any malfunctions, should they occur.

As a diabetic it can sometimes be hard to find something to eat-and-run, especially at breakfast. For those who are traveling check out the restaurants in Boise and their lite menu breakfast items. However, when you are at home and not on the road the recipes in this article will give you ideas for a quick, easy, and tasty diabetic breakfast. Granola Bars are often high in sugar, the same is true of muffins. Biscuits aren’t the best thing for a diabetic, either. So it can often be hard to fine an eat-on-the run breakfast. The Breakfast Panini makes an excellent breakfast sandwich for a busy person. And the Scrambled Egg Pocket sandwich below form http://jerrysstatecourtcafeboise.com/ is perfect to grab and go.

BREAKFAST PANINI

4 slices whole-grain bread of your choice
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1 thinly sliced green onion
1/3 cup cooked ham, chopped
2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute
freshly ground black pepper to suit taste
2 slices reduced-fat cheese of your choice
nonstick cooking spray

Spray a small skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and onion; cooking while stirring until veggies begin to soften. Stir in the ham.

In a small bowl beat the eggs with the black pepper and pour over the ham mixture in skillet. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring often, until the eggs are almost set.

Heat grill pan (or a medium skillet). Spray 1 side of each bread slice with the nonstick cooking spray (I like to use the butter flavored spray.) On the unsprayed side of two of the slices, place a slice of the cheese topped with half the egg mixture. Place the unsprayed side of the remaining bread slices over the egg mixture.

Grill the sandwiches approximately 2 to 3 minutes per side, using a spatula to press down lightly, until light brown.

To serve, cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately while still hot.

Yield: 2 sandwiches 1 sandwich per serving.

Per sandwich: Approximately 270 calories, 24 g protein, 30 g carbs. Perfect for us diabetics.

SCRAMBLED EGG POCKETS

1 whole egg
2 egg whites
1 tbsp fat-free milk
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp butter, softened, divided
3 tbsp minced onion
2 tbsp jarred roasted red pepper, diced (blot on paper towel before dicing)
1 whole-wheat pita bread halved and warmed in microwave or oven

In a medium bowl whisk the egg, egg whites, milk, salt and pepper until well blended.

Over medium heat, melt 1/2 teaspoon of the butter in a medium skillet that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Add the onion and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and tender. Add the egg mixture to skillet and sprinkle with the red pepper. Stir gently, lifting edge to allow uncooked portion to flow underneath. Continue cooking until set.

Spread the inside of the two pita halves with the remaining butter. Spoon the egg mixture into the pitas.

Yield: 2 servings

Per serving: 155 calories, 6 g (3 sat)fat, 11 g protein, 17 g carbs, 113 mg cholesterol, 3 g dietary fiber

Enjoy!

December is the time of year of many holiday celebrations that involves eating more food than usual and consuming alcohol. For those with diabetes it is okay to have custom wooden wine racks in your home filled with some nice red wines because a glass or two a week mixed into your diet should be fine. Be sure to check with your physician before changing your diet. Special holiday sweets – cookies, candies, cakes, and pies – are always part of the merrymaking that most people look forward to creating and eating. It helps draw our attention to a disease that limits thousands of Americans from indulging in traditional holiday sweets.

Its also fitting that as the month of holiday miracles, December may also be symbolic in inspiring hope for diabetics everywhere. In fact, starting December 1, 2011, there are new treatment trials on the horizon that will allow diabetics to lead a more normal life and receive better, more error-free care from their healthcare professionals. Here are two great developments in store for the management of diabetes.

“The Navigator” Artificial Pancreas Leads The Way for Diabetics

To understand how this new device works, let me explain a little about type I diabetes. In insulin-dependent diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough, and sometimes no, insulin to process glucose created from eating food. Type I diabetics must continually check their blood sugar levels to regulate how much insulin they need to take in relation to the food they eat. Too high insulin, hyperglycemia, and too low insulin, hypoglycemia, levels can result in making the diabetic very ill, so exact calibration of insulin is critical to their well-being.

Recently, the University of Virginia has been testing an artificial pancreas device called “The Navigator”, which can help a diabetic regulate their insulin intake more precisely, therefore preventing too high and too low levels, without the constant checking of blood sugar levels throughout the day.

The device is fully automated and duplicates the function of a normal, healthy pancreas. It automatically monitors blood sugar levels through a sensor placed under the skin. The levels are constantly sent to a receiver with intelligent software that then tells the device to release more insulin in the exact, correct dosage, if necessary. The device takes the constant worry away from a diabetic, is it too high, too low, and the constant monitoring of their blood sugar.

The device has not yet been approved by the FDA for consumer use. Earlier versions of this device were two different types of the “low glucose suspend system” – a backup device for diabetics who experience frequent low blood sugar events from taking too much insulin for the food they consumed. One type is a “predetermined” device in which the diabetic still has to monitor their blood sugar levels and give themselves insulin, but the device stops the flow of insulin at a predetermined level. The other type is a “predictive” device that predicts a low blood sugar event based on how fast current blood sugar levels are falling.

One drawback that concerns critics with regard to the artificial pancreas is that it places glucose-monitoring, administration of insulin, completely within the device’s control and takes it away from doctor/nurse monitoring. However, supporters of the device, the JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, has been working closely with the FDA to get the device released sooner than later, citing that the United States is already 3 years behind other countries in the consumer use of the device.

New U.S. testing trials are to begin December 1st, 2011, and it may be another year or two before Americans can have actual use of the device. Diabetics who are participating in the current device trials, actually using it, and doctors who specialize in diabetes, all champion its use. They state that the device may have a few technical glitches that will have to be worked out once the device is in wider use. Although the device won’t cure diabetes, it’s the first real ray of hope in the treatment of diabetes that allows diabetics to live as if they had a normal, functioning pancreas.

The “Diabetic Dashboard” Reduces Error in Diabetic Care

The “Diabetic Dashboard” is a new tool that helps doctors get all the information they need about a particular diabetic patient; their vital signs, other health conditions, lab tests they may need, current medications, or other pertinent data, all at one time on one screen.

A new study showed that doctors using the Diabetic Dashboard system were able to accurately get a patient’s information 100% of the time, compared to 94% using traditional EHR (electronic health record) systems. In addition, the Dashboard helped coordinate care with other physicians who may be treating the patient for other conditions that often accompany diabetes. The goal of using the Diabetic Dashboard is to ensure that doctors make the right decision in a patient’s care so that diabetics get the correct treatment for their individual situation. Doctors are able to see everything that would influence treatment decisions for a given patient.

The system also helps save money as it prevents duplication of tests and listing those that need to be done, all in a much quicker time. The study showed that doctors only needed to use 3 mouse clicks using Dashboard instead of 60 with existing traditional EHR systems. The Diabetic Dashboard was designed by doctors with their specific treatment of diabetic patients in mind and has been very well received by doctors who tested it. Now, that’s a system I’ve got to have for my diabetic patients! Hopefully, it will be available soon for doctors and their diabetic patients across the country to reap the benefits.

As I tell my diabetic patients, there may be a day when the disease of diabetes becomes a thing of the past. Stem cell treatments have been in trial which allows a diabetic to go without insulin for a few years at a time! In the future, we may be able to identify fetal cells that predict a child getting diabetes and be able to change them before they’re even born. For now, we look to the hope of new research being done every day, like the artificial pancreas and the Dashboard, which, may not cure diabetes, but can certainly help manage treatment more precisely and make life much easier, and healthier, for a type I diabetic.

Stay well,

Dr. Mark

The metabolic syndrome consists of high blood sugar, high blood cholesterol, high blood fats, obesity and high blood pressure. Smoking does not help those in suffering form this either. Although if you must smoke swith to an electronic cigarette to minimize the effect. I suggest quitting altogether. Inflammatory bowel disease consists of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, two conditions involving the large intestine. Researchers in the Department of Gastroenterology, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, set out to discover whether the two conditions could be associated. The results of their work were published in the Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology in the month of November 2011.

Sixty-two participants with Crohn’s disease and 115 volunteers with ulcerative colitis were included in the study…

• 34 participants with ulcerative colitis, and
• 11 with Crohn’s disease

were found to have the metabolic syndrome. The metabolic syndrome was found in 10.3 per cent of the participants under 45 years of age and 55 per cent of those over 45.

Since both the metabolic syndrome and inflammatory disease were studied at the same time, the results show an association but it is not clear which condition might be a risk factor for the other. Anyone with either diagnosis should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the other.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

• unusual hunger or thirst,
• unintended weight loss,
• unusual headaches,
• faintness,
• unusual fatigue,
• blurred vision,
• darkened skin (especially under the arms),
• frequent urination, and
• sores or infections that heal slowly.

Anyone experiencing signs or symptoms should be seen by a family doctor or endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in diseases of the glands.

People with ulcerative colitis can experience:

• rectal bleeding,
• rectal mucous,
• feelings of urgency,
• diarrhea,
• fatigue,
• bloating,
• left-sided pain,
• abdominal cramping,
• unintended weight loss, and
• diarrhea.

Crohn’s disease can cause:

• diarrhea,
• abdominal cramping,
• reduced appetite,
• weight loss,
• nausea and vomiting, and
• occasionally bleeding.

Some scientists have suggested the two conditions are simply slightly different presentations of the same disease. A family doctor or gastroenterologist, a specialist working with diseases of the digestive system, can diagnose inflammatory bowel disease.

Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been diagnosed by fasting blood sugar levels. Hemoglobin blood sugar levels could replace fasting blood sugar levels as the diagnostic test of choice.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are diagnosed by colonoscopy, which consists of inserting a tube called a colonoscope in the rectum and viewing the length of the large intestine.

Both conditions can be treated with diet and medications:

• vegan diets are known to be the best kind of diet for people with Type 2 diabetes to follow, and could also be effective for inflammatory bowel disease, although high fiber diets can be irritating.
• exercise is directly beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes and is under investigation for inflammatory bowel disease. Since inflammatory bowel disease is at least partly related to stress, exercise could be at least indirectly helpful.

The correlation with daibetes to cancer is still being researched, but getting the flu can be especially dangerous for someone who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. This is because getting sick in any way can wreak havoc on a diabetic’s blood sugar levels. In addition, being sick can affect how much and how often you eat. It can also affect what you are able to eat. If you have a cold and sore throat, you may not be able to eat normally which can greatly affect your blood sugar levels.

Having diabetes makes people more susceptible to severe cases of the flu because of a weakened immune system. This is one of the reasons why many doctors recommend anyone diagnosed with diabetes get the influenza vaccination each year to give them that extra layer of protection over the potentially deadly illness. Just because you have diabetes, this does not mean you shouldn’t have the same vaccinations as other people. The time to get a flu shot is usually between October and the middle of November… before the flu season actually begins.

Knowing the symptoms of the flu can also help you to identify it early so that you can go get treatment from your doctor. Some of the symptoms include:

• fever,
• body aches,
• headache,
• chills,
• fatigue,
• cough,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• sore throat, and
• some people might experience diarrhea or vomiting.

When you’re sick with a cold or the flu, it’s very important to do everything you can to rest and take it easy. You should continue to take any diabetic medications or insulin that your doctor has instructed you to take… but contact your healthcare provider to see if you need to make any adjustments in your medication or insulin. You should also make sure to continue testing your blood sugar levels every four hours so that you can keep track of how they’re doing while you’re sick.

You should be drinking plenty of fluids and eating as much as you normally would be. If anything, at least try to have liquids and soft foods that are balanced in sugar. You should also check your temperature each morning and evening to make sure that you don’t have a fever as that can be a sign of infection.

If you find that you are losing weight without trying or feeling too sick to eat like you normally would, contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room. This is also true if you’re having severe diarrhea or are unable to keep down food. Having diabetes can make you more prone to other issues, so don’t wait until it’s too late to see someone. If you get a temperature over 101° or your blood sugar is dropping too low or going too high, you should also seek emergency assistance.

Much has been written about gestational diabetes, or the diabetes that develops during pregnancy, and the development of Type 2 diabetes after such pregnancies. Researchers at the National Medical Center of Mexico looked at women who had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and given birth, to determine how frequently they might develop sugar intolerance, the cause of Type 2 diabetes. Their results were published in November 2011 in the journal Gynecological and Obstetrical Investigations. An additional study is being performed on the effects of vacation and Type 2 diabetes. By vacation, I mean taking the time to relax–not be laxy, but relax. If you can afford a big trip to St. Pete Beach Florida or even stay at home take the time to relax and not stress or worry about what you cannot control.

Fifty-two women were tested 6 weeks after delivery:

• high blood sugar or difficulty processing sugar was found in 36.5 per cent of the mothers, and
• 3 per cent had frank diabetes.

At 6 months after birth:

• high blood sugar or impaired ability to process sugar was seen in 55.8 per cent, and
• 7 per cent had full-blown diabetes.

One year after delivery:

• 2 per cent showed high blood sugar or impaired ability to handle sugar, and
• frank diabetes was demonstrated in 48 per cent.

Women with a sugar intolerance or high blood sugar weighed an average of 75.5 kg, and

• diabetic women weighed an average of 79.0 kg, compared with a
• weight of 65.3 kg in women with normal blood sugar levels.

Women with normal blood sugar levels averaged 147.8 mg/dl of triglycerides, compared with

• 3 mg/dl in women with high blood sugar or sugar intolerance, and
• 9 mg/dl in diabetics.

It was therefore concluded at one year after giving birth, women with a history of gestational diabetes, especially those who remained obese, had a high prevalence of either Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

One way of avoiding gestational diabetes is to limit your weight gain during pregnancy to 20 pounds or less, or what your obstetrician or family doctor recommends. Most of the weight gain takes place during the last 3 months, so it is not necessary to “eat for two” for the first 6 months. Eating sensibly and only until not hungry is best. Most women can be as active as they were before pregnancy, if their attending physicians approve.

After delivery, breastfeeding is:

• one way of losing calories as well as giving your baby the nutrition he/she needs (cow’s milk is for baby cows),
• getting mom’s uterus back into shape,
• preventing breast cancer, and
• bonding with your baby.

Once mom’s body has healed from the trauma of delivery, getting out and walking every day is a good way to get your body back into shape while having an enjoyable experience with your baby. Buggies designed for active mothers provide babies with smooth rides while their mothers jog. Putting on some music and dancing around while holding your baby provides not only exercise for mom but also the beginnings of rhythm and music training for baby. Standard exercises such as lunges, squats, and step-ups can all be performed with baby as resistance instead of a dumbbell.