Type-2 Diabetes

Since I posted type-1 diabetes, I might as well post type-2. This type of diabetes is called Non-Insulin Dependent. My mother belongs to this category.

• Occurs in 90% of diabetes cases

• Occurs mainly in adults, particularly in overweight and inactive persons

• Insulin is produced but body cells resist its action and glucose cannot enter cells

• Usually treated with diet and exercise. Sometimes requires medication (tablets or insulin injections).

Warning Signals:

• Any type-1 symptom

• Blurred vision

• Excessive itching

• Skin infection with slow healing

• Tingling/ numbness in feet

If you have any of these feelings, it's time to do something with your diet and or your lifestyle. I am trying my best to do what i can to avoid this.

Cooking Barley

Hubby read about the benefits we can get from eating barley. So when we went to our favorite food store, I saw a salad made with this grains plus peas and few things. Just for curiosity, I bought a scoop. But I ended up throwing the rest of it. It was not the way I wanted it to taste. An idea came through my mind. We already had barley at home because hubby bought it in his previous trip to the store.

What is this kind of grain?

Barley is a wonderfully versatile cereal grain with a rich nut like flavor and an appealing chewy, pasta-like consistency. Its appearance resembles wheat berries, although it is slightly lighter in color. Sprouted barley is naturally high in maltose, a sugar that serves as the basis for both malt syrup sweetener. When fermented, barley is used as an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Barley and Other Whole Grains Substantially Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes. In order to get more information about this, just click here. But this is sharing you my recipe.

These are the things you need:
* 2 cups of dry barley
* 2 cups of coconut milk
* 1 medium size yellow onion, chopped
* 6 garlic cloves, freshly minced
* 2 tbs olive oil
* salt to taste (optional)

To do it:

• In a medium heat, put olive oil in a pan and saute garlic until light brown.
  

• Add chopped onions and stir until transparent.

• Stir in barley grains and mix well. Cover for at least a minute, just enough to get soak.
  

• Add coconut milk and stir. Cover and lower the heat.

• Add a dash of salt (optional).

• Stir occasionally while the milk has not subsided yet. Cook it under very low heat for at least 20 minutes or until the grains taste gummy and soft.
  

• Serve it like rice with your favorite protein dish.

Hubby and I love this to eat with our chicken adobo.

Type-1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the one that I dreaded most. It is also called Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. I'm glad that my mother is not dependent on insulin. That would be a real great problem being in the Philippines. That would make us all (siblings) scratch our head and be in deep trouble.

What is Type-1 Diabetes?

• This occurs in 10% of diabetes cases.

• Usually in children and young adults

• Pancreas gland produces little or no insulin. Daily insulin injections are necessary, plus:

• Regular meals with even carbohydrate distribution to match insulin dosage. Regular exercise and weight control are also important.
  

Warning Signs!

• Frequent urination
• Continual thirst
• Rapid weight loss
• Unusual hunger
• Extreme weakness/fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, irritability

Source: The Calorie King

Prediabetes - An Early Warning!

I just want to share this information to those who are also as scared as I am with this monster diabetes. I know that there is a lot to read about this disease but I found this one too concise and handy.

• Prediabetes means you don't have diabetes now but are likely to develop it in the future -if serious preventive action is not taken now. Your risk of for heart disease and stroke is also increased by 50%.

• You are prediabetic if your blood sugar level is between 100 and 125 mg/dL (after an overnight fast).

• Risk factors for prediabetes include being overweight or obese, a family history of diabetes, high blood lipids, hypertension, and a history of gestational diabetes (during pregnancy).

• Most people with prediabetes can prevent full-blown diabetes (usually Type 2) by adopting a healthier lifestyle. This includes losing weight if overweight, and exercising for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.

• Your doctor and dietitian can plan a preventive lifestyle program for you.

Source: The Calorie King

What is Diabetes?

I am so concern and may be even a little bit paranoia every time I heard the word DIABETES. My mother has one and has been on medication for over four years now. Though we are glad her system still accepts oral medication. Because of this, I always have fear that I might get it sooner or later. Right now, I am watching what I eat but sometimes my sweet tooth is so hard to ignore.

What is DIABETES then?

Diabetes is a disorder in which the body cannot make proper use of carbohydrates (sugar and starches).

* After digestion, sugar and starches are changed into glucose which is the simplest form of sugar vital for body energy and growth.

* Insulin is the hormone which acts like a key that opens the door to body cells and allows glucose to enter.

* Without sufficient insulin, unused glucose builds up in the blood and passes into the urine. This produces symptoms of frequent urination, continual thirst and tiredness.

* Untreated diabetes increases the risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels. This, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney damage, foot ulcers and gangrene (with amputation), impotence and other complication.

Source: The Calorie King

Bacalao Recipe

I got the original recipe from the internet and made few modifications. I tried it and was very must satisfied with the feedback I got from hubby and my step son. They are both 100% Portuguese so they know everything about bacalau. My step son said that the recipe was similar to the ones in Lisbon. He stayed there for awhile while trying to pursue his singing career.

This recipe needs to be planned two days ahead because of the salted cod fish.

Here is what you need to get:
* 4 lbs. salted dry cod fish
* 6 peeled tomatoes in can
* 1 medium-sized yellow onion
* 8 cloves fresh garlic, minced
* 4 bay leaves
* 3/4 cups + 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 small jar green capers (4 oz)
* 1 cup green olives (Manzanilla)
* 1 red pepper, sliced
* 1/2 cup sliced chili in vinegar
* 6 medium potatoes

This is what you need to do:

Pre-cooking: (I usually do this for 2 to 3 days.)
* Wash off the salt then soak in water. Refrigerate it. Change the water twice a day or at least ones until the bacalao is ready.

Cooking Day:
* In a pan, put the cod with 3 minced garlic just to get rid of the fishy smell and bring to a boil. This is to make it easy to break apart.
* Skin the potatoes if you don't like the skin and cut in desires sizes. Put it in another pan and cook. Do not over cook them.
* In another pan, saute the remaining garlic in 2 tbsp of olive oil. Stir until you smell the aroma, do not burn them.
* Then stir in chopped onions and stir. Wait until the onions become transparent.
* Add the can of tomatoes and mix well. Cook until almost juicy.
* Break apart the bacalao then add them.
* Add green olives, capers, sliced chili and bay leaves. Mix and cover for 5 minutes.
* Add 4 to 5 dashes of vinegar from the chili can to give flavor. Put less if you don't want it too hot.
* Add red pepper and potatoes. Cover for 10 minutes. Make sure you don't over cook the fish. Over cooking can make the fish hard.
* Stir in 3/4 cup olive oil.
* Serve with your favorite french bread.