Type 2 Diabetes and Healthy Living - Is High-Heat Cooking Bad For You?
By Beverleigh H Piepers

As you go on with the fight to control your Type 2 diabetes and blood sugar levels, you might be interested to know how you prepare your meat could impact your risk factor for complications. By now you probably know taking in enough protein is key to controlling your blood sugar at every meal. So you are trying hard to include a reasonable amount of meat in your meal plan. However, are you cooking it healthily?

You could have also read grilling or barbequing your meat can increase the cancer-causing substances you have in your body and even eating a lot of red meat could increase your risk of developing certain cancers as well.

However, did you know there could be a connection between high-heat cooking and Type 2 diabetes? Researchers out of the Health Hospital at Harvard are finding just that. They noted the frequent use of high heat cooking methods including...

• broiling,
• barbequing,
• grilling and
• roasting

were all increasing the risk factor for Type 2 diabetes based on research carried out on over 289,000 participants. Those who often consumed meats prepared this way were more likely to be also suffering from Type 2 diabetes, showing this direct correlation. Note this may have not necessarily been just the cooking method, but how the food was cooked using sauces and so forth, and the link to weight gain. The test subjects were also more likely to be obese or very overweight, which in itself also increases the risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes.

What is interesting to note is broiled fish seemed to be okay in the study. While there was not as much information on this, those who ate broiled fish often didn't show an elevated risk, which can lead us to believe it is not just the broiling but the type of protein being cooked that particular way.

Researchers also pointed out another of the reasons why this could be problematic is because there are potentially harmful chemicals that form during this type of cooking which can lead to an inflammatory response in our body. This then sets you down a chain of events that could lead to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

The take-home message in all this? Try alternative ways of cooking...

• slow cooking,
• baking,
• boiling,
• steaming,
• stewing, and
• stir-frying

are all healthier ways to cook your meat and help to prevent it from going past its succulent endpoint. When you overcook any meat, you are eliminating the fat and liquid, so all you are left with are the toughened muscle fibers.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Beverleigh_H_Piepers/123142
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Winterize Your Home to Survive Winter Weather: The Ultimate Home Prep Checklist
By Kristen Fowler

Every winter, your home goes up against the roughest of weather. From relentless snow, to pounding hail storms to ever-lingering ice, the elements sure do put your home through the ringer. And according to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2014 alone, American homeowners who failed to winterize their homes lost a collective $2.4 billion dollars from damages caused by snow, ice, and freezing winter temperatures.

How, you ask? From all of the associated property damage. For example, the average claim for damage caused by a frozen pipe that's burst is about $18,000. This cost often includes replacing or repairing the pipe itself, as well as the drenched floor and drywall. And collapsing trees - with weak or dead branches that can be snapped off by the howling wind, or from the weight of ice and snow - can cause anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 dollars in damage per tree when they come crashing into your house.

But the good news is that the winter doesn't always have to have its way with your home and wallet. Preparing your home for winter weather can help prevent, avoid, and reduce these and other problems that could cost you thousands of dollars to repair. And the best way to see what needs fixing in your home is to perform a winter home fitness test.

There's a long list of benefits that go along with winterizing your home. Real estate experts note that weatherization efforts, on average, lower homeowners' energy consumption by 35%, as well as reduce their annual energy costs by 32%.

And as an added bonus, weatherization efforts also boast a strong ratio of savings from the home improvement investment. For example, for every $1.00 you spend on safeguarding your home from airflow and insulation issues, you'll net a return of $1.80 in savings in your bank account.

On top of all the energy savings, preventing a small problem from becoming a huge issue will save you thousands. As our wise founding father Benjamin Franklin once quipped, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." And here's how you can make the most of your prevention efforts this winter.

4 Ways the Winter Elements Can Destroy Your Home

Contrary to popular belief, your home isn't indestructible. It might feel that way when you're sitting by the fire as the wind howls outside, but there's probably a problem brewing at this very moment. So, let's look at some of the common ways the elements damage your home

1) Ice Will Destroy Your Chimney

Go outside and take a good look at the mortar on your chimney. There's no way it's going to last as long as your roof, and over time, the rain will begin to find its way inside the cracks. As it freezes, you'll find chunks of the mortar falling off. And now your flashing (that thin sheet or strip of water-resistant material that's installed at roof intersections) won't be able to save you because the water will get in and roll down your interior walls. If you're really unlucky, you could end up with a mold problem you had no clue about.

2) Extremely Powerful Winds Are Determined to Damage Your Roof

If you live in an area where hurricanes, blizzards, and very strong winds commonly strike, then you know that they can be powerful enough to rip branches off trees and send them hurtling towards your roof. Once this happens, it can easily tear your roof apart until you have large holes where the rain and snow will find its way inside, causing all sorts of water damage. The best way to make sure this doesn't happen is to keep an eye on trees and cut off any old or broken branches. It's one of the reasons why steel roofs are becoming ever more popular, as they're capable of withstanding nearly anything the wind will throw at it.

3) Your Pipes Can Freeze and Burst

One of the most annoying ways the cold weather can damage your home is by causing your pipes to burst. It's a much harder problem to fix, especially if you end up with additional issues like a flooded basement. Burst pipes are caused by the water inside your pipes freezing up until they expand so much that they crack. It's common when your pipes run outside to garden taps or through uninsulated walls. You could always stop using your garden tap during winter, but it might not be practical, and this doesn't solve every issue. The best thing you can do is add insulation to your pipes to stop them from getting too cold.

4) Piles of Heavy Snow Could Collapse Your Roof

Snow might look pretty when it's lying on your roof, but if there is too much of it, then it becomes dangerous for a number of reasons. The most worrisome one is that the snow may slide off - like a mini avalanche - and fall on top of someone standing or walking below it. An old roof could also buckle under the pressure, which would cost a great deal to fix.

Even if the pile of snow on your roof isn't heavy enough to damage the roof itself, your guttering might not be so lucky. With all that added weight, it could quickly come crashing down to the ground. To prevent this, you can clear your gutters of leaves and other tree debris ahead of time so the snow doesn't build up as easily, and then you can remove any piles yourself with a rake if there is enough there to be deemed dangerous.

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter: The Space-by-Space Home Fitness Checklist

When was the last time you took a tour of your home and thought "how do I protect my house from winter weather"? It's probably been years, and in all that time, it's likely that a few important things have slipped through the cracks. But if enough melting snow starts seeping into those cracks, it's going to cause far too much expensive damage to your refuge from Mother Nature's cold shoulder.

Because winterizing your home entails a lot more than just making a quick trip to the nearest supermarket for some eggs, milk, and bread. You have to keep in mind that the blizzards, sleet, and the extreme cold can wreak havoc on your home's structure and safety. And to ensure that your home is fit and properly prepared for the next blast of winter weather, use our Winter Home Fitness Checklist below to do a complete once-over of your property and fill those cracks. It's a simple breakdown for how you can prepare and protect your home - both inside and out.

For Your Indoor Spaces

Adequately winterizing your home's interior for the cold weather is crucial, as you're going to be indoors most of the time. Here are a few important steps to keep yourself warm and protected. A few quick fixes around the home could alleviate many energy inefficiencies and reduce your monthly costs throughout winter and beyond.

Insulation: Check the insulation in your attic, basement, and garage. According to data collected by the National Association of Realtors, improving insulation alone can reduce your heating bills by 20%.

Pipes: Make sure all the pipes passing through these unheated places are adequately insulated. Ideally, they should be wrapped in electrical heating tape first, followed by foam insulation. Bursting of pipes from freezing is far more common than it needs to be, and it can give rise to some seriously expensive repairs.

Ceiling: Check for leaks in the ceiling and repair or replace any damaged or missing shingles

Heating: Examine your furnaces, heating vents, thermostats, oil tanks, wood stoves, and water heaters. Make sure they're clean and in good, working condition. Buy a space heater to keep on hand as a good back-up on those extra chilly days

Filters: Replace dirty filters in your furnace and HVAC system every month or two. Dirty filters can, sometimes, lead to a fire. And if you use a propane or oil-powered furnace, be sure that you refuel it.

Vents: Keep your vents free of obstacles to allow the free-flow of air.

Smoke Detectors: Check for smoke and carbon monoxide leaks with the help of proper detectors, and replace old batteries as well.

Fireplace/Chimney: Examine the fire brick in the fireplace for open mortar joints. Should you see any, get them repaired immediately to prevent the possibility of a fire breaking out.

Weather Stripping: Check for weather stripping on all sides of the doors and the windows. If some it cracking or missing, apply new or additional weather stripping. You can also use rope caulk for this by simply pressing it into the areas where air leakage has been taking place. Air leaks can cause the cold air from the outside to come in and allow your warm air to escape, compromising your home's efficiency by up to 30%. It is, therefore, crucial to avoid them.

Fans: Make sure that your fans are spinning in the right direction. During the summer, ceiling fans run counterclockwise to create cool breezes. Turning blades in reverse displaces hot air as it travels upward to the ceiling, sending that hot air back into the room - making the space more comfortable for those nearby and reducing heating bills by up to 10 percent. So circulate smarter and save!

Water Heater: While most water heaters are set to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the can actually operate at 120 degrees without a perceptible change in performance. Stepping down into your basement or into the maintenance closet to adjust your furnace will just take a few minutes, but the positive impacts will last until next spring. Covering your water heater in a special insulating wrap will also keep it working more efficiently.

For Your Outdoor Spaces

The outside of your home will be taking the main brunt of the winter weather. So make sure you give it the TLC it needs to make it through to the spring. Many of these solutions are simple, affordable, DIY projects that you can often complete in under an hour.

Windows: Dual-pane windows are not only safer, but they're also really good at insulating your home. The double layer of glass between you and the world outside is filled with argon gas, which will greatly help with the insulation properties of your windows. You could also have the UV coating on your windows which lowers the chance of fading for any artwork and furniture inside your home. You could also have ones with safety film on, which keeps them from shattering into pieces in case of impact.

Roof: Check your roof for cracks or other openings. Make sure you replace any missing shingles and install weather stripping on the roof opening(s) to deter melted snow from seeping into your home.

Pipes: Turn off the water supply to all your exterior faucets, and drain out excess water from plumbing lines, underground sprinklers, garden hoses, and pipelines by opening up the exterior faucet. Doing so should help keep the pipes from freezing and bursting.

Gutters: The gutters and the spouts should be devoid of leaves, grime, and other debris. The deposits of wet leaves in the gutters adds substantial weight and volume to them in winter, which increases the risk of damage. Clean out the gutters to reduce the risk of ice dams as well.

Chimney/Fireplace: Make sure the chimney's flue and draft is functioning properly and fully operational. It needs to easily and securely open and close, and then drawing up the smoke as well. Apart from that, keep your chimney clear of bird, rodent, and other animal nests.

Patio Furniture: Since you won't be using it much in the winter, keep your patio furniture covered and protected.

Deck: Apply an extra coat of sealer on your deck so the sitting winter water doesn't warp it.

Pool and Fountain: Drain your pool and water fountains, and unplug their pumps as well.

Doors and Shutters: Repair any loose shutters or doors to minimize possible damage from wind. And be sure to apply weather-stripping around these as well.

Walkways and Driveways: Spread anti-slip gravel out all over your walkways and driveways. This will help prevent slips, skids, and falls when the snow comes down. Also, make sure you've got shovels and rock salt on hand for when the next snow storm strikes.

How to Win the Winter Weather War: Prevention

There are thousands of things that could potentially go wrong with your home in the winter, and we've only touched on the most common ones today. However, far too many people wait until something goes wrong before they fix a problem affecting their homes, and this almost always ends up costing them a lot more money. That's because it's cheaper to prevent anything bad from happening in the first place.

So if you can take care of potential home issues before something gets damaged and take the time to winterize your home, then your wise prevention will save you a lot of hassle and keep you from having huge bills to pay. Remember, your home is your castle, and it's smart to start treating it as such. So make the smarter move and devote the time it takes to properly prepare your home for whatever wicked winter weather may come your way. Because, after all, it's always smarter to over-prepare than to be left out in the cold.

To read other articles related to home improvement or to find the best deals on home services (like internet, cable and electricity) visit Allconnect.com today! https://www.allconnect.com/

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How to Protect Your Pet in Winter
By Yulia Poltavets

We all love winter but it's harsh to all living creatures. There are threats which you may never think about: from chapped paws on icy roads to serious viruses in the air. Below is the list of the most common problems you can face as a pet owner.

Pets require our constant attention and care all year round as you remember what Antoine de Saint-Exupery once wrote: "you become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." As we have winter now, let's not wax lyrical and proceed straight to the point: what demands your special attention in winter in order to save your pet healthy throughout the season?

Danger: general cold

Yeah, it's especially cold in northern states. There are breeds that do not need long walks as Chihuahua, or Yorkie, for instance. They can only have their potties at home and do all their vital things there. And more, it's even better to do so and not let these fragile canines go outside at extreme colds. But if we take, say, Golden Retriever or Husky, they need walking and running some miles (especially Husky).

Solution: since there is no solution to protect your dog's ears and nose (just like for people), you can, at least, buy some booties and some coats in order to save your dog's body warmth and, in this way, avoid any viruses.

Danger: slippy sidewalks

Be careful when taking your four-legged friend for a walk and let him go off leash. There are numbers of situations that may go wrong and you may not have enough time to respond: accidental car on the road and the dog crossing it may turn into a tragedy if they meet; simply falling on the ice may bring straining your dog's leg; etc., etc.

Solution: Keep your dog on a tight leash. Professional dog trainers also insist on training your pet basic commands as there can always be situations when you need to restrain him immediately to avoid a mishap.

Danger: insufficient calories

From your own experience you probably know that every living creature needs more vitamins in cold season due to the constant loss of heat, extra dryness, and immense viruses in the air. Your dog is not an exception. In order to maintain his skin and coat healthy and avoid any disease, you have to take some additional care of your fluffy companion.

Solution: enrich the diet of your dog with dry kibble, or supplements full of antioxidants, protein, fatty acids, minerals, fiber, etc. Special attention should be paid to fish oil. Of course, each dog fancier knows about the remarkable properties of fish oil or its substitute (like phytoplankton) which is full of omega-3.

Danger: dry skin

Winter brings additional dryness to the dog's skin.

Solution: actually, you simply have to remember about three main rules. Rule No. 1: do not shave down your dog. Wait until it becomes warmer in spring or even in summer. Rule No. 2: Brush your dog. It helps to get rid of dander and dead hair. Rule No. 3: Do not wash your dog too often in winter. If you see that his paws or belly (or both) are dirty, use a towel. The snow is as easily wiped off from the coat as it is washed.

Danger: antifreeze and heaters

There are so season-specific to use antifreeze in cars and heaters in houses that it's better to remind everyone about them once again. We all know why we use both these two things in the household, but don't forget about your beloved pets.

Solution: wipe off your dog's paws and belly after the walk. Additionally, have a look if there are any scratches or chapped skin on the paws. Even if you were extremely attentive and followed your dog's every step, you cannot notice where he steps. It's better to check twice, just to be on the safe side. Concerning the heaters, make sure your dog cannot get too close to avoid scalds, especially if we are talking about the fireplaces.

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Numbers Don't Lie; Interpretations Might

"A full 17% of respondents admitted that their CEO's had pressured them to misrepresent results at least once" per a 2002 Electronic Business article. How comfortable are you with the financial results used to manage your business?

This article will cover five major areas you might look at or have someone look for you to increase your ability to better know where you really are financially, to be able to sleep better at night. The more of these areas that may be a concern at your company, the more urgent a corporate physical may be.

1. Most companies do not accurately know their top ten customers.

2. Many companies have capitalized some item in the past, whose realizable value will become questionable.

3. Most companies do not know how they will be affected by profitability changes at their top ten customers.

4. Many companies have an asset that strategically they would be better off sel! ling at a loss to pursue some new opportunity.

5. Many companies have painted an overly optimistic picture to a customer, vendor or financing source.

Top ten customer profitability "I am starting to visit our top ten customers. If you find out who they are, please let me know." said the CEO. I have been asked different versions of that question by more than one corporate leader. A little talked about secret is that most companies do not accurately know their top ten customers. If you are willing to define that as the largest customers by revenue, maybe you know this top ten list. If you want to accurately know the ten most profitable customers, good luck. Changes in business, product changes and system incompatibilities often make this difficult to do without getting the right eight people in a room for a day.

A past capitalized item will be questioned. Cisco wrote off two billion dollars of inventory several years ago. Many companies have capitalized some item in the past that will be questioned. Goodwill will be reviewed annually. All of us have read the horror stories of write-offs that in hindsight raise questions that often were not valid or even a factor when those assets originated.

One of my favorites was a company that accidentally set up a sophisticated process that accidentally capitalized part of the write off to that asset in the current year additions to the capitalized asset. If you have reserves, allowances or estimates for loss, why not take a critical look at them at least once a year for downside risk. In more conservative days, the CFO would cover things like this when a year came in better than expected.

Profitability change at the top ten customers Those fortunate companies that accurately know the profitability of their top ten customers normally fail to cross the next hurdle of knowing with conviction how the fortunate company's top customers will be affected by profitability changes to those customers. There is a timeframe when top ten customers drop off the A list.

Having discussed how this affects the best performing companies, guess what that means for the companies who do not accurately know profitability of their top ten customers.

One very interesting exercise I helped on was to estimate the benefit our customer received from our service to see which customers were benefiting or losing money on being our customer. That produced some very interesting and unfortunately accurate estimates of customer retention.

Sell that asset and re deploy the money Has your financial department ever told you that the company has to keep losing money on branch or product because we can not admit to the financial loss the company would have to take if it disposed of the asset? I suggest a lesser version of this situation is failure to look at return on equity related to assets or departments. Many companies have one or more assets they would be better off selling at a loss and re investing in another opportunity. This can be particularly true when the executive bonuses are mainly a function of the dollar level of profitability, with limited influence on return on equity or similar measurements. For those of you who say their company has a mechanism that investment proposals meet threshold rates, how often does someone report back convincingly with what return the investment actually received?

Painting an overly optimistic picture to outsiders Last but not least. How many companies have painted an overly optimistic picture to a customer, vendor, or financing source? If "forty four percent of Americans lie about their work history" per ADP Screening and Selection Services, might they stretch the truth a little while representing your company. The effects of this are really hard to quantify. When does puffery become misrepresentation?

I have told CEO's and groups that Murphy's Law suggests your not knowing your company's real equity and risk areas will be a problem at the worst opportune time. Just take a look at all the items someone like me will ask for using a due diligence checklist, and follow up to see how well your company's rough spots would stay hidden. If you do not have such a list, contact me for an example of a standard list. What will you do next week to understand the soft areas and risk factors that all companies have to some degree?

Author Bio
Gary Patterson is the author of "Numbers Don't Lie; Interpretations Might." He has helped numerous high growth companies enhance growth and profitability. Visit his site to see how you can get a free consultation www.FiscalDoctor.com or mail to [email protected] 

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by

Joseph

I got to the gym last week and it was a decent workout, but not as well as it could have been. I'll give details about that in a moment. Right now, here are the results of my strength training workout: 

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How to Find the Right Bicycle Saddle for Obese Riders
By Joan Bishop Denizot

Finding the right bicycle saddle is crucial since this greatly affects the rider's comfort and performance in their ride. Picking the right saddle is actually challenging for all riders regardless of their weight and size. For heavy riders however, the additional weight and pressure put on the seat may cause discomfort and strain. Here are a few things heavy riders may want to consider in choosing a saddle for cycling comfort.

Consider the width of the saddle. The idea of the saddle is to support the two "sit bones" to keep the rider balanced on the bike. Heavy riders may want to consider choosing a slightly wider saddle for better support and comfort on their backside but not too wide as this may cause chaffing or rubbing.

Consider the saddle pad. It is a misconception that the best saddle pads are those that are soft and thick. While these types of pads can be comfortable in the beginning, these can cause excessive heat as these absorb much pressure from the rider's weight and movement and thus create discomfort during the ride. Experts suggest that heavy riders get a saddle seat with firmer foam since this doesn't quickly compact compared to a foam or gel cushion. Also, experienced heavy riders agree that it is wise to choose a saddle with the least cushioning but still is comfortable for the rider to sit on. It may take some time to get used to riding a firm saddle but over time, the ride would be more pleasant.

Consider durability. Because foam saddles easily wear out for heavy riders, these have to be replaced more often than a lighter cyclist would. Experts suggest that leather saddles can be a great option for heavy riders since these are more durable. Also, the longer the rider stays on the saddle; the seat becomes molded to the rider's anatomy.

Shop wisely. It is advisable that a rider give the bike a test ride before buying it. During the test ride, the rider may vary positions on the saddle, ride on different speeds, hit some bumps and try some uphill terrain. This way, the rider can test the comfort of the saddle seat and the sturdiness of the saddle seat. Also, it is suggested that the rider also inspect the rails of the saddle. Although chromoly is the most affordable and suitable for most riders, titanium rails are more durable and long-lasting.

Considering all the factors, the key to finding the right saddle is optimum support and comfort for the rider.

Whether you are an average sized rider or a heavier one who wanted to try biking for recreational purposes, commuting, or losing weight, check out Zize Bikes for a line-up of custom made, extra sturdy bicycles for everybody that can support ALL riders of ALL sizes (up to 550 pounds).

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3 Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Drinks To Pair With Your Steak
By Adrian T. Cheng

Steak is almost always paired with wine. While they say that it's the perfect combo, it's not all the time that people want the buzz of wine. On your next barbecue, serve these 3 refreshing non-alcoholic drinks that are perfect pair for your grilled steak - everyone would surely have a fulfilled tummy and a grand time!

Berry Refreshing Drink

What you need:

• 2 cups frozen blueberries
• 2 cups seltzer
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• Ice

To make the syrup, mix together the blueberries and water in a pan and cook over low heat until berries are tender and easily smashed, about 4 to 6 minutes. Smash berries using the back of a spatula until none remain whole. Increase heat and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently. When ready, place the sugar in a bowl and pour blueberry syrup over it using a sieve. Allow to cool in room temperature and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Combine syrup, seltzer, lemon juice and lime juice in a glass. Top with ice before serving.

Ginger and Pear Punch

What you need:

• 3-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into thirds
• 8 cups pear juice, chilled
• 3 1/2 cups seltzer
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup ginger syrup
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• Ice
• Candied ginger for garnish

To make the syrup, combine ginger, water and sugar in a saucepan then bring to a boil. Lower heat then simmer for 30 minutes or until reduced to a syrup. Remove from heat and allow to cool. When cooled, mix together with pear juice, lemon juice and ground ginger. Add seltzer to the punch and stir. Top with ice. Place candied ginger on toothpicks for garnishing your cocktail glasses.

Tropical Mint Sparkler

What you need:

• 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 3/4 cup seltzer
• 1/4 cup mint leaves
• 2 drops rosewater
• Ice

Mix together orange juice, seltzer, mint leaves and rosewater in a bowl. Stir to combine ingredients well. Place ice on serving glasses and pour sparkler mixture over ice. Serve immediately.

A hot and delicious grilled steak calls for a cooling and refreshing beverage. Ditch the buzz of wine this time and go for any of these 3 non-alcoholic drinks that are perfect to pair with grilled steak!

Adrian T. Cheng is a food blogger and a BBQ expert. Through years of grill experience, reviewing various grilling accessories and trying delicious and unique recipes, he is sharing his knowledge with everyone through his blog. For more grilling secrets, tips, recipes and more, head over to Adrian's website where he has other interesting posts.

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Type 2 Diabetes - 3 Tips to Help You Manage Your Blood Sugar Without Drugs
By Beverleigh H Piepers

According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) National Diabetes Statistics Report 2017, over 100 million people in America have Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. The report also states at least two in every five adult Americans will have Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. With such startling statistics, it comes as no surprise a vast number of people are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes every year. The most shocking news for many people, however, is they may have to be on medications for the rest of their life.

However, today we have good news. You can manage your blood sugar levels with simple lifestyle changes and no drugs; yes no drugs! Here are three tips to help you out...

1. Manage your weight. When you have Type 2 diabetes, being overweight can increase the symptoms, and you are more likely to suffer from high blood sugar levels. It may seem like managing or losing weight is difficult, but it doesn't have to be. You can start small by doing easy things and move on to more complex methods.

Managing your food portions is the best place to start. You can do this by eating snacks between meals and reducing the amount of food you eat in one sitting. You may also look into eating more organic and low-carb foods as opposed to foods with processed sugars and fats.

It would also help if you considered incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet.

2. Stay physically active. If your weight is okay, you don't need to work out aggressively, but you can take up a physical activity you enjoy. You can start by walking a few blocks every day.

Being physically active not only helps you to keep your weight in check but is also beneficial in keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and stress levels low. When these levels are at a healthy level, your body is also able to effectively produce and absorb insulin which kicks out the need to use drugs.

3. Embrace proper bedtime practices. People with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to have sleep apnea than those without the disease. Improper sleep is dangerous because it may cause blood sugar spikes. One of the best ways to ensure you sleep soundly is to have good bedtime routines.

Some of the steps you may start to do include...

• staying away from your electric devices in the 30 minutes before bed,
• avoiding aggressive physical activities before bed, and
• embracing deep breathing before bed.

Final thoughts. Receiving news you have Type 2 diabetes can be a significant blow. Being on meds for the rest of your life can be devastating but by starting small with the tips above, you can still live a healthy life free of diabetes medications.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

For nearly 25 years Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in the endless volumes of available information but in yourself.

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