Our Ways To Fight Diabetes

Diabetes Treatments: Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs & Insulin Replacement Therapy

2009-11-13T09:43:00.006+07:00

The main goal of type 2 diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels within the normal range. However, the normal blood sugar levels is really difficult to maintain. But, if blood sugar levels can be closer to the normal range, then the likelihood of complications, temporarily or long-term, becomes less and less. This requires the monitoring of blood sugar levels regularly whether conducted individually with a blood sugar test at home or done in the nearest laboratory.

Treatment of diabetes include weight control, exercise and diet. Someone who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes will not need treatment if they lose weight and exercise regularly. However, most people find it difficult to lose weight and doing regular exercise. For that, it is usually given insulin replacement therapy or hypoglycemic drugs (lowering blood sugar).

Type 1 diabetes can only be treated with insulin, but type 2 can be treated with oral medication. If weight control and exercise are not successful then the doctor could give the drugs that can be taken orally or use insulin.

Here are the division of pharmacological therapy for diabetes:

1. Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs

Sulfonylureas groups often can reduce blood sugar levels adequately in people with type II diabetes, but not effective in diabetes type I. Examples are Glipizide, Glyburide, Tolbutamide and Chlorpropamide. These drugs lower blood sugar by stimulating the release of insulin by the pancreas and increase its effectiveness.

Other drugs, namely Metformin, does not affect insulin releases but increases the body's response to insulin itself. Acarbose works by delaying the absorption of glucose in the intestine.

Hypoglycemic medication by mouth usually given to type II diabetes if diet and exercises fail to lower the blood sugar levels. These drugs can sometimes be given only once (early morning), although some patients require 2-3 times a day. If hypoglycemic medication can not control blood sugar levels properly, diabetic patient may need to be given insulin injections.

2.Insulin Replacement Therapy

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can not produce insulin, so insulin must be given as a replacement. Giving insulin can only be done through injection, insulin was destroyed in the stomach that can not be given by mouth (swallowed). Meanwhile, the new forms of insulin (nasal spray) is under study. At this time, new forms of insulin is not able to work well because of different absorption rates poses problems in determining the dose.

Insulin is injected under the skin into the fat layer, usually in the arm, thigh or abdominal wall. It is usually used a very small needle so as not to feel too much pain.

Injection of insulin often leads to the formation of fatty deposits (so skin looks bumped) or damage to fat (which grooved the skin). These complications can be prevented by replacing the injection site and change the type of insulin injected. On the use of synthetic human insulin, it is rarely happen resistance and allergy.
[Please read also: History of Insulin Discovery]

Diet management for a diabetic is very important. Usually patients can not eat too many sweet foods and should eat in a regular schedule. People with diabetes tend to have high cholesterol, and because of that, it is recommended to limit the amount of saturated fats in food. But the best way to lower cholesterol is to control blood sugar levels and body weight.
[Please read also: Diabetics Diet]

All patients should understand how diet and exercise can control the disease. They must understand the importance of how to avoid the occurrence of complications. Patients also must give special attention to foot infections, so the nails should be cut regularly. It is also important to check our eyes health condition, so we could note the changes of blood vessels in the eye.

The Most Common Complications Of Diabetes

2009-11-08T03:48:00.009+07:00

Diabetes is a disease that had complications (other disease causing) the most. This is related to blood sugar levels that are constantly high, so resulting the damage to blood vessels, nerves and other internal structures of human body. Complex substance consisting of sugar in the blood vessel wall causes blood vessels to thicken and leak. Due to the thickening then the blood flow will be reduced, especially those headed to the skin and nerves.

Blood sugar levels that not controlled are also likely to cause levels of fatty substances in the blood increases, so as to accelerate the occurrence of atherosclerosis (the accumulation of fatty plaques in blood vessels). Atherosclerosis is 2-6 times more common in diabetics.

Poor blood circulation is through a large blood vessels (macro) can injure the brain, heart, and leg veins (macroangiopathy), whereas the small blood vessels (micro) can hurt the eyes, kidneys, nerves and skin and then to slower the healing of wounds.

Diabetics can experience various long-term complications, especially if their diabetes not managed properly. The most common complications are cardiovascular disease, eye problems, diabetic neuropathy, itchy feet, osteoporosis and deadly heart attacks and strokes.

Damage to the eye's blood vessels can cause visual impairment due to damage to the retina (diabetic retinopathy). Abnormalities of kidney function can cause kidney failure, so people may have to receive hemodialysis treatment.

Disturbances in the nerves can manifest in several forms. If the nerve has an abnormal function (mononeuropathy), then a normal arm or leg suddenly became weak. If the nerves to the hand, leg and foot were damaged (diabetic polineuropathy), the arm and leg will feel a tingling sensation or burning pain and weakness.

Nerve damage causes more frequent skin injuries because people can not feel any pressure and temperature changes. Decreased blood flow to the skin can also cause ulcers (sores) and the slow healing of wounds. Ulcer on the foot can be very deep and have an infection and will have a long healing period so that the leg must be amputated.

Many medical treatments are available to help when diabetes complications occur. In addition, the measures described above can still be helped by slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. So this is not time to give up. Instead, it is important to work with your doctors to help you keep working toward tight blood glucose control and following a program of healthy, low-fat eating, regular exercise and quitting smoking.

Following are the most common complications of Diabetes:

»» Cardiovascular disease: People with diabetes are two to four more times likely to develop heart disease and five times more likely to have a stroke than people without diabetes.

»» Kidney damage: People with diabetes are 20 times more likely to develop kidney failure than people without diabetes.

»» Nerve damage (neuropathy): At least half of all people who have diabetes for 25 years or more have neuropathy, which can result in such diverse symptoms as pain in hands, feet, thighs or face, digestive problems, bladder or bowel control problems, loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and impotence or other Sexual Performance Problems.

»» Eye disease (diabetic retinopathy): People with diabetes are four times more likely to become blind than people without diabetes.

»» Infections: Excessive blood glucose can hamper the immune system, creating a greater risk for infections in the mouth and gums, lungs, skins, feet, genital areas, in the incision areas after major surgery. Neuropathy can also lead to increased infections: decreased sensitivity may cause small cuts, abrasions or burns to go unnoticed and therefore untreated until a major infection develops; neuropathy that affects the bladder may lead to bladder infections.

Diabetes Research: Red Wine's Resveratrol May Help To Prevent Diabetes

2009-11-08T01:40:00.008+07:00

Recent research conducted by a team of scientist from the University of Texas, United States, showed a compound in red wine can help to prevent type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or adult-onset diabetes). The new study shows, Resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine, may counter type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

The study was conducted in mice by injecting resveratrol from red wine on its brain. The result is blood sugar levels decreased significantly. But the effect only occurs when red wine is injected directly into the mice's brain.

"Compounds in red wine is resveratrol found to work very effectively when injected in to the brain," said Roberto Coppari, assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Coppari added that if the compound developed further then it could become into drugs that can be directly working on the brain. The researchers very interested in the resveratrol compound, found in red wine, pomegranates and some other foods that can extend the life of mice in the study, although those mice were given a high-fat foods during the research.

This Coppari research, focusing to see the effect of resveratrol on diabetic. After five weeks given resveratrol injections, insulin levels in mice to be normal. The researchers estimate that it could be happened because the activation of sirtuin brain cells.

Coppari also reveals why drinking red wine has no effect on insulin levels. That is because the levels of resveratrol in red wine are very few and there are barriers as the blood flows to the brain. So resveratrol should be directly injected into the brain.

Managing Diabetes: Safety Tips For Diabetic Athletes

2009-11-06T01:48:00.001+07:00

Diabetic athletes who are used to compete in sport events, such as a triathlons, volley ball, tennis, a professional football, and other sports, need to managed their blood glucose level very carefully. Because with a proper control and some basic routines to manage the disease, athletes with diabetes can compete at the same intensity as a non-diabetic athletes.

New insulin pumps and blood glucose monitoring devices make it easier for athletes to monitor their response to exercise. While diabetes can be managed, there are risks that require planning for training or competition. It is important for a diabetic athletes to always consulting the disease with their doctor before starting an exercise program, so a complete risk assessment can be performed and a safe training and competition schedule can be designed.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease caused by a deficiency (Type I) or a malfunctioning (Type II) of insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas). Without insulin, glucose cannot enter cells and stays in the bloodsteam. Type I diabetes is treated with insulin injections that help make cells receptive to glucose. Type II Diabetes can be controlled with adjustments in diet and exercise.

Exercise and Diabetics

Because exercise lowers the blood sugar levels and helps improve the body's use of insulin, an athlete often needs to reduce the insulin dose before exercise. Exercise also increases the blood flow to the skin and muscle tissue, and increases the amount of insulin in the blood stream and stimulates the liver to release glucose into the blood. It is important to reduce the level of glucose in the blood prior to beginning exercise.

Balancing Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetics should maintain a good balance of blood sugar (between 70 and 180 mg) during physical activity. Athletic performance is reduced if this balance is off. Too much insulin can lead to hypoglycemia and too little may cause hyperglycemia. Because some of the symptoms of the two conditions may look like normal reactions to exercise (sweating and paleness), it is important that a diabetic athlete (or a coach) is aware of the following symptoms.

Hypoglycemia

The onset of low blood sugar can be prevented by eating or drinking food high in carbohydrates. Extreme hypoglycemia may result in severe reactions such as the inability to swallow or unconsciousness. In this case, a physician or paramedic can inject glucagon, which is a hormone that releases glucose from the liver into the blood stream. After receiving glucagon, the person should soon regain consciousness.

Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

* decreased physical performance
* variable mood
* paleness
* tremor
* headache
* sweat
* poor vision
* fatigue
* hunger
* dizziness

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycaemia, or high blood sugar is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a blood glucose level of 10+ mmol/L (180 mg/dl), but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until later numbers such as 15-20+ mmol/L (270-360 mg/dl) or 15.2-32.6 mmol/L. However, chronic levels exceeding 125 mg/dl can produce organ damage.

Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)

* sleepiness
* dry mouth
* frequent urination
* fatigue
* extreme thirst

Safety Tips for Diabetic Athletes

* Check your blood sugar levels before, after and every 20 to 30 minutes during prolonged exercise.
* If blood sugar is under 100 mg/dL, eat grams of carbohydrate before you exercise.
* If blood sugar is excessive (over 250 mg/dL for type 2 diabetes or over 200 mg/dL for type 1, postpone exercise until you bring it down.
* Know the signs of hypoglycemia and be prepared with available snacks.
* Exercise 1 to 2 hours after a meal.
* Avoid exercise at times of peak insulin activity. Morning exercise is ideal. People who have type 1 diabetes should avoid evening exercise, if possible.
* Adjust your insulin dosage, if necessary. (Follow your doctor's advice, but this usually means reducing the dose of short-acting insulin before exercise.)
* After prolonged or intense exercise, you may need extra carbohydrate foods for up to 24 hours to refill muscle starch reserves. Beware of delayed hypoglycemia.
* Drink plenty of fluids: about a pint 2 hours before exercise, and drink after exercise to replace fluids lost in sweat.
* Pay attention to your feet. Wear proper shoes and socks.
* Avoid alcohol around the time of exercise (even the night before a morning workout).
* Wear an ID band of some sort in case of emergency.
* Pay attention to your body, and become aware of your own pattern of blood-glucose response to exercise.

Diabetics Diet: Biotransformed Blueberry Juice Extract To Prevent Diabetes Mellitus

2009-11-05T04:23:00.001+07:00

Based on findings of scientist and researcher from Canada, Blueberry, with an extra bacteria inside the skin of the fruit would probably help people with obesity and diabetes. The reason is, Blueberry, especially if made to be a juice, has an extract which experienced biotransformation with bacteria from the skin of fruit to reduce hyperglycemia (the abnormally high concentration of glucose in blood) in diabetics when tested in mice.

Furthermore, this juice also proven can protect the research mice from diabetes mellitus due to the emergence of obesity. The research was published in the International Journal of Obesity. Senior researcher, Pierre S. Haddad, a pharmacology professor at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine says, "The results of this study clearly shows that biotransformed Blueberry Juice has strong anti-obesity and anti-diabetic potential."

Still according to Pierre S. Haddad, "Biotransformed Blueberry Juice may represent a novel therapeutic agent, since it decreases hyperglycemia in diabetic mice and can protect young pre-diabetic mice from developing obesity and diabetes."

Biotransformation of the blueberry juice was achieved with a new strain of bacteria isolated from the blueberry flora, specifically called Serratia vaccinii, which increases the fruit's antioxidant effects. "The identification of the active compounds in biotransformed blueberry juice may result in the discovery of promising new antiobesity and antidiabetic molecules," says Dr. Haddad.

"These mice were an excellent model that closely resembles obesity and obesity-linked type 2 diabetes in humans," says Dr. Haddad, who is also director of the CIHR Team in Aboriginal Anti-Diabetic Medicines at the Université de Montréal.

Tri Vuong, lead author and recent PhD graduate from the Université de Montréal's Department of Pharmacology says: As for the impact of blueberry products on diabetes, "Consumption of fermented blueberry juice gradually and significantly reduced high blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. After three days, our mice subjects reduced their glycemia levels by 35 percent."

The research has conducted by researchers from the Université de Montréal, the Institut Armand-Frappier and the Université de Moncton, and was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Fonds de recherche sur la nature et les technologies.

Diabetics Diet: Vegetarian Diet Effective in Treating Type 2 Diabetes

2009-11-02T23:38:00.007+07:00

The scientists and researchers have found that Type 2 diabetes can be treated more effectively with a vegan diet that are low in fat than the standard diabetic diet. Surprisingly, a low-fat vegan diet perhaps even more effectively treating the disease than single agent treatment with diabetes medications taken.

The study conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) at George Washington University and the University of Toronto with funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation.

The study involved 99 people with Type 2 diabetes. Half of the participants followed the standard diabetic diet guidelines based on the American Diabetes Association, and the other half of participants who followed a vegan diet low in fat for 22 weeks.

Both of the groups progress measured in all aspects of the standard of diabetes, but the vegan participants showed greater improvement. Associated with vegan diet, Dr. Barnard, PCRM chairman, said, "All the 'side effects' are the good things - weight reduction, lower cholesterol, and better health overall."

Type 2 diabetes is the form of most common diseases suffered by 85-90% of all diabetics. The disease is usually associated in general with old age. However, because the present unhealthy lifestyle, high fat, rarely exercise, so there are more young people who are suffering from diabetes, including children. This is a lifestyle disease and is closely related to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excess of body fat around the lower body.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas in Type 2 patients are still producing insulin, but insulin does not work like the insulin is supposed to work and therefore the pancreas need to make more insulin, and ultimately could not make enough insulin to maintain glucose balance in blood properly. At this point doctors usually prescribe tablets and insulin.

Vance Warren, 36-year-old participant and a former Washington DC police, have benefited from the vegan diet: He reduced his weight as much as 74 pounds (37 kilograms), his cholesterol went from 221 to 148 points, and his A1C (a measure of the level of blood sugar) dropped from over 9 percent to 5.3 percent (normal value below 6.0 per cent). Other participants experienced the similar results.

Drastic advances in health condition obtained by the participants in this program to make people think that if these people had undergone a vegan diet before diabetes, then they will never have diabetes.

The results of this study warned that the western diet that contains meat, fat, and grains that have been processed may cause Type 2 diabetes. Maybe it's time for the government to begin to educate their citizens before they are exposed to this disease, to prevent diabetes before the disease strikes.

It is so usual for doctors to advise their patients to change their diet and eat less meat and saturated fat after they suffered a heart attack. Instead of making these recommendations after the disease strikes, why not encourage it before the disease come and save people from suffering that is useless and billions of dollars of money for medical expenses.

Introduction To Diabetes: What Really Is Diabetes Mellitus?

2009-10-31T21:36:00.005+07:00

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which levels of glucose (simple sugar) in the blood was high because the body can not releases or use insulin required to stabilizing the sugar blood level.

On Diabetic patient, the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin or when cells stop responding to the insulin that is produced, so that glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed into the cells of the body.

Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas, which is responsible for maintaining blood sugar levels to normal. An Insulin put sugar into the cells that can produce energy or stored as energy reserves.

If Diabetes Mellitus become chronic disease, it also can causes another serious health complications including renal (kidney) failure, heart disease, stroke, and blindness.

Well, how much is blood sugar levels that can called as high? According to the diagnostic criteria PERKENI (Society of Endocrinology Indonesia) in 2006, someone said to have diabetes if you have a fasting blood sugar higher than 126 mg/dL and when tested reach as much as or higher than 200 mg / dL.

Blood sugar levels vary throughout the day which will increase after the meal and returned to normal within 2 hours. The normal Blood Sugar Levels in the morning after the night before fasting is 70-110 mg/dL of blood. Blood sugar levels are usually less than 120-140 mg/dL at 2 hours after eating or drinking liquids that contain sugars or other carbohydrates.

Blood sugar levels tend to increase in normal mild but progressive (gradually) after the age of 50 years, especially to people who do not actively move. Increased blood sugar levels after eating or drinking stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin which keeps blood sugar levels rise further and cause blood sugar levels slowly decreased.

There are other ways to lower blood sugar levels, such as to perform physical activity and exercises, because the muscles use glucose in the blood for used to be energy.

At the same time that the body is trying to get rid of glucose from the blood, the cells are starving for glucose and sending signals to the body to eat more food, thus making patients extremely hungry. To provide energy for the starving cells, the body also tries to convert fats and proteins to glucose.

The breakdown of fats and proteins for energy causes acid compounds called ketones to form in the blood. Ketones will also be excreted in the urine. As ketones build up in the blood, a condition called ketoacidosis can occur. This condition can be life threatening if left untreated, leading to coma and death.

How to Diagnose Diabetes: Diagnosis Criteria and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus

2009-10-30T20:43:00.009+07:00

Diabetes diagnosis is established based on the three Classic Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus, which are Polyuria (excessive passage of urine), Polydipsia (abnormal thirst) and Polyphagia (pathological desire to eat). And then the results of blood tests that showed levels of high blood sugar (not normal).

Diabetes happened when our pancreas, could not produce enough or any insulin. Insulin is a chemical which allows our body cells to use glucose to make energy. When there is no insulin in the blood, the glucose levels rise and can "spill over" into our urine.
[ Read also: Sir Frederick Grant Banting and History of Insulin Discovery ]

A simple urine test can diagnose diabetes if there is glucose present in the urine. However, the best way to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus is by a 2-hour glucose tolerance test. To measure blood sugar levels, blood samples are usually taken after the diabetic patient has been fasting for 8 or 12 hours, however, for a comparison, it could also be taken after meals.

Need special attention for patients over the age of 65 years. Examination should be done after fasting and not after eating because of old age have a higher increased of blood sugar level.

The following are the criteria of blood sugar level from the American Diabetes Association:

Fasting Blood Sugar

<100 Normal -------- 101-125 Pre-Diabetes -------- >125 Diabetes

Post-Prandial Blood Sugar

<140 Normal -------- 141-199 Pre-Diabetes -------- >199 Diabetes

Other blood tests can be done is a glucose tolerance test. This test is performed on certain conditions, such as in pregnant women. This is to detect diabetes, which often occurs in pregnant women.

Patients fasted and blood samples taken to measure fasting blood sugar levels. Then patients were asked to drink a special solution containing some glucose and 2-3 hours later another blood sample taken for examination.

Before developing into type 2 diabetes, patient is usually always have pre-diabetes, which has symptoms of blood sugar levels higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. At least 20% of the population aged 40 to 74 years suffering from pre-diabetes.

Research shows some damage in the long run, especially on the heart and blood circulatory system during this pre-diabetes. With pre-diabetes, you will have a risk of one and a half times greater for heart disease. When you suffer from diabetes, the risk increased to 2 to 4 times.

However, in some people who have pre-diabetes, it is possible for a diabetes can be delayed or prevented by lifestyle changes. Diabetes and pre-diabetes can occur in people with diverse age and racial, but there are certain groups who have a higher risk.

Sir Frederick Grant Banting and History of Insulin For Diabetes

2009-10-29T16:13:00.009+07:00

On next 14 November, the world will commemorate the World Diabetes Day. Why November 14 is selected to commemorate World Diabetes Day ? The answer is to commemorate the birthday of Frederick Grant Banting, discoverer of insulin.

Frederick Grant Banting, discoverer of insulin, was born November 14, 1891, in Alliston, Ontario, Canada. He was the youngest of five brothers from the marriage of William Thompson Banting and Margaret Grant.

Banting married Marion Robertson in 1924, and has a son named William Banting in 1928. Frederick Banting and Marion Robertson marriage ended in divorce in 1932, and in 1937 Banting then married Henrietta Ball.

Banting completed his school at the Public High Schools in Alliston and then go on to college at the University of Toronto in 1911. At first he studied at the arts course leading to religious and theology department. However, he decided that he wanted to be a doctor, and in 1912 he registered as a medical student.

During the World War I, Frederick Banting left his college in 1915 to join the medical corps as a private. Doctors were urgently needed at the time. However, he was sent back to finish his studies, and graduating in 1916. He was commissioned in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and proceeded to England, where he received exceptional surgical experience in several army hospitals.

When the war ended in 1919, Banting returned to Canada and for a short time he worked as a medical practitioner in London, Ontario. He studied orthopaedic medicine during the year 1919-1920, Resident Surgeon at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.

From 1920 until 1921 he did part-time teaching in orthopaedics at the University of Western Ontario at London, Canada, besides his general practice, and from 1921 until 1922 he was Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Toronto. In 1922 he was awarded his M.D. degree, together with a gold medal.

Banting began very interested in diabetes at the time he read the work of Naunyn, Minkowski, Opie, Schafer, and others that had indicated that diabetes was caused by lack of a protein hormone secreted by the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

Schafer named the hormone as the insulin. Insulin supposed to be the controller of the metabolism of sugar, so that lack of it results in the accumulation of sugar in the blood and the excretion of the excess of sugar in the urine.

Several experiments attempting to supply the missing insulin by feeding diabetics patients with fresh pancreas, or extracts of it, had failed. It might be caused by the protein insulin in these had been destroyed by the proteolytic enzyme of the pancreas. The problem, therefore, was how to extract insulin from the pancreas before it had been thus destroyed.

Determined to investigate this possibility, Banting discussed the problem with various people, among whom was J. J. R. Macleod, Professor of Physiology at the University of Toronto, and Macleod gave him facilities for experimental work upon it. Dr. Charles Best, then a medical student, was appointed as Banting's assistant, and together, Banting and Best started the work which was to lead to the discovery of insulin.

Classic Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

2009-10-29T02:10:00.002+07:00

All types of diabetes mellitus had similar symptoms and complications at the advanced level. But there are three classic symptoms that could be a marker of diabetes. Three classic symptoms are polyuria (excessive passage of urine), polydipsia (abnormal thirst) and polyphagia (pathological desire to eat). Those initial symptoms related to direct effects of blood sugar levels that are high.

If blood sugar levels reach to above 160-180 mg / dL, the glucose will be up to the urine. If then reach its higher levels, the kidneys remove extra water to dilute a large number of glucose that was lost.

Because the kidneys produce urine in excessive amounts, then the patient often urinate in significant amounts (polyuria). As the result, then the sufferer feel excessive thirst that make them need so much to drink (polydipsia). A large number of calories lost into the urine, patients experienced weight loss. To compensate for these problem, patients often feel tremendous hunger that make them eat so much food (polyphagia).

Other symptoms are blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and decreased endurance during exercise. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes are more susceptible to infection. Because of the severe lack of insulin, so before undergoing several treatments, patients with type I diabetes is almost always lose their weight. But for the majority of type II diabetics do not experience weight loss.

The main factor of Diabetes mellitus is the lack of production of insulin (diabetes mellitus type 1, the first known), or less sensitive of human body's tissues to insulin (diabetes mellitus type 2, a more general form).

In addition, there are types of diabetes mellitus are also caused by insulin resistance that occurs in pregnant women. Type 1 requires insulin injections, while type 2 treated with oral medication and needs insulin only if the medicine is not effective. Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy usually resolves itself after delivery.

Understanding and participation of patients is very important because blood glucose levels continue to change, because the success of keeping blood sugar within normal limits may prevent the complications of diabetes.

Other factors that may reduce complications are: stop smoking, optimizing cholesterol levels, maintain a stable body weight, controlling high blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and regular exercise.