Diabetes Mellitus News

Symptoms of Diabetes and How to Address Them

2009-07-27T00:01:00.000+07:00

Diabetes mellitus is a condition resulting from the pancreas’ inability to produce enough insulin, which is needed by the body to help create energy. A deficiency of or ineffectiveness of insulin leads to high glucose levels in the blood, thus, leading to this illness.

Diabetes has two types. Type 1 Diabetes usually occurs in young people and requires frequent insulin injections, while Type 2 Diabetes is experienced by older people and is not as dependent on insulin. Majority of those who have Type 2 Diabetes have been found to be either obese or overweight.

Diabetes usually runs in the family, so it’s best to know early on if you have it. The common symptoms experienced by someone who has diabetes include unusually frequent urination and hunger, constant thirst, rapid weight loss, tiredness, numbness in the feet and hands, recurrent skin infections, itching in private parts and blurred vision. When left unattended, diabetes could escalate to hyperglycemia, which develops from an excess of glucose in the blood, and leave the person temporarily unconscious, or, worse, cause severe infections, poor healing abilities, heart ailments and numbness from nerve damage.

The direct origins of diabetes, besides heredity, remain uncertain. However, several scientists believe that diabetes can also spring from an infection in the pancreas, a disorder in the autoimmune system and even from an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

When you notice the signs that possibly point to diabetes, consult your doctor immediately. You will be subjected to tests to determine whether your blood sugar is stable and if there is a presence of diabetes. Your doctor will then recommend an appropriate exercise regimen and diet to temper the effects of diabetes, or, if needed, prescribe medication.

People diagnosed with diabetes should avoid sugars and control the intake of fats, carbohydrates and salt. A life long low-fat, high-fiber diet is ideal. Regular aerobic exercise also helps maximize the effect of insulin treatments. Some studies show that weight management and a proper diet are often enough to keep those with Type 2 Diabetes in check and even prevent people who are diabetes-prone from developing the condition. In alternative medicine, herbs like ampalaya and banaba have also been used to help treat diabetes.

For persons with a history of diabetes in the family and are over forty years old, blood should be checked for sugar levels two hours after a hearty meal. This procedure should be done at least twice a year, as several people have been found to have had diabetes for years without experiencing any of the symptoms.

Sadly, diabetes cannot be cured. But it can be controlled with life-long treatment. Therefore, to combat diabetes, regular check-ups, a healthy lifestyle and constant vigilance are in order.

About the Author
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about diabetes, please go to: http://diabetes.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/

When to See the Doctor for Diabetic

2009-07-16T23:43:00.000+07:00

The reason that so many people do not know that they may have diabetes is because some people show no diabetes symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to have blood work checked every year after the age of 45. This is often part of a routine physical at this age, but it is always a good idea to check with the doctor to make sure the test is being run.

Along with this list of symptoms, diabetes can also be accompanied by stomach pains, vomiting or nausea. If these symptoms occur in conjunction with the list, it could be the immediate onset of type 1 diabetes, otherwise known as insulin-dependent diabetes. When you call your doctors' office for an appointment, be sure to tell them you are experiencing possible diabetes symptoms and that you need to be seen right away.

The first thing that you should know about diabetes is, it is very important to pay attention to your body. There are over one million new diagnoses of diabetes that are made each year. Diabetes is directly or indirectly the cause of approximately 200,000 deaths every year. It is estimated that 17 million people in America have diabetes, it is also estimated that approximately one third of these people do not even know they have the disease.

There are some common diabetes symptoms that should be checked out by a physician. By themselves, each symptom is not a cause for alarm. However, if more than a couple are noticed at one time, an appointment with your primary care physician should be made without hesitation.

What is Insulin?

2008-12-07T09:52:00.000+07:00

Pancreatic Islet Cells secrete insulin. Without insulin, you can eat lots of food and actually be in a state of starvation since many of our cells cannot access the calories contained in the glucose very well without the action of insulin. This is why Type 1 diabetics who do not make insulin can become very ill without insulin shots. Insulin is a necessary hormone. Those who develop a deficiency of insulin must have it replaced via shots or pumps (Type 1 Diabetes). ebook fiction commonly, people will develop insulin resistance (Type 2 Diabetes) rather than a true deficiency of insulin. In this case, the levels of insulin in the blood are similar or even a little higher than in normal, non-diabetic individuals. However, many cells of Type 2 diabetics respond sluggishly to the insulin they make and therefore their cells cannot absorb the sugar molecules well. This leads to blood sugar levels which run higher than normal. Occasionally Type 2 diabetics will need insulin shots but most of the time other methods of treatment will work.

Pancreas Secretes Insulin was the first hormone identified (late 1920's) which won the doctor and medical student who discovered it the Nobel Prize (Banting and Best). They discovered insulin by tying a string around the pancreatic duct of several dogs. When they examined the pancreases of these dogs several weeks later, all of the pancreas digestive cells were gone (died and download book for free absorbed by the immune system) and the only thing left was thousands of pancreatic islets. They then isolated the protein from these islets and behold, they discovered insulin. Note that there are other hormones produced by different types of cells within pancreatic islets (glucagon, somatostatin, etc) but insulin is produced in far greater amounts under normal conditions making the simple approach used by Banting and Best quite successful.

The Connection Between Diabetes and Hair Loss

2008-12-03T09:50:00.000+07:00

Hair Facts
Before looking into the possible links between hair loss and diabetes, let us first examine and understand both their basics. Human head hair may seem to have no function other than for appearance. Still, the human hair is still a part of the human body, and thus, still stand to benefit or suffer from anything that is going on in the other parts of your body.

The hair actually has a root and a hair follicle located in the scalp from which hair strands grow and are nourished. The best way to naturally nourish real book free download hair is through the bloodstream which transports hair nourishing nutrients to the scalp. Insufficient intake of nutrients or poor blood circulation may therefore affect hair growth and health.

Basics of Hair Loss
It is also possible that there is really no direct link between diabetes and hair loss in some cases. There are several reasons why people lose their hair and it is crucial to be able to arrive at its cause through the process of eliminating other possible causes of the condition.

Just like diabetes, hair loss is also affected by genetic factors. It is estimated that 95% of people who suffer from hair loss have androgenetic alopecia which is a hair loss condition that is brought about by genes and hormonal activity. Check first if you have this before thinking of the net ebook free download of diabetes. However, since both conditions have genetic components, you may want to take a look at the rest of your family members and relatives. Balding relatives who are also diabetic may indicate that you may share a similar future.

Diabetes and Hair Loss
The connection between diabetes and hair loss can be established best by looking at the nature of diabetes and what it does to the body. Diabetes is a condition in which people either cannot produce insulin or cannot respond properly net ebook free download When this happens, glucose cannot always enter the body cells to provide energy. Since glucose has nowhere else to go, it will start collecting in the bloodstream. With high blood sugar levels, fat deposits may also begin to attach on blood vessel walls, effectively clogging blood passageways. This results in improper blood flow and poor circulation.

As explained, the hair's main source of nutrition is in the bloodstream. Poor blood circulation means unhealthy hair condition. Furthermore, poor blood flow can also result to infections and skin irritations 2 book download free diabetics. And since scalp is part of the skin on our head, it is also gravely affected with hair loss as possible effect.

Diet Conditions
You may have a more difficult time dealing with hair loss if this is caused by diabetes compared to an ordinary hair loss condition. In an ordinary hair loss condition, the problem may be treated with nutritional supplements and proper diet. However, diabetes real book free download your hair loss, you will have to stick to a diet that is more proper as a diabetic rather than a person suffering from a hair loss. The best thing to do in such case, therefore, is for you to consult your doctor for a proper dietary plan before tackling your hair loss condition.

Natural Diabetes Cures - Easy Way To Treat

2008-11-30T09:48:00.000+07:00

Cooked starchy foods should be avoided as in the process of cooking the cellulose envelopes of the starch granules burst and consequently, the starch is far too easily absorbed in the system. The excess absorbed has to be got rid of by the kidneys and appears as sugar in the urine. With raw starchy foods, however, the saliva and digestive juices in the small intestine regulate the quantities required to be changed into sugar for the body's needs. The unused and undigested portion of raw starchy foods does not become injurious to the system, as it does not readily ferment.

The diabetic should not be afraid to eat fresh fruits and vegetables which contain sugar and starch. Fresh fruits contain sugar fructose, which does not need insulin for its metabolism and is well tolerated by diabetics. Fats and oils should be taken sparingly, for they are apt to lower the tolerance for proteins and starches. Emphasis should be on raw foods as they stimulate and increase insulin production. For protein, homemade cottage cheese, various forms to download ebooks for free milk and nuts are best. The patient should avoid tea, coffee, cocoa, white flour, sugar and all the products from them, tinned fruits, refined cereals and alcoholic drinks. He should also avoid overeating and take four or five small meals a day rather than three large ones.

Among the several home remedies that have proved beneficial in controlling diabetes, perhaps the most important is the use of bitter gourd Recent research by a team of British doctors have established that bitter gourd contains a hypoglycaemic or insulin-like principle, designated as. 'plantinsulin', which has been found valuable in lowering the blood and urine sugar levels. It should, therefore, be included liberally in the diet of cook book free download diabetic. For better results, the diabetic should take the juice of about four or five fruits every morning on an empty stomach. The seeds of bitter gourd can be added to food in a powdered form. Diabetics can also use bitter gourd in the form of decoction by boiling the pieces in water or in the form of dry powder.

The tender leaves of the mango tree are considered useful in diabetes. An infusion is prepared from fresh leaves by soaking them overnight and squeezing them well in water in the morning. This filtrate should be taken every cook book free download to control early diabetes. In the alternative, the leaves should be dried in the shade, powdered and preserved for use when necessary. Half a teaspoon of this powder should be taken twice a day.

Besides bitter gourd, certain other vegetables have been found useful in diabetes. These include string beans, cucumbers, onion and garlic. String bean pod tea is an excellent natural substitute for insulin and valuable i download free ebooks diabetes. Cucumbers contain a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. Onions and garlic have proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes.

Managing Type 2 Diabetes

2008-11-27T09:46:00.000+07:00

Diabetes is the result of one whose body can not make or correctly process insulin, a hormone that allows cells to absorb and extract energy from blood sugar. There are four major types of diabetes, however according to the Real Age Diabetes center 95% of people who diabetes have type 2.

Type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin to move glucose from the blood into the cells, and blood sugar free internet marketing ebook high. There is no cure for type 1 diabetes, and the major form of treatment is to inject insulin into the bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes is also called juvenile diabetes because it is most often diagnosed in childhood.

Type 2 diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the body produces plenty of insulin, but the cells become insensitive to it. Blood sugar rises because cells do not take up enough glucose. People with type 2 diabetes may or may not have symptoms of the disease. address book software free download untreated, the high levels of glucose in the blood slowly but steadily damage organs such as the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, and nerves. There are effective treatments available for type 2 diabetes including diet and exercise, oral medications, and insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes
This pregnancy-related form of diabetes occurs when high levels of hormones cause cells to become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 2 percent to 5 percent of all pregnancies, and disappears when pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational address book software free download are at increased risk for later developing type 2 diabetes. Up to half of women who have had gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes due to other conditions
Diabetes can also be due to other conditions, such as certain medication use or pancreas damage.

There are a number of ways you can keep your self care diabetes treatment on track. Monitoring your blood sugar, taking your prescribed medications, a good exercise program, proper nutrition and keeping your weight down and keeping your stress under control.

Constantly talking to, and having an open relationship, with your primary care physician is the best way to keep a handle on your diabetes. Your healthcare provider should be actively involved in your treatment, and be able to answer questions as they arise. free ebook your healthcare provider measure your HbA1c regularly. Have your blood pressure checked several times through the year. If it gets high, follow your physicians instructions to keeping near normal levels.

A number of ways to manage your diabetes has been listed here. You should talk to your doctor to set a good nutrition program which will aide in keeping your diabetes under control.

Foot Problems in Diabetics

2008-11-24T09:45:00.000+07:00

Approximately, there are 16 million Americans who are affected with 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 is often connected with juvenile diabetes and frequently linked to heredity. Type 2, however, is usually referred to as adult onset diabetes. It is distinguished by high blood sugar, or people who are overweight.

There are many complications that are associated with diabetes. It suspends the vascular system and affects many areas of the body such as the eyes, kidneys, legs and especially, the feet.

25% of the 16 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes often develop foot problems. Poor blood circulation and neuropathy cause numbness or loss of feeling of pain, heat or cold. Usually address book software free download who suffers from neuropathy suffers minor cuts, scrapes and blisters that he may not be aware of due to insensitivity. These injuries may lead to complications such as ulceration and even amputation. Neuropathy may cause bunions and hammer toes or other related foot deformities.

Diabetes frequently leads to vascular disease that slows the blood circulation. Contraction of the arteries decreases circulation over the lower part of a body, such as the feet and lower part of the legs. Reduced circulation adds up to diabetic foot problem because of lack free ebook download sites and nutrition supplied to the skin, and tissue leading to poor healing of an injury. It also leads to swelling and drying of the foot. Ulcers, infections and other serious foot injuries are more critical for a diabetic due to poor circulation that impairs the healing process. In a diabetic, footwear plays an important role.

It is a must for a diabetic to take precautions for preventing foot injuries. Diabetics must observe and take extra concern to reduce the risk of serious foot injuries due to neuropathy.

Since it is a necessity for a diabetic to take preventive measures, he must keep his feet healthy and free from harm. If you are a diabetic and may be suffering from foot problems, consult your foot doctor right away.

Proper care of feet is essential for diabetics because of being prone to foot problems such as foot deformities, foot ulcers, loss of feeling, and foot injuries that do not heal.

According to the National Institute of Health, there are a few simple ways to follow in preventing serious complications from diabetes. Keep a healthy lifestyle and follow a healthy diet, keep your blood sugar close to normal, check your feet for cuts, free ebook download sites red spots, swellings, and cuts that do not heal, wash your feet with warm water daily, wear socks at all times, protect your bare feet from extreme temperatures such as extremes of heat and cold, keep your blood circulating to your feet, being active, exercise regularly, and communicate with your doctor.

What Gestational Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels Mean

2008-11-21T09:42:00.000+07:00

Gestational Diabetes
Pregnancy is a period of heightened concern for a lot of pregnant women. Now it seems an expectant mother also has to worry about checking her diabetes blood sugar level. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs in some pregnant women. It is estimated that at least 4% of pregnant women in America have the condition. This may seem like a small figure but the actual numbers may be more than 100,000.

Gestational diabetes usually hit pregnant women during their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women who have family members with type 2 diabetes and those who have had pre diabetes blood sugar levels have a higher risk of getting c++ ebook diabetes. In general though, women who have had no diabetes themselves may develop gestational diabetes blood sugar levels.

The Causes
Experts are not sure why a pregnant woman may develop a diabetes blood sugar level. There is some evidence though that the hormones at play during pregnancy may have a role in increasing the chances of diabetes blood sugar levels in expectant mothers.
It is believed that the placenta responsible for nourishing the baby in the womb produces hormones that affects the work of insulin in the mother's free phone book download This is the reason why a gestational diabetes blood sugar level may be detected only in the later stages of pregnancy since the advanced stage also means having more placenta.

If the insulin is affected and prevented from performing its natural function of allowing glucose in cells for energy production, the body's glucose will begin to accumulate in the blood which will free phone book download in a diabetes blood sugar level diagnosis. Just like type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance.

Its Effects
Gestational diabetes blood sugar level usually occurs only during pregnancy. However, having it once increases the chances of having it again in succeeding pregnancies. There have also 2 book download free guest cases of women eventually developing type 2 diabetes. There is a possibility that a developing diabetes condition will only be made obvious during pregnancy.

It is important that gestational diabetes should be treated at once since this may have bad effects on the unborn child. The excess glucose in the mother's system may find its way into c++ ebook baby thereby increasing the baby's glucose supplies. Glucose may be stored in the baby's body and manifest itself as fat, resulting in a fat baby.

The pancreas of the child may also increase the production of insulin. Too much insulin may mean that the baby could be born with hypoglycemia and breathing complications. There free phone book download also be long term effects on the baby. Untreated gestational diabetes in a pregnant woman could increase the baby's chances of later becoming overweight or developing diabetes as an adult.

The Treatment
Since gestational diabetes must not go untreated for a long time in pregnant women, regular check ups during pregnancy is advised. Once diagnosed, a pregnant woman may simply be asked to maintain a meal and exercise plan to keep glucose levels normal.

An Overview of Diabetes

2008-11-19T09:53:00.000+07:00

It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1. Most Americans who are diagnosed have type 2. It often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless.

Pre-diabetes is a condition where a patients blood glucose levels are unusually elevated but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2. This condition is also called impaired glucose tolerance or insulin resistance. The cells of the body become more insulin resistant or the correct amount of book 7 free download is not being manufactured by the pancreas. Pre-diabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) dependant on which test is used for diagnosis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recently estimated that pre-diabetes is becoming more prevalent in the U.S.

Health care professionals use a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) in their efforts to determine whether a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes. With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level in the potter ebooks free download and 125 mg/dl range indicates pre-diabetes. Using the OGTT test, a patient's blood glucose level is measured after drinking a liquid rich in glucose and a fasting period.

Diabetes screening is recommended for many people at various stages of life, and for those with any of several risk factors. But keeping your blood sugar under control now can help reduce the risk of health problems from diabetes later. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular potter ebooks free download (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of dialysis in developed world adults), retinal damage (which can lead to blindness and is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly in the developed world), nerve damage (of several kinds), and micro vascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction (impotence) and poor healing.

Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors (such as not smoking and keeping a healthy body weight), may improve the risk profile of most of its complications.

Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death, but steps can be taken to control the disease and lower the risk of complications. Diabetes free text book download over 21 million Americans. It is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. It is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body.

Diabetes can lead to serious health problems and early death, but those with diabetes can take action to manage the condition and reduce the risk of these complications. Diabetes book 7 free download disease that affects over 21 million in the U.S. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of early death and disability as well. Diabetes is linked to life long complications that damage almost every part of the human anatomy. It's very serious, but it is manageable.

How to Prevent Diabetes with the Right Information

2008-11-19T09:40:00.000+07:00

It is best to practice diabetes prevention. Here is a start. There are two natural remedies that you can use to reduce your chances of becoming diabetic. One is a mineral and the other is a spice.

First always make sure you are getting magnesium in your food or as a supplement. In a study done by Brigham, 11,000 women were tested for the risk factors phone card china above showed that those women that took high levels of magnesium show less diabetic risk factors by 27%. Other long-term studies have also shown the same results.

So you might ask why does magnesium lower diabetic risk factors? Researchers have suggested that magnesium reduces blood pressure, relaxes heart muscles, and controls homocysteine, which is associated with cardiovascular disease free ebook pdf download diabetes. Since magnesium is a mineral, It also helps to neutralize toxic material found outside cells in the lymph. This helps cells to function better.

To get more magnesium in your diet eat dark green leafy lettuce, avocados, nuts, and wholes grains. As a supplement, use magnesium gluconate and chelated magnesium 500 mg per day. It is always best to take magnesium with calcium and vitamin D.

Second there is the spice cinnamon. Cinnamon and diabetes has been discussed in a lot of health newsletters. Here is the story on Cinnamon diabetes. There is an extract from cinnamon called Cinnulin PF. This extract works on the cellular level by making the insulin free ebook pdf download receptors more sensitive to insulin by 300%. So why is this important? Well, in diabetes, if the pancreas does not produce enough insulin then not enough insulin cell doors are open so plenty of sugar can go into the cells to lower the blood sugar levels.

In some diabetic cases, the cells become resistant to insulin and don't allow insulin to open cell doors for sugar to enter. This is where Cinnulin PF from cinnamon comes in and makes cells more receptive to insulin.

In one of my other articles, I wrote about a natural product for diabetes called Glucotor 1. Now there is Glucotor 2. Some of the herbs in Glucotor 2 are prickly pear cactus, gymnema sylvestre, fenugreek, cinnulin PF banaba and bitter melon. With the addition of cinnulin PF to Glucotor 2, it is now more free ebooks download sites than the previous formulation. This product has a good history of lowering blood sugar levels and has many real life testimonials. Using this natural diabetes information you can prevent creating diabetes.

Adding magnesium, cinnulin PF, or Glucotor 2 to your diet will lower your blood sugar levels. It will also provide you with benefits for phone card china your cardiovascular system. You can supplement with magnesium and with cinnulin PF, which is available as a single extract but if you can find it combines with other herbs, like in Glucotor 2, it will work better in your body.

Source : http://www.qzmin.com/

Merck and Garuda Indonesia Airline help Diabetics

2008-08-16T18:07:00.000+07:00

Garuda Sentra Medika (GSM) - the health care of PT. Garuda Indonesia (Garuda Indonesia Airline) - in cooperation with the pharmaceutical company PT. Merck (Tbk) and the Indonesia Diabetes Assosiation (Persadia) has established a Diabetes Center Point in an effort to privide better, integrated service to diabetes patients.

The Diabetes Center Point, located within GSM, was inaugurated by Garuda Indonesia's President & CEO Emirsyah Satar a CEO on 17 July 2008.

The Diabetes Center Point is an integrated service facility for diabetes patients, including consultating with doctors, and education clinic, and a foot clinic, and is fully equipped with information technology, enabling easier, faster service.

As is commondly known, diabetes mellitus (DM) can lead to a range of complication, which can even be fatal id not dealt with properly and promptly. Ever increasing numbers of people are suffering this disease, corresponding to changes in lifestyle, particularly the types of food consumed and failure to get enough physical exercise.

DM patients are four to five tomes greater risk of dying soon than non-diabetics. The most common causes of diabetes-related death are cononary heart disease (50%) and kidney failure (30%). Apart from death, DM can also lead to disabilities : around 30% of DM patients suffer blindness due to retinopathie complications, while 10% have to undergo leg amputations.

Diabetes Diet

2008-07-10T15:44:00.000+07:00

Diet plays a significant role in controlling the diabetes. The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with insulin doses or with oral hypoglycemic drugs. Main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight, by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels in blood. The diet plan for a diabetic is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. While planning diet, the dietician has to consider complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels.

With respect to the above factors, a dietician will assess calories to be given, like scheming the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, type of carbohydrate, amount of fiber and so on.

Exchange meal plan is a diet program which balances the amount of carbohydrate that we intake per day. Glucose is a sugar released from carbohydrate so if we want to control blood sugar we have to limit the consumption of simple carbohydrate. Carbohydrate foods are given as value per portion, known as the exchange. This plan helps us to decide on the type of food to be taken, the amount of food and also the time to eat. You can plan for more flexible meal as you get more knowledge about the diet of a diabetic, may be like the counting carbohydrate meal plan or constant carbohydrate. But there is no common diet that works for everyone. Nor is there any particular diet that works perfectly for any diabetic over a long period. While planning diabetes diet we should adhere to certain important factors, they are as follows:

Fiber should be at least 40 gm / day
Instead of 3 heavy meals, we should go for 4-5 small mid intervals
Replace bakery products and fast foods by simple whole cooked cereals, and don't eat carbohydrates 2 hours before bedtime
Consume fresh fruit and vegetables at least 5 exchange/ day

Diabetics must always need to take care of thier diet and also about the food they eat. Care has to be taken because all foods contain not only carbohydrate, but also some energy value. Protein and fat available in the food are converted to glucose in the body. This glucose has some effect on the blood sugar level which has to be taken care. Furthermore there is no need that you have to eat only bland boring diet. Instead you have to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It means that to select foods that are high in nutrition and low in calories and fat.

Diabetes Exercise

2008-07-09T15:28:00.000+07:00

Exercise promotes muscular activity and burns sugar. Therefore, you may need a reduction in the does of table or insulin. Exercise during diabetes also promotes good circulation and maintains weight. Regular exercise, the ½ hr – 1 hr of brisk walking improves the effect of insulin.

All diabetes patients need to exercise, but the type and the amount will vary for each individual. Most individuals would benefit from long walks (2-3 km/day), gardening, walking to office or shopping complex, cycling short distances, or playing golf.

If you are taking insulin you will find that increasing your level of regular exercise may cause a significant fall in your blood glucose, sometimes producing hypoglycemia. You may therefore need to balance your food and insulin does. If your type of exercise lasts longer e.g. badminton/tennis playing, you need to take sugar or fruit juice at regular intervals. Discuss this with your dietician and diabetes nurse educator.

If you are on tablets, you can perform extra exercise without worry of experiencing hypoglycemia.
If you are overweight and your diabetes is controlled alone, low blood glucose would not occur with an increase in amount of exercise.

The diagnosis of ‘Diabetes’ need not scare you to give up the sports you like. Many people with diabetes have excelled in highly competitive sports.

Diabetes Management

2008-07-08T15:21:00.000+07:00

To keep your blood glucose in control through out the day you need diet modifications, regular exercise, medicine (tablets/insulin injections).

To tablet or insulin injection is not needed immediately after the diagnosis of diabetes is made (unless your doctor feels this is an emergency).

If you are obese you need to reduce your weight through diet control and give up sedentary habits so that your insulin’ works better. Your treatment should be started and supervised by an expert in diabetes, who should review it every 3-6 months to help keep your blood glucose in control. You should register in a diabetic clinic for regular blood pressure check ups, ECG and advice for care.

Treatment is aimed at maintaining the blood glucose in the normal range and HbA1c less than 7%, by balancing food intake with oral medication or insulin and physical activity year after year, to prevent complications of diabetes.
An emotional stress (a death in family, displeasure at work or at home) may increase and disturb the control of diabetes. You need to discuss the problem with your doctor for suitable adjustment in dosage of medication and stress control exercises.

By keeping a good control of diabetes at all times, you will be able to prevent the complications of diabetes affecting the nerves, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

Diabetes Complications

2008-07-08T11:12:00.000+07:00

Sometimes a complication of diabetes may give a clue to the presence of the disease. The principle complications or sequelae associated with diabetes are retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and arteriosclerosis. Whether these are the unavoidable consequences of the diabetic state over time or whether they may be influenced by controlling the diabetes through aggressive monitoring, treatment and life-style management, including diet and supplements, remains a central topic.

One of the largest, most comprehensive diabetes studies conducted to date showed that keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible through aggressive management slows the onset and progression of eye, kidney and nerve diseases caused by diabetes. In fact it demonstrated that any sustained lowering of blood sugar helps, even if the person has a history of poor control.

Specifically it found that lowering and maintaining more constant blood sugar levels reduced the risk of eye disease by 76%, kidney disease by 50%, nerve disease by 60% and cardiovascular disease by 35%.Since the discovery of insulin nearly 70 years ago, the patterns of morbidity from diabetes have changed. Where the major causes of death were ketoacidosis and infection, they are now the microvascular and cardiovascular complications of diabetes (renal failure and myocardial infarction).

These complications are responsible for a reduction in the life expectancy of a newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic by about one-third. The basis of managing diabetes in the 90?s is an improvement in the life-style of the diabetic and prevention of complications responsible for morbidity and mortality in diabetes.

Neuropathy (Nerve Disease)
Diabetic neuropathies are among the most frequent complication of long-term diabetes. It is estimated that 60% to 70% of diabetics have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The femoral nerve is commonly involved giving rise to symptoms in the legs and feet. Pain is the chief symptom and tends to worsen at night when the person is at rest. It is usually relieved by activity and aggravated by cold. Paraesthesias are a common accompaniment of the pain. Cramping, tenderness and muscle weakness also occur but atrophy is rare. Advanced femoral nerve disease is a major contributing cause of lower extremity amputations. Nerves in the arms, abdomen and back may also be affected. Symptoms may include impaired heart function, slowed digestion, reduced or absent perspiration, severe oedema, carpal tunnel syndrome, alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation, bladder atony, urinary and faecal incontinence and impotence.

With respect to sexual impotence, diabetes is probably the single most common disease associated with erectile failure (termed neurogenic impotence in the diabetic). Since diabetes is a metabolic disease with vascular and nervous system complications and an erection involves all levels of the nervous system from the brain to the peripheral nerves, lesions anywhere along the path may be responsible for erectile failure. It has been estimated that close to 50% of diabetic males have some degree of erectile dysfunction. Neuropathies usually improve with the control of the diabetes. Severe or chronic changes may require several weeks or months to show maximum improvement.

Retinopathy (Eye Eisease)
Changes occurring in the eye which are distinctive of diabetes involve the narrowing, hardening, bulging, haemorrhaging or severing of the veins and capillaries of the retina. This is a serious complication known as retinopathy and may lead to loss of vision. Visual changes in the earlier stages may include diminished vision, contraction of the visual field, changes in the size of objects or photophobia. In the more advanced stage, termed 'proliferative retinopathy', haemorrhages, retinal detachment and other serious forms of deterioration are observed. When the disease progresses to this late stage total blindness may occur.

It usually takes between 10-13 years for diabetic retinopathy to develop and it is present in some degree in most diabetics who have had the disease for 20 years. In only about half of the diabetics who develop it however, is vision markedly impaired and blindness occurs in only about 6%. Still, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20 to 74 years old and is estimated to cause from 12,000 to 24,000 new cases each year. Two other complications of diabetes, cataracts and glaucoma, can also lead to loss of vision.

The development of laser therapy will probably reduce the prevalence of diabetes-induced blindness, however this therapy is not without occasional side effects (haemorrhage, retinal detachment and loss of visual field) and is therefore indicated only for the more serious conditions.

Arteriosclerosis (Vessel Disease)
The diabetic state is associated with earlier and more severe vascular changes than normally occur at a given age. Cardiovascular- renal disease is the leading cause of death among diabetics. Atherosclerosis can be accurately described as the end stage of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, since the vast majority of diabetes patients will die from an atherosclerotic event. Most commonly these events are cardiovascular in nature (an estimated 60% to 65% of diabetics have high blood pressure) although 20-25% of atherosclerotic events may be cerebrovascular or microvascular.

The incidence of coronary occlusion in persons with clinical diabetes has been estimated at from 8-17% with diabetic adults having heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times as high as the general population. The risk of stroke is also found to be 2 to 4 times higher in people with diabetes. Arteriosclerosis obliterans in the lower extremities, a form of peripheral vascular disease, may produce disturbances in sensation, decrease in muscular endurance, intermittent claudication on effort, absence of peripheral pulses in the lower legs and feet and gangrene, and ultimately lead to amputation of the extremity. Diabetic gangrene usually involves the toes, heels or other prominent parts of the feet and is precipitated by trauma, infection or extremes in temperature. Needless to say, careful attention to proper foot care, avoidance of injury and consistent use of methods to improve peripheral circulation, including withdrawal from tobacco use in any form, are critical for the diabetic. The aetiology of large vessel disease is multi-factorial in the diabetic as well as the non-diabetic population with lipoprotein metabolism, hypertension, physical activity, obesity, cigarette smoking, stress, personality and genetic and racial factors all playing a part.

Nephropathy (Kidney Disease)
Nephropathy is a common and important accompaniment of diabetes and one that in young diabetics takes precedence over heart disease as a cause of illness and death. As with eye changes, there is a wide variation in the type and degree of renal damage. Nephropathy is less frequent than retinopathy and where it occurs is also a development of long standing diabetes. Nevertheless, diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the US, accounting for about 40% of new cases. In 1995, a total of 98,872 people with diabetes underwent dialysis or kidney transplantation and 27,851 developed end-stage renal disease.

One study reported that among 200 juvenile diabetics who survived 20 years after onset, one half had evidence of renal disease. Another study found that the majority of these patients have hypertension and two thirds show significant albuminuria, but the fully developed nephrotic syndrome of hypertension, proteinuria and oedema occurs in less than 10% and renal function is impaired in only one half to three quarters of those patients.

Like other long-term complications, good blood glucose control goes a long way towards reducing the risk of diabetic nephropathy. In addition to monitoring the blood sugar levels, periodic monitoring of a diabetic patient?s kidney function (blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, creatinine and creatinine clearance) is important.

Hypoglycaemia
If there is too much insulin in the body compared to the amount of blood sugar, and the blood sugar falls below normal levels, a condition known as hypoglycaemia occurs. This problem of hypoglycaemia due to insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs is much more common in Type 1 than Type 2 diabetes since the Type 1 diabetic is directly injecting insulin. If too much insulin is administered, or the person misses a meal or over-exercises, hypoglycaemia may result. In this condition, commonly referred to as insulin shock, the brain is deprived of an essential energy source. The first sign is mild hunger, quickly followed by dizziness, sweating, palpitations, mental confusion and eventual loss of consciousness. Before the condition reaches emergency proportions, most diabetics learn to counteract the symptoms by eating a sweet or drinking a glass of orange juice. In some cases, the only effective measure is an intravenous injection of glucose.

Oral Complications
Periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss, occurs with greater frequency and severity among diabetics. Periodontal disease has been reported to occur among 30% of people aged 19 years or older with Type1 diabetes.

Infections
Studies in clinic, community and hospital populations indicate that diabetic subjects have a higher risk of some infections, including asymptomatic bacteriuria, lower extremity infections, re-activation tuberculosis, infections in surgical wounds and group B streptococcal infection. Population based data suggest a probable higher mortality from influenza and pneumonia.

Complications of Pregnancy
The rate of major congenital malformations in babies born to women with pre-existing diabetes varies from 0% to 5% among women who receive preconception care, to 10% among women who do not receive preconception care. Between 3% to 5% of pregnancies among women with diabetes result in death of the new-born; the rate for women who do not have diabetes is 1.5%4.

Ketoacidosis
Another acute complication more likely to occur in the IDDM is ketoacidosis, a condition caused by a lack of insulin leading to a build-up of ketoacids. Chemical compounds called ketones are one of the natural by-products of fat metabolism. Excessive ketone bodies are formed by the biochemical imbalance in uncontrolled or poorly managed diabetes. The condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis can directly cause an acute life-threatening event, a diabetic coma.

What Causes Diabetes

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Type 1 Diabetes is autoimmune disease that affects 0.3% on average. It is result of distruction of beta cells due to aggresive nature of cells present in the body. Researchers belive thats some of the Etiology and Risk factors which may trigger type 1 diabetes may be genetic, poor diet (malnutrition) and environment (virus affecting pancreas). Secondly, in most of the cases diabetes occurs because there is abnormal secretion of some hormones in blood which act as antagonists to insulin. Example- Adrenocortical hormone, Adrenaline hormone and Thyroid hormone.

Type 2 Diabetes, is also called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. It occurs when the body produces enough insulin but cannot utilize it effectively. This type of diabetes usually develops in middle age. A general observation says that about 90-95 % of people with suffering with diabetes are type 2; about 80 percent are overweight. It is more common among people who are older; obese; have a family history of diabetes; have had gestational diabetes. There are number of risk factors found to be responsible for type 2 diabetes, the more
the Etiology and Risk factors carried by an individual the higher the risk for developing the diabetes.

Following are the Causes of Diabetes:

Inherited :
It is strongly believed that is due to some genes which passes from one generation to another. It depends upon closeness of blood relationship as mother is diabetes risk is 2% to 3%, father is diabetic risk is more than the previous case and if both the parents are diabetic, it has much greater risk for diabetes.
Age :
Increased age is a factor which gives more possibility than in younger age. This disease may occur at any age, but 80% of cases occur after 50 year, incidences increase as age do in this group.
Poor Diet :
Improper nutrition, low protein and fibre intake, high intake of refined products are the expected reasons for developing diabetes.
Obesity :
Being overweight means increased insulin resistance, that is if body fat is more than 30%, BMI 25+, waist grith 35 inches in women or 40 inches in males.
Lifestyle :
People with sedentary lifestyle are more prone to diabetes, when compare to those who exercise thrice a week, are at lesser risk of falling prey to diabetes.
Stress :
Either physical injury or emotional disturbance is frequently blamed as the initial cause of the disease. Any disturbance in Cortiosteroid or ACTH therapy may lead to clinical signs of the diseases.
Drug Induced :
Clozapine (Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel) and ziprasidone (Geodon) are known to induce this lethal disease.
Infection :
Some of the strephylococci are suppose to be responsible factor for infection in pancreas.
Sex :
It is commonly seen in elderly especially males but strong evidence of developing diabetes in females with multiple pregnancy has been observed or in females suffering from (PCOS) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Hypertension :
It had been reported in many studies that there is direct relation between high systolic pressure and diabetes.
Serum lipids and lipoproteins :
High triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood are related to high blood sugars, in some cases it had been studied that risk are involved even with low HDL levels in circulating blood.

Symptoms of Diabetes

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Diabetes can be one of the leading cause of death in the world. It can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Each year the number of diabetics rises. Studies show that early detection is the key. However, many of the early signs of diabetes go unnoticed.
Learn to recognize the early signs that diabetes may be developing. If you notice any of these early signs of diabetes ask your doctor for a quick screening or diabetic testing.

Frequent urination. When blood sugar rises, urine increases infrequency and volume. One of the earliest tests for diagnosing diabetes was to check the amount of sugar in the urine.
2. Increased thirst. Because high blood sugar increases urination, the bodycompensates by asking for more water.
Fatigue and generalized weakness. Glucose (sugar) is the fuel of muscle cells. When glucose is unable to effectively fuel the cells, the result is fatigue and weakness.
Weight loss. When weight loss is unexplained or unintentional, whether it is rapid or slow, it is often seen as early sign of diabetes. The weight loss is a result of water loss as the body compensates for its poor use of glucose.
Blurred vision. Rapidly rising blood sugar can cause fluid shifts in the lens of the eye resulting in blurred vision.
Frequent infections. High sugar content of blood and body fluids is a paradise for germs allowing them to thrive.

Types of Diabetes

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There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs mostly in children, adolescents and young adults. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer produces insulin, making type 1 diabetics dependent on daily insulin injections for their survival. At the present time, we do not know how to prevent this type of diabetes. Research is focused on uncovering the mechanisms underlying the destruction of insulin-producing cells.

Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs much later in life, generally after 40 years of age. About 90% of diabetics have this type of diabetes. In the last few years, we’ve noticed that this type of diabetes is occurring earlier; in some high-risk groups, it can even occur in childhood.Type 2 diabetes is the stealthiest type of diabetes. The symptoms can be mild and therefore overlooked for years. Unfortunately, by the time it’s diagnosed, the damage is done. By making major lifestyle changes, it is possible to delay the onset of the disease and reduce its impact.

Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, generally toward the end of the second or in third trimester. In 90% of cases, it disappears after the baby is born.Gestational diabetes occurs in 2% to 4% of pregnancies. It affects both the fetus and the mother. The risk to the baby is that it will be born bigger and fatter than normal. For the mother, having diabetes increases the risk of infection, of excessive fatigue and can cause complications during the delivery.Gestational diabetes can be treated and controlled through proper nutrition, weight control and a healthy lifestyle. If these measures are not sufficient, insulin injections will be necessary, since oral anti-diabetic drugs are contra-indicated during pregnancy.

History of Diabetes

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11th Century Diabetes commonly diagnosed by 'water tasters,' who drank the urine of those suspected of having diabetes; the urine of people with diabetes was thought to be sweet-tasting.

Diabetes is not a newly born disease, it has been with human race from long back, but we came to knew about it in 1552 B.C. During First Century A.D diabetes described by Arateus as 'the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine. Diabetes was given its name by the Greek Physician Aretaeus (30-90CE). He recorded a disease with symptoms such as constant thirst (polydipsia), excessive urination (polyuria) and loss of weight. Nearly 5,000 years ago in India, the physician Susruta described a disease "brought on by gluttonous overindulgence in rice, flour, and sugar," in which urine is "like an elephant's in quantity.

Early 19th Century first chemical tests developed to indicate and measure the presence of sugar in the urine. Diabetic diet was formulated with inclusion of milk, oats and other fibre containing foods in 1900-1915. Function of insulin, its nature, along with its use had taken time from 1920 -1923, discovered by Dr Banting, Prof. Macleod and Dr.Collip, who were awarded a Noble prize. In the decade of 1940, it had been discovered that different organs like kidney and skin are also affected if diabetes is creeping from a long term. January 23, 1922 Dr. Collip's insulin extracts first tested on a human being, a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson, in Toronto; treatment considered a success by the end of the following February.

Helen Free test was invented. In the mid-1940s, Alfred Free and Helen Murray were both chemists working together in the biochemistry research group at Miles Laboratories. In the 1960's, a muffin was a small breakfast treat, usually home baked. A homemade blueberry muffin, using a regular-sized muffin tin, is about 100 calories and 6 grams of fat, depending on the recipe. It's about the size of a tennis ball. During 1970 Blood glucose meters and insulin pumps are developed. Laser therapy is used to help slow or prevent blindness in some people with diabetes. When 1983 came introduced first biosynthetic human insulin. 75th Anniversary of the discovery of insulin celebrated around the world in1996.

What is a Diabetes

2008-07-03T13:41:00.000+07:00

Diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce any or enough insulin, leading to an excess of sugar in the blood. Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, is a hormone that helps the cells of the body use the glucose (sugar) in food. Cells need this energy in order to function properly.

If there isn’t enough insulin or its function is impaired, as is the case with diabetes, the glucose (sugar) cannot be used as fuel for the cells. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream and is excreted in the urine. Eventually, the hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) caused by excessive amounts of glucose in the blood leads to a variety of complications, particularly for the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.

Even today, the cause of diabetes remains a mystery. However, we do know that certain factors can trigger the onset of the disease: parent inherit, heredity, obesity, pregnancy, some viruses and medications, etc.

The most important things we have to know is how to manage the diabetes, diet, exercise and medicine or herbal to treat diabetes.