Diabetes Supply has often been an issue of where is the best place to get your supplies and what's the best place as far as cost. Obviously you have seen the television advertising for Liberty Medical Diabetes Supply.

When it comes to advertising for Diabetes Supply, no one comes close to Liberty Medical. There are other outlets where you can obtain your diabetic supplies and at reasonable rates. Not everyone qualifies for Liberty's Diabetes Supply. They basically work directly with Medicare, so based on your Medicare qualifications you could be turned down.

Diabetic Express com is an online diabetes supplier that may be a good alternative for your insulin, lancet, test strips, and pump supplies. They offer discount prices on over 1,000 items and accept Medicare and private insurance. They supply only the brands and products you want. They have pharmacists on staff to interact with you for fast accurate service. And they offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

Diabetic Supplies.com is another diabetes supply online that specializes primarily in lancets, test strips, and test meters.

After you complete the online diabetes supply enrollment form, or call, the online diabetes supply companies listed above can verify your diabetes supply benefits with your insurance and obtain an authorization from your doctor. Every three months, with your authorization, they will mail your diabetes supply order, including blood glucose meter strips, directly to your door, free of charge. They will explain your diabetes supply benefits prior to shipping your first order.

Diabetes supply is a necessary function that thousands of people need and require in order to live a healthy life. If you have diabetes and require diabetes supplies, be sure to check your blood count often and find a diabetes supply company that fits your needs for accuracy, timeliness, and price.

It's possible you can qualify for a free diabetes supply today. Just apply and see for yourself how easy it can be to live life the way you want it to be.

Most individuals are already aware that diabetes can lead to chronic gum or periodontal disease. Recent studies however have revealed that the relationship between the two is like a double-edged sword, since it goes both ways; apparently, diabetes can also be born from chronic gum disease.

Basic Facts about Chronic Gum Disease

When an individual has been diagnosed of having chronic gum disease, this means that his gums and the bones that bind his teeth to its proper position are infected. If left untreated, chronic gum disease will make chewing extremely difficult or worse, lead to loss or removal of teeth.

Basic Facts about Diabetes

Is it true that diabetes is primarily caused by eating too much of sweet foods? No! There's still no known and accurate cause for diabetes so everyone is at risk. Substantially proven generalizations however have been made regarding diabetic individuals. People who are overweight, for instance, are more prone to having diabetes.

Who's at Risk?

Diabetics who smoke and diabetics who love sweets are the most at risk of having chronic gum disease as well.

The Process of Chronic Gum Disease: From A to Z

If oral hygiene is neglected, that's the first step to having chronic gum disease. Germs that accrue over the time will cause our gums to redden, swell, and even bleed when you start brushing your teeth once more. When this happens, you're suffering from gingivitis - a precursor of chronic gum disease.

Gingivitis however will disappear eventually if you don't shirk up your duties to your mouth and teeth. If you don't, things become more complicated and you get nearer to having chronic gum disease.

Accrued dirt becomes plaque; when plaque becomes hard, your teeth and gums get infected until there's not enough bones to hold your teeth in place. The result: an emergency trip to the dentist and several of your teeth pulled out.

The Bad Thing about Chronic Gum Disease

There are no warning signs. When you start feeling hurt and uncomfortable about it, it's usually too late because no amount of brushing of teeth or flossing will be able to rescue your teeth. Only the scary dentist has the power to salvage what's left of your teeth.

Possible Treatments for Chronic Gum Disease

Teeth Cleaning - If the damage isn't too serious, your dentist might be able to repair damaged roots and allow you to retain your teeth. Teeth cleaning will also help in removing accrued germs stuck within and in between your teeth. Your dentist may also request you to take an antibiotic or use a suggested brand of mouthwash to give your teeth added protection.

An astonishing discovery was made by several doctors regarding treatment for type 2 diabetes. According a recently conducted study published in the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) journal Diabetes Care, a vegan diet that is low in fat might be a better treatment for diabetes than oral medication traditionally prescribed for diabetics. The same study also showed the vegan diet to be better than the current diet being prescribed by the ADA.

The study involved individuals that were diagnosed to have type 2 diabetes. They were assigned, randomly, to either the existing diet prescribed by the ADA or a vegan diet (strictly plant-based) that is low in fat. The ADA diet group were tasked to control their intake based on their body weight and lipid concentrations in their plasma. The ADA diet consisted of less than 7% of saturated fat, 15 to 20% of protein, 60 to 70% of carbohydrates plus monounsaturated fats, and a maximum of 200mg of cholesterol a day. The vegan diet on the other hand was limited to vegetables, grains, legumes, and fruits. This diet, which eliminated animal materials, consisted of 75% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 10% fat. The portions were not controlled.

The results of the study showed that both the ADA diet and the low-fat vegan diet greatly improved the lipid and glycemic control of the participants. However, the results were even greater for those who followed the vegan low-fat diet. Moreover, the patients that followed the vegan low-fat diet also exhibited remarkable improvement in their control for blood sugar, weight control, kidney function, and cholesterol reduction ñ these are four markers always monitored for diabetic patients.

One participant was able to lose 42 pounds on the diet, plus she no longer needed to continue taking her medicines. This is quite impressive considering that her diabetes was increasing and she no longer responded to intense drug therapies. Another participant observed the sudden normalization of his blood sugar levels. He also experienced weight reduction of around 60 pounds in the course of the research.

The vegan low-fat diet was seen to be dramatically different from the existing diets prescribed for diabetes as it did not place any limit on carbohydrates, calories, and portions. Not only was the diet quite effective for the treatment of diabetes, it also produced good side effects such as decrease in cholesterol and weight loss. Doctors are hopeful that these findings would urged the prescription of the more natural diet before the dispensing of drugs. The occurrence of diabetes throughout the world has dramatically increased throughout the years, now there are over 20 million people in America who are diabetic, and this discovery could greatly help those who have been diagnosed of having the disease.

What makes the vegan low-fat so good for diabetics is its high fiber and low fat content, which are elements that are deemed to be necessary for the reduction of the density of dietary energy and the intake of energy. Such influences the nutrient intake of the body, which greatly helps to normalize insulin sensitivity.

The study was conducted by some dieticians and doctors associated with the George Washington University, the University of Toronto, and the PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, funded by the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation and the National Institute of Health.

This remarkable news could help the millions who are suffering the disease and even those who are just being diagnosed of having diabetes. With the increasing costs of medicine nowadays, such a development is very welcome.

The quest for an effective and lifelong cure for diabetes is still ongoing. Although there has been significant advancement and improvement in providing a medicinal solution for the disease, such treatments are still unable to stop diabetes from taking one life after the other every year.

At the present, the best hope people has is the detection of signs and symptoms of the disease as early as possible in order to thoroughly manage diabetes while it still hasn't affected much of an individual's health. One such way is by using berberine.

What is Berberine?

With a bright yellow color, berberine can be easily found unlike other herbs. Mostly, it can be obtained through Chinese herbs such as phellodendron and coptis. Originally used as a dye, berberine has been discovered to have certain ingredients that may be effective in treating diabetes. Berberine can be also found in the Japanese plant barberry. Nowadays, berberine is a common ingredient in herbal medicine used for treating intestinal disorders.

In 1995, a study in China was conducted in order to discover if berberine had curative benefits for diabetes. It was only by fortuitous circumstances that the researchers have found out that berberine can also cause blood glucose levels to decrease when used to treat diabetic individuals with diarrhea.

Berberine has also been found by other studies able to help individuals lose weight. Another possible benefit of berberine is the lack of side effects, although this claim requires further proof. Individuals with Type II Diabetes should be glad to hear this as many of them are unable to tolerate present treatments for their condition.

One particular kind of berberine, or alkaloid berberine to be specific, is being presently investigated regarding its therapeutic components. Recent studies have found proof of alkaloid berberine being able to successfully treat hypoglycemia. An abnormally low level of blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a somewhat common side-effect of several diabetic medications.

What You Should Know about Diabetes

If you already know you've diabetes, the news about berberine has surely made your day. On the other hand, if you aren't sure if you have diabetes or not, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible with your physician. Diabetes is the type of disease that grows uglier the longer it's ignored.

The first thing you should be aware about is its symptoms:

Liquid In, Liquid Out - Do you notice that you're urinating more often than usual? Are you feeling more thirty than usual? If so, you should know that such feelings are considered indications of diabetes.

Weight - Do you feel hungry all the time? Do you seem to be losing weight for no reason at all? Such occurrences are also considered as warning signs of diabetes.

Bad Mood - Do you feel easily tired? Were you once good-natured but became easily irritated all of the sudden? If you're not suffering from PMS or heartbreak, it's possible that you already have diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes

Lots of people believe that eating too much sweets or sugary foods is the main cause of diabetes. This claim however has been proven false. Sweets can lead to obesity, however, and obesity can lead to Type II diabetes.

No one really knows for sure why some people become diabetic while some do not. That's why all of us are at risk and it's in our interests to have a general check-up regularly. Forearmed, after all, is forewarned.

As much as possible, when a child is still young or in his toddler age, which is eighteen months to four, parents try their best to not spoil them or give in to their demands. These demands are usually sweets and snacks in between meals. That is because if they continue to give in, then when the child goes to school, or worse, attends middle school, he may be overweight.

Losing weight is a hard thing to do. Obesity is a common problem among Americans. When one is obese, he has less self-confidence and self-esteem than the average weighed Joe and Jane. A research study done by "The Insider" correspondent Vanessa Minnillo shows that obese people receive condescending and disgusted looks from pedestrians. Imagine the effect this has on them.

When one is determined to lose weight, he does his best to eat less and to work out more. But there are those who are unfortunate because it is in their genes, thus making it harder for them to shed the excess pounds. Some engage in diet such as Watsons and South Beach. Now this is a huge step for them. If some people love playing video games, there are people who love to eat.

Just as there are people who have diabetes. They cannot avoid not having it - it's in their genes. It's how they were built. Children with diabetes are the more unfortunate because normally, you'd want to give them candies and chocolates. Because they're diabetic, they cannot have, or at least have as much, as they'd want to - compared to other kids.

Nowadays, there could be a possible solution for yo-yo diet or what is known to be the loss and gain of weight. This new vaccine aids in regulating the energy balance within the body. It has been tested on mature male rats. They ate normally but they gain less weight. When these findings turn out to be successful, then there is a possible confirmation of its effect. A vaccine that helps obese people to regulate their weight can come into conception.

What the vaccine does is that it slows down the weight gain. Because of the ghrelin that is found in the substance, the bloodstream in the brain is stimulated and retains the stored energy as fat.

Reason why doctors are looking for something to regulate the increasing number of obese people is that a person who is obese has more chances of getting other diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems. Not to mention depression that could be resulted from low self-esteem, low self-confidence and self-disgust.

As for diabetes, in 2001, scientists have already developed a drug that would stop the destruction of the pancreas in the immune system. In layman's terms, this drug lessens the fast pace of the type I diabetes. The good thing about this is that it gives them a longer time to live. The drug is injected within six months. There are no side effects even tot his date.

With the type II diabetes, there is less luck to coming up with a vaccine. Research is still ongoing to come up with a vaccine that could lessen the risk of diabetic people. Diabetes attacks slowly but surely.

However, young children who have received the vaccine, those aged seven to sixteen showed progress. From there, the research goes on.

Right now, scientists are working on mice. They inject an antigen that would combat the protein HSP60 which attributes to the degradation of a person's health when he or she has diabetes.

"Breast milk is still best for babies under two years," the pediatrician says. And a mother must believe it because not only is it advisable for her child's health, it also lessens the chance of her getting diabetes.

Women who breastfeed have less chances of suffering from diabetes. A study conducted by the World Health Organization shows that more than 1.5 million babies die because they are not breast-fed. These are babies from third world countries. Their mothers' health are also in jeopardy that they don't have enough nutrition or milk in their bodies to save neither themselves nor their babies.

These social workers who educate mothers often travel to the developing countries such as Nigeria and teach them the proper way to care for themselves and their infants. Good parenting at a young age would also result to the proper mental development of their baby.

That's why people must be educated when it comes to how important breastfeeding is for the infant and the mother. Not only is this beneficial for the baby's health, it will also have a good effect on the emotional aspect of the mother-child relationship. Breastfeeding is an early form of mother-child bonding that could occur at this young stage of the baby's life.

Some mothers prefer pumping their milk to a machine because it hurts them when the child bites into their nipples. That must not be the case. It takes some getting use to. Breastfeeding will give the child the nurture, the love and the care that she deserves to have. Activists on the situation are suggesting a movement to a decree that announces neglect on mothers who stop breastfeeding their children who are less than two years old.

There are some mothers who rush on to their daily activities that they prefer the bottle-feeding than breast-feeding. This often applies to a high-powered career woman. As much as possible, she must also fit into her schedule the time for her child.

Some mothers believe that the good thing about bottled milk is that it has water and breast milk has less. However, breast milk also has water. The water contained in breast milk is in fact healthier for the infant than water that us adults drink. Notice also that babies sleep better after they are breast-fed than after they are bottle-fed.

Breast milk prevents diarrhea. Diarrhea is a disease that often attacks babies. Developing countries lose a lot of their newly-borns to this disease.

Breast milk also helps the child grow properly making him less prone to infections. The child will also be more intelligent because his being breast-fed allowed his brain to develop better.

As for the women, there is a link to diabetes and breast-feedings. Women who engage in breast-feeding their child will not have diabetes. While they're feeding their babies, they are lactating. Therefore, the hormones they release in this process protects her against anemia and cancer.

At a certain point in time, people come to realize that their lives can only gain meaning when they discover their true calling, through which they are able to help others. Life can not be solely defined by accumulation of wealth or achievement of self-motivated objectives. The full and true meaning of life can only be experienced by individuals when they finally realize that selflessness is the only thing that can make them happy.

Why Become a Volunteer for the American Diabetes Association?

We're not saying that being a volunteer for the American Diabetes Association will be more fulfilling than being a volunteer for another non-profit foundation. We're merely suggesting that you join the American Diabetes Association if you've had loved ones suffering from diabetes, and you had felt helpless because you're unable to make them feel better.

Also, if you have no preferences when it comes to what field or for what purpose would you like to be a volunteer in, you should then consider seriously joining the American Diabetes Association. Being a part of this organization will not only improve the quality of lives around you but yours as well.

A Brief History of the American Diabetes Association

The association's mission-vision is simple: cure, care, and commitment. The ADA made a lifelong commitment to providing care to diabetic individuals and finding an effective and permanent cure for the disease. The ADA extends its assistance not only to people diagnosed with diabetes but also to the generous and caring individuals who have freely given their time and love to attend to people with diabetes.

Founded n 1940, the American Diabetes Association is the organization with the most significant contribution in diabetic research next to the U.S. government, having donated over $200M already throughout the years. Its presence has been widely established across the United States with over 800 communities.

Why Is It Important to Help People with Diabetes

Shocking as this may be, diabetes actually kills more people every year than the mortality rate of AIDS and breast cancer combined. If early warnings and symptoms are not given the necessary attention and care, diabetes can lead to various medical complications, some of which are life-threatening. It has been estimated that approximately seven percent of the U.S. population are diabetic. Unfortunately, about one-third of this or around 6.2 million of these individuals continue with their lives without being aware of the dangerous state of their health.

The Responsibilities of Volunteers for the American Diabetes Association

An ADA volunteer has three primary responsibilities:

Extending Care - It's every volunteer's goal to provide as much care as possible, and of the best quality, to people diagnosed with diabetes

Eliminate Discrimination - Volunteers of the ADA strive to improve the outlook of society towards individuals with diabetes by getting rid of prejudices and misassumptions about the disease.

Social Involvement - Volunteers are not afraid to take a stand against any law-giving body or authority if the rights of diabetic patient are violated or if funding for diabetic research becomes insufficient

How to Become a Volunteer for the American Diabetes Association

The first thing you must do is register to become a Diabetes Advocate. You may do this online or better yet, find the nearest American Diabetes Association branch near your home and register there. Also, you can help the ADA simply by increasing people's awareness of the symptoms and risks of diabetes. Warning one person about diabetes is already one life saved.

Maternal diabetes or gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnancy is complicated by diabetes. Statistics show that 95% of mothers with diabetes depend highly on insulin. It also indicates diabetes can occur on different levels. One is when the mother is already diabetic even before the baby inside her was conceived. Another is when the mother develops diabetes while she is pregnant. When this happens, this is what is called gestational or maternal diabetes. Now some mothers stay diabetic even when they have already delivered their child but there are those who will later on become normal again.

Gestational diabetes occurs because the hormones during the pregnancy period were reduced due to the mother's dependence on insulin. Too much dependence on insulin can lead to an increase in blood sugar. Two to three percent soon-to-be mothers are affected by gestational diabetes.

Most of the time, these are mothers who

- have a family history of type 2 diabetes

- are older than the average maternal age. It's more risky the older the woman becomes

- are African-Americans, North American and Hispanics. These people have more chances getting gestational diabetes

- also experienced getting maternal diabetes before when they were also pregnant with another child

- have given birth to a child who weighed more than the average 9 pounds.

The point is any woman can get it. Be they old or young, Caucasian or Asian, there's no specific target. But the factors mentioned above show that these are the women who are most likely to have the disease. Gestational diabetes hits these women in the later stages of their pregnancy when the baby is already developed inside them.

There's no way to know for sure whether the woman is already experiencing gestational diabetes. But if she is always thirsty and always peeing, always tired, dizzy and vomits, has yeast infection and blurry vision, you must have a doctor tend to her.

Gestational diabetes normally occurs during the 24th until the 28th week of the pregnancy state. If the mother eats properly and exercises whenever she can, then the occurrence of maternal diabetes can be regulated and lessened. But if it is already there, then gestational diabetes may be treated with insulin.

Contemporary cases of gestational diabetes occurrence also show that not only does a mother's age have an effect but also the father's age. The older the father is, then the more possibility for the mom to have gestational diabetes when carrying the child.

It also shows that when the mother has an eating disorder or is not taking care of herself properly, then there's more chance for her to get maternal diabetes. Substance abuse and smoking are also risk factors that will not only harm the mother but the child as well.

The effects of incurring gestational diabetes during pregnancy is that the mother will most likely undergo a caesarian delivery. In worse cases, the baby has to be delivered earlier than the normal nine months and will have to be incubated instead. That's why gestational diabetes, when it occurs or has the possibility to occur, must be taken seriously.

Managing the proper lifestyle, exercising properly and regularly and taking in the right diet results to the safety of both mother and child during the pregnancy stage. There wouldn't be a problem with the hormones and gestational diabetes has less possibility of occurring.

Karen Newton is a registered nurse and acclaimed author with ov

Most people, when diagnosed with diabetes, go through at least one period of denial. Denial is a time when you do not believe that your diabetes will truly affect you. It is a time when you feel exempt from reality: “surely, not me!” Denial at a diabetes diagnosis is fairly common, and a normal part of dealing with the news. It is longstanding denial that can be dangerous to your health.

People choose denial for a variety of reasons. In some cases, it might seem easiest to ignore the problem so it will go away. In other cases, a person will be scared of the responsibility that diabetes brings. This might even occur later in their life when they get diabetes fatigue or burnout from caring for a condition day in and day out.

You might be in denial about your diabetes if you find yourself rationalizing things. When you rationalize, you try to make something seem like it is okay or fine. You might say to yourself, “one bite won’t hurt,” or “I can miss one day of exercise.” The reality is that these are just the things that can hurt you when you have diabetes, and they can lead to more fluctuations in your blood sugar, which in turn can lead to complications from your diabetes.

There are a few areas that diabetics are most likely to rationalize about. The two major points are diet and exercise. Without maintaining a healthy diet and exercise schedule, diabetics can put themselves at severe risk. Diabetics in denial can also avoid proper self-monitoring for blood glucose levels. You might feel that you no longer need to test your blood sugar because you will just know what your level is at by how you feel. Although you will get more adept at gauging your blood sugar independently, you can never stop testing, because many other factors influence the way you feel. You wouldn’t want your blood glucose to spike because you confused the beginnings of a cold with low blood sugar.

People with diabetes might also smoke and think that it will not affect their lives. The truth of the matter is that smoking will kill you if you have diabetes or not. If you have diabetes, it will increase your chance of complications. “Just one puff” is too much.

If you are in denial, you might think that your type 2 diabetes is not serious. If you feel that taking pills is less serious than injecting insulin, you might be right. This, however, is not a reason to neglect yourself, because not properly managing your type 2 diabetes can lead to insulin dependence.

Managing diabetes is a time consuming process. You need to check your feet for complications, as well as go to the doctor’s office more often. You might be jealous of your friends and family because they have much less responsibility for their health. This is not productive for you. Remember that taking care of your diabetes is actually time that you spend taking care of you. You can even reward yourself for positive diabetes management habits. Perhaps if you are diligent with your diet, exercise, and self-monitoring of blood glucose for a month, you will reward yourself with a massage, or a new shirt, or a new book.

There will be periods when you feel that managing your diabetes is out of your reach and not possible. This is not the case. You can manage your diabetes, and you can cope with it.

Write down your diabetes-related goals in a workbook. Having your goals written down will help you to achieve them. Chart your progress towards these goals. Often, the simple fact of knowing that you will write down your food at the end of the day makes you eat healthier so that you feel good about yourself when you write it down.

Tell your friends and family about your diabetes. Explain to them that encouraging you to go off your diet and exercise is not helpful, and help them understand the consequences that can occur. If your friends and family know about your diabetes, they will be able to help you stick to your healthy habits.

You can get over periods of denial about diabetes. Your diabetes management will help prevent complications and will allow you to lead a long and fulfilling life.

The quest for an effective and lifelong cure for diabetes is still ongoing. Although there has been significant advancement and improvement in providing a medicinal solution for the disease, such treatments are still unable to stop diabetes from taking one life after the other every year.

At the present, the best hope people has is the detection of signs and symptoms of the disease as early as possible in order to thoroughly manage diabetes while it still hasn't affected much of an individual's health. One such way is by using berberine.

What is Berberine?

With a bright yellow color, berberine can be easily found unlike other herbs. Mostly, it can be obtained through Chinese herbs such as phellodendron and coptis. Originally used as a dye, berberine has been discovered to have certain ingredients that may be effective in treating diabetes. Berberine can be also found in the Japanese plant barberry. Nowadays, berberine is a common ingredient in herbal medicine used for treating intestinal disorders.

In 1995, a study in China was conducted in order to discover if berberine had curative benefits for diabetes. It was only by fortuitous circumstances that the researchers have found out that berberine can also cause blood glucose levels to decrease when used to treat diabetic individuals with diarrhea.

Berberine has also been found by other studies able to help individuals lose weight. Another possible benefit of berberine is the lack of side effects, although this claim requires further proof. Individuals with Type II Diabetes should be glad to hear this as many of them are unable to tolerate present treatments for their condition.

One particular kind of berberine, or alkaloid berberine to be specific, is being presently investigated regarding its therapeutic components. Recent studies have found proof of alkaloid berberine being able to successfully treat hypoglycemia. An abnormally low level of blood sugar or hypoglycemia is a somewhat common side-effect of several diabetic medications.

What You Should Know about Diabetes

If you already know you've diabetes, the news about berberine has surely made your day. On the other hand, if you aren't sure if you have diabetes or not, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible with your physician. Diabetes is the type of disease that grows uglier the longer it's ignored.

The first thing you should be aware about is its symptoms:

Liquid In, Liquid Out - Do you notice that you're urinating more often than usual? Are you feeling more thirty than usual? If so, you should know that such feelings are considered indications of diabetes.

Weight - Do you feel hungry all the time? Do you seem to be losing weight for no reason at all? Such occurrences are also considered as warning signs of diabetes.

Bad Mood - Do you feel easily tired? Were you once good-natured but became easily irritated all of the sudden? If you're not suffering from PMS or heartbreak, it's possible that you already have diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes

Lots of people believe that eating too much sweets or sugary foods is the main cause of diabetes. This claim however has been proven false. Sweets can lead to obesity, however, and obesity can lead to Type II diabetes.

No one really knows for sure why some people become diabetic while some do not. That's why all of us are at risk and it's in our interests to have a general check-up regularly. Forearmed, after all, is forewarned.

Discovering you have type 2 diabetes is a life-changing experience. It can be a life-change that is good or it can be disastrous. And popping pills to control your diabetes may not be the answer, but, it's up to you. Let me explain...

The majority of newly diagnosed people have type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle is believed to contribute hugely to the development of this type of diabetes; the wrong lifestyle for your body. Eating the wrong foods - and often too much; a sedentary lifestyle - too much sitting around at a desk, watching TV or sitting at a computer or just general inactivity all contributes. Your body loses the battle to keep your blood-sugars at a safe level for you and you develop insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes.

Drastic life-saving changes are needed. So what do we do? 'Pop a pill' and carry on (almost) as before. Sure you might make some token changes, like not eating so many cakes, sweets and biscuits. Or you might cut down on the sugary drinks.

But, for the vast majority of us, that's about as far as it goes.

And that's not good news for our health.

How do I know this?

Because I have type 2 diabetes - diagnosed in 1982.

But I wasn't particularly overweight and I did have a reasonable amount of physical activity in my daily life. So I followed the (then) current expert thinking on the 'ideal diabetic diet', which included a high proportion of high-complex-carbohydrate foods, such as potato, bread and pasta. I didn't make the connection between this type of diet and my constant high blood-sugars.

So I popped the pills prescribed and avoided the obvious sugar-laden enemies; cakes, sweets and sugary treats.

So where's the problem?

The problem is the constant underlying, grinding effect of continuing the wrong lifestyle and eating habits and the consequences it generates. My condition very gradually, almost insidiously, got worse. Yet I was following the eating guidelines I'd been given.

You see, taking drugs to control your diabetes, instead of changing your eating pattern and lifestyle can create an extreme yo-yo effect on your blood-sugars. It did for me. I ranged from a high of 17.6 mmol/l to 2.8 mmol/l (the safe range is between 4mmol/l and 7mmol/l).

And I had no idea of what was happening between my own blood testing sessions - but the overall effect on my HbA1C was not good. Keeping within the 'safe range', for me, was a nigh-on impossibility.

But that was OK, as my overall condition got worse I was prescribed more medication to try to keep my HbA1c levels in control - more pills! Until I reached the stage where the only way forward, if I was to continue using medication to control my sugar-levels, was to go onto insulin injections.

That's when I decided to take proper control of my type 2 diabetes and find out more about it and what it was doing to me.

Is diabetes more likely to be caused by your genes or your environment? A study from the University of Wisconsin shows that Pima Indians in America are more than five times more likely to develop diabetes than their relatives in Mexico (Diabetes Care, August 2006). Pima Indians in Arizona have been shown by DNA typing to be very closely related to Pima Indians in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. However, only 8.9 percent of Mexican Pimas developed diabetes, compared to 38 percent of those in the United States.

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, but both populations were similarly obese. About eight percent of the Pima men and 20 percent the Pima women suffered from obesity. However, the Mexican Pimas were far more active than the American ones and ate far fewer refined carbohydrates. This study show that diabetes is more an environmental disease than just a genetic one. Your genes determine how you respond to the environment. Since this study agrees with hundreds of others, everyone should exercise and limit refined carbohydrates such as flour and sugar, whether or not there is a family history of diabetes.

Another recent study shows that the best predictor of diabetes is a test called Hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C), which measures the amount of sugar stuck on cell membranes. At the American Diabetes Association meeting in June 2006, Dr. Peter Baginsky of Santa Rosa, California showed that HBA1C can be used not only to identify people who already have diabetes, but also as a screening test to predict which people are likely to develop diabetes in the future. This allows doctors to treat pre-diabetes before people suffer their heart attacks, strokes and other side effects that can be the first sign that the person has diabetes.

He also showed that people who have HBA1Cs above 5.8 have a 92 percent chance of being diabetic as determined by a fasting glucose tolerance test. The HBA1C test does not require fasting and can be done with only one draw of blood, while the glucose tolerance test takes seven. It is less expensive and has the potential to save a lot of lives by getting diabetics into treatment earlier

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is not the end of the world. Today one fifth of the world’s population has been diagnosed with diabetes, this being more so in developed countries. In the United States alone, more than twenty million cases of diabetes have been diagnosed. Your first thought after hearing of your diagnosis may have been that you cannot live with the condition. However, please understand that diabetes is quite manageable.

Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, try to identify a doctor who that you want to care for you for the rest of your life. You cannot do away with diabetes. You face it and begin learning to live with it. You doctor will very likely recommend a glucose meter and strips for carrying out your regular blood sugar testing. It is possible that Medicare or other insurance may cover your glucose meter and strips. You may be reimbursed by the policy for the cost.

The first thing that you need to plan on doing is getting regular exercise. Walking is the most preferred form. If have leg problems, a nice alternative is swimming. If you are offered the choice of taking the stairs or the elevator, then opt for the stairs and burn some calories.

The second most important thing that you need to do is eat less. Remember that you will be able have better control of your diabetes if you are within your weight limits. Most diabetic patients are over weight. Cut down on weight and half your problems are solved, not to mention that you will look healthier with less flab. The best foods are barley and brown bread. Learn to keep a tab of what you eat and what you could avoid eating. Do a home blood glucose test after a meal to check how your blood is affected. If your glucose levels are high then avoid the particular dish causing the increase.

For the first time since insulin started being developed to treat diabetes 80 years ago, a new medical breakthrough in insulin administration will allow adult diabetics to deliver their insulin a very different way.

Exubera is rapid acting meal time insulin that was recently approved by the FDA. It comes is powdered form and can be inhaled through the mouth. Exubera will not completely replace insulin shots (some diabetics may still need shots of long acting insulin), but it will definitely take many of the hassles of taking several insulin shots on a daily basis away and help those with fear of needles keep their blood glucose levels under control with more convenience and ease of mind.

In deciding whether you should Exubera or not, you should consider the following factors: If you smoke or have recently quit smoking within the last six months, have lung disease, bronchitis, asthma or emphysema, you should not take Exubera. If you are under the age of 18, Exubera is not available for you, as more testing is being done on the effects of inhaled insulin in children.

Using Exubera

Exubera comes in powdered form. You insert a blister pack into an inhaler that releases the insulin and is inhaled through the mouth by taking a normal breath. The dose should be taken approximately 10 minutes before eating.

If Exubera is right for you and you decide to try it out, your healthcare provider will be able to fully train you on using the inhaler and delivering the insulin.

Side Effects

There are some side effects of this medicine that you should be aware of, and the most common is low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Other side effects include a decrease in lung capacity, a sore throat, cough, dry mouth, chest discomfort and ear pain. If you get these or other unusual side effects, contact your health care professional immediately.

Conclusion

Exubera is without a doubt a huge medical breakthrough in the development of insulin delivery and the overall success of diabetes management. Although this product is not for everyone and it does not completely replace insulin shots, it is definitely a step in the right direction that will help many diabetics control the blood glucose levels and live healthier, happier lives

Diet is the cornerstone of your diabetic treatment; let it not become the headstone! I might sound rude to you for passing on this sort of crude observation, but in the interest of your health and well-being, I feel it as my utmost duty to forewarn you!

It sets the diabetes man thinking-each spoon of liquid that he sips, each ounce of food that he offers to the taste buds-what will be the result when it goes to the stomach? He lives in a state of fear psychosis. Food is the necessary evil for him, for his existence, not a source of enjoyment!

The diabetes man needs to budget his day according to his food requirements. You are advised to take small quantities of food at periodic intervals, than take two heavy meals. Be flexible in this and do it as per yours lifestyle. Don't take food as a punishment. Enjoy it, every particle of it. It is your food for both-your mind and body!

The population of diabetes patients is awesome. They are a pressure group, a lobby and influence the decision of the policy makers. There are statutory rules governing food and consumer items for the diabetes patients that help them in selecting foods for a healthy meal plan.

Food guides, food labels for identifying the food choice, information about dietary supplements, what foods to be used by the weight loss seeking people, are available in plenty in the health market concerning diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious type of disease, often warranting utmost care, for many of its 'tribesmen'. Its valiant supporters are waiting in the wings to attack and overpower you! To name a few of them: Heart diseases, certain types of cancer and osteoporosis. These diseases believe in giving two types of punishments to the diabetes patient-serious types of disability and death.

So, the diabetes patients need to be fully armed with complete information about diabetes, their present state of health and lay down for themselves, unassailable rules for living. Your paramount aim should be to maintain an optimum, healthy weight. Secondly, don't be lazy, lying down on the couch, relaxing on the bed. This extra rest that you are forcing on yourself may ruin your health. As for the food, take plenty of fruits and vegetables. Let sprouted pulses be the part of your diet. You must have the up-to-date nutrition information based on the latest research reports. I presume you must be getting a news letter from a diabetic association of which you are a member.

If your child has diabetes, it is probably type 1 diabetes, which means that your child is insulin-dependent. Even if your child has type 2 diabetes, you will want to tell the school so that your child is supported during their learning process. You want your child to get the most of their education, and that means helping to make sure that your child gets the proper care at school.

1. Meet with the School

You will want to have a meeting with your child’s teacher, every year. This will probably take about 30 minutes to an hour to discuss the teacher’s questions and your child’s needs. Bring along information about diabetes. There are even pamphlets on diabetes aimed at teachers that you can bring with you.

Your child’s teacher is going to wonder, “Do I have to give insulin treatments?” The answer is that no, teachers are not responsible for giving injections. Many children manage their diabetes without ever getting insulin injections at school. Others get their injections at school, and are supervised by the teacher while they do this.

Help the teacher understand the blood glucose monitoring system that your child uses. It might be helpful to create a chart that explains what the different levels of blood glucose are, and what action should be taken for each one.

It is important to determine what policies the school has in place for diabetics. If there are no pre-existing policies, you can help your child’s school create thoughtful and inclusive policies.

2. Ally yourself with the Teacher

Especially with younger school-aged children, they might not understand the importance of eating their regular snacks. Ask the teacher to help remind your child to eat these snacks.

Your child’s teacher is the best person to observe your child during the day. A common occurrence for children with diabetes is that they develop low blood sugar before lunch. Have the teacher monitor your child to see if there are patterns of lethargy that should be noted and altered (possibly with an extra snack). The teacher can help remind the child to do blood testing as well.

3. Prepare your child

Before your child goes to school, be sure that they understand diabetes. You will want them to know what their responsibilities are.

Remember that as your child grows up, you are transferring the responsibility of monitoring and regulating their own blood sugar from your hands to their hands. During this transition period, you might find that your child makes a mistake, and occasionally misses snacks. This is a normal part of the growing up experience. Help your child overcome these mistakes, but allow your child to make these mistakes in the first place.

Consider getting a medic alert bracelet for your child, or similar piece of identification that explains that they have diabetes so that emergencies can be averted or cared for properly.

4. Help pack the lunch.

When your child is young, you will probably be the one packing their lunch to take to school. Be sure to pack extra snacks in case your child gets low blood sugar at school. Or leave some extra snacks with the teacher if you are worried that your child would eat them all at once. Pack some snacks that are quick to eat, such as carrot sticks instead of an apple, so that your child won’t have to