Welcome to Diabetes | Diabetes Information | Diabetes Risks, Symptoms,Causes, Diagnosis,and Treatment


Thursday, April 19, 2007

Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels

You find out that you suffer from diabetes. It is a tough blow because once you develop this disease it is with you for life. There is no cure though it can be kept totally under control with proper diet, medication, and good exercise. Diabetes is a disease by which your body does not produce sufficient insulin (produced by the pancreas) to break up the sugar in the blood, causing it to accumulate. Lack of assimilation of glucose from the blood will result in many symptoms, such as constant fatigue, continuous thirst and hunger, loss of weight and so on.

There are only two ways to fight this disease: Increase the insulin in he body with the help of injections and other medications, and control the intake of sugar to prevent its build up in the blood. When you are diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes blood sugar level will be measured through a blood test specially prescribed for this purpose. Subsequently, you can do this test in the safety of your home with the help of the glucose meter kits that are available for this purpose.

The doctor will have advised how to use this tool to measure the diabetes blood sugar level, and you can also read carefully the instructions that come with the kit. The process is simple and can be done by absolutely any adult. The following steps will be needed to measure your diabetes blood sugar level at home:

clean your hands by washing them for at least 3-4 minutes under running water clean the area that you want to prick with a pad wet with surgical spirit. Most of the glucose meters will need blood from the finger tip; in rare cases you can also get blood from the forearm, palm or any other fleshy part of your body. when you prick a finger, do not do it the standard way – on the pad – but do it on the side; this will be less painful once you finished pricking, collect a drop of blood on the glucose meter the meter will almost immediately show you what diabetes blood sugar level you have

Once you have the reading, follow the instructions of the doctor carefully. In case of any doubts, get in touch with your closest diabetes center or your medical practitioner for furthe

Diabetes - What Is Type 1 Diabe

Type 1 Diabetes is an auto immune disease that destroys the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes because it usually struck people under 20. In type 1 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas produce little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter body cells. Once glucose enters a cell, it is used as fuel.

Type 1 Diabetes is largely inherited.

Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, leading to increased hunger.

In addition, the high levels of glucose in the blood causes the patient to urinate more, which in turn causes excessive thirst. Within 5 to 10 years after diagnosis, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed, and no more insulin is produced making people with type 1 insulin dependent.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts in people younger than 30. Symptoms are usually severe and occur rapidly.

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 3% of all new cases of diabetes each year. There is 1 new case per every 7,000 children per year. New cases are less common among adults older than 20.

The result is Type 1 Diabetics are hungry all the time trying to make up for the shortfall of insulin. Amazingly though since the body cannot process the nutrients weight loss is symptomatic along with extreme thirst and excessive urination. The kidneys try to process the excess glucose to balance things out. Weakness is another symptom.

Should You Be Worried About Diabetes and Hypertension

Though not commonly considered, there is a direct link between diabetes and hypertension. Many overlook this fact, because they believe the two to be unrelated. After all, diabetes deals with blood sugar levels and hypertension deals with blood pressure. This misconception is quite false, however. There is an easily proven, easily seen correlation between diabetes and hypertension. It is important to understand this in order to maintain your highest degree of health when faced with either or both of these conditions.

The link between them, to simply explain it, is this: when your body produces more insulin than normal, it can effect certain key points, such as blood vessels found in the kidneys. These vessels can expand with the insulin and begin to retain salt. Your kidneys can malfunction with that. Also, diabetes can cause the vessels to harden. This restricts the flow of fluids and causes blood pressure to rise, resulting in hypertension.

As shown above, having diabetes puts you at high risk for developing hypertension. Hypertension is twice as likely to occur in individuals with diabetes than those without and it will develop in over sixty percent of people with Type II diabetes.

Because of this, it is essential that you understand how to avoid hypertension. Diabetes takes enough of a toll on your body without adding these serious effects. Together, diabetes and hypertension can raise the risk for heart attack, kidney malfunction, heart failure and more. So you must learn the steps to take to avoid hypertension. Discuss this with your doctor and also note some of the basic lifestyle changes listed below:

One: lower your blood pressure with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Meat and dairy products can raise your pressure levels. Try to substitute them with a vegetarian diet. While you do not have to completely cut meat and dairy products out entirely, you should to eat them moderation.

Two: exercise. The easiest way to keep both your blood pressure down and also maintain a healthy insulin level is to exercise. Consult with your doctor to discover your healthy bodyweight and then take the steps to achieve it. Steady, daily exercise will do much for your body.

Three: medication. There are some medications available that could help keep your blood pressure in check. You must, of course, make sure that these will not combat against any other medicine you are taking. Your doctor will be able to prescribe them to you and explain just what they do.

Diabetes and hypertension are related. Yes, it is possible to have one without the other and, yes, there are certainly millions of people who do. That does not change the fact, however, that you are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure when you have diabetes.

It cannot be stressed enough that diabetes and hypertension are linked together and you it pays to do everything you can to stop them both from forming in your body. Of course, some may suggest different types of therapy, along with the lifestyle changes we mentioned above. Techniques such as color therapy are quite popular these days and have sparked much debate over their efficacy. Should you decide to try these methods to replace or compliment your other efforts, it is important to understand the way they work, and to consult with your doctor.

Anyone Have a Pail for My Soda?

More and more and more soda please.

How come we are getting bigger and bigger? I am referring to our girth. Diabetes in teenagers is reaching epidemic proportions. Diabetes is on the rise in our culture. Do you think soda may have something to do with it? Take a look in the soda aisle of the supermarket to get a sense as to how much of this drink is consumed.

You have seen this before? I know you have.

Lunch time is the right time to super duper enormous size your meal. Hey why not? You only pay a little more money and you get so much more stuff. More potatoes and a mini vat of soda. Just what you needed. Some of those soda vats need two hands to lift.

Here is the con. Can you see it coming?

You just purchased a jumbo glass of soda with your meal. You paid the few extra cents to have the pleasure of carting this huge plastic container of liquid to your table. After sitting and eating part of your lunch you get up to refill your pail of soda. But wait. Couldn't you have bought the smallest glass of soda and refill it anyway for free. You would have paid less money. So maybe you would have made three trips to the fountain instead of two because you got a smaller glass instead of the pail of soda.

So here is the question. Do you think the advertisers know something? Like we do not want to get up during our meal? Or maybe, that we can get a huge amount of extra liquid at no cost? What’s the difference if all the extra soda is for free anyway? Maybe the advertisers know that we will not want to get up during our meals.

Any way you drink it, the end result is that more and more people are diabetic in this country and around the world.

More soda equals potentially more diabetes and other problems. These fast food restaurants are giving the beverage away to lure you and me into their stores. It is such a bargain and who doesn't like a sale?

The irony of it all is that many teenagers are overweight and either pre diabetic or diabetic. And the number of those afflicted with this illness is on the rise. What do we really expect when we pump them up with sugar water? This diabetes disease is getting out of control.

Hopefully this article made some sense and your view about soda and super sizing meals hits home for you. I am not saying that soda is the only reason we are gaining weight and becoming diabetic. I am saying that the huge sodas are part of the problem.

7 Natural Ways To stop Diabetes Sickness From Killing You!

What is Diabetes? In a simple way, Diabetes is the formation of excess Sugar in the body and this can easily disallow the pancreas from functioning well.

Today, many people like eating sweet things and our body does not require this all the time. Everything we do in life requires moderation. The eating of all these sweet products like sugar, drinks and pastry foods accumulates excessive sugar contents in our body. as a result if we want to live long, we have to reduce it's intake to the barest minimum or run away from them entirely if possible.

What can I do to avoid diabetes?

(a) Run away from pastry products like pof-pof, burns etc (b) Avoid drinking alcohol excessively (c) Form the habit of eating food cooked with BEANS five times a week and do not add sugar (d) Make sure your diet is a balanced type (e) Drink more than 4 cups of water a day (f) Do regular walk in the evenings or do some early runs in the mornings (g) Finally, visit your Medical Doctor for regular check-ups and advise

I will like you to try these 7ways mentioned in this article. I am sure it will disallow your health from been attack from diabetes the killer disease.

Have a healthy week and years ahead.

Take care, Femi DUROTOYE

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

6 Tips on How to Beat Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes is the most common kind, it affects more than 90 percent of diabetics. This kind usually hits around age 50 to 60 as people get older and fatter. In disparity to type 1 diabetics, the majority of adult-onset diabetics have plenty of insulin in their bodies. However, something blocks the insulin so it cannot do its job correctly.

Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that enables body cells to use glucose and controls blood sugar levels. However, most of the time the problem in type II diabetes is not a defective pancreas, but a lack of sensitivity to insulin. This resistance of the cells to insulin appears to transmit directly to obesity and to a surplus of fat in the diet and perhaps in the liver.

Studies reveal a strong association to fat - both fats in the diet and on the body. This disease is rarely found in areas of the world where fat ingestion is low and obesity rare. The main villain is the enormous amount of fat in our diet.

Type II diabetes is a chief cause of new blindness, foot and leg amputations, and hearing impairment. The most horrible part is that many people suffer unnecessarily. Here are 6 tips that can help beat this devastating disease:

1. Eat more natural foods rich in fiber, simply prepared, low in fat, grease and sugar. Eat a lot of whole-grain products like legumes, salads and vegetables. Eat a big breakfast daily - a hot multi grain cereal will keep you full for hours and keep your blood sugar level from going up and down.

2. Eat fresh whole fruits; do not go over three servings a day if you are a diabetic.

3. Avoid refined foods at all costs. They are usually high in fat and loaded with sugar, and also low in fiber.

4. Reduce fats, oils, and grease. Use animal products in moderation, and avoid oily and creamy dressings and sauces. When less fat is eaten, less fat reaches the bloodstream and the liver.

5. Walk 30 minutes to 1 hour each day. Walking everyday is beneficial to help burn up the extra sugar in your blood.

6. Work with your physician closely to monitor your dietary needs.

In America a new diabetic is discovered every 50 seconds. The earlier this disease is discovered, the more likely these lifestyle changes are going to be effective.

It is very important for you to follow up with your physician before applying these tips if you already have this ailment. Remember, many people are beating type II diabetes. They are normalizing their blood sugars and getting off medication by making healthy lifestyle changes.

What Causes Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels. The hormone insulin is responsible for converting the sugar level or glucose in blood into energy for the body to use as it sees fit. Insulin uses the glucose and hence reduces the blood sugar level. Excessive blood sugar can have serious consequences to the health. Thus diabetes is a disease that interferes with the bodies ability to process sugar by impeding or destroying the ability of insulin to work in the body. A person with diabetes can suffer from many ancillary diseases that are a consequence of diabetes. One such disease is known as diabetic retinopathy. This article will discuss diabetic retinopathy and it's causes.

Diabetic retinopathy, as the name suggests affects the retina and the ability of the eyes to function normally. It is often a consequence of having diabetes over a long period of time. It is usually very hard to detect by the individual until the condition has taken hold so diabetics are always advised to get their eyes checked on a regular basis.

High sugar levels in the blood are thought to damage blood vessels over time. This damage is particularly evident in the extremities of the body like the feet or on thin blood vessels that can be found around the retina of the eye.

Over time micro aneurysms will occur on the retina's blood vessels. These are weaknesses in the walls of the blood vessels that cause the vessel to balloon out in certain areas. These aneurysms are prone to burst because they are thinner and weaker. Blood vessels around the retina also become blocked. As more become blocked the retina becomes starved of blood and more blood vessels grow in response to this. These new blood vessels are thin and weak too.

As diabetic retinopathy becomes more entrenched it enters a phase termed proliferative retinopathy. At this stage the weakened and new blood vessels can leak blood into the vitreous humor or solution that is in the eye. Depending on how severe this leakage is the sufferer can experience vision loss or blindness.

Prevention or management of the disease is better than any treatment. The best way to prevent or at least manage the condition is to keep blood sugar levels at a normal level as much as possible. Commonly this involves eating the correct foods and plenty of exercise. As many diabetics are likely to suffer from diabetic retinopathy it is also a good idea to get eye check ups regularly so that the condition of the blood vessels around the retina can be monitored.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy involve laser surgery that aims to shrink or seal blood vessels around the retina but this can only stop the condition worsening. If vision loss has already occurred this vision will be lost for good.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the more common diseases that will affect anybody that has been a diabetic for any length of time. It is, effectively, blood leaking into the eye which causes the eye to malfunction and loss of vision. By living a healthier lifestyle and consistently monitoring the condition of the eyes, diabetic retinopathy can be minimized and treated.

How Can You Possibly Reverse Diabetes Naturally?

In my current job in the health field industry, I have noticed a drastic increase in the number of individuals who have Diabetes. Even more alarming is that children are developing diabetes in greater volumes as well.

Diabetes Mellitus results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels or when cells in the body don’t respond appropriately to insulin.

People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes) produce little or no insulin at all. In contrast, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes), the pancreas continues to manufacture insulin, sometimes even at higher than normal levels. However, the body develops resistance to its effects and the sugar in the blood does not enter the cells as well as it should, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetes usually begins after age 30 and becomes progressively more common with age.

Research indicates that overweight people who have Diabetes suffer from a biological imbalance involving insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use and conserve food energy in several ways: insulin tells your body when to eat, Insulin delivers food energy to wherever the body needs it, Insulin also commands the body to save food energy stored in fat cells for a time when no food is available. Many people produce so much insulin that their bodies are unable to absorb it all. The result of this is an excess of insulin in their bloodstreams. This imbalance leads to a cycle in which they experience overpowering cravings for carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, and snack foods. The more carbohydrates that are consumed, the greater the amount of insulin the body releases. Fortunately carbohydrate addiction and insulin imbalance can be reversed so that you can lose weight and be healthy the rest of your life-without feeling deprived or struggling to manage your eating patterns.

Check out the website in the resource box concerning more on Diabetes and weight loss. To help reverse Diabetes naturally you must eliminate or reduce sugar, fructose, corn syrup, white bread, and maple sugar. People who regularly drink sugar-sweetened beverages are at a high risk for both Diabetes and Obesity.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of this publication based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher isn’t responsible for errors or omissions. The Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products aren’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Prediabetes – An Introduction to This Lesser Known Disease

Prediabetes is a lesser known condition than diabetes, but it requires many of the same lifestyle changes as a diabetes diagnosis itself. It basically means that your body has begun to lose the ability to take sugars into body cells for energy. By the time an individual reaches the level of impairment considered to be diabetes, it is pretty serious.

Prediabetes is less severe, but it tells you that you will develop diabetes if you continue on your current lifestyle path. If your doctor has diagnosed you with prediabetes, consider yourself lucky. If you take prediabetes seriously and make changes in your health habits, you will be able to reverse the trend and avoid eventual diabetes. Make the effort now to avoid even bigger complications in the future!

The first step that you should take is to follow your doctor’s instructions after he or she has diagnosed you with prediabetes. Depending on how close you are to already having diabetes, you may need to check your blood sugar, take medications, and/or change your eating habits. Follow these instructions to the letter, and ask immediately if there is something that you don’t understand.

After instituting the changes ordered by your doctor, there are two more very important things that you need to do in order to avoid developing diabetes. These “miracle” actions are losing weight and getting regular physical activity. Both weight loss and physical activity have been proven to help people reverse the dangerous trend that has begun with prediabetes. Your body can begin to recover its ability to digest and use sugars for energy!

For some people, beginning a weight loss and exercise program can be very intimidating. It doesn’t have to be scary, though. Take it one step at a time! If you are not sure what level of exercise you can safely do, ask your doctor before you start. Your physical activity does not have to be strenuous (like running ten miles a day), but it does need to be regular. Walking is a fantastic start for a lot of people. It is relaxing, easy to do anywhere, and can really burn a lot of calories. If you prefer dancing, swimming, basketball, or any other way to get yourself moving, then that is great. Choose something you enjoy so that it won’t be hard to continue with it several times a week.

The physical activity will, of course, help you to lose weight. To help with your weight loss, you may also try to eat smaller portions of the foods you eat throughout the day. Adding in several servings of fruits and vegetables will help as well.

Take the time to take care of yourself now! You can reverse the trend!

Possible Herbal Treatments For Diabetes

Many people are turning to herbal remedies for the treatments of diseases. The reason for this is natural herbs have less side effects that traditional prescription medicine. There are vast variety of herbs for every medical condition. Before trying any type of herbal supplement, talk with your doctor. Some herbs may have in interaction with medications that you may be on. If you start an herbal treatment for your diabetes, monitor you blood sugar levels frequently. There are many types of herbs for the treatment of diabetes. Some work better than others and what works for one person may not work for you. Do your research and talk with a holistic healer or herbalist. This article is going to list a few of the herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes:

Garlic and onions are best known for their cardiovascular benefits, however a few studies have shown that they can be beneficial in lowering blood glucose levels. Onions can increase the production of insulin in your body, which will lower high glucose levels in your blood.

Bitter melon has long been used for it's glucose lowering properties. It must be taken in small doses however, because larger doses can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Aloe Vera has been called the healing herb. It is known for it's ability to treat burns and cuts.But the dried sap and gel taken from the inner portion of the leaves have been effective in treating diabetes.

Asian ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has long been used in the treatment of diabetes. Asian ginseng can increase the release of insulin from the pancreas and enhance the function of insulin receptors.

Gymnema is an Ayurvedic herb that has been shown to help the pancreas produce insulin. It has been beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

Stevia has long been used to lower blood glucose levels. It has had animal studies but has not undergone any human trials.

Cinnamon bark will make fat cells more accessible to insulin. It blocks the formation of dangerous free radicals and increases the conversation rate of glucose to energy.

These are just a few of the herbs used to treat diabetes. You must remember, that just because you can buy it over the counter does not mean that it is completely safe. People with renal disease or liver disease are at a higher risk for complications. If you are on blood thinning medicines be aware that taking ginkgo, ginseng and garlic will increase your risk for bleeding.

Do not take extra doses of the herbs thinking that more is better. It can actually do more harm than good. Monitor your blood sugar frequently and keep your doctor informed of what you are doing. If you find the right herb that works for you, prescription medication for your diabetes may become a thing of the past!