Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 54 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes.

The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

There is also pre-diabetes which is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms may vary from person to person but most of the time anyone with diabetes will experience some or all of these symptoms. Some symptoms are: going to the restroom more often, staying thirsty, fatigue, blurred vision, stomach pain and occasionally people suffer from weight loss.

Type 1 diabetes is normally only found in children and type 2 diabetes is found mostly in adults but not always. There are some cases where children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some people may be diagnosed with being borderline diabetic, which normally ends up turning into full blown diabetes but not always.

Some of the most important things people with diabetes should know is a healthy, nutritional diet and a regular exercise program can help in treating the disease. Speak with your doctor about what kind of diet you should consider following, along with a moderate exercise program. The doctor or a nutritionist should be able to tell you exactly what kinds of foods you should be avoiding and give you some tips on how much exercise you need every week. Doing this has many health benefits and will also make you feel so much better about yourself.

You should know the truth about some of the most common myths about diabetes. Myth #1 You can catch diabetes from someone else. No. Although we don't know exactly why some people develop diabetes, we know diabetes is not contagious. It can't be caught like a cold or flu. There seems to be some genetic link in diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle factors also play a part.

Myth #2 People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate. If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more "off limits" to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #3 Eating too much sugar causes diabetes. No. Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. However, being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.

Myth #4 People with diabetes should eat special diabetic foods. A healthy meal plan for people with diabetes is the same as that for everyone – low in fat (especially saturated and trans fat), moderate in salt and sugar, with meals based on whole grain foods, vegetables and fruit. Diabetic and "dietetic" versions of sugar-containing foods offer no special benefit. They still raise blood glucose levels, are usually more expensive and can also have a laxative effect if they contain sugar alcohols.

Myth #5 If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta. Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut healthy.

Myth #6 People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses. No. You are no more likely to get a cold or another illness if you have diabetes. However, people with diabetes are advised to get flu shots. This is because any infection interferes with your blood glucose management, putting you at risk of high blood glucose levels and, for those with type 1 diabetes, an increased risk of ketoacidosis.

Myth #7 Insulin causes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure. No, insulin does not cause atherosclerosis. In the laboratory, there is evidence that insulin can initiate some of the early processes associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, some physicians were fearful that insulin might aggravate the development of high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. But it doesn't.

Myth #8 Insulin causes weight gain, and because obesity is bad for you, insulin should not be taken. Both the UKPDS (United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study) and the DCCT (Diabetes Control & Complications Trial) have shown that the benefit of glucose management with insulin far outweighs (no pun intended) the risk of weight gain.

Myth #9 Fruit is a healthy food. Therefore, it is ok to eat as much of it as you wish. Fruit is a healthy food. It contains fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals. Because fruit contains carbohydrate, it needs to be included in your meal plan. Talk to your dietitian about the amount, frequency and types of fruits you should eat.

Myth #10 You don't need to change your diabetes regimen unless your A1C is greater than 8 percent. The better your glucose control, the less likely you are to develop complications of diabetes. An A1C in the sevens (7s), however, does not represent good control. The ADA goal is less than 7 percent. The closer your A1C is to the normal range (less than 6 percent), the lower your chances of complications. However, you increase your risk of hypoglycemia, especially if you have type 1 diabetes. Talk with your health care provider about the best goal for you.

There is no cure right now for diabetes but there are several different forms of treatment available for you. Do not give up hope on feeling better and living a long, healthy, happy life. Even if you are one of the many that has been diagnosed with this disease, it does not mean that your life as you know it is over. It simply means you may need medication and you will have to consider certain lifestyle changes that will have an amazing outcome once you have done so. There are many other treatment options that could eventually be available to you but are currently undergoing more detailed research.

The diabetic is something very interesting to decipher. The old quote, "you will never know someone unless the shoe is on the other foot" comes into mind. What IS that diabetic thinking about? Most likely, it's his/her blood sugar. In fact, even though they don't know it, a diabetic is thinking about his blood sugar until he sleeps. Hey, I'm a diabetic and I'm thinking whether I'll go low in my sleep as i type this.

The parents, the relatives, everyone that the diabetic cares about, they will never understand why some of us don't take out blood sugar. Or do the whole "put the code checker's fluid in the strip" trick. Don't worry diabetics. I feel that it is only natural. one can only endure so much until they crumble. It's the way of life.

Most diabetics can handle it. Some of us cannot. But does that make us less of a diabetic than them? I hypothesize as a diabetic that their aren't any bad or good diabetics, more so that there are some diabetics better suited for the fight. The mind of a diabetic is extremely different then one that is not. If someone that was not diabetic someone who was were sitting at the same table with food at sight, the one without diabetes would tear in at will. Us, as a diabetic species, would start calculating(then again, if it was only meat there would be nothing to count). We certainly have to think about food choices.

Then there is the friends, and the parents. I already know that it has happened at least a thousand times. The, "you can't eat that!" or "Won't you die if you eat that?". Oh and this one tickles me. The "That has sugar in it!, and,"No he needs sugar...right?". The doctors and nurses expect for you to be open with your diabetes. Yet there are so many people that are unaware of the condition. And it will tear into a diabetics heart when he/she hears that, or they say such things at outings. Who do we have to blame for it?

So are the expectations of a diabetic too high? What is the truth of a diabetic? This is only one of many views. There may be a diabetic right now saying, "that is not like me. I am responsible diabetic," He/She may test 10 times instead of 6-7, using the pump. keeping up with his numbers and writing them down.

Then there is that diabetic. He isn't keeping up with his numbers too great. But he does take his blood sugar when needed, and takes insulin when administered. He sometimes exercises and keeps up with life. That...would be me! Though the truth of ALL diabetics is unknown, we all know one thing. As such, it isn't proven that there is a perfect being; there is no such thing as a perfect diabetic.

We may be different in thought, eating habits, and of course the fact that our pancreas, doesn't function correctly, but in the end, as diabetics, it has always been our duty to show the world, that you can eat that piece of cake. Or that you can chomp on hard candy. And not because you are low, because you ARE diabetic...and keeping it REAL!

Diabetes in pregnancy is known as Gestational Diabetes. It currently affects around 3 percent of pregnant women. Early detection and correct treatment can control the condition and is likely to prevent further problems in the pregnancy.

What Is It?

Gestational Diabetes is where the pregnant woman’s body is not able to produce enough of the hormone Insulin. This means that her body is not able to break down the sugar that she consumes and convert it to energy. Therefore her blood sugar levels will be high and this will be passed on to the baby, which can cause problems.

Who Can Get It?

The pregnant women most likely to be affected will fit the following criteria;
• Overweight
• Age 35 plus
• Family history of diabetes
• Previously given birth to a large baby
• Previously given birth to a baby with an abnormality
• Suffered a stillbirth in late pregnancy

What Are The Symptoms?

Unfortunately the symptoms associated with Gestational Diabetes are common amongst most pregnancies anyway. You are likely to feel the need to urinate more often, will be more thirsty, more hungry and have a craving for sweet things. Most women discover they have it from a routine visit to the doctor where a urine sample will show glucose present in your urine. Gestational Diabetes is usually detected in later pregnancy.

If your urine sample does show glucose is present, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have diabetes. Your doctor may want to repeat the test the following week. If, after two urine samples, your doctor is concerned he will refer you to the hospital for a blood glucose test. You will be advised not to eat anything from 10pm the night before the test. The nurse will take a sample of blood from you and then ask you to drink a very sweet solution. Two hours later she will take another blood sample from you and check your blood sugar levels in comparison to the first blood test. If the levels are above a certain amount this indicates you have diabetes. If this is the case the hospital will probably contact you that day in order to begin your treatment as soon as possible.

I’ve Got It – What Can I Expect?

Firstly – don’t panic! It has been detected so early treatment will most likely prevent any major problems. The hospital will refer you to a Diabetic Nurse who will weigh you, ask you lots of questions about your diet and have a chat with you about how to improve your diet. Depending on the results of your blood test the hospital will most likely try to treat your diabetes by controlling your sugar intake. A diabetic diet closely follows a Low GI diet, which is low in sugar. When buying or preparing food you need to take notice of the Carbohydrate section on the breakdown of nutrients. The bit you are most interested in is ‘Carbohydrates (of which sugars)’; you need to try to keep your carbohydrates down to no more than 5 grams in 100 grams. This is very difficult to do, as even the plainest foods seem to contain sugar. The nurse will provide you with a kit consisting of a blood sugar monitor and a notebook. You will be required to measure your blood sugar before and after each meal to determine how different foods affect your blood sugar levels. This method of monitoring will continue until you give birth, however the nurse will monitor these results to see if further treatment is necessary.

Unfortunately in some pregnant women changing the diet has little or no affect on the blood sugar levels and insulin injections are required. Injecting with insulin is no fun but is necessary if you are to prevent any further problems in your pregnancy. However you must still control your sugar intake. Injections are self administered before meals in the upper thigh.

What Are The Effects Of Diabetes On My Baby?

Babies born to mothers with diabetes are generally larger than average. This can lead to problems with delivery and quite often a caesarean section is necessary.

After the birth there can still be complications for the baby. They are often born with low blood sugar levels and may have to go into the Special Care Unit until their blood sugar levels return to normal. This may involve them having a glucose feed to bring them up to normal levels as quickly as possible.

They may also suffer with jaundice but this isn’t serious and usually rectifies itself within a few weeks without medical intervention.

There is an increased risk that your baby may be born with a congenital defect such as a heart defect or have problems with their lungs. You will have many more ultrasound scans than a normal pregnancy and the hospital will be looking for signs of defects in order to treat them where possible.

Unfortunately there is also the increased risk of stillbirth or death of a newborn however this is rare where glucose levels are well managed.

What Are The Effects Of Diabetes On Me?

After the birth Gestational Diabetes usually completely disappears. However you will be at greater risk of developing it in future pregnancies and also of developing type 2 diabetes in later life.Many women take this as a warning and choose to change their diet and take more exercise in the hope of avoiding type 2 diabetes in later life.

There are many studies showing that natural diabetes treatment from herbs, oils and their by-product are very effective in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and controlling the effects of diabetes. This is not to say that one should stop consulting their medical practitioner. In fact consulting your doctor and exploring a natural cure for diabetes should not be mutually exclusive, both options should be followed in tandem.

Before medicines, diabetes was always treated by natural means. However, the need for speed and immediate gratification has allowed for medical science to speed the process up with medicine.

In 90% of the cases, diet and nutritional balance can prevent diabetes, and the right food and nutrients has also shown to cure diabetes, or should I say reverse the effect of diabetes on the body.

There are 2 secret natural diabetes treatment , while these may be known to some, to some they are new, and therefore secret.

A. Blood Cleansing - included in a good herbal total body cleanse.

Our bodies are bombarded with toxins on a daily basis, not to mention our entire lives. We should from time to time undergo a complete body detoxification, especially a blood detoxification. In fact, I personally undergo a complete body detoxification annually, and I remain on a smooth colon cleanse system continuously. This process is important to rid the body of all the bad food we have ingested, and the effects on the environment on our aging bodies. The blood cleanse usually incorporated in a total body cleanse will in fact rid the blood of toxins which are contributing to elevated blood sugar.

B. Flaxseed Oil and Omega-3 Flaxseed Oil and Cottage cheese mixed together and in a small protein shake can reduce the effects of diabetes. Incidentally while this has been promoted as a natural cure for cancer, I have had people tell me that it has worked for them and reverse the effects of their diabetes, so much so they hail it as a natural cure for diabetes. Fish oil is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which a beneficial in fighting against cardiovascular disease and other complications related to diabetes.

Many Natural Diabetes treatment are found in herbs. Many herbs have always been used in the treatment of the disease. However, as is well known, herbs work but for them to do so effectively they have to be taken consistently. This should ot be a problem, because herbs are foods from mother nature and therefore as a proposed natural cure for diabetes, the positive results with be long term and sustained. Some herbs, such as ginkgo biloba, cinnamon, garlic, onion, barberry , burdock root are all effective as a natural diabetes treatment. Night time teas before bed with some of these herbs will promote regular sugar levels the next morning.

Finally, ultimately the best form of diabetes cure and relief is the reduction of sugar intake. Sugar is in all food we eat and if you are diabetic you must have already been advise of what foods to stay way from. If you are not sure which foods to stay away , we can guide you.