Hypoglycemia happens if your blood glucose drops too low. It can come on fast. Hypoglycemia is not a disease.

Symptoms of low blood glucose include weakness, hunger, sweating, and feeling nervous or restless. If you develop these symptoms during the test, you may have your sugar level checked quickly with a glucose meter. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may not be obvious in newborn babies. The following are the most common symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Blood glucose may be measured on a fasting basis (collected after an 8 to 10 hour fast), randomly (anytime), post prandial (after a meal), and/or as part of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT / GTT). An OGTT is a series of blood glucose tests.

Blood glucose monitors have been found to be accurate and reliable if correctly used, and most monitors provide results within two minutes. Some glucose monitors can also give verbal testing instructions and verbal test results for people who are visually or physically impaired. Blood insulin levels are measured before the injection, and again at 1 and 3 minutes after the injection. This test may predict the development of type 1 diabetes in some patients.

Blood insulin levels are measured before the injection, and again at 1 and 3 minutes after the injection. This test may predict the development of type 1 diabetes in some patients. Blood glucose levels that vary widely may indicate a problem. This test is also called a casual blood glucose test. Blood glucose is the body’s major fuel for the energy it needs. When insulin is absent or ineffective, the blood glucose level increases.

Diabetes and its complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States and contribute substantially to health-care costs. However, these surveys rely only on self-reports of previously diagnosed diabetes and cannot measure the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes must be confirmed with a blood test. In one test, glucose is given to the patient in a beverage, after which blood samples are drawn and tested at intervals.

Glucose concentrations in sodium fluoride samples are consequently lower than in promptly separated serum samples (by approximately 7-12%). Glucose-galactose malabsorption generally becomes apparent in the first few weeks of a baby’s life. Affected infants experience severe diarrhea resulting in life-threatening dehydration, increased acidity of the blood and tissues (acidosis), and weight loss when fed breast milk or regular infant formulas.

Glucose is critical in the production of proteins and in lipid metabolism. Also, in plants and most animals, it is a precursor for vitamin C (ascorbic acid) production.

Glucose is carried to each cell through the bloodstream. Cells, however, cannot use glucose without the help of insulin . Glucose is a normal constituent of the blood of animals ( see Sugar Metabolism ).

Glucose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract directly and is also derived from digestion of other dietary carbohydrates. It is also produced inside cells by the processes of glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis) and reverse glycolysis (gluconeogenesis).



Thanks to Alisha Dhamani for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Latest Diabetes Research

Type 2 diabetes is getting increasingly common in developed countries. Other developing countries are seeing a fast emerging trend of the disease. Diabetes type 2 is caused by insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Although this disease is more common in adults over 40, it is increasingly seen in young teenagers and even children. This worrying trend is linked to the rising rates of obesity as well as inactivity.

MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES

Here are some of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes

1 Age  As people age, the chances of getting diabetes type 2 is considerably higher. So for those who are older than 45 years, they are at a higher risk of getting the disease.

2 Overweight Being overweight is another strong risk factor especially the person is heavier in the center.

3 Genetic factors  Having someone with diabetes in the family puts you at a higher risk.

4 Certain ethnic groups such as such as native Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, pacific islanders and Asian individuals who are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

5 People with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.

6 Women at risk  women who have had a big baby of more than 9lbs are at higher risk of having type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include women who had gestational diabetes, polycentric overran syndrome, irregular menstrual cycles and developing facial hair.

Of all these common risk factors, the most common are those who have family history as well as those who are gaining weight in the middle.

HOW TO CONTROL TYPE 2 DIABETES

Diabetes can be one of the hardest diseases to treat as it does not go away. It is always there with you, day in and day out. It will affect your daily life in what you do and what you eat. You have to be always conscious of your blood sugar as you cant let it go too high to avoid complications. The next best thing you can do to help yourself is to control the disease.

The main cause of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. So the first thing you want to do is to help reduce the resistance of insulin. Exercising and losing weight can help reducing resistance to insulin and thus control type 2 diabetes. The other way is using pills which your doctor will recommend to you. However,due to the advance technology as well as rising awareness of using alternative way to treat type 2 diabetes, herbal and natural supplements are increasingly popular.

Here are a few of the natural alternative herbs which have worked for many diabetics

1. Bitter melon has long been regarded as the natural cure for diabetes. This fruit is known for its abilities to regulate blood glucose level. In fact, bitter melon is recommended by the Dept of Philippines as one of the best herbal medicines for managing diabetes.

2. Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a naturopathic treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia. This herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time. The active ingredient is thought to be Germanic acid, which has structure similar to saccharine. Extracts of Gymnema is not only claimed to curb sweet tooths but also for treatment of as varied problems as hyperglycemia, obesity, high cholesterol levels, anemia and digestion.

3. Cassia Cinnamomum aromatic or Chinese cinnamon is a close relative to cinnamon. In fact, when cinnamon is said to be beneficial for diabetes, it is actually cassia, a less delicate version of the true cinnamon. A 2003 study published in the Diabetes Care journal followed Type 2 diabetics ingesting 1, 3 or 6 grams of cassia daily. Those taking 6 grams shows changes after 20 days, and those taking lesser doses showed changes after 40 days. Regardless of the amount of cassia taken, they reduced their mean fasting serum glucose levels 18 29, their triglyceride levels 23 30, their LDL cholesterol 7 27, and their total cholesterol 12 26, over others taking placebos. The effects, which may even be produced by brewing a tea from cassia bark, may also be beneficial for non diabetics to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels.

4. Chromium  Starting in the 1960s reports have shown that Chromium helps cells respond properly to naturally produced insulin. Current estimates show that 90 of Americans are lacking in this essential mineral nutrient.

5. Helps to improve circulation in the little capillaries in the hands and feet. Also valuable in balancing the digestion and strengthening the immune system.

6. Mulberry leaves is know to effectively help regulate blood sugar levels. Drink as tea can help to reduce absorption of sugar and carbohydrates. It is also a good source of antioxidants, vitamin C and carotene.

Beside these, there are others less known herbs for controlling diabetes. These herbs when combine together in the right balance can be very powerful in helping you manage diabetes. However, it is important to research on these supplements to ensure they indeed do what they claim. ProvenHealthCare.com provides informative reviews and articles on alternative methods of controlling diabetes.

It is not a doubt that more people are seeking natural and alternative treatments for their conditions. However, with so many choices in the market, choosing the right one for your condition is not easy. ProvenHealthCare.com provide reviews and information on these natural treatments so that you can make an informed decision to choose the best for yourself



Thanks to sandeep for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Natural Remedies For Diabetes

Can you answer caitie’s question about Diabetes?:

I am having trouble articles on it that does not involve diabetes. My fiend is convinced since it is the opposite of diabetes it has nothing to do with it. She all Has been diagnosed with acid reflux.

Information On Type 1 Diabetes

Can you answer childrenofthecorn’s question about Diabetes?:

I discovered about 5 years ago that I’ve been hypo all my life. Almost everyone in my family have symptoms of hypoglycemia. At the last hour of my Glucose Tolerance test my blood sugar dropped to 31. It started out at 90. I though I was dying. I’ve followed the endocrinologist advice ever since (no meds, diet only). Now I have very few episodes - none in the past 2 years.

I’m still worried that diabetes is lurking and no matter what I do it will happen. Anyone had the same situation?

Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

High blood sugar is one of the problems associated with diabetes. If left untreated, is a serious problem and is a major cause of diabetes complications.

Hyperglycemia occurs if the blood sugar level is higher than 200 mg/dL.

What are some of the causes ?

Factors that cause high blood sugar include:

Eating more food than is mentioned in your planned diet Uncontrolled diabetes Taking less of the oral agent or insulin than required Emotional stress (workplace challenges or family conflicts) Exercising less than required/planned Certain medications Physical stress (cold, flu or infection) Surgery Injury

What are the symptoms and signs ?

If you have hight blood sugar you may experience one of the following symptoms; however at times there are no symptoms at all. The common symptoms are:

Frequency in urination Thirst Dry mouth Urination at night Drowsiness or fatigue Loss of weight Increase in appetite Slow healing of wounds Blurriness in vision Dry and itchy skin

There are times when the blood sugar levels become very high or have been high for a long time, in these circumstances there are a few additional symptoms which include:

Rapid loss in weight Unconsciousness Increased confusion or drowsiness Breathing difficulty Dizziness when you stand up Coma

What should I do when I have these signs and symptoms?

If you experience any of these symptoms and signs you should first check your levels. If your result is normal you should then use a home testing kit to check for ketones and glucose. If the urine test comes out positive, your body may have started making the changes that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. At this point it is advisable to visit your doctor so that he/she can help lower your blood sugar safely.

The steps to be followed are:

Eat less and avoid sugary beverages. If you are having troubles sticking to your meal plan contact your dietician or doctor. Take your medicines as directed by the physician. Your physician may adjust the timing or dosage of your medication. Exercise, as this is an effective way to reduce blood sugar, but there are reservations because the presence of ketones in the urine can drive your blood sugar even higher.

What are complications associated with hyperglycemia?

Some of the problems that can occur are:

Eye trouble: Small blood vessels that are located in your eyes can become damaged because of diabetes. Problems like this can go unrecognized for long periods therefore it is thus a good idea to have an eye test performed each year. Kidney problems: Kidney problems also occur as a result of diabetes.

Diabetes or high blood sugar that affects the kidneys creates problems that include:

An accumulation of waste products in your blood Kidney failure Expulsion of protein and amino acids Waste products are retained in the body instead of being transported out by urinating Leg or foot amputation

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play The Diabetes Diet Game And Win. With this proven system you to can lower your blood sugar level and retake control of your health and your life.Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit Your Diabetes Cure. http://www.yourdiabetescure.com/Causes_For_High_Blood_Sugar/Causes_For_High_Blood_Sugar.html



Thanks to Julia Hanf for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Type 2 Diabetes Diet