Your blood sugar level is important in the state of your overall health. Your energy level, and even certain organs rely on a proper glucose level to perform at their best. While not all problems are diabetes-related, many blood sugar problems can be linked to diabetes.

Checking your blood sugar is one of the most accurate tests in determining whether or not you have diabetes. A high glucose level is a strong sign, and many doctors will use that high glucose level to diagnose you and determine treatment.

But how do you know you need to be tested? Many diabetics show few symptoms, especially early on. But there are some signs that you need to be aware of in determining whether or not you should see the doctor for a glucose test:

1. Hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a condition where your blood has abnormally low levels of blood sugar in your system. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, sweating, shaking, chills, and confusion.

2. Hyperglycemia. As you may be able to guess, hyperglycemia is, then, where your blood has abnormally high levels of blood sugar in your system. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include frequent thirst and urination, sleepiness, and blurred vision.

3. Increased risk. Sometimes your warning signs may not be symptoms at all. There are certain factors that may put you at increased risk for diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes, are considered overweight, or you are over the age of 40, you are considered to be at an increased risk of being diabetic.

Now, what about those of you who already have been diagnosed with diabetes? You are certainly aware that you need to be mindful of your blood sugar levels on a regular basis. Depending on your condition, you may be checking your blood once a day, or even several times a day.

There are certainly times, however, when you need to increase the frequency of your own blood sugar monitoring tests. Certain factors or changes in your lifestyle can bring the risk for more problems if your blood sugar levels change without being treated. These are some signs that you may need to bring to the attention of your doctor and monitor carefully:

1. You’ve changed your diabetes medicine.

2. You’ve made a big change to your diet.

3. You’ve begun taking other kinds of medicines.

4. There’s been a drastic change to your activity level or exercise frequency.

5. You are dealing with a recent increase in stress.

6. You are sick.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, watch your blood sugar levels closely, and keep a record of them. Bring any changes to the attention of your doctor so that you can properly deal with the problem, if necessary.

Whether you are currently a diabetic or not, your blood glucose levels are important in determining your health. If you show any signs that you may need to get your blood checked, or checked more often, take action as soon as possible.



Thanks to Peter Geisheker for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Making Money Online

Type one diabetes is far less common than type two diabetes and it will affect younger individuals. It is most found in people under the age of 40 and mostly under the age of fourteen. There are people who have been diagnosed with it after forty but it is very rare. Diabetes is a serious issues and type one is the worst. It is associated with the lack of insulin. It is a dysfunction of the pancreas where it will just stop making insulin in the amount the body needs to maintain a normal level of glucose in the blood. Many people who have type one diabetes will have symptoms of hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is where your glucose is too high in the blood. Meaning your blood sugar is too high. The common symptoms of hyperglycemia or diabetes type one is frequent hunger, frequent urinating, and frequent thirst. You will also experience blurred vision, fatigue, weight loss, your healing power will be low (meaning it will take you a long time to heal a wound or cut), dry mouth, dry or itchy skin, and you could have impotence for males. Your immune system will become weak and you will be able to pick up infection easily.

The reason why you are always hungry is because your body can not use glucose as an energy source. It is also, why you tire out easily. Since the body can not absorb sugar or glucose into the blood cells you will release it through frequent trips to the bathroom. Since you make many trips a day to the bathroom, your body realizes that it is losing excess water and that’s why you will become thirsty. When it comes to the symptoms, you may experience them all together or it may take some time for your body to go through the process. Most likely though it will be gradual.

The changes of developing type one diabetes is 3.7 to 20 per 100, 000. Over 700,000 Americans have type one diabetes, which adds up to be about ten percent of the total population that has the disorder. It is more common to have type two diabetes. The reason why people develop the disorder is because an autoimmune disorder. The body will start to see it’s own tissue as a foreign object and then it destroys the body’s ability to make insulin. It has been rumored to be a cause from the mumps, rubella, measles, influenza, polio, or other viruses. That’s why it is very common in young children because those epidemics affect younger children more often than older adults. Diabetes is also genetic. You may simply have the disorder because an immediate family member has it.

As for treatment, type one involves injections of insulin. It is absorbed in the blood stream and absorbed by the cells that need insulin and it will then control the levels of sugar in the blood. You can find more information on http://www.all-about-diabetes-symptom.com/



Thanks to Kenneth Langlet for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

New Treatment For Diabetes

An important part of managing diabetes is recognising when your blood glucose (sugar) becomes too high and knowing what to do about it. In this article we will talk about what is too high a blood glucose level, how this can happen, help you recognise the key symptoms of high blood glucose and give some advice on what action you can take if it happens.

So what is too high a blood glucose?

When blood glucose is higher then 180 mg/dl (in US units) or 10mmol/L (in UK units) measured two hours after food, then the blood glucose is too high. The technical term for this is hyperglycemia.

How is Hyperglycemia caused?

Hyperglycemia is often a result of when food, activity and medications are not balanced. Some of the common reasons why this balance can be altered are:

· Too much food or the wrong type food

· Not enough medication

· Not enough insulin

· Poor injection technique

· Overuse of injection sites

· Infections or illness

· Stress

· Increase in weight

A common cause of hyperglycemia in diabetics is missing dose of insulin or not taking enough. This also the case with diabetic oral medication. Eating too much, can also cause a rise in blood sugar levels

Signs and Symptoms of hyperglycemia

In the early stages, there are likely to be no symptoms at all and even when symptoms do arise they may come on so slowly that they are not noticed.

You may get some of following symptoms:

· More hunger or thirst then usual

· Excessive urination

· Tiredness and lethargy

· Frequent infections

· Blurred vision

If untreated, high blood glucose may result in diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition due to a lack of insulin. This causes the body to try to find energy from other sources as it cannot use the glucose in the blood. Ketones and acid form as a result.

The condition is characterised by vomiting, drowsiness, smell of acetone (like pear drops) on the breath and can result in coma.

Monitoring your blood glucose regularly may help you identify when your blood glucose has become too high and recognising the warning signs will help highlight to you that action needs to be taken.

What to do if you experience Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia can usually be treated with either oral diabetic medications or insulin. If blood glucose levels don’t respond to insulin or medication, diabetics are advised to contact their GP immediately.

Remember:

· Consult your doctor

· Continue with your diabetes treatment

· Consume plenty of fluids

· Test your blood glucose levels every 2-4 hrs

· Adjust your meal plan

· Adjust your medication or insulin (only if instructed by doctor to do so)

As with many things in life, prevention is better then cure. Be aware of the causes of hyperglycemia and do what you can to prevent them.



Thanks to John Ngijseh for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Controlling Type 2 Diabetes