Sugar is part of a whole slew of meals. The carbohydrates that we eat are later on converted into sugar or glucose while it undergoes the processes inside our body. These sugars are what we use for energy. However, there are really foods that are pure sugar or contain a lot it, which can cause the sugar level in our blood. When this sugar level increase, we may suffer diabetes and other ailments.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease resulting from the increase of blood sugar level above its normal values. The sugars in the blood are supposed to be transported to the cells of the body. But if a person has diabetes, the sugar build up in the blood. The build up of sugar is caused one of the following reasons: either the pancreas is not producing enough hormones called insulin that helps the glucose get into the cells or the body can not make use of the insulin as it is supposed to be.

Diabetes is a disease that exists not only on its own but could trigger a lot of complications and other diseases to surface. These diabetes complications include heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. It has become one of the major causes of death all over the world.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Like any other sickness, diabetes surface symptoms that should be monitored. These are physically manifested symptoms that could easily diagnosed so if anyone is suffering from the following, seeing a physician is recommended. Diabetes have the following signs: extreme hunger and thirst, excessive drying of the skin, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, slow healing sores, tingling or numbness of hands or feet, sudden vision blurredness.

When the diabetes is insulin-dependent, other symptoms include nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.

Types of Diabetes

There are three kinds of diabetes that could be developed to specific age range or condition of people. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 1 diabetes is commonly developed among children while non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or the type 2 diabetes is developed among adults. There is also the kind of diabetes that only pregnant women can acquire. The gestational diabetes, though, is not permanent because it disappears as soon as the pregnancy is over; however, if it is not treated it can cause a threat to both the mother and the baby.

Type 2 diabetes is affected by old age, obesity, family history of the ailment, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, lack of physical activities and race or ethnicity.

Causes of Diabetes

Though researchers have found out what are the things that causes the acquisition of diabetes, the determination of the exact causes of the disease is yet to be discovered. They say that the causes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. Type 1 seemed to be developed from environmental triggers like unidentified virus that attacks the pancreas and causes it to malfunction in producing insulin.

Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is closely associated with being obese and regular physical activities can help prevent the development of which.

Therapies and Treatment for Diabetes

When a person has developed type 1 diabetes, his or her blood glucose levels should be closely monitored through regular glucose tests. Since most food intake contains sugar or substances that will later on be converted to sugar, it is necessary that the food to be eaten is also monitored or measured. Healthy diet, exercise and insulin injections are the basic treatments for type 1 diabetes. However, the insulin should be balanced with metabolism of the body in terms of physical activities and food intake.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes is almost the same with that of type 1. Blood glucose should also be closely monitored; however, some people are required to take some oral medications to avoid blood sugar to increase beyond normal parameters. Since this type of diabetes is not insulin-dependent, insulin injections are not required.



Thanks to Dr John Anne for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

Cure For Type 1 Diabetes

Living with Diabetes is not easy because there are so many factors that have to be taken into consideration concerning your lifestyle. There are two types of diabetes simply labeled type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults, while type 2 diabetes may develop over the years and strike when you are older. Diabetics suffering from type 1 diabetes will have to take regular insulin injections because their bodies are unable to produce the necessary insulin; while people suffering from type 2 can be treated with dietary modifications and anti diabetic tablets. In some cases insulin making cells in type 2 diabetes sufferers fail and as a result sufferers will also require starting of taking insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes suffered by millions all over the world.

 

Who has the most risk of contracting diabetes?

 

People that can contract diabetes more than others are old age people, the obese and very overweight, those with a family history of diabetes, sedentary people; and recently research has shown Asians and black skinned people have twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to lifestyle factors. Unfortunately symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually and can be unnoticeable until long after the onset of the disease. People with high glucose levels in their blood may even experience no symptoms at all.

 

Some Noticeable symptoms of diabetes requiring investigation.

 

If you suffer symptoms of fatigue, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss or weight gain; wounds that are slow to heal, very dry skin, vision change, or tingling and numbness in your body, then it is vital to consult with your doctor because you may be suffering from diabetes. This disease can damage blood vessels, your kidneys, and heart arteries, and other complications in the body may arise; the result is that your life can be shortened by up to 10 years if you do not get proper treatment. Type 2 diabetes can also cause loss of healthy vision, impotence in men and even nerve damage. With all these scary factors it is certainly a sensible decision to get tested by a healthcare professional if you are suspicious of any changes in your body.

 

Treatments for Diabetes

 

Treating diabetes means keeping the level of sugars or glucose levels in your blood as normal as possible. Too high; a level of glucose in the bloods is known as hyperglycemia, and too low hypoglycemia. Keeping sugar levels normal can be done by eating correctly, regular exercise and taking medicines and insulin’s as your doctor has prescribed. People suffering from diabetes must get into a habit of checking blood glucose levels regularly. These checks can give you an indication of how certain foods, exercise and medicines are reacting in your body and helping control your type 2 diabetes. New technology equipment that is compact to carry with you has been designed for the purpose of doing these checks without any discomfort. Doctors’ visits will also give you an indication of how well your blood sugar is controlled over periods of time.

 

Diabetics need to be lifestyle conscious.

 

If you live properly taking care of what foods you eat, then it is relatively simple living a healthy balanced lifestyle. Some tips of controlling diabetes include:

 



A carefully balanced diet knowing which foods need to be avoided.

Your doctor will give you guidance on this suitable for your type of diabetes.

If you are obese or overweight then it is vital to shed those pounds as quickly as possible because dangers to your health increase exponentially.

Regular exercise helps controlling blood sugar while you are burning sugar for energy.

Diabetes sufferers that are sedentary may suffer heart attacks. If you have been sedentary for a long period take care to ask your doctor before taking on any exercise routines.

Taking prescribed medication.



 

 

If you need insulin injections, then you will need to learn the care for storage and injecting yourself from your health care provider or diabetes center.

Do as much research on the condition of diabetes how to care for yourself if you are a sufferer and what new medications are available on the market.

 

More Information on Diabetes Lifestyle Management Secrets



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

Type 2 Diabetes Diet

There can be little doubt that diabetes is a growing problem, and more and more men and women are finding themselves faced with the serious health challenges a diagnosis of diabetes carries with it. Diabetics face an increased risk of circulation problems, vision problems, cardiac issues and other serious complications. It is important, therefore, for those newly diagnosed with diabetes, as well as those who have been living with the disease for years, to understand the disease and how it can be kept under control. There may be a history of diabetes in your family, if there is, you need to be regularly tested to ensure you stay healthy.

The testing process for diabetes is straightforward enough, but it is important for patients to understand how the disease is diagnosed as well as what treatment options are available. Diabetes is broken down into type 1 and type 2, with type 1 representing childhood diabetes and type 2 representing the adult onset version. It is important to note that as the developed world continues to struggle with problems related to obesity and poor diet, adult onset diabetes is being seen in younger and younger men and women and increasingly in children and teenagers as well.

No matter what the type, the symptoms that lead diabetics to initially seek treatment are very similar. Typical symptoms that suggest a diagnosis of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms may worsen over time, prompting those affected to seek medical assistance.

Routine screening for adult onset diabetes is recommended as part of the standard medical examination for those with a number of risk factors that may predispose them to the disease. These risk factors include a family history of diabetes, obesity, poor diet and smoking. Those who may be at risk should be sure to share this information with their doctors in order to develop an effective screening program.

There are a number of tests used by medical professionals to screen for diabetes, including the fasting blood glucose test, the glucose tolerance test and random blood glucose testing. It is important for patients to discuss the pros and cons of each of these methods, as well as their specific risk factors, in order to determine the best course of treatment.

The criteria for determining whether or not a particular patient is diabetic is quite specific, but the exact blood sugar reading that indicates a diagnosis of diabetes will be different depending on the exact type of test performed. After the testing has been completed and the results received it is important for each patient to discuss his or her results with their family doctor. A thorough understanding of the underlying disease condition is the first step toward effective treatment.

For many clinicians the fasting plasma glucose test is considered the gold standard of diabetes testing, and many doctors will utilize this test in order to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of diabetes made through the random glucose testing method. A glucose level of 126 mg/dL or higher made through a fasting glucose test indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.

Another excellent test for diagnosing diabetes in children and adults is the glucose tolerance test. During this test a 75g dose of glucose is administered orally and the patient’s blood plasma glucose level is taken two hours later. A plasma glucose level at or above 200 mg/dL indicates diabetes is present.

Random blood glucose testing is frequently used to rule a diagnosis of diabetes in or out, as well as to keep track of blood sugar levels in those with a confirmed diagnosis. A random blood glucose level of at or above 200 mg/dL typically indicates that diabetes is present, although the doctor may order one of the other two tests in order to confirm that diagnosis.

This confirmation is particularly important when clinical symptoms such as increased thirst, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination and blurred vision have not been reported. Diabetes is a chronic condition with lifelong implications for the patient, and it is important for physicians to make a confirmed diagnosis before ordering treatment and lifestyle changes. Repeated blood sugar testing may be ordered, particularly if the original readings were borderline.

There is no doubt that a diagnosis of diabetes is a life-changing event, and that is why physicians and others in the medical community are so careful about making and confirming such a diagnosis. Enormous strides have been made recently in both the testing and treatment of diabetes, and additional discoveries continue to be made year after year. While there is still no cure for diabetes, there are more effective ways to control the disease. From diet and lifestyle changes to better medications, there are plenty of avenues for diabetes to explore.



Thanks to Marlon Dirk for contributing this article to our Diabetes blog:

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