diabetes 2

For people with insulin-dependent diabetes
trying to control their blood glucose
or blood sugar
can be a stressful juggling act. Managing the disease often requires several daily insulin injections
taking up to 10 blood samples a day
coordinating the use of multiple medical devices and being mindful of how diet
exercise and medication can affect blood-sugar levels.

Medtronic's Paradigm REAL-Time System incorporates a glucose sensor
a transmitter
a "smart" insulin pump and a glucose meter to provide patients with better control
flexibility and health.

Chris Jarvis
a member of the 2004 Canadian Olympic Rowing Team and a marathon runner
knows firsthand about the challenges associated with diabetes. He has type 1 diabetes
which means his body doesn't produce insulin on its own. Some days
during races
Jarvis used to take up to 15 fingerstick measurements to check his blood sugar. For many years
he used two separate devices to control his diabetes
one to monitor his glucose and another to administer insulin into his body.

Most recently
however
Jarvis has been using a new federally approved device-the only one of its kind in the world-that has given him much more control over his diabetes.

Developed by Minneapolis-based medical technology company Medtronic
Inc.
the MiniMed Paradigmฎ REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring System integrates an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring system to deliver insulin to the body day and night while at the same time continuously checking glucose levels
and sounding an alarm (or vibrating) if levels get dangerously high or low. This new device provides Jarvis with the confidence he needs to continue leading a healthy life.

"It gives you a real sense of comfort knowing exactly what's happening inside of your body
rather than trying to guess with only a couple of fingersticks
Jarvis says.
It's just a quick touch of a button and you see where your blood sugar is."

This new therapy option helps patients
like Jarvis
gain tighter control over their disease and understand how their diet
exercise
medication or lifestyle may affect their blood sugar. Armed with this knowledge
patients can take immediate corrective or preventive action to maintain healthy glucose levels.

Dr. Irl Hirsch
medical director
University of Washington Diabetes Care Center
Seattle
says that many patients with insulin-dependent diabetes still give themselves multiple daily injections of insulin and rely solely on blood draws-four to 10 per day-from fingersticks to measure their blood-sugar levels. The new system changes all this because it constantly delivers insulin to the body and continuously-almost 300 times a day-provides users information on what their glucose level is and whether it's heading up or down.

"If you have insulin-dependent diabetes
you need to make sure you're getting the right amount of insulin
and you need to keep a close eye on your glucose levels
Hirsch says.
The insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor is a major breakthrough because it's the only device in the world that helps you do both."

Studies have shown that multiple daily insulin injections aren't as effective as insulin pumps in controlling diabetes. Fingersticks alone miss more than 60 percent of low-glucose events
and that's a real danger for people with diabetes. If blood sugar gets too high or low
patients can lapse into a coma and die within just a few hours. Over time
not maintaining normal blood-sugar levels can lead to blindness
stroke
amputations
heart disease and kidney disease.

"With the MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time System
I control my diabetes; it doesn't control me
Jarvis says.

Exercise for Diabetics

The two most common forms of diabetes are referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes
also known as adolescent diabetes
differs from Type 2 in that the body stops producing insulin altogether. Type 2 diabetes is generally diagnosed in older adults and occurs as the body stops producing enough insulin or the individual becomes resistent to their own insulin.

With either form of diabetes
we lose our ability to adequately untilize sugar. Blood sugar levels increase due to the body's difficulty in transporting sugar into the cells and out of the blood stream. There are various ways to lower blood sugar levels including exercise
diet
and medications.

Exercise is a very important part of diabetic management for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. For the Type 1 diabetic
regular exercise helps to maintain insulin sensitivity
helps prevent accumulation of excess weight
and increases the use of glucose by muscles
thereby lower blood sugar levels. While there is currently no way to prevent Type 1 diabetes
it may be possible to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Things to consider when attempting to prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes are regular exercise
supplementation with vitamins and herbs that help prevent insulin resistance
and proper weight control.

Exercise not only helps directly in diabetic management by lowering blood sugar levels and maintaining insulin sensitivity
but also helps minimize many of the complications that can arise in a diabetic individual. Studies have shown that walking for 30 minutes per day can substantially diminish the possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetics tend to develop circulatory problems and exercise can certainly help lower blood pressure and improve circulation throughout the body. Since individuals with diabetes tend to have poor blood flow to their lower extremities and feet
better circulation is of great benefit.

There are some risks associated with exercise
but the potential benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Since exercise does lower blood sugar levels
people with diabetes should measure their blood sugar both before and after exercising. Since your body uses more sugar while exercising and makes you more sensitive to insulin
there is a risk of blood sugar becoming too low and causing hypoglycemia.

When exercising it is important to let others know that you are diabetic. They should be informed what to do in case of hypoglycemia. You should always carry candy or fruit juice to treat low blood sugar levels should they occur. During and after exercise sessions
you should pay close attention to how you feel since rapid heart beat
increased sweating
feeling shaky
or hunger can signal that your blood sugar levels are becoming too low.

Exercise is a critical part of diabetic management and treatment. Exercise helps blood sugar control when the muscles use more glucose and the body become more sensitive to insulin. Exercise also helps to prevent and minimize common diabetic complications including heart problems
high blood pressure and circulatory deficiencies. All diabetics should include a regular exercise program as part of their overall management plan.

Drinking Alcohol Really Does Decreases the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Older Women
It is absurd. For the longest time
we have believed that alcohol has no real benefits. However
recently
a study has found that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol really does decreases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes
and this is especially true among Older Women! There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States
or 7% of the population
who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes
unfortunately
6.2
million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

Recent studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (as compared to drinking too much alcohol or no alcohol at all) can lower the chances of getting type 2 diabetes. However
only a few studies on alcohol and type 2 diabetes have included women
and very few have included older women.

Previous studies on the effects of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (1-2 drinks) and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes have mostly been done on men or both men and women who were younger than 55 years old. The researchers wanted to study how drinking alcohol affects older women’s (more than 50 years old) chances of developing type 2 diabetes. (see Diabetes Symptoms)

Questionnaires were mailed to the women in the study. The women were asked where they lived and if they had conditions that put them at risk for any other diseases. Waist and hip
height
weight
and blood pressure measurements were taken at the beginning of the study. Diabetes
high blood pressure
and high cholesterol were also reported if these conditions were diagnosed by a doctor. The questionnaire asked about how much each woman exercised and how much they ate.

The questionnaire also contained questions about how much alcohol the women drank
how often they drank
and what types of alcohol they drank
both currently and in the past. The researchers sent out two follow-up questionnaires every 3 to 5 years. These questionnaires asked the women whether they developed type 2 diabetes
what year they were diagnosed
who diagnosed them
and whether they were being treated by diet
drugs
and/or insulin.

Conclusion
The researchers found that blood pressure was lower in the women who drank moderately
but it increased in women who drank more. During the study
a total of 760 new cases of diabetes were diagnosed. The research shows
however
that drinking alcohol in moderate amounts did lessen the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This is rather significant piece of news as we can now safely drink our favourite wine and not feel guilty about it!

Believed to effect 1 in 400 cats
feline diabetes often presents itself with symptoms that are very similar to those found in humans. The good news is that feline diabetes is treatable and does not necessarily mean a shorter life span or lesser quality of life for cats. In many cases
early and effective treatment of feline diabetes may even lead to a complete remission
which means that a cat will not continue to need insulin injections.

Early detection of feline diabetes is critical to a cat’s health. If left untreated
this illness can lead to weakness in the legs
malnutrition
dehydration and possibly even death. The symptoms of feline diabetes are gradual and may manifest themselves over a period of several weeks. Typically
feline diabetes if not found in cats that are under 7 years of age. The first signs are likely to be a sudden weight loss or gain. In addition
excessive drinking and urination may be accompanied by an sudden increase in
or loss of
appetite. The next symptom of feline diabetes may be the back legs growing increasingly weak.

Once any of the aforementioned signs begin to surface
it’s time to take your pet to the veterinarian for the appropriate tests. If feline diabetes is confirmed
one of the most important treatment methods will be that of a well-balanced diet. Based upon your cat’s needs
the veterinarian will recommend a diet and nutrition plan
which can be utilized in addition to regular insulin injections. Oral medications are also often prescribed in place of injections
but pills are often thought to cause liver damage or possibly even a remission reversal in cats. Therefore
most pet owners opt for insulin injections for the most effective treatment of feline diabetes.

While in treatment
it is important that cats be taken to the veterinarian for regular checkups and to monitor their health and dietary habits. If this illness is not treated properly or if their diet is not closely monitored
your pet may end up hospitalized. When dealing with feline diabetes
there is no room for error and pets must be closely supervised to make sure that they are eating right and gradually beginning to regain their strength.

The information in this article is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as
or used in place of
medical advice or professional recommendations for the diagnosis or treatment of feline diabetes. If necessary
individuals should take their pet to a licensed veterinarian for further information regarding feline diabetes
including a proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you are living with diabetes
one of the best ways to fight this disease is with a diabetic diet plan. This diabetic meal plan is based of the recommended foods found on the diabetic food pyramid. By following the suggested meal plan
you will be receiving the proper amounts of recommended nutrients which will ultimately help you fight the disease.

Today
there is a wide range of diabetic diet plans. Many doctors and researchers have researched and created countless plans for diabetics. They try to aim for foods that will be tasteful
yet provide the proper amount of nutrients. We all know a diet is not any fun when the food does not taste great!

Recent studies have shown an increase in diabetes over the past 10-20 years. With the large increase
it has created a huge demand for diabetic diet plans to help diabetics battle the disesase. Since diabetes affects all types of people and diverse lifestlyes
many types of diabetic diet plans have been created to suit these varying types of individuals.

Despite the varying lifestlyes of many diabetic individuals
all have one common goal. That goal is to battle this disease with the help of a diabetic diet plan. With the proper amounts of nutrients
individuals can make progress against diabetes.

If you have diabetes you have to be very careful about what you eat. You need to take extra care in managing your blood glucose levels. You can do this by eating healthy
watching your diet
taking medication prescribed by a physician and getting proper exercise.

What foods should you eat? There is a food pyramid for people with diabetes. The Diabetes Food Pyramid divides food into six groups. At the top of the list is fats sweets and alcohol. Since this is the smallest group this tells you to eat very little from this section. The next group is milk
meat
meat substitutes and other proteins. On the pyramid 2 to 3 servings of milk is suggested and 4 to 6oz of meat/protein is mentioned. Then you have your vegetables and fruits. Veggies choose at least 3-5 servings per day and fruits choose at least 2-4 servings a day. The last group which you should eat the most of is breads grains and other starches. You can check with your doctor to get a copy of the diabetes food pyramid to learn more about the correct servings and portion sizes for you.

What is Type 1 Diabetes? This type of diabetes was previously known as juvenile diabetes and is typically diagnosed in children and young adults. The body does not produce insulin. What is insulin? It is a hormone needed to convert starches
sugar (glucose) and other foods into energy. Energy is needed for daily life activities. Type I Diabetes is a chronic condition with no cure
but the outlook for people living with this disease is far better than it was 20 years ago. There has been much advancement in medicine
research and patient education reducing disabling complications and extended the expectancies of life to those without diabetes. In other words people with diabetes 1 can live just as long as people without diabetes with the proper treatment and educating themselves on this disease.

What is Type 2 Diabetes? With type 2 the body does not produce enough insulin or the cell just simply ignores the insulin. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. You need insulin in order for the body to be able to use sugar. The basic fuel for your cells is sugar. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose does not go into the cells but builds up in the blood instead it can cause problems. The problems it can cause are over time high glucose levels could hurt your heart
kidneys
nerves and eyes. What are the most common symptoms for adults with Type II Diabetes? The answer is fatigue
blurred vision
thirst and excessive urination. Do you think you may be diabetic? Check with your doctor. With type II diabetes minor weight loss can greatly improve your blood glucose levels.

So remember if you have diabetes please be under a doctors care. Watch what you eat. Limit your sweets
fats and alcohol. You can still eat good tasting foods and there are many diabetic food recipes on the internet. Get on a doctor approved exercise program and keep track of your glucose levels. Learn all you can about your condition so you can take control of it instead of the disease controlling you.

Diabetes is a critical health care problem for many people throughout the world. It decreases quality of life and
in many cases
it can also shorten one's life.The good news is that when you recognize the seriousness of being a diabetic and take constructive steps toward controlling it all of these things above decrease in importance.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism. The way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

Conventional Medical Treatment

Insulin was the first
and remains the primary means of treatment for Type 1 diabetes and is administered by subcutaneous injection. This method is necessary since insulin is destroyed by gastric stomach secretions when it is taken by mouth. Insulin injections must be balanced with meals and daily activities
and glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood sugar testing. Many diabetics need inject insulin only once a day; others require two or more injections. The usual time for a dose of insulin is before breakfast. The dosage is initially established according to the severity of the condition
but it often has to be reassessed as one or another of the variables in the person's condition changes.

Medicines for Type2 Diabetes

Metformin this is often the first medicine that is advised for type 2 diabetes. It mainly works by reducing the amount of glucose that your liver releases into the bloodstream.

Sulphonylureas for example
glibelclamide
gliclazide
glimerpirizide
glipizide
gliquidone
increase the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas. They also make your body's cells more sensitive to insulin so that more glucose is taken up from the blood.

Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus)

Type 1 diabetes is treated with intensive insulin therapy. This type of treatment is designed to achieve near-normal blood sugars safely - while keeping the episodes of low blood sugars ("insulin reactions") to a minimum. Insulin therapy includes:

* Multiple Daily Injections of Insulin (Flexibility is important!). * Use of Insulin Pens or Pumps. * Use of new type of insulin: Lispro or Humlog (extremely fast-acting) - replaces regular insulin.

Diabetes Medications

Sulfonylureas: Glyburide (Micronase
Diabeta) and Glipizide (Glucotrol). Traditional medicines - cheap
easy to take
work well with many people. Stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas. Problems: Doesn't always achieve normal blood sugars and may cause low blood sugars. Metformin (Glucophage): Used in Europe for many years. Decreases sugar production by the liver
which contributes to elevated blood sugar levels. Works well with insulin. Problems: Causes gastro-intestinal upset in some
and cannot be used if you have serious heart or kidney problems.

People with diabetes will experience many long-term and serious complications. These complications will affect virtually every part of the body from the feet and legs to the internal organs.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or use insulin properly therefore it is up to you and your doctor to learn how to manipulate the functions of your body properly to offset or minimize the complications of uncontrolled diabetes. With proper control you can still live a healthy and long life but it helps to be a fanatic about controlling your diabetes.

Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease. Since 1987 the death rate has increased 45 percent. In 2002; diabetes claimed an astonishing 224
92
lives in the United States alone. It is believed that the number was actually higher since most deaths of the elderly had multiple chronic conditions associated with their death including diabetes. Many people do not know that they have diabetes until they develop other life threatening conditions such as
heart disease
high blood pressure
blindness
kidney damage
nervous system damage
dental disease
sexual dysfunction
and a number of other complications. When you have diabetes the above complication are side illnesses
diabetes is this root of all of your medical problems and must be under control for you to recover from the side illnesses period! Being checked by your physician on a regular basis is absolutely necessary for your overall quality of life. If you do not know that you have diabetes
there is no other way of knowing that you have this deadly disease without a check up.

There are several different types of diabetes such as
type 1
type 2
and gestational diabetes. Type 1 is the body's inability to produce insulin
people with type 1 are insulin dependent for the remainder of their lives
and they must also keep close track of their diets. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes; diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure. While an estimated 14 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes it is also estimated that close to 6.2 million are unaware that they have this deadly disease. In 2005 1.5 million new cases were diagnosed in people age 20 and above. If this dangerous trend continues it is believed that 1 in 3 Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. It is also estimated that 41 million Americans have pre-diabetes today.

Pre-diabetes is a dangerous condition in itself
this is when the glucose level in the blood is not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes yet damage is being done to your internal organs. The body can not handle any unsafe level of sugar or glucose in the blood for any extended period of time.

Diabetes is the body's inability to use the sugar called glucose. Glucose is created when the body breaks down food for energy. The hormone insulin opens up the cells in the body to allow glucose to enter into the cell and be used as fuel. In diabetes the cell never opens up and the glucose flows through the blood stream causing high blood sugar levels. With diabetes the body either dose not make enough insulin or is resistant to its own natural insulin. High blood sugar can lead to very serious complications. Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in people with diabetes. Diabetes is the major cause of leg and foot amputations in Americans today. Infections are much harder to control in people with diabetes
they are at greater risk of complications and death due to infection. The high risk factors leading to type 2 diabetes is too much body fat and high sugar intake!
Diabetes is on the rise; Americans are eating poorly and are lacking physical activity and this is starting to really show in the children of America.

Free-radicals are very active in a person with diabetes. They attack a number of cells at once because diabetes causes an abnormal immune function due to high glucose levels in the blood and organs. Free-radicals are the reason you see so many different complications or side illnesses in this disease. Free-radicals are molecules or atoms that are missing an electron
free-radicals attack healthy cells trying to steal an electron from them. Chronic inflammation is also a major player with this disease and in the side illnesses. Chronic inflammation is being called the silent killer by doctors and scientists. All of the above diseases need medications to help regulate the disease
but you need to know this
medications cause free-radical damage
and this damage is called side effects. All medications can cause side effects. So eating properly to help your condition is absolutely essential for your life.

Think of free-radicals as a school of piranha
they feed on everything in sight
they are not picky eaters. Free-radicals cause healthy cells to become mutated or deformed and they attack any cell they come in contact with. Now if they do manage to steal an electron then that once healthy cell
in turn
becomes a free-radical doing what was done to it. This is a vicious cycle
basically there is a war going on inside your body. You can not see or feel this war but it is there
and one day it will show its ugly head in the form of a serious disease or illness. You must be on the defensive and feed your body what it needs in order to combat these little piranhas.

Inflammation is a bully
after the free-radicals have done the damage the inflammation is sent by the body to help heal but it is unable to heal mutations and deformities so the deformed or mutated cells begin to feed on the healthy inflammation cells. Now the inflammation cells are deformed or mutated and become chronic inflammation cells
the chronic inflammation cells begin attacking your healthy tissues and cells.

You have the power to take your health into your own hands and put a stop to the damage now. As we know anti-oxidants help the body fight against free-radicals
anti-oxidants are molecules or atoms that has an extra electron. It gives this extra electron away and in turn the free-radicals stop attacking healthy cells. Science has proven that ALL diseases and illnesses are caused by free-radical damage and the vast majority have chronic inflammation as their side kick. There are risk factors for all diseases but free-radicals and chronic inflammation are the source and cause of major complications. Free-radicals can not be avoided; they are in air and water pollution
in the junk foods we eat
and caused by traumas and injuries. Free-radicals are a part of life; they even affect the aging process itself.
Anti-oxidants are essential for health
plants contain about 1
0
to 1
500
anti-oxidants
a diet of fruits and vegetables is essential
supplements are key
vitamins and minerals contain high numbers of anti-oxidants. You need to do some research and try to find fresh supplements; they tend to lose their potency the longer they sit on the self.

Anyone with diabetes or even pre-diabetes must re-think their diets
moving towards fresh and properly cooked foods
stay away from fast foods and anything with high sugar content. Taking in a large number of anti-oxidants everyday
is essential to help your body recover and maintain better overall health. Type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise
as long as you begin now. Pre-diabetes can be reversed.

There are also super charged
super powerful anti-oxidants in nature called Xanthones. Xanthones have the power to defeat a larger number of free-radicals at one time
due to strong carbon bonds that make the molecule stable. Each Xanthone performs a specific biological function inside the body unlike regular anti-oxidants. Universities and scientists have been studying xanthones for over 20 years. Scientists have found that xanthones are able to relieve a variety of problems and also help in the improvement of serious conditions. This is the reason that more and more universities and scientists are becoming involved in the research on these amazing xanthones. Two hundred xanthones have been identified in nature
and 41 are in the mangosteen fruit alone
you can compare that to the Aloe Vera plant that contains only one xanthone. The mangosteen fruit also contains 25
0
anti-oxidants. How can that help your health? The mangosteen fruit has the highest number of anti-oxidants and xanthones ever found in one source. One thing about xanthones you need to know is that they must be consumed in their natural form. For more information on xanthones you can call toll free 1-888-374-4148 and listen to a message about the mangosteen fruit juice and its powerful medicinal abilities.

People with diabetes are ruled by their medications and checking their blood everyday
they must see their doctor on a regular basis in order to keep their blood sugars under control by adjusting their medication. If their sugar goes too far up or too far down
massive damage to the internal organs and tissues is done and even the brain is affected
and can cause comma. This is a very deadly disease
but with the right food intake it dose not have to be
take care of your self.

Diabetes is a condition featuring unusually high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Insulin
produced by the pancreas
is used by the body to lower blood glucose levels. If someone’s pancreas doesn’t generate enough insulin
their body will develop diabetes.

A short list of symptoms of diabetes would include severe hunger and thirst
more urge to urinate
and fatigue. But the surest way of knowing whether you have diabetes is having a blood sugar test
also known as a Glucose Tolerance Test.

Type 1 diabetes is the more acute form. It is typically treated with special dietary restrictions
exercise and occasionally with insulin. Type 1 diabetes usually will be treated with special diet
exercise
and a weight loss plan before insulin is added. This form of diabetes is considered an insulin dependent disease.

A less severe form of diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is first treated with a diabetic diet

exercise and weight loss. If theses measures are not successful in controlling blood sugar and insulin levels
oral medications may be added. Insulin is then finally considered if these also are unsuccessful. Type 2 diabetes normally occurs in adults who are middle age or older
which is why it is sometimes called Late-Onset Diabetes In this case
he pancreas still produces the right levels of insulin but the body has become resistant to it.

It is feasible to delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes if it runs in the family. Through losing weight
getting the right amount of exercise and controlling your diet
you can manage. If Type 2 diabetes is not treated
eventually the same complications may ensue as those seen with Type 1 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is seen in pregnant women. Normally it disappears after the birth of the baby
however
treatment for the mother to stabilize the blood glucose levels will decrease the chance of complications to the baby as well as mother.

Juvenile Onset diabetes is another major form of diabetes that affects many children. It is believed to be the onset of Type 1 diabetes. If a child is showing even a few of the symptoms of diabetes
it’s vital that they be checked by a doctor. It is estimated that over two million adolescents are in the pre-diabetes stage. This is mostly due to being overweight. In this condition
blood glucose levels are high but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Teens usually develop this between the ages of 12 and 19.

Diagnosing diabetes symptoms can be difficult in identifying at first
as manifestation of the disease is gradual. Sometimes
because symptoms can also be common to other illnesses
the real illness may be overlooked. Diabetes symptoms may vary
the list may go on and on but not everybody (diabetes patients) has them. There are even some cases that no symptoms may show on some patients.

Diabetes occurs when the body’s ability to react to insulin gets affected. The insulin is your body hormone that allows your blood sugar (glucose) to enter body cells. When too much glucose enters the blood
this leads to the elevated amount of blood glucose
which it can cause glucose spillage towards the urine. This is the primary reason why one of the most classic diabetes symptoms
frequent urination
plagues the patient.

Because elevated glucose level is beyond normal
your body cells are energy-starved and consequently leading to the damage in your nerves
kidneys
eyes
blood vessels and your heart. The increased amount of glucose appears when the sugar of your body falls too low. It then increases production of sugar. This process starts when the pancreas releases the hormone called glucagons. The stored glycogen will be converted back into the glucose by your liver and muscles.

How are diabetes symptoms diagnosed?

Diagnosing diabetes patients may vary
and is based according to the duration and range of the high blood sugar levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes are often diagnosed relatively slowly as compared to people with type 1 diabetes
to which it may take only after weeks or some months. Symptoms may also progress slowly and mildly.

Some of the most specific and common early diabetes symptoms are:

- Skin irritation and diseases
- Skin infections
- Poor skin healing
- Athlete’s foot
- Sexual problem
- Unusual vaginal dryness
- Erectile failure (to male patients)
- Premature menopause (to female patients)
- Absence of menstrual periods
- Paresthesias
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Urinary tract infection
- Blurry vision
- Malaise
- Drowsiness
- Numbness of the hands
- Weight loss or weight gain

Other more extreme diabetes symptoms are:

- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirstiness
- Dehydration
- Weight loss even with an increased appetite
- Tiredness
fatigue
nausea
and vomiting
- Excessive hunger
- More bladder
skin and vaginal infections
- Serious blurry vision
- Headache
- Muscle aches
weakness and cramps
- Acne
- Increased sexual problems because of erectile failure for men
and vaginal dryness for women
- Cessation of menstrual periods

Other diabetes symptoms:

- Gums are bleeding
- Unusual noise or buzzing in the ear
- Feet numbness or tingling
- Skin itching
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Depression

Complications associated to diabetes symptoms:

- Kidney diseases
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Sciatica
- Heart diseases and
- Stroke

As those mentioned symptoms might occur at a later time for a patient
the usual situation is delayed scheduling of the check-up. This is not a good idea as complications may increase over time
making it even harder to treat and manage the disease. In this case
it is extremely important to check with the doctor in as early as possible to prevent more damage to the body. Another
it is important to note that diabetes is one of the lifelong diseases
and one that does not infect other people upon contact.

Special areas in the pancreas gland
the Islets of Langerhans
produce a hormone called insulin. This hormone is a protein of small size. Insulin stimulates muscle cells and other body cells to take up glucose from the blood and convert the glucose to glycogen
a kind of starch
and then store the glycogen. By need the body cells convert the glycogen to glucose and use it as fuel. In this way insulin keeps the glucose level in the blood at a normal size.

By diabetes type 2
the cells in the body do not react properly by stimulation from insulin. Therefore they do not take in enough glucose from the blood to store it or to use it as energy source. This condition is called insulin resistance. The amount of glucose in the blood therefore rises. Also the insulin production can rise to regulate the glucose amount down
but this effort to reduce the blood glucose is not effective enough. If the disease persists for many years
the insulin production may tire out
so that the amount of secreted insulin decreases.


THE CAUSES AND MECHANISMS OF DIABETES TYPE 2

The exact mechanism that causes the disease is not known. There may be an autoimmune response to insulin or to the molecules on the cell surfaces that the insulin connects to. However
these lifestyle factors can cause the disease:

-Too high consume of sugar and fat
-Over-weight
-Too less exercise over many years.

Therefore diabetes type 2 can be prevented by a right diet and with regular exercise.

When the glucose uptake into the body cells is reduced
but glucose instead accumulates in the blood
the following physiological effects occur:

-The body cells do not get enough fuel for the work they shall do.
-The molecular thickness (osmality) of the blood increases. This causes water to be pulled out from the body tissues and into the blood. The tissues thus get dried out and the urine production increases.
-The tissues begin to break down protein and fat to get energy
causing weight loss and muscular reduction.

The symptoms of diabetes type 2 are a consequence of these mechanisms.


THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES TYPE 2

Diabetes type 2 is the most common kind of diabetes
actually 10 times more common than diabetes type 1
where the insulin production is reduced or stopped. The disease usually appears after the age of 50
but the high sugar and fat consume in western countries nowadays also causes young persons to acquire the disease. Symptoms of diabetes type 2 come gradually. The symptoms are.

-Increased urine production
-Dehydration
that is a lack of water in the body
-Abnormal high thirst
-Dry mouth
-Increased appetite
-Slow healing of physical injuries
-Itching in the skin
-Infections caused by yeasts
-Impaired vision

In the long turn
the disease can cause atherosclerosis with blood vessel narrowing
heart disease and stroke.



THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES TYPE 2

The treatment of diabetes type 2 is most often diet with a low sugar amount and weight reduction. These measures will lighten the burden upon the blood sugar control of the body so that it manages to normalize the blood sugar levels. If this does not work good enough
medicines to lower the blood sugar is used.

If the insulin production is reduced
insulin injections are also used.

There are also natural products in the market that can help to normalize the blood sugar level by diabetes type 2. Those products cannot heal the disease
but they can help the body to regulate the blood sugar. These products contain minerals that are working components of enzymes that stimulate the glucose metabolism in the body. They also contain herbs that have been used for a long time in traditional medicine to regulate the glucose level and have proven their effects in scientific studies.

Special areas in the pancreas gland
the islets of Langerhans
produce a hormone called insulin. This hormone is a protein of small size. Insulin stimulates muscle cells and other body cells to take up glucose from the blood and convert the glucose to glycogen
a kind of starch
and then store the glycogen. By need the body cells convert the glycogen to glucose and use it as fuel. In this way insulin keeps the glucose level in the blood at a normal size.

By diabetes type I the cells producing insulin are destroyed. Then less glucose is taken up from the blood into the body cells and utilized there
and glucose accumulates in the blood.


THE CAUSES AND MECHANISMS OF DIABETES TYPE I

The cause of the disease is not well known. An auto-immune response attacking the insulin producing cells in the langerhansian islets may be a cause. Virus infection may be another cause. The disease also is to some extend inherited.

When the glucose uptake into the body cells is reduced
but glucose instead accumulates in the blood
the following physiological effects occur:

-The body cells do not get enough fuel for the work they shall do.
-The molecular thickness (osmality) of the blood increases. This causes water to be pulled out from the body tissues and into the blood. The tissues thus get dried out and the urine production increases.
-The tissues begin to break down protein and fat to get energy
causing weight loss and muscular reduction.

The symptoms of diabetes type 1 are a consequence of these mechanisms.


SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES TYPE 1

The disease often starts suddenly. Often children or young people are attacked by the disease. The lack of insulin causes an increased amount of blood sugar. Early symptoms of the disease are:

-Increased urine production
-Dehydration (lack of water in the body)
-Abnormally high thirst as a consequence of increased urine production
-Dryness in the mouth
-An abnormal high appetite
-Feeling extremely tired and weak
-Weight loss
even when one eats well
-Impaired vision

If the blood sugar level is not stabilized to a normal value
there will be an accumulation of chemicals in the body called ketones
and this condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. This serious condition can lead to coma and death. The signs of ketoacidosis are:

-Vomiting

-Pain in the stomach
-Rapid breathing

-High pulse rate
-Somnolence (abnormal tendency to sleep)

In the long term
diabetes type 1 can severely hurt the blood vessels in vital organs. This can further cause damage to the heart
eyes
kidneys or other body organs.


TREATMENTS OF DIABETES TYPE 1

Diabetes type 1 is treated with insulin injections. Implanting insuline cells in the pancreas is an experimental treatment. Another experimental treatment is to implant stem cells in the pancreas that can develop into new insulin producing cells.

Another important module of the treatment is regulation of the amount of sugar and fat consumed through the diet so that it fits together with the insulin-amount injected. Also regular monitoring of the blood sugar level to regulate the insulin amount is an important part of the treatment.

There are also natural products in the market that can help to normalize the blood sugar level by diabetes type 2. Those products cannot heal the disease or replace insulin injections
but they can help the body to regulate the blood sugar level. These products contain minerals that are working components of enzymes that stimulate the glucose metabolism in the body. They also contain herbs that have been used for a long time in traditional medicine to regulate the glucose level and that have proven their effects in scientific studies.