diabetes 2

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.

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.

One of the great things about the Internet is that it’s created a global community for discussions of topics such as diabetes. You’ll find there are a number of forums that will allow you to talk to others facing your situation.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with diabetes
one of your first steps will likely be to find a glucose meter. There are some things to keep in mind as you make your decision because this piece of equipment is likely to be part of your life for the foreseeable future.

A glucose meter (or glucometer) is a medical device for determining the approximate amount of glucose in a drop of blood obtained by pricking the skin with a lancet. Glucose meters are portable and designed for use by ordinary people
especially those with diabetes.

There are now dozens of models of glucose meters. Typical features common to most. The average size is now approximately the size of the palm of the hand
though some are smaller or a bit larger. They are battery-powered. A consumable element containing chemicals which react with glucose in the drop of blood is used for each measurement. For most models this element is a plastic test strip with a small spot impregnated with glucose oxidase and other components. Each strip can only be used once and is then discarded.

Cost is a major issue for most people
but there’s good news if you have any kind of medical insurance. A glucose meter is typically considered to be a vital part of medical treatment and insurance companies often pay for a portion or the entire cost of the meter. At the same time
there is sometimes a limit on the amount the insurance company will pay
and that may severely limit your options.

While cost is naturally important
remember that you’re going to be living this life from now on. Finding a cheaper glucose meter that requires a more serious stick for blood may seem like the best option when you’re writing the check for the meter
but the tedium of the daily stick may negate that cost in the long run.

There are some companies out there that help with the cost of a glucose meter if you meet specific income guidelines. This may be a good answer if your quandary about which meter to buy is purely based on financial restraints. Remember that Medicare often pays on this important testing equipment as well. Your doctor
druggist or representative of a local medical supply company may also be good sources of information about how to find the best deals and how to get help paying for a glucose meter.

Finding a very inexpensive glucose meter may be the best answer to this situation. If the meter is accurate
it’ll get you through the initial period of adjusting your life to the regular testing of your blood sugar. Then take time to do some research into what’s hot and what’s not in glucose meters. You’ll find that some make absolutely ridiculous claims and you may have to ask some questions to find those companies that produce the glucose meter that will work best for you and your lifestyle.

Diabetes and care— there cannot be a better combination of words in the world of diabetes!

Your doctor may examine and advise you for some time on diabetes during your visits to his clinic or his visits to your residence. But you are your own doctor for 24 hours all through the months and years with diabetes. How many times a day do you contemplate about the word diabetes?

But don't you despair. You can fight it out with proper care.

The two words that stand uppermost in diabetes care are diet and exercise! If you are disciplined in these two areas
half of your battle is won!

Be in the know that 50 to 60 percent of daily calories come from carbohydrates
12
to 20 percent from proteins
and not more than 30 percent from fats.

As for diet
let the balance weigh heavily in favor of fruits
vegetables and lots of fiber. More intake of fiber will help you immensely. Give up your past habit of taking heavy meals. Take in small quantities
as and when you are hungry. Extremely high or low blood glucose levels need to be avoided. As for losing weight
“slow and steady wins the race.” You have already consulted your doctor
you strictly go by the norms given to you and you lose two pounds per week. Very good! That's good progress.

The risk of heart diseases and liver problems are ever there for diabetics. The food items that are major sources of saturated fats must be avoided. Olive oil is often recommended as a good source of mono-unsaturated fat
the healthiest type of fat.

You must remember the following points
which are your lifelines:

1. Maintain the normal blood glucose level.

2. You have the possibility of heart and liver diseases. Limit your food items from this point of view.

3. Maintain the desired level of weight.

With all the emphasis on diet
research on influence of various types of foods on the diabetes patients is still going on unabated. Researchers in this area are the most confused lot. They are certain about effects of some items of food. Vague opinions also float. For example
the researchers are sure that cooked foods raise blood glucose higher than the raw foods. Whether foods with sugar raise blood glucose higher than the foods with starch
is still uncertain!

Diabetes care will
perhaps
be a hot subject for all time to come—so far
diabetes is alive and kicking!

We diabetics have to pay even more attention to our teeth and gums than other people.

We are at greater risk of cavities
gum disease and tooth infections. Not only that
but those infections can cause our blood sugar to rise
so it becomes a vicious cycle.

Here are some mouth problems common in diabetics.

Plaque

Plaque is
of course
a problem for many people
not just diabetics. But it's caused by starches and sugars
and of course we have more than our share of those! So diabetics are highly prone to plaque.

Dry mouth

Sometimes my mouth is so dry in the morning I can hardly speak—I'm sure you know how that feels. But it's more than just inconvenient
it's dangerous to the health of our mouths. You see
saliva washes away many of the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Dry mouth cuts the amount of saliva available for this job
so the result is more cavities and gum disease. Dry mouth sometimes also creates inflammation of the soft tissue in the mouth
making eating difficult and unpleasant.

While there are artificial saliva substitutes
which your dentist can tell you about
you can usually stimulate your own saliva by sucking on a sugar-free hard candy. I like no-sugar-added Ricola for this purpose. And of course
drinking water helps.

Fungal infections

Not only do we diabetics have less saliva than we need
but the saliva we do have is high in sugar content
so it's double trouble for us. This can cause a fungal infection called candiasis
commonly known as thrush. It produces sore red or white spots in the mouth. Medication can help though
so ask your dentist.

As a diabetic
you must pay great attention to oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day
and floss daily. Examine your gums for signs of problems—and always visit your dentist at least twice a year.

Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed
even though in its early stages it doesn't hurt
or cause inconvenience
or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake
because the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications
even leading to other serious health conditions.

One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation—a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

Hypertension

Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure
or hypertension. In fact
your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population
we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It's all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

Blood fats

Cholesterol and tryglycerides
or blood fats
also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables
fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

Blood sugar

Blood sugar levels need monitoring too
as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

Weight level

And of course you know it's important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is that particularly important for us diabetics? First
if you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels
which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It's a vicious cycle you don't want to create.

Your heart is the main engine of your whole body
so you need to do everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart
take control of your diabetes.

We diabetics have to take special care of our feet
or we can find them troubled in
two ways: reduced blood circulation and nerve damage.

Here's what to look for and some prevention ideas.

Symptom:

If your feet are constantly cold
your legs are sore when you walk
or your feet hurt
in bed at night
you may be suffering from poor blood circulation. This
in turn
can
slow down the process of healing when you have cuts or other damage to your feet.

Prevention:

Staying physically active is one way to help improve your circulation. You also need
to control your blood fat and sugar levels
as well as your blood pressure. And of
course
don't smoke.

Symptom:

If your feet are numb
you have a burning sensation on the soles of your feet or pins
and needles in your feet
you have signs of possible nerve damage.

Foot nerves are the longest in our bodies and are therefore susceptible to damage
by diabetes. If these nerves are damaged
the feelings are lessened
so we could
have the cuts or blisters that can lead to ulcers
and we wouldn't even know about
it.

Prevention:

Check your feet regularly to be sure there are no signs of injury. If you develop
corns or calluses
have them treated immediately by a podiatrist. Wash and dry
carefully between your toes
and keep your nails trimmed and smooth.

Everyone likes to have their feet pampered
but for us diabetics it not only feels
good
it also prevents serious health problems in the future. So book that foot
massage now!

Diabetes can play havoc with your eyes
and sometimes there are no early sumptoms. So you may have no idea anything is wrong until your eyesight is in danger.

Here are the main eye problems that can be caused
or made worse
by diabetes.

Cataracts

These are often described as a clouding of the lens of the eye. They are treatable by surgery in most cases.

Glaucoma

Our eyes are largely made up of fluid
and when the pressure of that fluid builds up too much inside the eye
you have glaucoma. Left untreated
it can damage the optic nerves
and even lead to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy

Lining the back of our eyes is light-sensitive tissue known as the retina. The retina contains very small blood vessels that can be damaged by diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes there are symptoms such as blurred vision
but often you won't even know anything is wrong until the condition is well advanced. In the worse case
it leads to blindness.

Early detection is the key to battling all of these conditions
and the best diagnostic tool available is the dilated eye examination. This is a test in which special eye drops temporarily enlarge your pupils
allowing the doctor to see the back of your eyes. This test (which is painless) can detect cataracts
glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy in their early
treatable stages.

Eyesight is precious
so if you have diabetes do yourself a favor and make an appointment for your dilated eye examination. And then do it again every year from now on.

If you are like me you probably thought diabetes is one of those things you have or don't have; nothing could be further from the truth because diabetes is now the biggest threat to health in the developed world and we are eating ourselves into it because of poor diet.

First question is how prevalent is diabetes?
Using Australia as an example that has a total population of around 20 million inhabitants
in the last full year official figures show 70
0
people were diagnosed with diabetes during the year. That is equal to one extra person diagnosed every seven minutes 24/7.

At present 700
0
people are diagnosed with having diabetes and a conservative figure indicate that for each person diagnosed there is another that is not diagnosed but does suffer from diabetes. that is 1.4 million sufferers out of a total population of 20 million. - More than 5% and growing by the day. The organization Diabetes Australia forecast that by the year 2010 the number of sufferers could be close to 10% of population. This rate of increase is happening throughout the developed world and is caused by lack of exercise and poor diet. We could be quite cruel here and say that people are queuing to shorten their lifespan because diabetes does reduce your lifespan.

The answer to this epidemic is in the hands of each of us. We must exercise more and be more conscious of what we eat. Attention to diet should start from a very young age; in particular we should concentrate on serving sizes and avoiding fatty foods. Yes that does include every child's favorite burger and fries. Once a month does little harm if the children are active
once a week causes damage even if they are active.

We all need to be conscious of seven servings of fruit and vegetables each day in our diet and also the need to back a good diet with reasonable exercise
like walking. People most at risk of type 2 diabetes
the most common
are overweight and do not exercise. They may have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol
if you fit this category ask your doctor to check for diabetes next time you visit.

I saved the scariest fact for last: The total number of people in Australia with diabetes or "pre-diabetes" is 3.2 million or 15.1% of the total population. Each of these people will have a reduced lifespan.

This article is (c) copyright David McCarthy 2006.

You might be thinking "What's the connection between diabetes and the menopause?"

Well
for ladies reaching that certain age
it can be very traumatic - especially when some of the effects experienced can easily be mistaken for those we have to be aware of when managing our diabetes...

For a diabetic taking medication
keeping blood sugars at the right level is a balancing act. If sugar levels drop too low
because of not eating enough or at the right times
you suffer a hypoglycemia episode (sometimes called 'hypo' for short). For me
this usually manifests itself as shaking; irritability; sweating and a faint-headed feeling.

If you are diabetic and have ever had low-blood sugar you may recognize some of these symptoms
amongst others. A quick 'glucose fix' usually settles it within 5-10 minutes.

Now
compare that to some of the symptoms of starting the menopause; hot flushes [I call them 'power-surges' ;)] - similar to the sweats of a hypo; mood swings - akin to the irritability you might experience during a hypo. It's very easy to confuse the symptoms you are feeling.

When I first started the menopause
I frequently confused waking at 2 a.m. in the morning in a cold sweat as a hypo and took a quick sugar boost to settle myself. That pushed my blood sugar levels up when I didn't need it. Not a good idea!

It was only after visiting my Doctor to talk about these frequent
unexpected hypos I discovered I was starting the menopause (I was in my late 40s
so it was rather unexpected
normally it doesn't occur until early-to-mid 50s).

If you are a lady
with diabetes controlled by medication
and you are in your early 50s and you start having frequent
unexplained hypos - check your sugar levels before 'treating the condition'. And get your Doctor to check your symptoms. You may be confusing symptoms of diabetes and the menopause.

And guys; if your lady normally has great control of her diabetes and suddenly seems to be showing the same symptoms when she was getting her diabetes into balance (if you knew her then) please be supportive and understanding
she's going through one hell of an experience
but I promise
she will come through and be her normal
loving and charming self once again.

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most costly burdensome chronic diseases of our time and is condition that is increasing in epidemic population in the whole world. The complications resulting from the diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and are associated with failure of various organs such as the eyes
kidneys and nerves. Diabetics are also at a significantly higher risk for coronary artery disease
peripheral vascular disease and stroke and they have a greater likelihood of having hypertension dyslipidemia and obesity.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious disorder of the glands
of pancreas to be exact
called Madhumeha in Ayurveda. It is one of the most insidious disorders of the metabolism and
if left undiagnosed
may lead to rapid emaciation and ultimately death.

What are the types of Diabetes?

According to Ayurveda Diabetes is of two types: Diabetes Mellitus- Insulin dependent Juvenile Diabetes (IDDM-Type I) in which the body is unable to produce insulin and Non Insulin Dependent Adult Onset Diabetes (NIDDM-Type II) in which the pancreas produces insulin
but it is insufficient for reducing the blood glucose to normal levels.

What are the common symptoms of Type- 1 Diabetes? Some of the common symptoms of Type- 1 Diabetes are:

Excessive Thirst Frequent urination Unexplained weight loss Irritability Weakness Fatigue

What are the common symptoms of Type- 2 Diabetes? Some of the common symptoms of Type- 2 Diabetes are:

Loss off weight Numbness in hands or feet. Uncontrolled infections Pain in the limbs Inflammatory chest infections Dimness of vision
contrast Excessive thirst Body weakness

What are the different tests for Diabetes?

Urine Test: Some chemicals are added to a few drops of urine. Colour change indicates presence of glucose in urine.

Blood Test: In this
blood is taken to test the glucose level. This is more accurate test to confirm diabetes

Which parts of my body are affected by Diabetes?

Blood Vessels: Higher level of glucose damage the blood vessels. As a result of this most of the diabetic complications occur in blood vessels.

Heart: Diabetes affects the heart by: Increasing the amount of fat in blood and increasing the amount of homocysteine in blood.

Kidney: In diabetes because of increased levels of glucose
kidneys have to do extra work to retain essential substances and separate waste products to produce urine. This affects the small blood vessels and their capacity to filter. After many years of work
it leads to kidney failure.

Eyes: Diabetes affects blood vessels of the eyes. Damage to these blood vessels leads to eye problems like: Damage to retina
Cataract or total loss of vision

Foot: Damage to blood vessels reduces blood flow to the feet and increases risk of developing foot ulcers and infections.

Nerves: High glucose level for a long time damages nerves. Nerve damage reduces sensation in some parts of body which may lead to: Numbness and tingling
Fainting and dizziness

Home Remedies for Diabetes:

The best remedy for this disease is the bitter gourd
better known as ‘karela’. Eat this vegetable as often as you can or have at least one tablespoon of karela juice daily to reduce blood sugar levels in your blood and urine.

Amla
due to its vitamin C content is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of its juice
mixed with a cup of fresh bitter-gourd juice
taken daily for two months will secrete the pancreas and enable it to secrete insulin.

Take ten tulsi leaves
ten neem leaves and ten belpatras with a glass of water early morning on an empty stomach. It will work wonders in keeping your sugar levels under control.

The leaves of Butea tree are very useful in diabetes. They reduce blood sugar and are useful in glycousia.

Take two teaspoons of powdered Fenugreek seeds with milk. Two teaspoons of the seeds can also be swallowed whole
daily.

Eat 10 fresh fully grown curry leaves every morning for three months. It prevent diabetes due to heredity factors. It also cures diabetes due to obesity.