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Diabetes Early Signs

2010-07-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is an insidious disease that's reaching near epidemic proportions here in the united states of America in the twenty first century. Doctors and scientists attribute a confluence of factors to this event, most notably an increase in the intake of processed sugar (high fructose corn syrup in particuarly) and a lamentably sedentary lifestyle. So if you're looking for diabetes early signs, you'll want to look there first. Before you start showing any symptoms at all, you can take a good, hard look at your diet and lifestyle and see diabetes early signs for yourself.

If, however, it's too late and the disease is already upon you, then there are some diabetes early signs you can look for and find with relative ease.

First, you should note how often you use the bathroom. If you're visiting it more - much more, actually - then you may have early onset diabetes. You'll urinate all the time when you have too much glucose in the blood (which is what diabetes actually is - a build up of glucose in the bloodstream and a lack of glucose in your body's cells. Type 2 diabetes is the more common type, though the end result is the same).

The reason your peeing all the time is one of diabetes early signs is that your kidneys can't get glucose back to your blood if your insulin doesn't work properly. Your kidneys respond by leeching extra water out of your bloodstream in an effort to dilute the glucose, thereby keeping your bladder full and sending you to the bathroom all the time.

A secondary diabetes early signs related to this is that you'll always be thirsty because you'll always be dehydrated. This is part and parcel of the first of the diabetes early signs mentioned above. Be aware, though, that this unquenchable thirst happens much more rapidly and is more pronounced with Type 1 diabetes (where your insulin producing cells are actually destroyed) than in Type 2 (where your insulin producing cells are ineffective or impeded).

So on top of peeing all the time and your unquenchable thirs, you'll also be pooped. This is because glucose is what gives us our energy, and if you've got no insulin to help transition it to your cells, then you'll get no energy. You'll end up being tired, a veritable slug, nearly all the time.

There are other, lesser diabetes early signs such as numbness in your extremities, blurred vision, and dry skin. Keep an eye out for any or all of them, and make sure to eat a proper diet and see your doctor!

Knowing the type 2 diabetes risk factors may prevent you from ever developing this devastating disease!

2010-03-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

Type 2 diabetes is now so common in this country, that you probably know several people with this condition. The type 2 diabetes risk factors come down to two basic categories: genetic disposition and diet. Knowing what these risk factors are can prevent you or other family members from ever developing this disease. Once diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it's far more difficult to manage and avoid the many complications of this progressive and painful disease.

It's irrefutable that there is a genetic factor involved. Native Americans, Eskimos and African Americans have the highest rate of type 2 diabetes. This is probably due to the fact that both these ethnic groups have adopted a Westernized diet in a relatively short period of time. Their native diets did not include the highly refined and sugar laden diets most Americans eat today. While other ethnic groups may have a genetic advantage of centuries of the Western diet, gradually adapting over hundreds of years, no one is exempt. It may just take longer to develop.

Obesity is no longer confined to older folks. Due to poor dietary habits, we now find children who are both obese and afflicted with diabetes. This makes the connection to the effects of poor food choices and diabetes clear. It's the food you eat, as well as the amount, that made you overweight in the first place. No matter what your age, if you're overweight, lose it!

Genetics and obesity are clearly two important type 2 diabetes risk factors.

With poor dietary habits, you're a sitting duck! It's time to change your diet to more healthful foods. Knowledge is power. Knowing the specific type 2 diabetes risk factors in food choices can literally save your life.

Insulin resistance develops when you overload your pancreas with large meals of refined, high carb foods and lots of sugar, leading to compromised pancreatic function, reducing your body's ability to metabolize sugar. Pancreatic exhaustion is unequivocally, a type 2 diabetes risk factor. If, instead of eating the traditional three squares a day, you divide your food intake into several smaller meals a day, reduces the load on your pancreas, keeping it in good shape.

In addition to eating several small meals, make sure they are low in refined sugar, high in fiber and include complex carbohydrates, which slowly break down into sugars your pancreas can deal with at a moderate pace. A can of soda provides an instant rush of sugar into your bloodstream, whereas a plate of fruits or veggies is broken down over time.

Most fruits and veggies are also high in fiber, which flushes toxins from your body and keeps your digestive system healthy. People with type 2 diabetes are always told to include plenty of fiber in their diet, as one way to manage their condition and avoid complications. It stands to reason that a lack of fiber is another type 2 diabetes risk factor.

You've heard it said that drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day is essential to a healthy diet. Water flushes a variety of toxins from your kidneys, keeping them fit and healthy. Patients with type 2 diabetes usually suffer a deterioration of the kidneys, so help yours stay healthy with a daily intake of as much water as possible.

To top off your healthy eating program, stay active and get sufficient exercise. Your heart will thank you. A lack of exercise is also a type 2 diabetes risk factor, as cardiovascular problems go hand in hand with diabetes.

Understanding these risk factors and implementing a good anti-diabetic lifestyle puts you ahead of the curve!

Diabetes Treatment

2010-03-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Having been Type I diabetic for over 14 years, I am always looking to improve my diabetes treatment. I have gone through teenage hormonal changes, two pregnancies and general illness all without much incidence, and I would like to keep it that way. Diabetes can be a very scary thing but with the proper diabetes treatment, it is most certainly a manageable disease.

There are two types of diabetes; Type I which is usually diagnosed during childhood, and Type II which is generally diagnosed after the age of 18. Each require a different set of diabetes treatment, mainly because a person with Type I does not produce any insulin on their own while a person with Type II is just extremely insulin resistant or makes very little insulin.

Type I diabetics basically have to take insulin in some form. There are now several options of diabetes treatment, though, which can make the process much more manageable especially for those weary of needles. The standard treatment is to use insulin by needle self injection as little as once per day and as much as six to eight times per day. There are both short and long acting insulins and most likely a person with Type I diabetes will need to take a mixture of both. If you are not fond of the idea of needles, there is now an insulin inhaler that has just been introduced to the market. It is not widely used yet, but when discussing your diabetes treatment with your doctor be sure to ask about it.

In addition, the most cutting edge diabetes treatment is the use of an insulin pump. An insulin pump site is inserted once every three days and acts like an external pancreas, giving the patient continuous short acting insulin to keep the constant blood sugar levels in normal ranges. When eating, the patient self administers insulin through the pump rather than giving shots. Realistically, I have found this to be the best diabetes treatment for myself because I have been able to adjust my insulin rates down to the half hour rather than taking shots and waiting for the insulin to react. While on the pump, I have been able to take my A1C levels (a three month overview of sugar levels) from 7.1 to as low as 4.2 during pregnancy. Normal ranges are 4.0 to 7.0, so my doctors were quite pleased with this as was I.

Be sure to check out all of your options and take an active role in your diabetes treatment. The disease is quite manageable, especially if you take control and ask questions.

Is it True that when you take Avandia for Diabetes Heart Failure often soon Follows?

2010-03-24T00:49:00.000-07:00

Do you know anyone who takes Avandia? The rate at which diabetes seems to occur among the population, it is possible you know someone who struggles with the disease, and takes this controversial drug. It is controversial because, as well as good as it is on diabetes, it gives dozens of people heart attacks every single month; and the FDA is trying to find a way to break the news, and ban the drug. This is a drug for Type II diabetes, and it has been long suspected that it can damage the heart. The government believes that in the last six months alone, some 500 people died taking this drug.

So why would the friendly folks at GlaxoSmithKline hold off for so long on withdrawing the drug? There is an alternative, and it is just as effective with diabetes, without killing you. Even in the FDA, there is not enough agreement that this drug is capable of hurting you. In fact, on a website that advertises legal services for those injured by the drug, it is claimed that GlaxoSmithKline completely denies that there is a connection between its formulation and the deaths. But Avandia is not a new drug; it's been around for years. Why should all of this erupt over the diabetes heart failure that it is causing, right now? Right now is a good time because the Senate decided to investigate right about now, and there has been new research out, that seems to confirm everyone's worst fears.

That's an unfortunate state of affairs for one of the most highly hyped drugs ever. They've been selling billions of dollars worth of these for years. Around three years ago, a study by an individual American heart specialist, pointed out how there was something fishy about all the diabetes heart failure cases involving this drug, that they were seeing. Right away, the FDA put out a warning, and it was the end of the party for Avandia. There have been studies one on top of the other, and FDA panels on the subject too. Most of them seem to feel that there might be still a chance that the drug isn't lethal. But around the world, lots of diabetes specialists, have stopped prescribing the drug, although many still do take it.

The Senate's findings, don't look very good for GlaxoSmithKline. They suggest that the company, instead of turning its energies to doing something about the problem, decided to do something about the physicians who said it was a problem that it was giving people with diabetes heart failure rates in alarming numbers. It appears that the company is not entirely in touch with itself. On the one hand, it did go along with the government's recommendations, and put out some damning studies that did confirm some fears. And on the other hand, it has always been vigorously promoting its drug. And these are the people we trust our livesto.

How to simplify menu planning for the type 2 diabetic

2010-02-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

When your doc gives you the news that you are a type 2 diabetic, this is a traumatic moment. Although you might not have given the possibility and consequences much thought, up until the point of diagnosis, most of us are familiar with this typically degenerative condition, including the kidney and heart problems that may ensue, as well as deteriorating vision and circulatory problems. To many a type 2 diabetic, this pronouncement may seem like a death sentence.

Unfortunately, medical professionals, on the whole, may unconsciously or unwittingly reinforce this perspective on the patient.

You are given a booklet, much like a calorie counter book, detailing the carbs contained in a stated portion of a variety of foods and beverages. In addition, you're prescribed medications that help protect your heart and kidneys. You may also be scheduled to see a nutritionist to orient you to your new nutritional program. Many patients find this process confusing, counting ½ cup of this and ¼ cup of that, choosing whole grains only and adapting to a whole new beverage regimen. Counting carbs is the main name of this diet planning project.

The nutritional restrictions and confusion over 'food exchanges' and the proper balance of ingredients often proves more than many a type 2 diabetic can manage on a daily basis.

The good news for any type 2 diabetic is that, while your diet must be modified and monitored, the bottom line is to severely curtail your consumption of simple carbs and to dramatically increase your consumption of green, leafy veggies and brightly colored produce, which are generally high in fiber and antioxidants. Stick with lean meats and low fat dairy products.

Cook books for type 2 diabetics are readily available. If one or two ingredients in your recipe are not foods you enjoy, make some comparable (in carb content) substitutions that are more to your taste.

Here's the best news: many formerly type 2 diabetic patients, with high blood sugar readings when diagnosed, have been able to bring their blood sugar levels into the normal, non-diabetic range in the space of just a few months of careful meal planning, eating foods that are tasty and 'good' for you. So don't let your diagnosis put you in a tailspin – you'll grow to love your new diet as you start feeling better and more energetic than ever.

The truth is that, with a good diet plan – and exercise – your type 2 diabetes can be controlled admirably, even to the point of reversing your diabetes. It's all up to you! Good luck!

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

2010-01-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

November is American Diabetes Month, during which efforts are made to spread awareness about the danger of developing diabetes, and people and organizations join together to fight the disease and to prevent it. The leading organization in actively combating type 1 diabetes is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which supports diabetes research internationally. Type 1 diabetes is a disease whose onset occurs immediately, and whose symptoms last for a lifetime. It often develops in childhood and persists into adulthood, but individuals can also develop type 1 diabetes when they are adults. People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes suffer from insulin deficiency because their bodies are attacking the cells that produce it. Insulin is necessary to regulate blood sugar, so patients must inject insulin regularly. However, insulin itself isn’t enough to get rid of diabetes, and the ultimate goal of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is to find a cure for juvenile type 1 diabetes.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation arose in 1970, formed by parents of children with type 1 diabetes in order to raise money for diabetes research. As of today, it has raised more than $1.3 billion to fight diabetes. This money is distributed worldwide and it has helped fund major advancements in scientific diabetes research. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation also puts this research into practice by distributing treatments that help the immune system work properly, replace islet cells and regenerate beta cells that are important for insulin, and control metabolism. And while the organization has largely to do with the scientific aspect of fighting diabetes, it includes people from all over who are personally invested in finding a cure. Academic researchers, industry researchers, businesspeople, volunteers, donors and supporters all work together in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to advance research, to provide charity efficiently, and to bring together a community.

We can support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through a number of ways. We can donate, take part in fund raisers, participate in clinical trials, buy merchandise, work in the organization, and spread the word about what’s going on with diabetes and what can be done. In the way that diabetes research aims to prevent diabetes as soon as possible in childhood, we should take action right away in doing our part. With 24 million child and adults suffering from diabetes in the US and 1 out of every 3 children born today at risk for diabetes, we can’t afford to let this disease run rampant.

The history of diabetes

2010-01-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

Unlike conditions like aids autism and ADD, diabetes isn't a 'new' disease. You could be surprised to learn that Egyptian doctors, 3500 years back, were the 1st to see that folk with the condition we all know today as diabetes, habitually manifested the hallmark indication of frequent pissing, therefore marking the start of the history of diabetes. With the syndrome of frequent pissing, others noted that ants swarmed around an area where these folks had urinated.

Though diabetes, yet unnamed, was known to become an enfeebling condition, the doctors of the time were confused as to the cause and had no treatment. The history of diabetes took a long hiatus, with no progress made past this point for another 1500 years. At that point, the highly regarded Greek physician Galen, incorrectly concluded this condition came from the kidneys. By the year one thousand AD, this now famous condition was named : diabetes mellitus, so named due to the sweet personality of the pee of those people that were tormented with this condition. The history of diabetes, while virtually 2500 years old, was sporadic on facts and absent excellent treatments. Doctors of the time used aides to sample examples of the piss to pinpoint the degree of sweetness and therefore make a diagnosis. Apart from spotting diabetes as a health condition, no progress was made in deciding the cause or inventing treatments for diabetes. It wasn't till the 16th century that diabetes was announced, by Paracelsus, as a life-threatening disorder. Another 2 hundred years passed in the history of diabetes, with no new heavy findings.

Then, in the 1800s, a medically trustworthy test was created to gauge the quantity of sugar in the pee of patients, leading to a conclusive diagnosis. Treatments were nearly hit-or-miss, from huge treatments of sugar to just about jailing the patients to enforce a prescribed experimental diet. Doctors across Europe, across the 1800s, started paying more notice to the poser of diabetes. A couple of discovered that the pancreas appeared to be implicated. At the turn of the 19th century, a spotlight on diet produced maybe the first of the trend diets. Diabetics received advice to eat potatoes, oats, milk or rice.

Starving the patient was one of the most prescribed and radical treatments.

While patients was hoping these assorted injunctions by their doctors would produce a cure, there wasn't a single case that was relieved. Not till the discovery of insulin, in 1921, was there any heavy progress in the history of diabetes. Following experiments with insulin on animals, a young man was successfully treated with insulin. This marked a major turning point in the history of diabetes, with quick progress in both identifying and treating diabetes.

In the 1940s, scientists ultimately made the link between diabetes and eye and kidney problems. In the 30 years that followed, much progress was made in devices , for example home testing devices that authorized diabetic patients to exactly measure blood sugar levels. Oddly enough, it wasn't till 1975 that any excellence was made between diabetes types one and two.

In 1974, the US Congress created the nation's Diabetes Commission, whose mission was to coordinate research of diabetes with coaching programs for medical pros, with patient education. With state funding and research grants in a coordinated effort, it's now feasible to control diabetes with a spread of medicines that aid in avoiding or at least delay the commencement of problems. The history of diabetes has come a ways over the last 3500 years. With modern drugs and systematic research, hopefully this devastating condition may shortly be treatable.

Diabetes Cause

2009-12-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

Diabetes Mellitus affects over 16 million Americans and in the last few decades, its prevalence has increased and will likely continue to rise. There are however 3 types of diabetes; type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes cause occurs when the pancreas cells that make insulin are destroyed due to a lack of insulin. This may occur due to a reaction known as autoimmune reaction. The body starts attacking and destroying its own cells in the pancreas eventually destroying most if not all of the insulin manufacturing cells. While it is not yet clear why this happens, a number of explanations have bee proposed. These include; an infection with a specific bacteria or a virus can make this happen, exposure to chemical toxins from food or even exposure to cow’s milk as an infant has also been shown to trigger the autoimmune reaction in the body.

Type 2 diabetes cause occurs when the receptors on body cells that normally respond to insulin fail to be stimulated, a reaction called insulin resistance. When this occurs, the body produces more insulin eventually resulting in over-production and the insulin-manufacturing cells fail. Alternatively, this type of diabetes can develop when there is simply not enough insulin or when the insulin that is available is abnormal and therefore does not work. Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in people advanced in years, those who are obese and in those who are not physically active. There are also other rarer causes of diabetes that have also been documented. These include certain medicines, during the pregnancy, in what is called gestational diabetes and as a result of disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin. A good example of such a disease is pancreatitis.

Another diabetes cause is the heredity. If both parents have type 2 diabetes, there is a chance that their children will have it too. In identical twins, if one of them develops type 2 diabetes, the chance of the other developing diabetes is nearly 100 percent as well. Drugs such as steroids and Dilantin have also been shown to have a bearing on diabetes cause. Drugs such as alloxan, thiazide diuretics and streptozocin are also toxic to the pancreas and can cause diabetes as well. To reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, regular exercise and healthy dietary habits will go a long way in doing this and thus avoid the risks that come with developing this disease.

Diabetes, the other silent killer

2009-11-07T11:45:00.000-08:00

Figures from the North American Diabetic organisation show that diabetes is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S, slaughtering roughly 210000 folks each year. Medical and other related costs can soar over $100 bill a year!! The excellent news is there's a great deal that you can do to help manage the condition at an initial stage. Learning as much as you can about your diabetes, the best way to control your blood sugar, complications and the way to forestall them, will help you keep healthy.

As usual, be certain to talk to your doctor first before implementing or changing exercise or diet routines or taking any over the counter medicines or nutritive additions. Diabetes is a major condition. It's a lingering disorder of carbs, fat and protein metabolism, identified by fasting elevation of blood sugar level and a seriously raised risk of coronary disease, stroke, kidney illness and loss of nerve functions. There are 2 major sorts of diabetes. Type I and Type II.

Type I is AKA Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus ( IDDM ) and regularly happens in kids and teenagers.

People with Type I diabetes need to inject insulin everyday. It happens when the pancreas stops manufacturing insulin ( an activating chemical which helps deliver sugar from the blood to the body's cells ). Type II is often referred to as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus ( NIDDM ) and is generally an adult illness. In type II diabetes, insulin is present but not reasonably available due to insulin-resistance. The pancreas produces insulin but the body's cells don't make a response to its action and can't soak up the glucose from the blood so glucose levels rise in the blood. Some of the causes are noted below they shouldn't be considered a total list. Heredity plays a majorrole. Up to date proof supports the idea the nutritive standing of the ma when pregnant performs a part in figuring out whether the kid will develop diabetes later in life.

Food with processed sugars and high glycemic index.

Inequality between 2 imperative hormones- insulin and glucagon. Misplaced T7 ( thoracic seven ) vertebra. Complications springing from diabetes can be grave if not controlled. Some complications include but aren't restricted to : Hypoglycemia and diabetic coma. Cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, skin ulcers, gangrene leading to amputation, determined skin infections and coronary disease. Correct treatment is sometimes delayed because diabetes isn't diagnosed till a patient is experiencing issues. Diet is a crucial part of diabetic care. Nutrition is the foundation for good health. Two diet points to consider after consultation with your doctor include complicated carbs that are loaded in fiber, fresh veg and fruits of low glycemic index, instead of straightforward carbs like bread and pastries. Complicated carbs take longer for the body to smash down and absorb and so offer a slower or more steady increase in blood sugar levels. Your doctor may even counsel you to eat smaller frequent meals during the day. Together with diet, exercise is also of equal significance. Exercise will increase tissue levels of chromium and also increases the amount of insulin receptors. In numerous examples, changes in exercise and diet may push borderline blood sugar down to a standard range. The best prevention is adopting a healthy way of life. Because obesity is so strongly related to TypeII diabetes, weight control is a very important component of diabetic management. If you would like to shed pounds to control diabetes, raised blood pressure and decrease the risk for developing coronary disease then walk, walk and walk some more. The key word is healthful way of life thru diet, exercise and certain herbs and additions.

Is There Self Test For Diabetes?

2009-11-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

African American citizens, Hispanics and Local USA citizens have a raised rate of developing diabetes during their lifetime.

Diabetes has potential long-term complications that can have an effect on the kidneys, eyes, heart, veins and nerves. A number of pages on this internet site are dedicated to the prevention and treatment of the complications of diabetes. ( see Diabetes Symptoms ) In diagnosing diabetes, consultants primarily rely on the result of precise glucose tests. test results are just part of the data that goes into the diagnosis of diabetes.

Doctors also take into consideration your physical examination, presence or lack of symptoms, and medical history. Some folks who are seriously unwell will have transitory issues with raised blood sugars that may then revert to normal after the illness has resolved. Also, some medicines may alter your blood glucose levels ( most usually steroids and certain diuretics ( water tablets ) ).

The TWO main tests used to gauge the presence of blood sugar issues are : 1. Direct measurement of glucose levels in the blood in an overnite fast two. Measurement of the body's capability to reasonably handle the surplus sugar presented after drinking a high glucose drink. More frequent testing could be required when you're sick or under pressure. There are several kinds of devices. Generally, you prick your finger with a little needle called a lancet, which gives you a miniscule drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip, and put the strip into the device. A medicare supplier or diabetes teacher will help set up a suitable testing schedule for you. You will be taught the best way to make a response to different ranges of glucose values got when you self-test. The outcome of the test can be employed to adjust meals, activity, or medicines to keep blood sugar levels in a suitable range. Accurate record keeping of test results will help you and your healthcare provide plan a way to best control your diabetes.

5 Diabetes Travel Tips

2009-11-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Planning ahead when you travel decreases stress.

These five diabetes traveling tips are straightforward to carry out and vital to your diabetic management. Confirm your A1C blood sugar levels, your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels are OK. Get the suitable shots for any country you intend to visit. Two ) Wear a diabetes medical ID. Ideally it should be in the language spoken in the country you are visiting. Not everybody speaks your language and you do not want medical issues through misunderstandings. Three ) Keep your medicine and glucose nibbles in your hand-luggage. Check-in bag does, sadly, go astray. Four ) Keep your medicine in its original box, complete with drugstore labels. It'll forestall misunderstandings about why you are carrying drugs and, if you're on insulin, syringes. 5 ) be conscious of time area changes, particularly when changing your watch. Remember when you travel east your day becomes shorter, if you travel west your day becomes longer. Traveling needn't be dire. A reasonable perspective and a little bit of pre-travel planning can make things go much more smoothly.

Causes and treatment of Diabetes

2009-10-17T22:48:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is caused when the body produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the organ known as the pancreas and is used to regulate the sugar in the bloodstream. In the case of someone having diabetes, the blood sugar does not get absorbed inside cells due to a lack of insulin and as a result, this causes a number of problems. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 or diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes. In case of a type 1 sufferer, the organ pancreas is completely unable to make insulin. Some evidence have suggested that this may be caused, in part, by a viral infection. In type 2, the problem occurs when there is not enough insulin made by the pancreas and whatever is made is soaked up in fat cells. Type 1 diabetes usually has its onset with young people under the age of 30 while type 2 diabetes, sometimes referred to as adult onset diabetes, usually occurs in people over 30 years.

To avoid the complications of diabetes, type 1 sufferers must take measures to regulate the blood sugar. Treatment can either involve taking preventive maintenance or through insulin replacements. In preventive measures, the sufferer must watch the food he or she eats as this will determine the blood sugar. Having a well-regulated diet is essential. Such a person also avoids sugar, honey, sweets and soft drinks that are packed with sugar. If a sufferer of type 1 diabetes does not watch what he or she eats, this can result in blood sugars getting out of control that this can have long-term complications and can result in quick and severe illnesses.

In the case of the type 2 diabetes, the sufferer has to control what he or she eats as this type of diabetes is usually worsened by excess weight. Usually with a good diet, it is possible to regulate this type of diabetes. While some doctors recommend use of pills to make the pancreas produce more insulin, there is a limit to this. In both of these two types of diabetes, it is essential to ensure that a balanced diet is maintained and that regular exercising is undertaken. A positive outlook is also essential and so is following medical direction to the letter. Having a positive outlook will help a sufferer to maintain a regular balanced schedule that can go a long way in ensuring that he or she lives a happy productive life.

Baby Diabetes: an Overview

2009-10-11T02:43:00.000-07:00

Baby diabetes is a common problem that comes across as a shocker for most of the parents. The disease has the ability to rob the precious childhood out of your child. The unfortunate fact is that parents sometimes fail to recognize the symptoms and do not seek medical help. Being naïve, they tend to attribute the lethargy of the one year old to an array of common nutritional factors or influence of the idiot’s box.

Baby diabetes can turn into a life threatening situation at times. The most challenging part is that the baby cannot tell you when it is sick. If the parents try to treat vomiting or flu with the earlier prescribed or commonly available medicines, they might involuntarily overlook the possibilities of baby diabetes. Unlike grown up kids, babies are entirely dependent on the parents for their survival. Since the baby lack the ability to convey its ailments in a comprehensive way, the parents shouldn’t take any chance with its health. Even if it is correctly diagnosed, unflinching dedication is instrumental in keeping the blood sugar in place and aiding the baby in living a healthier life.

There are three common types of diabetes – type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. A forth type of diabetes can be caused by some genetic disorders or rare medical conditions. But this is not a prevalent type of diabetes. Baby diabetes usually falls under the type 1 category. Half of the people affected by type 1 diabetes are children. Therefore, it is also known as Juvenile diabetes. The appalling fact is that the symptoms will be displayed only after the diabetes has severely affected the body, preventing an early detection. Most of the victims of baby diabetes need to take insulin injections several times a day.

The only way to avoid a critical and potentially lethal situation is timely diagnosis and insulin supplements. Just like adults, babies also experience the usual symptoms like blurry vision, fatigue, tingly feet, or itchy skin; they obviously can’t communicate it. But parents can watch out for other visible behavior. Some of the patterns that should keep the parents’ antenna up are frequent urination, extreme thirst, sudden weight loss, lethargy etc. It is always better to get a simple medical test done and be sure about the situation.

There aren’t any proven methods to prevent the baby diabetes. The parents can still practice some common caveats with the food habits. If your family has a history of celiac disease, the baby may also have the same digestion problem. Starting solid food in the early months can turn out to be a bad decision. It is not advised to start solids until the baby is at least 4 months old. Some babies might not be ready for solid food till they are 7 months old. A safer alternative would be to avoid wheat and other grains and start with fruits and vegetables. With lot of medical help available and the state focus on infant and baby health, seeking a consultation before the decision can be immensely helpful.

Baby diabetes is a prevalent condition and the only way to deal with it to be alert and seek medical intervention at an early stage.

The components of a healthy diet for diabetes type 2 patients

2009-10-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Type 2 diabetes is a serious health condition that, if not managed properly, can lead to severe complications. A well managed diet for diabetes is essential to controlling this disease. Your physician may prescribe medications to help regulate your blood sugar levels, as well as medications that help protect your heart and kidneys. Understanding how to manage your diet can be complex. Here we try to put it all in plain language, to help you make sense of all the charts in the standard booklet of counting your carbs.

At first glance, it seems that carbs are your enemy. The usual proscription from the medical people is that you limit your intake of carbs to no more than 195 per day. The trouble starts when you see that two pieces of sandwich bread runs around 30-40 carbs, while one plain bagel is almost 50 carbs! If you've been a sandwich eater all your life, this is dismal news indeed.

What you want to do, to set up a healthy diet for diabetes, is to start reading those food labels carefully. When buying bread, look for whole grain breads. You'll notice two things. Whole grain breads have fewer carbs and more fiber. Some newer brands on the market have added fiber, in addition to that contained in the whole grain flour. Whole grains are complex carbohydrates, which is a good thing in a diet for diabetes patients. Complex carbohydrates break down slowly, so you never get a sugar spike, whereas refined flours contain little fiber and often, more simple sugars.

To arrive at the total number of carbs per serving, subtract the fiber grams from the total carbs. Your physician or nutritionist has doubtless emphasized the importance of getting a sufficient amount of fiber in your diet. Why? Fiber helps keep your digestive tract clean and free of toxins, which in turn, helps protect your kidneys from damage. This makes the picture a lot better, in terms of what you can eat and how much, while having a perfectly healthy diet for diabetes management.

Don't shy away from eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. When you see that a half cup of chopped onions has about 15 carbs, you may feel that you'd rather use up your carb allotment on that sandwich! However, when you picture putting a half cup of onions on a salad, you realize that a sprinkling appropriate for a salad probably adds up to just a few carbs. Not a big deal.

Most produce are heavy on the antioxidants too, leading to better overall health and packing a preventative punch for all of your organs, a definite plus in a healthy diet for diabetics.

Foods that are encouraged in a diet for diabetes patients include meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. This means that you can make a meal of a big juicy burger on a whole grain roll, loading it up with lettuce, tomatoes, a couple of sauteed mushrooms and a fat chunk of Swiss to top it all off, all for less than 40 or 50 carbs. Not a bad deal.

In a nutshell, it's simple sugars you want to avoid. A single soda or candy bar can wreak havoc with your blood sugar levels. In fact, a healthy diet for diabetes can be a healthy diet for non-diabetics as well.

What Causes Diabetes

2009-09-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

Learn what causes Diabetes Many people have become aware at what a terrible disease diabetes is. Thousands of people die every year from diabetes-related illness and complications. Diabetes can affect anyone, and, as of today, there is no cure. Most people know all of this, but they still struggle with some of the basic information about diabetes, such as what causes diabetes and how to prevent it. Here is so basic information about what causes diabetes and some advice on how you can change your life today to make it much easier to prevent diabetes. First of all, not all of diabetes is created equal. There are actually two types of diabetes, and what causes diabetes varies with both.

Diabetes itself is directly related to a chemical your body naturally creates called insulin. What insulin does is assist your blood in carrying sugar (used as fuel by cells all over your body). Without insulin, blood sugar levels skyrocket, causing a variety of serious, and in some cases, fatal results. If you are a grown adult and do not yet have diabetes, you cannot get the first type, Type 1 diabetes. What causes diabetes in children? There is a genetic disorder. Type 1 diabetes is not preventable, and is generally the more severe of the two types of diabetes.

If you do not already have type 1 diabetes, you will most likely not get it. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a malfunction in your liver; it no longer is able to produce insulin. There is no cure, but regular insulin shots. The more common type of diabetes that can be prevented is type 2 diabetes. This is also commonly called on-set diabetes, meaning it is something that is developed over time. In this case, prolonged and excessive blood sugar overwhelms the body's ability to produce insulin and that part of your liver "breaks", and this is what causes diabetes for most people. Scientists are working on a method to "fix" your liver, so that it can begin producing enough insulin again on its own, but until then, type 2 diabetics must also take regular insulin shots and closely monitor and restrict their diets for sugar. An unhealthy diet is the main culprit in what causes diabetes.

An excess of processed sugars, found in cookies, cakes, soft drinks and other "junk food", as well as a non-active lifestyle are the main problems. To prevent diabetes, you should work hard to have better cardiovascular health; regular exercise and a better diet. Knowing what causes diabetes is simple, and, now that you do, there is no excuse for you to not take steps today to improve your health and reduce your risk at getting diabetes.

Adult Diabetes Symptoms

2009-08-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Are you aware of the adult diabetes symptoms? You should. Diabetes is a disease that affects close to 8% of the US population. However, there are a growing number of people who don’t even know that they have diabetes. Going unchecked, diabetes can lead to some serious health complication. Thanks to advances in treatment and prevention, diabetes has become a manageable disease. There are several adult diabetes symptoms that should serve as a “red flag.”

One of the most common adult diabetes symptoms is fatigue. This isn’t your normal end of the day run down. Diabetes causes a break down in your metabolism. You can no longer properly process glucose as an energy source. Therefore the body turns to your fat cells for fuel. Although that might sound like a great diet, it is actually harmful when diabetes is the cause and you become constantly weaken as the result.

Unexplained weight loss is another one of the adult diabetes symptoms to be on the look out for. “Unexplained” means you haven’t changed your diet but are still losing weight. This is because you are unable to process the amount of calories you take in.

The unexplained weight loss ties into excessive thirst and excessive urination as two more adult diabetes symptoms. With diabetes you’ll have high blood sugar levels that will kick your kidneys into overdrive as they try to reabsorb the excessive sugar in your bloodstream. The kidneys send an S.O.S. to the brain to help dilute the blood which means drinking more. Obviously when you drink more you have to expel that. The body tries to get rid of the build up of sugar through excessive urinating.

Although you might not always be able to see this in action, another one of the adult diabetes symptoms is poor wound healing. If you have a cut that takes a very long time to heal this could mean that high blood sugar levels are blocking white blood cells from doing their healing duty. This suppression of your immune system can also lead to an increase in infections.

You can also add blurred vision and alter mental status to this list of adult diabetes symptoms. Becoming easily irritated, losing focus or having blurred vision could mean that diabetes is causing your body to malfunction. If you feel that you persistently have one or more of these adult diabetes symptoms, check in with your doctor.

Who's at risk for type 2 diabetes? The answer may surprise you

2009-08-01T01:34:00.000-07:00

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body has been overloaded with sugar, in all of its forms, usually for many years. This causes your pancreas to be taxed to the point where you might describe it as being 'worn out'. This results in sugar going directly into your bloodstream, instead of being metabolized over time. In severe cases, the diabetic may suffer dizziness, blackouts or stroke.

In the past, people who developed type 2 diabetes were generally genetically disposed to the condition. Certain ethnic groups, such as Native Americans, Hispanics and Blacks were more prone to type 2 diabetes, probably because their indigenous diets did not include much sugar. When people of these ethnic groups took up the Westernized diet, their bodies were not equipped to handle the large amounts of sugar and thus were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

While these ethnic groups are still at risk for type 2 diabetes, it's somewhat of a medical puzzle that today, even people without a hereditary predisposition are at risk for type 2 diabetes. If we take a common sense look at the everyday American diet, absolutely loaded with hidden sugars and poor dietary habits, it becomes easier to understand why we are all at risk for type 2 diabetes

Rates of type 2 diabetes have skyrocketed in the last couple of decades, regardless of ethnic backgrounds and even age. While type 2 diabetes is still commonly referred to as 'adult onset' diabetes, now the number of children not even yet into their teens, who are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, is rising at an alarming rate.

Let's take a look at the dietary factors and 'hidden' sugar that puts all of us at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Most of us rely, at least occasionally, on ready to eat foods, in the form of frozen entrees and canned meals, such as chili and spaghetti sauce. All of these 'convenience' foods have added sugar, as well as salt. Why do the manufacturers add these ingredients? To enhance the taste. They are playing to our sweet tooth, subtly but effectively. Next time you pick up one of these processed, ready to eat meals, check the label for the sugar content. If you make such meals a regular part of your diet, you're increasing your chances of being at risk for type 2 diabetes.

The same is true of canned fruits. You've probably noticed that canned fruits are now available in 'no sugar added', 'lite syrup' and 'made with Splenda(TM) versions. While fresh fruits are your best choice, when you pick up canned fruits, check to see what the differences are between all of these choices.

When you pack the kid's lunch boxes, avoid the prepared snacks. There are more hidden sugars lurking there. Replace candy bars with a granola bar and soda with a fruit juice. Growing kids can ingest huge amounts of food to keep them going. Make sure their sugar intake is minimized. Focus on healthy foods which help them grow, while reducing their susceptibility for being at risk for type 2 diabetes.

We're told by our doctors about the value of fiber in our diets. You may wonder what's so great about fiber. The simple carbohydrates, such as are contained in that spongy, nutrient deficient, white bread, translate into an almost instant sugar rush into your bloodstream, again increasing your chances of being at risk for type 2 diabetes, when consumed on a regular basis. Whole grains contain complex carbohydrates, which break down more slowly, for a measured conversion and metabolizing of the resultant sugars in your blood stream. In addition, the fiber content keeps your digestive system in good order as a bonus. Adequate fiber in your diet flushes toxins from your system, an important preventative component in reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes.

That old adage, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' may sound dated, but it's nonetheless true when it comes to an anti-diabetic diet. Cold water fish should be on your menus frequently, full of those Omega-3 fatty acids, which help to favorably regulate cholesterol levels, keep blood pressure in line and provide adequate levels of selenium, a trace mineral of which most diabetics are deficient, resulting in skin rashes and dryness.

So, who's at risk for type 2 diabetes today? All of us! Good nutrition is your best weapon in avoiding developing this devastating disease. Keep your weight in check and exercise regularly. Type 2 diabetes is no joke. Protect your kids and yourself!

The incidence of childhood diabetes is rising: how to help prevent it

2009-07-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

Not so long ago type 2 diabetes, also known as 'adult onset diabetes', afflicted mostly older folks. In fact, diabetes was almost unheard of in children. Today, there are many kids, not even out of grade school, who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and now carries the moniker 'childhood diabetes'. While doctors previously theorized that older people had an accumulated lifetime of excessive sugar consumption, causing their pancreas to be taxed to a dysfunctional state, where it could no longer satisfactorily manage the amount of insulin in the bloodstream.

Many adult diabetics are overweight and don't get sufficient exercise. Doctors tell their adult patients to lose excess weight and implement a regular program of exercise.

What's confusing about the rise of cases of childhood diabetes is that these children should be too young to have accumulated organ damage to the point of acquiring diabetes. So what's different today than say, 50 years ago?

For one thing, today, kids are far more sedentary than kids of 50 years ago. In some schools, P.E. Is not even required. Kids today are far more likely to take the bus home from school than ride a bike. At home, computers, video games and TV are the standard entertainment venues. As for snacks, well, they've come a long way, baby! While a glass of milk and a cookie or piece of fruit was what Mom handed out 50 years ago, kids today are more likely to have a soda and something heavy on the sugar. Even regular meals are often the 'pop it in the nuke' variety, highly processed, with plenty of sugar and salt added. If you compare the typical profile of the adult diabetes patient with the parameters described above, it's probably worth a look to see how childhood diabetes fits the diet and lifestyle of the adult diabetes patient.

All the extra calories probably have much to do with the high rate of overweight kids we see today. A recent study, conducted at a prestigious health institute, sought to isolate the factors most important in the prevention of diabetes. One of their conclusions was that being overweight exponentially increases the odds of acquiring diabetes and that excess weight was perhaps a greater risk factor than lack of exercise!

Today's kids are used to fast food and ready-made meals, in many cases preferring this type of food to the old-fashioned meals Grandma might prepare. They're fast and easy and they taste good. The problem with this type of eating plan is that, consumed as a steady diet, you will gain weight. Combine this with sodas as the beverage of choice and sweet snacks and you've got a recipe for childhood diabetes.

So what can we do to help prevent childhood diabetes? First, sit down with your kids and talk with them about diabetes. Ask them if they know anyone at school with childhood diabetes. If you have an adult family member with diabetes, discuss some of the health problems that that person has to deal with, including heart and cardiovascular problems, painful nerve damage, kidney dysfunction, vision problems and having to monitor blood sugar levels several times a day. Let them know that you'll be making some gradual changes to their diet. This disease is too serious to ignore. With the incidence of childhood diabetes reaching epidemic proportions, it's just common sense to take steps to prevent this insidious disease with lifelong implications. If you present your information as a scientific lesson and not as a 'punishment', they may be more willing to go along with the program.

Kids want to be healthy. It's up to you to help them stay that way.

Create Delicious, Healthy Meals for a Diabetic Diet Plan

2009-07-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Being diagnosed with diabetes often leads to a very stressful period of worry and uncertainty. You obviously are concerned about the far-reaching health ramifications of such a diagnosis, as the disease can lead to some extremely serious medical complications. In addition, you're probably uncertain about what the future holds. You'll likely need to make numerous lifestyle changes to cope with the disease, including taking insulin or medication on a daily basis. An overhaul of your eating habits is in order as well, which is why it's very important to create a custom diabetic diet plan to suit your condition.

Most often, the goal of a diabetic diet plan is to control the amounts and varieties of the foods you consume, which in turn helps your body regulate blood sugar. This is critical for most diabetics, and is not something to take lightly. In fact, your doctor probably gave you a sample diabetic diet plan along with your diagnosis. That's a good place to start, and you can simply add to the basics from there.

The biggest complaint that people seem to have about adhering to a diabetic diet plan is the lack of variety. They feel that they have to give up too many of their favorite items and have to eat the same things over and over again. But this is a misconception that is easily remedied in several ways. First, you can head to your local bookstore and thumb through a few cookbooks specially designed for those with diabetes. Doing this can give you ideas for several new meals to add to your diabetic diet plan. Just make sure you follow the recipes precisely so that the nutrition information remains accurate.

Another way to create healthy meals to fit into your diabetic diet plan is to consult with a professional nutritionist. Nutritionists work with all kinds of people who have strict food limitations, including those coping with diabetes. All you have to do is explain your condition, and alert the nutritionist to any food allergies you might have. From there, she'll be able to customize a diabetic diet plan full of delicious, healthy meals that you'll love to eat.

You can also find free sample plans on the Internet, but you have to be very careful about following these. Some of the websites are maintained by regular people who don't have any relevant qualifications at all, so you can't be absolutely certain that the information they're presenting is accurate. When in doubt, be sure to run things by your doctor first.

Just because you have to follow a diabetic diet plan doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to a lifetime of bland, boring breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. There are plenty of tasty dishes out there that are perfectly safe for diabetics. All you have to do is find them and file them in your own persoal recipe collection!

Learning about diabetes

2009-07-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

The disease diabetes in the United States has reached almost epidemic levels in the past 40 years. Our diets, our lack of physical activity, and food additives have made the US populace into a breeding ground for the disease.

So what's it important to learn about diabetes? First, you need to know exactly what the disase is. According to the American Diabetes Association, "Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life."

So the first thing you need to monitor is your sugar intake, as letting your blood sugar get too low or too high can lead to a diabetic coma. These comas can range from light dizzyness, to passing out entirely, to an actual coma that ends with fatality. If you're diabetic or pre-diabetic, it's important to take the threat of the disease seriously.

A not necessarily intuitive fact about diabetes is that not all sugar effects the system equally. Take, for example, high gructose corn syrup. This is a manufactured sweetender that began to be used in place of sugar in American foods in the early 1970s. Not coincidently, this coincides almost linearly with the diabetes boom in US society. There are many studies out now that show that large concentrations of high fructose corn syrup is much more likely to effect your body's insulin levels, as well as its responses to sugar and other forms of glucose, than is a natural sweetener.

Does this mean high fructose corn syrup is the cause of the spike in diabetes? It seems that way, certainly, but it doesn't necessarily follow. There could, repeat COULD be other causes, unlikely as that may be.

However, it does seem likely that high fructose corny syrup is the culprit. Check your bottle of soda, or your breakfast cereal. Even nominally "healthy" brands use high fructose corn syrup instead of regular sugar now. Check your catsup - it'll be in there, too. Check almost any pre-processed food and you'll find that it contains corn syrup. This product has altered our body chemistry rapidly, and we haven't been able to keep up biologically. You want a solid step about diabetes prevention? Don't eat any pre-processed foods. If you can leave it out on your countertop for a week and it doesn't go bad, you don't want that in your system.

It's important to be aware of that. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have diabetes of some sort now, and it's in your best interest to avoid becoming a part of that group. And if you are a part of that group, it's in your best interest to watch closely everything you put into your body.

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The American Diabetes Association

2009-06-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

In the United States alone over 23 million adults and children have been diagnosed with diabetes. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association is a support and advocacy group that has been on the leading edge of providing up to date information for those afflicted by this disease. They have also led the charge of fundraising for diabetes research. Thanks to their website, the American Diabetes Association is now able to reach millions of diabetes patients and their families on a daily basis. All of their valuable information and resources are now just a mouse click away.

Not only can the American Diabetes Association offer information for people who have recently been diagnosed but they can also help you identify any risk factors you may have in your current lifestyle. Diabetes can be managed but you have to detect it early. Last year, their call center (1-800-DIABETES) helped over 350,000 Americans who needed personal guidance with nutrition and lifestyle choices. Although the call center counselors are strictly non-medical, they can assist you with the pertinent information to help find a doctor in your area.

The American Diabetes Association website also recommends great nutrition tips and diet plans. Even though there are many restrictions to a diabetic’s diet there are just as many tasty and innovative recipes. They also make available information regarding staying healthy through exercise programs that fit into your daily life.

Throughout the year, the American Diabetes Association sponsors many fundraising and awareness events. Among the ongoing annual programs is the Tour de Cure, a bicycle marathon held in over 70 cities across the nation. There is also the School Walk for Diabetes which encourages schools to set up marathon walks. All of these events depend upon participants finding generous sponsors. These events have helped raised million of dollars that all goes towards the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

Sadly, the disease of diabetes doesn’t discriminate when it comes to infecting children. The American Diabetes Association is there to supply helpful information to parents of recently diagnosed children. The initial news can be devasting but thanks to the support provided through the American Diabetes Association, parents are never alone. You’ll soon discover that through the American Diabetes Association there is a thriving and helpful community of supporters who are willing to help; all you need to do is ask.

Baby Diabetes

2009-06-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Maintaining the 1200 calorie diabetic diet

2009-06-23T17:38:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is reaching near epidemic status here in the United States, so chances are you, or someone you know, will be afflicted with this horrible disease. Once diagnosed, it's important to manage as best as you can, and that starts with your diet. Since portion control is an huge part of the problem in the US, it might be a good idea to start counting calories. A healthy number to begin with is 1200 total calories per day.

A typical 1200 calorie diabetic diet will focus strongly on maintaining your blood sugar level, so as not to go into diabetic shock. The easiest and best way to do this is to make sure you sugars you take in are the natural sugars found in breads, fruits and vegetables, rather than processed junk like High Fructose Corn Syrup, which many doctors, researchers and dieticians feel is the cause of the diabetes epidemic.

So I hope you like carrots, because they're a big part of the 1200 calorie diabetic diet. They have a gentle sweetness that your body is designed to crave, as it regulates your insulin level. Make sure you eat a handful of carrots for lunch, and feel free to snack on them during the day as well.

That's another big part of the 1200 calorie diabetic diet - constant grazing. It's better to get your calories and sugars in small doses throughout the day rather than skipping meals and then gorging afterwards. In fact, it's downright dangerous for you to skip meals. You have to regulate your blood-sugar on an ad-hoc basis, so don't think it can be done all at once.

Another helpful tip is to eat balanced meals when you do sit down to eat. Don't just have cereal for breakfast; have cereal, an egg, and piece of fruit. You could also have something like cottage cheese instead of the egg, if that is to your liking. You'll want to count calories, of course - low-fat cottage cheese may fit the 1200 calorie diabetic diet better than regular cottage cheese - and it's up to you to talk to your doctor and figure out which foods work best. But in general, keep it balanced and you'll be fighting the disease in the most effective manner.

Remember, a balanced meal consists of a protein (meat, cheese, etc), a carb (bread, cereal, etc), a fruit or vegetable, and some fats. Make sure not to overdo it on any of those, especially the last, and the 1200 calorie diabetic diet can be your path to a healthy, long life.

A Brief History of Diabetes

2009-06-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is a disease that has plagued Americans for decades, but the history of diabetes goes back much further than that. In fact, the history of diabetes reaches back as far as Ancient Egypt! A physician there mentions a disease that has frequent urination or polyuria as a major symptom. Ancient Greek doctors thought the disease caused a melting of limbs and flesh into urine. The ancient medical diagnostic tool for determining diabetes was, strangely, for a doctor to sample a bit of the patient's urine. If the taste was sweet, diabetes was diagnosed. Clearly, malpractice suits had not been invented yet.

The history of diabetes went largely unchanged through the Middle Ages until a French doctor suggested eating large amounts of sugar as a proscription for diabetes patients during the middle of the 19th Century. Quickly following that, French and Italian doctors began to instead more about the digestive system and linked diabetes to glycogen levels in blood and finally advised individualized diets for those diagnosed with diabetes. French and German scientists also experimented on the pancreas at this time, going so far as to removing it from dogs to understand how the digestive system functions (or doesn't) without it. Clearly, the history of diabetes and the understanding of the disease still had a long way to go.

A huge turning point in the history of diabetes happened in Germany in 1908 when a scientist introduced the first injectable pancreatic extract to treat glycosuria (low blood sugar). This practice had mixed results and vicious side effects but was an important first step in the history of diabetes and treatment.

Finally, in 1921, a crucial year in the history diabetes, insulin is 'discovered'. A couple of Canadian scientists were able to keep alive a dog lacking a pancreas several months with a steady dose of insulin injections. This was a break-through as now there was substantial evidence lacking diabetes with a malfunctioning pancreas. Scientists and doctors alike began work on insulin treatment for human patients with diabetes.

Throughout the rest of the 20th century, the history of diabetes is marked with further sophistication and development of other advances. A standardized insulin delivery syringe was created in 1944. Other advances include insulin pumps, blood glucose monitors, biosynthesized human insulin, and the insulin pen delivery system. The history of diabetes continues to be written as more and more is learned about the disease.

Learning About Diabetes Can Save Your Life

2009-06-20T02:58:00.000-07:00

Here are the simple facts about diabetes: your body either isn’t getting enough insulin or does not effectively use the insulin that it does produce. Insulin is the hormone that converts sugar, starches and other foods into the energy you need for daily life. Think of it this way; if your body is an engine, then diabetes is what is clogging up your fuel lines. Although there isn’t a cure yet, there are treatments and affective measures you can take to life a healthy and normal life.

Do you know enough about diabetes to determine if you have the disease? Too often diabetes goes undetected because the symptoms are considered harmless. The common warning signs include frequent urination, excessive thirst and hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision. Taken alone those symptoms aren’t unique but add them together and the warning signs are clear. A doctor can determine your diabetic status by administering a Fasting Plasma Glucose test (FPG) or a Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Type 1 diabetes refers to people whose bodies can’t produce insulin while Type 2 denotes people whose bodies can’t properly use insulin. There is also the state of pre-diabetes which actually affects close to 57 million Americans. If gone unchecked pre-diabetes can turn into Type 1 or 2. If you think you are at risk, see your doctor.

Although the exact cause of diabetes remains a mystery there are two important risk factors to be aware of: family history and weight. Genetics plays a key role in determining if you are susceptible to diabetes. The same can be said for those who are overweight. Knowing if you are in the high risk category will provide guidance towards the steps you can take to avoid becoming diabetic.

One of the myths about diabetes is that if you are diagnosed you can no longer have sweets or chocolate. The truth is that taken within the confines of a healthy meal plan and exercise program, there is no reason why diabetes can’t feed their “sweet tooth.” Another falsehood about diabetes is that because you are diabetic you have to strictly eat diabetic foods. The truth is, like the rest of us, a diabetic’s diet should consist of meals low in salt and sugar and high in whole grain foods, fruits and vegetables.

Educating yourself about diabetes can help you and your family to enjoy healthy and long lasting lives.

New diabetes report adds to confusion about treatment

2009-06-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON | One week after researchers announced that pushing down blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal might be dangerous for high-risk diabetes patients, a similar study has found no such risk. The seemingly conflicting findings, released Wednesday, stoked the new uncertainty about the best strategy for treating type 2 diabetes, one of the most common health problems in the United States and elsewhere. This unfortunately just makes things more confusing,” said Richard Kahn of the American Diabetes Association. I think patients will be confused. I think doctors will be confused. So I think the message is: Don't do anything until we get this sorted out. Federal health officials said there were a variety of possible explanations for the differing findings, and they planned to meet with their counterparts at the new international study to try to explain the results. Hopefully when we sit down and look at the data we'll come up with some mutual conclusions,” said Denise Simons-Morton of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. More than 21 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, which has become more common because of the increase in obesity.

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Open your eyes to the disastrous effects of Diabetes.

2009-04-26T00:06:00.000-07:00

The mere thought of Diabetes brings so many queries and fears into our mind.

Diabetes is really deficiency of Insulin ( A Hormone secreted by little gland called Pancreas ) which converts sugar into energy ) or the low capability of the body to use insulin. So glucose levels in blood have a tendency to remain steadfastly raised. Alone in US, more than 16,000,000 people are afflicted by Diabetes. Folks who are afflicted by Diabetes are at more risk to Heart issues and Kidney Mess ups . What actually happens? With the absence of Insulin in the body, glucose and fats are not converted into energy and they remain as it's the Bloodstream and with time make a contribution to Health illnesses. There are some reasons for folk to be following a diet. The choice of a diet like vegetarian or macrobiotic might simply be a private private choice.

However, the general public who are dieting are doing so because they are overweight.

As well as the thousands of lives that are cut short by obesity, the commercial cost is amazing. The overall costs due to obesity-related disease approaches $100 bn. yearly ( NIH ). In truth, losing even 5 to ten p.c of your present weight is the sort of goal that can improve your wellbeing. Mavens suggest targeting for a loss of ten to twenty pounds which is very lifelike and quite doable.

Are you aware that twenty pounds equals 9,072 paper clips, or 1,599 quarters, 480 bits of raw bacon or two.

What actually happens? With the absence of Insulin in the body, glucose and fats are not converted into energy and they remain as it is the Bloodstream and with time make a contribution to Health sicknesses. You may be Diabetes victim due to following reasons * Obesity definitely leads to Diabetes. * People with diminished glucose tolerance or have high fat content in their blood * It can get moved to you thru your folks or ancestors.

* Girls who deliver babies weighing more than nine pounds are at the mercy of Diabetes.

* Certain ethnic groups are way more prone to Diabetes.

Also get free tips and tricks on weight reduction and an opportunity to go thru other educational articles targetting numerous health concerns at.

Softball is played through rain, sleet or snow for a cause

2009-03-15T15:37:00.001-07:00

The second annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Sno-ball Tournament in Mascoutah could have been more aptly called a mud ball tournament.

The tournament began Saturday at Scheve Park in Mascoutah with 42 teams participating in three divisions on four fields and is scheduled to conclude today, starting at 10 a.m.

The players came in looking sharp in sweatsuits and winter outfits, but most left as muddy messes. With the temperature hovering in the mid-30s, the fields were almost frozen but had a melted layer of mud on top.

That resulted in ground balls that often stopped before reaching the infielders. Pop-ups became adventures as fielders tried to skate beneath them and runners rounding bases often didn't make it.

All in all, it was hilarious to watch, but a little cold.

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Diabetes control is harder for Hispanics

2009-02-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

Lack of access to health care is making it harder for Hispanics to control diabetes than non-Hispanics, according to a study released yesterday by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

The study also was reported in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

The Wake researchers reviewed 11 studies, which found that Hispanic patients with diabetes have about 0.5 percent higher levels on a test that measures blood-sugar control - the A1C test - than non-Hispanic white patients.

The test measures hemoglobin linked with glucose, or blood sugar, over two to three months. Higher A1C values indicate that patients have difficulty controlling their blood sugar.

"We were not surprised by these findings, since ethnic minorities in the United States are disproportionately affected by diabetes," said Dr.

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Diabetes journal study shows KCI's product effective in treating foot ulcers

2009-02-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

Kinetic Concepts Inc. (KCI) officials said a new research study being released in the American Diabetes Association's journal will show that the company's V.A.C. Therapy products is more effective in treating foot ulcers than advanced moist wound therapy.

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Children face fat crisis

2009-02-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

AT least 35 Victorian children are being treated for obesity-related diabetes, a potentially lethal disorder that usually strikes adults.

And a 13-year-old weighing 160kg is among more than 300 overweight children swamping Melbourne hospital specialist clinics.

Children as young as 11 are being treated for obesity-related type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart and kidney disease, stroke, eye and foot problems and nerve damage.

In the worst cases, children are also showing signs of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and hip problems.

Mary, of Mulgrave, said her greatest fear was that her daughter -- who at 15 is already 153kg -- could die if she does not win her battle with obesity. But she says the teen can't see she's overweight.

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Science stacks up for choline's health benefits

2009-02-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Chronic inflammation has been linked to range of conditions linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, and type-2 diabetes.Researchers from Harokopio University and the University of Athens also report a link to levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and the data appears to be in line with intervention studies using high dose betaine or choline supplementation, which have reported homocysteine reductions of up to 20 per cent (betaine, 1.5 to 6 grams per day).Few studies have investigated the effects of choline and betaine in terms of disease prevention because food composition databases were not available until only recently.The new study has taken advantage of these databases and reports that people with increased intake of choline, and its oxidation product betaine (found naturally in vegetables such as spinach), have lower levels of homocysteine."Our results support an association between choline and betaine intakes and the inflammation process in free-eating and apparently healthy adults," wrote lead author Paraskevi Detopoulou.Study detailsThe Athens-based researchers surveyed 1514 men and 1528 women aged between 18 and 89 taking part in the ATTICA Study with no cardiovascular disease.

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Expert Available To Discuss Recent Diabetes Study

2009-01-24T19:43:00.000-08:00

Last week it was reported that the National Institutes of Health abruptly halted part of a major study on diabetes and heart disease following an unexpected number deaths among patient enrollees. "It is imperative for diabetic patients to take their condition seriously when it comes to controlling their glucose levels," says Richard M. Goldfarb, MD and medical director of the Buck County Clinical Research Center.

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Hypoglycemia Alert Dogs Offer Assistance to People with Diabetes

2009-01-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Map) - ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets: people with diabetes are all too familiar with the equipment used to test their blood glucose (sugar) levels. Now some people are adding a different kind of aid to their diabetes management regimen. The March 2008 issue of Diabetes Forecast, the consumer magazine of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), features an article about assistance dogs that are trained to sense episodes of human hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, and sound a life-saving alert.

According to the article, these dogs seem to sense a dangerous drop in blood glucose before it begins, allowing the people they work with to prevent an episode altogether. Some dogs seem to sense high blood glucose, too.

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Safety Medical Products Announces Approval to Supply Syringes in National Diabetes Programme

2009-01-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

Safety Medical Products announced that it has been granted approval by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing to become a supplier of syringes to the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). Approx 12m syringes were distributed through the NDSS in the 12 months to June 2007, where total sharps consumption increased by 9.9% over the previous financial year, at a cost of more than $9m. The success in gaining approval to supply syringes to the NDSS demonstrates the Company's ability to provide world class products at competitive prices and is considered a stepping stone in gaining access to other programmes such as the Federal Government funded Clean Needle Programme.

More information about SFP.AX

Pregnancy and diabetes: From conception to birth

2009-01-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy and diabetes presents unique challenges. Here's what you need to know to deliver a healthy baby.

Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, pregnancy presents unique challenges. Naturally, you're concerned about the effect diabetes may have on your health and your baby's health. But there's much you can do to promote a healthy pregnancy. Here's what you need to know about pregnancy and diabetes — and delivering a healthy baby.

Pregnancy and diabetes: Your health care team

Your diabetes health care team likely includes an endocrinologist or other diabetes specialist, a diabetes educator and a registered dietitian. As your pregnancy progresses, your health care team can help you manage your blood sugar level and adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed.

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Genes that conquered cold blamed for disease, fat

2009-01-05T00:19:00.000-08:00

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Genes that helped early humans adapt to cold climates may be driving metabolism-related diseases such as obesity or diabetes in many countries, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

They found a strong correlation between climate and genetic adaptations that influence the risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of related disorders such as obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes.

"Climate over a long period of time has shaped the distribution of genetic variants that may be associated with the risk of these common metabolic disorders," said Anna Di Rienzo, a professor of human genetics at the University of Chicago.

Anthropologists have long made the case that certain traits such as differences in skin pigmentation reflect early human migration from equatorial Africa to cooler climates -- for instance, the link between paler skin and an ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight.

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Seminars encourage proactive role in addressing diabetes

2008-12-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

Jessica Kerr, an assistant professor in the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, knows that medicine only goes so far when it comes to diabetes, which affects an estimated 17,000 in Madison County."The clinicians can only do so much," she said. "The patients are the ones that have to deal with this."Encouraging that proactive role is the goal of a diabetes education program Feb. 23 sponsored by the American Diabetes Association's Madison County Leadership Council at SIUE.The free event, which starts at 9 a.m. in the Delyte W. Morris University Center, will include seminars on type 1 and type 2 diabetes and healthy eating habits, a vendor fair and free diabetes screenings.Charles Wiggins, a 73-year-old type 2 diabetic who travels the country talking about controlling diabetes, will deliver the keynote at 9:30 a.m.Other scheduled speakers include:* Dr.

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Diabetes study shows starkly different results

2008-10-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

A week after the medical community was stunned by research showing that aggressive treatment of diabetes produced a higher death rate, a new analysis by a separate team has found that intensive treatment does not pose such a risk.

The take-home message from the studies -- the first led by U.S. researchers, the latest by the George Institute for International Health in Sydney -- is not one of scientific flip-flopping but one of taking a wait-and-see approach, doctors said. Neither study is the be-all and end-all of diabetes research.

"I think our current goal for achieving [blood sugar] control in patients with Type 2 diabetes is based on information accumulated over decades," said Dr. Kenneth Hupart, chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic disorders at Nassau University Medical Center.

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Cancer 'less likely to strike the boss'

2008-10-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

FATTER pay packets and longer lunches aren't the only perks enjoyed by the boss, according to research showing managers are also less susceptible to cancer.

A study of more than 4200 older Australian workers has defined for the first time the medical conditions most likely to go hand-in-hand with each industry.

People employed in retail trade were more likely to develop arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions, while those in health and community services had the highest rates of cardiovascular disease.

Hospitality workers are treated to moderately high rates of both of these disease groups as well as a high dose of endocrine conditions like diabetes and thyroid disease, the University of Sydney researchers found.

Managers and administrators were significantly less likely to suffer neoplasms, or cancerous tumours, than all other level of workers.

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Hispanics have more difficulty controlling diabetes than non-Hispanic whites

2008-10-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Results of an analysis of multiple studies show diabetes control is more challenging for Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues.

The results revealed that Hispanic patients with diabetes have approximately 0.5 percent higher levels on a test that measures blood sugar control, called the A1C test, than non-Hispanic white patients. The researchers noted the consistency of these findings across the studies.

An A1C test measures hemoglobin linked with glucose, or blood sugar, over a time period of two to three months. Higher A1C values indicate patients have difficulty controlling their blood sugar.

The results of the meta-analysis are reported in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

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Bentley Pharmaceuticals Announces Completion Of Treatment In Phase II India Clinical Study In Type 2 Diabetes And ...

2008-10-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced completion of treatment in an 80 patient multi-center open label, randomized, parallel group Phase II study in India to determine the safety and efficacy of add-on intranasal insulin spray (Nasulin®) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on oral anti-diabetic therapy. The clinical study report is expected to be completed later this month, but preliminary clinical results are being released today.

The primary study endpoints were reduction of Post Prandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) by 20mg/dl from the baseline value and reduction of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 0.7% from the baseline value, both by the end of three months treatment with Nasulin. Tolerability of the study drug was a secondary study endpoint.

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Australian diabetes study disputes U.S. findings

2008-10-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Contradicting unexpected findings released last week by American researchers, an Australian team said Wednesday it found no evidence that aggressive treatment of diabetes in patients with heart disease increased their risk of death.

Physicians and patients were shocked by last week's announcement because it seemed to contradict a long-held tenet of diabetes treatment -- that reducing blood glucose levels as much as possible improves patient health.

The new study, with nearly twice as much data as the American one and a longer follow-up time, provides some reassurance that the paradigm has not been overturned. But there are enough differences between the two studies to cloud the source of the discrepancy, experts said.

Doctors had already warned diabetics not to alter their treatment regimens, and the new findings from the George Institute for International Health in Sydney reinforced that warning.

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Low-calorie sweetener findings leaves experts split

2008-10-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Six months ago, Gloria Ramirez switched from regular soda to diet soda. People told her it would be better for her because she is overweight. And her husband, who has diabetes, drinks diet soda on his doctor's advice.

After hearing about a study released this week that found rats given yogurt with a low-calorie sweetener found in diet soda gained more weight and ate more than rats given yogurt with traditional sugar did, Ramirez said she is thinking about exchanging a case of diet soda for bottled water.

"People think this stuff is helping them," Ramirez, 45, of Riverside, said as she sipped from a can of Diet Pepsi this week in downtown Riverside. "But, in reality, it's not helping them."

Some health experts said people shouldn't jump to conclusions.

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Stress Hormone Impacts Memory, Learning In Diabetic Rodents

2008-10-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is known to impair the cognitive health of people, but now scientists have identified one potential mechanism underlying these learning and memory problems. A new study in diabetic rodents finds that increased levels of a stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland disrupt the healthy functioning of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning and short-term memory. Moreover, when levels of the adrenal glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (also known as cortisol in humans) are returned to normal, the hippocampus recovers its ability to build new cells and regains the "plasticity" needed to compensate for injury and disease and adjust to change.

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DiabetesAmerica launches second San Antonio treatment center

2008-10-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

DiabetesAmerica, a company that operates a network of diabetes care and management centers across the state, is opening a new San Antonio health center.

The new 3,500-square-foot health center will provide comprehensive diabetes care to patients in San Antonio, including medical treatment, education, nutrition counseling and weight management.

The new center will be located at 7863 Callaghan Road, Building 2, Suite 206, in Northwest San Antonio. It is slated to open April 3.

Dr. Jacqueline Pugh has been named chief physician at the new San Antonio center. Pugh is a University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio graduate and has been involved in diabetes care and research for 23 years.

This will be Houston-based DiabetesAmerica's second location in San Antonio.

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Metabolic syndrome in kids likely to persist

2008-10-21T17:44:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors that define the so-called metabolic syndrome are very likely to have the syndrome in mid-adulthood, or even overt heart disease or diabetes, according to a new study.

The metabolic syndrome is a grouping of risk factors that indicate a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The risk factors include high triglyceride levels, high glucose levels, high blood pressure, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, and being overweight.

The current findings stem from a 30-year follow-up of 814 students who were between 5 and 19 years old when they enrolled in a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute study between 1973 and 1976.

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Body's location is still unknown

2008-07-22T18:23:00.001-07:00

MEMPHIS - When Frances Wright walked slowly past a tired, gray-haired man in shackles and a wheelchair in a small federal magistrate's courtroom, for a brief moment she felt a tinge of sorrow for him.

It was an unexpected reaction to have to Dale Mardis, the baggy-eyed man in orange coveralls, who authorities believe killed her husband seven years ago.

"He didn't look too happy, and I know he wishes life had a rewind button, but it doesn't," said Wright, the widow of Shelby County Code Enforcement inspector Mickey Wright, whose body has never been found. "I'm hoping eventually his heart will soften, and I guess we'll never give up hope that we'll retrieve Mickey's remains. I just hope he doesn't take it with him. It won't change anything, but we'd like to know."

Mardis, a 54-year-old former gun dealer who suffers from diabetes and other ailments, was indicted on federal charges of killing Wright with a firearm because of his race, a hate crime that carries punishment of up to death.

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Metabolic syndrome tied to diet soda

2008-07-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Researchers have found a correlation between drinking diet soda and metabolic syndrome — the collection of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes that include abdominal obesity, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels — and elevated blood pressure. The scientists gathered dietary information on more than 9,500 men and women ages 45 to 64 and tracked their health for nine years. Overall, a Western dietary pattern — high intakes of refined grains, fried foods and red meat — was associated with an 18 percent increased risk for metabolic syndrome, while a ‘prudent’ diet dominated by fruits, vegetables, fish and poultry correlated with neither an increased nor a decreased risk.

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A modern-day Dr. Dolittle

2008-07-06T15:09:00.000-07:00

When Joe Kenney was a toddler, his mother, Diane, frequently took him outside his Abington home to look for frogs, bugs, or anything else that might distract him from asking for snacks. Because he had severe diabetes, he had to be kept to a strict eating schedule.

After they learned to live with the challenges of diabetes, his parents and preschool teachers discovered that Kenney also showed signs of dyslexia, a learning disability that makes it difficult to read. Once again, animals helped him through.

"I was always looking for lizards, snakes, and whatever else I could find," said Kenney, now 17. "Once I found them, I wanted to keep them and make them a home. When I became frustrated with reading and homework, I'd let out my frustration by cleaning the animals' cages."

Now, in what was once the garage, he has more than 40 reptiles, many of them exotic, as part of an educational reptile-show business called Craz-zy Critters.

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American Diabetes Association Related To The ADVANCE Study Announcement

2008-06-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

Investigators in the ADVANCE Study, an international study involving 11,140 high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes, announced that their study provides no evidence of an increased risk of death among those patients receiving intensive treatment to lower blood glucose (sugar). These findings contrast with those reported last week by the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute suggesting that intensive glucose lowering treatment levels had increased the death rate compared to standard glucose lowering in patients with type 2 diabetes recruited to the ACCORD trial. The ADVANCE interim results were based on more than twice as much data and similar levels of glucose control as in ACCORD. The ADVANCE trial was five years in duration and is currently ending. More definitive and final outcome results from ADVANCE should be available later in the spring.

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Hypoglycemia-alert dogs help diabetics

2008-06-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

Dogs trained in the United States sense episodes of human hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in diabetics, the American Diabetes Association reports.

The dogs seem to sense a dangerous drop in blood glucose before it begins, allowing the people to prevent an episode altogether, reports the March issue of Diabetes Forecast, the consumer magazine of the American Diabetes Association.

Mark Ruefenacht, a forensic scientist with type 1 diabetes who started a hypoglycemia alert dog training center in California and who has placed trained dogs for three years, said some dogs also seem to sense high blood glucose.

"Clients are coming back saying, 'I have never had better control of my blood sugar in my life as I have since I got this dog.'" Ruefenacht said in a statement.

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Keeping an eye on fast foods

2008-06-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

NUTRITION plays a key role in the health of individuals. The prevalence of diseases linked to inappropriate dietary pattern has been on the rise. These diet-related diseases include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer.

The authorities have always taken a serious view of the importance of healthy nutrition. For decades, comprehensive nutrition intervention programmes have been implemented to combat these diseases.

The consumption of fast foods is the centre of a new set of guidelines recently introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH). There are two parts to these Guidelines on fast foods: (a) advertising to children; and (b) labelling of nutrient content.

I would like to highlight these guidelines to all stakeholders to help promote their effective implementation.

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Study suggests diabetics can reverse hardening of arteriesStudy suggests diabetics can reverse hardening of arteries

2008-06-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

Aggressively lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels in adults with type 2 diabetes may possibly reverse hardening of the arteries — atherosclerosis — according to research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Atherosclerosis is the No. 1 cause of heart disease and can lead to heart attack, stroke, and death.

The three-year study of 499 participants is the first to compare two treatment targets for LDL ("bad") cholesterol and systolic blood pressure levels, key risk factors for heart disease, in people with diabetes.

Nofire said the most important lesson was learning she had the power to stop diabetes.

"You really can control it," she said. "You can actually do something about it."

In the Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study (SANDS), approximately one-half of the participants (247) were asked to lower to standard levels their LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, while the other half (252) aimed for more aggressive lowering of LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure.

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Metabolic syndrome in kids likely to persist

2008-05-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

Hypoglycemia-alert dogs help diabetics

2008-05-21T02:07:00.000-07:00

What’s your risk?

2008-05-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

There are certain traits that can help doctors identify those at high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Its commonly known as cardiometabolic risk.

DO you notice that people with diabetes tend to be overweight, hypertensive and have high cholesterol levels? This association was described as early as 80 years ago, but little attention was paid to it until 1988 when syndrome X was described.

Children face fat crisis

2008-04-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

AT least 35 Victorian children are being treated for obesity-related diabetes, a potentially lethal disorder that usually strikes adults.

And a 13-year-old weighing 160kg is among more than 300 overweight children swamping Melbourne hospital specialist clinics.

Children as young as 11 are being treated for obesity-related type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart and kidney disease, stroke, eye and foot problems and nerve damage.

In the worst cases, children are also showing signs of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and hip problems.

Low-calorie sweetener findings leaves experts split

2008-04-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

"People think this stuff is helping them," Ramirez, 45, of Riverside, said as she sipped from a can of Diet Pepsi this week in downtown Riverside. "But, in reality, it's not helping them."

Some health experts said people shouldn't jump to conclusions.

Read More

Area study: Diabetes a top killer

2008-03-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

Residents in the Living Well Foundation's eight-parish northeastern Louisiana coverage area die twice as often from diabetes as the rest of the United States population and have a higher rate of obesity, a survey conducted for the foundation found.

Findings from the needs assessment conducted by Professional Research Consultants Inc. of Omaha, Neb., were released during a public meeting attended by more than 100 people at West Monroe City Hall on Wednesday.

Salsalate cuts blood sugar levels in obese adults

2008-03-28T17:34:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A drug approved for the treatment of arthritis may have a role in reducing the risk of diabetes and heart trouble developing in young obese individuals, Harvard researchers report.

Compared with an inactive placebo, the anti-inflammatory drug salsalate reduced glucose levels by an average of 13 percent in 20 non-diabetic adults no older than 30 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 (classified as obese).

For the study, Dr. Allison B. Goldfine of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston and colleagues randomly assigned the participants to take 4 milligrams of salsalate daily in two divided doses, or placebo, for 4 weeks.

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Stress Hormone Impacts Memory, Learning In Diabetic Rodents

2008-03-26T17:13:00.000-07:00

A life-saving measure

2008-03-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

Compulsory licensing is legitimate. Compulsory licences are explicitly allowed under the 2001 Doha Declaration on Trips and the Thai Public Health and Patent Act (section 51). Thailand's previous use of compulsory licences was fully compliant with international and national law.

Governments all over the world, including rich ones, use compulsory licences to protect the public interest, ensure equitable access, promote innovation and control anti-competitive prices.

Thailand has the right to protect its citizens from illness. Threats, real or imaginary, from vested interests should play no role in Thailand's decision to protect its citizens from death and disease through the use of compulsory licences.

2. Compulsory licences save lives. Without compulsory licensing, Thailand could not afford to offer universal access to effective but very expensive treatments for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

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Managing diabetes and heart disease

2008-03-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

SINGAPORE: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic illness, caused by the inability of the pancreas to secrete enough of a hormone called insulin or the body losing its ability to use insulin.

Insulin controls the transfer of sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream into body cells. For people with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin results in elevated blood sugar levels or hyperglycaemia.

According to data from the International Diabetes Federation, 230 million people worldwide have the disease and this is expected to affect 350 million people by 2025.

Link between diabetes and heart disease

People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop coronary artery disease and stroke. It is often associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, increased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, decreased HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol levels, and obesity.

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DiabetesAmerica(TM) Opens New San Antonio Health Center

2008-03-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

DiabetesAmerica, the premier network of diabetes care and management centers across the state of Texas, announced today that they will be opening a new center in San Antonio. Scheduled to open on April 3, 2008, the brand new 3,500 sq. ft. health center will be dedicated to providing comprehensive diabetes care, including medical treatment, education, nutrition counseling and weight management. The center will be located at 7863 Callaghan Road - Building 2, Suite 206, San Antonio, TX 78229.

Author advises a revolution in eating

2008-03-14T20:49:00.001-07:00

Food isn't what it once was. Actually, much of what we eat today may not be food at all. That is the main lesson drawn from Michael Pollan's new book, In Defense of Food, a meticulously researched, self-described "eater's manifesto."

The book, which is very much a companion piece to Pollan's earlier book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, continues his argument that in recent decades, we have shifted from the traditional diets of our ancestors to what he calls the "Western diet" -- industrialized food, reconstituted, repackaged and redefined to conform with the latest whims of nutritional science.

It is a shift that Pollan says has set us adrift in a "treacherous food environment," bereft of "cultural tools to guide us through it." All this has brought us increased obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes along with the troubling paradox that "the more we worry about nutrition the less healthy we become."

Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic spoke about cardiovascular disease at The Breakers during a breakfast symposium for ...

2008-03-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Despite progress against heart disease, cardiologists with the Cleveland Clinic are concerned that skyrocketing diabetes rates will darken the picture.

In recent years, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have helped millions prevent the progression of heart disease and live longer, according to Dr. Brian Griffin, director of fellowship training for the clinic's department of cardiovascular medicine.

But diabetes threatens to spoil the party.

Calorie-rich diets are only partly to blame for the growing trend toward obesity and diabetes in America, he said.

"A lot of it has to do with inactivity, particularly in the adolescents," Griffin said Wednesday at The Breakers during a breakfast symposium for sponsors of the American Heart Association's Heart Ball.

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Blood Bank program identifies 103 with risk of diabetes

2008-03-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

In the first three months of Blood Bank of Delmarva's diabetes screening program, 103 blood donors received potentially lifesaving information after they gave blood: they had glucose levels of more than 200. Donors with that result are urged to contact their physicians for further testing. Of those with elevated glucose levels, 24 blood donors had levels greater than 300, two had dangerous levels greater than 400 and one donor fell in the critical range with 530."Our diabetes screening program is identifying potential diabetics at a rate of more than one per day," said Robert L. Travis, Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) President and CEO. "This program is proving that blood banks can make a difference not only to blood recipients, but to donors as well. We are now potentially saving lives on both sides of the blood bag."Since October of 2007, BBD donors have been offered the opportunity to be screened for diabetes as part of the regular blood testing process.

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Hypoglycemia Alert Dogs Offer Assistance to People with Diabetes

2008-03-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Seminars encourage proactive role in addressing diabetes

2008-03-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

New diabetes report adds to confusion about treatment

2008-03-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON | One week after researchers announced that pushing down blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal might be dangerous for high-risk diabetes patients, a similar study has found no such risk.The seemingly conflicting findings, released Wednesday, stoked the new uncertainty about the best strategy for treating type 2 diabetes, one of the most common health problems in the United States and elsewhere.“This unfortunately just makes things more confusing,” said Richard Kahn of the American Diabetes Association. “I think patients will be confused. I think doctors will be confused. So I think the message is: Don't do anything until we get this sorted out.”Federal health officials said there were a variety of possible explanations for the differing findings, and they planned to meet with their counterparts at the new international study to try to explain the results.“Hopefully when we sit down and look at the data we'll come up with some mutual conclusions,” said Denise Simons-Morton of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.More than 21 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, which has become more common because of the increase in obesity.

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New Drug Targets For Cancer And Other Diseases Revealed By Enzyme Structure

2008-03-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

If the genome is the parts list of the human cell, certain proteins are the production managers, activating and deactivating genes as needed. Scientists funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of Health, now have a clearer understanding of how a key protein controls gene activity and how mutations in the protein may cause disease. The work could provide new avenues to design drugs aimed at cancer, diabetes, HIV, and heart disease.

The research appears in the Feb. 14, 2008, issue of the journal Nature. The lead authors include Philip Cole, M.D., Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., and Ronen Marmorstein, Ph.D., of the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, Pa.

The investigators focused on a protein called p300/CBP that belongs to a family of enzymes known as histone acetyltransferases, or HATs.

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'Meals Made Easy' classes offered

2008-03-06T20:30:00.001-08:00

The Lincoln County Diabetes Education and Prevention Coalition, in partnership with Lincoln County Health and Human Services, is offering "Meals Made Easy," four-week nutrition education classes teaching individuals how to manage their diabetes through healthy eating habits.In Lincoln City, classes will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday beginning March 6. In Newport, classes take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, beginning April 14.Topics will include an overview of diabetes self-management and prevention and the "plate method" of how to classify foods into various groups and make healthy choices when planning meals. There will also be menus, recipes, and taste testing to teach how to prepare delicious meals.

DiabetesAmerica launches second San Antonio treatment center

2008-03-04T22:36:00.000-08:00

DiabetesAmerica, a company that operates a network of diabetes care and management centers across the state, is opening a new San Antonio health center.

The new 3,500-square-foot health center will provide comprehensive diabetes care to patients in San Antonio, including medical treatment, education, nutrition counseling and weight management.

The new center will be located at 7863 Callaghan Road, Building 2, Suite 206, in Northwest San Antonio. It is slated to open April 3.

This will be Houston-based DiabetesAmerica's second location in San Antonio.

Read More

Keeping an eye on fast foods

2008-03-03T19:52:00.001-08:00

The authorities have always taken a serious view of the importance of healthy nutrition. For decades, comprehensive nutrition intervention programmes have been implemented to combat these diseases.

I would like to highlight these guidelines to all stakeholders to help promote their effective implementation.

Read More

Doctors from the Cleveland Clinic spoke about cardiovascular disease at The Breakers during a breakfast symposium for ...

2008-03-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Despite progress against heart disease, cardiologists with the Cleveland Clinic are concerned that skyrocketing diabetes rates will darken the picture.

But diabetes threatens to spoil the party.

Calorie-rich diets are only partly to blame for the growing trend toward obesity and diabetes in America, he said.

Australian diabetes study disputes U.S. findings

2008-02-29T20:39:00.000-08:00

Doctors had already warned diabetics not to alter their treatment regimens, and the new findings from the George Institute for International Health in Sydney reinforced that warning.

Read More

Hispanics have more difficulty controlling diabetes than non-Hispanic whites

2008-02-27T19:00:00.000-08:00

An A1C test measures hemoglobin linked with glucose, or blood sugar, over a time period of two to three months. Higher A1C values indicate patients have difficulty controlling their blood sugar.

The results of the meta-analysis are reported in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

Read More

Diabetes journal study shows KCI's product effective in treating foot ulcers

2008-02-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

Healthy eating

2008-02-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

Although Rob and Leticia Galindo had different reasons to change their eating habits, their meal plans are actually pretty similar, following common sense guidelines that anyone at risk for diabetes or obesity can use.

Rob's goal is to drop a total of 150 pounds; since January 2007, he has lost almost 90 pounds. Leticia needs to follow a diet that will help keep her diabetes in check. To that end, Rob has created a diet plan for the pair based on books, magazines and the advice of Paul Percival, Leticia's personal physician, which should help each of them to reach their goals.

"Leticia saw two different nutritionists and a diabetic counselor here in town, and she did not find them useful," Rob said. "Dr. Percival has helped us the most, and Leticia tries to follow my lead as far as her diet goes."

Rob has learned many healthy eating tips reading magazines such as "Prevention and "Diabetic Living." In the past, he has been a member of weight loss programs such as TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) and he uses tips he picked up from the group.

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CDC Diabetes Expert to Speak at WMH

2008-02-24T13:23:00.000-08:00

A nationally recognized expert on managing diabetes will speak at Wayne Memorial Hospital on February 21st at 7:30 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m. Ann Albright, PhD, RD, is the Director of the Division of Diabetes Translation for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the federal government's primary public health agency. Dr. Albright leads a team of more than 100 who strive to eliminate the preventable burden of diabetes through leadership, research programs, and policies that translate science into practice.

Her presentation at Wayne Memorial Hospital, "Diabetes—a BIG Public Health Problem," is not an exaggeration. Diabetes affects close to 21 million Americans, or about 7% of the population, according to the American Diabetes Association. In Pennsylvania, the numbers are considerably higher: about 8.6% of the population has diabetes, according to the most recent statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

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New diabetes report adds to confusion about treatment

2008-02-23T15:24:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON | One week after researchers announced that pushing down blood sugar levels as close as possible to normal might be dangerous for high-risk diabetes patients, a similar study has found no such risk.The seemingly conflicting findings, released Wednesday, stoked the new uncertainty about the best strategy for treating type 2 diabetes, one of the most common health problems in the United States and elsewhere.“This unfortunately just makes things more confusing,” said Richard Kahn of the American Diabetes Association. “I think patients will be confused. I think doctors will be confused. So I think the message is: Don't do anything until we get this sorted out.”Federal health officials said there were a variety of possible explanations for the differing findings, and they planned to meet with their counterparts at the new international study to try to explain the results.“Hopefully when we sit down and look at the data we'll come up with some mutual conclusions,” said Denise Simons-Morton of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.More than 21 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, which has become more common because of the increase in obesity.

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New diabetes study supports intensive treatment

2008-02-21T19:22:00.000-08:00

A week after the medical community was stunned by research showing that aggressive treatment of diabetes produced a higher death rate, a new analysis by a separate team of researchers has found that intensive treatment does not pose such a risk.

The take-home message from the back-to-back studies - the first led by a team of American researchers, the latest by Australians - is not one of scientific flip-flopping but one of taking a wait-and-see approach, doctors said yesterday. Neither study is the be-all and end-all of diabetes research.

"I think our current goal for achieving [blood sugar] control in patients with type 2 diabetes is based on information accumulated over decades," said Dr. Kenneth Hupart, chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic disorders at Nassau University Medical Center.

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