What is diabetes? Diabetes and Losing Weight Articles

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Is your dog diabetic ?

Mine is and he is doing quite well thank you! Sure, it was a shock when I found out 10 months ago he had diabetes, but we had him lose a load of weight and since he has been on insulin is like a new dog! At 7 years old he still has a few years to go, so I make sure he is well taken care of.

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Diabetes and Losing Weight

Diabetes in the UK

According to the charity, Diabetes UK, over 2 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK, yet it is believed there may be another million who are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin to control blood sugar, allowing higher than normal levels into the bloodstream.

Type 1 - this usually occurs in children and develops when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed. It is not yet understood why this happens but it may be a combination of genes and environmental triggers. The incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children is rising at a rate of 3-4% a year.

Type 2 - this usually occurs in adults over 40, also known as “late onset diabetes”. However, it is now being diagnosed in children as young as seven. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). In most cases this is linked with being overweight.

Eye tests are also necessary to check for retinopathy which may lead to blindness.

Type 1 diabetes must be treated with insulin injections due to the body’s inability to produce its own insulin. With new research, islet cell transplants from donor pancreases are proving to be promising for the future which allows the patient to start producing their own insulin again.Type 2 diabetes may be controlled by diet and exercise alone. When this is insufficient, there are three types of medication that may be prescribed. One type increases the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas.

Another increases the action of insulin within the body. The third type is able to delay the absorption of glucose from the digestive system.Once diabetes has been diagnosed, the patient is taught how to check their glucose levels regularly from a fingerprick blood test, and also a urine test. They should also receive advice on healthy eating from a dietician and have regular health checks by their GP, Practice Nurse or at their Diabetic Clinic.The health checks are very important and every diabetic patient should be seen at least once a year to monitor blood sugar control and to check for any complications.Diabetics have a higher than average risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes and neuropathy which affects the sensation in the feet and lower legs. Eye tests are also necessary to check for retinopathy which may lead to blindness.

Managing Diabetes
Living a healthy lifestyle can make a big difference in not only managing diabetes but preventing diabetes Type 2, as well. Studies have shown that eating three small meals a day with healthy snacks in between helps to regulate blood sugar. Regular exercise of at least 30 minutes three times a week is also beneficial.Avoiding foods that are high in saturated or hydrogenated fats, and eating carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index will also help with blood sugar regulation. See http://www.glycemicindex.com for the values of a range of foods. High fibre foods such as wholemeal bread and brown rice are preferable to their white versions. Oat bran or oat meal are also good sources of fibre. Sugar should be limited but beware of some artificial sweeteners as they have been found to adversely effect blood sugar.Nutrients such as vitamins C and E can help insulin penetrate cells more efficiently and also protect the cardiovascular system. The trace mineral chromium found in broccoli and grapefruit has been shown to regulate blood sugar. Magnesium is also good for glucose control and is often lacking in diabetics.More information is available at http://www.diabetes.org.uk.Sue Bedford is a Registered Nurse with a Diploma in Nutrition, specialising in health screening and health promotion. More information can be found at http://www.healthychoices.co.uk

Nowadays it is relatively easy to test for glucose.

Glucose Meter for Diabetics - How to Use Them Correctly

Diabetes has become a major problem for the industrialised world. In 1985 around 30 million people world-wide had diabetes. 10 years later almost 135 million people had diabetes. The latest WHO estimate for the year 2000 is that 177 million people world-wide have diabetes with a change that this number will increase to at least 300 million by the year 2025. Diabetes-related death have been underestimated for a long time. No it is believed that ~4 million death a year can be correlated to diabetes. The costs for the health care system are enormous and it is estimated that 2-15% of the total annual health care budget are spent

It is therefore, crucial for every diabetic patient to self-monitor the glucose level in the blood. Sometimes this procedure is called 'SMBG' or ‘self-monitoring of blood glucose’.

Hygenie is very important and before you do the reading you should wash your hand thoroughly first.

It is recommended that hand are disinfected with alcohol. Then, take a sterile lancet and prick your finger tip. Place a small drop of blood on a test strip which is then placed in a glucose meter. You have to follow the instruction of the glucose meter carefully, as the procedure might change if you use different brands. The reading of the actual glucose content can be performed in different ways. Many new models and meter types are available. Where some meters read the amount of electricity that ‘travels’ through the blood sample others may measure the reflection of light as this depends on the glucose level present in the blood. Within minutes the patient knows exactly what the glucose level is and can then decide to take further action if necessary.

Modern glucose meters can record glucose concentration in the blood over a broad range – from as low as 0 mg/dL to 600 mg/dL. It is important that you check with you manufacture instruction as different models may have different readings. Furthermore, pay attention what ‘type’ of glucose you are monitoring, as meters can measure ‘whole blood glucose’ level or just plasma glucose

Thomas H. is webmaster of submit-article.biz directory and has a strong interest in health-related topics. You may qualify for a free glucose meter. Check this at our site: http://www.submit-articles.biz/free-glucose-meter.html

Smoking Gun for Diabetics

If you are feeling great now, consider it a blessing, and quit today. Stay ahead of the game. If you have an existing health problem, then quit today, prevent further damage, and maybe even reverse some of the effects. If you have diabetes, it is even more imperative that you quit now. For those of you with diabetes, your risks increase dramatically when you smoke. For example, some of the risks are:

- High blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood which can result in a heart attack.

There are treatments created to assist people like you to make the decision to ‘Quit for Life’. You may have tried numerous times to quit and may think it is impossible. It is not impossible. The first step is to make the clear decision to stop. The second step is to decide which method you will use.

One treatment in particular offers an all-new, clinically proven method. It is absolutely clean. This breakthrough approach was created in 1999 by a team of scientists and professors in Germany. Since then, thousands of people in Europe have successfully quit smoking. We have a non-invasive treatment that is free of side effects, needles, medication, and nicotine. The computer aided software is administered via electronic stimulation which shortens, if not eliminates, the nicotine withdrawal state, partly through the release of endorphins. Our treatment has had staggering success rates in Europe and is continuing here in the U.S.

Remember, for every cigarette that you smoke, minutes are taken from your life. Even more so if you are also diabetic. Make the decision today to quit destroying your body, and make up your mind once and for all. Let this patented method help you with the rest. It is the best gift you will ever give to yourself and your loved ones.

Free to reprint as long as the authors name and website link follow, and content remains unchanged.

Causes/Basic Definitons of Diabetes

Before studying the causes of diabetes you must understand what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease caused by hormonal imbalance. Insulin is helpful in supply of sugar to various parts of the body. When the beta cells in either produce low quantities of insulin or does not produce insulin in the pancreas, such a stage is called diabetes. In other cases the insulin is produced in the pancreas but the blood cells do not respond to the insulin. This factor of insulin imbalance leads to diabetes.

Diabetes is classified in different categories based on the above factors. They are commonly known as Type-1 & Type-2 Diabetes.

In Type-1 Diabetes the insulin is not produced in the pancreas. This happens because beta cells producing insulin are attacked and destroyed by the body’s cells. Researches are yet to confirm why this happens. This system of attacking and destroying insulin producing cells has a name called “autoimmune reaction”. There are no proven results available to establish the cause of this destruction of cells. However certain results are indicative why this happens. They are as follows:

c) According to some scientists it is the result of cow milk feeding at a very young infant stage.

The other form of diabetes – Type-2 Diabetes develops under the following circumstances:

a) Insulin Resistance. In this stage though the insulin is produced in the pancreas but the blood cells do not respond to the insulin. This leads to excess production of insulin. This over production of insulin results in getting insulin-producing cells exhausted.

b) As a result of insulin producing cells getting exhausted, there may not be sufficient insulin available or the available insulin may not be normal for your body system.

Here are some other factors which may increase the risk of occurrence of Type-2 diabetes. These factors are Increasing Age, Overweight and Physical Inactivity.

There are some other causes which may increase the risk of diabetes occurrence. But these are not so common and may be found in rare cases.

Continued prolonged consumption of certain drugs/steroids/medicines may elevate the blood sugar leading to diabetes.

Women may suffer from Gestational diabetes during pregnancy period. However, this type of diabetes is temporary but chances of it converting into Type-2 diabetes can not be ruled out.

Some diseases affect the pancreas. The pancreas may be damaged as a result of these diseases. This results in the malfunction of the pancreas and non-production of insulin. This can lead to diabetes.

What doesn’t cause diabetes?
You know that obesity – which is the cause of diabetes - is the result of eating sweets or the wrong kind of food. But eating sweets or the wrong type of food does not itself result in the occurrence of diabetes.

Above are the common and known causes of all types of diabetes. The best way to overcome this disease is to follow a life style which suits your body. If you follow certain tips like eating nutritious food, regular daily exercise, and avoid the use of steroids.

What Exactly Is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition that's one of the most costly and burdensome chronic diseases of our time - it is a condition that is fast increasing to almost epidemic proportions throughout the World.

Diabetes is a serious disorder of the pancreas. Basically the body is not able to use the glucose (sugar) in the blood as the levels are too high. Glucose is obtained from the digestion of certain foods like bread, potatoes, rice, sugar and other sweet foods, as well as from the liver.

There are two main types of Diabetes known as Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes - this develops when the body is not able to produce any insulin. It is more usual for Type 1 Diabetes to appear before you reach the age of 40. Type 1 Diabetes is normally treated with regular insulin injections and a change in diet. Regular exercise is also recommended.

Type 2 Diabetes - this develops while your body is able make some, but not enough insulin itself, or if the produced insulin doesn't work properly (called insulin resistance). Type 2 Diabetes is often linked with being overweight, and more often than not appears in those aged over 40. Although in certain people, e.g African-Caribbean and South Asian, Type 2 Diabetes can appear as early as age 25. Recently more children are being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. This type of Diabetes is usually treatable with lifestyle changes, for example losing weight, a healthier diet and also by increasing your physical activity. Type 2 Diabetes may also require extra treatment in the form of tablets and sometimes insulin to ensure that the body maintains normal blood glucose levels. It is often the case that a Type 2 Diabetes sufferer may well end up needing to take insulin a couple of times a day, but it can often be held at may with diet and tablet medication.

The aim with the treatment of both types of Diabetes is to have blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as near to average as is possible. As the long term complications of Diabetes can be an increased rate of morbidity and mortality mainly due to failure of various organs like the eyes and kidneys, it is important to recognise and have Diabetes treated as soon as possible. Diabetics are also at a much higher risk of peripheral vascular disease, strokes and coronary artery disease, and they are also at greater risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity.

So what are the Symptoms of Diabetes? One of the first things you may be aware of is increased thirst, and also extreme tiredness. You will also find you need to pay more frequent visits to the bathroom, especially at night time. Weight loss can also occur, as can general skin itchiness and sometimes blurred vision. You may also notice general weakness and fatigue as well as irritability

Type 1 Diabetes develops much more quickly than Type 2 Diabetes, usually over a period of weeks. The symptoms therefore are normally much more obvious, and easier to identify.

Type 2 Diabetes develops more slowly and the symptoms are not usually as severe. Often sufferers have not even noticed any symptoms, and it is only through a routine blood test that they are diagnosed as having Diabetes.

What Tests can be done to check for Diabetes? There are basically two tests, one is a test on your urine, and the other one is a test on your blood. With the urine test some chemicals are added to the urine, and a testing stick is put into the urine. The colour changes on the stick indicate the presence or non-presence of glucose. The most accurate test however, is a blood test and this gives a very good idea of the level of glucose in the blood.

What Parts of my Body Can Be Affected by Diabetes? Heart - the amount of fat and homocysteine in the blood are increased with Diabetes.

Kidney - due to the higher levels of glucose, the kidneys have to work much harder to retain essential substances and to separate waste products to produce urine. This in turn affects the small blood vessels and their filtering capability. After many years of this extra work, kidney failure can and often does follow.

Blood Vessels - the higher levels of glucose damage the blood vessels, as a result of this many of the diabetic complications occur in blood vessels.

Eyes - the blood vessels of the eyes can be affected by Diabetes. Damage can lead to several eye problems like damage to the retina, cataracts, or even total loss of vision. This is why it is important to have regular eye checks when you are diagnosed as being Diabetic.

Feet - damaged blood vessels can reduce the blood flow to the feet and therefore increase the risk of you developing foot ulcers and infections.

Nerves - the sustained high levels of glucose over a long time damages the nerves, which can reduce sensation in some parts of the body. This can lead to numbness and tingling as well as dizziness and fainting.

How will I know that my Diabetes Treatment is working? You need to learn how to test your own blood glucose levels (usually done with a small self administered jab to a finger, blood dropped onto a strip which is then inserted into a small machine to give a glucose level). There are many testing tools available, ask your doctor which one is best for you. Also get advice on how often you need to test your blood, and at what levels you need to seek advice. Keep a note of your blood glucose levels and show them to your Doctor. A good reading, between meals will be between 70 and 140 mg/dl.

Your doctor will also perform blood tests, and these will show your blood glucose control over the past few months.

Look after your diet and exercise levels, take any medication you are prescribed, and Diabetes need not interfere with the way you live your life too much.

Please feel free to use this article, but keep the author information and resource box as it is,with all links working

Cat has experienced Diabetes in her own family and realises how important it is to recognise and treat this disease. Further information on health matters such as Diabetes http://www.health4usite.net

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