Glucophage as a Treatment for Diabetes

In todays age of fast food and sedentary lifestyle, diabetes has reached plague proportions. It is caused by mismanagement of carbohydrate metabolism in the body.

Diabetes is identified with the excessive production of urine, hunger, thirst and excessive loss of weight, blurred vision, and delay in healing of skin, repeated infection, and excessive fatigue. Longevity, health and well being are all negatively impacted by the presence of diabetes. So, when it comes to treatment of diabetes the main concern should be given to controlling blood sugar, which is the main cause of diabetes. Successfully treating diabetes relies on managing blood sugar.

Adopting a lifestyle of healthy eating and regular exercise is tantamount in alleviating the complications of living with diabetes. Good activities for exercise include swimming, biking, hiking, jogging, walking, and any other exercise activities that get the heart and lungs working. To control and manage a safe level of blood glucose levels, frequent blood sugar testing is required.

It is very important to learn the right range of glucose in your blood. Age is a determining factor on healthy blood glucose levels. For younger diabetes sufferers, the normal glucose range is 80-120 mg/dL and in older people it is generally 100-140 mg/dL.

There are numerous medicines for treating diabetes, which your physician can tell you about. A popular medication is Glucophage. Glucophage regulates blood sugar levels and is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

It works in three ways:-

1) by reducing the amount of sugar (glucose) produced by your liver;

2) by making insulin produced in the body work more efficiently at lowering glucose in the blood;

3) by lowering glucose absorption.

Glucophage is available in 500mg and 850mg tablets.

You can Buy Glucophage On Line - No Prior Prescription Needed in pack sizes ranging from 100 to 800 pills by visiting http://pharmessential.com where you can Purchase Medicine On-line Without Prescription - No Membership Fee

 Always talk to your own physician before considering taking Glucophage or any other prescription medications.

Borderline Diabetes: The Facts

Progress has been very slow over the last few years with regards to research and treatment of diabetes. Around 15 years ago patients were starting to be  diagnosed as being "borderline diabetes" or "pre-diabetes" even while they were enjoying holidays abroad.  Some argued this lead to a false sense of reassurance.  Treatment for diabetes usually wasn't started, as it wasn't thought of as being necessary, since you were still in a grace period but then the patient often got worse.

The patient actually became worse because there is no such condition as "borderline diabetes".  It's like being pregnant – there is no such thing as being only a little bit pregnant.  You are either pregnant or you are not.  It's the same with diabetes.  You either have it or you don't.  There are no known symptoms or signs that point to you having "borderline diabetes".

Unfortunately, decades ago, it was thought that the body put of signs and symptoms that cried out that it was developing diabetes.  This is what "borderline diabetes" was called.  However, that hope has died.  The body does not give off any warning signs before you have to start managing your insulin and diet.  You just fall head over heels right into being a diabetic.

However, you can show worse symptoms with your diabetes than the next diabetic.  Blood sugar levels differ and symptoms differ.  This is kind of like where the myth of "borderline diabetes" got started.  The ones who weren't too affected in their everyday life and didn't go easily into comas must be only have "borderline diabetes".  No, it was because they managed their health better.

If a senior relative or friend insists that they have only "borderline diabetes", don't argue.  This is probably what they were told years ago and it's stuck in their heads.  In time, the terms "borderline diabetes" and "pre-diabetes" can be put to rest.

For more information about diabetes and the effects of taking cheap holidays abroad, bookmark this site now and make sure you visit regularly.

Extra Vigilance is a Required Process for Diabetes Care

It is sad but true that diabetes is a huge health concern in the West which can be seen when we find that there are an estimated three to five percent Westerners affected by this silent killer of a disease, and an estimated one million Canadians are also so affected. Diabetes generally causes an individual’s body cells to become unable to absorb as well as use glucose in an adequate manner and for various reasons including becoming resistant to the hormone known as insulin or because of lack of insulin. And, without proper diabetes care, the patient’s body cells may become starved of fuel that is needed to provide energy to the body and sugar will not then be able to get into the cells, thus causing elevated levels of it in the blood.

Change Diet, Exercise Sufficiently And Take Medications

There are both immediate health problems associated with diabetes as well as long term complications and to prevent the condition from worsening, obviously the diabetic requires proper diabetes care. Thus, to manage diabetes may require paying special attention to the diet the patient takes, and the need for them to exercise adequately and to also take medications whenever required so as to control blood sugar levels and keep the level as close to normal as is possible. Furthermore, diabetes can take either one of three forms that are Type 1, Type 2 and also gestational diabetes, with the last mentioned form of diabetes affecting only pregnant women.

Therefore, it stands to reason that diabetes care is an essential requirement in order to monitor as well as ensure that the diabetic is taking adequate care to control the problem, and in this, there are few ways that he or she can check their condition, especially when in a pre-diabetic stage, and before the diabetes becomes a full blown problem.

It is certainly necessary for the patient to know of his or her family history, and if someone in the immediate family was or still is a diabetic, then chances of the individual also being diabetic is increased. However, one of the problems with diabetes care is that it often requires a lot of effort and it can easily tire the individual out, and thus should only be used if it cannot be avoided. Having a regular checkup is one aspect of diabetes care that is not so tiresome and which can and should be done in order to closely keep tabs on the progress or lack of it in a patient’s health.

Being vigilant is also another aspect to diabetes care and so is having an eye examination performed which must be taken once in a year at least, because diabetes will affect a person’s eyes and thus needs to be addressed at the earliest. Also, avoiding smoking is another aspect of diabetes care, and in any case proper care is a continuous process that requires closely monitoring the health to ensure fewer further complications, and to also manage the existing condition and keeping it as close to normal as is possible.

Book my Blog for more information on Diabetes Care. Also Find Local Help and Support at http://www.GetLocalHelp.com.

 

Natural Cures For Diabetes - Natural Diabetes Supplements

There are many natural cures for diabetes that you can try that can help control your blood sugar levels. There are basically two types of diabetics healthy diet and natural diabetes supplement that you can use. Type 2 diabetes patients will have the most success with using natural methods to produce insulin or controlling blood sugars levels.

Diabetic patients usually have problems creating insulin which is a natural hormone made by the pancreas. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetics will most likely need to depend on insulin injections and natural diabetics supplements such as Optimum Diabetics will not be able to help much. Type 2 diabetes patients can control their diets and take natural diabetes supplement to help control the illness.

Although diabetes medicine are effective in controlling glucose levels, they have some severe side effects and more and more people are turning to natural remedies for diabetes for help.

Some examples of natural remedies for diabetes include onions and garlic. Recent studies have shown that eating onions and garlic can significantly reduce blood sugar levels for long periods of time. It is best to prepare them raw as cooking can make them lose their valuable compounds.

Cayenne pepper is another natural diabetes cure and helps to improve blood circulation. Natural vegetable juices such as those from carrots, coconuts and cabbage also works well as natural diabetes remedies.

However, before you decide to take any natural diabetes supplements or natural remedies, it is best to seek the advice of your doctor. Ultimately, as your doctor will probably point out, your diet will play an important role in determining whether you can cure your own diabetes.

If you are looking for natural diabetes supplements, i highly recommend Optimum Diabetics. Click here to learn more about this diabetes supplement and how it can prevent and stop your diabetes problem.

Cure Type II Diabetes Naturally

Here's an amazing story of how one women determined to fight diabetes after her husband collapsed on a wedding night.

Click here to listen to her story.

Let's admit most of us don't even know that we have diabetes until something like that struck us or our loved one. Unfortunately when that happens it is too late.

She went on declaring war on diabetes so to speak. After scurring through tons of information, she said that she was amazed at the amount of information available.

Unfortunately, over-information and mis-information were a big part of the problem. One doctor recommended a certain type of drug… while other doctors recommended a different type… while still others spoke out against drugs all together".

There was a lot of diet charts, food graphs and medical manuals. She almost gave up until finally in her own word she said she cracked the code and stopped diabetes cold.

It is interesting that after talking to dozens of diabetic patients and medical professionals she spotted a patent on how to fight the disease. She began to test what she found on her husband and after confirming with their family doctors it proved that the methods work.

Here are some of the things that she found:

1) Why over a BILLION Asian never get diabetes?

2) Enjoy the food that you love and still be free from diabetes

3) How to defeat diabetes even if you have passion for sweet stuff.

4) The truth about artificial sweeteners, which one works and which one could even be dangerous to your life.

5) A supplement you can take that’s proven to reduce nerve damage from diabetes.

There are lots and lots more information that will even shock the nutrition expert!

If you or somebody you love are diabetic, then this information could save your life.

Click here to listen to her story.

Type2 Diabetes Food Eating On A Budget

Food prices and the cost of living is going up on almost constantly so when you have diabetes it is important to know how to shop wisely. This can include the purchasing of type2 diabetes food. In order to keep the type2 diabetes food costs down you will need to know what is a good substitute and what is not. This means that you can buy some food instead of other.

Frozen or canned vegetables can help you save in some of your food budget. However in order to maximise your savings you should aim to create an easy to prepare menu. This will help you buy only the food that you need that week, as you will know what ingredients you will be using.

The most recommended type2 diabetes food is that which contain carbohydrate such as potatoes, bread etc but this does not mean that you will only have to eat such foods. The key is maintaining an overall balance that you improve your life. This includes changing your lifestyle and attitude about type2 diabetes exercise, which is also key in maintaining you diseases. Everything about life is moderation and gluttony and overindulgence is never a good thing for anyone.

Knowing The Right Type2 Diabetes Food Helps You Preserve Your Life

Having a disease such as diabetes can have an emotional and physical strain on your body. When you are newly diagnosed you will not have to worry too much about preparing menus on your own accord, because your doctor will advice you to see a dietician or nutritionist who will be able to guide you on the type2 diabetes food.

This means that a massive weight of worry would be lifted off your shoulders, as you will be given some important guidance. The key to type2 diabetes food is that you just have to cut down on the amount of sugar that you consume as it does directly influence the glucose levels in your blood.

Most often you will be told that you need to eat more raw fruit, as you will be able to get more natural sugars from these and more vegetables. Type2 diabetes food is also low in salt and fat, so you will definitely have to change your eating habits to ones that will benefit your body.

If you find it hard to start then you should use the buddy system where you get your friends and family involved in living healthier and longer. Life is for living and not spending getting sick, enjoy the outdoors and have fun.

For more about diabetes please visit www.signsofdiabetesblog.com

Treating Diabetes with herbs from your spice rack

The wonders of treating ailments with Cinnamon.

Southeast Asia is known for its cinnamon.and the uses for Cinnamon is quite popular. From treating a variety of ailments like kidney, liver and hearing problems, to keeping meat from spoiling, and cinnamon aids in keeping diseases from spreading due to its antibacterial properties.

Now the next drug in your medicine cabinet might come from the spice aisle of your local grocery store

Today Cinnamon is used for weight control and Type II diabetes. The Bellville Nutrition Center is under the auspices of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Their 2003 study found that cinnamon lowered glucose, triglycerides and LDL cholosterol, as well as improved diabetes problems.

Although research is still preliminary, doctors and researchers are getting excited about the diabetes and cholesterol-fighting potential of cinnamon.

Cinnamon probably "can't harm in small doses, it may help and it's not adding calories," said Melinda Maryniuk, a senior dietician at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

A small study completed last year on the possible health benefits of cinnamon was "very exciting and promising," according to Dr. Andrew Greenberg, director of the obesity metabolism laboratory at Tufts University, who is so intrigued he has begun studying it himself.

The 40-day study, of 60 people in Pakistan with Type 2 diabetes, found that one gram a day of cinnamon -- one-fourth of a teaspoon twice daily -- significantly lowered the subjects' blood sugar, triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood), LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, and total cholesterol.


"Cinnamon is a lot less effective than statins" at lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, according to Dr. Frank Sacks, a physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Statins have been tested in rigorous studies on 70,000 people for five years or more. Compared to that, he said, the research on cinnamon is weak.

"There are certainly substances in plants that have very strong biological effects, so the concept is fine," he said. And plant derivatives "are being intensively researched at many places -- that's a hot topic."

But it's also "a little weird," he said, that the USDA study found that the beneficial effects of cinnamon lasted for at least 20 days after people stopped taking it. "I don't know of any drug or product whose effects persist for 20 days."

A professor of nutrition at the Public School of Nutrition at the Harvard school of Public Health was amazed at the long-lasting results. Dr. Anderson of the US Dept of Agriculture said, "Cinnamon makes cells more sensitive to insulin." An active ingredient in cinnamon, proanthocyanidin, worms its way inside cells, where it activates the insulin receptor. Once this receptor is activated, whether by insulin or cinnamon, chemical reactions occur allowing the cell to use energy from sugar.

Also, top scorers in the antioxidant are clove and cinnamon. An early study by Richard Anderson of the USDA showed that as little as a half teaspoon of cinnamon a day significantly reduced blood sugar in people with diabetes, and that there are benefits to cinnamon (and to the other spices) that go beyond "just" reducing blood sugar.

Finally, there may be an indirect health benefit to be had from cinnamon, according to Taiwanese scientists writing in the July 14 issue of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Cinnamon oil, they found, kills mosquito larvae more effectively than DEET, a common pesticide and mosquito repellent. Cinnamon contains sulphur, the seventh mose prevalent substance in human's and dog's bodies. Dogs love cinnamon. Fleas, ticks, flies and mosquitoes hate sulphur.

In 2004, the Tiwanese people found that if they sprinkled cinnamon around the island, it killed mosquito larvae more effectively than DEET,(a common pesticide.) On July, 2004 a recommendation was made by the Agriculture and Food Chemistry Dept. in Taiwan to use cinnamon to repel insects. Yet, if the dogs found the cinnamon and ate it, it wouldn't hurt them. Dogs love cinnamon.
Testing against adult mosquitotes is just beginning.

====================================================================================
Author: Wray R. Herring
http://www.diabeteslearningctr.com/
Wray has first hand knowledge and experience in caring for
some one with Diabetes.
For Additional information and products click on http://www.diabeteslearningctr.com
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What Are Diabetes Meal?

What are the common causes of diabetes?

Many studies pointed that diabetes is caused by extra fat in the diet as well as the body. Contrary to the popular believe, sugar is not the only culprit that contribute to the disease.

A leading medical school in the United States made a study on a group of healthy young men. They were served with a diet of 65% fat rich. They became diabetics in less than 2 weeks.

Another group similar to that was given a 10% fat diet and one pound of sugar daily. None of the young men were diabetic after 11 weeks of study.

By no means this is the only study conducted. There were many study that were done before and produced similar results.

What is the best way to treat diabetes?

The straight answer is this disease can be treated by following a very simple diet, very low in fat and high in fiber. Don't forget diet alone is insufficient, daily exercises should be in your schedule too.

It is very crucial to lower the amount of fat, oil and grease in the diet. A person with type II diabetic who decrease fat to about 10% of total calories in daily meal could reduce blood sugar to a normal level within 8 weeks. Many of them eventually could get off diabetic medication totally.

The right food that you take is the natural cure for diabetes. This shows that diabetes could be treated with proper diet of nutritious meals.

How to maintain a steady blood sugar level naturally?

Natural food and food that are rich in fiber could help to reduce the fluctuations of blood sugar level. When foods without fiber components are eaten, blood sugar level quickly shoot up and that's why insulin is used to counteract the reaction.

Processed foods, soft drinks and junk snacks are high in calories but low in fiber, could also lead to high blood sugar level. On the other hand high fiber foods smooth out blood sugar fluctuations and stabilize energy levels.

Active physical exercise acts as an insulin like reaction. It burns up fatty acids and extra blood sugar at a rapid rate.

It is very crucial for every diabetic not to be overweight.
Obesity is the most common non genetic factor that lead to diabetes.

Of course low fat diet, high fiber foods and exercises are great components of natural cure for diabetes.

Sugar Damages Your Insiudes

Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Diabetes is a silent killer. Diabetes affects 17 million people in the U.S., although almost six million of them do not know they have the disease. an extremely] serious disease. It means.

Glucose in solution exists as a stable pyranose ring in equilibrium with the open chain aldehyde form. The reaction of monosaccharides with proteins consists of the covalent linkage of the double-bonded oxygen of the aldehyde function with an NH2 group, either on the alpha-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid or on the epsilon-amino group of lysine. Glucose readings are not linear over their entire range. If you get. Sugar comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. sugar to all the cells in your body.

Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin allows the body to use energy from food. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakes beta cells for invaders and attacks them. medicine, test strips, and lancets are costly even though some are partly covered by medical insurance. Insulin helps glucose [(sugar)] leave the blood and go into the body's cells. If not treated, the sugar.

Type 2 diabetes develops slowly over time and may go undetected. Because of the slow onset and minimal symptoms early in the disease, as many as 33 percent of the people who have the disease are not yet diagnosed. Type 1 diabetes (also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes) is typically diagnosed early because its symptoms are severe and rapid. A treatment plan can then be put in place and continued. Type 1 diabetes is [usually. badly needs to control the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

people]with Type 2 diabetes might face. Heart deaths have declined in men with diabetes, but not in women; kidney failure rates among diabetics are much higher in blacks and Hispanics than in whites. Meanwhile, the disease is increasing worldwide at such an alarming rate.

Health care officials worry that insufficient attention is being paid to the rising number of cases, apparently being propelled by genetically susceptible women entering pregnancy too fat. The inattention, the officials say, is allowing young mothers to be saddled with a harrowing lifelong disease and increasing the risk to their children of ultimately sharing that troubling destiny. Health care costs for diabetes are estimated to be nearly $100 billion per year in the US.

Diabetes - Minimizing Effects of Diabetes

Diabetes - Minimizing Effects of Diabetes

Diabetes can present two main categories of problems, in the form of short term ill-effects and longer term harm. Minimizing both areas requires discipline.

Rapid spikes or dips in blood glucose level can result in several unpleasant effects: dizziness, disorientation, muscle weakness, nausea and others. For some diabetics, it's very difficult to prevent this from happening at some time. But there are practices that can improve the odds.

Regular and careful monitoring is a must. It's no picnic to endure a finger prick three times a day. For those who simply can't muster the will, it is worthwhile to look into some of the newer glucose monitoring devices that don't require it.

Some contain tiny, powerful lasers that create a hole through which blood oozes. They produce only a mild tingling sensation. One recent device senses glucose level through the skin using an infrared beam, requiring no blood sample at all.

The goal is to keep the glucose-insulin balance as close to normal levels as possible. Non-diabetics have a fasting glucose level under about 99 mg/dL. Even after a heavy meal, when glucose may rise to over 200 mg/dL, insulin is released which brings it back down within a couple of hours. That means that keeping the glucose level right isn't so much achieving a static number as maintaining the correct dynamic balance.

Part of a long-term glucose monitoring strategy should encompass regular physician visits with a quarterly A1C test. Several tests exist to measure blood glucose level at a given time. The A1C test provides a picture averaged over a period of months. The name comes from HbA1c, an abbreviation for glycated hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues. The extra glucose in the bloodstream of a diabetic causes that hemoglobin to get glycated. That effect persists and allows an A1C test to measure the accumulated result.

Long term the effects will accumulate, good or bad. Over 10-15 years or longer, many diabetes patients of the past would endure blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage and other ill health effects. That no longer has to be the case. With contemporary understanding of the disease and modern technology it's possible to reduce the odds of those effects nearly to those without the disease.

Exercise and diet are two key elements for the overwhelming majority of diabetes sufferers to help achieve the right glucose-insulin balance.

Keeping body fat low through proper diet and exercise will help. Body fat plays a role in how the body reacts to glucose levels, as well as affecting hormone production and release. While the mechanisms are still being investigated, many studies show there is a clear correlation between body fat and the severity of diabetes effects, as well.

Proper weight and body fat maintenance will also help keep blood pressure at the right level. Chronic high blood pressure is one of the major elements in increasing the risk of common diabetes problems: heart attack and stroke, eye and nerve damage, and others.

With diligence a diabetic can lead a normal life, one very much like those fortunate enough not to have the condition. A little attention a few times a day can lead to not having to pay too much attention at all.

Diabetes - Genetic Risk Factors for Diabetes

Diabetes - Genetic Risk Factors for Diabetes

The causes of diabetes are complex and only partly understood. Complicating the picture even further is the fact that there are multiple types, each with its own risk factors. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common, encompassing about 97% or more of cases in the U.S. Each results from a combination of environmental and genetic influences.

Of those, Type 2 is far and away the most common, about 90% of cases.

Obesity is thought to be a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is a good prototype for a cause since it is itself a combination of genetic background and lifestyle choices. Though the diet opted for and the amount of exercise one chooses to undertake are lifestyle choices, it's still true that some individuals gain or shed weight more easily than others.

But there are many other factors, as well.

A history of diabetes during pregnancy contributes to part of the total risk. Just shy of 40% of women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (a type known as gestational diabetes) will later develop Type 2 diabetes. That typically occurs within 5-10 years after giving birth. Those who give birth to larger babies have a greater risk.

Glucose intolerance is another genetically influenced factor. Since Type 2 diabetes results not from underproduction of insulin (as in Type 1) but from inadequate use of it, it shouldn't be surprising that glucose intolerance is a contributing circumstance. That glucose intolerance should exist is puzzling enough, since it's a major source of the body's energy. But genetic anomalies produce some unusual situations.

Ethnicity plays a role in whether or not an individual will develop Type 2 diabetes, though the reasons are not fully understood. Even after adjusting for lifestyle, Aboriginals, Africans, Latin Americans and some Asian groups are at higher risk. The profile varies between 1.5-2 times the incidence among Caucasians, according to one broad Canadian study. Oddly, though, the risk of Type 1 diabetes is much higher among Caucasians than any other race.

Having high blood pressure raises the odds, too. That again is partly a lifestyle (chiefly, diet and exercise) choice but it has a strong genetic aspect as well. There's a strong correlation between those with high blood pressure and those who will develop diabetes. Similarly, high cholesterol levels increase the risk. Over 40% of those with diabetes have higher than average levels of cholesterol in the blood.

But simple family medical circumstance is probably the largest genetic risk factor.

An individual with a parent or sibling who has Type 1 diabetes has him or herself a risk 10-20 times higher than average. For a newborn baby with a parent who has Type 1 diabetes the odds are 1 in 25, or 4% if the mother gives birth before age 25. Over age 25, the risk is 1%, about the same as the general population. The odds rise again to about 10% if either parent contracted diabetes before age 11.

The genetic risk factors of contracting diabetes are still an active area of research. Fortunately, while in generations past there was nothing one could do to influence them, modern genetic treatments hold out promise of altering even these odds.

Diabetes - Exercise To Control Diabetes

Diabetes - Exercise To Control Diabetes

Having diabetes is never a picnic. But fortunately, for a very large percentage of those who suffer from the disease, exercise can play a large role in the management of the condition. Not only does it improve overall health, helping to stave off future complications and deal with dips in well-being, it directly improves the diabetic condition. But, it needs to be done properly.

Before embarking on any exercise regimen, a diabetic should consult his or her physician and insist on clear answers and feasible suggestions. The diabetic will need to find out which exercises are safe and under what conditions. That will vary from person to person, and often day to day.

The level of blood glucose rises, for example, in response to exercise. But how much and how rapidly differs from person to person and day to day. A high blood glucose level, say 300 mg/dL can rise even higher with vigorous exercise. Those with Type 1 diabetes who have a fasting glucose level above 250 mg/dL will likely have ketones in the urine. Exercise can raise that further, producing a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Alternatively, insulin treatments can produce hypoglycemia (having too low a level of glucose in the blood). But consuming carbohydrates to level it off may have undesirable side effects, such as encouraging excess body fat. That excess in turn may help push those with pre-diabetes into full blown diabetes, over time.

Any exercise routines should be realistic and begun slowly. Many diabetics need to reduce their level of activity below what would be normal for another person. But they can still benefit from the many positive health effects of a good routine. Just as with the elderly or others who may need to curtail some kinds of activity, the diabetic needs to monitor their condition carefully and exercise appropriately.

Think long term. Even people without any medical condition can become discouraged and give up on exercise too easily. Working muscles that have been sedentary (a lifestyle that often raises the risk of acquiring diabetes in the first place) can lead to soreness and discomfort. That creates negative incentives to continue the exercise program. Starting slowly and working up to greater effort can solve that problem. Adopt exercise as a part of an overall lifestyle, not as a targeted cure for any specific problem.

Walking several times per week is a good start. For those who have access to a pool, swimming is a good cardiovascular exercise category that is easy on the joints.

At first, you may feel a bit too tired to even get started. That may be the result of low blood sugar. If your physician approves, eating a small snack can help get you up for the effort. A small adjustment to medication may work for others.

Monitoring is important, even during exercise, since it can change blood glucose levels quickly. A special watch is available that provides a timer for measuring routines, but will also monitor glucose level. But whatever method you choose, keep a close eye on things. Stop if you feel dizzy, nauseous or experience symptoms generally.

Diabetes - Long Term Prospects for Diabetes Patients

Diabetes - Long Term Prospects for Diabetes Patients

The long term prospects for a person with diabetes are not set in stone. In many cases, they are a matter of choice.

There are many possible complications that come with diabetes.

Those taking insulin can experience a low glucose level. Hypoglycemia can lead to several ill effects. In extreme cases, coma is possible. At milder levels, muscle weakness or headache are common.

Diabetic acidosis may result from missing an insulin dose or as the result of infection or other cause. It can be life threatening. It's most common in Type 1 diabetes, but may occur in those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes as well.

Insulin helps regulate blood glucose levels, but it also plays a role in burning body fat. When the insulin level drops drastically, the body starts burning fat, producing a characteristic ketone smell from the breath. The body tries to reduce the condition by inducing rapid breathing. But that strategy can only succeed to a certain degree.

Long term, diabetic retinopathy - a generation of the retina from damaged blood vessels - is another possibility. Kidney malfunction, as the kidneys come to filter less efficiently due to gradual destruction of the glomeruli, is also common.

But none of these conditions is inevitable, particularly today.

The possible long term effects of diabetes are very well known and there have been developed a number of strategies for dealing with them.

Accurate and careful self-care is the first line of defense. That keeps glucose and insulin levels where they should be, along with keeping the body fit to deal with the rigors of any problems that occur. It helps keep blood pressure in check to avoid long term complications from high blood pressure.

But there are longer term prospects on the horizon. Since diabetes is the result of lowered insulin production (Type 1) or inefficient use (Type 2) it can be adjusted by means other than drugs or diet. Note: there are other types of diabetes but these two cover over 95% of all chronic cases. Two of those are gene therapy or organ transplant.

Organ transplantation, in this case of a defective pancreas is an option for those who have Type 1 diabetes. Though a serious procedure, and not for everyone, the surgery has come a long way over the past 30 years, as has every other type of transplant. Immunosuppressive drugs are more effective to reduce the odds of rejection. Some gene therapy techniques are being developed to eliminate even the need for that.

Beyond being an adjunct in aiding immune system suppression, gene therapy can have a more direct role. Research is being conducted to correct autoimmune disorders, one type of which causes Type 1 diabetes. Even Type 2 diabetes sufferers have hope as well, though.

Gene therapy holds out the promise of being able to adjust the efficiency with which the body uses insulin, the characteristic of Type 2. Gene therapy may be able to affect the gene that controls the production of insulin beta cells.

Research is active and ongoing. There are good reasons to hope that in the years to come diabetes may be treated more effectively or even eliminated entirely.

Possible metabolic problems for obese diabetics

Possible metabolic problems for obese diabetics

If you are considered obese, especially with an above average amount of abdominal fat
and are insulin resistant, you may have what is known as metabolic syndrome.  It is
important to note that you can be insulin resistance and not actually have diabetes – yet.  
If you are insulin resistant you may be what is termed pre-diabetes.

If you are insulin resistant, your body is not using the insulin your pancreas is producing
effectively.  Your pancreas will continue to produce more and more insulin but your body
will not use it and cannot derive the energy from the food you eat.  This condition can be
passed on from another member of the family but it is also caused by obesity and
inactivity.

As with diabetes, the risk factors for having metabolic problems – metabolic syndrome –
are quite similar.  Age is a risk factor, the older you are the chances of having this are
greater.  Almost half of the people with metabolic syndrome are over the age of 60 but
symptoms have been seen in children and adults in their 20’s.  Another risk factor for
having this syndrome is race, people from a Hispanic or Asian backgrounds are at a
higher risk than others.    And as mentioned there is also the hereditary factory.

Being obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 25 is a factor too.  The difference
with this factor from the others is that most people have an element of control over this.  
If they are able to lose weight and exercise they can reduce or eliminate this contributor
towards metabolic syndrome.

If you are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, your doctor will run screening tests for
diabetes. He or she will also recommend or put your on a program to lose weight through
a healthy and balanced diet coupled with physical activity.

Diabetes - Diet and Diabetes

Diabetes - Diet and Diabetes

There are multiple aspects to the relationship between diet and diabetes. On the one hand, anyone with diabetes will need to take extra care with diet in order to help maintain the proper glucose level. On the other, those who don't have diabetes - but have a genetic and/or environmental or lifestyle disposition to develop it - can help stave off the disease in part through good dietary choices.

It isn't the case, for example, that eating sugary foods leads to diabetes. The causes of the disease are complex and not fully understood. But what is known shows that there is both a genetic and many possible environmental factors. Only part of that is the amount of sugar ingested.

Nevertheless, it's true that those with a high sugar diet will tend to be overweight (as measured, in part, by a BMI over 27) and therefore are at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. That's particularly true for those who tend to carry that extra weight around the waist.

As such, a diet that is generally healthy for everyone is the same diet that will help stave off diabetes, or lessen its effects for those who already have the disease.

A diet that contains the proper amounts of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, as well as good protein sources, is helpful for everyone, including the diabetic. Fat itself isn't to be totally excluded, but should be consumed in moderation.

Fat gets a bad reputation because (a) it's over twice as high in calories than other foods (9 calories per gram as opposed to 4) and, (b) there are certain fats that are less healthy than others (transfats as opposed to healthier unsaturated fats). A certain amount is essential for good health.

While a diabetic should be prepared at all times to consume a snack or bar that will help stabilize glucose at the right level, in general it's helpful to establish a routine. That makes it easier to monitor glucose level and to predict what it is likely to be when you're not watching it. That also helps smooth out the level of glucose in the blood over time. Spikes or dips are to be avoided.

Those with diabetes who also want to reduce weight or body fat need to take extra care. After consulting a physician to establish a good diet for their particular circumstances, counting carbohydrates will need to become a regular routine. Most carbohydrates are what the body breaks down to produce glucose. That has a direct effect on the glucose-insulin balance so important for keeping diabetes under control.

While protein or fat consumption doesn't directly determine the amount of insulin needed, these too should be consumed in carefully regulated quantities. Excess consumption can make anyone overweight and the diabetic is more negatively affected if that occurs than others.

Consistency is key. Establish a healthy diet plan for your individual circumstances and stick to it, making gradual adjustments as needed. In the long term, it will help minimize any problems associated with diabetes to the maximum extent possible.

Diabetes - Genetic Risk Factors for Diabetes

Diabetes - Genetic Risk Factors for Diabetes

The causes of diabetes are complex and only partly understood. Complicating the picture even further is the fact that there are multiple types, each with its own risk factors. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common, encompassing about 97% or more of cases in the U.S. Each results from a combination of environmental and genetic influences.

Of those, Type 2 is far and away the most common, about 90% of cases.

Obesity is thought to be a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight is a good prototype for a cause since it is itself a combination of genetic background and lifestyle choices. Though the diet opted for and the amount of exercise one chooses to undertake are lifestyle choices, it's still true that some individuals gain or shed weight more easily than others.

But there are many other diabetes risk factors, as well.

A history of diabetes during pregnancy contributes to part of the total risk. Just shy of 40% of women who develop diabetes during pregnancy (a type known as gestational diabetes) will later develop Type 2 diabetes. That typically occurs within 5-10 years after giving birth. Those who give birth to larger babies have a greater risk.

Glucose intolerance is another genetically influenced factor. Since Type 2 diabetes results not from underproduction of insulin (as in Type 1) but from inadequate use of it, it shouldn't be surprising that glucose intolerance is a contributing circumstance. That glucose intolerance should exist is puzzling enough, since it's a major source of the body's energy. But genetic anomalies produce some unusual situations.

Ethnicity plays a role in whether or not an individual will develop Type 2 diabetes, though the reasons are not fully understood. Even after adjusting for lifestyle, Aboriginals, Africans, Latin Americans and some Asian groups are at higher risk. The profile varies between 1.5-2 times the incidence among Caucasians, according to one broad Canadian study. Oddly, though, the risk of Type 1 diabetes is much higher among Caucasians than any other race.

Having high blood pressure raises the odds, too. That again is partly a lifestyle (chiefly, diet and exercise) choice but it has a strong genetic aspect as well. There's a strong correlation between those with high blood pressure and those who will develop diabetes. Similarly, high cholesterol levels increase the risk. Over 40% of those with diabetes have higher than average levels of cholesterol in the blood.

But simple family medical circumstance is probably the largest genetic risk factor for diabetes.

An individual with a parent or sibling who has Type 1 diabetes has him or herself a risk 10-20 times higher than average. For a newborn baby with a parent who has Type 1 diabetes the odds are 1 in 25, or 4% if the mother gives birth before age 25. Over age 25, the risk is 1%, about the same as the general population. The odds rise again to about 10% if either parent contracted diabetes before age 11.

The genetic risk factors of contracting diabetes are still an active area of research. Fortunately, while in generations past there was nothing one could do to influence them, modern genetic treatments hold out promise of altering even these odds.

Controlling Your Blood Sugar Whilst Losing Weight

Controlling Your Blood Sugar Whilst Losing Weight

If you are a diabetic and are overweight or considered clinically obese, you can improve
your overall health and the management of your diabetes by losing weight.  It may seem
like an overwhelming goal if you have tried in the past to lose weight and have failed.  
But there are steps you can take and support you can utilize to help you reach your goals.

The first step to losing weight is to set a short-term goal for yourself.  You can do this on
your own but can also get help from your doctor or a dietician.  A good goal when
starting to lose weight is to take a small percentage of your overall weight and aim to lose
that much in your time frame.  For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds aim to lose weight
5% of your body weight to begin (10 pounds).  When you lose weight as a diabetic you
are helping your body by lessening your insulin requirements.  Weight loss will also
assist you in keeping your blood sugar levels under control.

Another method to lose weight is physical activity and exercise.  Getting your body
moving will increase your metabolism and that act will assist in losing weight too.  Not
only will increased metabolism aid in weight loss, it will also help in controlling blood
glucose levels.  Your body will be processing food more efficiently.

Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand with weight loss.  It also takes patience and time but
as you begin the road to weight loss the benefits you will derive as a diabetic will begin
right away.  And as you reach your goal weight you will gain better control of your blood
sugars.  If you are having difficulty losing weight on your own, speak to your doctor
about other options that are available to you such as medication or possibly surgery.

Diabetes - Environmental and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Diabetes

Diabetes - Environmental and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Diabetes

Why any particular person gets diabetes isn't completely known. Complicating the situation is the fact that there are different types of the disease, though Type 1 and Type 2 are the most common. Of those, Type 2 accounts for about 90% of cases.

Fortunately for those who are at risk, many factors are lifestyle choices and therefore can be altered. Even after contracting the disease, much of the management of the disease involves controllable issues.

Obesity is widely recognized as one of the leading risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes. While there is a genetic influence - some shed or gain weight and body fat more easily than others - it is subject to influence by choices. A high BMI (Body Mass Index) is an adjustable number with the proper diet and exercise.

A BMI of higher than 27 correlates with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. The number should not be taken as a sole determinant, however, since its diagnostic value is less for those who are very muscular or are pregnant. But a high BMI is an indicator of obesity and should be checked.

Beyond simply being overweight, where the majority of excess body fat resides plays a role in the odds of contracting Type 2 diabetes. Those who tend to store body fat around the waist are at higher risk. While that in itself is largely a genetic issue - some individuals are naturally pear-shaped, others are not - the results can be influenced by diet and exercise.

Claims of supplements that target fat at the waistline are yet to be proven. Similarly, assertions that it's possible to selectively remove waistline body fat through specific exercises are ill-founded. But an overall weight-reducing diet and general exercise program will help reduce large fat deposits, including those of the waistline.

More generally, a sedentary lifestyle increases the odds of contracting Type 2 diabetes. Partly that's the result of adopting a mindset that brings with it a number of less than ideal choices. But in particular, the lack of exercise is a direct cause of higher body fat percentage as well as a number of follow on effects.

Exercise certainly burns calories. But even the resting state burns about 70 calories per hour just to power metabolic processes. But regular movement helps stimulate the lymph system, strengthen and loosen muscles, oxygenate tissues and brings with it many other positive benefits.

Exercise helps control blood pressure, a factor in contracting diabetes. It helps regulate glucose levels, which have a major role in the disease since excess glucose in the blood is a defining attribute of diabetes. It alters cholesterol levels, another risk factor for contracting the condition.

Though the risk of contracting diabetes is present for anyone, it's good to know you can drive it to much lower odds by adopting healthy choices.