DiabetesMellitus

You need to start a  diabetic diet  if you currently have diabetes or are concerned that you may be at risk. You can make a big difference in your life by exercising, watching your weight and eating healthy. Eating healthy comes down to these three things: What, when and how much you eat. Carbohydrates Even though they have a huge affect on your sugar levels, you don’t need to avoid them. You simply have to be aware about the types of carbohydrates you’re having and learn how to balance them in your diabetic diet. Simple vs. Complex Carbs include the simple sugars as well as complex fibers and starches. The body converts the carbohydrates into glucose which your body needs for fuel. •        Simple carbs: These include fruit in addition to certain vegetables. But simple carbs also include those found in refined and processed foods that have little or no nutritional value. Some of these are candy, soda, snack foods and also white products like...

Neurological damage due to diabetes is known as diabetic neuropathy. Around 50% of all individuals with diabetic issues possess some type of neurological problem. It’s more prevalent with people who have been diabetic for many years and it can bring about many different types of complications. After a while too much blood sugar can harm the walls of small blood vessels which feed your nerves, particularly in your thighs and legs. Nerve fibers send out messages back and forth from your brain regarding pain, temperature together with touch. They inform your muscle groups when and which ways to move. In addition, they manage the bodily systems which digest meals as well as pass urine. When you maintain your blood sugar ranges on target, you could possibly prevent or delay diabetic neuropathy. In the event you currently have neurological problems, this will help to protect against or conceivably postpone additional injury. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions with...

Diabetic proximal neuropathy  is also known by a dizzying array of other names such as: diabetic femoral neuropathy, diabetic amyotrophy, neuropathic cachexia, radiculoplexus neuropathy, lumbosacral plexus neuropathy along with several others. This type of diabetic neuropathy is the result of nerve damage to the thigh and hip area. In many diabetics, it causes an extreme amount of pain and also restricts movement as well as any physical activity. It most often only affects one side of the body but can occasionally spread to both sides. This complication of diabetes usually impacts the hips, thighs, buttock and legs. Even though it is the legs which are most often affected, this condition can also affect nerves within your arms or abdomen. It is more common in the elderly and in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Symptoms of Proximal Neuropathy Pain is usually the very first symptom of this type of diabetic neuropathy. The pain can come on abruptly but it can also come on gradually, ...

Following are the symptoms of diabetes Type 1 including its causes and treatment options. Type 1 diabetes is simply the result of a diminished output of insulin from the pancreas. Specific tissues within the pancreas, which are known as the “Islets of Langerhans”, create the hormone known as insulin. This hormone prompts the cells of your body to absorb the glucose that’s within the blood and use it for energy and growth. In Type 1 diabetes the cells which create the insulin are damaged. Subsequently, a lesser amount of glucose is absorbed out of the blood stream and into the body’s cells so it builds up in your system. The Causes of Type 1 Diabetes The reason this disease occurs aren’t truly known. Perhaps an auto-immune reaction attacking the cells within the Islets of Langerhans could be a reason. A viral infection might be yet another cause. The condition may also be inherited. As soon as glucose absorption by the cells is diminished, it accumulates inside your system and has ...

Young people who have  diabetes  face much higher medical bills than children and teenagers who do not have the disease, and much of the extra tab is due to prescription drugs and outpatient care, the CDC says. A new CDC study says the annual medical expense for young people with diabetes totals about $9,061, vs. $1,468 for  teens  and kids without the disease. The young people with the highest medical costs in the study were treated with insulin , which is typically used by patients with type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, and sometimes used in type 2 diabetes, which more commonly develops after childhood. Patients with type 1 diabetes can't make insulin and thus must receive insulin treatment. Some patients with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin to control their blood  glucose   levels and also are treated with insulin. Insulin Treatment Raises Costs In the study, children and teens age 19 or younger who received insulin treatmen...

For a child with  diabetes , blood  glucose   checks or  insulin   shots can be major sources of  anxiety , especially at the beginning. Parents and caregivers may be no less fearful and guilt-stricken. The American Diabetes Association suggests how to help you and your child get through blood sugar checks and insulin shots: Practice taking deep breaths, and letting them out slowly. Tell your child a joke, or sing a favorite song during the shot. Allow your child to play doctor and pretend to give you a shot first. Ask your child to tell you about the favorite part of the day. Prep the injection site with a kiss, and give another one when the shot is over. Give the shot as quickly as possible. Offer your child plenty of praise for being brave. -- Diana Kohnle SOURCE

Medical costs for children and teens with  diabetes  are six times higher than for other young people in the United States, a new study finds. Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined health insurance claims made in 2007 for nearly 50,000 youth aged 19 and younger, including 8,226 with diabetes. Annual medical expenses for youth with diabetes were $9,061, compared with $1,468 for those without diabetes. Prescription drugs and outpatient care accounted for much of the extra medical costs. The highest medical costs were for youth with diabetes who required insulin, which included all those with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes. The annual medical expenses for those who received insulin were $9,333, compared to $5,683 for youth with diabetes who did not require insulin. Medical costs for all Americans with diabetes, most of whom are adults, are 2.3 times higher than for those without diabetes, according to the CDC'...

We already know that an autoimmune disease could be one of the main causes of diabetes type 1. New scientific research now indicates that one of the causes of diabetes type 2, as well as the progression of insulin resistance, could be attributed to the body’s immune system gone haywire. Researchers have found antibodies within obese individuals, who are insulin-resistant, which are not found in obese individuals who are not insulin-resistant. In addition, they tested a medication which changes the immunity process in mice given fatty meals, and discovered that this drug can help to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Even though the causes of diabetes type 2 have not been well-defined, it is understood that this condition runs in the family, indicating a hereditary aspect. Furthermore, although this disease is clearly connected to excess weight, not everybody that is overweight will get it. That is exactly what made the scientists look for other causes. When stomach fat increases,...

Tradjenta (linagliptin) tablets, combined with diet andexercise, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, the agency said Monday. People with type 2 diabetes don't produce the pancreatic hormone insulin, or don't respond to it properly. Insulin helps control the levels of sugar (glucose) in a person's blood. People with too much blood sugar at are risk of serious complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney damage, and nerve damage, the FDA said in a news release. Type 2 diabetes is the disease's most common form, affecting up to 95% of the estimated 24 million people with diabetes in the United States, the FDA said. Tradjenta boosts hormones that stimulate the release of insulin after a person eats. The drug was evaluated in clinical trials involving 3,800 people with type 2 diabetes. The most common adverse reactions reported included upper respiratory infection, stuffy nose,...

Findings from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) have clearly shown that aggressive and intensive control of elevated levels of blood sugar in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes decreases the complications of nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and may reduce the occurrence and severity of large blood vessel diseases. Aggressive control with intensive therapy means achieving fasting glucose levels between 70-120 mg/dl; glucose levels of less than 160 mg/dl after meals; and a near normal hemoglobin A1C levels (see below). Studies in type 1 patients have shown that in intensively treated patients, diabetic eye disease decreased by 76%, kidney disease decreased by 54%, and nerve disease decreased by 60%. More recently the EDIC trial has shown that type 1 diabetes is also associated with increased heart disease, similar to type 2 diabetes. However, the price for aggressive blood sugar control is a two to thr...

Home blood sugar (glucose) testing is an important part of controlling blood sugar. One important goal of diabetes treatment is to keep the blood glucose levels near the normal range of 70 to 120 mg/dl before meals and under 140 mg/dl at two hours after eating. Blood glucose levels are usually tested before and after meals, and at bedtime. The blood sugar level is typically determined by pricking a fingertip with a lancing device and applying the blood to a glucose meter, which reads the value. There are many meters on the market, for example, Accu-Check Advantage, One Touch Ultra, Sure Step and Freestyle. Each meter has its own advantages and disadvantages (some use less blood, some have a larger digital readout, some take a shorter time to give you results, etc). The test results are then used to help patients make adjustments in medications, diets, and physical activities. There are some interesting developments in blood glucose monitoring. Currently, at least three continu...

What are diabetes symptoms? The early symptoms of untreated diabetes are related to elevated blood sugar levels, and loss of glucose in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output and lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption.  The inability of insulin to perform normally has effects on protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Insulin is an anabolic hormone, that is, one that encourages storage of fat and protein.  A relative or absolute insulin deficiency eventually leads to weight loss despite an increase in appetite.  Some untreated diabetes patients also complain of fatigue, nausea andvomiting.  Patients with diabetes are prone to developing infections of the bladder, skin, and vaginal areas.  Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to blurred vision. Extremely elevated glucose levels can lead to lethargy and coma. How...