DiabetesMellitus

There are many diabetic diet myths out there about what you can and cannot eat. Most experts suggest a change in one’s lifestyle that includes more physical activity and better eating habits. This is a good thing because it is an effective and relatively easy way to control your diabetes. Also, when you shift your focus to living a healthy lifestyle it will probably result in weight loss which lowers your risk of developing diabetic complications from being overweight. Forbidden fare You have most likely heard that sugary foods are a no-no in any diabetic diet. That is obviously not true because nearly all types of food contain sugar so you don’t need to avoid it completely. In addition, sugar is only one many different food items that can cause an increase in blood glucose. Starches like pasta can also do harm to the body. What you need to do is create balance in your diet. Best food group Some people believe that they can eat as much food containing protein as they want, guess ...

Gestational  symptoms of diabetes  usually occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of a pregnancy. It is the result of high amounts of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream which impacts your pregnancy as well as your baby’s health. No one wants any complications when they are pregnant. However, expectant mothers can manage their diabetes by exercising, eating healthy and taking medication. By taking care of yourself you can insure a healthful pregnancy for yourself along with a healthy beginning for your child. With gestational diabetes your glucose level typically returns to normal after giving birth, but you are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. You will need to continue to work with your doctor to control your glucose. Symptoms of Diabetes Normally, there aren’t any symptoms of diabetes. Most of the time diabetes is discovered during routine tests performed during pregnancy. On rare occasions, like if your blood sugar count has gone wild, you may experience...

Hypoglycemia prevention is possible if one is strict in their diabetes careor management, also should know the symptoms of hypoglycemia to correct it at mild stage. Hypoglycemia prevention tips People with diabetes should take diabetes medications in the recommended doses at the recommended times. People with diabetes should eat regular meals at regular time, and try not to skip meals or snacks. Snacks are particularly important for some people before going to sleep or exercising. Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially on an empty stomach, can cause hypoglycemia, even a day or two later. Intensive diabetes management - keeping blood glucose level as close to the normal range as possible to prevent long-term complications, can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (talk with a health care provider about ways to prevent hypoglycemia) As diabetic you should know the symptoms of hypoglycemia to correct it when it is mild. If you are a parent of diabetes child you should know the symp...

Low blood glucose level called hypoglycemia; treatment is to increase the blood glucose level back to normal by consuming glucose rich food. Hypoglycemia managment If have any of the hypoglycemia sign and symptoms, check the blood sugar/glucose level. If the level is 70 or below, hypoglycemia is confirmed and needs to manage hypoglycemia right away with consuming one of the following: 3 or 4 glucose tablets 1 serving of glucose gel (equal to 15 grams of carbohydrate) 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice 1 cup (8 ounces) of milk with sugar  1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey Recommended amounts may be less for small children, consult your doctor for advice about the right amount. Follow up action in Hypoglycemia treatment After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again to make sure your level is 70 or above. Repeat these steps as needed. Once your blood glucose is stable, if it will be at...

Symptoms of hypoglycemia low blood sugar may vary because low blood sugar can be mild, moderate, or severe.  In healthy people, fasting blood glucose levels are usually between 70 and 99 mg/dL. Symptoms of mild hypoglycemia Symptoms of mild low blood sugar usually develop when blood sugar falls below 70 mg/dL and may include:   heavy hunger, nausea sweating,cold, clammy even with out any physical acitivy rapid heartbeat trembling numbness sensation Symptoms of moderate hypoglycemia If blood glucose level falls below 55 mg/dl, the nervous symtoms will start appearing: irritability, anxiety, restlessness, or anger. Confusion, thinking difficulty, concentration difficulty. Blurred vision, dizziness, lightheadness or headache. lack of energy, feels weak, Fatigue, lethargy, or drowsiness. Poor coordination and difficulty walking talking difficulty - staggering or slurred speech. Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia If th...

If experience hypoglycemic symptoms, then confirm it by measuring the sugar/glucose level in blood. If it is lower than 70 mg/dl it is an indication for hypoglycemia . Home glucose monitor for testinghypoglycemia Home glucose monitors, which are often used by people who have diabetes, may be used to evaluate possible hypoglycemia. But a low blood sugar reading needs to be confirmed by these formal laboratory tests, if needed. Blood sampling site for hypoglycemic test Test Site: Blood sample taken from the fingertips reflect your “real time” glucose levels, whereas the glucose levels in alternate sites take 20 to 30 minutes to catch up. Therefore, if you feel that your blood glucose may be low, you should test your levels by drawing a sample from your fingertip so you don’t get a false reading. The same rule applies when you have treated low blood glucose with a snack: A fingertip reading will more accurately tell you whether you have successfully treated your low. Hypoglycemia stag...

Hypoglycemia occurs due to number of reasons, the most common being a side effect of drugs used for the treatment of diabetes. What causes Hypoglycemia? on fast meals/snacks skipped or delayed or taken too small, taking too much diabetes medicine, more exercising or physical activity than usual, too much alcoholic beverages or have at empty stomach Sometimes, medicines you take for other health problems. Hypoglycemia can make you feel weak, confused, irritable, hungry, or tired. You may sweat a lot or get a headache. Hectic physical activity or exercise may cause hypoglycemia. Physical activity has many benefits for people with diabetes, including lowering blood glucose levels. However, physical activity may even cause hypoglycemia up to 24 hours afterwards of hectic exercise, so checking blood glucose before sports, exercise, or other physical activity and having a snack if the level is below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) adjusting medication before physical activity ch...

Hypoglycemia, also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar, occurs when blood glucose level drops below required levels. Glucose, an important source of energy for the body, comes from food (carbohydrates). What is Hypoglycemia low blood sugar? After a meal, carbohydrate is broken down to glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the body’s cells. On seeing the glucose level in blood pancreas secrets insulin (a hormone) with respect to the level of glucose in blood and help the cell to consume glucose for its energy. Excess of glucose from food is converted to glycogen or fat and stored in liver or fat cells. The body can use glycogen for energy between meals. Fat can also be used for energy. When blood glucose begins to fall, glucagon (another hormone) made by the pancreas, signals the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose into the bloodstream. Blood glucose will then rise toward a normal level. In some people with diabetes, this glucagon is impaired an...

The  symptoms of diabetes  are the result of high glucose levels in your blood. In hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) the exact opposite is true. Hypoglycemia is more common with type 1 diabetes, and can be caused by certain diabetes medication, your diet and physical activity. Symptoms Certain symptoms of diabetes and the very serious condition, diabetic ketoacidosis, are similar to some of those found in hypoglycemia, so it could be difficult to tell them apart. These include: Hunger Blurry or double vision Drowsiness Rapid heartbeat However, diabetic hypoglycemia also displays specific warning signs that you need to act upon. Dizziness or feeling faint Shakiness Anxiety or nervousness Sweating Moodiness or changes in behavior Headache There are some other symptoms which can happen during the night. Wet clothing or bedding due to perspiration Nightmares Waking up confused or irritable If the early indicators of hypoglycemia are not treated they can lead to other, mo...

Presence of ketones in the urine is an indication of the body start metabolizes fat. Both diabetics and persons on low-carbohydrate diets may test their urine for ketones on a daily basis.  Ketone test overview Normally no ketones are found in the urine. In low carbohydrate metabolism situations, ketones appear in the urine in large amounts before serum ketones are elevated. The reagent detects as little as 5-10 mg/dl acetoacetic (ketones) in urine. Ketone testing procedure Ketone urine-testing strips has a small absorptive pad, it contains a chemical reagent that changes color (usually within 15-20 seconds) in the presence of ketones in the urine. The keytone-strips change to varying shades of pink and purple. The ketone-strips' container has a scale on the label, with illustrative blocks of color to help you identify the shade of your ketone-testing strip. Keytone test strips handling procedure The chemical reagent on the ketone test strip is very sensitive to moisture, in...

Auto injector has been specially designed for those who have difficulty injecting themselves, it automatically insert the needle and inject the contents. Auto injector overview The Auto injector hides the needle prior to injection and has a passive safety mechanism to prevent accidental firing. Injection depth can be variable or fixed and a function for needle shield removal may be incorporated. At the press of a button, the syringe needle is automatically inserted and the drug is delivered. Upon completion of injection some auto injectors have visual indication is provided to confirm that the full dose has been delivered. Drug delivery from an auto injector is more controlled and therefore likely to be more consistent than manual injection. Auto injector is for anxious peoples Some people have trouble (anxious) pushing the syringe through their skin. If you are the one, try an automatic injector. Automatic injectors shoot the needle into your muscles at the touch of a button. Som...

Jet injectors are used to deliver dose of insulin, but they do it without using a needle to make a tiny hole. Jet of insulin is forced through the skin with pressure. Jet injector overview Jet injectors that deliver insulin without needles have been around for years. Jet injectors, which release a tiny stream of insulin forced through the skin under high pressure, since the insulin is dispersed throughout the tissue, it is absorbed more quickly. Users of jet injectors often need to adjust their insulin dosage by a small amount to account for this effect. Now are also much less expensive than earlier models. Furthermore, manufacturers say that they have become easier to use, simpler, smaller, less painful, and more reliable. Jet injector and needle free insulin delivery Jet injectors often claim that they are less painful than needles. Some even say they are pain free. The fact is that it depends upon the individual. People with little body fat or thin skin, such as ki...

Diabetic neuropathy is actually neurological impairment brought on by diabetic issues. In cases where it has an effect on your hands, arms, feet and legs, it is called Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. This disease differs from peripheral arterial disorder (bad blood circulation), which impacts your blood vessels instead of the nerves. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy does not present itself immediately. Rather, it typically occurs gradually and gets worse as time passes. Individuals have this problem for a long time before they are even identified as having diabetes. Being diabetic for a few years might increase the probability of getting this form of diabetic neuropathy. Losing sensation as well as other issues connected with diabetic peripheral neuropathy can make an individual susceptible to getting skin ulcers which could get infected and might not mend. This severe consequence associated with diabetes can bring about losing your foot, your leg or possibly your life. Causes Ne...

Insulin pen is like having an old-fashioned cartridge pen in your pocket, instead of a writing point, a needle, and for ink cartridge, an insulincartridge. You just turn a dial to measure out your dose. Insulin pen types While there are a number of different brands and models available, most insulin pens fall into one of two groups: Reusable insulin pen - Insulin pen with disposable cartridge, needs to be replaced with newer cartridge when empty.  Disposable insulin pens - just throw away the whole thing the pen itself when it's empty. Reusable Insulin pen For reusable insulin pen, you must load it with a cartridge of insulin (sold separately in boxes of five cartridges). Cartridges used today hold 150 or 300 units of insulin. Depending on the size of your doses, a cartridge may give you enough insulin to last for several days of injections. When the cartridge is empty, you throw it away and load a new cartridge. With good care, a reusable pen can often be use...

A new generation of blood glucose monitoring system, known as continuous glucose monitors, promises to change the way patients and their care providers manage diabetes. Continous glucose monitor overview Unlike traditional monitors that provide one-time snapshots of blood glucose level, continuous glucose monitors deliver readings every few minutes around the clock. This enables patients and their doctors to constantly measure trends, chart ups and downs, and identify problems and make adjustments to insulin, meal, or exercise regimens. Also the monitors have safety alarms which alert for hypoglycemia (deangerously low glucose level) and to hyperglycemia (dangerously high glucose levels). Continous glucose monitor's glucose sensor Continuous glucose monitors have a tiny flexible catheter, similar to the catheters used with an insulin pumps, is inserted “subcutaneously” (under the skin). The catheter houses the glucose sensor, which measures changes in glucose levels in the inte...

Blood glucose monitors help diabetics to keep track of their blood glucose levels wherever and whenever they want. The results allow them to make appropriate medical and lifestyle choices, also it is helpful to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia episodes. Glucose monitor overview Blood glucose monitors help diabetics to keep track of their blood glucose levels wherever and whenever they want. The results allow them to make appropriate medical and lifestyle choices, also it is helpful to avoid hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia episodes. It can also be called as; blood glucose monitor, glucometer, glucose meters, glucose monitors, diabetes monitor, diabetic meter, blood glucose monitoring system, home glucose monitor. The most common way to check glucose levels involves pricking a fingertip with an automatic lancet (lancing device - Lancet is a small instrument for pricking the skin with a quick-action fine needle.) to obtain a blood sample and placed on a disposa...