Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms Haunting You? Are They For Real?

Type 2 diabetes, which was previously also known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes, tend to have its symptoms develop rather slowly and gradually. Usually it takes around a few weeks to a few months for these type 2 diabetes symptoms to show. Sufferers of type 2 diabetes are more prone to illnesses like kidney damage, eye failure, heart disease, and heart stroke. People with type 2 diabetes often develop the disease after the age of 45, but are not aware they have diabetes until severe diabetes symptoms occur, or until they are treated for one of its serious diabetes complications.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms include the following: - Eye damage - Frequent urination - Feeling exhausted - Sore throat that can't be healed - Pains or burning in your feet The symptoms above may look very similar to other illnesses. They do resemble other medical conditions. However, when the glucose level in one's blood are not that high, these symptoms may not show up at all. Since the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are rather obscure, most people who have caught this deadly disease are usually ignorant of the disease inside their bodies.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most fatal illnesses in the world today. Type 2 diabetes patients are also more prone to develop cardiovascular disease than other normal people. Many people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, according to a research done by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. If type 2 diabetes is properly treated from the early stages of the disease, the risk of any long-term complications is greatly reduced.

Even though type 2 diabetes can be inherited to one's offspring, most of the time it takes more than that to bring on the disease. For example, a person who is obese is more likely to catch on the disease than someone who is not obese. When looking for treatment for your type 2 diabetes, factors such as your medical history, your age, as well as your current health condition determine the types of medication your physician will prescribe you. Living with type 2 diabetes and controlling blood sugar is not easy. However, many cases of Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by diet, improved physical conditioning, and, particularly, reduced body weight.

Brain Fitness And Diabetes

An interesting paper came out recently in Nature talking about a newly discovered link between the brain and metabolism in type II diabetes. I thought the paper was interesting, not just for the new data, but because it supports the underlying concept of Brain Fitness – and more specifically, in this case, physical intelligence, which I have defined before as your brains ability to control your body.

Type II Diabetes in the Body Type II diabetes is a condition where your body is unable to regulate blood sugar appropriately. Typically, when you eat and your blood sugar goes up from the sugars in the food, your pancreas senses a rise in blood sugar and releases insulin into your bloodstream. The insulin then goes around knocking on the doors of all your cells and tells them to take their share of sugar out of the blood and use it to make energy. In type II diabetes, both of these things go wrong.

First, your pancreas loses its ability to sense blood sugar and release insulin appropriately. Second, the insulin that is released (or injected) doesn't work as well because the cells in your body begin to ignore it – or become insulin resistant. Type II Diabetes in the Brain? We also know that there are cells in the brain that sense blood sugar levels (called glucose-sensing neurons). Their job is to instruct different parts of your metabolism to respond appropriately – for example, make energy with the sugar, convert some of it to fat for later use, burn some for heat, and a bunch of other things. A fit brain that is working properly will keep a close watch on the nutrients floating around in the bloodstream and send out the appropriate instructions to the body. The new research shows that in type II diabetics, at least some of the neurons that are supposed to sense rises in blood sugar aren't doing their job and that this may be a part of the disease that we didn't previously appreciate. Many physicians think of type II diabetes as solely a disease of the body, but we may need to start thinking about it as a disease of the brain as well.

In fact, it may be that the brain loses its ability to monitor blood sugar first, and contributes to the progression of the disease – that is yet to be determined. This all plays back to the general concept of Brain Fitness and that the choices you make on a daily basis affect how well your brain works and how well it is able to control everything, including your metabolism. Choosing to eat high sugar foods on a regular basis will eventually cause cells in your body and your brain to lose their sensitivity to blood sugar and wreak havoc on your metabolism. Fight Back The good news is that you can improve your sensitivity to blood sugar (glucose) through eating well and exercising. Both of these things contribute to bringing your brain and your body back in tune so that everything will operate more smoothly.

Unfortunately, many people don't make this a priority until their brains and bodies are so far out of tune that recovery is extremely difficult. The body is an amazing thing and has an incredible tolerance for us mistreating it. This was great for our survival over hundreds of thousands of years of lack of food and shelter and a constant threat from out environment – but today it almost works against us. Because our metabolism is so good at tolerating us mistreating ourselves, we often don't know we have a problem until the problem is out of control. This is why people wait so long before they become proactive in controlling their own health. I encourage everyone to give your brain and your body the best chance to serve you well. Don't wait until you or your kids need the medication to try to fix the problem.
Copyright (c) 2007 The Brain Code LLC

What Are 3 Short Term Complications Of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease produced by insufficient insulin or insulin resistance. There are mainly two types of complications of diabetes. Short Term Complications and long term complications. Here we will discuss short term complications of diabetes. Short Term Complications Hypoglycaemia Hyperosmolar NonKetotic Coma Ketoacidosis Hypoglycaemia Causes: Hypoglycaemia is seen when patient's blood glucose level falls too low.

The causes of hypoglycaemia are
1- Insufficient intake of meal, specially after taking glucose lowering drugs or insulin.
2- Excessive dose of Insulin or Sulphonylureas may cause hypoglycaemia as well.
3- Excessive exercise can also lead to hypoglycaemia specially those who are on antidiabetic drugs.

By doing exercise glucose goes into cells and glucose level in blood decreases. Hypoglycaemia Symptoms: Whenever hypoglycaemia occurs, patient can have symptoms like palpitations, feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, going pale, heart pounding, rapid pulse rate, anxiety, confusion and irritability. These are just warning signs, however if we will not treat hypoglycaemia then patient can lead to coma and even death can occur. What to do if Hypoglycaemia occurs: If you are in a hospital and your nurse or doctor find out that you are in hypoglycaemia, then most probably you will be injected with 25% dextrose water 5 ampules depending upon your blood glucose level.

At home, hypoglycaemia can be treated simply by taking some sweet juice like orange juice or glucose containing tablets. If patient goes to coma stage then intramuscular injection of GLUCAGON may help. Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood glucose level. So it is necessary that if you are traveling or going outside, must take your glucagon kit with you. Family and friends should be taught how to inject Glucagon, as patient is already unconscious and can not take it himself. If patient becomes unconscious never try to put food or drink in his mouth as it may lead to choking. If you are on insulin and taking alcohol, there are great chances of going into hypoglycaemia as body will be unable to produce glucose rapidly. It is suggested that man on insulin should take 3 units of alcohol and women should take 2 units.

Moreover while drinking, you should always eat something. What is Ketoacidosis, Definition of ketoacidosis Ketosis is the accumulation of ketone bodies (produced by breakdown of fat) in the blood and Acidosis is increased acidity of the blood, i.e PH of blood decreases. It is a serious condition that can also lead to coma. Usually seen in type 1 diabetic patients, may also appear in type 2 diabetes specially older patients. Diabetic acidosis is often initiated by an infection like Urinary track infection or chest infection. Pathophysiology and causes of Diabetic Kitoacidosis: Usually we see DKA when you miss doses of insulin, as a result blood glucose level will rise, and body cells will start burning fat which leads to production of ketone bodies and acidosis.

At the same time, the high secretion of glucose into the urine causes dehydration due to loss of water and salts. Ketoacidosis occurs when cells of body can not fulfilled their metabolic demand in absence of sufficient glucose. Instead, cells start getting energy by breakdown of fatty acids which results in formation of ketone bodies. PH of body will become acidic and body will try to eliminate acids by increasing rate and depth of acids. Symptoms and signs of ketoacidosis: Tiredness Fruity smell to breath like nail polish remover Increase thirst Polyuria increase urination. Weight-loss. Oral Thrush Muscle wasting. Aggression Confusion Agitation Irritation Emesis (vomiting), Abdominal pain. Loss of appetite. Flu-like symptoms. Lethargy and apathy. Patients breathe more deeply and rapidly. Unconsciousness (diabetic coma) after prolonged DKA. Prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis If you are ill and having an infection, always remember your body will need more insulin in such conditions, so try to increase your insulin dose during infectious illness, but before taking insulin should always check your blood glucose level.

Keep tight control of your blood sugar level by regularly checking it with glucometer. Whenever you feel unwell, just check your blood glucose level. If you ever find that blood glucose is high, then go for your urine examination for presence of ketone bodies. You should always have ketone measuring urine strips at home. Diabetic acidosis is often seen in stomach infection Gastritis, as you think that less insulin is needed if you are having symptoms of gastritis like nausea vomiting and reduced eating and this insufficient insulin may lead to acidosis. How do you know if you have diabetic acidosis? The diagnosis is made by: Always measure blood glucose - It is always high in diabetic ketoacidosis. Urine examination for ketone bodies a blood sample taken from an artery - it is done in the hospital and measures the PH of the blood. Doctor will also perform tests to rule out any infection. How to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. This condition usually requires hospital admission. Treatment consists of: Intravenous salt fluids like NaCl, KCl etc Insulin is given via intravenous drips. potassium supplements added to the infusion If infection is present then antibiotics are also added. Prognosis is quit good, if diabetic ketoacidosis is diagnosed and treated earlier, patient usually recovers within few days, however if acidosis is not treated earlier, it may become life threatening.

Hyperosmolar nonketotic Coma Diabetic Coma in Type 2 Diabetes Hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar nonketotic coma is a serious complication seen in type 2 diabetes patients with severe infection or stress. Diabetic coma is seen when blood glucose level becomes too high and there is severe dehydration. Unlike ketoacidosis which is usually seen in type 1 diabetes, in hyperosmolar stage we dont see any ketones in body and urine, and there is no acidosis. Diabetic hyperosmolar coma is usually seen in diabetic patients older than 60 years as they have altered sense of being thirsty and are more likely to become severely dehydrated. If there is severe loss of water from body, it can lead to shock, syncopy, coma and death What are Causes of Diabetic Coma? Severe Infection UTI, respiratory tract infection, bacterial meningitis,retropharyngeal abscess, hepatobiliary sepsis. Noncompliance with diet or insulin therapy Heart attack Renal failure Drugs (diuretics, steroids, phenytoin, ß -blockers, calcium channel blockers) Fever Illness Bleeding ulcer Blood clot hyperglycaemia Trauma CVA Pancreatitis Symptoms of Hyperosmolar Coma: Symptoms of hyperosmolar coma are produced due to hyperglycaemia and dehydration. Increased urination Increased thirst Severe Weakness Drowsiness Altered mental status Headache Restlessness Inability to speak Paralysis If you have any of these signs and symptoms, check your blood glucose and call your doctor if your blood glucose is high.

Diabetic hyperosmolar coma typically seen when blood glucose increases to 600 mg/dL or more. What are laboratory findings of Diabetic Coma patient. • Severe hyperglycaemia (> 500mg/dl) • Plasma hyperosmolality • urea:creatinine ratio increased • Secondary glycosuria • Absence of significant ketoacidosis o Metabolic acidosis absent or mild How Is Diabetic Coma Treated? It is an emergency situation, and should be treated immediately. Patient should be hospitalised. Treatment goals are to treat hyperglycaemia with insulin and treat dehydration with intravenous fluids. Infection can be treated with antibiotics. How to prevent diabetic coma? Monitor and Check your blood glucose regularly, as recommended by your doctor Check your blood glucose every four hours when you are suffering from any infection. Take special care of yourself when you are having severe illness. Learn more about Diabetes Complications at our website www.diabetessymptomscure.com

Can Surgeries Solve Diabetes?

Americans born in the year 2000 will see 33% of them being contracted with diabetes at some point in their lives. This figure is quoted by The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. What this means is that 29 million Americans will have diagnosed diabetes, and 10 million others will have undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes can be said to be a lethal disease in the way that it affects millions of people all over the globe. Not only those who are diagnosed with diabetes are affected, some even have their family and friends catching this disease as well. Diabetes is a dead serious disease and can affect a person's eyes, kidneys, feet, and heart.

Diabetes directly affects a person's insulin productivity. In Canada, it is said that approximately $9 billion were lost every year because of Diabetes, which is the 7th leading cause of deaths in this country. Diabetes are also known to be causing blindness among adults. Although diabetes surgery may be an interesting option for diabetic patients, there aren't yet any long term data on its benefits and risks in large numbers of people. Performing surgeries to cure diabetes is definitely a good solution, but you have to remember that the results are not 100% guaranteed. Type 2 diabetes sufferers, however, can't have surgeries done on them. On the other hand, type 1 diabetes sufferers are a little more fortunate - they can have diabetic surgeries. After having performed surgeries on obese people suffering from diabetes, surgeons find that 98% of these people no longer have diabetes a few weeks later.

This phenomenon can't be attributed to weight loss as the time frame is too short. Moreover, other diabetes physicians feel that diabetic surgery should only be considered as "a last resort" after pioneering research on patients by an international team of doctors claim it can really cure the illness. Since diabetes is a global illness feared everywhere in the world, it must be treated at the earliest possible time once a person is diagnosed with the disease. Diabetes will cause long term health issues and problems, hence it is imperative that we continue to educate ourselves with the latest developments on diabetes. This is very important if we want to survive and lead healthy lives.

Source: http://www.healthandwellnesscentral.com/

5 Diabetes Myths

It seems like everywhere I travel I continue to hear the five diabetes myths. The myths are circulating from one generation to the next. Everyone seems to believe these folklores. I have decided to take all of the mystery out of these myths and give you what actually works with the new technology today.

1. Sugar causes diabetes. How many times have you heard this one? I lost track of how many times someone has either asked me or made a statement of this. This is a myth, and the truth is, consuming a lot of sugar does not cause diabetes. Someone did not get diabetes by becoming a cookie monster. Type 1 diabetes is a result of autoimmune damage to the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. The insulin secretion is not enough or completely absent. Therefore, the hormone insulin is injected or administered via pump. Type 2 diabetes is a result of a metabolic syndrome. People with Type 2 produce their own insulin but are unable to utilize it properly. It most often affects men, women and children who are overweight. This no longer is “adult-onset diabetes.” Children are getting Type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate.

2. If you do have diabetes, you cannot have any sugar, it must be sugar-free. This is a myth, and the truth is our bodies not only recognize sugar, but they know how to use it. For me, personally, wheat raises my blood sugar more than white sugar. If you do want a safe sugar substitute, I would recommend vegetable glycerin.

3. I can no longer have too many carbohydrates. This is another myth. It is not how much carbohydrate, but what type that makes the difference. Actually, some foods that are low on the glycemic index get in the way of good insulin function. Some foods can lower one individual’s blood sugar but increase another’s. Are you eating beneficial foods or avoid them?

4. Exercise always lowers blood sugar. This myth has been around for a long time. However, if the body does not have enough insulin for proper glucose utilization, exercise will raise your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is over 200mg/dL before exercising, the exercise will only make your blood sugar go higher. When the body is conditioned and there is enough insulin, the blood sugars will lower. Physical exercise is one of the important aspects to living as if you do not have diabetes.

5. You can no longer live a “normal” life after being diagnosed with diabetes. This myth is one of the strangest ones. I believe that once you bury Type 1 or 2 diabetes you can live a happy and healthy normal life. My life has been better than normal! Nick Jonas is a 14-year-old living a normal life after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2005. Nick is a member of the Jonas Brothers Band. He has said, “At first, I was worried that diabetes would keep me from performing and doing everything a teenager likes to do, but my career is really ramping up.” Way to go Nick! Best wishes for a great life!

Source: http://www.diabetesdoneright.com/

Adult Type 2 Diabetes Information

Adult type 2 diabetes may be a lot more common than you think. There are three different kinds of diabetes. Type 1, type 2, and gestational. Slightly more than 1% of the population has type 2.

Obesity increases the chances for getting adult type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a common thread in over fifty percent of all those diagnosed with it. Keeping your weight at a healthy level is of extreme importance because being overweight is a high risk factor of type 2 as well as cardiovascular problems.

The treatment of adult type 2 diabetes varies from person to person. Whether you have other active medical problems, whether you have complications of diabetes, and your age and general health at time of diagnosis are all factors. Your health care provider will set goals for lifestyle changes, blood sugar control, and treatment.

The number of patients suffering from adult type 2 diabetes symptoms is staggering, and one needs to pay close attention to their diet plan. Blood sugar has to be constantly controlled and so the foods you eat will have to be as well. Planning a healthy type 2 diabetes diet can take time and research. Your healthcare professional will be there to help you with this.

Exercise is of primary importance in the prevention and management of adult type 2 diabetes. Exercise helps keep blood glucose levels down and has other health benefits, as well. Prevention of the disease will require measures to promote exercise and reduce obesity.

Symptoms of adult type 2 diabetes can begin so gradually that a person may not know that they have it. Symptoms include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, increased appetite, unexplained fatigue, slow healing cuts, bruises, and wounds, frequent or lingering infections.

Complications: These include but are not limited to: heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney damage.

With about one out of every ninety people having adult type 2 diabetes, this disease should be taken seriously. Do your best to eat right and stay active. Get a checkup once a year and don't forget to ask your doctor about any question you may have about this disease.

Source: http://www.articlemap.com/

Risk Factors For Diabetes - Can You Become Diabetic?

What causes Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes is not definitively known, but there now appears to be at least two general factors that increase the likelihood of developing diabetes. The first factor is genetics, who in your family has diabetes? If one parent has diabetes, your chances of developing diabetes increase greatly. The second factor is environmental. Several studies have indicated that exposure to cow's milk, wheat products or intestinal viruses in the first few months of a baby's life increase the child's chances of developing Type 1 diabetes.

Risk factors for Type I diabetes are pretty much unknown. However, there are many risk factors for Type II diabetes that have been identified. Family history and genetics can play a part, but some of those can be turned around to either prevent or reverse Type II diabetes. What are the risk factors for Type II diabetes? Obesity is probably the highest risk factor when it comes to Type 2 diabetes. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, almost 60 million adults are within weight levels defined as being obese.

The Center's study also reveals that the number of children who are overweight is rising at alarming numbers. Obesity in children has tripled since 1980. Even more alarming is that the number of children who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes has also risen. A sedentary lifestyle lends itself to obesity and diabetes. Inactivity is damaging to health overall and it's definitely the cause for the rise in obesity. By not exercising or being more physically fit, you are compounding the risk of developing diabetes. You can take steps today to improve your health by starting up a simple program of exercise each day such as short walks that gradually increase in duration and pace. Unhealthy eating habits go hand-in-hand with obesity.

Nearly 90% of people who have developed and been diagnosed with Type II diabetes are overweight. If a person's diet contains too much fat and simple carbohydrates and not enough fiber, they are at risk for the development of Type II diabetes. There is a family history and genetic link to those who are at higher risk for diabetes. If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, you may be at a higher risk than someone who doesn't have that genetic history. Age is a risk factor by virtue of the fact that as we grow older, the pancreas which controls insulin production grows older as well and becomes less efficient. Our cells also become less capable of processing blood glucose. As a result, with each passing year, the risk of Type II diabetes becomes higher.

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 50% of Type II diabetes occur in persons over 55 years of age. Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome are at high risk of developing Type II diabetes. Metabolic Syndrome is a group of risk factors that include central obesity (characterized by excessive fatty tissue around the abdomen), blood fat disorders such as high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, glucose intolerance and elevated blood pressure. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a higher risk as well. This type of diabetes affects around 4% of all women who are pregnant.

Studies have shown that many women who have this type of diabetes go on to develop Type II diabetes even years later in life. Their children who were in the womb at the time of the gestational diabetes also have some risk of developing diabetes later in their life. Ethnicity also plays a large role in determining risk of developing Type II diabetes. Numerous studies have evidenced that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are all at increased risk of developing Type II diabetes.

Source: http://www.healthandwellnesscentral.com/