Information on Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder dealing with insulin produced by the pancreas. During digestion, much of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, or sugar, in the blood. Glucose is the body's main source of fuel. In order for glucose to go from the bloodstream into the cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is usually produced automatically by the pancreas when we eat to help with this movement of glucose into the cells, however, in people with diabetes, the pancreas creates either little or no insulin, and the glucose does not get into the cells, and is passed out of the body through urine. Without glucose, the body will lose its main source of fuel. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, however most, about 65%, of deaths of diabetic patients are attributed to heart disease and stroke. Diabetes can often lead to blindness, stroke, kidney failure, amputation, and can even complicate pregnancies and increase birth defects.

Until the creation of insulin in 1921, all patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes died within years of being diagnosed. Today, although insulin is not a cure, it is certainly a historic breakthrough. Diabetic patients are encouraged to eat healthy and balance insulin with daily diet and activities. Patients will also monitor their blood glucose levels daily. Because 65% of diabetics die from heart problems, they are also encouraged to manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels to lower their risk. People who let their blood glucose levels get too low can suffer from hypoglycemia, which causes the patient to become nervous, confused and impair judgment. Those whose blood glucose levels get too high will suffer from hyperglycemia. Although many diabetics will seek their health care from their primary care physicians, some patients will develop a team of professionals to help manage diabetes more carefully. The professionals can include doctors specializing in endocrinology, dieticians, podiatrists, and even ophthalmologists to help deal with every aspect of diabetic symptoms. Patients who keep their blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible will reduce their risk of developing major complications of type 1 diabetes.

Early articles in medical literature showed that patients could reliably use a blood glucose monitoring devise to accurately measure glucose levels from home and improve their personal management. There are several factors to consider when choosing a blood glucose meter. The first thing you want to do is find a meter that will manage our diabetes so that you can enjoy your life. This is a personal decision based on your lifestyle needs at home, school, work, or play. It is a proven fact that diabetics who use self-monitoring devices tend to stay healthier. Your healthcare provider can inform you of how often your blood glucose levels need to be tested.

Lancets and Lancet Devices are used to safely pierce the skin and enable a small amount of blood to be collected for glucose testing.

Diabetes can have serious effects on your vision. It is the number one cause of legal blindness in the United States. Both Type I and Type II diabetes can cause damage to your eyes, including these problems:

Retinopathy - About 40-45% of Americans with diabetes have some form of diabetic retinopathy, which simply means damage to the retina caused by diabetes. In this condition, blood vessels to the eyes are damaged, causing vision impairment or loss. Retinopathy can occur when the blood vessels that supply the retina with nourishment are blocked. The retina sends out signals to the body to grow new blood vessels to replace the blocked ones, which is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The blood vessels grow along the retina and the surface of the eye, and are quite fragile. They may leak blood into the eye, which can cause blurred vision or even blindness.

Macular Edema - Macular edema can be another form of diabetic retinopathy. When fluid leaks into the center of the eye, the macula, it can swell. This causes blurred or distorted central vision, since the macula helps us see straight ahead.

Cataracts - Cataracts are the clouding of the clear tissue at the front of the eye. People with diabetes have twice the risk of developing cataracts.

Glaucoma - Glaucoma is a condition in which fluid builds up in the eye, causing the pressure to increase. This high pressure can damage the optic nerve, causing headaches and loss of vision.
Preventing Damage
There are many things can you do to guard against the effects of diabetes on your eyes. The most important is to have an annual dilated eye examination. Many stages of eye damage, such as diabetic retinopathy, do not have symptoms, so this eye examination is crucial. An eye exam should test your visual acuity using a vision chart. Your eye doctor should also inspect your retina and optic nerve for damage, such as leaking blood vessels or any swelling (macular edema). People with proliferative diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95% if they receive treatment and proper follow-up care in a timely manner.

Monitoring your blood sugar is another good preventative measure in caring for your eyes. Both the rate and the progression of eye damage can be slowed when your blood glucose levels are under control. Quitting smoking and controlling your blood pressure are two additional health measures than can lower the risk of damage to your eyes.

Sources
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/92848.php
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080103/lack-of-deep-sleep-raises-diabetes-risk.htm
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/daily_living/adults/sleep.html

People living with diabetes may require daily insulin therapy. This will depend on the type of diabetes a person has and how well their body is able to process insulin .

There are different kinds of insulin, but all serve the same basic purpose. Insulin is a blood hormone that is needed to move blood sugar into cells where it is used as fuel energy. Without insulin, sugars remain in the bloodstream and cause a variety of physical complications. When a person with diabetes either does not produce insulin or cannot use their own, insulin must be injected to continue the job of sugar processing.

Insulin may be rapid-acting, short acting, intermediate, long-acting, or pre-mixed. Which insulin is taken is determined by factors such as how the individual patient's body reacts to insulin, how quickly the reaction is, the frequency and ability to take multiple injections, age, target glucose levels, and lifestyle and activity. Only a doctor can determine the right insulin to take, and adjustments are likely to be made to achieve maximum benefits. Insulin dosing schedules will vary similarly, and are also dependent upon the type of insulin being taken.

Diabetes research and development continues to strive towards easy living and disease maintenance. Alternative insulin delivery systems, like oral medications, inhaled insulin, and insulin pump systems (continuously pumping insulin through a catheter in the abdomen) show promise towards lessening

For people with diabetes, eating the right foods is crucial to maintaining optimum health. Not only do you have to consider the nutrients your body needs, you've also got to account for how foods will affect your blood sugar levels. Here are a few things to think about when you're planning your daily menus.

Eating Right
It is recommended that people with diabetes follow the Diabetes Food Pyramid, which is based on the USDA's Food Pyramid. People who follow the Diabetic Food Pyramid should receive plenty of the nutrients, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and fats that the body needs to optimize blood sugar levels and nutrition. Grains and starches are key foods for supplying the body with the carbohydrates it needs. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are next on the pyramid and should account for a large portion of the daily caloric intake. Meat or vegetarian protein is eaten in moderation, with a recommended 4-6 ounces each day. Finally, fats and sweets may be eaten as occasional treats. It is important to note that consumption of healthy fats is encouraged; you can get these fats from nutritional powerhouses such as olive oil and nuts.


Getting the Nutrients You Need
In addition to eating healthy foods, many people with diabetes enhance their diet with multivitamins or other supplements to ensure that they are receiving all the vitamins and minerals the body needs. Some common vitamins recommended for people with diabetes include the B vitamins, antioxidant vitamins such as A, C, and E, and many others. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist to determine whether you need to supplement your diet with specific vitamins and minerals. (Read more information on vitamins and supplements)

The Glycemic Response
While grains and starches are an integral part of the Diabetic Food Pyramid, choosing the right ones is incredibly important. Switching out foods like white bread and potatoes for low-glycemic foods like whole-grain bread and sweet potatoes is strongly recommended. These foods not only supply higher quality nutrients to your body, they also slow your glycemic response. That means that your blood sugar levels will stay more even and you'll have fewer spikes and cravings. Try eating low-glycemic foods for just one week and you'll be amazed at the changes you feel in your energy level. (Read more information on low-glycemic diets)

The main food groups of the Diabetes Food Pyramid are listed below, along with the number of daily servings that should be consumed. Examples of foods and their recommended serving sizes are given for each group.

• Grains and Starches (6-11 servings per day) - Examples: 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of dry cereal, 1 (6") tortilla, 1/3 cup of rice or pasta.


• Vegetables (3-5 servings per day) - It is important for diabetics to be aware that starchy vegetables (such as potatoes, corn, and peas) are a part of the Grains and Starches group in the Diabetes Food Pyramid. Examples: 1 cup of spinach leaves, 1 cup of cooked carrots, 1 cup of diced tomatoes.


• Fruits (2-4 servings per day) - Examples: 1 small fresh fruit, _ cup of canned fruit, 2 tablespoons of dried fruit.


• Milk (2-3 servings per day) - Examples: 1 cup of yogurt, 1 cup of low-fat milk.


• Meat and Meat Substitutes (4-6 ounces per day). Included in this category are proteins such as eggs, dried beans, cheese, and peanut butter - Examples: a 4-ounce lean beef patty, 1 egg (equivalent to 1 ounce of meat), _ cup of cottage cheese (equivalent to 2 ounces of meat).


• Fats, Sweets, and Alcohol - Examples (of sweets): 2 small cookies, 1 cup of ice cream.

The glycemic index is a system that calculates the effect of different carbohydrates on the body. It tells how quickly and for how long a food will supply energy (sugar) to the bloodstream. Foods with a high GI score supply energy very quickly and for a short time period. Usually, these foods should be avoided, though they can be beneficial when your glucose levels are low and need to be quickly elevated. Foods with a low GI score supply energy at a slower, steadier, and more prolonged rate. For people with diabetes, choosing low-GI foods can help keep blood glucose levels even and can prevent sharp spikes and dangerous crashes.

It's Tricky!
You can't always guess which foods will have high or low GIs. It is easy to predict that people with diabetes should avoid too many sugary foods. But did you know that foods like white bread and potatoes have an even higher GI than sugar or honey?

The Scale
Carbohydrates are ranked from 0 to 100 on the glycemic index, with 100 (the value of pure glucose) being a stable reference point.

Here are a few examples of GI scores:

• Peanuts - 14
• Pizza - 30
• Carrots - 47
• Honey - 55
• Oatmeal - 58
• White Rice - 64
• Sugar - 68
• Watermelon - 72
• Baked Potato - 85
• Glucose - 100

Notice that pizza, a food that might be considered "bad" for you, is low on the GI scale. Why is that?

Mixing Foods
In reality, we rarely eat just one food at a time. We usually have complete meals that include fat, proteins, and carbohydrates, all of which are needed for optimal health. In general, fat, protein, and fiber will reduce the GI-rating of a food (such as pizza) because it takes the body longer to digest these more complex foods. Thus, the release of sugar (energy) into the bloodstream is delayed and prolonged.

Size Matters
With the glycemic index, it's not just about the number value assigned to a food. It's about portion size, too. If you eat a small portion of a high-GI food, you'll get a small glycemic response. On the other hand, if eat a large amount of the same food, your glycemic response will be much more drastic. The "glycemic load" of a food is the score it is given based on the portion size, not just how quickly glucose is released to the bloodstream. When choosing what to eat, it's important to know both numbers, the glycemic index rating and the glycemic load. Some foods with a low glycemic load (such as peanuts or popcorn) can be high in calories or have a high GI rating.

Making the Switch

The glycemic index can help you eat healthier and control your diabetes more effectively. So how can you incorporate low-GI foods into your diet? It's easy. Start by switching one item at a time. Put that white bread back on the shelf and grab a whole-grain or sourdough loaf instead. Eat fewer potatoes and more pasta or noodles. Then, start adding more fruits and vegetables to your grocery list. Just small changes can add up quickly%u2026to better health for you.

Diabetes is a growing health crisis in the United States. New scientific evidence suggests that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may be partially to blame for the increase in new cases of diabetes, particularly in children.

What is HFCS?
HFCS is a mixture of fructose and glucose. It is used instead of sugar in many products because it's inexpensive and very sweet. Typical products made with HFCS include soda, blended juice, baked goods, cereal, syrup, yogurt, and condiments.

Who Uses High Fructose Corn Syrup?
More than 40% of sweetener used in food and beverages today is HFCS, according to a 2004 study. The same study pointed out that consumption of HFCS has risen by 1,000% since 19701. Incidentally, increases in obesity and cases of diabetes have risen dramatically over the last several decades. An August 2007 study of 50,000 people revealed that drinking just one soda per day increased the chance of developing Type 2 diabetes by 80%. The study also confirmed that HFCS contributes to weight gain and obesity.

Why is HFCS a Problem?
What is it about HFCS that could be the problem? HFCS contains compounds called reactive carbonyls. These compounds may cause cell and tissue damage, which can contribute to diseases such as diabetes. The 2007 study found that people with diabetes have higher levels of reactive carbonyls in their blood.

The nature of fructose is also part of the problem. Unlike glucose, fructose does not trigger insulin secretion. This may seem like a good thing for people with diabetes. However, insulin is what triggers the release of leptin, a hormone that tells us when we are full. Without leptin, we might continue to eat even after the body has consumed enough calories, leading to weight gain.

Be Weary
HFCS isn't the only sweetener out there that may be affecting your health. Read labels carefully, and be on the lookout for these ingredients: glucose, dextrose, fructose, sucrose (table sugar), lactose, and maltose. It's a safe bet that any word ending in -ose is a form of sugar, so choose wisely.

For the diabetic foot care is of supreme importance. A diabetic can suffer nerve damage and loss of feeling in their feet. Poor circulation will cause even a small abrasion or bump to produce major complications. The leading cause of amputations in America is complications from diabetes.

First, check your feet everyday for calluses, bunions or sores. If there are any cuts, blisters or swelling call your health care provider before it becomes worse. Keep your toenails short so they don't become ingrown. Any of these minor problems can quickly turn into an infectious ulcer that is hard to clear up.

As you take care of your feet, take other measures to ensure continued health. Buy shoes that are comfortable and fit right. Make sure they are not too tight, or rub in some areas. If possible, buy shoes that are custom fitted. Some diabetics cannot feel their feet because of nerve damage and may not have shoes that fit well.

There are special socks and insoles for a diabetic's comfort. There are insoles made particularly for the top of a diabetic's foot. These are to make sure that their foot is comfortable and not rubbing on the inside of their shoe.

Taking preventive measures is the best choice, as they say "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." DiabetiDerm Foot Rejuvenating Cream is good for softening rough skin and calluses. DiabetiDerm Heel & Toe cream is good for severely dry skin. By keeping the skin on your feet soft and moist you may avoid having to deal with problems in the future.

New studies are published every year informing people about the beneficial effects that various herbs, supplements, and foods can have for people with diabetes. One such food that's been the focus of attention in the last few years is bitter melon (also known as bitter gourd, bitter cucumber, bitter apple, balsam pear, karolla, and karela).

Bitter melon is a tropical fruit that grows in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. For hundreds of years, it has been used as an ingredient in savory dishes in places as diverse as India, Japan, and the Philippines. Bitter melon has also been valued for centuries for its medicinal benefits in countries like China, Panama, and Colombia.

In March of 2008, a study of the healthful properties of bitter melon was published by scientists from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica. Researchers in this study extracted four compounds that seem to aid in glucose uptake. These compounds apparently work together to activate AMPK, an enzyme that regulates the metabolism and also helps the body to absorb glucose effectively. AMPK helps ensure that glucose is moved from the bloodstream to a cell's surface, where it can be absorbed by the cell for use as fuel.

AMPK is usually activated by exercise. This explains why physical activity helps to even out blood sugar levels. Because bitter melon also activates AMPK, it appears that it may have an effect similar to that of exercise when it comes to increasing glucose uptake. Bitter melon has no known side effects, unlike some other drugs that are prescribed to people with diabetes to activate AMPK.

Studies of bitter melon are ongoing but seem promising. At this time, it is recommended that bitter melon should not be used by women who are pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing age. Bitter melon may also cause serious complications for children. If you are interested in finding out more about the impact bitter melon could have on your diabetes, speak with your health care professional.

Diabetes can have serious effects on your vision. It is the number one cause of legal blindness in the United States1. Both Type I and Type II diabetes can cause damage to your eyes, including these problems:

Retinopathy
About 40-45% of Americans with diabetes have some form of diabetic retinopathy, which simply means damage to the retina caused by diabetes. In this condition, blood vessels to the eyes are damaged, causing vision impairment or loss. Retinopathy can occur when the blood vessels that supply the retina with nourishment are blocked. The retina sends out signals to the body to grow new blood vessels to replace the blocked ones, which is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The blood vessels grow along the retina and the surface of the eye, and are quite fragile. They may leak blood into the eye, which can cause blurred vision or even blindness.

Macular Edema
Macular edema can be another form of diabetic retinopathy. When fluid leaks into the center of the eye, the macula, it can swell. This causes blurred or distorted central vision, since the macula helps us see straight ahead.

Cataracts
Cataracts are the clouding of the clear tissue at the front of the eye. People with diabetes have twice the risk of developing cataracts2.


Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition in which fluid builds up in the eye, causing the pressure to increase. This high pressure can damage the optic nerve, causing headaches and loss of vision.

Preventing Damage
There are many things can you do to guard against the effects of diabetes on your eyes. The most important is to have an annual dilated eye examination. Many stages of eye damage, such as diabetic retinopathy, do not have symptoms, so this eye examination is crucial. An eye exam should test your visual acuity using a vision chart. Your eye doctor should also inspect your retina and optic nerve for damage, such as leaking blood vessels or any swelling (macular edema). People with proliferative diabetic retinopathy can reduce their risk of blindness by 95% if they receive treatment and proper follow-up care in a timely manner3.

Monitoring your blood sugar is another good preventative measure in caring for your eyes. Both the rate and the progression of eye damage can be slowed when your blood glucose levels are under control. Quitting smoking and controlling your blood pressure are two additional health measures than can lower the risk of damage to your eyes.

Diabetic children of all ages should be schooled in the control of their disease and recognition of complications to the extent their age allows. Education and involvement gives children a measure of control and helps them to alert caregivers when they are feeling poorly. Even very young children can be given the control of choosing where to test or inject insulin, all the while taking steps towards independent control of the disease they will live with.