Type Of Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by loss of the insulin-producing beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, leading to a deficiency of insulin. The main cause of this beta cell loss is a T-cell mediated autoimmune attack.^[4] There is no known preventative measure that can be taken against type 1 diabetes, which comprises up to 10% of diabetes mellitus cases in North America and Europe (though this varies by geographical location). Most affected people are otherwise healthy and of a healthy weight when onset occurs. Sensitivity and responsiveness to insulin are usually normal, especially in the early stages. Type 1 diabetes can affect children or adults but was traditionally termed "juvenile diabetes" because it represents a majority of cases of diabetes affecting children.

The principal treatment of type 1 diabetes, even from the earliest stages, is replacement of insulin combined with careful monitoring of blood glucose levels using blood testing monitors. Without insulin, diabetic ketoacidosis can develop and may result in coma or death. Emphasis is also placed on lifestyle adjustments (diet and exercise) though these can do absolutely nothing to reverse the loss. Apart from the common subcutaneous injections, it is also possible to deliver insulin by a pump, which allows continuous infusion of insulin 24 hours a day at preset levels, and the ability to program doses (a bolus) of insulin as needed at meal times. An inhaled form of insulin, Exubera, was approved by the FDA in January 2006, although Pfizer discontinued Exubera in October 2007. ^[8]

Type 1 treatment must be continued indefinitely. Treatment does not significantly impair normal activities, if sufficient patient training, awareness, appropriate care, discipline in testing and dosing of insulin is taken. However, treatment is burdensome for patients, chronic and insulin is replaced in a non-physiological manner, and is therefore is far from ideal. The average glucose level for the type 1 patient should be as close to normal (80–120 mg/dl, 4–6 mmol/l) as is safely possible. Some physicians suggest up to 140–150 mg/dl (7-7.5 mmol/l) for those having trouble with lower values, such as frequent hypoglycemic events. Values above 200 mg/dl (10 mmol/l) is sometimes accompanied by discomfort and frequent urination leading to dehydration. Values above 300 mg/dl (15 mmol/l) usually require treatment and may lead to ketoacidosis, although is not immediately life-threatening. However, low levels of blood glucose, called hypoglycemia, may lead to seizures or episodes of unconsciousness and absolutely must be treated immediately.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is due to insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity, combined with reduced insulin secretion. The defective responsiveness of body tissues to insulin almost certainly involves the insulin receptor in cell membranes. In the early stage the predominant abnormality is reduced insulin sensitivity, characterized by elevated levels of insulin in the blood. At this stage hyperglycemia can be reversed by a variety of measures and medications that improve insulin sensitivity or reduce glucose production by the liver. As the disease progresses the impairment of insulin secretion worsens, and therapeutic replacement of insulin often becomes necessary.

There are numerous theories as to the exact cause and mechanism in type 2 diabetes. Central obesity (fat concentrated around the waist in relation to abdominal organs, but not subcutaneous fat) is known to predispose individuals for insulin resistance. Abdominal fat is especially active hormonally, secreting a group of hormones called adipokines that may possibly impair glucose tolerance. Obesity is found in approximately 55% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.^[9] Other factors include aging (about 20% of elderly patients in North America have diabetes) and family history (type 2 is much more common in those with close relatives who have had it). In the last decade, type 2 diabetes has increasingly begun to affect children and adolescents, likely in connection with the increased prevalence of childhood obesity seen in recent decades in some places.^[10]

Type 2 diabetes may go unnoticed for years because visible symptoms are typically mild, non-existent or sporadic, and usually there are no ketoacidotic episodes. However, severe long-term complications can result from unnoticed type 2 diabetes, including renal failure due to diabetic nephropathy, vascular disease (including coronary artery disease), vision damage due to diabetic retinopathy, loss of sensation or pain due to diabetic neuropathy, and liver damage from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Type 2 diabetes is usually first treated by increasing physical activity, decreasing carbohydrate intake, and losing weight. These can restore insulin sensitivity even when the weight loss is modest, for example around 5 kg (10 to 15 lb), most especially when it is in abdominal fat deposits. It is sometimes possible to achieve long-term, satisfactory glucose control with these measures alone. However, the underlying tendency to insulin resistance is not lost, and so attention to diet, exercise, and weight loss must continue. The usual next step, if necessary, is treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs. Insulin production is initially only moderately impaired in type 2 diabetes, so oral medication (often used in various combinations) can be used to improve insulin production (e.g., sulfonylureas), to regulate inappropriate release of glucose by the liver and attenuate insulin resistance to some extent (e.g., metformin), and to substantially attenuate insulin resistance (e.g., thiazolidinediones). According to one study, overweight patients treated with metformin compared with diet alone, had relative risk reductions of 32% for any diabetes endpoint, 42% for diabetes related death and 36% for all cause mortality and stroke.^[11] Oral medication may eventually fail due to further impairment of beta cell insulin secretion. At this point, insulin therapy is necessary to maintain normal or near normal glucose levels.

Diabetes Information: Understanding Diabetes Mellitus As A Serious And Common Disease

When we hear a physician diagnose someone as having diabetes (without any limiting modification), he is, in all probability, referring to 'diabetes mellitus.' This condition is characterized by superfluities of glucose in the blood and urine resulting from an abnormal carbohydrate metabolism.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and common disease. In the Indonesia, medical records show that it occurs in about two percent of males and close to five percent of females. Its onset is possible at any stage of life. In most cases, diabetes mellitus manifests itself after some serious infection or injury. It may also become evident due to emotional strain. Persons who are overweight are known to suffer from this disease more than those who are within the normal weight range.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus are almost the same for cases that commence during childhood and during the adult years. These include an excessive production of urine, an ardent desire for liquids, a feeling of weakness, and itchy skin. A medical examination of a person who has diabetes mellitus will reveal the presence of glucose in the blood in an amount that is much higher than the normal volume. This excess blood sugar is caused by the inability of the body to use up glucose as quickly as it is stored and released by the liver. Consequently, rather than being utilized for energy production, glucose that builds up in the blood gets washed off along with the urine.
Certain secondary conditions are likely to develop if diabetes mellitus remains untreated. One such serious complication is kidney disease. The loss of bladder control - resulting in the urge to urinate frequently - is also possible. Likewise, the skin and other body tissues become more prone to infections. In more serious cases, losing consciousness is almost always a certainty.

A lot of medical experts point to diet as probably the most vital factor in the successful handling of diabetes mellitus. A person with this disease can enjoy a normal diet, taking care that he or she neither eats to excess nor consumes too little of the needed nutrients. Controlling the blood-sugar level by means of administering insulin is another important factor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. For the millions of diabetics out there, wouldn't it be a great relief for you to know that there is actually a sure way to banish your particular case of diabetes mellitus for good?

For the millions of diabetics out there, wouldn't it be a great relief for you to know that there is actually a sure way to banish your particular case of diabetes mellitus for good?

BY. Jim Lorez

Sign/s Of Diabetes?

Diabetes is the body’s inability to utilize food for energy. The sugar that we consume is normally broken down through digestion into simple sugar (glucose). The simple sugar circulates in our blood until it enters cells to be used as fuel. The body uses insulin to bring the simple sugar into the cells. The pancreas produces and regulates insulin levels in the body. Type I diabetes is caused by a defective pancreas. In type II diabetes the person can produce insulin, but their cells don’t respond to it. Your doctor can notice the sign of diabetes through tests and here’s what you can look for:
Sign/s Of Diabetes?

1. Unquenchable thirst . This is when it feels like you can’t drink enough water and your drinking more than usual. The body is using more water from the blood and making you feel the need to drink more liquids.
2. Fatigue and Weakness. This feeling is caused by lack of glucose entering the cells. As a result, you have less energy and feel run down, weak, and fatigued.
3. Frequent Bathroom Trips is another sign of diabetes. If your visiting the bathroom more than usual. The feeling of urination becomes more consistent because there’s too much glucose in the blood. If insulin is non-existent or in effective. The kidneys are unable to filter the simple sugar back to the blood.
4. Tingling or numbness in your hands, legs or feet.. A consistently high level of glucose particularly in the extremities causes damage to the nervous system. This symptom is actually by neuropathy. Nerve damage can begin to appear without our knowledge. Neuropathy can be greatly improved by stabilizing blood sugar levels. To find out more signs and symptoms and methods to stabilize blood sugar visit the website in the resource box below.
   
   By: Gene William
   

Natural Foot Care For Diabetics

Because of the disease diabetes, damage can be caused to blood vessels and nerves in the feet, then circulation may be impaired and infections can form on the feet without the person realizing. This can ultimately cause major complications and even amputation. Diabetes also impairs the immune system so diabetics are more prone to infection. Those who suffer from the disease should have regular foot examinations by their doctor and should know whether or not they have nerve damage.
To prevent and check whether there is injury to the feet you should get into a routine of checking and caring for your feet, this is especially important if you already have nerve or blood vessel damage or current foot problems. Here are twenty important natural tips for keeping your feet healthy:

1. Inspect your feet thoroughly every day.
2. Clean your feet daily in lukewarm water (test this with your hands) with a natural soap, dry them thoroughly to prevent fungal infection.

3. Protect your feet constantly by wearing well fitted, comfortable but sturdy shoes.
4. Never walk around without some kind of footwear to protect your feet.
5. Clean, dry cotton or wool socks are also a good way to protect your feet from pressure points and bacteria caused by sweat.


6. Always apply a little amount of a natural foot cream that contains antibacterial agents to the soles of your feet after bathing, avoiding the skin between the toes. Diabetics can find that the skin on their feet dries and cracks easily which can potentially leave them open to infection.

7. When cutting toenails always soak the feet in a good foot soak that has antibacterial properties in it to soften the nails and cleanse away any bacteria and grime from the nails. Remember to cut the nail straight across with a nail clipper, since curved nails are more likely to become ingrown.

8. Using a gentle natural foot scrub can smooth any small rough areas before they become a problem.
9. Exercise promotes good circulation so walk daily and don't sit in one spot for too long. An easy exercise is to make circle with your feet ten times in each direction, keeping your leg as still as possible.

10. Sitting with your feet elevated for 10 minutes will also help your circulation.
11. Regularly massage your feet, this will also stimulate the circulation.
12. If you do notice a sore or any type of infection, see your doctor for treatment.
13. Stop smoking. It's awful for the circulation and your health generally.
14. Have any bunions and corns removed by a professional to avoid infection.
15. Regularly clean the shower with a natural cleaner and spray a little diluted tea tree oil around the drain.

16. To keep your feet warm in bed wear loose, comfortable cotton or wool socks.
17. Always make sure your feet are kept at a comfortable temperature, avoiding cold feet.
18. If you have any pain in your feet see a podiatrist or your doctor immediately.
19. Use foot powder.
20. Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle; this will help prevent problems and complications.

By: Arthor Pens

EASY TIPS FOR DIABETES

A diabetic diet menu is not a rigid diet where all you can eat are fruits or vegetables, although including plenty of these foods in your diet is beneficial but that applies for everyone and not just for diabetics. Below are some suggestions for a good diabetic diet menu:

• Include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits to your diabetic diet menu. Include apples, oranges, bananas, red cabbage, beans and carrots. Eat vegetables that are high in fiber and low on starch like broccoli and spinach. Additional fiber helps digestion and improves health.
• As much as possible try to eat whole grains instead of processed foods. Grains are at the base of the diabetic food pyramid which means that you should make it a central part of your diabetic diet menu. Choose whole wheat spaghetti and brown rice.
• Eat food at regular intervals. Don't have large gaps or too low gaps between successive meals such as lunch and evening snacks.
• Pick non-fat dairy goods like skimmed milk, non-fat yogurt and cheese. If the taste of these products does not suit you, you can go for the low-fat instead of non-fat dairy products. Today a lot of flavors are available in market such as strawberry, blueberry, peach etc. Include these in your Diabetic Diet Menu.
• One of the Diabetic cooking tips you can use is to abstain from high-calorie drinks like sodas. It is better to just drink water and fresh, natural fruit juices. Cut down on coffee and tea as much as possible. If not, try to reduce the sugar you use or opt for an artificial sweetener instead.
• Cut down on desserts. Sorry to say!! We all love to eat cakes, cookies and ice cream but cutting down on them can make a big difference on having a healthy body. It is alright to eat at once a week rather than every day. This change you need to make in the Diabetic Diet

To stay in health, try to implement above food tips as much as you can. A diabetic diet menu emphasizes eating the right foods and the right amount. Remember, it is all about control and discipline

By: RAHUL G

Eating And Diabetes : Healthy Eating With Diabetes Programs

Healthy eating is important if you have diabetes because some of the foods that you eat will affect your blood glucose (sugar) levels. The rest of your family can join you in healthy eating too!

Diabetic Foods

You can buy all the foods that you need from ordinary shops and supermarkets. There is no need to buy special "diabetic" foods. They can have a laxative effect and will not help if you are trying to lose weight. When you have diabetes, diet plays a key role in controlling blood sugar. You probably already know the cornerstones of any diabetes diet — moderate portions of healthy foods and regular mealtimes. Now, new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association can help you make even better choices about what you eat.

For many, the do-it-yourself method of food regulation is difficult. Changing eating habits is hard to do. There are new diet trends offered seasonally each year for people continually searching for a way to eat right. One important fact for the diabetic to keep in mind is that healthy eating for them is very nearly on par for healthy eating for everyone else—it's just that healthy eating is a must rather than an option. Healthy eating is comprised of a wide variety of foods with balanced meals that range with carbohydrates, proteins and fat. All calories must be accounted for, so keeping a food diary is a good way to start your journey into a healthy eating lifestyle.

For the diabetes sufferer, meals must be planned to keep blood glucose levels safely under control. Intake must be carefully weighed against insulin doses, medication and exercise to avoid extreme fluctuation of blood glucose levels. Meal planning may seem like a novelty at first, but after a week or two, you can recycle your plans and accomplish your healthy eating lifestyle more rapidly than you may have thought possible. Most healthcare providers will refer diabetes patients to a dietician or nutritionist to discuss a healthy eating plan. Talk about what you like to eat and find out if it can be worked into an eating plan.

A dietician will also be able to inform you about calorie counting, counting fat grams, counting carbohydrate grams, counting sodium grams, counting food exchanges, and any of your own individual goals for keeping healthy and maintaining an active lifestyle. Dieticians that have experience working with diabetic patients will provide you with a new way to look at food and eating so that the diabetes can be managed successfully.

While preparing your healthy eating plan you should also discuss your activities, your target range for blood glucose levels and how you may be able to prevent other diseases simply by eating healthy. Whether you have gestational, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you will want to include as wide a variety of foods as possible. Use the standard food pyramid as a good rule of thumb when planning your daily intakes. To keep your body nutritionally happy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals in proper proportion are necessary.

Sources of carbohydrates include bread, grains, pasta, fruit, vegetables, legumes, and dairy products. Excellent protein sources are poultry, meats, dairy products, eggs and fish. For fat, look to meat, dairy products, nuts and oils. Most patients, however, need to keep weight under control, so focusing on good carbohydrates and protein becomes increasingly more important fat intake. Your caloric intake must be spent wisely and it's best to avoid fats from bacon, bacon grease, butter, lard, cream cheese and coconut oil. If you crave sweets, consider using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar to keep your blood glucose levels in check.

Sugar and a healthy eating plan
People with diabetes who follow a healthy eating plan can include some sugar in their diet. However, the sugar should be eaten in nutritious foods, such as breakfast cereals or low fat dairy products, rather than in sweets or soft drinks.You can use artificial sweeteners to replace some sugar if it helps to reduce your total energy intake and control weight.

While a dietician will be able to individualize your healthy eating plan, there are some general tips that all diabetes patients can keep in mind when it comes to eating healthy:

• Use a nonstick vegetable spray for cooking instead of oils.
• To flavor foods without adding additional calories, season your meals with herbs.
• When eating poultry, remember that breast meat is leanest.
• Avoid pastas that contain eggs or fat; select converted, brown or wild types of rice.

Things to remember

• People with diabetes do not need a special diet.
• Include a wide variety of healthy foods in your diet.
• You may need to limit serving sizes to maintain or achieve a healthy weight.

By: Franchis

HOW TO CONTROL DIABETES

When so diagnosed, the disease must be controlled energetically so that its complications are either prevented or treated. While treating diabetes, one must keep in mind that control of diet and exercise are two important tools in conquering this serious problem.

Patients are advised to take low-fat, low-calorie, sugar free / restricted and high-fibre diet. A low-fat diet is especially required when one has higher levels of blood cholesterol. In general also, a low-fat diet is recommended for preventing the complications of diabetes, especially coronary artery disease / stroke. It may be mentioned that diabetes is a disease of the blood vessels.

In addition to a low-fat diet, the patient should avoid sugar, sweets and very sweet fruits. A high-fibre diet, which diabetics are advised to take, consists of green vegetables-cooked/ salad, whole wheat, cereals, unpolished rice, etc. It is the outer covering of grain i.e. bran, which helps in the control of diabetes. Green vegetables, besides being a high-fibre diet, also contain very low calories, and hence can be used, by diabetics in larger quantity so as to satisfy their appetite.

As regards exercise for the control of diabetes, diabetics are advised to take exercise according to the recommendation of the physician. If a diabetic is suffering from anyone or more complications of the disease, especially coronary artery disease, he/she should take only limited exercise for its control. In uncomplicated cases, especially in young age, even vigorous exercise can be taken. Ideally, light exercise, especially walking after meals, is very useful for most diabetics, as blood sugar is raised after taking food, and walking will control its higher levels, reducing or completely eliminating the use of antidiabetic drugs. However, walking should be taken in a pleasant atmosphere, say in the evening/night after food, and should not be taken after lunch, especially in summer.

In case diabetes is not, controlled by diet and exercise, only then drugs i.e. insulin (administered by injection) or oral drugs should be started in minimal dosages, and the patient should be again detailed about the diet and exercise, as it will reduce the dose of antidiabetic drugs. It is important to point out that the dose of antidiabetic drugs should be properly adjusted to avoid low blood sugar, causing unconsciousness. However, a diabetic may also become unconscious when the level of blood sugar is markedly elevated, say above 400 mg/ dl.

It is worth mentioning that even if the glucose tolerance test (GTT) is impaired (i.e. the level of the test does not indicate a case of diabetes), particularly if the range of the level of the test is close to the diabetic level, the patient must be advised regarding the value of diet and exercise so as to correct the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Small dosages of oral antidiabetic drugs may have to be advocated in cases where the diet and exercise regimen fail. If this step is not carefully followed, cases of IGT are likely to become regular diabetics sooner or later. Even if the level is on the lower side of the range, as in the above situation, the patient must be advised to strictly follow the regimen of diet and exercise. Early intervention is necessary to check the progress and complications of the disease.