Diabetes Information

Do You Have Diabetes? Symptoms Of Diabetes And How To Address Them


Diabetes mellitus is a condition resulting from the pancreas' inability to produce enough insulin, which is needed by the body to help create energy. A deficiency of or ineffectiveness of insulin leads to high glucose levels in the blood, thus, leading to this illness.

Diabetes has two types. Type 1 Diabetes usually occurs in young people and requires frequent insulin injections, while Type 2 Diabetes is experienced by older people and is not as dependent on insulin. Majority of those who have Type 2 Diabetes have been found to be either obese or overweight.

Diabetes usually runs in the family, so it's best to know early on if you have it. The common symptoms experienced by someone who has diabetes include unusually frequent urination and hunger, constant thirst, rapid weight loss, tiredness, numbness in the feet and hands, recurrent skin infections, itching in private parts and blurred vision. When left unattended, diabetes could escalate to hyperglycemia, which develops from an excess of glucose in the blood, and leave the person temporarily unconscious, or, worse, cause severe infections, poor healing abilities, heart ailments and numbness from nerve damage.

The direct origins of diabetes, besides heredity, remain uncertain. However, several scientists believe that diabetes can also spring from an infection in the pancreas, a disorder in the autoimmune system and even from an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

When you notice the signs that possibly point to diabetes, consult your doctor immediately. You will be subjected to tests to determine whether your blood sugar is stable and if there is a presence of diabetes. Your doctor will then recommend an appropriate exercise regimen and diet to temper the effects of diabetes, or, if needed, prescribe medication.

People diagnosed with diabetes should avoid sugars and control the intake of fats, carbohydrates and salt. A life long low-fat, high-fiber diet is ideal. Regular aerobic exercise also helps maximize the effect of insulin treatments. Some studies show that weight management and a proper diet are often enough to keep those with Type 2 Diabetes in check and even prevent people who are diabetes-prone from developing the condition. In alternative medicine, herbs like ampalaya and banaba have also been used to help treat diabetes.

For persons with a history of diabetes in the family and are over forty years old, blood should be checked for sugar levels two hours after a hearty meal. This procedure should be done at least twice a year, as several people have been found to have had diabetes for years without experiencing any of the symptoms.

Sadly, diabetes cannot be cured. But it can be controlled with life-long treatment. Therefore, to combat diabetes, regular check-ups, a healthy lifestyle and constant vigilance are in order.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about diabetes, please go to: http://diabetes.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Times (blog)

Youth diabetes, pre-diabetes rates soar
USA TODAY
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY Diabetes and pre-diabetes have skyrocketed among the nation's young people, jumping from 9% of the adolescent population in 2000 to 23% in 2008, a study reports today. By Reed Saxon, AP Judith Garcia, 19, ...
Diabetes on the Rise Among TeenagersNew York Times (blog)
CDC: Half of overweight teens have heart riskSan Francisco Chronicle

all 10 news articles »


kypost.com

Teen Diabetes: Cases Double, Other Heart Risks Still High
Huffington Post
The number of teens in the US with diabetes or prediabetes has skyrocketed in the last decade, jumping from 9 to 23 percent, new data finds. Other cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure and bad cholesterol, were stable during that ...
Is Drinking Soda Really That Bad for You?Cleveland News - Fox 8

all 13 news articles »


A Dire Sign Of The Obesity Epidemic: Teen Diabetes Soaring, Study Finds
NPR (blog)
by Rob Stein Karlton Hill, 15, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 12. He works hard to manage the disease: He jogs and does pushups every day; he takes metformin is very careful about what he eats. Karlton Hill, 15, was diagnosed with diabetes ...
WHO warns of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesityBusiness Recorder (blog)
New Data on Type 2 Diabetes TreatmentHive Health Media (blog)

all 5 news articles »


Diabetic-alert dog lets family sleep through the night
Durham Herald Sun
Rex is a diabetes-detection dog that alerts the Mullins family when Quinn and Charlie have changes in their blood-sugar level. Editor's note: The Herald-Sun is running a four-part series on how dogs help people, from assisting with health issues to ...



TestCountry.com (blog)

Experimental bariatric surgery controls blood sugar in rodents with diabetes ...
Science Daily (press release)
ScienceDaily (May 20, 2012) — For the first time, scientists at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute have shown that an experimental bariatric surgery can lower blood sugar levels in rats with type 1 diabetes. A team led by Dr. Tony Lam and ...
Diabetes Affects Emotional Health TooTestCountry.com (blog)
Let's Prevent Diabetes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled ...7thSpace Interactive (press release)
Diabetes can take a toll on your emotionsKTVN
BBC News -Opposing Views -Jagran Post
all 15 news articles »


A Dire Sign Of The Obesity Epidemic: Teen Diabetes Soaring, Study Finds
WBUR
(M. Spencer Green / AP) Karlton Hill was only 12 years old when when he found out he had diabetes. Even though he was only in seventh grade, Karlton knew what diabetes was; he had watched the disease destroy his great-grandmother's life.



Pilot diabetes nutrition class begins June 5
Corning Leader
By LB Blackwell A nutrition education class for people with or concerned about diabetes will begin on Tuesday, June 5 at Southeast Steuben County Library. "Finding a Balance" is geared toward those parenting children 18 and younger, ...



Diabetes study seeks volunteers
Parkersburg News
By BRETT DUNLAP (bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com) , Parkersburg News and Sentinel Program ACTIVE (Appalachians Coming Together to Increase Vital Exercise), funded through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, is a five-year ...
Exercise Advice for the Type 2 DiabeticMedical Daily

all 3 news articles »


MedPage Today

Teens Today at More Risk for Heart Disease
MedPage Today
Compared to 1999, the prevalence of overweight or obesity at 34% had not changed in 2008, but prediabetes/diabetes had increased from 9% to 23%. Today's teenagers have more risk factors for cardiovascular disease than did teens of earlier decades, ...



Parade Magazine

Five Questions: Randy Jackson on Type 2 diabetes
Los Angeles Times
'American Idol' judge Randy Jackson explains how he changed his lifestyle after his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Randy Jackson was diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago. That led him to reevaluate his diet and lifestyle. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times ...
'American Idol' judge Randy Jackson: Willpower key to diabetes controlReality TV World
Randy Jackson Talks 'American Idol' and Tackling Type 2 DiabetesParade Magazine

all 7 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2009