About Diabetes

Alien asked:


Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it. Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.

How do people get diabetes?

When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.

Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.

What types of diabetes are there?

Type 1 Diabetes - This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.

Type 2 Diabetes - This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.

Gestational Diabetes - This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.

Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.

Pre-Diabetes - This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.

As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.

There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.

Tina

Alexis-Blaise Kenne asked:


Diabetes prevention is possible and is accomplished by lowering body weight by changing eating habits and consistent, regular exercise. Diabetes prevention is the focus of a huge international research effort. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year to reach this goal. Diabetes prevention is the best way to also make sure that this disease gets under control and does not continue to plague our nation. And by approaching diabetes prevention with open arms, you will be encouraging others to take that same step.

Diabetes prevention is of utmost importance because chronic hyperglycemia is a risk factor for CVD, and the risk starts to increase before the onset of clinical diabetes, according to Italian research. CVD prevalence in diabetic patients is 26-36% and heart attack fatality rates are greater in diabetic patients. Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Learn more about the risks for developing type 2 diabetes and the “Small Steps” you can take to delay or prevent the disease before it starts. Diabetes prevention is most likely to reduce the rate of growth of this diabetes burden on our health system. At- risk individuals can be identified and several interventions have proved to be effective in decreasing diabetes incidence.

Start by making small changes. For example, try to get 15 minutes of physical activity a day this week.

Weight gain occurs in subcutaneous fat stores rather than in the intraperitoneal fat stores that promote insulin resistance. Weight losing may be performed eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days per week. The secret is: do small steps that lead to big rewards. Weight is a factor in diabetes. If you are overweight, you are more at risk.

Weight loss is accompanied by reports of improved glucose control when orlistat is given to people with established diabetes [23]. The possibility that orlistat may prevent diabetes in overweight people was tested prospectively in the 4-year XENDOS trial (Xenical in the Prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects) [18].

Medications to help you quit smoking, lower your cholesterol,?and lower your blood pressure help reduce your risk of complications. Medical research has shown that pre-diabetes is entirely treatable, and that individuals diagnosed with pre-diabetes can stop the development of type 2 diabetes by making some lifestyle changes. In fact, pre-diabetes patients can even restore their blood glucose to levels that are considered normal. Medical information changes rapidly and while Yahoo! No health information on Yahoo!, including information about herbal therapies and other dietary supplements, is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.

American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. To respond to this rapidly growing problem, the U.S. Americans suffering from diabetes has doubled to more than 20 million, and that number is projected to double again by 2025. Diabetes has serious complications that are largely preventable with proper management and treatment.

Thelma

james sameul asked:


Juvenile diabetes mellitus is now more commonly called Type 1 diabetes. It is a syndrome with disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood glucose levels due to a deficiency of insulin secretion in the pancreas. Juvenile Diabetes is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. There is also a strong hereditary component to juvenile diabetes. Researchers believe an environmental trigger or virus causes the body to attack the beta cells in the pancreas. Once these cells are destroyed the body can no longer produce insulin.Diabetes is the primary reason for adult blindness, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), gangrene and amputations. Overweight, lack of exercise, family history and stress increases the likelihood of developing diabetes. When blood sugar level is constantly high it leads to kidney failure, cardiovascular problems and neuropathy. Patients with diabetes are 4 times more likely to have coronary heart disease and stroke. In addition, Gestational diabetes is more dangerous for pregnant women and their fetus.Rapid weight loss is one of the first symptoms of diabetes, especially if the child also has increased hunger, especially after eating. Other Symptoms include: frequent urination; dry mouth; fatigue; blurred vision and numbness or tingling of the hands or feet.Juvenile diabetes is a chronic health problem for children. There are many myths and misinformation about diabetes. There is also confusion between juvenile diabetes, also known as type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes. The symptoms for both are for the most part the same, however, the cause and treatment is very different.Juvenile diabetes can affect anyone of any age, but is more common in people under 30 years and tends to develop in childhood. Other names for juvenile diabetes include Type I diabetes and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Common symptoms of diabetes and, more specifically, on symptoms of juvenile diabetes. Causes of diabetes are discussed, as well as testing and dietary issues.The risk of juvenile diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe chronic diseases of childhood. Juvenile diabetes tends to run in families. Brothers and sisters of a child with juvenile diabetes have at least 100 times the risk of developing juvenile diabetes as a child in an unaffected family.The symptoms of juvenile diabetes, also known as Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes are extremely similar, but the two are caused by very different bodily malfunctions. It is important to know which type the individual is afflicted with in order to provide the right treatment, which also varies between types.It’s not always apparent that a child has type 1 or juvenile diabetes. Some of the symptoms seem like average childhood problems that occur. Nausea and/or vomiting can be misconstrued as the flu. Irritability, being tired and listless may be attributed to behaviors all children exhibit at one time or another. The discovery of juvenile diabetes may happen during a visit to a physician for another ailment such as a vaginal yeast infection for girls or even a routine examination.Juvenile diabetes is the idea that it can be caught from another person. Juvenile diabetes, along with the other types of the disease, is absolutely not a contagious disease. Another misconception about the disease is the traditional belief that eating sweets can directly cause diabetes. In a way, eating too much sweet may eventually cause diabetes because doing so can lead to obesity. But eating sweets does not cause diabetes. Stress is never a cause of juvenile diabetes or any type of diabetes.

Susan

Steff asked:


My husband and I would really like to start a family soon. I have a couple of health issues. For one, I have diabetes type II and I have polisystic overies which causes me to have a super irregular period. Would anyone have any suggestions on how we could get pregnant? Thanks!

Ricky

Aimee asked:


Is it a blood test?

Also what type is more common 1 or 2?

And lastly i heard people who have diabetes can not have children because it is very risky.

Harold

Richard asked:


Living with Diabetes is not easy because there are so many factors that have to be taken into consideration concerning your lifestyle. There are two types of diabetes simply labeled type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is normally diagnosed in children and young adults, while type 2 diabetes may develop over the years and strike when you are older. Diabetics suffering from type 1 diabetes will have to take regular insulin injections because their bodies are unable to produce the necessary insulin; while people suffering from type 2 can be treated with dietary modifications and anti diabetic tablets. In some cases insulin making cells in type 2 diabetes sufferers fail and as a result sufferers will also require starting of taking insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes suffered by millions all over the world.
 
Who has the most risk of contracting diabetes?
 
People that can contract diabetes more than others are old age people, the obese and very overweight, those with a family history of diabetes, sedentary people; and recently research has shown Asians and black skinned people have twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to lifestyle factors. Unfortunately symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually and can be unnoticeable until long after the onset of the disease. People with high glucose levels in their blood may even experience no symptoms at all.
 
Some Noticeable symptoms of diabetes requiring investigation.
 
If you suffer symptoms of fatigue, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss or weight gain; wounds that are slow to heal, very dry skin, vision change, or tingling and numbness in your body, then it is vital to consult with your doctor because you may be suffering from diabetes. This disease can damage blood vessels, your kidneys, and heart arteries, and other complications in the body may arise; the result is that your life can be shortened by up to 10 years if you do not get proper treatment. Type 2 diabetes can also cause loss of healthy vision, impotence in men and even nerve damage. With all these scary factors it is certainly a sensible decision to get tested by a healthcare professional if you are suspicious of any changes in your body.
 
Treatments for Diabetes
 
Treating diabetes means keeping the level of sugars or glucose levels in your blood as normal as possible. Too high; a level of glucose in the bloods is known as hyperglycemia, and too low hypoglycemia. Keeping sugar levels normal can be done by eating correctly, regular exercise and taking medicines and insulin’s as your doctor has prescribed. People suffering from diabetes must get into a habit of checking blood glucose levels regularly. These checks can give you an indication of how certain foods, exercise and medicines are reacting in your body and helping control your type 2 diabetes. New technology equipment that is compact to carry with you has been designed for the purpose of doing these checks without any discomfort. Doctors’ visits will also give you an indication of how well your blood sugar is controlled over periods of time.
 
Diabetics need to be lifestyle conscious.
 
If you live properly taking care of what foods you eat, then it is relatively simple living a healthy balanced lifestyle. Some tips of controlling diabetes include:
 

A carefully balanced diet knowing which foods need to be avoided.

Your doctor will give you guidance on this suitable for your type of diabetes.

If you are obese or overweight then it is vital to shed those pounds as quickly as possible because dangers to your health increase exponentially.

Regular exercise helps controlling blood sugar while you are burning sugar for energy.

Diabetes sufferers that are sedentary may suffer heart attacks. If you have been sedentary for a long period take care to ask your doctor before taking on any exercise routines.

Taking prescribed medication.

 
 
If you need insulin injections, then you will need to learn the care for storage and injecting yourself from your health care provider or diabetes center.
Do as much research on the condition of diabetes how to care for yourself if you are a sufferer and what new medications are available on the market.
 
More Information on Diabetes Lifestyle Management Secrets

Wendy

s a asked:


How to identify whether it is the first or the second type and which is more dangerous?

Please advice the best ways to control the diabetes if the patient is unable to move by self
A thumbs up for all the answerers for taking pain to answer my question. Thanks you all for the information.

Wow, somebody is gonna get at least 11 points.
My best wishes (specially to Steph, Absin and Gumbo) for sharing their experience. Will pray for your longer life.

Francisco

bio machine asked:


It has been obsereved that Diabetes occurs in people suffering from obesity.There should be some correlation between the two.This may be due to some physioloic,genetic,immunologic or some other factor.As a student of biotechnology,i wanted to know the precise relation between them and the mechanism by which they affect each other.I would also be thankful if some good websites for exploration of this topic are suggested.

Connie

the_creative_dancer asked:


I have a friend that drinks alcohol (not the hard stuff) but he has diabetes. I don’t know what to do because I’m really close to this friend. He always reacts the worst to me out of everyone only when he drinks. I just need some help on how to deal with him and what happens to him with it? Plus how can I get him to stop drinking. Oh I should add that he drinks a 12 pack of Natural Light.

Claudia

james sameul asked:


Causes of DiabetesDiabetes mellitus often referred to simply as diabetes , is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) resulting from insufficient levels of the hormone insulinDiabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play rolesIf you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you know how overwhelming it can seem. It may feel like your life has been temporarily turned upside down. The Diabetes Toolbox is an article that links all the information you need in one convenient place.Risk factors of DiabetesAge. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. Often, that’s because people tend to exercise less, lose muscle mass and gain weight as they age. But type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically among children, adolescents and younger adults.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - when a woman’s body produces an excess of testosterone (a male hormone) which causes the ovaries to release eggs (ovulate) less frequently than normal or they don’t release eggs at all. This syndrome usually causes irregular or absent menstrual cycles.People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, high blood pressure, blindness, nerve damage and gum disease. These things happen 2 to 4 times more often in people with diabetes than in people without diabetes.Diabetes resulting in an insulin-dependent state is classified as Type 1 diabetes. While Type 1 diabetes affects only between 5 to10 percent of the diabetic population, its effects on the body can be worse than other forms of diabetes. In the past, Type 1 has been known as juvenile or juvenile-onset diabetes (because it is usually diagnosed in those under thirty), brittle diabetes, unstable diabetes, and ketosis-prone diabetes.Diabetes SymptomsDiabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetesIn type 2 diabetes, symptoms may go unnoticed for years, and only when complications of diabetes - such as foot ulceration or blurred vision occur - is diabetes diagnosed. Remember that all the symptoms may not be present.Many of the signs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar. In both, there is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of your body. High glucose levels in Type I are due to a lack of insulin because the insulin producing cells have been destroyed.Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and often-serious disturbances in blood levels of potassium follow.Treatment  of DiabetesIf you have diabetes, your doctor may tell you to regularly check your blood sugar levels at home. There are a number of devices available, and they use only a drop of blood. Self-monitoring tells you how well diet, medication, and exercise are working together to control your diabetes and can help your doctor prevent complications.In the past, the insulin was being derived from animal sources, particularly cows and pigs. Not only was there a problem with enough supply of insulin to meet the demand, but beef and pork insulin also had specific problems. Originating from animals, these types of insulin caused immune reactions in some people.Medication. Any medications you take may affect your blood sugar level, sometimes requiring changes in your diabetes treatment plan.

Bertha