About Diabetes

Richy is f0cking awesome!!!! asked:


I went to my GP yesterday as a follow-up appointment after being diagnosed with cellulitis in the foot. A number of other concerns were raised about my circulation and my heart which were showing some bad results after checking blood pressure. They said I am also very low on oxygen due to shortness of breath. I am going for some tests on Monday and Tuesday to find out whether I do have diabetes and anything else but what are the usual signs that a person has diabetes?

Mitchell

Juliet Cohen asked:


Diabetes is not contagious. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Diabetes means a disease where people have too much sugar in their blood. Diabetes mellitus is a disease where people have too much glucose (a kind of sugar) in the blood. Diabetes is likely to be underreported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates. About 65 percent of deaths among those with diabetes are attributed to heart disease and stroke. 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 roles. There are 20.8 million children in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. The three main types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes , type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

Type-2 diabetes accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes worldwide. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Diabetes mellitus type 2 is often associated with obesity and hypertension and elevated cholesterol , and with the condition Metabolic syndrome. People develop type 2 diabetes because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly. It is also associated with acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome and a number of other endocrinological disorders. About 90–95% of all North American cases of diabetes are type 2, and about 20% of the population over the age of 65 has diabetes mellitus type 2. The fraction of type 2 diabetics in other parts of the world varies substantially, almost certainly for environmental and lifestyle reasons, though these are not known in detail. Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is more prevalent among Hispanics, Native Americans, African Americans, and Asians/Pacific Islanders than in non-Hispanic whites. Type-2 diabetes is a lifelong illness, which generally starts in middle age or later part of life, but can start at any age. People who are overweight and inactive are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes doesn’t develop overnight. It usually begins with insulin resistance, where the body’s cells can’t use insulin properly. Glucose builds up in the bloodstream. The pancreas keeps on producing insulin to try and get the blood glucose level down. Over time the pancreas loses its ability to secrete insulin. This can sometimes result in the person with type 2 diabetes having to inject insulin every day. Obesity, aging, and lack of exercise can all play a role in developing insulin resistance and heightening the risk for diabetes. Treatment for type 2 diabetes is a lifelong commitment of blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, regular exercise and, sometimes, diabetes medications or insulin therapy.

Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Tips

1. Type 2 is initially treated by adjustment in diet and exercise, and weight loss.

2. Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of food, and eating meals at the right time.

3. Regular exercise helps control the amount of glucose in the blood. It also helps burn excess calories and fat so you can manage your weight.

4. Exercise improves overall health by improving blood flow and blood pressure.

5. Oral sulfonylureas (like glimepiride, glyburide, and tolazamide) trigger the pancreas to make more insulin.

6. Biguanides (Metformin) tell the liver to decrease its production of glucose, which increases glucose levels in the blood stream.

7. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (such as acarbose) decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the digestive tract, thereby lowering the after-meal glucose levels.

8. Thiazolidinediones (such as rosiglitazone) help insulin work better at the cell site.

9. Wear a diabetes identification bracelet and carry change or a cell phone for a phone call in case of emergency.

10. Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during, and after exercise.

11. Protect feet with comfortable, well-fitting shoes.

12. Stop smoking because it worsens blood flow to the feet.



Louis

Juju..Jelly belly.. asked:


Diabetes runs in my family and I am scared that I might get it. I recently found out that I was born with one kidney. I havent spoken to a doctor yet but i am curious. Can a person with one kidney and diabetes live a normal life?

Christine

Michelle asked:


I think I have the worst doctor. He told me today I have gestational diabetes and asked the nurse to give me some dietary education, but then everyone disappeared and I didn’t get any education at all. I’ve never had this before and have no clue what to do! All they told me was that diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise…. but no info on the kind of diet. we’re going into a holiday weekend so I know I won’t get any appointments with dieticians or specialists until next week or the week after at the earliest. Meanwhile, do you guys have any suggestions of simple foods to eat/diets to follow? Am I supposed to avoid sugar totally?
P.S. I am so angry at my doctor, and feel really guilty about having diabetes. Any suggestions on how to cope would be great!

Kelly

Tim Bickerstaff asked:


 

Diabetes Risk for Men

Men with diabetes face several health concerns, including increased risk of heart attacks and strokes and impotence (not being able to have or keep an erection).

Above the age of 50, the likelihood of having difficulties with an erection occurs in approximately 50-60% of men with diabetes. In men over 70, 90% have erectile dysfunction problems (link to diabetes and ED page)

Diagnosed and controlled, diabetes can be successfully managed to minimise its impact on health and well being. You can prevent or delay diabetes complications like damage to eye sight and nerve damage to fingers and toes. However many men do not realise they suffer from the disease. Around one third of the men with diabetes are not aware of their illness.

Diabetes Signs and Symptoms

If you find yourself with any of the following symptoms, it is important you visit your doctor or health practitioner and get tested for diabetes:

• feeling tired

• frequent urination (especially at night)

• being very thirsty

• weight loss

• blurry eyesight

• recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections

• sores that heal slowly

• dry, itchy skin

• loss of feeling or tingling in your feet

Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

There are different kinds of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults.

• Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop it at any age, but it is often diagnosed in later life and is commonly found in men who are over weight and do little exercise.

What is Diabetes?

Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose (sugar) for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas makes insulin, which helps sugar get into the cells. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it does make. This causes sugar to build up in your blood. Over the years, high blood sugar leads to problems like heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputations.

Diabetes-Related Problems in Men

Men with diabetes suffer more from some diabetes-related health problems than women. The American Diabetes Association reports that:

• In people who develop diabetes before the age of 30, men develop retinopathy (a vision disorder that can lead to blindness) more quickly than women.

• Having the main symptoms of peripheral vascular disease (pain in the thigh, calf, or buttocks during exercise) is linked to a two- to three-fold increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or cardiac failure in men with diabetes.

• Amputation rates from diabetes-related problems are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes.

“Beer Pot” Belly Equals High Diabetes Risk

Overall obesity, measured by high body mass index (BMI) and a “beer pot” belly, measured by a large waist circumference, both accurately predict the risk of type 2 diabetes in men, but abdominal obesity appears to be the better predictor, new research shows.*

Both BMI and waist circumference are useful for assessing health but waist circumference can indicate a strong risk for diabetes whether or not a man is considered overweight or obese according to his BMI, researchers said.

As waist circumference increased, so did the risk of developing diabetes, with the risk in men with the highest waist circumference (up to 158 centimeters) increasing by 12 times.

The study findings also suggest that the currently recommended cutoff for high waist circumference of 102 cm (40 inches) for men may need to be lowered to 95 cm.

Many of the men who developed type 2 diabetes had measurements lower than the cutoff and the risk associated with the waist circumference increased at a much lower level than previously thought.

Sleeping Too Much Or Too Little Increases Diabetes Risk

Men who sleep too much or too little are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a study by the New England Research Institutes in collaboration with Yale School of Medicine researchers.

Six to eight hours of sleep was found to be most healthy.

In contrast, men who reported they slept between five and six hours per night were twice as likely to develop diabetes and men who slept more than eight hours per night were three times as likely to develop diabetes. Previous data have shown similar results in women.

The elevated risks remained after adjustment for age, hypertension, smoking status, self-rated health status and education.

Too little sleep appears to produce metabolic disturbances like decreased carbohydrate tolerance, insulin resistance, and lower levels of the hormone leptin leading to obesity. The mechanisms by which long sleep duration increase diabetes risk requires further investigation.

You Can Delay or Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

When you take steps to prevent diabetes, you also lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.

Small changes in your lifestyle can make a difference.

They include:

• Getting 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight.

• To help you lose weight, choose low-fat foods and foods high in fiber.

• Cut down on fat and cholesterol by having low-fat dairy products, lean cuts of meat, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.

• Limit foods high in salt and sugar.

Know Your Risks That Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes

It’s important to find out early if you have type 2 diabetes or if you are at risk of developing it. To find out if you’re at risk, check off each item that applies to you.

• I am overweight or obese. (Obesity is measured with a body mass index (BMI), which shows the relationship of weight to height.)

• I have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes.

• My family background is African American, American Indian, Asian American, Latino, Maori or Pacific Islander.

• I have high blood pressure.

• My cholesterol is not normal. My HDL or “good” cholesterol is less than 50 or my triglycerides are 250 or higher.

• I am not very active. I exercise less than three times each week.

Talk to your doctor or health care practitioner about the risks that you checked off. If you are age 45 or older, also talk about getting tested for Type 2 diabetes. If your test result is normal, you should then be tested every three years. People younger than age 45 who are overweight or obese and checked off any of the items above should also talk about getting tested for diabetes

* SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2005.

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Douglas