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Controlling Your Diabetes Through Exercise

December 29, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

 

Controlling diabetes can be an overwhelming full time job.  Usually it is controlled by a combination of things that work together on the body to regulate diabetes and its symptoms.

Exercise is one important tool to combat diabetes.  Studies have shown that exercise has an effect on blood glucose levels, as well as heart rate, blood pressure and other levels in the body.

Studies have determined that blood glucose levels can be kept under control simply by walking for 45 minutes.  One study, performed by Newcastle University in Britain, found that walking improved the body’s ability to store sugar and burn fat.  After a few weeks of doing this regularly, the effects of diabetes are reduced.  This is especially true for individuals with late onset or type 2 diabetes.

A high percentage of cases of diabetes are linked to sedentary lifestyle, which includes a lack of exercise, and obesity, which is often the result of a sedentary lifestyle combined with poor eating habits.

As diabetes progresses it can lead to blood vessel damage, risk of stroke and heart attack, visual problems including blindness, kidney damage and, because of cardiovascular issues, can result in amputation of limbs.

The studies atresearch from Newcastle gives individuals with diabetes tools to use against the symptoms of diabetes without having to add another medication to their regimen.  Even if an individual starts out for just a few minutes every day and gradually builds up to 45 minutes, it will still do some good.

By being more active, individuals are able to store more sugar in their muscles and they burn more fat.  This is important because the muscles store most of the sugar in the body, and if they are unable to absorb enough sugar, the sugar ends up in the bloodstream keeping the levels too high.  This causes damage to the veins, arteries and many of the organs.

If you have diabetes or know someone who does, it should be good to know that going to the gym for hours isn’t necessary to control it.  Encourage them to walk for a few minutes a day and work up to 45 minutes every day.  It will help with their diabetes, and it very well could save their life.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: Add new tag, blood glucose, blood sugar, diabetes, diabetes treatment, dibetes care, exercise

Amputations and Other Risks of Diabetes

December 29, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

The symptoms of diabetes are the same wherever you are in the world.  If you are living with diabetes it is well known that you can avoid or at least, delay some of the  serious conditions such as kidney disease, kidney failure, heart disease and amputations if you live a healthy lifestyle, take your medication, engage in moderate exercise and eat healthy meals.  If you are not able to totally eliminate these things, you can certainly delay them or diminish their effects.

Research shows that too many people are not taking care of themselves and their diabetes to the extent that they should.  Because of this, about 100 people per week in the U K alone have a limb amputated due to diabetes and the complications from the disease. 

Diabetes affects over 2 million people in Britain vs. over 20 million people in the United States.  There is an urgent need to be much more aware of diabetes and its complications such as heart attacks, blindness, kidney failure, blindness and strokes.  Another very serious complication is that about 7 out of 10 people that have amputations will die within 5 years.

People with diabetes need support, guidance and clinical care to minimize the risk of amputation.  They need to be able to see more podiatrists on a regular basis to prevent foot ulcers and gangrene, which very often lead to amputation. 

It is essential for individuals with diabetes to get the information they need and learn all they can about diabetes, its symptoms and its complications to prevent some of the more drastic issues that arise, such as the need for amputation.  These issues are critical and life-changing.  In addition, many amputations can be prevented with better management of a person’s diabetes.

If you have diabetes or know someone who does, follow the information that will help life to be as healthy as possible.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: amputation, diabetes, diabetes complications, diabetes treatment, kidney failure

The Link Between Diabetes and Cancer Mortality

December 17, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

 

There is more and more information being discovered about diabetes every day.   A lot of the information is helpful and has led to great strides as far as getting to controlling the symptoms, arresting or reversing some symptoms or finding a cure for diabetes altogether.

There is other information that is just as helpful in the fight against diabetes, however not so positive.  There has been a recent discovery regarding Cancer patients that have existing diabetes.  In studying the link between the two most common diseases – diabetes and cancer -  researchers have found a negative link.  According to a report in a recent Journal of the American Medical Association, cancer patients that already have diabetes have a greater chance of dying than cancer patients that don’t have diabetes.

Researchers are trying to find the reason why this link and this situation exists by studying diaetes-related health problems and the link to cancer.  One fact that they uncovered is that out of the approximately 24 million people in the United States who have diabetes, up to 18% of newly dignosed cancer patients have diabetes.  Both ailments are extremely common, but until recently, researchers had not thought to organize the information in such a way that the link could be seen and researched.

Once that happened, researchers were able to start looking at the link.  They discovered several reasons that individuals with cancer who also had diabetes might have a higher mortality rate.  Diabetes causes tumors to grow faster, though researchers do not know why.  Because diabetes can compromise the immune system, it might weaken their ability to withstand chemtherapy.  People with diabetes may be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage because their doctors are concentrating on other symptoms. 

There is more research ongoing regarding cancer and diabetes.  While we await more information, it is important to be vigilant regarding your symptoms and work closely with your doctor to monitor your diabetes and make sure you do not have cancer.  If you find that you do have cancer and diabetes, be sure to stay aware of and on top of your symptoms and treatment so that you have a long and happy life.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: cancer, diabetes, Diabetes Care, Diabetes Research, Diabetes Statistics

Treating Depression and Diabetes Together

December 14, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

 

There are facts that have been well known for a long time that connect diabetes with depression.  Researchers quoting studies from Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore have determined that depression and Type 2 diabetes go hand in hand.  The task at hand is to determine which comes first – depression or diabetes.

Hopkins studied over 6,800 individuals of all ethnic backgrounds, male and female, between the ages of 45 and 84. These individuals visited clinics three times over three years.  The results of the study indicated that those participants with the strongest symptoms of depression were 42% more likely (on average) to develop diabetes before the end of the study than those who did not have depressive symptoms.

The researchers looked at other symptoms, such as being overweight, being smokers or not participating in exercise did not have as high a percentage as those who had depressive symptoms.

This is important information which will help in treating both issues.  In addition, physicians and medical personnel can and should be aware of this connection between both illnesses and the issues they each bring to the individual fighting to stay well and coping with the diseases.

Of course, having either or both of these illnesses to deal with can be extremely difficult, at best, not only regarding treatment but also recovery.  In the spirit of treating the entire person, it is important for doctors to be aware of looking at both illnesses to help manage both of them.  Hopefully this will help individuals to get better and feel better more quickly and remain better long-term.

There have been many excellent advances in treatment and research of both depression and diabetes, with new medications, lifestyle changes and discoveries about diet and both diseases.  If you are having issues with diabetes and/or depression, talk to your doctor.  You might be very surprised about how quickly and easily you can begin to feel better and continue getting better.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: connection between diabetes and depression, depression, depression symptoms, diabetes, Diabetes Symptoms, diabetes treatment

Basics of Childhood Diabetes

December 13, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

Childhood Diabetes is also known as Type 1 Diabetes.  When a child or young person has diabetes their body does not create enough insulin, and as a result, the body needs to be treated by the person taking insulin shots to provide for the insulin not being produced in the body.

The production of insulin, which is an essential hormone, happens in the pancreas.  The food a child eats is broken down by the body into a sugar called glucose.  The sugar is carried through the blood and gives the body energy.  Insulin helps the sugar enter the cells in the body and controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

With diabetes there ends up being too much sugar in the blood because there is not enough insulin to balance out the sugar.  This can cause a variety of heath problems, and if they are not treated, these problems can end up being fatal.

In childhood diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes), the pancreas cannot create enough insulin because many of the cells in the pancreas are being destroyed, sometimes due to the body’s immune system destroying the cells.  Sometimes Type 1 Diabetes occurs due to hereditary factors, as it can be genetic and run in families.

Some of the main symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes are excessive thirst, urinating a lot and losing weight.  Some of the treatments include learning about diabetes and learning about what type of diet can be helpful and healthy for an individual with diabetes.  It is important for the family to learn this information and be supportive of the child that has diabetes.  Another part of treatment is controlling blood sugar through use of a glucose meter to check the levels, but just as importantly, exploring the choices for a good diet and sticking to it.  Keytone tests are also important.  Basically, they test the urine and can tell you if enough insulin is being produced.  Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how they work.

It is also essential to have continuous treatment and monitoring through your family’s or child’s doctor, not only for the child that is diagnosed with diabetes, but also to have the entire family tested, as well.  This will allow you to know in advance if any other family members are showing symptoms of diabetes.

Juvenile, Childhood or Type 1 Diabetes can be managed and controlled in a way that will allow your child to live a normal life, doing the same things that other children do.  There is a lot of information available from many sources. 

One of the best sources of information is the American Diabetes Association.  You can call them at 1-800-342-2383 or visit the on the web at www.diabetes.org.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: Childhood Diabetes, diabetes, Diabetes Symptoms, diabetes treatment, juvenile diabetes, pancreas, sugar, type1 diabetes

Watching for Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes

December 4, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

Diabetes has become a disease that is more and more common both in children and adults.  With the advent of more cases of diabetes, there are more and varied treatments of the disease including a variety  of medications and a lot of good suggestions regarding diet and exercise, which can often help control diabetes without medication.

How do you know if you might have diabetes?  There are some specific signs and symptoms to look at that point to the possibility that you might have diabetes and need to check with your doctor. 

There are three symptoms that are usually classic symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.  They are frequent urination, increased or excessive thirst (resulting in a higher liquid intake) and increased appetite.  Sometimes Type 1 symptoms develop quickly over a period of weeks or months, especially in children and young people.  Another symptom may be weight loss – even if the individual is eating well and eating more than usual.  Excessive fatigue that cannot be overcome can be a symptom, as well.

In Type 2 diabetes, the many of the symptoms can be the same, however, they develop much more slowly and subtly and may not even be noticeable.  This is why individuals often have developed the disease, and do not realize they have diabetes until the disease is more advanced. 

Other issues that can help identify diabetes are dehydration (even though the person is drinking extra liquids), glucose in urine (determined by a urine test), vision changes – especially blurred vision – which can come on gradually (usually with Type 2) or rapidly (usually with Type 1) and should be addressed immediately to avoid permanent damage, and sometimes urea leading to very bad breath, rapid, deep breathing, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

If you or your child/teen are experiencing any of these symptoms or a combination of them, see your doctor immediately.  With a few tests the doctor can determine what the problem is and whether it is diabetes, as opposed to another medical issue or simply an imbalance.  The doctor will then determine how to treat your symptoms, which could include diet changes and/or medication or both.

Regardless of the treatment, there have been many improvements in working with and treating diabetes, and with the right treatment, you can control your symptoms and live a long, healthy and normal life.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: dehydration, diabetes, diabetes signs and symptoms, diabetes treatment, extreme thirst, vision problems

Juvenile Diabetes – What Symptoms to Look For

December 4, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

Juvenile Diabetes is also called Type 1 Diabetes.  A child or young person that has diabetes is in a situation where their body does not create enough insulin, and as a result, it needs to be treated by the person taking insulin shots to provide for the insulin not being produced in the body.

The production of insulin, which is an important hormone, happens in the pancreas.  The food a child eats is broken down by the body into a sugar called glucose.  The sugar is carried through the blood and gives the body energy.  Insulin helps the sugar enter the cells in the body and controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

What happens with diabetes is that there ends up being too much sugar in the blood because there is not enough insulin to balance out the sugar.  This can cause many heath problems, and if they are not treated, these problems can end up being fatal.

In childhood diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes), the pancreas cannot create enough insulin because many of the cells in the pancreas are being destroyed, sometimes due to the body’s immune system destroying the cells.  Sometimes Type 1 Diabetes occurs due to hereditary factors, as it can be genetic and run in families.

Some of the main symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes are excessive thirst, urinating a lot and losing weight.  Some of the treatments include learning about the disease and learning about what type of diet can be helpful and healthy for diabetes.  It is important for the family to learn this information.  Another part of treatment is controlling blood sugar through use of a glucose meter to check the levels, but just as importantly, exploring the choices for a good diet and sticking to it.  Keytone tests are also important.  Basically, they test the urine and can tell you if enough insulin is being produced.  Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how they work.

It is also essential to have continuous treatment and monitoring through your family’s or child’s doctor, not only for the child that is diagnosed with diabetes, but also to have the entire family tested, as well. 

Juvenile, Childhood or Type 1 Diabetes can be managed and controlled in a way that will allow your child to live a normal life, doing the same things that other children do.  There is a lot of information available.  One of the best sources of information is the American Diabetes Association.  You can call them at 1-800-342-2383 or visit the on the web at www.diabetes.org.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: Childhood Diabetes, Diabetes Care, diabetes monitoring, diabetes treatment, Juvenile Diabetges, Type 1 Diabetes

The Facts about Type 1 Diabetes

December 1, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

 

Childhood Diabetes is also called Type 1 Diabetes.  A child or young person that has diabetes is in a situation where their body does not create enough insulin, and as a result, it needs to be treated by taking insulin shots to provide for the insulin not being produced in the body.

The production of insulin, which is an important hormone, happens in the pancreas.  The food a child eats is broken down by the body into a sugar called glucose.  The sugar is carried through the blood and gives the body energy.  Insulin helps the sugar enter the cells in the body and controls the amount of sugar in the blood.

In diabetes there is too much sugar in the blood because there is not enough insulin to balance out the sugar.  This can cause many heath problems, and if they are not treated, these problems can end up being fatal.

In childhood diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes), the pancreas cannot create enough insulin because many of the cells in the pancreas are being destroyed, sometimes due to the body’s immune system destroying the cells.  Sometimes Type 1 Diabetes occurs due to hereditary factors, as it can be genetic and run in families.

Some symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes are excessive thirst, urinating a lot and losing weight.  Some of the treatments include learning about the disease and learning about what type of diet can be helpful and healthy for diabetes.  It is important for the family to learn this information as well. 

Another part of treatment is controlling blood sugar through use of a glucose meter to check the levels, but just as importantly, exploring the choices for a good diet and sticking to it.  Keytone tests are also important.  Keytone tests test the urine to tell you if enough insulin is being produced.  Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how they work.

Continuous treatment and monitoring through your family’s or child’s doctor is essential, not only for the child that is diagnosed with diabetes, but also to have the entire family tested, as well. 

Juvenile, Childhood or Type 1 Diabetes can be managed and controlled in a way that will allow your child to live a normal life, doing the same things that other children do.  There is a lot of information available.  One of the best sources of information is the American Diabetes Association.  You can call them at 1-800-342-2383 or visit the on the web at www.diabetes.org.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: American Diabetes Association, diabetes treatment, glucose control, glucose meter, insulin, juvenile diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Anyone Can Develop Diabetes

December 1, 2008 By AnaLise Leave a Comment

 

Diabetes can strike at any age.  In addition to sneaking up on individuals, diabetes has a history of symptoms which, if not identified quickly can take a huge toll on a person and greatly interfere with their life.

Diabetes can attack a homemaker, a business man or woman, a person of any ethnic group or age, and even amateur or professional athletes.

One case in point is the Washington Nationals Baseball Team.  Their first baseman Dmitri Young, has diabetes.  This does not stop him from playing baseball, just as it does not stop Mary Tyler Moore from acting. 

However, when a person  – even a pro athlete – is battling symptoms of diabetes that are affecting his or her ability to play, that is a different story.  Dmitri Young is having trouble controlling the symptoms of his diabetes and, as a result he was unable to join his team on the road for part of last summer’s season.  He had to stay in Washington, D.C. to try to get his diabetes under control.

There are times when the symptoms don’t create enough problems to cause someone away from work.  However, in some cases the symptoms interfere with basic performance.  In Dmitri Young’s case, his symptoms did not allow him to play ball.  He is suffering from vision problems and dizziness, not a good combination for a ball player.

Many diabetics experience flare ups from time to time and have to work with their physicians to get their symptoms under control.  This can involve a variety of things including special diet, adjusting medication, exercise and/or rest and other assistance to get the individual back on track.

It is not known how long it will take Dmitri Young to get his diabetes under control.  This can be devastating to anyone, but especially to an athlete.  Hopefully, he and his medical professionals will find the right combination of tools to control his symptoms and help him get ready to be back in the game for next season.

Filed Under: Diabetes News Tagged With: controlling diabetes, diabetes, Diabetes Care, Diabetes Symptoms, diabetes treatment, healthy diet