August 31st, 2010 Admin
Pre-diabetes, in simple terms, is a precursor to full type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when your blood glucose/sugar levels become extremely high due to a lack of insulin in your body. Pre-diabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes can be reversed by making positive lifestyle changes. Therefore, it is a critical stage because by making the right choices you can avoid type 2 diabetes completely.
The exact causes of pre-diabetes are not fully understood but it is linked to a number of risk factors. Some of these risk factors (such as age, family history and race) are beyond your control. However, a number of the risk factors (including inactivity and obesity) are within your control. By maintaining a healthy body weight and doing more exercise you can reduce your risk of reverse pre-diabetes and halt the development of type 2 diabetes. Read more...
Tags: Adequate Levels, Blood Glucose, Blood Sugar Levels, Critical Stage, Diabetes, Diabetes Symptoms, Diabetes Type 2, Fasting Plasma Glucose Test, Fruits And Vegetables, Glucose Tolerance Test, Inactivity, Introduction, Lifestyle Changes, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, Plasma Glucose, Pre Diabetes, Precursor, Right Choices, Risk Factors, Type 2 Diabetes, Urinating, Various Tests
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August 23rd, 2010 Admin
Up above, the crashing of the wave tosses wild currents around the coral. A small damselfish swimming through the reef is tossed against the reef and nicks itself on the sharp coral. Three shiny scales scrape away and drift motionless, until the current starts to spin them about. A tiny drop of blood slowly seeps out into the ocean. Startled, the little damsel scurries away, out into the open ocean.
A mile away, a languishing bluetip reef shark senses an odor. The tiny droplet of blood, spread thin in the ocean, awakens the sharks hunger. He can smell the blood and weaves his way though the sea, continually tracking back and forth, to a stronger and stronger scent trail. The little damselfish, still barely bleeding, but leaving a trail to follow, is the end of the path for the shark. Jagged teeth, open wide, the damsel hasn’t a chance.
The story of the shark in the damsel provides a perfect analogy for the way your body fights bacteria when you develop a diabetic foot infection. The bacteria is much like the little damselfish. As it moves through the tissue in your foot, it leaves chemical markers that signal its presence. Read more...
Tags: Analogy, Bacteria, Blood Glucose, Bluetip, Chemical Markers, Chemotaxis, Common, Damsel, diabetic, Diabetic Foot Infection, Diabetic Foot Infections, Drop Of Blood, Foot, Have, Infections, Macrophages, Open Ocean, Profound Effect, Reef Shark, Scent Trail, sharks, Shiny Scales, Tiny Drop, Tiny Droplet, What, White Blood Cells
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August 1st, 2010 Admin
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for more than 40 percent of new cases. Even when drugs and diet are able to control diabetes, the disease can lead to nephropathy and kidney failure. Most people with diabetes do not develop nephropathy that is severe enough to cause kidney failure. About 16 million people in the United States have diabetes, and about 100,000 people have kidney failure as a result of diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease in which insulin is either not produced (type 1) or insulin made by the pancreas is no longer effective (type 2). Glucose enters the blood stream as food is digested. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to leave the blood as it circulates and enter the cells. When glucose enters the cells, it fuels them, with the energy they need to run the body. If there is no insulin, or if it is not working like it should, the glucose keeps circulating in the blood, unable to leave. Read more...
Tags: Blood Glucose, Blood Stream, Brittle Diabetes, Cause Of Kidney Failure, Diabetes, Diabetes Information, Diabetes Type, Diabetic Population, High Glucose, Information, Information On Diabetes, Insulin, Juvenile Diabetes, Juvenile Onset Diabetes, Ketosis Prone Diabetes, Kidneys, Nephropathy, Pancreas, Sugar Levels, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Type Diabetes
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July 25th, 2010 Admin
A patient recently came into my office for a consultation. She was in her early 50s, overweight, and was struggling with constant tiredness and a sense of being overwhelmed. She had tried multiple diets, with little to no success, and when she succeeded in dropping a couple of pounds, they came right back on. She was sick and tired of being sick and tired. She, like countless other baby boomers, is dealing with a physical condition that is nearly epidemic in proportion. If untreated, it has the potential to lead to full blown diabetes. This condition is called insulin resistance.
As I have treated numerous patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, over and over again the thought occurs to me that the diagnosis of diabetes does not magically happen overnight. It is a process that the body goes through as it compensates for an unhealthy state.
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
At the outset, we must differentiate between Diabetes Mellitus Type I and Type II. Diabetes Mellitus Type I occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (beta cells) so that an inadequate amount of insulin is secreted and blood sugar rises, with subsequent life-threatening ketoacidosis. Type II Diabetes, on the other hand, is a product of our Western society’s habit of overeating carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates (sugar). It is preceded by the condition I described earlier, called insulin resistance.
Before moving on to what procedures I use in my practice to treat diabetes and insulin resistance, let’s look at where this whole problem with diabetes began. This requires us to do some elementary biochemistry. All carbohydrates eventually break down in the body into glucose. As the blood glucose, or sugar, rises, insulin is released from the beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin takes the glucose to insulin receptors on each cell in the body, so that glucose can enter the cell. On the average, 50% of this glucose will be burned as energy, 10% will be stored as glycogen, and 40% is stored as triglycerides. [ii] Glycogen is the storage form of glucose which can be immediately released when the body needs more sugar. Most of the glucose stored as glycogen is in muscle, and the rest is stored in the liver. Triglycerides are a specific type of fat (lipid) molecule that can be burned as energy in the body; however, they are not as easily accessible as glycogen.
When refined carbohydrates (sugar) are ingested (cookies, candies, cakes, Twinkies, PopTarts), especially when taken without fiber, blood glucose levels rise rapidly. This rapid rise in blood sugar is followed by an overshooting of the amount of insulin released from the pancreas, causing the blood sugar to drop or fall below normal. The body does not like the sugar levels to be low, so it triggers a stress response in the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland will release adrenalin, which stimulates the breakdown of glycogen in the liver, slowly causing the glucose levels to rise in the blood.
Another way to relieve the symptoms of hypoglycemia triggered by this overshooting is by the ingestion of another refined carbohydrate. These two corrective mechanisms may cause the blood sugar to overcorrect (that is, the blood sugar’s too high again), with another overcorrection by insulin, and the cycle repeats itself over and over and over … .
Effects of Diabetes on the Body
After years of these glucose swings, the cell wall thickens (there are approximately 30 trillion cells in our body), insulin receptors become less efficient at glucose delivery into cells, and insulin resistance results. By definition, insulin resistance is seen as high fasting levels of glucose and insulin. Normal healthy fasting level of glucose is between 75-80, although any number in the 80s is acceptable. A healthy level of insulin in the fasting state is 0-5, while 5-10 is borderline. Anything above 10 is cause for concern. A diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus Type II is made when the fasting glucose level is greater than 126 or 140 on two separate occasions.
To understand the effects of high glucose levels to the body, we need to understand a principle called glycosylation [iii] . This is a fancy term for the binding of glucose to proteins. Glycosylated LDL (”bad” cholesterol) molecules do not bind to LDL receptors, nor shut off cholesterol synthesis. Glycosylated red blood cells do not carry as much oxygen, are more sticky, and clump together more. Glycosylation of the lens of the eye may lead to cararacts. Glycosylation of the myelin sheath around nerves leads to loss of nerve function, tingling, pain, and numbness called neuropathy. Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the blood vessels) is the single biggest complication of diabetes. It may be due to platelet stickiness, glycosylated LDL, glycosylated red blood cells, or glycosylation of proteins in the blood vessel wall.
Atherosclerosis causes a reduction in blood flow, with subsequent organ damage, hypertension, cyanotic feet (with possible gangrene and amputation), retinopathy, and even kidney dysfunction and failure. Poor healing of skin from infection or trauma leads to chronic ulcers or sepsis (bacteria spreading throughout the body through the blood stream). [iv]
High insulin levels affect the body differently. They increase fat formation and storage, while inhibiting fat breakdown to be used as energy. This makes it easy to gain weight, and VERY difficult to lose weight. High insulin also enhances sodium (salt) reabsorption from the kidney, thus promoting water retention and hypertension. High insulin levels also stimulate certain ovarian hormones that result in elevations in free testosterone, with subsequent androgen effects. [v]
Treatment for Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
Diet is the reason we got into this mess and diet is the key to getting out of it! Since all carbohydrates break down into sugar, we must decrease the total amount of carbohydrates coming into the body. This translates into no more than 60-100 grams of carbohydrates per day — the less, the better. We need to look at those foods that are high and low in carbohydrates. As a start, all sugar must be eliminated. The next highest source of carbohydrates comes from potatoes (look out, Idaho!) and grains such as wheat (bread and pasta) and rice. Fruits are the next highest source of carbohydrates; their mostly fructose sugar is converted in the body into glucose. Certainly, whole fruit, with its fiber, and whole grains (rather than refined flour or wheat) for breads and pasta, and whole brown rice are much better tolerated than the refined, processed white foods and low fiber juices.
The legumes, which include beans, peas and soy, have about 1/3 carbohydrates, 1/3 protein, and 1/3 fats. (This is a highly simplified version of these ratios.) Generally nuts and seeds have that same ratio. Vegetables have the least amount of carbohydrates, although corn, tomatoes and carrots (the ones we tend to like the most) are the highest of the vegetables in the carbohydrate category. There are no carbohydrates in meats, cheese, or eggs.
So, the recommendation is: eat less of the breads, potatoes, rice, pasta, and fruit categories, and eat more of the legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, eggs, cheese and meat (sparingly) categories.
Nutritional Options
There are nutritional substances that reduce insulin resistance in the body. These include chromium [vi] , vanadium, biotin and alpha-lipoic acid. There is mixed success in reducing carbohydrate cravings with Gymnema or L-Glutamine, but these are certainly worth a try if sugar cravings persist. Vitamin E at 900 IU/day improves insulin action and may prevent many long-term complications. It also plays a significant role in the prevention of diabetes [vii] (the recent vitamin E scare is incorrect). For more information, you may want to visit my blog site, www.drstangardner.com).
Magnesium plays an important role in glucose management, through its effect on insulin. Magnesium levels are lowest in those patients with diabetic complications. Vitamin C is needed for collagen formation, which is at the core of all repair in the body. It also improves insulin sensitivity and is a potent antioxidant. It inhibits glycosylation of proteins. [viii] Vitamin B6 protects against diabetic neuropathy, probably because it also inhibits glycosylation. Some studies indicate it may even resolve gestational diabetes. [ix] Omega 6 fatty acids offer protection against diabetic neuropathy, and omega 3 fatty acids protect against atherosclerosis and augment insulin secretion. Niacinamide may prevent development of Type I Diabetes Mellitus. If taken early enough after onset, it may help restore beta cell function, or slow down their destruction in Type I Diabetes Mellitus. [x]
Exercise enhances insulin sensitivity, perhaps through increasing levels of chromium. Lowered triglycerides and improved weight loss are other beneficial effects of exercise. The benefits of exercise are addressed in another article.
Summary
1 Low carbohydrate diet (no more than 60-100 grams per day).
2. Chromium (200-400 micrograms/day)
3. Vanadium (100-125 milligrams/day long term or 5-10 grams/day, short term)
4. General supplements include:
a) Vitamin C (2000 mg/day)
b) Vitamin B6 (150-200 mg/day)
c) Vitamin E (900 IU/day)
d) Magnesium ( 600-1000 mg/day)
5. If insulin resistance is still present with the above recommendations, add Biotin (9-16 mg/day), Glucophage (500-1700 mg/day). Glucophage needs a prescription.
6. For Type I Diabetes Mellitus, Niacinamide (1000-2000 mg/day) and insulin
This approach puts a much heavier emphasis on treating insulin resistance, the underlying cause of diabetes, rather than treating the symptoms of high blood sugar with medications like sulfonylureas that push the beta cells toward increasing insulin release, irrespective of the glucose level in the blood. More insulin is not what is needed. Less insulin resistance is needed. With this approach, we get away from the problems associated with high insulin levels. We also avoid the potential exhaustion of beta cells because of their chronic high production to handle insulin.
Diabetes is the end result of problems in the body that can be addressed with nutrition. The positive results I have seen in my practice are incredibly successful! It is critical to begin addressing our health issues at the cause level, rather than the end organ damage level. Read more...
Tags: baby boomers, Beta Cells, Blood Glucose, Blood Sugar, Constant Tiredness, Critical, Diabetes, Diabetes Information, Diabetes Insulin, Diabetes Mellitus Type, Diabetes Mellitus Type I, Diabetes Type, Diagnosis Of Diabetes, Elementary Biochemistry, Epidemic, Immune System, Information, Insulin Receptors, Insulin Resistance, Know, Outset, Overweight, Pancreas, Should, Type Ii Diabetes
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July 20th, 2010 Admin
What is Pre-diabetes? This is a fact that before developing diabetes mellitus type 2, almost always that patient develops Pre-diabetes condition. Though we will not diagnose that person as diabetic, but if he or she will not control his or her blood suger level, he will probably have diabetes mellitus in future. In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are in higher limits, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes mellitus. In USA only, more than 54 million people have pre-diabetes condition.During pre-diabetes damage to heart and circulatory system may already be occuring.
Various studies have shown that if you control your pre-diabetes condition earlier, then there are very less chances to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, or you can delay it to develop. So always try to manage your blood glucose under control limits when you are in pre-diabetic stage to prevent yourself from developing type 2 diabetes. Read more...
Tags: Almost, Always, Before, Blood Glucose, Blood Sugar Levels, Blood Suger Level, Circulatory System, Developing, Diabetes, Diabetes 2, Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels, Diabetes Damage, Diabetes Mellitus Type, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Diabetic Condition, Dl, Every, Fasting Plasma Glucose Test, Glucose Level, Glucose Tolerance Test, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, Person, Plasma Glucose, Pre Diabetes, PreDiabetes, Test Values, Type, Type 2 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
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July 7th, 2010 Admin
Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to heart problems, stroke, loss of membership due to poor circulation, and death. Research continues to indicate that regular exercise and healthy diet are two factors that can help people prevent diabetes, as well as enable diabetics have functional life. Diabetes is growing fastest in the developing world than in developed countries. Seven of the ten countries with the largest number of people living with diabetes in the developing world. Diabetes is the fifth deadliest disease in the USA. However, studies show that diabetes east sous generally reported on death certificates particularly case elderly multiple chronic conditions cardiaque maladie et hypertension.
Diabetes is emerging from the shadows because the United Nations led the global response and said a resolution on diabetes. Diabetes is divided into two subgroups: type 1 and type 2. The difference is based on whether the problem is caused by a lack of insulin type 1) or insulin resistance (type 2). Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism, a process that converts food into energy. Insulin key in this process, which begins when foods are broken down during digestion to create glucose, the main source of energy in the body. Read more...
Tags: About, Amputation, Blood Glucose, Cause Of Heart Disease, Chronic Conditions, Death Certificates, Death Research, Developing World, Diabetes, Facts, Functional Life, Global Response, Healthy Diet, Heart Problems, Insulin Resistance, Insulin Type, Kidney Failure, Leading Cause Of Blindness, Living With Diabetes, Poor Circulation, Some, Source Of Energy, Type 2 Diabetes, World Diabetes
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July 5th, 2010 Admin
Now-a-days Alternative Medicines or Complementary Medicines and gaining popularity, because of its curing power with out any side effects.
Diabetes details: Diabetes means your blood glucose is too high. Diabetes is the inability of the body to ‘produce insulin – type 1 diabetes’ or ‘proper use of insulin – type 2 diabetes.
Allopathic medicine Diabetes: In allopathic treatment, they consider and treat everyone in a similar manner and drugs are used for treatments. These drugs are used to stop or block one particular function of an organ. It is not trying to correct the root cause and only gives temporary relief. Also they use only one force (compared to war utilizes land force only) that is the medication for diabetes.
Alternative medicines Diabetes: treatments they consider human as a whole and each human is treated differently for the same disease. They are not only considering the disease alone, but also its causes – physical and mental (psychological) reasons.
Homeopathic remedies diabetes:
For example homeopathic remedy is concern they find the correct remedy by looking for symptoms of: Read more...
Tags: alternative, alternative medicines, Blood Glucose, Botanical Medicines, Complementary, Complementary Medicines, Correct Remedy, Diabetes, Diabetes Treatments, Health And Healing, Herbal Medication, Herbal Medicines, Herbal Remedies For Diabetes, Herbal Therapy, Homeopathic Remedies, Insulin Type, Medicinal Herbs, Medicine, Medicine Treatments, Psychological Reasons, Psychological Symptoms, Suitable Preparation, treatments, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes
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July 4th, 2010 Admin
If you are interested to prevent diabetes then you should have basic diabetes knowledge:
Diabetes means your blood glucose is too high. Diabetes is the inability of the body to ‘produce insulin – type 1 diabetes’ or ‘proper use of insulin – type 2 diabetes. If we know the causes of diabetes then, we can take care ourselves from diabetes. Causes of diabetes are of two types: causes that we can’t overcome and that we can overcome. If you already have diabetes, then it is advisable to have diabetes medication and follow below mentioned diabetes care tips.
Causes can’t be prevented:
Hereditary – It is strongly believed that due to some genes which passes from one generation to another. If a mother has diabetics then there is 2 to 3% chances for her child, but if father has diabetic, the risk is more than the previous case and if both has diabetic, the child has much greater risk for diabetes.
Age – Increased age is a factor which gives more possibility than in younger ages. This disease may occur at any age, but 80% of cases occur after 50 year. Read more...
Tags: against, Blood Glucose, Bmi Body Mass Index, Body Mass Index, Causes Of Diabetes, Diabetes, Diabetes Care, Diabetes Causes, Diabetes Knowledge, Diabetes Medication, Emotional Disturbance, Food Triangle, High Systolic Pressure, Immunization, Initial Cause, Insulin Type, Prevention, Prevention Tips, Sedentary Life, Starchy Foods, Tips, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Vegetable Fruits, Waist Size
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May 28th, 2010 Admin
Learn About Diabetes – Information & Facts
The Diabetes is one of the deadliest diseases in world, one in four people in America have this disease. The diabetes disease touches everybody, kids, young and old. It becomes important for everyone to learn what is Diabetes? The real reason is when body is unable to utilize or accumulate glucose. The Glucose is a form of Sugar. The level of glucose when goes high in bloodstream, it causes blood glucose to rise in individuals body. The Diabetes can be categorized into three stages. The three stages of diabetes are “Pre Diabetes”, “Type 1 Diabetes” and “Type 2 Diabetes”. The diabetes has become so common in people that it is common to find kids, teenagers, young adults diagnosed with Diabetes.
How does Glucose affects body?
It is a disorder in the body that affects the way body utilizes the food for energy. All food contains sugar, the digested food in body is broken into sugar known as Glucose. The glucose is used to produces energy. The individual glucose keeps circulating in blood and enters into body cells, once inside the cell the glucose is used as fuel to developed energy. The Insulin is a hormone, which body uses to push Glucose into body cells, if this process stops working then the blood sugar level rises in body. Read more...
Tags: About, Blood Glucose, Blood Sugar Level, Blood Sugar Readings, Bloodstream, Body Cells, Changes In Life, Deadliest Diseases, Diabetes, Diabetes Disease, Diabetes Information, Diabetes Type 1, Disease Touches, Facts, Glucose Tolerance, Information, Insulin, Learn, Life Style, Pre Diabetes, Real Reason, Stages Of Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Young Adults
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May 7th, 2010 Admin
DIABETES
Definition as stated by Dr Miriam Stoppard
Types of diabetes
1- Type 1
2- Type 2
Causes
1- Lifestyle
2- Disorders
3- Gestational diabetes
DIABETES MELLITUS
Long term complication
1-Heart problem
2-Eye
Treatment
1-Insulin Prevention
2- Good lifestyle 1-healthy diet
3- Monitoring blood glucose 2-blood pressure measurement
3- healthy lifestyle
Symptoms
1-excessive urination
2- weakness
3- weight loss
Notes from readings
- pancreas either produces insufficient amounts of insulin or body cells become resistant to the hormone’s effects.
- Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
- Although dietary measures are also important, it must be treated with insulin injections. About 60,000 people in the UK have this type of diabetes.
- The pancreas continues to secrete insulin but cells in the body become resistant to its effects.
- Diabetes mainly affects people over the age of 40 and is more common in overweight people. Read more...
Tags: Abnormal Reaction, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure Measurement, Body Cells, Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Dietary Measures, Dr Miriam Stoppard, Excessive Urination, Gestational Diabetes, Hazard, Health, Health Hazard, Healthy Lifestyle, Heart Problem, Insufficient Amounts, Insulin Injections, Miriam Stoppard, Routine Medical Check, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Type Of Diabetes, Types Of Diabetes
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