What Is Diabetes?
Your doctor may have recently advised you have diabetes. Or you are overweight and you have discovered you may be at risk of diabetes. Others may have a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with the disease. Just what does diabetes mean and how does it affect your lifestyle?
Diabetes means that your blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood isn't good for your health.
How do you get high blood glucose?
Glucose comes from the food you eat and is also made in your liver and muscles. Your blood carries the glucose to all the cells in your body. Insulin is a chemical (a hormone) made by the pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the glucose from food get into your cells. If your body doesn't make enough insulin or if the insulin doesn't work the way it should, glucose can't get into your cells. It stays in your blood instead. Your blood glucose level then gets too high, causing pre-diabetes or diabetes.
What is pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. The good news is if you have pre-diabetes, you can reduce your risk of getting diabetes. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes and even return to normal glucose levels.
What are the signs of diabetes?
The signs of diabetes are:
· being very thirsty
· urinating often
· feeling very hungry or tired
· losing weight without trying
· having sores that heal slowly
· having dry, itchy skin
· losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
· having blurry eyesight
You may have had one or more of these signs before you found out you had diabetes. Or you may have had no signs at all. A blood test to check your glucose levels will show if you have pre-diabetes or diabetes.
What kind of diabetes do you have?
People can get diabetes at any age. Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked and destroyed them.
Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking insulin shots or using an insulin pump, making wise food choices, being physically active, taking aspirin daily (for some), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age-even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly.
At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. Being overweight and inactive increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Treatment includes using diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, being physically active, taking aspirin daily, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Why do you need to take care of your diabetes? After many years, diabetes can lead to serious problems in your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and gums and teeth. But the most serious problem caused by diabetes is heart disease. When you have diabetes, you are more than twice as likely as people without diabetes to have heart disease or a stroke.
If you have diabetes, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has already had a heart attack. Both women and men with diabetes are at risk. You may not even have the typical signs of a heart attack.
You can reduce your risk of developing heart disease by controlling your blood pressure and blood fat levels. If you smoke, talk with your doctor about quitting. Remember that every step toward your goals helps!
Later in this article, we'll tell you how you can try to prevent or delay long-term problems. The best way to take care of your health is to work with your health care team to keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol in your target range.
How is weight loss important?
If you have diabetes and are overweight, even a moderate reduction in weight can have a positive benefit to your health and possibly blood pressure and cholesterol. If you are overweight or obese and don't have diabetes, you have added risk of developing the disease.
How can I tell if I am overweight?
There are several methods to determine a healthy body weight. The simplest is to measure around your waist. Men who are greater than 94 cm (37 inches) and women who are greater than 80cm (32 inches) are overweight. Another method is the Body Mass Index which takes into account your height, weight and gender. If your BMI is greater than 25 you are considered overweight. If it is greater than 30, you are considered obese.
Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. This world renowned, medically approved program will give you results you'll love and all the support you need! Estimate your healthy body weight, tons of recipes, articles, free newsletter and more at http://weight-loss-health.com.au
MORE RESOURCES:
 Reuters India | Diabetes drug might fight cancer Science News An ancient herbal remedy that constitutes the active ingredient in a modern diabetes drug may soon play a new role in combating cancer, ... Diabetes drug may keep lung cancer at bay Diabetes drug can reduce risk of cancer, researchers find Diabetes 2 Drug Metformin May Protect Against Lung Cancer In Smokers |
 Cincinnati Business Courier | Tech grant aims to help diabetes prevention Detroit Free Press Diabetes is the nation's costliest health care problem, totaling $200 billion in annual costs, said James Slaughter, executive director of the Metro Detroit ... Cincinnati nonprofit to get $13.8M for health IT Metro Detroit gets $16.2 million grant for health information exchange on diabetes Feds name last two Health IT grant recipients |
60 Diabetes Seconds May Prevent A Diabetes Life Huffington Post (blog) Given the statistics, no matter where you live, no matter your age or race, fat or thin, you may get diabetes. Did you know type 2 diabetes is the fifth ... Diabetes 'could become epidemic' Optimizing Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes Factors behind cognitive deficits in diabetes revealed |
 Modesto Bee | UCLA Study Finds Rising Levels of Obesity, Diabetes in California California Healthline Nearly 60% of California adults are overweight or obese and almost 8% of adult residents have diabetes, according to a recent report by the UCLA Center for ... Stanislaus County struggles with worsening obesity LSUHSC pediatric weight expert provides obesity trinity answers Read the new study, “Obesity and Diabetes: Two Growing Epidemics in California.†|
 Boston Globe | Agent Orange cases may cost billions more Washington Post More Vietnam veterans are being compensated for diabetes than for any other malady, including post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss or general wounds ... Vets' Agent Orange diabetes claims soar Diabetes now tops Vietnam vets' claims Olbermann Cherry-picks AP to Accuse Alan Simpson of Attacking Veterans |
 Health Care N Diet | Breastfeeding Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk (Video) Insidermedicine Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to research published in the American Journal of Medicine. ... Breast-Feeding Keeps Diabetes at Bay Eating eggs, breastfeeding affect risk of diabetes mellitus (type 2) Not Breastfeeding Raises Type 2 Diabetes Risk |
 PhysOrg.com | Why fish oils work swimmingly against diabetes EurekAlert (press release) The discovery could lead to development of a simple dietary remedy for many of the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes and other ... Experts 'unlock' secret of fish oil How Fish Oil Fights Inflammation New Study Reveals How Fish Oil Fights Inflammation |
Bariatric Surgery Cost-Effective in Very Obese With Diabetes Researchers look ... ModernMedicine 2 (HealthDay News) -- Both gastric bypass and gastric banding are cost-effective ways to reduce diabetes-associated complications and mortality among ... |
The Mississippi Walk for Diabetes is Oct. 3 Clinton News She is greeted by a family whose child has just been diagnosed with diabetes. She can tell by the look on their faces that they are anxious, overwhelmed, ... Walk for a Cure |
Fraternity organizes run to defeat diabetes Norman Transcript The Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter at OU is organizing the Oklahoma Run to Defeat Diabetes on Sept. 25, with proceeds funneling to the Harold Hamm Oklahoma ... University of Oklahoma student takes diabetes fight to Norman streets |
Pre-Diabetes - The Calm Before the Storm
Remember when the medical world identified pre-hypertension to better monitor your blood pressure? The new buzz: Pre-Diabetes concerns a similar condition pinpointing people who are at severe risk for getting diabetes. Because diabetes silently invades your body, early detection and corrective action are critically important.
Diabetes Symptoms, Causes & Types
Diabetes affects the manner in which the body handles carbohydrates, fats and proteins. If neglected, diabetes can have serious complications.
Exercise - The Only Hope for Diabetes!
Why is it that the smallest paragraph in diabetes prevention magazines is about exercise? Exercise is probably the only hope for the diabetes crisis. If you have diabetes or some one in your family tree does, beware! You really have one choice, keep moving.
Type II Diabetes: Insulin-Dependent Diabetes
The term diabetes refers to higher than normal levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Type II diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, was commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes until recently when the name no longer accurately describes the population with this disease.
Treating Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
The toes burn and tingle and sharp pains shoot into your legs. The bed sheets feel uncomfortable on the feet as you toss and turn, trying to get some rest.
The Importance Of Following And Maintaining A Diabetic Diet
A diabetic diet is a specially designed eating plan that is high in carbohydrates and low in fat. People with diabetes don't need to go out and purchase special foods to maintain a diabetic diet, they can eat the same foods as the whole family.
Diabetes - A National Epidemic
Are you a diabetic? If so, you are definitely not alone. There are approximately 16 million people in the United States who have diabetes.
Exercising for Diabetes Sufferers
Exercise is often recommended in treating type 1 (insulin- dependent) and type 2 (noninsulin- dependent) diabetes ~ both as a stand-alone activity and in combination with diet and drug therapy. For people who are heavily dependent on medicines, exercise cannot replace drugs but it does contribute to normalizing the glucose metabolism.
Revolutionary Lancet Device for Diabetic Glucose Testing
Now you can reduce the pain and inconvenience of testing. Unlike conventional lancing systems, the ACCU-CHEK Multiclix lancet device is the only 1 with a six-lancet drum.
Medicinal Properties of Bitter Melon - Good for Diabetics
Bitter Melon is the English name of Momordica charantia, a climbing vine whose leaves and green fruits, although bitter, has been used to fight cancer, diabetes and many infectious diseases. It is also a powerful weapon against HIV/AIDS since some reports claim that bitter melon has substance Q.
Double Diabetes -- Placing Your Kids at Even More Risk
In some medical circles it's called Type 3 Diabetes. Teenagers and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, if overweight or obese, can develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy, a nerve disorder caused by diabetes, is characterized by a loss or reduction of sensation in the feet, and in some cases the hands, and pain and weakness in the feet. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy vary.
Insulin Resistance And Complex Carbohydrates
One of the biggest mistakes that weight loss failures make is cutting out carbs altogether. An example of this flawed ideology is the Atkins diet.
Becoming a Diabetes Expert
I am a diabetes expert. No I'm not a doctor or a nurse.
The Profect Solution for Diabetics
Diabetes, which affects more than 6% of the US population or over 18,000,000 people [i], is diagnosed when the body is not creating or effectively utilizing the hormone called insulin. As a result, much-needed energy from sugar, starch, and other sources are not being exploited as effectively as they should.
Pre-Diabetes Awareness: Gamblers Understand the Odds
Do you gamble? Play Texas Hold'em poker, casino games, or lotteries? Then understanding your odds of winning is part of the challenge.Are you planning on living a long and healthy life? A life free of aches and pains? A life full of excitement and adventure? Great, then understanding the odds of developing diabetes will surely cause you to take immediate action.
Medical Supply Cases for Insulin and Diabetics
Medical supply manufacturers are continuously conceptualizing medical supplies needed by people who are in delicate health condition - medical supplies that may enable the patient to lead a life with at least a semblance of normalcy.Diabetic patients are one of these people who are in delicate health condition.
Fibromyalgia and Insulin Resistance
Do you have symptoms that relate to an insulin imbalance? If you have fibromyalgia, look and see if you also have hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, or diabetes symptoms. These types of blood sugar imbalances can cause fibromyalgia pain to get worse.
Get More Out Of Life While Managing Your Diabetes
When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 21, I had not given the first thought to living a healthy diabetic lifestyle. As far as I was concerned, a healthy lifestyle was reserved only for fitness junkies and overweight moms.
Protein Principles for Diabetes
Dietary considerations can present a Hobson's choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter.