Most prediabetics don’t even realize they have it and are dangerously close to being a full blown diabetic.

Impaired glucose tolerance, otherwise known as Prediabetes, affects over fifty-seven million people (age 20 and older) in the U.S. alone.

With prediabetes, your blood sugar level is higher then normal, but not high enough to be labeled diabetes.

Doctors are finally realizing how important it is to diagnose prediabetes. Early detection and treatment may help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

What Are the Symptoms of Prediabetes?

Most people with prediabetes do not have any symptoms. However, signs such as unusual thirst, blurred vision, extreme tiredness or fatigue and frequent urination are sure signs of prediabetes and should be checked out further.

Who should be tested for prediabetes?

* Anyone over the age of 45

* If you are overweight with a BMI (body mass index) over 25

* If diabetes runs in your family

* If you fall into a high risk ethnic group such as; Native Americans, African Americans, Pacific Islanders and Latinos

* If you have delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or have had gestational diabetes

* If you previously had and abnormal glucose ( blood sugar ) test

* If you have a health condition such as; high cholesterol, ( high LDL, low HDL ) hypertension and high triglycerides

* If you are inactive

How Is Prediabetes Determined?

In order for your doctor to determine if you have prediabetes, one of two different tests are given - fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose.

Fasting plasma glucose ( FPG )tests your blood sugar level after an 8 hour fasting period. This is where no food or liquid (other then water) is consumed for at least 8 hours.

If your blood sugar level is abnormal after fasting for 8 hours, this means your body does not metabolize glucose correctly, suggesting prediabetes.

With the increasing numbers of overweight and obese people in the United States today, diabetes cases have also seen a steady rise over the past decade. Diabetes has no cure and several hundreds of people die from this disease each year.

Preventing the onset of diabetes is one of the key reasons why a lot of individuals are now struggling to lose their extra pounds. Unfortunately, the vast number of weight loss supplements in the market is not made for people who have diabetes or is not formulated to prevent the development of diabetes.

Many of these weight loss pills have large amounts of sugar additives like fructose which can raise your blood sugar to dangerous levels. Having high levels of blood sugar is one of the main causes of diabetes. This is why there is now a great demand for supplements that are all-natural and that do not have high sugar content.

Some of the most popular Acai Berry weight loss supplements today are made from 100% Acai extract. Acai Berry is naturally sugar-free. Its sweet berry taste comes from its naturally sweet pulp. Therefore, it can help you lose weight quickly without giving you the risk of developing the dreadful diabetes disease.

This is the main reason why many people today who are afraid of contracting diabetes or already have diabetes always pick Acai supplements as their weight loss product of choice. It also contains antioxidants that can help boost immunity against other diseases, particularly cancer and heart disease.

How to cure diabetes and what medication is needed? There are three types of diabetes, type one diabetes, type two diabetes and gestational diabetes. Depending on the type of diabetes the patient is suffering from, the medication and other treatments varies.

Apart from the medication to treat this illness, the patient must completely change his lifestyle and diet in order to keep a healthy life. Doctors and a diabetes guide will help the patient understand the changes they must make and help them with their day to day life.

Type 1 diabetes is normally caused by a lack of insulin and because of this cause the patients need medication to help the body produce more insulin. Patients suffering with this type of diabetes need to take an injection of insulin around two or three times a day, depending on the patient, normally around mealtime. The patient must also control their blood sugar level on a daily basis to be able to have an effective treatment.

Type 2 diabetes is caused when the body cannot use insulin in a proper way. The treatment depends totally on the patient’s blood sugar level and their weight. If the patient is overweight and does not want to take injections, it is recommended to exercise on a daily basis for approximately six months and then have another test to evaluate their blood sugar level and take the necessary actions for curing the diabetes.

To be able to treat diabetes in an effective way the patient must understand that the process is a slow on and must be taken out on a daily basis under severe observation to be able to cure their diabetes in a future. Keeping track on their exercise, diet and medication, also monitoring their insulin and blood sugar levels, the process will be a lot easier to cure.

April is Foot Health Awareness Month. Most of us overlook our feet when we think about our health. For people with diabetes, foot care is essential to preventing complications and serious conditions. Here are ways to maintain proper foot care and avoid potential complications such as nerve damage or amputation.

1. Keep blood sugars monitored daily and maintain your 3 month blood sugar average (HbA1C) at 6.5% - 7%. Controlling your HbA1C gives you an opportunity of not developing peripheral neuropathy - a common diabetes complication that affects the nerves due to excess sugar in the blood. Nerve damage or neuropathy usually begins with severe pain and tingling, eventually leading to numbness and loss of sensation. With a loss of sensation, you may be prone to an infection from an foot injury you can’t feel.
2. Examine your feet and legs daily - especially the soles of your feet and between the toes. Check for corns, calluses, open cuts, skin color changes, hot spots, blisters, swelling, athletes foot and ingrown toe nails. This will help you avoid more serious wounds.
3. Wash your feet daily and use mild soap. Remember to wash & dry each toe as a single unit and use luke warm water. Use a soft towel to dry them. Remember not to soak your feet which adds to skin breakdown and fungus. Usually an over the counter product like Lamasil can help treat fungus but always check with your physician.
4. Apply lotion when you are done with your shower or bath and the foot is still moist for maximum absorption. People with diabetes have extremely dry skin, especially when the HbA1C is out of control. A plain white, non-fragrant cream is best. Avoid putting lotion between your toes, which can lead to fungus. Powder such as corn starch is acceptable for usage in between the toes.
5. If your insurance covers podiatrist visits, let your podiatrist be responsible for nail trimming. The appointment cycle is usually every 2-3 months depending on how fast your nails grow. Keep your nails trimmed to avoid ingrown toenails. Your podiatrist can watch out for fungus called onychomycosi, which can become a chronic problem for people with diabetes.
6. Never walk barefoot inside or outside and try to wear closed toe shoes and socks. This will help you avoid injuries or wounds. In the summer, sturdy sandals with thick soles and protection near the toes help reduce perspiration and risk of fungus. Changing shoes daily helps dry out perspiration from the previous day. Spraying with Lysol once a week can also be helpful. Wear slippers in the house, pool shoes in the ocean or pool, and socks to bed if your feet are cold.
7. Be careful in the bath or hot tub. Make sure the temperature is 105 degrees - anything less can increase infection rate and anything more can increase a burn risk.
8. Try to elevate your feet when you are home, especially when they swell at the end of the day. Treat yourself after a long day!
9. Ask your podiatrist about diabetic footwear which may be covered yearly by Medicare. Today’s footwear styles are attractive and versatile.
10. Ask your doctor or podiatrist about vitamin supplements. Alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant, and B-100 complex can reduce symptoms of neuropathy. Speak with your doctor about topical pain relievers such as Neuragen PN, or oral medications such as Neurontin, Cymbalta, Lyrica, Topamax and others.
11. Finally - make sure to have your physician check your feet during every regular check-up.

Keep your feet moving, clean, protected, healthy and very happy!

Diabetes Mellitus is the scientific name for the more commonly known Diabetes. The name perfectly explains the symptoms of this disease. Diabetes has ben derived from the Greek term Diabanein which means “to pass through” in this case referring to the excess urination and the word Mellitus in Latin means “Sweetened with Honey”, referring to the presence of excessive sugar.

A person having diabetes suffers from inability to produce or respond to Insulin thereby increasing the Glucose level in the body. This extra glucose is then excreted through urine. Because of this additional amount of glucose urination is more frequent and more water is flushed out of the body.As a result the diabetes patient feels thirsty.

There are basically three types of Diabetes - Type 1 , Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes is often a genetic disease and at times also caused by environmental factors. In this antibodies are produced within the patient’s body that destroys the cells responsible for producing insulin. As the insulin production is reduced or stopped Glucose level goes up. Insulin injections are required to treat this type of diabetes.

Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes and generally observed in people over 40 years of age. Besides the genetic factors obesity is another major contributor for Type 2 diabetes.High Fat diets with low or nil physical exercise substantially increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes is seen in women having high blood sugar during their pregnancy. There are high possibilities that the baby can get affected if mother is suffering from this.Also, it is often seen that women who suffer from gestational diabetes subsequently becomes a patient of Type 2 diabetes.

The most common symptoms of diabetes includes frequent urination, excessive thrist, inreased fatigue, weight loss, blurry vision etc. This is no way a comprehensive list of diabetes symptoms and there can be many other . If you are experiencing any of these it is advisable to take medical help at the earliest.

There are various resources on diabetes throughout the www and an internet search can definitely provide with a lot of information. Diabetes has no fixed cure, a proper healthy lifestyle and control is probably the best way to control Diabetes.

Many people miss the warning signs diabetes gives them, because the signs can be subtle in nature and are sometimes difficult to recognize. There are also those that do not know that what they are experiencing are the first signs of diabetes, because they simply aren’t aware of what the signs are. It is crucial for everyone to familiarize themselves with these precursors.

The warning signs diabetes Type 1 and 2 give you are very similar. Type 1 diabetes tends to come on far more quickly however, so recognition of the warning signs is even more important in the case of this version of the disease. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that triggers the immune system to attack and destroy the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas, which leads to a dependence on insulin injections in order for you to survive.

The first signs of diabetes include frequent trips to the bathroom due to an abundance of glucose in the blood, seemingly unquenchable thirst, weakness and fatigue, tingling or numbness in your extremities, and loss of weight. The weight loss is caused because the cells are seeking an energy source to replace the lost glucose, and so they begin to break down fat and muscle tissue for energy.

The warning signs diabetes Type 2 emits are the same, but they happen more gradually. Type 2 diabetes does not mean that your body does not produce insulin as with Type 1, but that your cells have become resistant to the insulin that is being produced. This is by far the most common form of the disease, and despite what some people think it is every bit as serious as Type 1.

At the first signs of diabetes you should seek a medical diagnosis, and follow whatever treatment regimen your doctor describes to the letter. In addition to this treatment you may want to begin taking an herbal supplement formula that has proven to positively impact the disease. These supplements can aid in increasing glucose metabolism, improve insulin production and secretion, and regenerate insulin reducing cells in the pancreas.

If you are chronically overweight or have a family history of diabetes then you should try taking these supplements even before the warning signs diabetes emits show up. These herbal remedies could work to stave off the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, or make the disease easier to control if and when it does appear. Give them a try, because the benefits you receive from them could be great.

The pancreas is an organ that stretches behind the abdomen. The pancreas have areas known as the islets of Langerhans which are predominantly made up of beta cells.

Beta cells have some very important functions:

1. Beta cells produce the hormone insulin that controls blood sugar levels. Insulin stimulates skeletal muscle

fibers to convert glucose into glycogen and amino acids into protein. Insulin also causes liver cells to convert glucose into glycogen and to prevent conversion of fats and proteins into glucose. Insulin also helps in the synthesis of fat and send signals to the hypothalamus to reduce appetite.

2. C-peptide is a byproduct of insulin production and helps to prevent neuropathy.

3. Amylin or Islet Amyloid Polypeptoid is also produced by beta cells. Amylin helps to inhibit glucose and reduces the intake of food in the short term.

The destruction of beta cells is the main cause of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus or Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). The lack of beta cells causes very little or no insulin circulating in the blood.

In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or Non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus, there is insulin resistance where the

ability to remove glucose from the blood is reduced by over 80%. In type 2 diabetes beta cells undergo a slow degeneration and there can a reduction in beta cell mass thereby causing insufficient insulin to be produced. Patients with Type 2 Diabetes have shown abnormalities in beta cell function and secretion

Oral hypoglycaemic drugs are very important in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus but none of them are effective in maintaining normal glucose levels. In almost 25% of patients who respond well initially, the drugs later lose their effectiveness.

Diabecon is an ayurvedic formulation which contains herbs such as Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Commiphora wightii, Tinospora cordifolia, Boerhaavia diffusa and others. Diabecon acts like insulin and is a very useful adjuvant in diabetes therapy. These herbs and mineral formulations can be taken orally for prolonged periods without side effects. Gymnema sylvestre has been proved effective in diabetes by increasing beta cell function by repair and regeneration of the beta cells. Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) contains molecules that have insulin like activity. In one study of 20 diabetic patients it was found that plasma insulin and C-peptide levels increased significantly within 2 weeks of treatment with Diabecon. Diabecon reduced blood sugar levels by improving plasma insulin levels, increasing peripheral utilization of glucose, improving the liver glycogen store and also by its

intrinsic antidiabetic action.

It is rather a new concept that the signs and symptoms related to diabetes should be experienced well before you start treatment with the onset of first symptom itself. Having blood sugar is no doubt a serious condition that is life threatening if not treated with utmost care. Care implies recognizing early symptoms of diabetes, experiencing other trouble shooting complications, managing the diabetic condition, and starting treatment. The symptoms of diabetes do vary from person to person which can be identified with good knowledge of symptoms of blood sugar. There is a statistical report to focus United States alone to suffer with more than 15 million persons with adult onset diabetes. About 25% of the patients don’t have the awareness of the attack of this disease. ?

Many individuals discover they are diabetic only when they consult their family doctor for the prevailing ailment and treatment. Any of the early signs of diabetes should be diagnosed for treatment by checking the blood glucose levels. Testing for blood sugar levels is also recommended for individuals that are over forty years, and it’s absolutely needed for those over fifty years and over weight. The symptoms will progress and become more critical if you have blood sugar and ignore it. As the disease progresses, more complications will emerge to trouble shoot your health.?? ?

These signs and symptoms of diabetes will progress and get more critical if you fail to control blood glucose by proper diagnosis and treatment. If the beginning signs of blood glucose are ignored, more complications will arise in treatment, putting your life in jeopardy. Diabetes is not a disease that will go away by itself, but develops only when it is not cared for out of ignorance. Despite the fact that the understanding and knowledge of how to cure diabetes has come a long way over the year’s medical science is still not in a position where it can offer a definite cure for this disease in time. This disease is manageable though the lifestyle is changed through the use of prescription medication.

The main objective of this article is to convince you that you must apply your experience on diabetes symptoms before you start treatment. Anything you suspect as a symptom for blood sugar is sometimes not as diagnosed by the physician. Do you feel as if you are being confused? Don’t be so. What I want to tell is you are at times misled for undergoing diabetes treatment. Here you have some tips towards this goal.

1. Study well the causes and symptoms of diabetes carefully how they trouble you and what you feel like before treatment.

2. Confirm if the symptoms do relate to diabetic condition or some other thing like food allergy, anemia, general weakness, etc.

3. There is chance to have similar symptoms of diabetes for low blood pressure, stomach problem, physically exhausted, vision problem, etc.

4. Study yourself the cause and effects of diabetes which may be different with different persons that cannot be generalized for your condition.

5. When you meet your doctor, explain your problem clearly perhaps with hints in writing to enable him decide right treatment.?????????????

Having type 2 diabetes can increase your chances of developing this sometimes life-threatening condition, obstructive sleep apnea.

1. ?What is it?

• occurs when part of your upper airway collapses preventing you from breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide
• the commonest cause is over relaxation of throat muscles which allows your upper airway to sag or your tongue to fall backwards
• you are a likely candidate if you are overweight, especially if you carry excess weight around your abdomen (apple shape)
• enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or thyroid can also play a role.

Partial blockage to the airway usually results in loud snoring. ?When the airway is completely obstructed your breathing stops. ?Carbon dioxide builds up in your blood and this then signals the brain to restart the breathing process. ?Your airway opens up again with a gasp; this may abruptly awaken you with shortness of breath. ?You may make a snorting, choking or grasping sound. ?This pattern may reoccur 20 to 30 times or more each hour and all night long. ?This prevents you reaching a deep, restful phase of sleep and you will probably have excessive daytime sleepiness.?

2. ?Who gets sleep apnea?

• is more common in men than women
• most commonly affects older men and especially those who are overweight though not always
• those with a neck circumference greater than 17 inches (43cm) are at risk because a thick neck may narrow the airway
• is relatively common in people with high blood pressure
• women are more at risk after menopause
• occurs with the use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers
• is three times more common in people who have type 2 diabetes than in those who don’t

3. ?Signs and Symptoms:

• waking up feeling drunk even though you have had no alcohol
• waking up with a startled sensation of choking and fighting for air
• morning headaches
• excessive daytime sleepiness
• lack of concentration
• feeling irritable
• poor memory
• anxiety or depression

In addition to causing a range of problems that affects your day-to-day performance, sleep apnea also increases your risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease or stroke.

Ask you health care provider about diagnosis and treatment of any sleep problems that leaves you chronically fatigued, sleepy and irritable. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with type 2 diabetes and, the stress you feel the following day, may make it more difficult to maintain stable blood glucose levels.

Surgery may appear to be a magic bullet for you if you are battling weight issues. ?It is only a lifeline and the cost is a lot of personal work and commitment to lifelong dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as the psychological adaption to those changes. ?Keeping weight off through food quantity and quality, and exercise, is essential in order to prevent a return of insulin resistance which leads to type 2 diabetes.

In Australia, approximately 95 per cent of weight-loss surgery involves gastric banding. ?In the US gastric bypass is favored; surgeons prefer this surgery as they believe it to be safer and has fewer complications.

Gastric Banding:

• the procedure is performed using keyhole surgery
• a band is placed around the stomach to make it into a smaller pouch
• when you eat, you feel full quickly and can only tolerate small amounts of food

Pros:

• is a simple procedure
• has a lower complication rate when compared with more involved procedures
• the band can be adjusted
• when you have reached your ideal weight the band can be removed?

Cons: ?

• causes less weight loss at a slower rate?
• isn’t recommended for people who have Crohn’s disease, hiatus hernia or gastric ulcers
• prolapse of the stomach could occur requiring replacement of the band
• the band could erode into the stomach wall. ?The band would then be replaced
• previously undiagnosed gall stones could become active

Gastric Bypass Surgery:

• some surgeons perform this operation by using a laparoscope inserted through small incisions in the abdomen
• a tiny camera on the tip of the laparoscope allows the surgeon to see inside to the abdominal cavity
• compared to open gastric bypass, the laparoscopic procedure usually leads to a faster recovery
• the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach and adds a bypass around a section of your stomach and small intestine. This enables food to be redirected to a lower section of your small intestine, limiting your ability to absorb calories.

Pros:

• the usual weight loss within the first two years post operative, is between 50 to 60 per cent of your excess weight
• bypass surgery may improve or resolve type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels ? ?
• this surgery has also improved mobility and ?quality of life for those who are severely obese

Cons: ? ? ? ?

• you may experience any of these symptoms as your body reacts to rapid weight loss in the first 6 months: ?mood changes, hair thinning, dry skin, feeling tired and body aches
• the pouch may stretch
• vitamin and mineral deficiency (lack of absorption of iron, vitamin B12, calcium and Vitamin D)
• intolerance of certain foods
• “dumping syndrome” may occur. ?This is where food moves too quickly through the digestive system. ?It can be relieved by lying down following eating

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and are severely overweight talk to your health care provider. ?It is important that people try other ways of losing weight first.