Diabetes can be defined as a group of diseases characterized by abnormally elevated blood levels which leads to chronic exposure of body cells to abnormally high blood glucose levels.

Advances in knowledge has made the prevention of diabetes mellitus feasible and the translation of knowledge to action will expectedly provide for a longer healthier life, this achieved mainly by the creation of awareness of the disease amongst the populace.

Prevention is carried out mainly on two levels-the primary level and the secondary level

Primary prevention of diabetes mellitus

This aims at identifying susceptible individuals early and ensuring lifestyle modification in them by;

1) Encouraging healthy lifestyles

2) Encouraging good diet habits

3) Quit smoking

4) Living physically active lifestyles

These people who are at risk include;

a) people above the age of 40 years

b) people that have relatives that are diabetic

c) people living sedentary lifestyles with little or no exercise

d) obese people

e) smokers

f) people with poor dietary habits

Secondary prevention of diabetes mellitus

This aims to control and manage diabetes very well in people already diagnosed with the disease with the aim of detecting early and prevention of development of complications.

This involves the use of proper anti diabetic drugs in the proper manner and dosage so as to reduce the risks associated with diabetes as well as retarding the progression of diabetes mellitus complications. Exercise and diet control are also added to the use of anti-diabetic drugs for proper and good control.

It also involves the good and tight control of lipid profile[the level of fat in the blood],Blood pressure is also controlled and monitored very well. it must be maintained around 135/85mmhg

A diabetic needs to know the drug options available to him/her, the advantage of one group over the others and the appropriate way of using the drugs.

In 2005, 4% of the UK population were diagnosed as having type 2 Diabetes. More worryingly, the UK rate has surpassed USA rates, which means that the UK is leading the way for Diabetes. That is not exactly good news. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce or use the hormone insulin. Insulin controls the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the blood stream, but if this mechanism is not working correctly, high amounts of sugar will remain in the blood. Diabetes can lead to major problems such as heart disease and infections of the gums, mouth and feet.

The medical model for the treatment of type 2 Diabetes tends to be prescribed medication and constant blood monitoring. There is however, another way. Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled via diet and exercise alone and this is what some doctors are recommending as the first line of defence. But for the few doctors who do recommend this approach, many do not, so if you happen to have type 2 Diabetes, take back control and start looking at ways to improve your health via dietary and lifestyle changes. Start with introducing more fresh raw vegetables and one to two pieces of (non sweet) fruit everyday (i.e. apples and berries).

Swap refined wheat flour for whole grains and ensure your meals are low in refined sugar. Depending on your activity levels and your schedule, eat a little but often to keep your blood sugar stable. Implement these simple steps and your health will transcend to a new level. The key is to be prepared. Where possible, make your own lunch and snacks and take them with you wherever you go. It’s your life, so do yourself a huge favour and look after it.

If you have long standing diabetes which is not well managed you stand the chance of developing kidney damage called diabetic nephropathy.

The hyperglycaemia {excessive blood sugar} in diabetes causes the kidney to overwork and get stressed up as it tries to the blood of the excess sugar. This results in the filtering activity of the kidney to gradually reduce and toxic wastes like urea and creatinine which are eliminated through the kidney gradually accumulates in the body.

This eventually leads to an irreversible damage to the kidney called the End Stage Renal Disease {ESRD}.

Predisposing factors:

a} Long standing diabetes

b} 10% of type 1 diabetes and 30% of diabetic type 2 end up with this complication ,it is commoner in type2.

c} Male diabetics are usually more prone than female diabetics

d} Poor control of blood sugar

e} High blood pressure

f} Early onset of diabetes

g} Ethnic background-Indo- asian ,and afrocarribean diabetics are more prone to developing nephropathy.

Symptoms:

- Symptoms appear after 50% of renal function has been lost

- Oedema {swollen body due to excessive fluid in the body}.

- Vomiting

- Anorexia

- Lack of concentration

- Insomnia

- Bleeding tendencies

Treatment:

- Proper control of blood glucose levels

- Proper control of blood pressure

- Weight control

- Exercise

- Avoid alcohol and smoking

- Dietary modification, victim must consume foods that are low in protein, low in potassium and there should be minimal consumption of fluids

- Peritoneal and haemodialysis

- Renal transplant, this is the definitive treatment of end stage renal failure.

Apart from diabetic nephropathy there other chronic complications of diabetes that you need to know about.

Being diabetic and attending any sporting event presents some certain and obvious challenges. The temptations of hot dogs, nachos , beer and other carb, fat, and sugar-laden foods can be overwhelming. In this article I offer a few ideas on how it’s possible to enjoy yourself without feeling deprived at the arena. It can seem difficult. First, you’re away from your normal day-to-day environment, there’s a lot of excitement, your with friends and family out to enjoy yourself. It’s easy to let your guard down. Plus, you’re a captive audience.

But the good news is that the menus in sports arenas around the country have evolved over the last few years. Many do offer some healthy alternatives, such as salads, yogurt, and veggie trays. I’ve even read that some stadiums are serving sushi!

Many stadiums will allow you to bring food in, but I’d check before I loaded up the ice cooler. Still, it’s a good idea to have a meal before you go. Stave off the hunger and use the $8.00 burger money for a souvenir. You can also be creative with what they offer. Get the burger and some extra napkins and eat it without the buns. Order the nachos and share them. Have whatever your craving and just limit yourself to a small portion of the order. There is an unwritten law that all arenas must sell peanuts and popcorn, so get your popcorn butterless and enjoy both.

Going to your local sports bar isn’t the “deep fried” experience it was a few years ago. Salads, grilled chicken, and fruit and veggie trays are available everywhere now. Eating a healthier diet has become an issue in our society that every corner of the food service industry has come to terms with, and everyone - not just diabetics - has benefited.

Type 1 and 2 diabetes share some symptoms. The knowledge of early signs of diabetes is important as it gives a person an edge in treating and controlling his medical condition.

Frequent Urination: A common alarming sign of diabetes is frequent urination. The kidneys of diabetics become loaded with glucose because of malfunctioning of cells to use the provided glucose. The extra glucose is then flushed out of the body by extracting fluids from body. This drawing of fluids leads to second warning sign of diabetes.

Unquenchable Thirst: The kidneys have to work overtime to flush out the glucose as a result the patient feels thirsty all the time. If a person has a feeling of being thirsty despite drinking plenty of water he must have himself tested.

Weight Loss: Most of us know there is a connection between obesity and diabetes; so this symptom seems counterintuitive. Weight loss is a warning sign of diabetes in type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes pancreas stop to produce insulin because of a viral attack on pancreatic cells. The body cells then get starved of energy and have to use fats and muscle mass for producing energy. This leads to an unexplained decline in weight.

Fatigue: Here again glucose is the culprit. The cells become unable to extract glucose from blood for producing energy as a result there is a feeling of being exhausted.

Numbness or Tingling: This warning sign of diabetes comes over a period of time. Because of the increased level of blood glucose the nervous system starts to damage. It is a gradual process and the chances are of damage in the extremities before the diagnosis.

Slow Healing Wounds: Nerve damage and tingling, slow down the healing of wounds particularly on feet. A person may not even know about the sore because of numbness. The cause of the sore is sometimes improper blood circulation. Decreased blood flow does not allow oxygen to approach the sore and white cells become unable to kill the harmful bacteria.

Other Warning Signs of Diabetes: Some other warning signs of diabetes are blurry vision, dry or itchy skin.

If a person is experiencing any one or more of the above signs of diabetes, he must make an appointment with the doctor immediately. The delay in the doctor’s visit will only worsen the condition.

I’ve got a chronic disease called Crone’s. It is a wound inside the intestines, anywhere along the 5 meters of it in our body. Oh what a nasty thing to have. So I did my colonoscopy and gastroscopy in the same time and the doctor assured me it was nothing to worry about and prescribed me with pills.

Adopting a healthy natural life

There are a few things I realized I should change in my life very soon after I have been diagnosed.

• Quit smoking. I used to smoke for 12 years and Crone’s forced me to stop! I’m talking smoking a packet a day for 12 years. On my birthday in 2000 was when I smoked my very last cigarette, didn’t touch any since then. How did i do that? Very simple, if you would have a real threat to your health every time you took a cigarette, wouldn’t you quit that habit?
• No red meet. Well, not as much any way. Today I consume …maybe 150gm red meet once every two months, if that. Lots of fish, lamb and chicken, because these are tender and easy to digest.
• No alcohol. SO OK, I was never an alcoholic but hell, if you’ve got a wound inside your intestines you have to watch closely what you put in there. Alcohol is one of the most irritating substances to wash your intestines with.
• No deep fried food. Yes I love my chips, and I do indulge in it here and there but never in large quantities.
• I drink lots of water. Try to drink at least two liters every single day. It purifies the body.
• Eat lots of fresh raw food. This will put in your body all the vitamins, minerals antioxidants and all the other goods the body needs to remain healthy

The list is very long but you get the point. Adopt a healthy life style and you would not face chemotherapy, surgery, depression, you will also not worse the condition of your disease.

How Does All This Linked to Curing Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease. Chronic disease is something we suffer from for 6 consecutive months without cure. There are programs out there that can cure Diabetes as well as other chronic diseases like Crone’s and they are safe, simple, affordable and effective.

Writing about diabetes is a very emotional topic for me personally. My father developed type 2 in his early 40s, which lead to many long-term health complications and became the root course of many illnesses, including cardiovascular, nerve damage, heart problems. And that had a negative impact not only upon his quality of life but also people who loved him.

Ever since I have become very passionate with learning about diabetes, alternative methods of treatments, holistic approaches and using body’s natural healing abilities to successfully manage the illness.

What causes diabetes are still not 100% clear. Causes of diabetes can be different depending on the types. In case of Type one, unless something very obvious happens, for example removal of pancreas, it is almost impossible to establish the reason. However certain factors may increase chances of developing the illness.

???? Heredity, especially if your father had Type one, or both parents;

???? Viral infections. The infection may attack and destroy beta cells in some people.?

???? Early exposure to cow’s milk. Some research suggests, that stopping breastfeeding before 4 months may increase risk of developing Type one. Although this phenomena is not broadly supported by all studies.

What causes diabetes Type two? Number of patients diagnosed is increasing rapidly. Major contributing factors to the illness are:

???? Obesity and body shape, research shows that the risk of developing Type 2 can increase up to 85%. Fat around your waste line pushes directly major organs and does not allow functioning properly. So watch your waste.

???? Genes and ethnic background may matter. South Asian, African and Caribbean descent are five times more likely to develop. Or if you have an identical twin with Type 2 diabetes, your risk increases by as much as 90%.

???? Body, which lacks of movements and exercise is a paradise for the diabetes to reside. Don’t stagnate, move!

???? Those born with a low weight, less than 2.5kg (5 1/2lb) are seven times more likely to suffer.

???? Some drugs.

???? Hormonal disorders.

Some of the reasons of what causes diabetes come from your daily activities, such as choice of food and exercise level, which regulates the body blood sugar level. Why does it matter?? You need to maintain optimum glucose level and avoid its fluctuations.?

If you choose to eat processed food and too much sweet, your blood sugar level rises quickly, because this kind of food metabolises fast. Pancreas then moves large amount of sugar from blood into cells, which causes huge drop in blood-sugar level as all the glucose is moved out.

On the other hand, if you choose to eat slow releasing food, such as wholefood, you slowly feed glucose into bloodstream, this way the body avoids stress of rapid sugar drop. You can also mess up acceptable level of glucose if you skip meals.

End result of the blood sugar fluctuations? Type 2 diabetes. Have I mentioned before? Nothing happens overnight!

Good news is that you can often reverse or delay diabetes and related complications if you choose to lead a healthy life. On the other hand, you may reach no return point. Not so good news, but you can manage your diabetes in a way that it is possible to continue and enjoy the life.

So please, it is vital, get clear about what causes diabetes and use helping hand from the nature.