Diabetes is one of the common diseases of today which comes with lots of complications if left untreated. Most evident complications are foot problems. That is why diabetic socks are made specially to prevent aggravation to the feet. Now is a great time to pit both diabetic socks and regular socks together and get a rundown on how they differ from one another.

Elasticity

Diabetic socks are elastic. They fit just right on the leg and are not too tight. This is to promote proper circulation to the feet. Remember that diabetic persons should avoid anything tight on their legs and feet which could impair the blood flow. They need proper circulation in these areas to prevent further nerve damages. On the other hand, this elastic component cannot be found in ordinary socks.

Materials Used

Normally, you can see and feel the seams in your regular socks. But with diabetic socks, these toe seams are not present because they are actually woven. The seams are made from wrinkled material. Since a diabetic person’s feet are sensitive, they need non-wrinkled materials to prevent the possibility of blistering and pressure.

Ability to Control Moisture

Diabetic socks are specially made to control the moisture caused by sweating of the feet. Moisture can cause bacterial growth and infection. That is why people with diabetes need to keep their feet dry all of the time. Regular socks are not capable of providing this benefit.

Space in the Toe Area

The toe area of diabetic socks is wider compared to ordinary socks. This is designed especially to give the feet more space to breathe and cushion the feet when wearing shoes.

Texture

Diabetic socks are very soft, which can prevent any damages made to the skin. Regular socks are made of hard materials that can easily harm the skin of your feet. Remember that diabetic feet are very sensitive and once they get a cut, it can be very difficult to treat and may take a long time before it finally heals. As much as possible, soft socks should be used.

Regular socks do not address the special care needed for diabetes. Diabetics need to take excellent care of their feet to prevent further health problems and diabetic socks will help you keep your feet healthy.

Year after year, lots of people from different parts of the world die because they were inflicted by different diabetes types.

It has become a major concern and many health experts have devoted time and effort to study about the disease. They do this to spread global awareness on how the disease can be avoided; at the same time, those who already have the disease will know how to manage it.

There are 3 diabetes types and they are written below:

1. Type 1 Diabetes - otherwise known as juvenile diabetes. This type is insulin dependent.

2. Type 2 Diabetes - otherwise known as adult onset diabetes. It is no insulin dependent.

3. Gestational Diabetes - common in pregnant women.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

This occurs at a young age. What happens is that the pancreas of the patient won’t be able to produce insulin anymore and because of that, he will have to take in insulin on a daily basis for the rest of his life.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

This type develops in adults. It may be caused by different factors such as obesity, being inactive and old age. It is the most common and does not have to depend on insulin.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

This type develops only in certain women while they are pregnant. Their blood sugar level will go back to normal after the baby was delivered. Women who acquired Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy should be monitored because it can sometimes lead to the development of Type 2 Diabetes with in a span of 5 to 10 years. Although this seems to be the lightest among the diabetes types, it should not be taken for granted.

The Symptoms

? Urine production increase

? Too much thirst

? Weight loss or weight gain

? Fatigue

? Blurred vision

? Feeling of sickness

? Infections

? Genital irritation

Treatment for Diabetes

It is sad to hear the words once you acquired diabetes, you will have it for the rest of your life. The good thing however is that science has never given up on its quest to discover how each diabetes type can be cured.

For Type 1, the transplant of artificial pancreas is considered. This is not an established practice yet and it is still being tested. It will require further studies. If this will be proven and established, science sees it as the solution to Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 2 can be treated with the right diet and healthy lifestyle. Before you start any diabetic diet, it will be best to consult a doctor first or a dietitian so that you will know the right foods for you. Exercise is also needed to reduce the level of blood sugar in your body. The medical treatment for this diabetes type usually includes the prescription of medicines such as biguanides, sulfonylureas, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, meglitinides and thiazolidinediones. There are also alternative treatments for all the diabetes types and they come in the form of herbs and minerals.

Managing all the diabetes types is essential because it will save you from organ malfunctions such as eye damage, nerve damage and kidney failure.

Your body is really smart!? It can recognize infections before there are any obvious signs, even up to one or two days before.? So if you have type 2 diabetes and your blood?glucose?levels have?increased for no apparent reason, watch out for other signs of hidden infection.? Infection is a very common reason for these levels to rise.? Any of the following could be the cause:

• a?cold,
• a bad tooth or gum infection. ?Diabetics are at a greater risk of developing gum disease, including gingivitis and sore bleeding gums.
• a foot sore. ?You can injure your feet without knowing it ??
• urinary tract infection. ?Women who use a diaphragm for birth control are more likely to have urinary tract infection than women who use other forms of birth control
• an ear infection … whatever you can think of.?

They all tend to raise your blood glucose level.? Even a small cut or a cough you have hardly noticed can do this.? As the infection heals, of course your levels will recover.

Infections that usually raise blood sugar levels:

• are more common and are usually associated with a fever
• involve higher levels of stress hormones and other factors. ?Your body produces cortisol and other hormones that interfere with your usual insulin production
• may involve ketones appearing in the urine
• are usually connected to feelings of lethargy, irritability, muscle aches, headaches and fever

This is really essential care so you can return your body to good health:?

• see your health care provider as you may need to treat the underlying infection with?antibiotics or other medications
• take relief if you have a high temperature, headache or muscle aches and pains. ?Check if you?are able?to take regular paracetamol or an alternative
• get enough rest so your body has energy to fight the infection
• drink plenty of fluids.? Due to the elevated temperature you will be losing fluid, and because of high glucose levels you will be urinating more?frequently.??Depending on?how high your glucose levels are, drink water or low?joule/calorie drinks.?

Some illness will cause your blood glucose levels to go low. ?Low levels are associated with:

• nausea
• vomiting and/or diarrhea. Contact your health care provider if this persists for over 6 hours.

Curing infections depends on tracking down and correcting the underlying problem. ?Having type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be a struggle but you really do need to take care of yourself. ? ?

Well, how do you get it? ?Type 2 diabetes that is! ?Here are the big risk factors: being overweight or obese.

And hand-in-hand with this:

• is high blood pressure?
• an increased risk of developing heart disease?
• people carrying excess weight can have fat distributed evenly over their body, or it may occur centrally, ie. in and around the abdominal area. ?Abdominal fat is associated with heart disease?
• the extra abdominal fat is playing havoc with your metabolism. ?This fat increases your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. ?Fat on our lower body such as our hips and thighs does not carry the same health risk.

Risk Factors you cannot Change.

• your family history?
• your ethnic background
• having heart disease, angina, or having had a heart attack
• having polycystic ovarian syndrome?
• giving birth to a baby more than 8.5lbs (4kg)
• having gestational diabetes during pregnancy

Risk Factors you can do something about:

• being overweight. ?Especially if the weight is around your abdominal area and your waist measurements exceeds 37″ (94cm) for most men, or 31″ (80cm) for most women
• not participating in some physical activity for 30 minutes each day
• smoking
• having high blood pressure
• having high total LDL cholesterol
• having low HDL (good) cholesterol
• having high triglycerides
• an unhealthy eating pattern

Not everyone who carries excess weight will develop pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes but the underlying metabolic problem will be severely increased by being overweight. ?

The underlying metabolic problem or insulin resistance means:

• your cells are resistant to the action of insulin?
• glucose is then not able to enter your cells as normally would occur ?
• glucose builds up in the bloodstream
• to compensate, your pancreas makes more and more insulin which then allows the glucose into the cells
• the insulin level stays high
• high insulin levels all the time is not good for your health

Carrying excess weight is not ideal: excess fat blocks the action of insulin putting additional strain on the body’s ability to maintain optimal blood glucose levels.

How to Prevent it?

Making healthy lifestyle choices:

• moderate weight loss - about 11-22lb (5-10kg)
• eating a healthy diet - lowering your saturated fat intake by using low-fat dairy products
• choosing snack ?foods wisely
• boosting your omega-3 intake
• lowering the GI of your diet
• increasing your fiber intake ? ?
• increasing your regular physical activity. ?You need roughly 200 minutes of moderate level activity each week, or 30 minutes a day. ?This could include walking, jogging, swimming, dancing or cycling.

You are more than your diabetes. ?The way you respond to your type 2 diabetes will determine whether it will be a minor annoyance or a major sickness. ?

Diabetes mellitus, often referred to as Diabetes, is a long-term health condition, develops due to the disordered metabolism and results into abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia).

Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, amputations, kidney failure, blindness etc and it can remain undetected for years. However the good news is that Type 2 diabetes which is associated with obesity and makes up around 90% of all diabetes can be controlled.

When Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes she went through dramatic diet change. She started to eat fresh vegetables, fresh fish, pasta and cut out red meat.

Halle also tries to lead a stress-free lifestyle and became a regular yoga practitioner. She practices yoga daily which helps her to release stress and brings the feeling of tranquillity.

By taking up yoga the quality of life can remarkably improve. Daily practice of yoga can help to reduce the stress hormones, bring feeling of relaxation and at the same time can also help in case of diabetes, especially type 2.

Research has shown that regular yoga practice can result in significant changes in most of the parameters of the metabolic syndrome including; waist circumference reduction, lowering in systolic blood pressure, reduction in fasting blood glucose level and HDL ‘good’ cholesterol increased.

The major reasons for the lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancer etc in the western world is the unhealthy food such as the non-vegetarian fast food and sedentary life style.

Britain’s diabetes population has reached almost 2.5 million. Diabetes UK chief executive Douglas Smallwood said the figures were ‘truly alarming’.

Human beings are designed to stay healthy and not to die by lifestyle disease such as cancer, heart attack and diabetes.

Diabetes is certainly one of the biggest health challenges facing the world today. Surprisingly the whole medical system is focussed on curing the diseases rather than in the prevention.

Though we need the medicines for cure in case the diseases go out of control but if we focus our attention on prevention at the first place then we can certainly stay healthy during our life time with least dependence on medicine.

Maintaining a healthy body is not a rocket science. Our body is made up of food and if we eat healthy vegetarian food and do exercise regularly to keep our stress level under control, we can certainly stay healthy forever.

Halle Berry announced in October 2007 that she was no longer insulin dependent.

Healthy lifestyle which includes vegetarian diet and regular yoga practice can go a long way in preventing and controlling the lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

A report published in the February, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition described the finding of researchers in Sweden that men and women who have a higher intake of vitamin A from food and supplements have half the risk of developing stomach cancer than that experienced by those whose intake is low.

Susanna C. Larsson of the Karolinska Institute and colleagues evaluated data from 82,002 adults aged 45 to 83 enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men. Participants in both studies completed identical dietary questionnaires in 1997 and were followed through June, 2005. Questionnaires were analyzed for preformed vitamin A (retinol from animal sources and fortified foods), provitamin A carotenoids alpha and beta-carotene, and other carotenoid levels.

Over the 7.2 year average follow-up period, there were 139 cases of stomach cancer. Subjects whose total vitamin A intake (including provitamin A carotenoids) from food and supplements was in the top one-fourth of participants had a 47 percent lower adjusted risk of developing stomach cancer than those whose intake was in the lowest fourth. When retinol from diet and supplements was examined separately, the risk was 44 percent lower for those in the highest intake group. For subjects whose alpha-carotene levels were in the top quarter, gastric cancer risk was 50 percent lower, and for participants whose beta-carotene levels were highest, the risk was 45 percent less than participants whose intake was lowest. No significant associations were determined for the carotenoids with no provitamin A activity. Further analysis of the data found that the reduction in gastric cancer risk associated with vitamin A was limited to nonsmokers or former smokers.

In their introduction, the authors remark that retinol plays a role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, and in modulating immune responses. The vitamin also has a healing effect on stomach ulcers, which have been associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The antioxidant activity of the vitamin neutralizes free radicals generated by H. pylori, a bacteria implicated in ulcers and stomach cancer.

The authors conclude that their results “support the hypothesis of a possible protective role of vitamin A in gastric carcinogenesis.”

We all have superficial knowledge about diabetes because it is a common disease seen especially in adults. These adults may be from our family members or neighborhood. But, this doesn’t mean that children’s and youths are free from the danger. So, let’s know about it.

The term diabetes was coined by Aretaeus of Cappadocia. The term diabetes is derived from the Greek word which means one that straddles. Due to the excessive discharge of urine the disease was named as diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease that transpires due to the malfunction of our body metabolism. We fuel our body with foods to generate energy. These energies are nothing but glucose that is produced from the natural process of digestion. After digestion these glucose passes into our blood stream with the help of insulin produced by pancreas. Insulin is the hormones secreted by the pancreas which is the transporter of glucose to body cells. But, this is not the actual process with a diabetic.

If you are a diabetic then your pancreas is functioning anomalously and the cells are ignoring the glucose carrying insulin’s. This is a serious case because glucose is our energy source and when they are ignored, the body system throws them away in the form of urine or sweats.

- Pre-diabetes:

Pre-diabetes is the stage where the blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be exemplify as diabetes. Pre-diabetes is also known as Impaired Glucose Tolerance which is a diseased health with no symptoms. In most of the cases it appears before a person develops type2 diabetes. But, it is also seen that the rsik of type2 diabetes can be reduced if the body is supplied with proper diet and exercise. The symptoms are rare in pre-diabetes but still frequent desire to urinate, blurred vision or extreme fatigue can be noticed in some cases.

- Types, Danger and Causes:

Diabetes has been studied from ancient period in many different part of the world. But all the studies show that there are three types of diabetes.

Type1 diabetes:

This is unique case where the body system develops the antibodies and other inflammatory cells. These antibodies are destroyed by our immune system including the beta cells in pancreas which is responsible for secretion of insulin. This is how the secretion of insulin stops in a type1 diabetic body system.

Causes:
This is a critical diabetes situation which is though found rarely compared to type2 diabetes but found to be life threatening.Type1 diabetes influence is seen among children and youths with a sudden attack.

The actual cause of type1 diabetes is being studied but the core reason is still not understood.

Symptoms:
The symptoms of type1 diabetes may appear in short span of time. Some common symptoms are increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue.

Remember:
Type1 diabetes is comparatively dangerous because the patient must be treated with insulin treatment everyday. The cost is high and if not treated properly then the patient may undergo a serious diabetic coma which is also known as diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Type2 diabetes:

Type2 diabetes is common diabetes and is especially seen in old age. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas is capable of producing insulin but not in the right amount that body demands. The body cells with an unknown reason do not respond to the insulin. Hence, this produced glucose carrying insulin is wasted. Type2 diabetes is also known as adult on-set diabetes.

Cause:
The cause of type2 diabetes may appear from obesity, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities.

Symptoms:
The symptoms are similar to the type1 diabetes. But, they don’t occur suddenly as in type1. There is a high probability that the patient may be suffering form type2 diabetes and yet has developed no symptoms. Some common symptoms are: fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores.

Remember:
Type2 diabetes is not that fatal as compared to type1. A patient with proper physical exercise, healthy diet and medication can live an easy life. However, diabetic patients are suggested not to consume sugar included groceries which is dangerous in case of high blood sugar.

Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes is seen only in women at her pregnancy period. Not all of them but some develops this disease in this period. This is temporary diabetes and will soon resolve as the baby is born. But, the risk factor remains that the women may suffer from type2 diabetes soon within 5 to 10 years.

Cause:
The cause of gestational is due to the significant hormonal change during the pregnancy period or shortage of insulin.

Symptoms:
Gestational diabetes may occur without any symptoms but the women may experience hunger, thirst, frequent urination and excessive weight gain. She may also produce vaginal infections.

Remember:
The risk of suffering from type2 diabetes can be reduced by maintaining good health, taking balanced diets and fighting obesity.

- Who are likely to suffer?

” Age:

Though there is no accurate age determined but the probability remains with the adults. People who are above 40 are likely to suffer from diabetes. But, this assumption is more defined if diabetes is seen in his father and grandfathers which means the genetic.

Obesity:

Obesity is the probability for diabetes no matter if the person belongs to a particular ethnic group or not. Obese is the source of different diseases. So if you are obese then you should be careful with your health and diet. Physical drills are also useful.

Physical workout:

Physical work is very important for a healthy life. Exercise, yoga, jogging, swimming etc are important to keep our body fit and fine. Diabetes is likely to attack if the person is physically weak and performs no physical gym.

Diabetes is genetic:
Diabetes is hereditary disease. So, it can assail anyone with diabetic background or history. Though this is not always the 100% but throughout the studies in most of the cases it is seen that people automatically suffer from diabetes if he/she has it from his genes.

High blood pressure:
High blood pressure is the other important factor that makes the probability high for diabetes in people. If he/she has a high blood pressure then chances for diabetes remains.

- Preventions And Treatments:

Preventions:

Prevention is better then cures. Diabetes is not a communicable disease rather genetic in most of the case.
Here are the tips for preventing yourself from diabetes:

- Lose extra weight:
Lose extra weight because obese is the doorway to disease. Losing your weight will gradually carry improvement in your health and builds immune.

- Fiber food:
Fiber foods are really good for health. They help in blood circulation in our body. They also manage the level of glucose in our body. Fiber food is very good for heart patient too.

- Physical exercise:
This is important not only for diabetic but for everyone. Physical exercise helps to burn our fats which are harmful when they exceed their need in the body. Physical exercise also maintains excellent blood circulation.

- Quit smoking:
Smoking is harmful but still we smoke. But, smoking not only cause cancers but it also develops type2 diabetes. Some research has shown that smoking helps to grow unnecessary fats in our body that leads to obesity. So it’s better to quit now?

- Drink water:
If you can drink at least 5 liters of water per day it’s excellent. This is an excellent idea to keep you safe from all types of diseases including diabetes.

Treatments:

Treatments for all kinds of diabetes are almost same because diabetes are well controlled only with the help of carefully planned diets, good physical exercise, maintaining body weight and monitoring glucose levels. It is very necessary to a diabetic to maintain his blood sugar level between 60mg/dl to 120mg/dL. Some of the treatments are below.

Proper diets:
Diets are very important to a diabetic because his blood sugar depends on his diets. The preventions listed above are similar for treating your diabetes. But, still keep these things noted.

- Eat snacks before bedtime which contains protein and carbohydrate. But, don’t eat carbohydrates 2 hours before bedtime.

- Evade saturated fats such as fatty meats, butter, bacon, cream and whole milk cheeses.

- Eat fiber-rich foods such as whole grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables. And if possible live a vegetarian life.

- Eat complex carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, grains, cereals, crackers, bread, potatoes, dried beans and peas.

- Balance your fat, carbohydrates and protein in a roughly 30/40/30 ratio.

- Eat at least 5 or 6 small meals a day.

- Prefer high-protein breakfast.

- White flour, enriched flour, bleached flour should be avoided.

- Drinking lots of water is good for every kind of disease.

- But, all these above mentioned diets should be taken in a limited and effective manners because too much of these foods like potatoes, rice may cause high blood sugar problem.

Exercise:

- Little change on your daily routine:
Put some physical exercise in your daily routine because exercise is only the way how you can control your blood sugar level and live a healthy life.

- Professionals instructions:
It is very important to have someone to guide you with your health. So, always take advices from your doctors and professionals. They suggest you with a particular exercise for particular part of your body which sometimes really becomes helpful.

-Engaging yourself:
Take a regular walk and engage yourself in different activities like: swimming, aerobic, yoga, jogging etc. This will definitely help you to overcome your hectic routine with a good health.

- Monitor your sugar level:
Increase your exercise a bit and give more time to your body. Keep on monitoring your blood sugar level. As the blood sugar level is normal if it lies between 60mg/dl to 120mg/dl. This can be done with the help of your doctor or glucose meter are available in the market which are easy and effective.

-Obesity:
If you are obese then you should really work hard on your exercise. Obesity is the major cause for diabetes. It is not necessary that the disease should be genetic because diabetes is more likely to occur in obese people.

- Stairs are good for you:
Always prefer stairs instead of the elevator. This is a good exercise for you to burn your fats. This will also supports you with strong bone and muscles with a healthy and Hercules life.

- How diabetes and pre-diabetes are are diagnosed?
There are three major ways of diagnosing all types of diabetes.

Fasting plasma glucose test:

Fasting plasma glucose test is the easy and convenient process of calculating the blood glucose level in our blood after we have attended the fasting for minimum 8 hours. This test is found reliable when it is done in the morning. This test determines whether we are diabetic or pre-diabetic.

Diagnosis ———————-Plasma Glucose Results (mg/dL)

Normal ————————99 and below

Pre-Diabetes ——————100 to 125

Diabetes ———————- 126 and above

The above shown chart shows the blood sugar level in different stages. The diabetes is only confirmed by repeating the test in different days.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test:

Oral glucose tolerance test is marked as gold standard for type2 diabetes. It is now seen commonly used in Gestational diabetes test. Under this test, the person requires to fast for at least 8 hours before the test. Then first, the fasting plasma glucose is tested. After these 75 grams of glucose is taken by the person.

Plasma Glucose Result (mg/dL)——Hours before Glucose is taken—— Diagnosis

139 and below ———————-2hrs———————————Normal

140 to 199 ————————–2hrs ——————————–Pre-diabetes

200 and above ———————-2hrs ——————————–Diabetes

The above shown chart shows the blood sugar level in different stages. Toady oral glucose tolerance test is found more popular in Gestational diabetes then in type2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes is also based on plasma glucose values measured during the oral glucose tolerance test. Blood glucose levels are checked four times during the test. If our blood glucose levels are above normal at least twice during the test, we have gestational diabetes. The given chart may vary in different labs.

When ——- Plasma Glucose Result (mg/dL)

Fasting —— 95 and above

At 1 hr —— 180 and higher

At 2hrs——-155 and higher

At 3hrs—— 140 or higher

Random Test:

Random blood sugar test determines our blood sugar 200mg/dL. It is non-scientific way because no proper medical test is done here. The medical test is carried at any time.

Following are some symptoms regarding your diabetes.

- Frequent urination.

- Frequent thirst.

- Weight loss

- Sores and wounds that take long time to heal naturally.

- Fatigue, blurred vision, increased hunger.

These symptoms are enough to make you aware that you might be suffering from diabetes. So, it’s better if you consult your doctor.