Diabetes is a chronic disease, often lasting someone’s whole life. Diabetes is becoming more and more common in people in the Western world particularly in countries such as Australia and the United States. It is thought that poor diet, poor exercise and not leading a healthy lifestyle could be to blame. In 2008 there were about 24 million people with diabetes in the United States alone, from those 5.7 million people remain undiagnosed. Other 57 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes.

Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitius (Ancient Greek for “to pass through”) is metabolism disorder due to hereditary and environmental causes which results in abnormally high blood sugar levels or “hyperglycemia”. Blood glucose levels are controlled by a complex interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones in the body, including the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that lead to high blood glucose levels due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action.

When we eat food, the body digests it and goes through various process to convert it into energy. In people with diabetes, insulin is no longer produced or not produced in sufficient quantities by the body. When people with diabetes eat glucose, which is contained in foods such as bread, fruit, starchy vegetables, milk, yoghurt and sweets, instead of being converted into energy the glucose stays in the blood. This is why blood glucose levels are higher in people with diabetes.

Glucose is carried around our body in our blood. Our blood glucose level is called glycemia.

Type 1 Diabetes - Often referred to as “juvenile” diabetes is usually found in young children, typically occurs in people under 30 years but can occur at any age. It is diagnosed when the pancreas fails to produce any insulin at all, or too little for the body. To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes depend on up to four insulin injections every day of their lives.

Type 2 Diabetes - Is the most common form of diabetes affecting 85-90% of people diagnosed with diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes the pancreas makes some insulin but is not produced in the amount the body needs to work effectively. In many cases, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise. If this does not produced the necessary results, oral medication can be prescribed.

Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Although there is a strong genetic predisposition, the risk is greatly increased when associated with lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, being overweight, insufficient physical activity and having a poor diet.

Insulin resistance, syndrome X, type 2 diabetes … words that can instill fear into people’s hearts. Is this because you are concerned as to how diabetes will affect the rest of your life? Well that’s fair. Or is it because there is so much confusing information around and you don’t know what to believe? Well here is a starting point:

Firstly, you understand you have high blood sugar levels which occurred because your body no longer responds correctly to insulin. Insulin is unable to enter your cells at the moment and that is where it needs to be to help sugar cross from your bloodstream into your cells.

Secondly, your fasting blood sugar levels were above 126 mg/dl (7 mmol/l). Your oral glucose tolerance test showed levels higher than 200 mg/dl (11 mmol/l). These tests combined with other signs and symptoms, confirmed you have type 2 diabetes.

Thirdly, and one of the most important steps, is to look at your eating plan. This is the main treatment for type 2 diabetes and it is in your control. You can lower your:

• blood sugar levels
• insulin levels
• and your weight

by finding a diet that will work for you, one that takes into account your likes and dislikes. A low-Gi carbohydrate, moderate protein, low fat diet is a really effective way to stabilize your blood sugars almost immediately.

Refined carbohydrates such as bread, spaghetti, macaroni, bagels, cookies, refined grain cereals and white rice cause almost the same rise in blood sugars as a tablespoon of sugar. To keep your blood sugar levels from rising too high:

• reduce sweet foods generally, look for low-sugar alternatives
• always eat fruit and root vegetables with protein so the protein will slow down the absorption of sugar from these foods
• eat plenty of whole grain foods as they release their carbs slowly. They also help to control your appetite
• carbohydrates can also be found in alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, milk, yogurt, sugar, honey, corn syrup and molasses. These are carbs you need to watch out for also

Carbohydrates have by far the greatest impact on your short-term blood sugar levels. Fat plays only a minor role in short term blood sugars and protein takes several hours to show up as a blood sugar. Carbohydrates are the key.

The amount of carbohydrate to have for each meal and/or snack could be discussed with a dietitian who specializes in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The lower your blood sugar level, the less your insulin resistance is aggravated and your insulin level will then not need to rise. High insulin levels prevent fat breakdown … so insulin prevents weight loss also.

Type 2 diabetics can develop a host of oral health issues if steps are not taken to prevent them. Periodontal or gum disease is a common complication of type 2 diabetes, as high blood sugar levels raise the risk of developing this problem, and the problem in turn often raises blood sugar levels. Glucose is excreted into your saliva when your blood sugar level is high… this may contribute further to you having cavities. You can develop tooth decay from these high blood sugar levels, not because you eat too many sweet foods.

Fortunately, preventing periodontal disease can be fairly easy with good oral care.

Dry mouth is another common side effect of diabetes and can be supremely annoying, especially at night. It can also promote tooth decay, as the lack of saliva leaves your teeth unprotected from acids and bacteria, which would otherwise be diluted. A humidifier can help at night, as can cutting out caffeine, alcohol and tobacco in the hours leading up to bedtime. During the day you can sip water or sugarless drinks to keep your mouth from feeling dry.

Hard candy or chewing gum sweetened with xylitol can also decrease dry mouth. Xylitol is a type of carbohydrate that will not be broken down completely by your body, and thus has little to no effect on your blood sugar levels. Xylitol can also decrease plaque on your teeth, meaning better oral health and less risk of periodontal disease. Some studies show that Xylitol actually increases bone density and promotes collagen growth, leading to better jaw and teeth health.

Sugar-free chewing gum is also a good way to promote dental health without increasing blood sugar, and can increase saliva in your mouth as well. Chewing gums containing magnolia bark can also help eliminate bad breath provided the gum is chewed for at least five minutes. Diabetics often have a sharp smell to their breath that is difficult to mask.

Sugar free candy containing licorice root can kill bacteria that causes tooth decay without adversely affecting blood sugar levels. So can certain beverages, such as oolong tea or cranberry juice; reducing acid as well as making it harder for unattached bacteria to stick to plaque already present in your mouth. Cranberry juice should be drunk in very small servings as the natural sugar can cause a spike in your blood sugar levels.

Its also wise for type 2 diabetes to see their dentist regularly… also ask for advice about your dental hygiene so you can minimize any risk of damage. Don’t forget to tell your dentist you have type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is among the most difficult conditions to manage. Caused by a defect in insulin production, either the absence or inadequacy of it, this condition poses a lot of risks and is known to lead to many different complications all detrimental to one’s health. All are aware that when one suffers from diabetes, they most likely are prone, or may already have existing foot problems. Why a diabetic easily develops foot problems is due to the conditions manifested by the disease itself. Though diabetes is characterized by other symptoms as well like very high blood sugar levels, excessive thirst and increased urination, poor circulation and neuropathy are the very culprits leading thousands of diabetics every year to permanent loss of limbs.

As the peripheral nervous system is responsible for the transmission of information from the brain to the peripheries, at the same time sending back sensory from the peripheries to the brain, any damage to it would interfere with all these connections. This is very common in diabetes. When that happens, any injury to the feet is not easily recognized by the brain, leaving them untreated for a long period of time. Eventually, infections would develop leading to complications. Poor circulation is caused by the disease’s tendency to harden and block the arteries, limiting transport of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. The extremities become the most deprived areas when circulation is not good. Poor circulation slows down healing and even none at all. The lack of circulating blood reaching the injuries leads to gangrene, or death of tissues, which would have to eventually require amputation.

Sure there are treatments for diabetes available around. But like any other condition, preventing complications from ever occurring in the first place is always the best approach. In diabetes, when medication is required, taking it as scheduled is important. Regular blood sugar checks as well as other preventive measures advised by the physician should be strictly followed. Foot problems are most prevented by protecting your feet from any forms of injury. There are many socks intended for diabetics made available for those with the condition. Socks intended for peripheral neuropathy, which is as easily available, is best for diabetics. They are made with the most ideal fit to provide utmost comfort and relief from pressure. Materials are well chosen for these kinds of socks to provide needed warmth for colder climates.

Diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes is a disease that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. While it is often initially managed by increasing exercise and dietary modification, medications and external insulin injection are typically needed as the disease progresses. There are an estimated 28 million people in the U.S with diabetes 90% of whom are type 2. With prevalence rates doubling between 1990 and 2005, Centre of Disease Control and Prevention has characterized the increase as an epidemic.

Traditionally considered a disease of adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in children in parallel to rising obesity rates due to alterations in dietary patterns as well as in life styles during childhood. This is more to do with the high calorie fast food culture, children & teenagers being glued for hours and hours to computers, television and video games.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, there is very little tendency toward ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetes. Ketoacidosis is a type of metabolic acidosis which is caused by high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids. The main reason to worry about the Diabetes Type 2 is the secondary complications that bis associated with high glucose levels in the blood. Prolonged high glucose levels ion blood can lead to severe and irreparable damage to kidneys, heart, eyes and limbs.

In case of Type 2 Diabetes there are hardly any visible symptoms. In many cases one gets to know that he/she has diabetes only after being screened for smoother ailments or for routine medical insurance check up.

Early symptoms may be nothing more than chronic fatigue, generalized weakness and malaise (feeling of unease). Excessive urine production, excessive thirst and increased fluid intake are also some of the symptoms. Blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, itching of external genitalia and excessive bowel movements are also some of the other common symptoms.

It is important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar levels can, over time, damage the blood vessels that supply blood to our vital organs. This, in turn, increases the risk of heart and kidney disease, as well as leading to vision problems and problems with your nervous system. Researchers have linked high blood sugar levels with cancer in women. Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar,? can cause us to feel tired, depressed and lead to food eating disorders.

It’s important to keep our blood sugar level within the parameters of normal, so that it is neither too high nor too low.

Every time we eat, our stomach and intestines transform the food into glucose. Our cells need the glucose for energy. Our pancreas releases insulin to work with the glucose, but when our sugar levels are not at their optimum levels the result is, high blood sugar or low blood sugar levels.

For most of us, it’s easy to raise our blood sugar levels by simply drinking some fruit juice or eating a doughnut. Lowering our blood sugar levels, on the other hand, may be more of a challenge.

One way that we can lower our blood sugar level is to eat smaller meals several times a day.? It’s easier for our system to break down the sugars and send it to our vital organs, if it doesn’t have to work as hard. Eating four to six smaller meals throughout the day, while drinking plenty of water, is easier on the stomach, the intestines, the pancreas and even the digestive enzymes that are working to transform the food into nutrients.

Don’t just sit there, get up and exercise. In order for everything to work properly, our bodies need the stimulation that it can only get through proper amounts of exercise. If you can work out, that is great, but if you can’t or just don’t want to,? taking several short brisk walks a day is better than just sitting around all day.

Instead of grabbing that doughnut, eat an apple. Eating foods high in fiber like, apples, oatmeal, nuts and seeds help to fill us up without adding the extra sugars. But, if you must have that doughnut, include some cheese or a hard boiled egg along with it. Since carbohydrates quickly convert into glucose, adding the protein found in cheese or eggs will slow the the conversion of the carbohydrates to glucose, preventing a marked increase in blood sugar levels.

Eat some cinnamon every day. Cinnamon works to naturally lower blood sugar levels and help balance cholesterol levels. You need to eat about a gram a day, to gain these benefits, but you can add it to your oatmeal, toast and even your coffee. It tastes good and works great.

Finally, make sure you are getting the optimum amount of vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. If you aren’t getting the levels you need in your food, find a good supplement that contain vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and herbal additives. If our bodies aren’t receiving the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals, it may affect the ways we are able to convert the foods we are eating into the right blood sugar levels.

Tell me, did you jump out of bed this morning feeling energetic, revitalized and ready to take on the world? Or did you feel really tired as though you needed more sleep?

How often do you wake up feeling fatigued or really tired? This is the most common and strongest sign of type 2 diabetes. Unexplained fatigue ... you know you haven’t been out partying all night, or working harder than usual. Actually you have been going to bed earlier than you used to, hoping you would not feel so worn out when you first woke up or that you would make if through the day without feeling weary. There are many other signs, but this is one of the earliest signs that you have high blood sugar levels. It can go on for years; you start to accept that this is the way your life is going to be. You wish it would go away but it just stays and affects so many areas of your life.

You feel fatigued or really tired because glucose cannot enter the cells that depend on insulin to act as the transporter of sugar, therefore sugar stays in your bloodstream. Once you blood sugars rise above 180 mg/dl (10 mmol/l), sugar begins to spill over into your urine and that leads to several of the short-term complications of diabetes.

One or more of the following diabetic symptoms may be present along with high blood sugar levels, when you are first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes:

• frequency of passing urine and thirst
• unusual tiredness at times when you shouldn’t be drowsy or tired
• blurred vision or any change in your eyesight
• frequent infections that are slow to heal. Women often have recurring vaginal yeast infections or thrush
• tingling or numbness in hands and feet
• inflamed gums which are caused by high blood sugars affecting the blood vessels in your mouth. The sugar can also be causing teeth cavities

You may also have type 2 diabetes if your health care provider has diagnosed you with:

• high cholesterol levels
• high blood pressure
• anemia
• cataracts

Another classic sign is weight gain. This occurs because insulin in your body is not being used properly. High blood insulin levels increases your appetite.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition that starts small and becomes worse over time. In the early stages it can be controlled through a healthy eating plan and exercise. The best way to prevent your pancreas from overworking and breaking down completely, is to check with your health care provider when you have any of the above symptoms. He can order fasting blood sugar levels, and/or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which will confirm or rule out type 2 diabetes.

• a blood sugar level after fasting for eight hours, if over 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l) on at least two occasions, usually means you have diabetes
• you have diabetes when the OGTT result shows a level equal to or more than 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l)

Hyperglycemia is a condition in which the blood plasma contains too much sugar. Many of us don’t know the normal range for blood glucose levels. In fact, many of us don’t know that we have high blood sugar until we are already experiencing symptoms. Some of us don’t find out until it is too late.

A high blood glucose level is anything above 180. You might not notice any symptoms until you reach 270 and above. After you reach these levels you can experience a number of different health problems. If you don’t know what these numbers mean, you aren’t alone. Blood sugar levels are measured in milligrams per deciliter.

Moreover, blood sugar rates vary depending upon the time of day, what you have eaten, and when you last ate. Still, a normal range for a healthy person who took a fasting test would be in the 80 to 120 range. A person who tests at 126 most of the time would be considered Hyperglycemic.

Having high blood glucose levels can seriously damage your body. However, you can have high blood sugar levels without being hyperglycemic. As state before, blood sugar ranges change according to what your body is doing. However, it is when you are consistently exposed to those high levels that you start to damage yourself.

Some of the smaller symptoms may include dry mouth, and fatigue, among others. In extreme cases, you can damage your kidneys, or even end up in a coma. If you suspect that you have high levels of glucose, you should see your doctor and get tested. Knowledge is the best fight against any medical condition and this is also true for hyperglycemia.

Yes, it is often a complication, a clue from the effect of insulin resistance, that shows your health care provider you have type 2 diabetes. It sneaks up on you; it often goes undetected for many years. Because of this, high blood sugar levels combined with elevated insulin levels may have already caused damage. Usually this damage is found in:

The