Registered Member #4810 Joined: Wed Feb 14 2007, 06:51PM
Posts: 14
Diabetes is called "the Mother of all Diseases".The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 250 million diabetics living around the world; resulted diabetes ranks fifth among the ten major causes of death in the world. 4 people died cause by diabetes or it complications every minutes. It is estimated that diabetics account for 6%~15% of the population in all countries. And the number of diabetics is increasing most rapidly in Asia. Cost of diabetes treatment was close to USD100 billion every year.
Asia have the most diabetics
In 21 century, especially in 2025, diabetic Mellitus will be a formidable enemy to the health of mankind. As diabetes is the root cause of all kinds of diseases and ailments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 189 million diabetics living around the world in2003. This figure is expected to sharply increase to 324 million in 2025. In other words, diabetes will increased about 72% in the next 22 years.
Asia has the highest amount of diabetes patients around the world. Increase 91% from 81.8 million in 2003 to 156.1 million in 2005.
Mejar Jeneral Dato' (Dr) Sulaiman bin Abdullah who is Director General of Health Services Malaysian Armed Forces,Health Services Division,Headquaters MAF, Ministry of Defence mentioned diabetes complications in recent interview:
Cardiovascular disease
Including Atherosclerosis and Myocardial Infarction: The risk of dying of heart disease is 2 to 4 times higher in diabetic adults compare to non-diabetic adults.
Stroke
The risk of stroke is 2 to 4 times higher in diabetic patients than in normal persons.
High Blood Pressure
It is estimeted that approximately 60 to 65% of diabetics patients have High Blood Pressure.
Kidney Failure
20 to 40% of diabetes patients have kidney disease or kidney failure or renal dialysis. Diabetes is the main cause of kidney failure.
Blindness
A leading cause of blindness among adult age between 20 to 70 is diabetic retinophathy and glaucoma.
Nerve damage
60 to 70% of diabetes patients may have certain degree of damage in circulatory and nervous system.
What is diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease. When the pancreas in the body is unable to secrete sufficient insulin or unable to untilize insulin effectively, leading to high sugar levels, diabetes will develop.
Hyperglycaemia and other metabolism illness may cause damage to a lot of human organ especially nerves and vascular system.
Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes is generally divided into types I and II.
Type1 Diabetes : Usually caused by abnormal insulin production by the pancreas. Cause by human immune system killing each other cells. Approximately 10% of diabetes patients is Type 1, usually children and youths.
Type 2 Diabetes : Patients are still able to secrete insulin, but cannot effectively use insulin. The main cause of Type 2 diabetes is the reduction of insulin and insulin receptor sensitivity causing cells cannot utilize blood glucose efficiently call Insulin Resistance. Type II diabetes accounts for 90% or more of all patients, usually adult.
Diabetics Data
WHO once sets a standard to diagnose diabetes:
Patients have an empty-stomach blood sugar concentration 7.8 mmol/L may be diagnosed diabetics
Patients have a blood sugar concentration = 11.1 mmol/L at any time (including any time after meals) may be diagnosed diabetics.
If a patient's blood sugar concentration is intermediate between the two figures given above, the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) should be given to determine whether the patient's condition is due solely to poor glucose tolerance. If empty-stomach blood sugar is 7.8 mmol/L and blood sugar concentration is between 7.8 mmol/L and 11.1 mmol/L within two hours of taking glucose, the patient should be diagnosed as having impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). These patients may later develop diabetes if prompt preventive measures are not taken.
Cause of Type 2 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes usually caused by damage to the pancreas genes and abnormal of immune system. Type 2 diabetes usually cause by the following:
1) Prolong dependent on drug or injection: e.g.: Steroids
2) Diabetes during pregnancy.
3) Illness related to pancreas including pancreatectomy, pacreatic cancer, pancreatitis, haemochromatosis.
4) Excessive sugar intake
5) Edocrine disorder: edema of the face, acromegaly and neuroma of the urinary bladder.
Symptoms of diabetes
Some patients, by chance, during one of their blood tests, are shocked to learn that they are diabetics. Nevertheless, by paying more attention, if a person suffers from diabetes, the following symptoms will show:
1) Drop in body weight
2) Fatique, even feeling sleepy
3) Weak and easy infected by virus and bacteria
4) Excessive urine (polyuria) and thirst (polydipsia) : This is because blood sugar affects the function of the kidney that filters fluids.
5) Ketoacidosis commonly occurs in Type I diabetes patients. Low insulin may cause dehydration, exhaustion, fever, low blood pressure, short of breath, possibility of shock or even death.
Kidney Failure
Diabetes cause disorder of kidney including diabetic nephritis. A person urine have 30-300mg of Micro-Albuminuria every 24 hours. If A person have more than 10 to 15 years of diabetes history and his urine have more than 300mg of Micro-Albuminuria. He has kidney failure and require dialysis.
This may lead to diabetic retinophathy and glaucoma and cause blindness.
Nerve damage
Diabetes will seriously damage the nervous system of the patients. The damage to the nervous system can be divided into the following sections:
1) Nerve damage occur in feet , the sufferer may complain of numbness.
2) Neuritis: usually occurs on 3 nerves, which are the nerve in the skull, nerve of the arms and nerve of lower limbs, all of which will feel pain.
3) Amyotrophy
4) Autonomic Neuropathies. autonomic nervous system is the nerve system that "make it own decision" and is not affcted by willpower. autonomic neuropathaties will cause hypoglycemia (low blood pressure) like dizziness, impotence, nocturnal diarrhea and retention of urine.
Diabetic foot sores
Diabetes may cause serious complications like gangrene (or diabetic feet).
When ulcers appear on the legs of diabetic patients, bacteria will invade the soft tissues and bones of the legs. In this way, the joints of the legs become distorted. During the early stage, the nerve can still feel pain but during the late stage, the legs become numb and are easily injured, for example, when stepping a stone or protruding matter, the legs do not have any feeling even if the legs bleed. When angiopathy develops in the legs, the blood vessels become narrow or are blocked. The toes are the first affected.
When the toes bleed, the toes will ulcerated area increases, the patient are forced to have their legs amputated.
Under such circumtances, the biggest sorrow of human life is cause by diabetes.
Translated from Sin Chew Daily dated 20 March 2006 (Part 1)
Registered Member #4810 Joined: Wed Feb 14 2007, 06:51PM
Posts: 14
Drug for Diabetes and it side effect ===========================
There is no drugs to cure diabetes at the moment. The main medical treatment is to control it and lower blood sugar level; It is not easy to achieved this unless the patient : 1) Understand the important of control blood sugar level. 2) He must have strong willpower to control the desire for food and prevent excessive eating and drinking 3) Frequently consult the diabetic specialist, eye specialist, diet therapist and foot therapist, so that the patient understands his/her condition clearly, that is, whether his/her condition is under controlled.
The goal is to control the patient’s blood sugar level
Director General of Health Services Malaysian Armed Forces in Health Services Division of Headquaters MAF, Ministry of Defence, Mejar Jeneral Dato' (Dr) Sulaiman bin Abdullah in a recent interview stated that the Diabetic Control and Research Center in UK discover that if diabetes patients able to control his blood glucose level. Then, he able to reduce the risk of "capillaries complication"
Reduce major and minor angiopathy
The centre also find that if diabetic able to control his blood pressure ( less than 130/70mmHg) level, he can reduced the risk of "major capillaries and minor capillaries".
The centre stress that diabetic patients must pay close attention to their vision and check whether they are suffering from rethinopathy.
Maj Gen Dato (Dr) Sulaiman Bin Abdullah also mentioned that the Diabetics foot is another important issue. They should consult foot specilists frequently to check the condition of their foot on:
Prickling pain Ulcers or dead muscle Neuropathy of the legs
Diet Control
One method to control diabetes and lower blood glucose levels is diet control:
1) Reduce intake of high calories food to reduce the accumulation of fats in the body and maintain ideal weight.
2) Reduce intake of fatty food to delay the development of Atherosclerosis .
3) Reduce intake of sugary food to prevent increase in blood glucose level
4) Increase intake of vegetables, especially high-fiber vegetables, to help to reduce blood sugar levels. In the meantime, this also prevents the sudden decrease in blood sugar because the sudden decrease in blood sugar will result in Hypoglycaemia.
Glucose reducing drugs
There are a few type of drugs that reduce blood sugar levels and the most important drugs are the Sulphonylureas family and Biguanides family.
Sulphonylureas
The machanism of this type of drugs is replenishing insulin secretion. In other words, the alpha cells of the pancreas in the patients body are still able to secrete low but in adequate amount of insulin. Therefore, this type of drugs augments the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. There are several brand names for this family of drugs but their therapeutic effects are very much the same.
Side effects :
There is a risk of low blood pressure especially in elderly patients who has taking this drug for a long period of time. Therefore, this type of drugs must be prescribed by medical specialists.
This type of drugs encourage weight gain. The condition is worse in obese patients as obesity will increase the insulin resistance in the body. This is because the cells are covered by a layer of fat oil. Thus, it is more difficult for pancreas to open the "door" (receptors) of the cells to allow the blood sugar to enter.
Biguanides
Currently there is only one brand name for this family of drugs, which isl "Metformin". The mode of action of this drug is reducing the source of blood sugar, which is also assisting insulin to allow more blood sgar to enter into the cells. At the same time, this drug can also strengthen the tissues in the human body sothat more blood sugar can be utilized. This type of drug has the following benefits:
1) Suitable for type 2 diabetic patient
2) Suitable for obese diabetic patient. This drug is the first line medicine used by obese diabetic patients.(Translator note:Anorexic—Because of this function, Biguanides suitable for obese patients to cause them to reduce their food intake, lower their body weight, and improve the peripheral function of insulin.)
Side effects:
The side effect of this type of drug is the discomfort in the stomach and intestines. Hence, this drug should be taken after meal. However, those with kidney disorder should not take this type of drugs.
Thiazolidinediones
This type of drugs is able to enhance sensitivity of insulin. In other words, it helps blood sugar to enter into cells more easily. If Sulphonylureas and Biguanides mentioned above fail to reduce blood glucose level effectively, then thiazolidinediones drugs should be used.
Acarbose
Blood glucose levels definitely increase after the patients has eaten meal. This type of drugs is able to reduce the blood glucose levels increased after a meal.
Side effect: The side effect is sometimes the drug might cause flatulence
Insulin
Nearly 25% of diabtic patients need to inject insulin. It is a type of Polypeptide Hormone. When insulin comes into contact with gastric acid, it become ineffective. Therefore, the patients have to inject into body directly.
After Insulin injection, the patients should monitor their blood glucose levels. The blood glucose level after meal should between 4 to 9 mm01/L. Most patients should use insulin of mid-term effects and with two injections per day.
The drugs mentioned above are different methods to reduce the blood glucose in diabetic patients. Although they have high therapeupic effects, each type of drugs does have their side effects.
Glossary
Double bind
Double-blind test ia a special experimental condition where both the principal investigators (or doctors) and participants (or patient) do not know the nature, procedure and whether the treatment given contains the real medicine, or is merely made up of placebo's hence both are blind, so that any placebo effects and cues during the process of the experiment are eliminated or prevented.
Glucose Tolerence Factor and Diabetes
Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) is found in our body tissues and cells. Its main function is to maintain normal glucose metabolism in the body. Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) also known as “insulin booster.” Insulin must interact with GTF and insulin receptor to successfully send glucose into cells so it can be converted to energy. GTF is a compound consist of trivalent chromium plus minerals, vitamin, and amino acids.
Long term insufficient trivalent chromium intake will result in the decrease of GTF synthesis in our body, and glucose will not be transported into the cells efficiently. Thus, insulin resistance and clinical symptoms of diabetes develop. The presence of excess glucose in the urine will use up more glucose tolerance factor. This lead to serious trivalent chromium deficiency and the gradual loss of kidney functions. This is also one of the main reasons diabetic patients suffer from kidney disorder.
Insufficient trivalent chromium may cause insulin resistance, affecting glucose and lipid metabolism. Other than diabetes, it will also cause clinical symptoms such as abnormal blood lipid levels and cardiovascular diseases.
GT&F Milk Powder
On 15 January 2006. Malaysia visiting group made a trip to Taiwan to learn about the development of a milk powder that was manufactured diabetic patients - GT&F Milk Powder which contains Glucose Tolerence Factor ( GTF ).
Dr. Kuo Shi-Wen,Director of Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology at Buddhist Xindian Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taiwan has. as a team leader, conducted a Double-blind test on GT&F milk powder. The result is very encouraging. 156 male and female Type 2 diabetes paticipant in the test. After taking GT&F milk powder for 4 months. Majority of the patient's "Insulin Resistance" symptom has been lower. The clinical test has shown that GT&F® Milk Powder is effective in lowering fasting plasma glucose in diabetes patients.
The Clinical Test Results has received compliment from The 25th Annual Meeting of The Endocrinology Society and The Diabetes Association of The R.O.C. 2004.
Beside that, the results were also recognised and published by International Journal of Clinical Practice.
Taiwan National Chung Hsing University Trial
President of Taiwan National Chung Hsing University, Dr. Jei-Fu Shaw(pic), who has a Ph.D. (Biochemistry) from University of Arkansas (1977), and is also a Fellow Member of American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS).
The university conducted an experiment on mouse by using GT&F Milk Powder. After 4 months, they also discover that GT&F Milk Powder is able to control diabetes from deterioration reduce blood glucose level without any side effect.
Translation from Sin Chew Daily dated 21 March 2006 (Part 2)
Registered Member #3345 Joined: Wed Oct 04 2006, 12:31PM
Posts: 9
I just want to share the story of my mother involving diabetic condition. My mother has been a diabetic patient since she was 40 years old. She is now 77. In the early stages of her condition, she was administered drugs (tablets). After about 20 years of taking them, she developed complications involving heart and also eyesight. At one point she was admitted into the cardiac ward at GH KL. Initially she did laser treatments for her eyes and after about 10 years she had eye operations to replace her lenses. When she developed serious heart condition in 1990, her drug intake was reviewed. She was asked to take insulin injections as well as some tablets. 17 years on, she is still taking insulin injections once a day and twice a day for the tablets.
She has been hanging on for such a long time, well surpassing most of her 'hospital mates' by being dilligently going for her check-ups and following doctors orders. She occasionally takes in sweet cakes but then she compensates them by doing simple exercises or sometimes fasting. She does take great care of her feet, wearing sleepers in and out of the house. If she cuts herself accidently, great measures are taken to ensure she recovers, though a slight mosquito bite may take several days to heal. To ensure quick healing, her blood sugar level must be low.
She also takes omega-3 capsules to maintain her overall health. She has been taking them more than 10 years now. Her recent echocardiograph shows a strong healthy heart. Alhamdulillah.
To ensure the success of a patient in contolling their diabetic condition is by having support from the whole family. When my mother was younger, we were strict with her diet control. Letting no chance for her take in 'prohibited food' but now that she's much older, we do give in occasionaly to her request for 'kuih koci' or 'roti canai' or at times even 'diluted teh tarik'.
May ALLAH Bless her a healthy and fruitful life as long as we can cherish her precious life, albeit being a diabetic patient. bmz
Registered Member #4810 Joined: Wed Feb 14 2007, 06:51PM
Posts: 14
ummluqman,
Pity to your mother and your family. Maybe your mother can try GT&F Milk Powder to improve her condition.
Experience show that if a person taking tablets. It take long period of time for GT&F Milk Powder to see the effect. It might take two months to six months to see the improvement.
However, person who take injection like your mother usually take 7 to 10 days to see the effect, despite the company claim the product only for type two diabetes only.
I really hope my advise can help your mother. And the great things is it would not take long to see the effect. Hope your mother will improved soon.
Registered Member #4810 Joined: Wed Feb 14 2007, 06:51PM
Posts: 14
GT&F Milk Powder able to lower diabetics' blood glucose level ===========================================
Two "Double blind" clinical test were conducted in Taiwan and proved that " GT&F milk powder " able to lower diabetics' blood glucose level without any side effect.
Double blind test in Tzu Chi General Hospital,Taiwan
There is a revolutionary breakthrough on diabetes healing and control by Taiwan medical specialist recently.
The achievement is some diabetes patient able to lower and control their blood glucose level effectively by taking " GT&F Milk Powder ".
This accomplishment is acheived through a "double blind" test. The head of the team that conducted the experiment is Dr. Kuo Shi-Wen.
The venue of the clinical trial is at Buddhist Xindian Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taiwan.
The author of this article (Translator Note: The author of this article is a journalist with Sin Chew Daily in Malaysia) went to Tzu Chi General Hospital under a special arrangement to conduct an exclusive interview with Dr Kuo Shi-Wen. Who is Director of Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology with Buddhist Xindian Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taiwan.
He reveal that : We have done a randomized and double blind test in Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taiwan. The objective of the trial is to review the reaction and safety of diabetes patients after taking " GT&F Milk Powder ".
Another important reason for this project is: Insulin produced by pancreas of type 2 diabetes patients usually low quality and insensitive. In order to open the receptors of cells for the blood sugar to enter into the cells, this insulinhas to depend on the help from Glucose tolerance Factor ( GTF ) especially the Trivalent Chromium, an element in Glucose tolerance Factor (GTF) .
There is usually a "trivalent chromium" deficiency in the blood of type 2 diabetic patients. This is the reason the conditions of diabetics deteriorate.
Taiwan's medical specialist has successfully extract trivalent chromium and add it to milk powder to become " GT&F Milk Powder "
The target of our experiment is this GT&F MilkPowder. Can the milkpowder really reduce and control the blood sugar levels in diabetic patients after consumption? If yes, at what level is the milk powder able to control the blood sugar?
Able to Control animal blood glucose level
Animal test, e.g. : rat indicated that its has improved its glucose and lipid metabolism after taking milk powder with trivalent chromium.
Elderly have less Trivalent Chromium
Other research show that when a type 2 patient aged, and become elderly, trivalent chromium within their body would reduced with age.
Trivalent Chromium able to control increase in blood glucose level
In 1997, a research conducted by Dr Anderson indicated that after a type to diabetes patient taking milk powder with rich trivalent chromium (500-1000mcg). The patient successfully control their blood glucose level and prohibit their blood glucose level to increase.
According to US standard : 200mcg of trivalent chromium in milk powder daily is sufficient.
Glucose tolerance Factor Milk Powder ( GAD&F Milk Powder ) do not have side effect and is non-toxic.
As it has been proven that such milk powder able to lower animal glucose level. Thus, we now conducted a clinical test on type 2 diabetes patients.
156 Diabetes Patients
The detail of the clinical trial are as follow:
We have recruited participant from type two diabetes patients: Male or female, age between 30 to 75.
Currently, they are consuming oral medicine for diabetes for the pass 2 months and their blood glucose level has been stablelise.
We have successfully recruited 156 patients to participate in this trial.
Patients' FPG between 140-250mg/d1 and HbA1c level between 7.5-12%.
Patients' empty-stomach triglyceride level were less than 400mg/d1. Body Mass Indexes (BMI) were between 20-35kg/m2.
Only patients who gave informed consent were recruit as study participant.
Duration of treatment: 16 weeks ( 4 months ) . Double blind test : Group A and Group B.
Evalution of therapeutic effects : On the 16th weeks, group A patients' HbA1c level has changed. On the 16th weeks, all group A's patients' FPG;insulin rejection(HOMA); Cell B; Total Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol and triglyceride level has changed.
GT&F Milk powder is one of the nutrition supplement for diabetic patients. It has proven to be save and have therapeutic effects.
Recognition from international journal
HOMA levels from Group A and Group B female patient has substantially reduced after 16 weeks of taking the milk powder, further research required to be done to find out the reason of such improvement.
We have produced a report on such clinical trial and presented it on Annual Meeting of The Endocrinology Society and The Diabetes Association of The R.O.C. in 2004(EASD), and has been accepted and published by an international clinical trial journal. We feel honor on this.
Second Trial
Other than the above, we have conducted another double blind test. Some of the distinguished features of the experiment are shown as follow:
Number of paticipants : 40. Ratio between male and female is 20:20. All are type 2 diabetes patients.
Patients were divided into Group A and Group B: Group A patients consumed GT&F Milk Powder whereas Group B patients consumed Placebo milk powder.
Duration: 16 Weeks
Venue : Tri-Service General Hospital
Below are our second trial:
Conclusion:
Milk Powder with Trivalent Chromium has therapeutic effects, safe and without side effect on type 2 diabetic patients.
For male patients: Such Milk Powder able to lower FPG, FPI and HOMA levels. This is a conclusion after a comparison with diabetic patients consuming placebo milk powder.
Registered Member #3439 Joined: Sat Oct 07 2006, 03:53PM
Posts: 96
Vinegar Can Fight Diabetes and Promote Weight Loss
Eating vinegar before a meal, perhaps as part of an oil-and-vinegar salad dressing, could be greatly beneficial to people with diabetes or those at high risk of developing the disease. According to the results of a study, two tablespoons of vinegar taken prior to eating dramatically reduced insulin and glucose spikes in the blood that occur after meals. In people with type 2 diabetes, these spikes can cause major complications, including heart disease. Vinegar's effects were comparable to those from antidiabetes drugs like metformin, researchers said. In the study, which involved 29 people, one-third had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one-third had signs that they could develop diabetes and one-third were healthy. Each individual was given either a vinegar dose or a placebo prior to eating a high-carbohydrate breakfast, and one week later were given the opposite drink and the same breakfast. Results indicated that: • All groups had better blood readings with the vinegar than with the placebo • People with prediabetic symptoms benefited the most from the vinegar, with blood-glucose concentrations cut by almost half • People with diabetes improved their blood-glucose levels by 25 percent with the vinegar • People with prediabetic symptoms had lower blood-glucose levels than healthy participants after both drank vinegar A follow-up study geared at testing vinegar's long-term effects also found that taking vinegar yielded a pleasant side effect: moderate weight loss. In the four-week study, half of participants took a two-tablespoon dose of vinegar prior to each of two meals daily, while the other half were told to avoid vinegar. Participants taking the vinegar lost an average of two pounds over the four-week period, while weight remained constant in the non-vinegar group. And some participants taking vinegar lost up to four pounds. The downside? Participants weren't fond of drinking vinegar, even flavored apple cider vinegar. In response, researchers are now developing an encapsulated form of vinegar and testing its effectiveness. However, don't rush out to buy any of the vinegar dietary supplements currently on the market. According to the researchers, they don't contain acetic acid, which they suspect is the antidiabetic component in the vinegar.
Registered Member #2972 Joined: Tue Sep 26 2006, 12:34PM
Posts: 110
Diabetes symptoms: When to consult your doctor
Early diabetes symptoms can be subtle or seemingly harmless — if you have them at all. In fact, you could have diabetes for months or even years and not even know it.
In the United States alone, more than 6 million people are unaware that they have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. But you don't need to become a statistic. Understanding possible diabetes symptoms can lead to early diagnosis and treatment — and a lifetime of better health. Excessive thirst and increased urination
Excessive thirst and increased urination are classic diabetes symptoms.
When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar. If your kidneys can't keep up, the excess sugar is excreted into your urine along with fluids drawn from your tissues. This triggers more frequent urination, which may leave you dehydrated. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you'll urinate even more. Flu-like feeling
Sometimes diabetes symptoms resemble a flu-like illness. You may notice fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. That's because poorly controlled diabetes hampers your body's ability to use sugar for energy. Instead of fueling your cells, the sugar remains in your blood. This leaves you feeling tired and run down. Weight loss or gain
Weight fluctuations also fall under the umbrella of possible diabetes symptoms. When you lose sugar through frequent urination, you also lose calories. At the same time, diabetes may keep the sugar from your food from reaching your cells — leading to constant hunger. The combined effect is potentially rapid weight loss, especially if you have type 1 diabetes.
Weight gain is a concern, too. Excess weight can make your tissues more resistant to the action of insulin, which increases your blood sugar level. And the more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become. That's why being overweight is a prime risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Blurred vision
Diabetes symptoms sometimes settle in the eyes. High levels of blood sugar pull fluid from your tissues, including the lenses of your eyes. This affects your ability to focus.
Left untreated, diabetes can cause new blood vessels to form in your retina — the back part of your eye — as well as damage old vessels. For most people this causes only mild vision problems, such as dark spots, flashing lights or rings around lights. But for others, the effects can be much more serious. In some cases, diabetes can lead to blindness. Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
High levels of blood sugar impair your body's natural healing process and your ability to fight infections. For women, bladder and vaginal infections are especially common. Tingling hands and feet
Excess sugar in your blood can lead to nerve damage. You may notice tingling and loss of sensation in your hands and feet, as well as burning pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet. Red, swollen, tender gums
Diabetes may weaken your ability to fight germs, which increases the risk of infection in your gums and in the bones that hold your teeth in place. Your gums may pull away from your teeth, your teeth may become loose, or you may develop sores or pockets of pus in your gums — especially if you have a gum infection before diabetes develops. Take your body's hints seriously
If you notice any possible diabetes symptoms, contact your doctor. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. Diabetes is a serious condition. But with your active participation and the support of your health care team, you can manage diabetes while enjoying an active, healthy life.
Registered Member #2972 Joined: Tue Sep 26 2006, 12:34PM
Posts: 110
Diabetes Treatment
Self-Care at Home
If you have diabetes, you would be wise to make healthful lifestyle choices in diet, exercise, and other health habits. These will help to improve glycemic (blood sugar) control and prevent or minimize complications of diabetes.
Diet: A healthy diet is key to controlling blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes complications.
* If you are obese and have had difficulty losing weight on your own, talk to your health care provider. He or she can recommend a dietitian or a weight modification program to help you reach your goal.
* Eat a consistent, well-balanced diet that is high in fiber, low in saturated fat, and low in concentrated sweets.
* A consistent diet that includes roughly the same number of calories at about the same times of day helps your health care provider prescribe the correct dose of medication or insulin.
* It will also help to keep your blood sugar at a relatively even level and avoid excessively low or high blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous and even life threatening.
Exercise: Regular exercise, in any form, can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Activity can also reduce the risk of developing complications of diabetes such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and leg ulcers.
* As little as 20 minutes of walking 3 times a week has a proven beneficial effect. Any exercise is beneficial; no matter how light or how long, some exercise is better than no exercise.
* If you have complications of diabetes (eye, kidney, or nerve problems), you may be limited both in type of exercise and amount of exercise you can safely do without worsening your condition. Consult with your health care provider before starting any exercise program.
Alcohol use: Moderate or eliminate your consumption of alcohol. Try to have no more than 7 alcoholic drinks in a week and never more than 2-3 in an evening. One drink is considered 1.5 ounces of liquor, 6 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer. Excessive alcohol use is a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Alcohol consumption can cause low or high blood sugar levels, nerve pain called neuritis, and increase in triglycerides, which is a type of fat in our blood.
Smoking: If you have diabetes, and you smoke cigarettes or use any other form of tobacco, you are raising your risks markedly for nearly all of the complications of diabetes. Smoking damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease, stroke, and poor circulation in the limbs. If you need help quitting, talk to your health care provider.
Self-monitored blood glucose: Check your blood sugar levels frequently, at least before meals and at bedtime, and record the results in a logbook.
* This log should also include your insulin or oral medication doses and times, when and what you ate, when and for how long you exercised, and any significant events of the day such as high or low blood sugar levels and how you treated the problem.
* Better equipment now available makes testing your blood sugar levels less painful and less complicated than ever. Your daily blood sugar diary is invaluable to your health care provider in seeing how you are responding to medications, diet, and exercise in the treatment of your diabetes.
* Medicare now pays for diabetic testing supplies, as do many private insurers and Medicaid.
Registered Member #2972 Joined: Tue Sep 26 2006, 12:34PM
Posts: 110
Medical Treatment
The treatment of diabetes is highly individualized, depending on the type of diabetes, whether you have other active medical problems, whether you have complications of diabetes, and your age and general health at time of diagnosis.
* Your health care provider will set goals for lifestyle changes, blood sugar control, and treatment.
* Together, you will devise a plan to help you meet those goals.
Education about diabetes and its treatment is essential in all types of diabetes.
* When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes care team will spend a lot of time with you, teaching you about your condition, your treatment, and everything you need to know to care for yourself on a daily basis.
* Your diabetes care team includes your health care provider and his or her staff. It may include specialists in foot care, neurology, kidney diseases, and eye diseases. A professional dietitian and a diabetes educator also may be part of the team.
Your care team will see you at appropriate intervals to monitor your progress with your goals.
Type 1 diabetes
Treatment of diabetes almost always involves the daily injection of insulin, usually a combination of short-acting insulin such as regular or Lispro or Aspart insulin and a longer acting insulin such as NPH, lente, glargine, detemir, or ultralente insulins.
* Insulin must be given as an injection. If taken by mouth, insulin would be destroyed in the stomach before it could get into the blood where it is needed.
* Most people with type 1 diabetes give these injections to themselves. Even if someone else usually gives you your injections, it is important that you know how to do it in case the other person is not available.
* A trained professional will show you how to store and inject the insulin. Usually this is a nurse who works with the health care provider or a diabetes educator.
* Insulin is usually given in 2 or 3 injections per day, generally around mealtimes. Dosage is individual and is tailored by the health care provider. Longer acting insulins are typically administered 1 or 2 times per day.
* Some people have their insulin administered by continuous infusion pumps to provide adequate blood glucose control. Supplemental mealtime insulin is programed into the pump by the individual as recommended by his or her health care provider. * It is very important to eat if you have taken insulin, as the insulin will lower your blood sugar regardless of whether you have eaten. If you take insulin without eating, you could have hypoglycemia. This is called an insulin reaction.
* There is an adjustment period while you learn how insulin affects you and how to time your mealtimes and exercise times with your insulin injections to keep your blood sugar level as even as possible.
* Keeping accurate records of your blood sugar levels and insulin dosages is crucial in helping your health care provider take care of your diabetes.
* Eating a consistent, healthy diet appropriate for your size and weight is essential in controlling your blood sugar level.
Type 2 diabetes
Depending on how elevated your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin are at the time of your diagnosis, you may be given a chance to lower your blood sugar level without medication.
* The best way to do this is to lose weight if you are obese and begin an exercise program.
* This will generally be tried for 3-6 months, and then your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin will be rechecked. If they remain high, you will be started on an oral medication, usually a sulfonylurea or biguanide (Metformin), to help control your blood sugar level.
* Even if you are on medication, it is still important to eat a healthy diet, lose weight if you are overweight, and engage in moderate physical activity as often as possible.
* Your health care provider will monitor your progress on medication very carefully at first. It is important to get just the right dose of the right medication to get your blood sugar level in the recommended range with the fewest side effects.
* Your doctor may decide to combine two types of medications to get your blood sugar level under control.
* Gradually, even people with type 2 diabetes may require insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.
* It is becoming more common for people with type 2 diabetes to take a combination of oral medication and insulin injections to control blood sugar levels.
Registered Member #2972 Joined: Tue Sep 26 2006, 12:34PM
Posts: 110
Medications
Many different types of medications are available to help lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. Each type works in a different way. It is very common to combine 2 or more types to get the best effect with fewest side effects.
* Sulfonylureas: These drugs stimulate your pancreas to make more insulin.
* Biguanides: These agents decrease the amount of glucose produced by your liver.
* Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: These agents slow absorption of the starches you eat. This slows down glucose production.
* Thiazolidinediones: These agents increase your sensitivity to insulin.
* Meglitinides: These agents stimulated the pancreas to make more insulin.
* D-phenylalanine derivatives: These agents stimulate your pancreas to produce more insulin more quickly.
* Amylin synthetic derivatives: Amylin is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the pancreas along with insulin. An amylin derivative, such as pramlintide (Symlin), is indicated when blood sugar control is not achieved despite optimal insulin therapy. Pramlintide is administered as a subcutaneous injection along with insulin and helps achieve lower blood sugar levels after meals, helps reduce fluctuation of blood sugar levels throughout the day, and improves hemoglobin A1C levels.
* Incretin mimetics: Incretin mimetics promote insulin secretion by the pancreas and mimic other blood sugar level lowering actions that naturally occur in the body. Exenatide (Byetta) is the first incretin mimetic agent approved in the United States. It is indicated for diabetes mellitus type 2 in addition to metformin or a sulfonylurea when these agents have not attained blood sugar level control alone.
* Insulins: Human insulin is the only type of insulin available in the United States; it is less likely to cause allergic reactions than animal-derived varieties of insulin. The type of insulin chosen to customize treatment for an individual is based on the goal of providing optimal blood sugar control. Different types of insulin are available and categorized according to their times of action onset and duration. Commercially prepared mixtures of some insulins may also be used to provide constant (basal) control and immediate control.
Diabetes and Diabetes Complications
