Diabetes Care

The Health 24 reports, a study in European Heart Journal revealed that "We found that the positive association between diabetes and (heart disease) mortality was consistently stronger in women than in men, resulting in a substantial reduction in the mortality gap between genders that is usually observed," the investigators write. Diabetes could cause more rapid coronary plaque build-up and other related problems in women, the researchers hypotheses".

The Chef and cook book author B. Smith advises diet for type-2 diabetes in Broward times and write “The good news is that making small nutritional and exercise changes can help people with diabetes to manage their disease. And, best of all, healthy eating doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, unpleasant or impossible commitment. The Journey for Control program encourages people with type 2 diabetes to recognize that small changes can have a big effect on managing diabetes successfully, including:”.

Continue reading “B. Smith Guide on managing diabetes

The Science Daily writes about Type 1 Diabetes “Regulatory CD4+ T-cells, whose development and function is dictated by the Foxp3 gene in mice and humans, “have the primary function of pouring a cold shower on inflammatory responses,” explained Dr. Piccirillo. “They suppress and regulate the function of various immune responses to microbes, tumors, allergens and transplants.” While the diabetes-susceptible NOD mice actually generate normal numbers of Foxp3 T-cells over their lifetimes, Dr. Piccirillo and his colleagues discovered that the T-cells’ functional potency declined with age, leaving potential autoimmune responses in the pancreas unchecked”.

Continue reading “Type 1 Diabetes Triggered By ‘Lazy’ Regulatory T-cells

Ten Action Points to Improve Your Happiness

1.Maintain a commitment to the marriage
This can be especially difficult today with all of the distractions of our daily lives, but it’s important that you put your marriage first. If you’re committed to making your marriage a success, and you know that your partner shares your commitment, there’s nothing the two of you can’t accomplish.

2. Slow down and do nothing. Take about 15 minutes each day and grab a cup of coffee or tea and give yourself time to think about whatever it is you want to think about. You will be surprised at the inspiration that will come to you.

3. Complete one item on your “to do” list. Return the overdue telephone call, clean-up your email inbox, or get an oil change for you car. By accomplishing just one thing that has been gnawing at you, will give you a much-needed sense of relief and accomplishment.

4. Eat at least one good meal. Not to sound like your mother, but you are what you eat. Eat something nourishing and healthy each day.

Continue reading “Life Style Changes for Handling diabetes

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, defines complementary and alternative medicine as a “group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.” Complementary medicine is used with conventional therapy, whereas alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine.Some people with diabetes use complementary or alternative therapies to treat diabetes. Although some of these therapies may be effective, others can be ineffective or even harmful. Patients who use complementary and alternative medicine need to let their health care providers know what they are doing.

Some complementary and alternative medicine therapies are discussed below. For more information, talk with your health care provider.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a procedure in which a practitioner inserts needles into designated points on the skin. Some scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the release of the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to offer relief from chronic pain. Acupuncture is sometimes used by people with neuropathy, the painful nerve damage of diabetes.

Continue reading “Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Handling of Diabetes

Dietary Handling of Diabetes

Magnesium

Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for decades, it is not yet fully understood. Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body’s tissues. Evidence suggests that a deficiency of magnesium may contribute to certain diabetes complications. A recent analysis showed that people with higher dietary intakes of magnesium (through consumption of whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables) had a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Vanadium

Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals. Early studies showed that vanadium normalized blood glucose levels in animals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A recent study found that when people with diabetes were given vanadium, they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and were able to decrease their insulin requirements. Currently researchers want to understand how vanadium works in the body, discover potential side effects, and establish safe dosages.

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Definition of Diabetes

It is a disease, which is life-long, and high levels of sugar in the blood mark it.

Causes

Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin i.e. a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar, resistance to insulin, or both.

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process of food metabolism. Things that happen when food is digested are as follows: -

• A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream. Glucose is a source of fuel for the body.
• An organ called the pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it can be used as fuel.

People with diabetes have high blood sugar. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally, or both.

Types

There are three major types of diabetes:

• Type1 It is usually diagnosed in childhood. The body makes little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are needed to sustain life.
• Type 2 It is far more common than type 1 and makes up most of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. The pancreas does not make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, often because the body does not respond well to the insulin. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, although it is a serious condition. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common due to the growing number of senior citizens, increasing obesity, and failure to exercise.

• Type3 (Gestational diabetes) It is high blood glucose that develops at any time during pregnancy in a woman who does not have diabetes.

Continue reading “Definition,types and treatment

The Science daily writes “Postmeal plasma glucose levels seldom rise above 7.8 mmol/l (minimoles per litre) in people with normal glucose tolerance and typically return to normal levels two to three hours after food ingestion. Therefore it would be best to ensure that the two-hour postmeal plasma glucose levels in people with diabetes should also not exceed 7.8 mmol/l as long as hypoglycaemia is avoided”.