Knowing The Different Types Of Diabetes

While the number of cases of diabetes has been on the increase in the U.S., most people don't understand what the different forms of diabetes are. Even though we have heard the term diabetes, few really understand what diabetes is, and more importantly, the symptoms to look out for. Over 25 million people have diabetes and 6 million more have it and don't even know it. Diabetes has become a very serious health issue. There is no cure for Type 2 Diabetes at this time.

How does one get diabetes?

Whenever we eat our food, the body goes to work in taking the food and changing it into energy. It does this by turning it into sugar, or glucose, while digesting it. This is what gives us energy. During this process, the pancreas releases insulin which controls the amount of sugar in our bloodstream. This is what keeps us healthy. Without this insulin, the sugar remains in our bloodstream, creating several health related problems. Among them are possibility of blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. If diabetes is left untreated, it will cause death. Tha's why it's so important to be tested on a regular basis and know what your blood sugar levels are.

What are the different types of diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes - You may have heard of this form of diabetes as "juvenile" diabetes since it is usually found in young children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in only 5-10% of all diabetic cases. It is diagnosed when the pancreas fails to produce any insulin at all, or too little of an amount to do the body any good.

With Type 1 Diabetes, patients must have a daily injection of insulin. Without these daily injections they will not survive.

Type 2 Diabetes - This form of diabetes is the most common, with 90-95% of all forms of diabetes being Type 2.

With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas doesn't continue to produce enough insulin, or the cells no longer respond to the insulin any loner. In many cases, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through diet and exercise. If this fails to produce the necessary results, oral medication can be prescribed.

Gestational Diabetes - This form of diabetes is found only in women who are pregnant. Similar to Type 2, it usually strikes 2-7% of all pregnancies. It is caused by the pancreas not being able to keep up in delivering insulin to control the glucose level. This form of diabetes will most always go away after pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.

Doctors will generally test for Gestational Diabetes around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is when insulin resistance usually starts.

Pre-Diabetes - Also known as borderline diabetes, this is diagnosed when patients are showing signs of increased levels of blood sugar and are beginning to have difficulty in keeping them down. Pre-diabetes affects over 40 million people, which is incredible when you stop to think about it. If left untreated, pre-diabetes will turn into Type 2 Diabetes in most cases. Those with pre-diabetes are urged to alter their diets and begin to get on an exercise routine of some kind. In addition, they should have their blood sugar levels tested at least every 3 months.

As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 2 Diabetes. The only cure available for those patients with Type 1 Diabetes is to receive a pancreas transplant. Of course, this can lead to other problems such as rejection by the body, and the effects of the surgery itself. Science is continuing to work on other ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.

Other medical programs going on include producing an inhalation device that will put out insulin. This would take the place of daily insulin injections. These, and many more advancements are on the horizon for those who suffer from this awful disease.

For everyone reading this I would highly encourage you to have your blood sugar level tested every year. Don't wait until it's too late. A one minute test can keep you healthy for years to come.

You can find out more about the different types of Diabetes [http://www.diabetes.infofroma-z.com] as well as much more information on diabetes issues at [http://www.diabetes.infofroma-z.com]

Diabetes And The Long Term Dangers

Diabetes has hidden dangers that begin before diagnosis and continue to worsen if certain steps are not taken to prevent the complications that are the true, "killers" in terms of diabetes.

Statistics show that there are around 18 million diabetics in America, both Type 1 and Type 2. It is amazing how many people, diabetics included, who have no idea what dangers a diabetic faces over their lifetime. A diabetic, all things being equal, lives almost 10 years less than their non-diabetic counterpart on average.

Why do diabetics life shorter life spans than non-diabetics? The answer is both simple and complicated. Simple in explaining in general terms, complicated in the medical sense. Without traveling the complicated route in this article, I will try to give a simple, straight forward answer to the above question. Diabetics live shorter lives than non-diabetics because of diabetic complications.

What Are Diabetic Complications?

Diabetic complications are chronic medical conditions that begin to affect the body of the diabetic. These complications are brought about mostly by a condition the medical community had named, "Advanced Glycation End products" which is simply, "excess sugar" saturating the inside of the cells of the body. This condition also called AGE for short includes coronary artery disease, vascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, retinopathy (blindness) and loss of feeling in the hands and the feet (peripheral neuropathy) among others.

Diabetes in the early stages does not produce symptoms. Unless found during a routine medical exam, it is possible for a diabetic to remain undiagnosed for years. It is during these years that the beginnings of diabetic complications can gain a foothold due excess sugar in the cells (AGE). The statistics show there is the possibility of as many as over 5 million people going about their normal lives while having undiagnosed diabetes.

Are Diabetic Complications A Certainty?

While the current consensus is that the formula for diabetic complications Diabetes + Time = Complications. What this means is there is a much higher potential of a diabetic becoming diagnosed with one or more diabetic complications over time. This is partly due to how well the individual monitors and controls his/her blood sugar.

Drastic rises and falls of blood sugar can be hard on the body and the excess sugar present in the cells create havoc on the different nerves within the body as well as the capillaries, veins, and arteries. The evidence to date show that excellent control of blood sugar and an active lifestyle goes a very long way in preventing and/or slowing down the onset of diabetic complications.

The Different Types Of Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes - Type One and Type Two. Type One attacks children and young adults and is characterized by the pancreas failing to produce insulin which is a hormone that breaks down sugars and starches while converting them into energy. Type Two occurs usually later in an adult's life and is characterized by the pancreas being unable to produce enough insulin due to several factors, obesity being one of them.

Around 10 percent of diabetics are Type One while the other 90 percent are Type Two. The major difference between the two being that Type One diabetics are completely dependent on insulin and take daily injections while the Type Two's have both those who require insulin shots while others can rely on oral medication and/or changes in diet and exercise.

The Risk Factors Surrounding Diabetes

There are several risk factors that can push a pre-diabetic into full blown diabetes.

1) being overweight.

2) family history of diabetes,

3) lack of adequate exercise.

4) history of gestational diabetes (occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery).

5) certain ethnic groups

People over 45 years of age and has one or several of the risk factors mentioned above should be screened for diabetes each year, preferably during an annual medical exam. It has been shown that people with these risk factors comprise the majority of diagnosed cases of diabetes each year.

What Tests Help Diagnose Diabetes Cases?

There are two, main tests used for determining whether or not a person has a glucose intolerance:

1) Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

2) Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Both of these tests can determine glucose intolerance which is where blood sugar is higher than what is considered normal. This is not always an indication of diabetes however.

Can The Onset Of Diabetes Be Prevented?

People with the above risk factors can go a long way toward preventing the development of full-blown diabetes by making significant lifestyle change. What are lifestyle changes? Changing unhealthy diets to more blood sugar friendly ones, doing enough exercise to help offset increased blood sugar levels and keep the body healthy and losing weight especially if considered obese by the medical community.

If you are pre-diabetic you need to stay on a strict diabetic diet. Ask your healthcare professional for a diet that meets that criteria and limit cakes, candy, cookies, and other things made of simple sugars. Eat small, nutritious meals and eat 5 times a day instead of only three.

If you are already diagnosed with full-blown diabetes, you should follow the same diet while under the meticulous care of your healthcare professional. Keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar within proper limits and have your eyes checked every year.

Diabetes can contribute to blindness, kidney disease and heart disease. Complications caused nearly 70,000 deaths in 2000.

What Can The Diabetic Look Forward To?

Diabetic complications can be prevented or lessened for a longer time period by paying serious attention to lifestyle. A diabetic who eats right, keeps his blood sugar in control and within accepted limits, exercises and gets proper rest can expect to have a quality of life that is much higher in terms of the pain and suffering that diabetic complications brings into the lives of diabetics who do nothing to change their lifestyle.

What begins to occur in the diabetic who starts to develop complications because of uncontrolled blood sugars over time is a life filled with the possibility of becoming an invalid, either blind, an amputee, or suffering renal failure or a heart attack.

The above paints a rather grim picture if lifestyle changes are not adhered to. Research has shown that the diabetic that keeps their blood sugar within acceptable limits and follows a healthy, diabetic lifestyle that has been shown to be effective against diabetic complications stands a much better chance of not developing many of the complications their less than dedicated counterparts do.

There is a new derivative of thiamine (Vitamin B1) available now that is showing great promise in greatly reducing the excess sugar in the cells of the diabetic, the process known as Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE).

Is Benfotiamine Effective Against Diabetic Complications?

Benfotiamine is a lipid soluble derivative of thiamine. Japanese researchers developed benfotiamine in the 1950's and later patented it in the United States in 1962. No one in the US medical community paid much attention to it at the time. For the past 12 years in Europe it has been used for neuropathy, retinopathy and other uses.

The chemical name and formula for benfotiamine is: S-benzoylthiamine-O-monophosphate (C19H23N4O6PS). It wasn't until a group of researchers in New York at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University released the results of their research in 2003 in Nature Medicine Magazine did the rest of the world begin to take a look at this substance.

Benfotiamine is unique and was reported by Michael Brownlee, M.D., as showing much promise in preventing nerve and blood-vessel damage in diabetics. Every diagnosed diabetic has been told by his/her healthcare provider that diabetic complications are the true killers in terms of diabetes.

If you are a diabetic or know a diabetic, you may find additional information about benfotiamine and view research that has been recently conducted showing the benefits of preventing diabetic complications by following the link to the website below.

Zach Malott is CEO of Brentwood Health International, a nutritional supplement company involved in distribution and supplying wholesale, retail and end users.

Mr. Malott is available to discuss the research as it applies to benfotiamine in terms of diabetic complications such as neuropathy and retinopathy.

He can be reached at:

Phone: 505.354.0526

[http://www.emuhealthproducts.com/benfotiamine.html]

Omron BP629 3 Series™ Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

The OmronR 3 Series Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor (BP629) is affordable and easy to operate. With a simple one-touch operation, the device provides automatic inflation.

• Simple and Portable Design - Discrete and convenient portable wrist unit allows users to monitor their blood pressure at home, work or anywhere.



• Advanced Averaging - Exclusive technology automatically displays the average of up to the last 3 readings taken within the last 10 minutes



• 60 Memory Storage with Date and Time - 60 memory storage with date and time stamp allows you to review the last 60 readings with a touch of a button.



• Requires 2 "AAA" batteries (included)



• 5 Year Warranty

Price: $51.60

Click here to buy from Amazon

Facts And Treatments Regarding Diabetes

Diabetes is considered a serious affection due to its permanent existence, procedures and moreover the complications that involves. Even though many people all over the world suffer from diabetes, the specialists haven t discovered yet the real source of its occurance. It is very important to mention that people who suffer from diabetes should ask for medical help as soon as they notice changes in their body and unusual symptoms.

First of all, diabetes occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin are totally destroyed. As we know the food that we eat turns into glucose or sugar helping our body to use for energy. Once there aren' t beta cells to produce insulin in order to transfer the glucose in the cells, the sugar remains in the blood and because the body cannot use sugar, it is spilled over into the urine and lost. Much more, diabetes can lead to severe health complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, lower-extremity amputations and in many cases even death.

Secondly, people who notice certain symptoms which indicate the presence of diabetes should see a physician in order to receive a proper diagnosis. Some of the most common symptoms which indicate the presence of diabetes are: excessive hunger and thirst, frequent urination, dramatic weight loss, lack of energy, dry skin, wounds that heal very hard and even nausea and stomach pains, symptoms which usually occur in type 1 diabetes.

In addition to this, there are two types of diabetes which are quoted from the National Diabetes Fact Sheet: National estimates and general information on diabetes in the United States (Centers for Disease Control an Prevention. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, 1997). Much more, type 1 diabetes tends to be more serious than type 2 diabetes and usually occurs during the childhood.

Type 1 diabetes also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or Juvenile-Onset diabetes, is a common disease in children and may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. The factors which cause type 1 diabetes aren t entirely known but it has been considered that genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as viral infections might have an important influence. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. This type of diabetes may appear due to certain factors, such as older age, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, prior history of gestational diabetes and other factors. It has been considered that certain races and ethnicities, such as African Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans are more exposed to get type 2 diabetes than other people.

Gestional diabetes seem to occur in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but the good thing is that usually disappears when the woman gives birth. Even though a woman who had suffered of gestional diabetes and healed when the pregnancy was over, might develop type 2 diabetes in the future.

Furthermore, there are other types of diabetes which may account for 1% to 2% of all known cases of diabetes and they occur from genetic syndromes, surgeries, drugs, malnutrition, infections and many other affections.

Medical treatments for diabetes are vital for the body and include important changes in the lifestyle. Diabetes treatments tend to advance in a short time and their role is to maintain blood glucose near normal levels at all times. For instance, type 1 diabetes, the most severe type requires a wide range of procedures. People who suffer from this type of diabetes need a special treatment which include: administration of insulin injections, home blood glucose testing several times a day, a certain, calculated diet and also planned physical exercises. Even though, type 2 diabetes is not so serious like type 1, it also requires a strict treatment which consists in special diets, physical activities, home blood glucose testing, oral medication and 40% of the cases require insulin injections.

The causes of type 1 diabetes are not entirely identified, it is believed that it occurs to genetics predisposition or certain viruses which destroy the beta cells in the pancreas. Some important factors which may develop type 2 diabetes are lack of activity and overweight.

In order to take care of the people who suffer from diabetes, the diabetes community offers, pursued by the US Departament of Health and Human Services offer three options: prevent diabetes, cure diabetes and moreover taking better care of people with diabetes to prevent dramatic complications. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is involved in the research of curing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses through their programmes on being sure that the proven science is put into daily practice for people with diabetes.

All in all, even though diabetes tends to be an incurable illness, the science try to discover and consequently to utilize in practice several methods to cure diabetes, such as pancreas transplantation, artificial pancreas development, islet cell transplantation and genetic manipulation. However, until these approaches become reality they need to pass through a serie of investigations like preventing immune rejection, finding an adequate number of insulin cells, keeping cells alive and many others.

So, if you want to find out more about type 2 diabetes [http://diabetes-info-center.com/type-2-diabetes.htm] or even about what causes diabetes [http://diabetes-info-center.com/what-causes-diabetes.htm] please follow this link http://diabetes-info-center.com

Bad News - This is What You Might Have to Face With Diabetes

Having Diabetes is no child's play.

You might think that it's only a matter of having a problem with your pancreas and your body's inability to use glucose floating in your blood stream, but that's not the full story.

Having Diabetes is so much more, there are so many other organs and systems that are affected by diabetes and we will be discussing a few. It is very important to know what diabetes is about and what you are facing in future, as failure to do so is like jumping into the ocean with a weight tied around your neck...... you will surely not survive.

Living with Diabetes is a challenge; it's about lifestyle changes, about keeping away from the wrong things and about monitoring your glucose every day making sure you are maintaining healthy glucose levels.

Even if you do all of the above, it is not guaranteed that you will be in the lifeboat and not in the sea. Staying inside the lifeboat is a whole different mission, but you can get there with the right information and education.

As said, having diabetes makes you susceptible to so many other conditions, and they will surely be on your way. Here is just a very short version to introduce you to some of your competitors that you will be facing.

Diabetes associated conditions:

Diabetic Cardiovascular disease:

We kick off by looking at our vascular system and the changes that diabetes causes to this system. Diabetes causes major structural changes in the arteries and veins of your body like atherosclerosis and thickening of capillary basement membranes. This can cause an obstruction to blood flow which can lead to high blood pressure, peripheral vascular diseases or a total blockage which will cause a stroke, a heart attack or ischemia.

Diabetic Neuropathy:

As already discussed diabetes can cause changes in the blood vessels which supplies all areas of our body with oxygen, nutrients and water. These structural changes will also affect the nervous system and causes deterioration or loss of nerve function.

Diabetic neuropathy can manifest with no symptoms while the sufferer may also have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness-loss of feeling-in the hands, arms, feet, and legs. According to research, about 60-70% of all diabetics have some form of diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis:

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a is a life-threatening complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. If you do not have enough insulin in your body, you run the risk of developing this condition and urgent medical intervention is needed to prevent a sufferer from falling into a coma or even death.

Since you do not have enough insulin in your body, your glucose levels will increase and your body needs to get rid of the excess glucose by excreting it in the urine. When the glucose is excreted, so is a large amount of water causing the sufferer to become dehydrated.

Since the body does not have any glucose to use for energy, it starts burning fat and protein from muscle tissue in an attempt to generate energy. This is an extremely unhealthy way of generating energy as the liver becomes involved in fat burning. The by-product of this process is ketones. The ketones build up and your blood becomes acidic...... and this is VERY bad indeed. This will cause your blood to become a toxic environment for all your other organs.

Your body will try to counter this acidic environment by shifting electrolytes and this will cause your body to lose potassium and retain sodium.

Potassium affects your heart rhythm and if you lose potassium this will cause severe arrhythmias. Potassium is also needed by the brain for vital functions, and if there is a deficiency of potassium for the brain to use, you run the risk of a coma. Untreated diabetic ketoacidosis can result in coma or death......

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is serious business, but you can avoid it if you are aware of the risks.

Diabetic Retinopathy:

One of the most severe long term effects of diabetes in my opinion must be Retinopathy. As changes in the vascular system occur, the eyes are not spared. Diabetes causes long term changes to the capillaries in the retina of the eye which also decreases blood flow to vital areas of the eye.... just like with neuropathy where the nerves are affected.

The structural changes can cause a high blood pressure in the eyes. This can cause damage to the veins and causes the veins to leak. When the vessels leak, it can leak in the white area (vitreous humour) of the eye causing an increase in pressure of the eye ball or into the macula which is the most light-sensitive part of the retina with highly specialized cells. This can cause the sufferer to see floaters.

The sufferer may also see double vision when the nerves affected is the nerves controlling the eye muscles. Usually Retinopathy only manifests after 10 years of being diabetic, but do not wait until then to start treatment or take corrective measures. Make sure that you visit your optometrist at least once a year for a dilated eye exam. During this exam the optometrist can see how your diabetes is progressing and monitor any eye problems.

If you experience any of these signs, see your eye doctor immediately.

Diabetic Nephropathy:

As the eyes, nerves, heart and other body systems are not spared, so is the kidneys affected by diabetes. As previously discussed, diabetes causes structural changes to the cardiovascular system which in turn causes high blood pressure. This high blood pressure also causes damage to the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys which will prevent the kidneys from functioning normally. This is called kidney failure.

Not all sufferers of diabetes get kidney damage and doctors do not understand yet why only some people are affected and some don't. Out of a 100 people, as many as 40 will get kidney damage.

There are no symptoms in the early stages. So it's important to have regular urine tests to find kidney damage early. The first sign of kidney damage is the trace of a small amount of protein in the urine. This can be detected by a simple urine test. Sometimes early kidney damage can be reversed if detected in time.

Diabetic Hypoglycemia:

People with diabetes runs a risk of having a very low blood sugar and develop a condition called hypoglycemia. This is when the body does not have any glucose left to burn to be used as fuel for cells.

Diabetics experiencing hypoglycemia can have a variety of symptoms which may include feeling weak, drowsiness, hunger, dizziness, paleness, headache, irritability and trembling.

Diabetics can bring on hypoglycemic attacks by missing or delaying meals, drinking too much alcohol, exercising too much or taking too much insulin in comparison to food. This can be easily corrected by eating food that is known for increasing the glucose level in the blood.

As you can see diabetes is a very unforgiving disease and it's best to be prepared for it. As Sir Francis Bacon said: "Knowledge is power" and if you know what to expect, you know how to prevent it.

Diabetes is a terrible, unforgiving condition to live with lots of challenges, but you don't need to. To reverse your diabetes and cure associated conditions, visit us. Click here to cure your Diabetes [http://www.sti.za.net/how-to-cure-diabetes.html]. Feel free to download our time-sensitive diabetic cookbook before it's removed from our site: Download the diabetic cookbook here [http://www.sti.za.net/how-to-cure-diabetes.html].

Signs of Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications (hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of dialysis in developed world adults), retinal damage, nerve damage (of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may cause erectile dysfunction (impotence) and poor healing.

About 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes. As with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs more often in some ethnic groups and among women with a family history of diabetes.

Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans. About 54 million Americans have prediabetes. Diabetes, without qualification, usually refers to diabetes mellitus, but there are several rarer conditions also named diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes.

About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. About 65 percent of deaths among those with diabetes are attributed to heart disease and stroke. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to develop rapidly, over a couple of weeks, and are more severe. In type 2 diabetes, symptoms develop slowly and are usually milder. At least 65 percent of those with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. Diabetes treatment depends on the type and severity of the diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise.

Regular exercise is especially important for people with diabetes. It helps with blood sugar control, weight loss, and high blood pressure. People with diabetes who exercise are less likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than diabetics who do not exercise regularly. Metformin this is often the first medicine that is advised for type 2 diabetes. Sulphonylureas for example, glibelclamide, gliclazide, glimerpirizide, glipizide, gliquidone, increase the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for health and fitness and diseases treatment. For more information visit our site at http://www.healthfitnesstips.org/.

Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home - 5 Mile Fat Burning Walk

Are you ready to sweat? Then let Leslie show you how to "walk like a runner" in the Leslie Sansone: Walk - 5 Mile Fat Burning DVD! Combine the classic no frills, easy-to-follow Walk At Home steps along with Leslie's infectious enthusiasm and energy, and you can walk 5 miles without ever leaving the house.

Price: $14.98

Click here to buy from Amazon