About Diabetes
April 15th, 2008 at 04:29am
Under About Diabetes
Diabetes care, to a large degree, is minimizing and preventing complications. Serious long term complications of diabetes such as heart disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, eye problems, peripheral vascular disease and others can cause serious and permanent damage. Diabetes sufferers need to be vigilant and close medical supervision is mandatory to prevent these problems from occurring or getting out of control.
Heart disease and stroke: Those with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke which is the biggest cause of death for people with the disease. Diabetes can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries which can cause a heart attack. Diabetes can cause blood clots which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Another cause of heart attack and stroke is high blood pressure and those with diabetes are at an increased risk for that as well.
Kidney failure: The kidneys remove waste products from the blood and then return it back to the body. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer filter these waste products. Diabetes mellitus, a form of the disease that is associated with high blood sugar, is one cause of kidney failure. In due course, these high blood sugar levels damage the millions of tiny filtering units within each kidney. This eventually causes kidney failure.
Vision problems: The most common complications of diabetes involving vision are cataracts and glaucoma. However, diabetic retinopathy can occur which is the most serious complication. This complication, caused by high blood sugar, causes damage to the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. The vessels swell and leak liquid into the retina, causing blurred vision and sometimes blindness.
Nerve damage: A nerve disorder (diabetic neuropathy) is caused by diabetes. Some nerve damage causes pain. Other nerve damage removes the sensation of pain and causes numbness. Some people have both types of symptoms at the same time. The cause of diabetic neuropathy is unknown but having high glucose levels over a period of years is thought to play a large role.
Infections: Your ability to fight infection is diminished when you have diabetes. Typical areas of infection are bladder, kidneys, gums, feet, and skin. Vaginal infections are common in women with diabetes. Having high blood sugar causes bacteria to grow and infections can develop much faster.
Sexual problems: Men with diabetes are three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men who do not have the disease. They are also more likely to have it earlier in life. About one third of women with diabetes may experience little or no sexual desire. Women often report a lack of sensation in the genital area, inability to reach orgasm and vaginal dryness resulting in pain or discomfort during sexual relations.
Foot problems: A typical complication of diabetes is foot injuries. Diabetes damages the nerves so damage to the feet may go unnoticed. Foot ulcers may develop which can easily become infected and difficult to heal. It is important for a person with diabetes to take care of their feet by keeping them clean, protecting them from heat an cold and wearing shoes and socks as much as possible.
While your doctor, dietitian, and others involved in your diabetes care will encourage and help you, the patient must take the initiative in avoiding the complications of diabetes. Make sure you take good care of yourself to prevent and minimize them because they are, to a large degree, preventable.
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The author, John Richmond, has researched the complications of diabetes and has written several other articles about diabetes as well. To read them please go to www.YourDiabetesInfo.com
By admin
April 15th, 2008 at 04:24am
Under About Diabetes+ Diabetes Type
Carrying too many additional pounds is a top risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the accepted measure for ascertaining body weight in relation to the general health for most individuals (pregnant women, athletes, body builders excluded) in the 20 to 65 age group. A BMI exceeding 27 typically means a risk for type 2 diabetes.
Having an apple-shaped figure (too much fat above the hips) generally signals a greater risk factor for type 2 diabetes than for individuals with a pear-shaped figure (too much fat in the thighs and hips). Males with a waist measurement of larger than 39.5 in. (100 cm), and females, larger than 37.5 in. (95 cm) are considered to be at greater risk.
Age: The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age. Those over 45 are at a greater risk than their younger counterparts and those over 65 are three times as high as people in the 35 to 64 age group.
Staying physically fit and keeping our weight in check minimizes our chances for acquiring type 2 diabetes. Eating a proper diet and exercising regularly will also help improve blood sugar levels for those who already have the disease.
If a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes you are at risk too. While the cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, genetics appears to play a key role. In 2003, researchers found a key gene that could explain why some are more susceptible to the disease than others. Although type 2 diabetes is linked with a strong genetic predisposition, the genetics of this type of diabetes are complex and not yet clear.
Nearly 40 percent of women who have diabetes while being pregnant will develop type 2. Usually within five to ten years after delivery.
Having impaired glucose tolerance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. This can occur prior to the development of type 2 . While people with this risk factor alone are not considered to have the disease, the resulting abnormal blood sugar levels puts them at increased danger for type 2 and also cardiovascular disease. As we get older our glucose tolerance decreases, along with our chances for getting type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia.
Ethnic Ancestry: Those of African, Aboriginal, Asian or Latin American ancestry are at greater risk of having type 2 diabetes.
High Blood Pressure is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes that is common in as many as 6 out of 10 people with undiagnosed diabetes.
High Cholesterol: Among those with diabetes more than 40 percent have abnormally high cholesterol levels.
Keyword Articles: http://www.keywordarticles.org
It’s wise to know the type 2 diabetes risk factors and John Richmond, a writer for YourDiabetesInfo.com and diabetes researcher has other informative articles there as well.
By admin
April 14th, 2008 at 06:39am
Under About Diabetes
Diabetes is a growing health problem in the world today. Did you know that approximately 20.8 million children and adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States alone? These numbers are growing every day. The exact cause of diabetes is not clear, however, lack of exercise and obesity are huge factors in the development of diabetes. This article will give some general information about diabetes.
Glucose is considered the body’s fuel. We get glucose from the foods that we eat. It is not just sugar alone that is converted into glucose, but also starches and carbohydrates are chemically broken down into glucose. Without glucose your body would not function. All muscles and major organs in your body need glucose. But how does the glucose get to the proper destinations?
Insulin is the hormone that distributes the glucose to the liver, fat cells and muscles. A diabetic does not produce enough insulin or for some reason, his body is not able to process it effectively. When this happens the glucose stays in the blood and produces high blood sugar.
Diabetes can be classified into the following three types:
Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes the body produces little or no insulin and daily injections of insulin are necessary to sustain life. This type is usually present from childhood and is also called insulin dependent diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is the more common type of diabetes and usually develops in adulthood. With type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to effectively use the insulin produced. Most type 2 diabetics are managed by diet and oral medications.
Gestational Diabetes.
This type develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby.
It is important to know the risks factor of diabetes. One of the biggest risks factors is a family history. If you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, your chances of developing diabetes are very good. Also being over 45 years of age, being obese, having poor eating habits or being of African American or Native American descent can increase your chance of becoming a diabetic.
If you have any of the above risk factors, be aware of the warning signs of diabetes. Contact you doctor if you have any of these signs and symptoms:
- Increased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Slow healing cuts or infections
- Increased amount of infections
- Blurry vision
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, treatment will usually involve diet changes and oral medications. In more severe cases, insulin injections may be prescribed.
Diabetes is manageable if the proper treatment regimen is followed. Talk with your doctor and a good diabetic educator. Have your doctor set you up an appointment with a registered dietician. She can show you what you can and cannot eat on a diabetic diet. Check your blood sugar levels frequently. Educate yourself about all the treatment options out there. Lose weight and become more active. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes is no reason to stop living.
Keyword Articles: http://www.keywordarticles.org
If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes, check out The Truth About Diabetes. What you don’t know could kill you! Jeff also suggests visiting www.FreeArticles.com to read 50+ free diabetes articles.
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