Diabetes is one of the most common problems that seriously affect the health of Americans. If you and your family don't struggle with this disease yourselves, you most likely have a friend that does. As with many health areas, more is becoming known about diabetes every week. So, if you want to keep up, you should be getting our newsletter in your email every week. There is no charge, and I will never... ever... sell, lend, or give your email to anyone. Guaranteed. So, just put in your name and email and start getting the information you need now.
The Problem With Diabetes – Kidney Disease, African Americans, Hypertension and Related Diseases
February 9, 2009 by Justin Kaiser
Filed under Diabetes Basics
Diabetes is a potentially devastating disease that affects kidneys, nerves, heart, intestines and every other organ in the body. It is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use or produce insulin. Insulin, a hormone that is necessary for converting starches, sugar and other food into energy. The thing that leads to diabetes is unknown and there is no known cure. But, effective management may be achieved under a doctor’s care.
Endocrinologists are specialists that treat diabetes. They are easy to find in most areas. Here are some examples: David Alster, MD of Tucson AZ, Ralph N. M. Beddow, MD, FACP, FACE of Honolulu, HI, Franklin R. Bringhurst, MD in Walpole, MA, Nora Barsony, MD of Tucson AZ
In 2005, it was estimated that there were 20.8 million adults and children who are afflicted with the disease. That is pretty close to 7% of the population. Of that figure, 14.6 million people had been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people were estimated to have diabetes but were undiagnosed. Also, approximately fifty four million adults and children are pre-diabetic with 1 1/2 million new cases in people over the age of 20, showing up each year.
Diabetes is the number one cause of renal disease. For a fact, high blood pressure and diabetes are the two primary causes of kidney disease, leading to an estimated 70 percent of kidney failure cases with diabetes accounting of 44 percent of kidney failure cases. The early stages of kidney disease have virtually no symptoms . It quietly fights your body and by the time it is finally detected, the injury is so far advanced that it can be too involved to prevent kidney failure. Once your kidneys fail, you have two options: dialysis or kidney transplant. If you do not receive either of these, you will die.
How Diabetes causes Renal Disease
When both kidneys are working as they should, the glomeruli (tiny filters that are in the kidneys) keep proteins inside of your blood. Protein is critical for many operations inside of your body and are necessary to keep you healthy. Diabetes makes a high concentration of glucose in the blood which damages the glomeruli. The result is that they can’t maintain the protein in the body and it leaks into the urine from the kidneys.
When the kidneys are damaged they no longer function properly and do not clean our extra fluids as they should. When this occurs, the fluids and waste build up in the serum instead of being removed in the urine. The more this goes on, the worse the damage becomes until the kidneys eventually cease to function.
The Progression of Renal Disease
It takes years for kidney disease from diabetes to develop. Some experience hyperfiltration in the first few years of their having diabetes. This means that the glomeruli actually put out more urine than normal. Once the damage starts, though, it will continue to progress. As a person develops kidney disease, they will have a blood protein named albumin that finally begins to leak into the urine in small amounts. At that time, usually the glomeruli are really functioning normally.
The progression of the disease leads to more protein moving into the urine and the glomeruli begin to fail as the filtering function begins to drop. Waste is retained because of the filtration failure. As a result, the kidneys cease to function.
How to Prevent Kidney Problems if you have Diabetes
Having diabetes, you can normally prevent kidney problems. Use these steps to keep your kidneys healthy: * Control your blood sugar by eating well and a good exercise program * Take your medicine according to your doctors orders * Have your doctor test your blood and urine regularly for kidney problems * If the laboratory test shows that you do have kidney problems, consider medications such as ARBs and ACE inhibitors that can help keep your kidneys healthy.
A diagnosis of diabetes does not have to mean kidney disease. As long as you treat your condition, manage it well and follow your doctor’s orders, there is no reason that you can’t live a long, healthy, happy life – without kidney disease.
Other Recommended Reading From DiabetesLifeRadio.com
Take Charge of Your Type II Diabetes
February 8, 2009 by Justin Kaiser
Filed under Diabetes Basics
Take Charge of Your Type II Diabetes
As Norman J. Kramer, MD of Mecklenburg might tell you, type II diabetes is the much more common of the two types of diabetes in existence. With type II diabetes, which about ninety percent of all people suffering from diabetes have, the diabetic does not need insulin and has different symptoms. Some symptoms might include sexual impotence, burning sensations, numbness, increased urination and blurry vision.
Type II Diabetes usually targets adults, and does so for a variety of reasons. These reasons include genetics, and many other elements. There are many different treatments for Type II diabetes that a person who is diabetic should consider.
Diet and Exercise
One of the most effective methods to manage your non-insulin dependent diabetes is to watch what you eat and maintain a good cross training program. Keeping the correct weight for your age and height is important to correct your diabetes. Obesity is an aggravating cause and starting and sticking to a balanced is one of the best ways to avoid having to take medication and can sometimes eliminate diabetes altogether. You will want to start a diet that is not only healthy, but also one that will help your body deal with the insulin and how it is used.
A good exercise plan not only helps you diminish your weight, but also helps you use insulin.
Medication
Medication is necessary when exercising and diet is not helping to supress the sugar levels within your serum. However, if you fail to start any type of diet or exercise into your daily life, you will have to take prescription medication. There are many different types of medication that your doctor may prescribe. For example, oral medications such as Meglitinides, Alpha-Glucosidase, Thiazolidinediones, Biguanides, and Sulfonylureas are frequently implemented to treat diabetes.
However, if your oral medications do not work or you have some sort of reaction to them, your doctor will likely prescribe possibly several types of insulin instead. Many people try to manage their diabetes in other ways, without the use of injections or oral medications.
Natural Remedies
There are numerous natural things that may help in treating diabetes, these remedies include home remedies, as well as herbal remedies and vitamins. Before you choose to treat your Type II diabetes with natural remedies, you must make sure that you research all options and make the right choice with your doctor.
Choosing the right treatment of your Type II diabetes requires seeing all options and alternativesavailable to you and choosing the that feels right and works best to help control your diabetes.
Other Recommended Reading From DiabetesLifeRadio.com
Kidney Failure – A Result of Diabetes
February 7, 2009 by Justin Kaiser
Filed under Diabetes Basics
Diabetes is a potentially devastating problem that affects kidneys, intestines, heart and every other organ in the body. It is a condition in which the body is unable to properly use or produce insulin. Insulin, a hormone that is necessary for converting starches, sugar and other food into energy. The factor leading to diabetes is unknown and there is no known cure although effective management may be achieved under a physician’s care.
Endocrinologists are specialists that treat diabetes. They are easy to find in most areas. Here are some examples: David Alster, MD of Tucson AZ, Dr Firouz Khamsi of Toronto, C. Kurt Alexander, MD, CDE, FACP, FACE of Muncie, IN, Amanda Megan Bell, MD of Washington, DC, Nora Barsony, MD of Tucson AZ, Catherine Lang Bain, MD, FACE of Indianapolis, IN, Stephen F. Brandt, MD at the Emory University Division of Endocrinology of Atlanta, GA
In 2005, it was estimated that there were 20.8 million people of all ages who are afflicted with the disease. That is approximately 7% of the population. Of that figure, 14.6 million people had been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people were estimated to have diabetes but they had not seen a doctor. Not only that but, about fifty four million folks are pre-diabetic with one and a half million new cases in people over the age of 20, found annually.
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Indeed, high blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney disease. This leads to probably 70 percent of renal failure cases with diabetes accounting of 44 percent of kidney failure cases. The early stages of kidney disease have no symptoms . It makes war on your body and eventually when it is finally detected, the damage is so far advanced that it {often is|can be|might well be|quite often is] too involved to prevent failure of the kidneys. Once your kidneys fail, you have two options: {kidney transplant or dialysis|dialysis or kidney transplant]. If you do not receive one of these, you will die.
How Diabetes causes Renal Disease
When your kidneys are working as they should, the glomeruli (tiny filters that are in the kidneys) keep the proteins inside of your body. Protein is vital for quite a few operations within your body and are necessary for keeping you healthy. Diabetes creates a high concentration of glucose in the blood which damages the glomeruli. This means that they can’t maintain the protein in the body and it seeps into the urine from the glomeruli.
When the kidneys are damaged they no longer work efficiently and do not cleanse our waste and extra fluids as they should. When this occurs, the fluids and waste build up in the blood instead of being expelled through urine. The more this goes on, the worse the damage becomes until the kidneys eventually cease to function.
The Progression of Renal Disease
It can require years for kidney disease from diabetes to develop. Some people experience hyperfiltration in the first few years of their having diabetes. This means that the glomeruli actually produce more urine than normal. Once the damage starts, though, it is progressive. As a person develops kidney disease, they will have a blood protein known as albumin that will start to leak into the urine in small amounts. At that time, usually the glomeruli are really working normally.
The progression of the disease will lead to more protein leaking into the urine and the glomeruli begin to eventually fail as the filtering function begins to drop. Waste is retained in the blood due to the filtration failure. Finally, the kidneys cease to function.
How to Prevent Kidney Problems if you have Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you can most often prevent kidney problems. Take these suggestions to protect yourself: * Control your blood sugar by eating well and a good exercise regimen * Take your medication as prescribed * Have your physician test your urine and blood regularly for kidney disease * If testing shows that you do have kidney disease, check into medicines such as angiotensin II receptor blockers that can help keep your kidneys healthy.
A diagnosis of diabetes does not have to automatically mean kidney disease. As long as you stay on top of your condition, manage it well and follow your doctor’s orders, there is no reason that you can’t live a long, healthy, happy life – without kidney disease.
Other Recommended Reading From DiabetesLifeRadio.com
Known Causes of Diabetes
February 7, 2009 by Justin Kaiser
Filed under Diabetes Basics
In today’s edition of Diabetes Life Radio we discuss the fact that diabetes is a group of associated diseases in which the body is unable to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) into the blood. The cells does not respond in type2 diabetes. In this type of case the blood sugar levels gets too high instigating prolonged severe complications.
Diabetes is a group of associated diseases in which the body is unable to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) into the blood. The cells does not respond in type2 diabetes. In this type of case the blood sugar levels gets too high instigating prolonged severe complications.
Researchers have identified various genes related with the growth of type 1 diabetes. The customary belief about the etiology, cause, of type 1 diabetes is that although someone may have a genetic inclination for developing type 1 diabetes, environmental triggers such as virus, toxin, drug are responsible to initiate the autoimmune process which causes type 1 diabetes by destroying insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.
Type 1 Diabetes influences only 5 % of all diabetics. By the researchers point of view it is by far the worst of the two types. In type 1 the cells which create insulin are destroyed – an autoimmune reaction causing dependence on outside sources of insulin. Up till now there is no clinical cure for type 1 diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes the cell receptors that respond to insulin either do not work completely or not causing insulin resistance up to the mark. The most frequent and common risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes are age factor, inactive lifestyle and being overweighed. Heredity also plays the vital role in it
Type 2 Diabetes is given the name as the disease of lifestyle. Certainly it is seen in lot of people, as you go older day by day your metabolism slows down, you start gaining weight, and as a result you are less active and more sedentary-an obvious reasons for the disease.
Genetics: A Risk Factor Diabetes
It is seen that native people with high percentage of Indian blood are more often to develop diabetes. There is no certain reason that why this genetic disorder occurs, but one theory is that at one time when food was not in plenty, the body adjusted for these incline times by storing extra fat for this purpose.
The Other Factors:
If you have been detected with any problems with your circulation, had an heart attack or a stroke, or if you have got high blood pressure you may be at an increased risk of diabetes or it may be the dawn of this disease in you.
Pregnant women can build up a short-term type of diabetes – gestational diabetes. Having this symptoms and delivering a large baby, can boost the risk of a woman going to develop severe diabetes in the future.
Risk Factors Controlled By You:
Family history: In this type of case risk of having diabetes is high, if you have a close relative such as parent, brother, or sister with diabetes. Gestational diabetes, or delivered a baby who weighs more than 9 pounds. Women who have diabetes during pregnancy or have a large baby are at larger risk for diabetes later in future, usually type 2 diabetes.
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Insulin Dependent Diabetes Introduction: The facts you should know
February 6, 2009 by Justin Kaiser
Filed under Diabetes Basics
Traditionally considered to be a fairly uncommon illness, Type I diabetes affects nearly one out of every 250 people, both kids and adults, living in the US today. Although “juvenile” has long been the appellation of this type of the disease, as in Type I juvenile onset diabetes, the disease process may actually occur at any age, and appears equally among both boys and girls.
There are thousands things that can go wrong with your body. Consider this short list:
11 beta hydroxylase deficiency – Congenital deafness – Anorchia – Acne – Deafness hypogonadism syndrome – Cortical degeneration of the cerebellum parenchymatous – Cholestasis, progressive familial intrahepatic
Fortunately, even most doctors have not heard of some of these. But even though it is considered fairly uncommon, you probably know someone with Juvenile Onset Diabetes.
Symptoms
While the signs of Type I diabetes tend to be subtle in most cases, if not treated, they will in time become really severe. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Blurry vision – Frequent urination – Dry mouth, even after drinking – Heavy or labored breathing for no apparent reason – Tingling in the hands or feet – Frequent skin, vaginal, or urinary tract infections – Increased thirst – Nausea
Several serious signs associated with Type I diabetes that demand an urgent need for medical attention include:
Abdominal pain Loss of consciousness, rarely in extreme cases Fruity or sweet smelling breath Rapid breathing and heart rate
Causes
Scientists still aren’t aware of all the factors causing one to have Type I diabetes, although they do know that a tendency to the condition may be genetic. Researchers have discovered that this form of diabetes may also be caused by environmental factors that causes the wrong reaction within the body’s immune system. However, they are not sure as to the exact origins of these possible triggers.
Diagnosis
For an accurate diagnosis of Type I diabetes, your family doctor must check for abnormally high glucose levels by performing a blood test, or also testing for the presence of sugar in the urine. With today’s knowledge, there is no way to test for impending Type I diabetes, or any method to prevent this type of diabetes.
Treatment
There are many people, of all ages, who enjoy long, quite healthy lives despite having Type I diabetes. It’s imperative to keep blood sugar levels under tight control, which may be achieved by eating a good diet, exercise, and having insulin therapy on a regular basis. Anyone with this disease is require to have insulin injections in order to properly maintain their glucose level, which will also have to be tested regularly.
Without treatment, Type I diabetes may presage several serious conditions, some of which may be life-threatening. Kidney damage is a fairly frequent problem in those with the disease with a condition known as nephropathy. Other possible complications include retinopathy, which causes a loss of vision, poor blood circulation, nerve damageand instestinal problems which may also result without medical treatment.
Although a serious condition, juvenile onset diabetes is a condition that can still be successfully managed with the right medical care.
