Three: there are in fact three types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes because this is usually when the symptoms are first seen, is the body’s inability to produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when the body produces insulin but cannot make proper use of it. Gestational diabetes is a temporary illness developed during pregnancy, with type 2 diabetes symptoms.
18 Million: the number of Americans who suffer from diabetes symptoms in the US. The numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes is rising year upon year in this country, and around the world. Diabetes is a genetic disease and is not caused by bad diet or lifestyle habits. However the wrong diet can lead to obesity, which is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. Stress also does not cause diabetes, but it may aggravate diabetes symptoms in sufferers.
Two Hundred: If after fasting for eight hours your blood sugar level is 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more then it is consistent with either type 1 or 2 diabetes. Normal blood sugar levels should be around 100mg/dL, whereas 125mg/dL or higher is defined as pre-diabetes and should be a source of concern. Once diagnosed, patients should begin diabetes treatment immediately to keep blood sugar levels under control.
Forty-five: is the percentage of kidney failures caused by diabetes. Having elevated blood sugar levels puts extra strain on the kidneys, whose job it is to filter the blood, and often lead to kidney disease or failure. This is why diabetes treatment to control blood sugar levels is so crucial.
92 billion: the number of dollars spent in the US on direct diabetes treatment and control in 2002. In 1997 the figure was $44 billion. People who suffer from diabetes spend on average 2.4 times as much on their healthcare than non-diabetics.
Fifteen: People who suffer from type 1 diabetes live, on average, 15 years less than non-diabetics. Besides the diabetes symptoms themselves, diabetics can suffer from a number of kidney and heart related diseases, and are also at risk from diabetic retinopathy (leading to blindness). Combined with the risk of hyperglycemia, a potentially fatal condition, it is little wonder that life-expectancy is lower. For people suffering from type 2 diabetes, life-expectancy is between 5 and 10 years less than non-diabetics. Proper diabetes treatment can help increase life-span for diabetics considerably.
1/2: Fifty percent of children born from ethnic minorities will develop diabetes at some point in their lives. This is lower than the national average. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians are all at greater risk of developing diabetes symptoms than their white counterparts.
Zero: The amount that diabetes need affect your life. Diabetes treatment does not necessarily have to include medication or insulin shots. With natural vitamins and minerals, along with a balanced diet, blood sugar levels can be controlled effectively and diabetes symptoms are minimized. Control your diabetes; don’t let your diabetes control you.
Mitamins Team
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/diabetes-by-numbers-125262.html
As we all know, Diabetes is one of the most common disease prevalent over the world these days. The condition in which the body accumulates excess of sugar is termed as diabetes.
There can be two reasons for this, either a problem with secretion and functioning of the Anti Diuretic hormone or the problem with secretion of insulin. The former is called, Diabetes insepidus, Diabetes Mellitus being the latter one. The latter is rather more prevalent and is the matter of concern for almost every second house in the society these days.
There is no miracle drug to totally cure diabetes at once, but what we can do is just keep it under control by imposing a regular check on it by using medicines etc. For this we need monitoring the progress of the disease from time to time. In the busy schedule of the 21st century it is virtually impossible to go to the doctor every time there is a need for testing the blood sugar level. The solutions to these are Glucose monitoring kits.
November is celebrated as the National diabetes awareness month, and what is better than buying a new technologically improved glucose monitoring kit this month, with lots of companies selling them at discounted price.
The most common and used item all over the world is the Accu chek. There are various variants like, Accu chek AVIVA, Accu chek Compact Plus, Free style flash, free style lite, Ascensia Breeze 2, Ascentia contour. Free style freedom meter kit is considered to be using the least amount of blood (3 – 10ml).
Moreover the kit includes, 10 test strips, lancing device from Free Style, 10 Lancets, Free style control solution, etc. Accu check Advantage Diabetes monitoring kit contains the blood glucose meter, Adjustable Accu-Chek Softclix Lancet Device (10 lancets), etc. Accu check active diabetes monitoring kits also has a similar composition.
The new Accu chek Compact plus diabetes monitoring kit requires no strip handling and auto calibration is done. There are various combo offers available too, when brought in combination a discount can be availed.
One Touch Ultra 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System:
It requires just a drop of blood and requires only about 5 seconds to get the result. The back light and the scroll button makes it easier to handle. It can store last 500 records with time and date of checking. Hence, the patient can have a look at the rate of improvement. It has got a simple and unique design and comes in various combo offers. The one touch ultra 2 strips are available separately.
One Touch Ultra Mini Blood Glucose Monitoring System is simple and sleek in design. Only one touch Ultra test strips can be used with it and the result comes within 5 seconds. The whole kit comes with an educational booklet along with category of food which, if taken keeps the blood sugar level low.
Home Diagnostics Sidekick Blood Glucose Testing System, is another one in the similar category. It requires 1 UL of blood sample and less than 10 seconds to give the answer. The blood is generally taken from the forefinger.
However, while using these Diabetes testing kits, you must keep in mind certain simple things:
* Proper instruction should be followed while taking the test at home.
* Each strip should be used only once and after that it should be discarded at a safe place.
* When abnormally low or high results come, then you must repeat the test to confirm.
* Proper medication should be taken only after consultation with the doctor.
Roberto S
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/know-your-diabetes-glucose-monitoring-kit-698693.html
Type 1 diabetes
Treatment 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 to suit the person. Longer acting insulins are typically administered 1 or 2 times per day.
* 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.
Paul Buntrage
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/diabetes-a-simple-guide-to-medical-treatment-71824.html
One of the best things you can do for your health is to know how to detect diabetes before it becomes an even bigger problem in your life by not taking care of it. Believe it or not there are quite a few people out there who don’t exactly know what diabetes is. Diabetes is a disorder characterized by hyperglycemia or elevated blood glucose (blood sugar). When the amount of sugar in our blood runs too low or too high it is quite typical for anyone to not feel very well. Diabetes is a term generally used when speaking of a person who has a blood sugar level that is consistently high. Millions of Americans have diabetes; however most of them do not realize it. In the long term diabetes can cause complications concerning the kidneys, eyes, heart, nerves and blood vessels.
There are two types of diabetes; Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes (insulin deficiency) means there is not enough insulin being produced. Type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance) occurs when there is plenty of insulin being produced but cells in our bodies are very resistant to it’s action, which in turn causes your blood sugar to consistently be high.
The most common symptoms of hyperglycemia, otherwise known as diabetes, would be frequently hungry, frequently thirsty and frequently urinating. Apart from those symptoms other symptoms that may occur are fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision, wounds healing more slowly, dry mouth, impotence, dry/itchy skin and recurrent infections.
Even though diabetes may sound like a horrible disease it can be easy to live with. The key to doing that is to take care of yourself. Many people do not take care of themselves because they refuse to admit there is something wrong with them health wise. They won’t even admit it to themselves. So, what happens when they do this? They try to survive without taking medication(s) they need or doing anything in their life to help keep their bodies healthy. Don’t do this. The only thing it can lead to is an unhealthy body, physically and mentally, and possibly depression in the long run.
If you wish to watch your blood sugar, whether you are diabetic or not, there are many things you can do at home. Purchase a blood glucose monitor. This can easily be purchased at your local pharmacy or online. There are websites that will tell you how high and or low your blood glucose level should be, though your blood glucose monitor should come with an instruction manual which supplies this information as well. One of the best things a diabetic can do is exercise and eat properly. Not only does exercise help to keep your body in good condition on the outside but it helps on the inside as well. However, if you are a diabetic do not do anything involving weight training. Studies suggest that this can affect your blood glucose level by increasing it.
If you wish to learn more about diabetes look up the American Diabetes Association online.
Jacob Mabille
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/detecting-diabetes-and-caring-for-it-48518.html
Diabetes is growing at an epidemic pace in the United States, there is no arguing that. Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, with 6 million of them not even knowing it.
Unfortunately, many people have no idea what diabetes really is, or what symptoms to look for. Diabetes is a serious health issue. It’s the sixth leading cause of death in this country, and there is no cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes at this time. Here’s a quick diabetes for dummy overlook to help you better understand.
How do people get diabetes?
When we eat any kind of food, our body takes that food and turns it into energy, or better said, into sugar while digesting it. This is what gives us the energy we need to survive. And during this process, insulin is produced from our pancreas which controls the sugar in our bloodstream. This entire process is what keeps our body healthy.
Without the pancreas producing this insulin, the sugar will stay in our blood and begin to create serious health issues. High blood sugar can cause blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, and other organ function problems. And without treating high blood sugar, it can be fatal. In diabetes for dummy’s, it is vital to get tested regularly to make sure your normal blood sugar levels are safe.
What types of diabetes are there?
Type 1 Diabetes – This type of diabetes usually is associated with adolescents and children. Type 1 Diabetes is found in approximately 1 in every 400-600 children. Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the cells that the pancreas makes into insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes patients have to have daily insulin injections in order to survive. There is no known cure yet, but new methods are on the horizon.
Type 2 Diabetes – This type of diabetes is the most common, occurring in 90-95% of all cases. With Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas simply can not continue to produce the insulin that is required, or the cells just don’t respond to the insulin any longer. Most of the time, Type 2 Diabetes can be controlled through a proper diet and exercise plan. But, if that fails, oral medication can be prescribed to get it under control.
Gestational Diabetes – This form of diabetes is only found pregnant women. It is similar to Type 2 diabetes and it usually occurs in 2-7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is caused from the pancreas not being able to keep up with the required amount of insulin to control the glucose level. Gestational diabetes will usually go away after a pregnancy, but there is an increased risk of both mother and baby becoming diabetic later on in life.
Tests for Gestational Diabetes are usually done around the 26th week of pregnancy, which is the time insulin resistance usually starts.
Pre-Diabetes – This is also called borderline diabetes. Pre-Diabetes is diagnosed when patients are showing the signs of having high blood sugar levels and are starting to have trouble in keeping them down. One of the most important facts to realize in diabetes for dummy’s is that over 40 million people have Pre-Diabetes. That is astounding. If left untreated, Pre-Diabetes will almost always turn into Type 2 Diabetes. Anyone with Pre-Diabetes needs to change their diet and start on an exercise program. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Also, have your blood sugar levels checked frequently.
As mentioned earlier, there is no known cure for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. The only option available to anyone with Type 1 Diabetes is to have a pancreas transplant. But, that is not a great option with the possibilities of other problems arising such as the body rejecting the new pancreas, not to mention the surgery itself. Science is working feverishly on new ways of treating diabetes including the transplanting of insulin producing cells within the pancreas, and even making an artificial pancreas.
There are even efforts to produce an inhalation device that puts out insulin instead of having to have daily injections. These advancements are on the horizon and will be available in the not too distant future. In the meantime, diabetes for dummy says to check your blood sugar levels, and know what they are. You only have one body and we all need to take care of it as best we can.
Terry Edwards
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/a-simple-diabetes-for-dummy-overview-64246.html
