Diabetes Symptoms
Diabetes is a disorder characterized by hyperglycemia or elevated blood glucose (blood sugar). Our bodies function best at a certain level of sugar in the bloodstream. If the amount of sugar in our blood runs too high or too low, then we typically feel bad. Diabetes is the name of the condition where the blood sugar level consistently runs too high. Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder. Sixteen million Americans have diabetes, yet many are not aware of it. African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans have a higher rate of developing diabetes during their lifetime. Diabetes has potential long term complications that can affect the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels and nerves. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system damages the cells in your pancreas (Islet cells) that make insulin. Because insulin is necessary to process blood sugar, this leaves people with high blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces well enough to keep the body working well. Common Diabetes Symptoms are: 1. Frequent urination 2. Excessive thirst 3. Extreme hunger 4. Unusual weight loss 5. Increased fatigue 6. Irritability 7. Blurry vision The Best Standard for diagnosing diabetes is an elevated blood sugar level after an overnight fast (not eating anything after midnight). A value above 140 mg/dl on at least two occasions typically means a person has diabetes. Normal people have fasting sugar levels that generally run between 70-110 mg/dl. Make sure you do this check to ensure your medical condition. Exercise! Exercise improves overall health by improving blood flow and blood pressure. It decreases insulin resistance even without weight loss. Exercise also increases the body's energy level, lowers tension, and improves your ability to handle stress. |
16 Million Americans With Diabetes!
Diabetes Alert..... | Diabetes Symptoms you must know..
| Sixteen million Americans have diabetes, yet many are not aware of it. African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans have a higher rate of developing diabetes during their lifetime. Diabetes has potential long term complications that can affect the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels and nerves. A number of pages on this web site are devoted to the prevention and treatment of the complications of diabetes. Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year. Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed as needed. |
The TWO main tests used to measure the presence of blood sugar problems are: 1. Direct measurement of glucose levels in the blood during an overnight fast 2. Measurement of the body's ability to appropriately handle the excess sugar presented after drinking a high glucose drink. A device called a Glucometer can provide an exact blood sugar reading. There are different types of devices. Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet, which gives you a tiny drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip, and put the strip into the device. Results are available within 30 to 45 seconds. There are many misconceptions about diabetes being a ‘mild’ condition. But these misconceptions are potentially dangerous. Diabetes is serious. |
Coffee Reduces Risk of Diabetes
Test Yourself for Diabetes..!
| Coffee Reduces Risk of Diabetes In diagnosing diabetes, physicians primarily depend upon the results of specific glucose tests. However, test results are just part of the information that goes into the diagnosis of diabetes. Doctors also take into account your physical exam, presence or absence of symptoms, and medical history. Some people who are significantly ill will have transient problems with elevated blood sugars which will then return to normal after the illness has resolved. Also, some medications may alter your blood glucose levels (most commonly steroids and certain diuretics (water pills)). Coffee reduces risk of diabetes! Research suggests that people who drink coffee are less likely to get type 2 diabetes. It isn't known whether the caffeine or some other ingredient in coffee is responsible for its protective effects. Vitamins that Reduces the Risk of Diabetes! Vitamin D and Calcium May Lower the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Women A lack of vitamin D and calcium may be linked to getting type 2 diabetes. More than 80,000 women who took part in the Nurses' Health Study. Over the course of 20 years, over 4,800 women developed type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that a combined intake of over 1,200 milligrams of calcium and over 800 units of vitamin D was linked with a 33% lower risk for type 2 diabetes (as compared to women who took much smaller amounts of calcium and vitamin D). The results show that consuming higher amounts of vitamin D and calcium help lower the risk for type 2 diabetes in women. Diabetes : The Complications! What makes diabetes so serious is that the condition can affect other parts of the body. Many adults have had diabetes for several years before their symptoms are recognised. By the time they are diagnosed, a great many have already started to develop the complications of diabetes, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and nerve damage that could lead to amputations. |
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