James Hunt asked:


There are three different types of diabetes and each category has its own problems and symptoms that are specific to it. The first of these types of diabetes is Type 1, also known as “insulin dependent”. This type of diabetes is called Juvenile diabetes because it manifests anytime in the first 30 years of someone’s life. This type of diabetes needs to be controlled with the use of insulin, which must be given one or more times each day. Someone that has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes will have to maintain a strict diet of what they eat and they’ll have to monitor their blood levels several times each day so that they know exactly where their blood sugar level is at. If these blood sugar levels aren’t carefully monitored and managed kidney damage can occur. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes include thirst, an increase in urination, urine that seems to have a dark color to it, vision that is blurred, tingling in the feet and hands, and sudden loss of weight.

The second kind of diabetes is Type 2, also known as “non-insulin” diabetes. This type of diabetes will usually occur in the later years of someone’s life. The cause is often poor health and poor nutrition. In most cases this type of diabetes doesn’t require the use of insulin. The most important way to manage Type 2 diabetes is with a proper diet and exercise. It is vital that person’s with Type 2 are under the care of a doctor who can help them to manage their health. Symptoms of Type 2 are thirst, an increase in urination, burred vision, stomach cramps, and sores that don’t heal properly.

The third type of diabetes is Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy. The mother to be will feel very tired, have frequent headaches, and experience dizziness. This type of diabetes will usually go away after the baby has been delivered but the mother will still require careful monitoring. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and conditions be sure to consult with your doctor.



Francesca

Ashish Jain asked:


Juvenile diabetes or Type 1 diabetes is common among children. Every year, around 13,000 new cases of Juvenile diabetes are reported in America. True to its name, it mostly attacks the children but adults as well come into its hold.

In juvenile diabetes, shortage of supply of insulin and glucose builds up in the bloodstream as cells are unable to use it. The body is unable to use the entire glucose because it is available in the bloodstream only.

This increases hunger. You consume more food, but suffer from fatigue. Frequent ********* is another symptom of this type of diabetes. What happens later is insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas are totally destroyed by body’s own immune system. Hence the necessity arises to get the supply of insulin from the outside sources.

Some other specific symptoms of Type I diabetes are:

In women, absence of menstruation, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting mark the arrival of this disease. Unbearable abdominal pain, abrupt weight loss despite normal or increased appetite, exhaustion when you walk short distances, more exhaustion if you climb are the other common symptoms.

You can not arrive at the final conclusion with regard to the diabetes condition with the presence of the above conditions alone. For further confirmation, diagnostic approach is also necessary. The most desirable test is insulin test. This test gives the firm indications/results, whether you have the diabetes or not.

As soon as the symptoms re-confirmed, hospitalization is the initial step to regulate the insulin level. But diabetes is not a disease that has the guaranteed cure. Though, it can be controlled with apt care. There is also the fear of Type I diabetes turning to Type II diabetes. You need to understand your diabetes in proper perspective by knowing about the diabetic related problems. Call it diabetic education. Dietary changes are inevitable as diet is the important factor for curbing as well as increasing the diabetes condition.

Take control of the disease; never allow it to take control of you. If you ignore the disease at the initial stages, it may lead to several other types of serious diseases such as high blood pressure, heart related diseases and paralysis.



Vanessa

Dr John asked:


The Causes of diabetes are still not fully understood. Neither are medical scientists able to explain why some people develop diabetes and others don’t. Certain factors have, however, been clearly identified which contribute to the development of diabetes.

Is Diabetes Inherited?

Heredity is a major factor. That diabetes can be inherited has been known for centuries. However, the pattern of inheritance is not fully understood. Statistic indicates that those with a family history of the disease have a higher risk of developing diabetes than those without such a background. The risk factor is 25 to 33 percent more.

Children are most likely to develop diabetes if either or both parents are diabetes, or if the expectant mother became diabetic, or if the mother was a confirmed diabetic prior to conception. This may not always be true. It is possible for parents who were, or are diabetic and the other remains free from the disease.

It is, however, essential that the blood sugar level of an expectant mother who is diabetic be maintained within the normal range, so that diabetes is not passed on to her child. It the blood sugar level is kept under control, the infant may not have nay symptoms of inherited diabetes, but a risk factor cannot be ruled out.

One reason why diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes runs in the family is because of the diabetes gene. But even it is caused by genetic factors beyond your control; there is no reason to suffer from it. Diabetes mellitus cannot be cured in full sense of the term, but it can be effectively controlled so that you would not know the difference.

Intensive genetic research is currently underway to identify genes associated with both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. In a study sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of USA the relatives at risk of type-1 diabetes are being treated with low doses of either insulin or an oral medication to determine if drugs may prevent the disease.

Surveys show that in India diabetes is more prevalent among males than females. In this population, family history of diabetes mellitus was present in 5.5 to 11.6 per cent. Amongst diabetics, 18.3 per cent urban and 6.4 percent of rural population had a direct relative with diabetes. Therefore, genetic predisposition in India is comparable to that observed in other parts of the world.

Diet: A Self inflicted Causes

Diabetes has been described by most medical scientists as a prosperity’ disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating. Not only is eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates harmful, but proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar, may also result in diabetes if taken in excess.

Too much food taxes the pancreas and ultimately its normal activity of producing insulin gets paralyzed. It is interesting to note that diabetes is almost unknown in countries where people are poor and cannot afford to overeat.

The incidence of diabetes is directly linked with the consumption of processed foods rich in refined carbohydrates, like biscuits, bread, cakes chocolates, pudding and ice creams. In Britain, during the war when only whole wheat bread was available the incidence of diabetes dropped by 55 percent.

Parents should take great care to develop correct dietary habits in their children. Children should be prevented from becoming addicts to harmful foods like ice cream, cakes, jam, jelly, peppermint, chocolates and other sweets. The amount of food given to children should be such as would allow growth but not obesity. Children should be convinced about the importance of exercise and games and sports should be encouraged. Ideal body weight and a proportionate body is an almost certain guarantee against diabetes.

The Obesity Trigger

Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes. Studies show that 60 to 85 % of diabetics tend to be overweight. In the United States of America, about 80 percent of type –2 non-insulin dependent diabetics are reported to be overweight. During the Second World War, when there was a decrease in the average weight of the people, the incidence of diabetes came down dramatically. The greater the obesity, the greater is the mortality rate due to complications of diabetes.

Excess fat prevents insulin from working properly. The more fatty tissue in the body, the more resistant the muscle and tissue cells become to body insulin. Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to enter the cells by acting on the receptor sites on the surface of the cells. In obesity, where a person is overweight by 20 percent of the ideal weight or has high uric acid, or some syndromes, receptors are sparse and functionally idle. This is observed in patients developing diabetes around the age of 40 years, and having type-2 non-insulin dependent diabetes. It is estimated that the incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate’s obesity and 3 times higher in persons of severe obesity. It has been rightly said; Heredity is like a cannon and obesity pulls and trigger.

Older people often tend to gain weight, and the same time, many of them develop and mild form of diabetes because who are over weight can often improve their blood sugar simply by losing weight. In some cases, it is all that is required to bring blood sugar back into the normal range. Even small weight loss can have beneficial effects, reducing blood sugar levels, or allowing medicines to work better. However, sudden gain in weight may cause diabetes to return. It is therefore important for older people to keep their weight down to normal. Among those detected to be diabetic, almost one third are overweight.

Virus Infections

Pancreatic infections with Coxsackie’s B virus can result in beta cell damage, development of autoantibodies and, consequently, type-1 insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Some of these can be diagnosed by a viral antibody test and islet cell antibody test. Screening for antibodies can indicate potentially juvenile diabetes in a family on the basis of auto-immunity.

The Lifestyle Risk

A sedentary lifestyle, resulting from lack of physical work and exercise, plays an improvement role in the development of diabetes. The less active a person, the greater the risk of developing diabetes. Modern conveniences have made work easier. Physical activity and exercise helps control weight, uses up a lot of glucose (sugar) present in the blood as energy and makes cells more sensitive to insulin. Consequently, the workload on the pancreas is reduced.

Exercise also adds to the muscles mass. Normally, between 70 percent to 90 percent of the blood sugar is absorbed into the muscles. A reduction in muscle mass-either due to age of physical inactivity—reduces the storage space for blood sugar, and it remains in the blood stream.

Smoking: An Important Risk Factor

Smoking is another important risk factor. Among men who smoke, the risk of developing diabetes is doubled. In women who smoke 25 or more cigarettes a day, the risk of developing diabetes is increased by 40 percent. Smoking also reduces retinal blood flow and increases the risk of developing retinopathy. It also decreases insulin absorption and limits joints mobility. Smoking, in combination with diabetes, greatly enhances the likelihood of premature mortality. It also depends upon the number of cigarettes a day a person smokes and the number of years he has been smoking.

Age

A risk of type-2 diabetes increases, as one grows older, especially above the age of 45 years. Part of the reason is that is people grow older, they tend to become less physically active, lose muscle mass and gain weight. With life styles becoming more sedentary, there has been an increase of diabetes among people in there 30s and 40s.

Stress and Tension

Stress can be emotional or physical, such as a surgery or a serious infection, an accident or an emotional shock. Another very urban trait, the high stress lifestyle, not just amongst the young unwardly mobile, but increasingly in all walks of life, is a relatively new phenomenon in India. Since there is a known connection between stress and diabetes mellitus, those who are under stress and/or lead an irregular lifestyle, need to take adequate precautions and make necessary lifestyle adjustments.

Pancreatic insufficiency caused by stress, can lead to diabetes. Grief, worry and anxiety resulting from examinations, death of a close relative, loss of a joy, business failure and strained marital relationship, all a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine.

Organic Disorders

Diabetes may be associated with some grave organic disorders like cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral diseases. Diabetes may also be caused by a variety of other factors. These include certain metabolic and genetic disorders, inadequate secretion of insulin by the pancreas, malfunctioning of other endocrine glands like thyroid, pituitary and adrenal, excessive consumption of alcohol and the use of the certain drugs.

Race

Although the reasons are unclear, people of certain races are more likely to develop diabetes than others.



Randi

Tom Smith asked:

What are the early signs and symptoms of juvenile diabetes? Juvenile diabetes is having a sudden onset. The cause of juvenile diabetes is destruction of insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas which changes the glucose in the energy needed by the body. The most common in children is type 1 diabetes mellitus. The early signs and symptoms of the disease include:

How does juvenile diabetes manifest?

Diabetes in youngsters usually appears in the form of Type 1 Diabetes. More than 90 percent of children under the age of 16 suffer from this type of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s cells themselves start attacking the other helpful cells, treating them like enemies. This results in the destruction of tissues and vital organs, over a period of time.

Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes

Frequent bathroom trips – High blood sugar increases the amount of blood that is filtered through the kidneys, leading to an increase in urinary output.

Being thirsty all the time – Dehydration caused by the high urine output leads to an increased thirst.

Increased hunger and eating – The lack of insulin keeps the sugar in the blood, starving the cells for the energy they need to function. Because of this perceived energy deficit the body responds with hunger pains.

It’s not always apparent that a child has type 1 or juvenile diabetes. Some of the symptoms seem like average childhood problems that occur. Nausea and/or vomiting can be misconstrued as the flu. Irritability, being tired and listless may be attributed to behaviors all children exhibit at one time or another. The discovery of juvenile diabetes may happen during a visit to a physician for another ailment such as a vaginal yeast infection for girls or even a routine examination.

Vision changes – they should not be attributed to too much time in front of the television or computer screen.

Sweet smelling breath may be noticed by parents and may equally well be attributed to something the child has eaten.

Increased appetites may be remarked upon, but of course children are growing and can have large appetites – why would a parent necessarily consider this to be a bad thing?

Heavy, laboured breathing is another symptom which can be masked by any number of respiratory problems which seem to be more prevalent in children nowadays.

These symptoms can occur alone but because diabetes is a disease that affects entire bodily functions there is a good chance that these symptoms will start slowly but will occur as a group. If one is noticeable it is a good idea to ask your child if they are experiencing any of the other known signs.

The sooner the symptoms of juvenile diabetes are recognized the sooner the child can be taken to the doctor for the proper tests to diagnose this disease. Diabetes in children, while incurable, can be managed successfully with a combination of insulin therapy and diet. Left untreated diabetes can cause a whole host of complications that can seriously affect any diabetics ability to live a normal life.

Pauline

Nick Mutt asked:


As per Ayurveda, the features of diabetes (madhumeha) are the sweetness of urine, weakness, boils, gangrene and drowsiness. Diabetes is a very common disease that can not be completely cured but can be managed (controlled) if proper care is taken. There are mainly two types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. 

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (Insulin dependent or Juvenile diabetes) – The symptoms of type 1 diabetes occur suddenly. The major symptoms of insulin dependent diabetes are excessive thirst; frequent urination; sudden weight loss, for no apparent reason; weakness, drowsiness or exhaustion; sudden vision changes or blurred vision; nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (Non-insulin dependent or Adult-onset diabetes) – The symptoms of type 2 diabetes occur gradually. The major symptoms of non-insulin dependent diabetes are any of the symptoms listed for type 1; tingling or numbness in hands or feet; itching of the skin and genitals; recurring of hard-to-heal skin, gum or urinary tract infections.

Risk factors for Diabetes

People at high risk include the following –

1. Heredity factors – Diabetes appears to have an inherited genetic tendency.

2. People over forty years – Type 2 diabetes is most common in middle and old age.

3. Overweight – The chance of developing type 2 diabetes doubles with every 20% excess weight. It is believed that excess body fat prevents insulin from working properly.

Dietary Guidelines for Diabetes

1. Sour fruits like tomatoes, jamun, oranges, pineapple and makoy are beneficial.

2. Curd made from cow’s milk is highly recommended in diabetes.

3. Do not take cereals, sugar and sugar preparations.

4. Take diet with a relatively low proportion of carbohydrates.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Here is an excellent Diabetes supplement that will help you to control blood sugar level. Also know Diabetes food list for healthy eating. Read information on How to control diabetes to live longer and better.



Kristal