Diabetes and hypertension are major health threats to individuals throughout the entire world. The World Health Organization has declared that the largest number of diabetics in the world will be located in India.

At this time there are over 17 million individuals who have diabetes in the United States alone. Screening for these two particular disorders are large factors in the early prevention and treatment of illnesses that often results in significant negative medical complications.

In some cases diabetes is not found until the sufferer experiences a complication or it is found during a routine screening blood test. However, because of recent media attention and increased education of the middle-aged population, more individuals recognize the signs and symptoms of this progressive disease.

If the disease is not recognized until the latter stages then significant damage can have been done to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart muscle. These complications are costly financially, emotionally and relationally.  Read more...

Is a cure for diabetes mellitus now a reality?

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects over 17 million people in the United States alone. The condition creates complications that range from blindness to kidney failure and cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Researchers, scammers, holistic medicine physicians and well meaning doctors have all claimed to find a cure for diabetes at one time or another. The reality is that with good lifestyle choices, nutritional intake and exercise most people who experience pre-diabetic symptoms may go through the rest of their lives without ever suffering diabetes.

However, many who have Type 2 diabetes are not able to make the necessary changes and choices that negate their life-long poor choices. And those who suffer from Type 1 diabetes experience the condition because the cells that produce insulin have completely shut down.

Finding a cure for diabetes requires that the cure also addresses the reason behind the diabetes. So, the jury is now out on whether some of the promising research has indeed found a cure for diabetes. A cure would mean less of a financial burden on both families and insurance companies as well as better health for millions of Americans and people around the world.  Read more...

Diabetes is a group of diseases that is marked by high levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The increased amount sugar in the blood is a result of either defects in the production of insulin or the way in which insulin is used by the body. Complications from diabetes can result in further medical conditions that make it even more difficult to treat the diabetes, such as kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease or heart disease.

Type 1 diabetes is the result of a lack of insulin production because of the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. These beta cells are responsible for the production of insulin that regulates blood glucose. Researchers have found that there is a combination of genetic and environmental factors that increase a person’s risk for developing Type 1 diabetes.

If these factors can be identified through further research then it is feasible that scientists will be able to make recommendations for the prevention of this disease. Researchers do know that the body attacks the beta cells in the pancreas because of a mistake made by the immune system. Researchers theorize that Type 1 diabetes happens when an environmental toxin or pathogen triggers the immune system to attack itself.  Read more...

Did you know that nine out of 10 people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight? The American diabetic Association estimates that 80% of the 15 million individuals who suffer from Type 2 diabetes are significantly overweight and that the obesity contributes greatly to the development of the disease.

It is no secret to individuals who have Type 2 diabetes and their physicians that a slow, intentional weight loss will decrease their need for insulin, improve their cardiovascular health and improve their lipid profile. By achieving these goals they also reduce their risk factors for developing stroke, heart attack, retinal damage and kidney failure.

However, losing weight and keeping it off is as much of a challenge for those who have diabetes as it is for those who don’t. If it were not a challenge then be thousands of weight loss programs that are currently making billions of dollars every year would be out of business. The weight loss industry has become a multibillion dollar industry due to the difficulty that people find in removing excess baggage. As a diabetic it is important that you engage the help of other professionals to help you lose weight that you require in order to decrease your need for external insulin and medication.  Read more...

There are three different types of diabetes which can affect individuals. Two of these are what are commonly called sugar diabetes. The medical terms for these are Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The third type of diabetes is water diabetes or diabetes insipidus.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex medical condition that results in increased blood sugar from the body’s resistance to insulin. In other words, there is not a depletion of insulin in the body but rather a problem with the insulin being used at the cellular level. This results in an increased amount of blood sugar in the blood stream which significantly damages the eyes, heart, kidneys and brain.

The medical terminology that describes high blood sugar is hyperglycemia. It is estimated that over 15 million people in the United States out of the 17 million who suffer from diabetes experienced Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is also sometimes called non-insulin-dependent diabetes because it changes the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and protein without shutting off the production of insulin.  Read more...

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that afflicts 5% of the worlds population. Diabetics face significant long-term disabilities and complications if they dont keep their blood glucose under control. Because of the need to diagnose, treat and control this chronic condition researchers have discovered several short term and long term methods of monitoring blood sugar as well as testing for the condition.

Some physicians follow specific recommendations to test for diabetes in their general patient population. Those who are over 45 and obese should be tested and those younger than 45 and obese should be considered.

Doctors will use several different tests, combine the results of those tests, and determine if a person has diabetes. The first, and simplest test is the fasting blood sugar test. A small blood sample will be taken at the lab after the patient has had nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Normal blood sugar is between 70-110; considered borderline to 135 and high over 140.  Read more...

One of the effects of diabetes is low blood sugar. In the case of a diabetic the body is not able to process blood sugar or glucose which subsequently damages bodily systems and organs.

The treatment for this is to use oral hypoglycemic or injectable insulin which assists the body in producing energy by drawing glucose into the cellular system. The insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications require that the individual have a enough blood sugar upon which it will work.

In some cases an individual will also have a condition that is known as “brittle” or hard to control diabetes. These individuals find that they have problems with low blood sugar and high blood sugar which happened during both the daytime and nighttime.

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is the medical term used to describe when blood sugar falls below what the body requires to stay alive. Low blood sugar is defined when the number falls below 65. When the level falls very low, such as below 20, individuals can get confused, drowsy and even lose consciousness. The blood sugar levels are necessary in order to maintain significant brain activity. If this blood sugar drops during pregnancy it can permanently harmed a baby.  Read more...

Health care is a major news story these days. Turn on the television and someone is talking about it. Whether you are fortunate enough to have health insurance or not, you are probably concerned with your health and that of your family.

For those looking for alternatives to traditional medicine, you may want to look into the benefits of evening primrose oil.

Evening primrose has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years among Native American tribes. Medical science has been studying this herb and found that it has healing properties which may be beneficial for a number of illnesses and conditions.

While all parts of the evening primrose plant can be used medicinally, it is the oil from this flowering plant that is most effective. Evening primrose oil is made by gathering the seeds of the plant and pressing them to release the oil. This oil contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid.  Read more...

Diabetes is manageable and a high quality of life can be maintained if you stay on top of your health.  Once you are diagnosed with the disease you should start following a Diabetic plan for optimum health immediately.

One of the most important things that Diabetics can do is follow a meal plan.  Do not leave eating up to chance.  You must have a plan everyday and know what you are eating before the time to eat arrives.  Not eating when you have Diabetes can lead to hypoglycemia or a Diabetic coma which can be fatal. Constructing a low carb menu and sticking to it will help you from having Diabetic episodes.

Your meal plan will be a combination of breads, meats, dairy products, fats, fruits and vegetables just like everyone else’s.  When dining with friends and family you can feel free to make the same foods for them that you are eating.  You won’t be having special foods or anything different from anyone else.  Read more...

Gangrene is the medical term used to describe — of an area of the body. This particular way of dying develops when the blood supply is cut off to the tissues which can result from infection, blood vessel disease or trauma. Gangrene can involve any part of the body but the most common sites are the toes, fingers, feet and hands but can also occur in the muscles and internal organs. Some types of gangrene also include bacterial infections.

Individuals are at higher risk of developing gangrene if they had an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to damage to their blood vessels or can it keep their blood flow, such as diabetes or atherosclerosis. Symptoms of gangrene usually starts suddenly and get steadily worse.

There are two different types of gangrene-dry gangrene or wet gangrene (also called gas gangrene). Individuals who suffer from dry gangrene experience infection free death of the tissue usually brought on by a blood clot, frostbite or poor circulation. Individuals who suffer from wet gangrene finds that the dead tissue is a breeding ground for bacteria which thrives on the absence of oxygen. This that curial growth causes the area to become moist and foul-smelling.  Read more...