Like any other affliction, when one is diagnosed with diabetes, it would seem like life has ended and hope for a happy living becomes suddenly shattered. Although this is normal, life can still become the normal life one would want to have even with the presence of diabetes. There have been advances in medical and scientific research and an enjoyable life should not necessarily cease. The task maybe daunting but if the plan, as prepared for you by diabetes specialists, is followed everything should fall into place and one should not become hopeless.
In addition to this, for pre-diabetic conditions, experts all agree that if people at high risk of developing the disease follow a proper diet and lifestyle change, the development of the disease into full-blown diabetes can actually be delayed for more than 10 years or reduce the risk of having the disease by as much as 58%. But with people who are already diagnosed with the disease, a strict diet and lifestyle change needs to be carefully planned and executed. First of all, everything is dependent on the responsibility of the person himself to adhere and be ready for a change from what he has been accustomed to in his life.
Blood Glucose Monitoring: Discipline is the key to having regular checks on the blood glucose level. With a well-followed schedule, the sufferer will be able to efficiently monitor if his diabetes control and management plan is working out well.
Exercise and Weight Management Program: If a person with diabetes used to have a sedentary lifestyle, it’s time for him to prepare himself since physical activity is necessary to keep the blood glucose control working well and prevent some complications of diabetes such as heart failures and stroke. Along with carrying out an exercise program should be the supervision of a doctor to see the appropriate type of exercise and when these exercise activities are best done. Most important of all, one need not enroll in an extensive exercise routine like going to the gym or getting a personal trainer. Just stand up move and enjoy the fresh air while doing your morning walk. Anyway, it’s free. To make the exercise program work, one has to quit smoking. If smoking is dangerous even prior to contracting any disease, it is even more compelling to get totally rid of it after having been diagnosed with diabetes.
Diet and Meal Planning: This is also one area where the patient needs to make drastic changes. The patient should be in always consultation with his doctor and dietician and be surrounded by the support of family and friends who understand the need to have a change in diet plan and who best understand their medical condition. The most important focus on the meal planning of a diabetes patient is a heart-healthy diet. A diet rich in fiber is very essential, whole grains (for carbohydrates needs) should be coupled with a high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Saturated fats (from animal products) and too much sugar-rich foods should also be avoided. For protein source, soy protein, poultry, and fish should be eaten over meat. Adequate water intake should also be taken into consideration since dehydration can raise blood sugar levels.
Diabetes control and management can be really overwhelming and sacrifice is needed not only from the patient but also cooperation and support from the people around him. It is a daunting task to turn your back from what you have accustomed to prior to having the disease, but it will become easier over time and soon you will realize that it is possible to live with diabetes, and yes it is possible to live life well even with diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease a lifelong disease whose cure has not been found yet. It is one of the serious illnesses presently plaguing the society and burdening people, their loved ones, and governments. It has not been fully discovered yet what exactly causes the disease but genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle play a vital role in the development of this disease.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas malfunctions and not enough insulin is produced or when insulin is not used properly. Insulin is the essential hormone that breaks down glucose into essential energy that the systems in the body need to carry out their functions. As a result a condition called hyperglycemia occurs because of the abnormal level of glucose. This eventually damages the nerves and blood vessels and fatal complications like heart disease and stroke, kidney malfunction and blindness occur.
This illness currently afflicts close to 250 million around the world and is now fast becoming a pandemic. This figure only represents those who have been diagnosed with the disease. In the US there are now and estimated 17 million diabetics.
Nature
Type 1 Diabetes, formerly known juvenile diabetes is one of two types of diabetes. In this type of the disease, the pancreas is unable to produce the hormone insulin thus glucose and starches are not converted to the needed energy form compared to type 2 diabetes where the body can still produce insulin however, it is not used properly. Type is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. It is usually found occurring among children, teenagers, and young adults but it can occur at any age. Symptoms of this type include increased thirst because of frequent urination weight loss even if appetite is normal, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, and in women, the absence of menstruation. If these signs become marked, one should seek medical consultation so that proper tests are administered.
Tests are then done to diagnose the disease. Two initial tests are, urinalysis and blood tests, are done to check glucose and ketone bodies. Fasting blood glucose test shows normal blood sure level at not higher done 126 mg/dL. Insulin test is also administered. In C-peptide test, diabetes is diagnosed when the there is low or undetectable level of protein C-peptide, a by-product of insulin production.
Treatment
Initial treatment for newly diagnosed people with diabetes might require them to be hospitalized due to the sudden and severe symptoms at the onset of the disease. Proper care and treatment is needed if diagnosed patients wants to prolong his life, reduce the symptoms, and avoid the severe complications such as cardio-vascular diseases, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs due to wounds that would not heal.
Regular Insulin Intake: Because in this type of diabetes the body cannot produce its own needed insulin, insulin needs to taken in one to four times a day. Commonly it is entered through the body by injection it under the skin. In other cases, it is also inhaled.
Diet and Diet Plan: A healthy and balanced diet for patients is extremely important since the food taken in must work properly with the insulin intake to properly regulate glucose levels.
Physical Exercise: Equally important is regular exercise because it helps in burning excess calories and fat. It also boosts the other parts of the treatment in regulating blood sugar level to achieve a healthy weight.
Another thing recommended for patients would be self-blood glucose monitoring to check if diet, medications, and exercise programs are going well with each other in controlling the sugar level in the body. Regular simple self-administered tests will provide information to the patient and help him adjust the diet plan, medication, and exercise programs. Since diabetes destroys the nerves and blood vessels, it could make the patient numb to injury and wounds might go unnoticed especially in the feet until the infection could lead to amputation of the affected area that is why a foot care program is also recommended.
The regular monitoring program includes of course regular visit medical professionals that specialize in the disease: diabetes educator, ophthalmologist to check signs of diabetic retinopathy or eye complications, dentist (who is informed of the disease) for dental cleaning and exam, feet inspection by the diabetic health care provider.
With all these plans religiously done by the person afflicted with the disease, he can still manage to live a healthy and happy life and enjoy it to its fullest with his loved-ones.
Symptoms of diabetes can be sometimes similar but sometimes a little different for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms:
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms:
As you can see, some signs of diabetes for Type 1 and Type 2 are common. If you experience one or more of these diabetes symptoms listed above, you should consult your doctor to be on safe side.
US researchers said that deep, restful sleep is very important for keeping type 2 diabetes away,
Research said that slim, healthy young adults who were deprived of the deepest stage of sleep known as slow-wave sleep developed insulin resistance — a trait linked to type 2 diabetes — after just three nights. The research demonstrates that the importance of deep sleep not only for the brain, but for the rest of the body
The effect was comparable to gaining 20 to 30 pounds.
“It turns out deep sleep also has implications for glucose metabolism and diabetes risk,” said Van Cauter, whose study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
After three nights of disturbed sleep, eight of the nine volunteers had become less sensitive to insulin, without increasing the production of insulin.
Since insulin tells the body it has consumed energy, this deficiency can lead to weight gain and diabetes.
Reduced sleep often results from obesity and age. While most young adults spend 80 to 100 minutes per night in slow-wave sleep, this decreases to just 20 minutes for adults over 60.
“Any condition that involves a decrease in deep sleep is linked to an increase in diabetes risk. That is the case for aging and sleep apnea. This study really demonstrates a causal link,” Van Cauter said.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and in some cases reversed; all you have to do is make changes in the way you live and eat.An American Epidemic Diabetes occurs when your body does not produce or properly use insulin, the hormone needed to allow glucose and other fuels to enter your cells. Currently more than 17 million Americans have diabetes, or approximately 6.2 percent of the population. Additionally, it was recently reported that an astounding 40 percent of Americans above the age of forty are pre-diabetic. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are the leading risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, and nearly 85 percent of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics are overweight.A positive family history and consumption of trans fats are the other risk factors for this condition.
Complications of diabetes include:
· Kidney disease
· Blindness
· Heart attack
· Stroke
· Nerve damage
· Peripheral vascular disease (loss of limbs, impotence, etc.)
According to the American Diabetic Association, two out of three diabetics die from heart disease or stroke. Diabetes frequently goes undiagnosed in the early stages because minimal symptoms are present.
Symptoms of well-developed type 2 diabetes include:
· frequent urination,
· excessive thirst,
· extreme hunger,
· unusual weight loss,
· increased fatigue,
· irritability, and
· blurry vision.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and in some cases reversed; all you have to do is make changes in the way you live and eat. A landmark multi-center study published in the New England Journal of Medicine(February 7, 2002, Volume 346 (6)) found that individuals who lost a modest 7 percent of their body weight and engaged in thirty minutes of moderate, aerobic activity (walking) five days a week reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.
Experts believe that 90 percent of all cases of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented through dietary modifications, weight loss, and an increased activity level.
1-Maintain an optimal weight. To avoid type 2 diabetes, strive to maintain an optimal weight. This is the most powerful strategy to decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or if you already have it, to minimize its impact.
2-Exercise regularly for the rest of your life. This is the second most powerful strategy to avoid or control type 2 diabetes. Your optimal regimen should include thirty minutes or more of aerobic activity five or more days a week. Lifting weights has also been shown to be beneficial.
3-Strictly avoid or minimize the high glycemic white carbohydrates: white flour, white rice, sugar, and white potatoes. Consumption of white carbs leads to sudden elevations in blood glucose and insulin levels, which promotes weight gain and damages your cardiovascular system. When consumed over time, white carbohydrates encourage insulin resistance and may lead directly to the development of type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals. 178 DR. ANN’S 10-STEP DIET
4-Do your fats right! Minimize saturated and strictly avoid trans fats. Saturated and trans fat contribute to heart disease and insulin resistance, the underlying metabolic problem in type 2 diabetes. Stay healthy by consuming the majority of your fats from the monounsaturated oils (extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados) and foods containing omega-3 fats (salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, soy, flax seed, wheat germ, and omega-3 eggs).
5-Consume your carbohydrates from the low to moderate glycemic index sources: vegetables, beans and legumes, fruit, and whole grains. Eat as many vegetables as possible, with the goal of at least five servings a day. All vegetables are great with the exception of starchy varieties, such as corn, potatoes, parsnips, and rutabagas. Vegetable superstars, for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, include: onions, broccoli, okra, brussels sprouts, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, and red and yellow peppers. Limit fruit to two servings daily, as they contain natural sugars which can elevate blood glucose and insulin levels. Avoid the sweeter, tropical fruits: bananas, mangos, pineapples, and papayas. The best fruits are berries (all varieties), cherries, apples, whole citrus, pears, plums, red grapes, apricots (dried or fresh), and peaches. Consume your grain products (cereals and breads) strictly from whole grain sources. The best whole grains for those concerned with type 2 diabetes are barley, rye, and oats. Strive to have one serving of beans or legumes a day. Although there are more than twenty-four varieties of beans available, choose those with the lowest glycemic index: soybeans, lentils, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, chickpeas, black beans, and butter beans.
6-Consume some high-quality protein at each feeding. Fish, especially oily varieties like salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, and lake trout are fantastic. Other good sources are skinless poultry, beans, wild game, soy, omega-3 eggs, and shellfish. Limit red meat to two servings or less a week.
7-Consume small, frequent meals, and neverskip breakfast. In contrast to those who skip breakfast, people who eat breakfast regularly significantly reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition, small frequent meals result in lower and more stable blood glucose and insulin levels over the course of the day.
8-Consume soy foods regularly. Soy foods have been shown to help stabilize blood glucose and insulin levels in type 2 diabetics. Make soy milk, tofu, tempeh, miso, soy nuts, and edamame a customary part of your daily fare.
9-Take your supplements. A multivitamin, 500-1,000 mg of vitamin C in divided doses, 400 IU of vitamin E, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and a broad spectrum antioxidant. (See the next chapter for additional information on supplements.) If you have a chronic medical condition or take prescription drugs, consult your physician first.
10-Regularly consume foods high in chromium: broccoli, whole grains, oysters, lobster, shrimp, mushrooms, and brewer’s yeast.Chromium is a mineral that works with insulin to transport blood glucose from the bloodstream into the cells. Inadequate levels are known to impair insulin’s activity and contribute to insulin resistance, the dangerous metabolic condition precipitating type 2 diabetes.
Source: Dr. Ann’s 10-Step Diet
People with diabetes are far more likely to suffer from sexual problems and the anxiety and frustration that come as part of the territory. But you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Cialis, Viagra, and Levitra (vardenafil) are 3 major FDA approved medications that treats ED but there is no cure for this yet.
“I first noticed my erection problems about two years ago,” says Paul, 38, who has had Type 2 Diabetes for five years and needs to use insulin five times a day. “My partner and I have always enjoyed a loving and active sex life. At first I questioned our relationship. Did I still find her attractive? Had the relationship changed in some way? Through sheer process of elimination, I came to realise the problem was mechanical.”
Paul is one of half of all men with diabetes who experience erection problems or Erectile Dysfunction (ED) at some stage in their lives. ED is a common complication of diabetes and is caused by damage to the nerves in the penis – with your risk increasing as you get older. And unfortunately, ED often triggers anxiety and confusion, which makes matters even worse.
“In the past, I have never had any problems getting an erection. So it came as quite a surprise,” says Paul. “Luckily, my partner and I talk freely about everything and we were able to discuss the problem without too many inhibitions. I reassured her it was nothing to do with her and that I thought it was linked to my diabetes.”
He was right. Men with diabetes are three times more likely to experience ED, and unlike men who don’t have diabetes, over 80 per cent of cases are caused by physical rather than psychological factors.
Twenty five per cent of all women with diabetes and about 50 per cent of men will experience some kind of sexual problems or loss of sexual desire as a result of their condition, and like men, women with diabetes report significantly more problems with sexual dysfunction than women without diabetes.
Paul was lucky to be part of such an open and understanding relationship, as many couples shy away from talking about the problem due to embarrassment, frustration or feelings of guilt, especially if the cause is not understood. Research has shown that 30 per cent of men with diabetes don’t know that ED is a common complication, while almost half do know, but believe that ED is inevitable with age and that there is nothing they can do to prevent or treat it. Plus, a recent international study for the British Journal of Urology revealed that five per cent of men with erectile dysfunction also have undiagnosed diabetes - over 750,000 people in the UK currently have diabetes but don’t yet know it.
But for men with ED, there is no reason to suffer in silence, as effective treatment is readily available.
“I have a light-hearted relationship with my diabetes team so I didn’t have a problem speaking to them about it. The next time I was due for a doctor’s appointment, I told my GP about the erectile problems,” says Paul. “She was very helpful and gave me a list of the drugs available and I opted for Cialis.”
It didn’t take long for Paul to get used to the tablets. “I take one about half an hour before I think we might have sex,” he says. “More than 50 per cent of the time I can do without the tablets, but it’s good to know they are there as a back up. One tablet lasts for about 36 hours. I haven’t suffered any side effects and although it slightly takes the spontaneity away, our sex life is as active and healthy as ever.”
Source: Keep the Doctor Away, UK
HOUSEHOLD chores such as ironing and washing dirty dishes can lower the risk of diabetes by themselves, new Australian research suggests.
Scientists found that very light exercise that barely affects the heart rate is vigorous enough to help control blood glucose levels. This is the first study to prove that routine daily tasks could independently lower the risk of developing diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases associated with blood glucose.
But the researchers warn that more strenuous exercise is still vital for physical wellbeing.
“The message that 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day is important for good health, still stands,” said Professor David Dunstan, a senior research fellow at the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.
”But this research suggests that there are also real benefits from reducing sedentary time and increasing the time spent on normal daily activities.”
Co-investigator Genevieve Healy, from the University of Queensland, suggested people adopt a more “active” approach to mundane tasks.
“Folding clothes or ironing as you watch TV, standing while on the phone or walking to see an office colleague rather than emailing them, are simple and easy ways to do this,” Ms Healy said.
Here are lifestyle factors that can raise your risk.
No time for breakfast and too much TV time can trigger diabetes. Fitness magazine, in its April edition, reports on nine surprising diabetes risk factors. The disease affects 21 million people in the United States.
Skipping breakfast increases our risk 30 percent to 50 percent, and watching TV for two or more hours per day boosts it 14 percent, according to Fitness.
Pam O’Brien, the magazine’s article director, says the main reason for the story was to point out that people can lower their risk in about a month.
As a former no-breakfast type, O’Brien began forcing herself to eat breakfast a few years ago and has felt much better since.
“So many of us skip breakfast because we’re busy and just grab a cup of coffee,” she says, describing her own former habit. “It’s one of the worst things you can do. People that eat high fiber cereals respond better to insulin.”
Diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, is caused when the body doesn’t produce or properly use insulin. Insulin converts starches and sugars into fuel for the body.
While the exact cause is still unknown, the ADA points to studies that link genetics and lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise to the disease.
O’Brien says her staff based its conclusions and risk factor percentages on university research and other studies. While Fitness magazine targets women, the nine risks also affect men.
The two risk factors that most surprised O’Brien were a large waist (risk increases 330 percent) and high stress (184 percent).
“How much the waist thing raised your risk surprised me most,” O’Brien says. “We’re talking the apple-shaped body, fat in the abdomen, fat that is really dangerous.”
9 SURPRISING DIABETES RISKS
1. Watching two or more hours of TV daily Raises your risk: 14 percent.
How: More TV equals less activity.
The fix: Exercise and limit TV time to 10 hours a week.
2. Drinking one soda a day
Raises your risk: 83 percent
How: Soda adds extra calories.
The fix: Switch to diet soda, water or, even better, unsweetened tea.
3. Skipping breakfast
Raises your risk: Up to 50 percent
How: Not having that morning meal increases the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin.
The fix: Eat high-fiber cereal with low-fat milk and fruit in the morning.
4. A bout of major depression
Raises your risk: 23 percent
How: Depression may alter body chemistry in a way that makes us more prone to developing diabetes.
The fix: Take a walk.
5. A large waist
Raises your risk: 330 percent
How: Fat in the abdomen (visceral fat) produces compounds that make cells insulin-resistant. Women should keep their waist size below 35 inches (40 inches for men).
The fix: A half-hour to one hour of cardio, three to five times a week.
6. Waking up in the middle of the night
Raises your risk: 98 percent
How: You aren’t getting enough sleep.
The fix: No caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. No TV and alcohol right before bed. Try yoga, too.
7. Fast food more than twice a week
Raises your risk: 100 percent
How: People who ate burgers, fries and soda more than twice a week put on 10 extra pounds.
The fix: Eat smaller portions.
8. High stress
Raises your risk: 184 percent
How: Stress can interfere with your ability to make insulin and process glucose.
The fix: Relax 10 to 15 minutes a day.
9. Consuming a lot of processed meat
Raises your risk: 43 percent
How: These meats may destroy insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.
The fix: Cut back. Try a preservative-free type, too.
Source: Fitness magazine April 2007
Resistance training may not only help to build muscle in older people, it may also be warding off type 2 diabetes, a new study demonstrates.
Thirty-six men and women in their early 60s experienced significant improvements in glucose tolerance after a 12-week resistance-training regimen, Dr. Wayne W. Campbell of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and his colleagues found.
“The idea that you could actually improve your glucose tolerance by about 25 percent to 30 percent with 12 weeks of strength exercise without having any weight loss, which is a typical therapy for this, is very encouraging,” Campbell told Reuters Health.
People lose their ability to metabolize sugar effectively as they age, even if they’re otherwise healthy, Campbell and his team note in their report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. And the weight gain that frequently accompanies aging worsens glucose tolerance and compounds diabetes risk. One in five Americans older than 60 years has type 2 diabetes, they add.
There is evidence that resistance training can improve glucose tolerance, while adequate protein levels are necessary for resistance trainers and may even improve changes in body composition and glucose tolerance that come with weightlifting, the researchers note.
To investigate how resistance exercise and dietary protein affect metabolism, the researchers had the study participants work out on resistance machines three times a week for 12 weeks. Each workout session lasted for about an hour and 15 minutes, and included 8 exercises.
Half of the study participants consumed 0.9 grams of protein for each kilogram of body weight per day (low-protein group); the other half consumed 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram (high protein group). The current recommended amount of daily protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.
Men and women in the high-protein and the low-protein groups experienced small but significant reductions in total cholesterol and in low-density lipoprotein, the “bad” cholesterol. The level of reduction was similar in both groups.
Changes were similar to what would have occurred with short-term weight loss. And both groups also experienced similar increases in lean body mass and reductions in fat mass.
However, the most dramatic effect was on glucose tolerance, Campbell said, with both groups showing a “profound” improvement in glucose tolerance after the 3-month training program.
The findings are especially significant, the researcher added, because the study participants were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes because of their age and, in some cases, their weight.
“Another five or ten years from now, if they follow the usual paths, they’re going to become heavier and move into the clearly overweight category,” he explained.
Campbell emphasized that all of the study participants were getting adequate amounts of high-quality protein, and urged anyone considering beginning a weight resistance program to do the same.
SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2007.
Changing to a healthier lifestyle appears to be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, says a new BMJ study conducted by researchers in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester.
Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem – in England around 1.3 million people have diabetes and around 5% of total NHS resources are used for the care of people with diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Leicester reviewed studies involving over 8000 people which measured the effects of different interventions – lifestyle, diabetes drugs and anti-obesity drugs – on people with impaired glucose tolerance (1). They found that lifestyle changes, e.g. switching to a healthier diet and increasing exercise to be at least as effective as taking prescription drugs. On average, lifestyle changes helped to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by around half. Lifestyle changes were also less likely to have adverse side-effects. However, the researchers say that both lifestyle changes and prescription drug taking must be sustained in order to prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes.
The authors say that as global rates of Type 2 diabetes are likely to double by 2030, interventions to prevent the condition will have an important role to play in future health policies. The study findings have large implications for public health policy, however, the authors note that if lifestyle changes are to be truly effective more needs to be done to support people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
This study forms part of a larger research project on Evidence Synthesis Methods for Public Health Policy Decision Making based within the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) as part of their joint Public Health Initiative.
Professor Keith Abrams, one of the lead researchers on the project said:
‘This study shows that either adopting lifestyle changes or being prescribed appropriate medication for people with IGT significantly reduces the rate at which they will develop Type 2 diabetes. We are now investigating what the optimum screening strategy is for identifying people with IGT, and what the long term clinical and cost-effectiveness implications are of both screening and treatment.’