Information on type 2 diabetes

==== ====For More Information, Please Go to:http://tinyurl.com/7nffmx2==== ====What is diabetes?Diabetes is a disease where your blood glucose (sugar) levels are above normal. It results fromthe inability of the glucose to get into your cells. As a result your cells are starving for their food(glucose). It would be like a starving person surrounded by tables of wonderful food but theirmouth has been sewn closed and they cant eat.About 17 million Americans are believed to have diabetes and one-third of those patients donteven know they have it. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease,blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause ofdeath in the US. And most diabetics develop heart disease. In fact, just having diabetes carries thesame risk of having a heart attack as someone who has already had such an event. Therefore it isvery important for patients that have diabetes to also have a physician that closely monitors andtreats their cholesterol levels as well as their blood pressure. Additionally, any use of tobaccoproducts multiplies the risks and should be stopped.Are there different kinds of diabetes?Certainly. But the basic features of the disease are same. In any form of diabetes there is someunderlying reason why your body is not able to utilize glucose (sugar) for energy, and that causesthe levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood build up above normal. There are three areas that areimportant for you to understand in diabetes. First, the cells in your body which use the glucose areimportant as they must be able to remove sugar from the blood and put it inside the cell as a fuel.Secondly, the insulin which is made by your pancreas (an organ near your stomach) is importantto allow the sugar to enter the cell (the key to unlock the door to enter), and lastly, glucose whichis broken down from your food or from muscle and liver from a storage form of glucose calledglycogen. Now if you think of the disease diabetes as involving a locking gas cap on your car, itwill be easier to understand.If you understand how a locking gas cap works, then you can understand how diabetes works. Allof the cells in your body have a locking gas cap on them. Insulin is the key to the locking gas cap,and glucose would be the fuel for the car. In one form of diabetes, the body totally quits makinginsulin (keys) so you cant get glucose (fuel) into your cells. In other forms of diabetes, your bodymakes some insulin (keys) but not much as your body needs. Therefore, only a few of the cellscan be unlocked and opened to put the glucose (fuel) inside. Another thing that happens is thatsome of the locks on the cells become rusty and wont work properly. So even if you have insulin(keys) you cant get the cells to open. This is called insulin resistance. If the cells wont open, youcant get glucose (fuel) inside the cell for energy. The result of all of this is excess glucose in yourblood.

Types Of Diabetes.Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and only accounts for 5-10% ofdiabetes patients. In type 1 diabetes the pancreas doesnt make any insulin (keys) at all.Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease. It accounts for 90-95% of all the casesof diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either your body doesnt make enough insulin (keys), or the cellsin your body ignore the insulin (the lock is rusty and doesnt work) so they cant utilize glucose likethey are supposed to. When your cells ignore the insulin, as mentioned above, it is often referredto as insulin resistance.Other types of diabetes which only account for a small number of the cases of diabetes includegestational diabetes, which is a type of diabetes that only pregnant women get. If not treated, itcan cause problems for mothers and babies and usually disappears when the pregnancy is over.Other types of diabetes resulting from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition,infections, and other illnesses may account for 1% to 2% of all cases of diabetes.How do you get diabetes?There are risk factors that increase your chance of developing diabetes. Risk factors for type 2diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes,impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. Risk factors are less welldefined for type 1 diabetes than for type 2 diabetes, but autoimmune, genetic, and environmentalfactors are involved in developing this type of diabetes.What are the symptoms of diabetes?People who think they might have diabetes must visit a physician for a diagnosis. They might haveSOME or NONE of the following symptoms: frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplainedweight loss, extreme hunger, sudden vision changes, tingling or numbness in hands or feet,feeling very tired much of the time, very dry skin, sores that are slow to heal, more infections thanusual. Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains may accompany some of these symptoms in theabrupt onset of type 1 diabetes.Glucose is sugar! So all I have to do is avoid sweets, right?It is not that simple. The truth is, most food, and all of the carbohydrates you eat, are broken downinto its simplest structure, glucose. As food arrives in your stomach, the acid starts to break thefood down immediately. Proteins are broken down for their amino acids, and carbohydrates fortheir glucose. Once your gastrointestinal system breaks your food down into something your bodycan utilize, the blood picks it up and carries it to your cells to for energy. In healthy people, theblood picks up the glucose absorbed from the GI tract, and sends a signal to your pancreas (anorgan near your stomach) to make and release insulin. Remember, in Type 2 diabetes your bodydoesnt make enough insulin (keys), or some of your cells ignoring the insulin that is there. (Thelocks are rusty and wont work) In both situations, your cells dont get the glucose they need forenergy and they are starving while all the extra glucose is just floating around in your blood andcant be used. The worst part is, when all that extra glucose is floating around in your blood, it is

causing damage to your blood vessels and organs and that damage increase your risk of heartdisease. That is why it is very important to keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal aspossible. When the glucose levels get really high, the glucose starts to leak out into your urine.How do you treat diabetes?There are several things you need to do to help control your diabetes. For type 1 diabetes,Healthy eating, physical activity, and insulin injections are the basic therapies. The amount ofinsulin taken must be balanced with food intake and daily activities. For patients with type 1diabetes, blood glucose levels must be closely monitored through frequent blood glucose testing.For type 2 diabetes, healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose testing are the basictherapies. In addition, many people with type 2 diabetes require oral medication, insulin, or bothto control their blood glucose levels. Some of the oral medications work by stimulating yourpancreas to make more insulin (keys). Other oral medicines work to make the rusty locks startworking again. In a sense they are kind of like WD-40 for the rusty locks on the cells. It fixes thelock on the cells so the insulin (keys) can open the cell to allow the glucose (fuel) inside. Once theglucose (fuel) is allowed inside the cells, your blood sugar levels will drop back down to normal.What medicine am I going to have to take for my diabetes?There are many different types of medications that your doctor may prescribe for diabetes;however these prescriptions can cause certain nutritional deficiencies that may increase your riskfor chronic degenerative diseases. NutraMD Diabetes Essential Nutrients® supplement wasdesigned to work with your diabetic medications by replacing lost nutrients reducing the risk ofdangerous side effects, and promote better healthThe main classes of diabetic medications include sulfonylureas, biguanides, andthiazolidinediones.Sulfonylureas include the following medications:Orinase ,Tolinase, Diabinese, Glipizide, Glyburide, Amaryl, Prandin, StrarlixThe main function of sulfonylureas is to increase insulin production in the beta cells of thepancreas. Sulfonylureas can interfere with the bodys normal metabolism of Coenzyme Q10.Because CoQ10 is necessary to make energy in all tissues of the body, this effect may decreaseyour bodys natural ability to utilize or "burn up" sugars, and may even reduce the ability of thepancreas to produce insulin over time.Biguanides include the following medications:Glucophage (Metformin)Glucovance (metformin + glyburide)The main functions of biguanides are to lower the production of glucose by the liver therebyreducing blood glucose levels. Your doctor may prescribe this type of medicine in combination withsulfonylureas insulin, or a class of drugs known as thiazolidinediones. Unfortunately, biguanides

have been shown to deplete vitamin B-12, folic acid and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). A few of theproblems which may arise from deficiencies of folate and vitamin B-12 include the following: Heartdisease, stroke, anemia, arthritis, joint pain, muscle pain, and neuropathies (nerve damage).Because diabetes increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, and neuropathy, it is especiallyimportant to prevent nutritional deficiencies which may add to these risk factors. Therefore toreduce potential side effects of nutrient deficiencies you should take NutraMD Diabetes EssentialNutrients® supplement as long as you are on your diabetic medication.Because both medication types listed above can deplete CoQ10, it is important to understandsome of the symptoms of a deficiency. CoQ10 deficiency has been linked to the followingdiseases and symptoms: Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, rhabdomyolysis (musclebreak down), muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. Therefore to achieve maximum benefit from thediabetes medications and minimize potential side effects of nutrient deficiencies, you shouldcompliment your prescription medication by taking NutraMD Diabetes Essential Nutrients®supplement. By doing this, you will balance the risk/benefit ratio further in your favor.In summary, diabetic medications prescribed by your doctor are necessary to treat your condition;however, you should also be aware that the long term potential nutritional side effects may be justas big a risk factor for your health as the disease you set out to treat in the first place. Put the oddsin your favor and maintain your health with NutraMD Diabetes Essential Nutrients®supplementHow do I know I am keeping my blood sugar under control?Frequent blood tests are used to monitor your blood sugar. Most patients with diabetes shouldhave a home blood monitoring kit. Some doctors ask their patients to check their blood sugar asfrequently at 6 times a day, though this is an extreme. The more information you have about yourblood sugar levels, the easier it will be for you to control it. People with diabetes must takeresponsibility for their day-to-day care, and keep blood glucose levels from going too low or toohigh.When your blood sugar is too high, your doctor refers to it as hyperglycemia. When your bloodsugar is too high, you may not experience any symptoms, but the high levels of glucose in yourblood is causing damage to your blood vessels and organs. That is why it is important to haveyour body utilize the sugar properly and get it out of your bloodstream.When your blood sugar is too low, your doctor refers to it as hypoglycemia. Having low bloodsugar can be very dangerous and patients taking medication for diabetes should watch forsymptoms of low blood sugar. It is also important that your monitor your blood sugar regularly toavoid both low as well as high blood sugar. It is important that you keep your blood sugar as closeto normal as possible at all times.How does my doctor know if I am keeping my blood sugar under control?Some patients are may not follow the proper diet and exercise except for the days leading up to ablood test in the doctors office. They want to look like they are doing a good job controlling theirblood sugar. This way their fasting blood glucose test results will be good for the doctor. But,there is a test that will show your doctor the real picture over the past 3 months or so. It is calledthe hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test. Hemoglobin is the part of your blood, or red cells, that carriesoxygen to your cells. Glucose sticks to the hemoglobin in your red cells of the blood as they

emerge from the bone marrow where they are made.The amount of sugar on the red cell is proportionate to the blood sugar level at the moment thered cell goes into circulation, and remains at that level for the life of the red cell. So if there hasbeen a lot of extra glucose in your blood, there will be a lot of glucose stuck all over yourhemoglobin. Since the average lifespan of the hemoglobin in your blood is 90-100 days, a HbA1Ctest shows a doctor how well you have been controlling your blood sugar over the last 3 months.This test is a check on the overall sugar control, not just the fasting blood sugar. So it is importantto control your blood sugar at all times, and not just before visiting the doctor. The most importantreason to control your blood sugar is so that you can live a longer, healthier life withoutcomplications that can be caused by not controlling your diabetes.What happens if I do not control my diabetes?The complications of diabetes can be devastating. Both forms of diabetes ultimately lead to highblood sugar levels, a condition called hyperglycemia. The damage that hyperglycemia causes toyour body is extensive and includes:Damage to the retina from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is a leading cause of blindness.Diabetes predisposes people to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.These independently and together with hyperglycemia increase the risk of heart disease, kidneydisease, and other blood vessel complications.Damage to the nerves in the autonomic nervous system can lead to paralysis of the stomach(gastroparesis), chronic diarrhea, and an inability to control heart rate and blood pressure withposture changes.Damage to the kidneys from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is a leading cause of kidney failure.Damage to the nerves from diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) is a leading cause of lack of normalsensation in the foot, which can lead to wounds and ulcers, and all too frequently to foot and legamputations.Diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries", and the formation of fattyplaques inside the arteries, which can lead to blockages or a clot (thrombus), which can then leadto heart attack, stroke, and decreased circulation in the arms and legs (peripheral vasculardisease).Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs from time to time in most people with diabetes. It resultsfrom taking too much diabetes medication or insulin, missing a meal, doing more exercise thanusual, drinking too much alcohol, or taking certain medications for other conditions. It is veryimportant to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared to treat it at all times. Headache, feelingdizzy, poor concentration, tremors of hands, and sweating are common symptoms ofhypoglycemia. You can faint or have a seizure if blood sugar level gets too low.Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition in which uncontrolled hyperglycemia (usually due tocomplete lack of insulin or a relative deficiency of insulin) over time creates a buildup in the bloodof acidic waste products called ketones. High levels of ketones can be very harmful. This typically

happens to people with type 1 diabetes who do not have good blood glucose control. Diabeticketoacidosis can be precipitated by infection, stress, trauma, missing medications like insulin, ormedical emergencies like stroke and heart attack.Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome is a serious condition in which the blood sugarlevel gets very high. The body tries to get rid of the excess blood sugar by eliminating it in theurine. This increases the amount of urine significantly and often leads to dehydration so severethat it can cause seizures, coma, even death. This syndrome typically occurs in people with type 2diabetes who are not controlling their blood sugar levels or have become dehydrated or havestress, injury, stroke, or medications like steroids.My doctor says I have pre-diabetes? What is that?Pre-diabetes is a common condition related to diabetes. In people with pre-diabetes, the bloodsugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Pre-diabetesincreases your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and of having heart disease or a stroke. Pre-diabetescan be reversed without insulin or medication by losing a modest amount of weight and increasingyour physical activity. This can prevent, or at least delay, onset of type 2 diabetes. Whenassociated with certain other abnormalities, it is also called the metabolic syndrome.What are normal blood glucose levels? The amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood changesthroughout the day and night. Your levels will vary depending upon when, what and how much youhave eaten, and whether or not you have exercised. The American Diabetes Associationcategories for normal blood sugar levels are the following, based on how your glucose levels aretested:A fasting blood glucose test: This test is performed after you have fasted (no food or liquids otherthan water) for eight hours. A normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 100 mg/dl. Adiagnosis of diabetes is made if your blood glucose reading is 126 mg/dl or higher. (In 1997, theAmerican Diabetes Association lowered the level at which diabetes is diagnosed to 126 mg/dl from140 mg/dl.)A "random" blood glucose test can be taken at any time. A normal blood glucose range is in thelow to mid 100s. A diagnosis of diabetes is made if your blood glucose reading is 200 mg/dl orhigher and you have symptoms of disease such as fatigue, excessive urination, excessive thirst orunplanned weight loss.Another test called the oral glucose tolerance test may be performed instead. For this test, you willbe asked, after fasting overnight, to drink a sugar-water solution. Your blood glucose levels willthen be tested over several hours. In a person without diabetes, glucose levels rise and then fallquickly after drinking the solution. In a person with diabetes, blood glucose levels rise higher thannormal and do not fall as quickly.A normal blood glucose reading two hours after drinking the solution is less than 140 mg/dl, and allreadings between the start of the test until two hours after the start are less than 200 mg/dl.Diabetes is diagnosed if your blood glucose levels are 200 mg/dl or higher.What else do I need to do if I have diabetes?People with diabetes should see a health care provider who will monitor their diabetes control and

help them learn to manage their diabetes. In addition, people with diabetes may seeendocrinologists, who may specialize in diabetes care; ophthalmologists for eye examinations;podiatrists for routine foot care; and dietitians and diabetes educators who teach the skills neededfor daily diabetes management.Diabetes, and its precursor, the metabolic syndrome, can lead to a multitude of problems if notadequately controlled. These include vascular diseases that result in heart attack and stroke,kidney damage leading to kidney failure, damage to nerves (neuropathy), retinal damage leadingto blindness, high blood pressure, and various metabolic defects such as high triglycerides or highcholesterol. It is therefore crucial to control the diabetes as well as all the other risk factors forartery diseases that cause heart attack and stroke.To do this, your doctor will insist on a good diet and regular exercise. Medications are added tolower the blood sugar, and if these are inadequate, insulin or other injectable medication will berequired. The medications that treat diabetes may cause depletion of folic acid, which in turn cancause a high homocysteine, which is a risk factor for artery disease that underlies heart attack andstroke. You can shift the risks in your favor by taking NutraMD Diabetes Essential Nutrients alongwith your doctor prescribed medications.[http://www.essential-nutrients.net]Donald Ford, MD, Diplomate of the American Board Internal Medicine. Dr. Ford has practicedgeneral internal medicine for the past 22 years. He is a native Texan and trained at BaylorUniversity, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and Scott and White in Temple. Heis a Clinical Assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. In addition to general InternalMedicine, his practice includes travel medicine, vascular disease prevention, and IntegrativeMedicine with nutrients. He has been interested in the bodys ability to heal itself sincemedical school, and has used nutrients throughout his career to help patients use less prescriptionmedication, or avoid it altogether.While he sees the tremendous value prescription medicationscan provide, he is also aware of the value and place for nutrients.Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Ford,_M.D.==== ====For More Information, Please Go to:

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Information on type 2 diabetes

by promoteyounow on Jan 18, 2012

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