Jan 19

Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) makes up the majority of diabetes cases. It’s estimated that around 13 million in the USA suffer from Type 2. Unlike Type I, Type II progresses at a slow pace. It can creep along and be unnoticed for years. For this reason, Type 2 diabetes is beginning to be called the “stealth disease.” This type of diabetes can walk around with a person from day to day and they will begin to believe it’s a normal process of their life. Well, I have news for you, it’s not and it’s very lethal if left untreated. If you notice any of the symptoms below, you should visit the doctor immediately. Untreated cases of diabetes account for most of the cases of fatalities of diabetes.

There is amazing technology and medicine today to help you cope with diabetes.

Below is a list of the top symptoms for users that may have Type 2 Diabetes:

Any of the Type 1 symptoms listed above: Any of the symptoms listed above can and probably will be apparent in an individual that has Type 1 diabetes.

Tingling or Numbness in Legs, Feet, or Fingers: You may have a burning sensation or heightened sensitivity in these extremities or on other spots of your skin. Symptoms, such as leg cramps can appear or worsen at night time. These may be signs that circulation is poor or nerve damage is beginning to progress.

Frequent Infections: Diabetes weakens the body’s defenses against invasions of bacteria. Infections of the gums, urinary tract, or skin can keep recurring and take a long time to clear up. This shows that the disease may have begun interfering with the immune system.

Itching of Skin and Genitals : This is the result of an underlying infection or dehydration, a common by-product of diabetes.

Slow Healing of Cuts and Bruises : Diabetes has affects how cells use the nutrients taken from food. The body may have difficult repairing damaged tissue. Diabetes is also known to thicken blood vessels, slowing circulation and preventing wounds from receiving nutrients and oxygen.

The problem millions of people face a year is that these symptoms can be overlooked and even blamed for other conditions. You have to make sure that your blood sugar level is checked yearly, at the very least, and more frequently if there are manifestations of any of the symptoms above. Below is a list of the top symptoms for women that may have gestational diabetes:

• Many women experience no symptoms at all
• Thirst
• Hunger
• Urination increase
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bladder infection
• Vaginal infection

The symptoms above should be used as a resource to diagnose yourself with diabetes, it should simply be a resource to pre-diagnose yourself. The only way to truly know if you have diabetes or not is to visit the doctor and be tested. If you have any slight assumption in your mind that you may have diabetes, then visit the doctor immediately, do not leave this disease untreated or it could result in a very dangerous and possibly fatal result.

Gary Sanders is an expert and diabetes sufferer. He has dedicated the last decade of his life to mastering every aspect of diabetes including nutrition, symptoms of diabetes, diagnosis, and prevention. He has created an award winning guide that is available at http://www.diabetessymptomsguide.com/

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Jan 19

According to the National Diabetes Education Program, 177,000 young people under the age of 20 have this disease. Type 2 diabetes impacts the way your body processes carbohydrates. In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin. The body is unable, however, to process the insulin (this is known as insulin resistance). The result is that while the body produces more insulin, it is like it does not produce enough because the body’s cells do not respond.

Type 2 diabetes can be positively affected through lifestyle changes. People with type 2 diabetes typically can control the symptoms through a combination of weight loss and exercise. In some cases, oral medications may be required. Some people with type 2 diabetes must inject insulin in order to raise levels high enough to meet the body’s demand due to the level of resistance.

One theory of what causes type 2 diabetes is called the thrifty gene. The theory is that evolution provided a gene that causes insulin resistance when food supplies are low to enable more efficient fat storage. This is then reversed in times of abundant food. The modern industrialized food supply provides a surplus of carbohydrate and fat. Because there are no periods of famine, the stored fat is never completely burned away, so the gene backfires by allowing a gradual accumulation of fat that leads to obesity. A feedback loop between insulin resistance and high levels of glucose in the bloodstream cause the condition to worsen with time.

Dr. Ray Strand has a theory that glycemic stress, or the constant barrage of glucose to the bloodstream, is a major contributing factor. The prevalence of high processed foods in the diet explains why the incidence of type 2 diabetes has grown exponentially over the past few decades. In one clinical trial, he had subjects perform exercise while following a low-glycemic diet. A low glycemic diet is one that includes food and food combinations designed to minimize the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream. The results were that patients who followed this regimen experienced lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and improved insulin sensitivity. This suggests that lifestyle changes can influence the level of insulin resistance experienced by people who suffer from type 2 diabetes.

The key lifestyle strategy for coping with type 2 diabetes is to improve insulin sensitivity (i.e. reverse insulin resistance). This involves a combination of exercise, which has been shown to improve glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, reducing calories, losing weight, and consuming low glycemic foods.

Reducing calories is done by replacing processed foods with nutrient-dense foods. Simply exchanging a slice of white bread for a slice of whole wheat bread will reduce the impact on blood sugar of the meal as well as introduce fiber and additional nutrients to the diet. While the glycemic index can be used to rank the impact that foods have on blood sugar, a general rule of thumb is to focus on foods that as close to their natural state as possible. Almost all fruits and raw vegetables have a low glycemic index. Food combinations are important as well. The presence of healthy fats, fiber, and protein all slow digestion and low the glycemic index of a meal. Focusing on whole foods ensures that adequate fiber is present, while integrating healthy fats and lean proteins will further ensure the meals keep blood sugar levels stable.

While incidences of type 2 diabetes are on the rise, more people are learning how to fight this disease through a combination of medical care and lifestyle changes. The only way known to cure most diseases is to prevent it. It’s never too late to focus on a lifestyle that includes consistent exercise and healthy food choices.

Jeremy Likness is the founder of Lose Fat, Not Faith He is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Performance Nutrition. Jeremy is a freelance writer and entrepreneur. Jeremy lost 65 pounds of fat and was a Top 2000 Finisher in the 2000 Body-for-LIFE Competition. He is the author of the internationally-selling book, Lose Fat, Not Faith: A Transformation Guide.

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Jan 19

The only true way to know if you have diabetes is to visit your doctor and have various tests done. There is a couple of what we call pre-symptoms in order to determine if what you are experiencing may or may not be diabetes.

Here is a list of what you should be looking out for if you think you may have diabetes:

• Irritability
• Blurry vision
• Constantly urinating
• Always thirsty
• Always hungry
• Sudden weight loss
• Continued fatigue

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). It’s less common in the US because the most severe cases usually develop within a few days or weeks. With IDDM, the lack of insulin stems from the destruction of beta cells. The symptoms associated with IDDM are very distinct:

Polydipsia : An extreme thirst that is due to frequent urination. The body is signaling for lost fluids to be replaced. Dehydration will occur if the condition is not caught immediately.

Polyuria : Urination that comes frequently and in large doses is a symptom of diabetes. The body rushes fluids through the kidney to dilute the unusually high levels of sugar in the urine.

Polyphagia: This is a feeling of unusual hunger. The body believes it is starving because glucose is not reaching its cells to provide the proper nutrients.

Extreme Weight Loss: There are many Type I diabetes patients that are at or below their ideal body weight. When diabetes begins, they suddenly lose a great deal of weight - as much as 15 or more pounds in a week. Weight loss happens even if the individual has a good diet and is eating correctly. The lack of insulin simply means that calories, in the form of glucose are being sent out through the urine and the body is beginning to burn fat reserves.

Irritability: In young people especially, crankiness, crying, and confusion may warn that diabetes is on the horizon. A child may seem to very inattentive and generally confused about what is going on.

Weakness: Weakness is a symptom because muscle cells are not receiving their usual fuel and energy. Fatigue is a symptom for many illnesses and diseases which is a good reason why diabetes can go unrecognized for a long period of time. You should be concerned if your child becomes restless, tired, or drowsy all of a sudden for no reason. There are many people that report stomach pain, leg pain, chest pain, and having difficulty breathing.

Blurred Vision: Excess glucose can be seeping into the eye, which changes the shape of the lens. The difficult in focusing or changes in eyesight from one day to the next - such as being nearsighted to having normal vision are possible symptoms for diabetes.

Nausea/Vomiting: Nausea and vomiting can happen before ketoacidosis, as poisonous ketone acids build up in the blood and the body must resort to burning fat deposits for energy.

While this list gives you a good indication of Type 1 diabetes symptoms, the only true way to know if you have diabetes is to visit your doctor.

Gary Sanders is an expert and diabetes sufferer. He has dedicated the last decade of his life to mastering every aspect of diabetes including nutrition, symptoms of diabetes, diagnosis, and prevention. He has created an award winning guide that is available at http://www.diabetessymptomsguide.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Sanders

Jan 19

Low blood sugar can be a condition alone or can be caused by a complication of diabetes or a different disease. However, it is most frequently a result of insulin intake reaction due to diabetes.

There are some symptoms of low blood sugar to look out for. However, symptoms may vary depending on the individual’s case. The following are symptoms of low blood sugar:

- Sensitivity inside the mouth
- Excessive hunger
- Dizziness and shakiness
- Irritability and moodiness
- Pale skin color
- Headache and blurry vision
- Unawareness
- Excessive sweating

The symptoms of low blood sugar may be caused by other disorders or conditions. It is best to consult your physician about it to be sure.

There are several causes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This includes the following:

- Excessive medications
- Skipping of meals or delays in eating
- Insufficient intake of insulin because too little food is taken

There are other rare causes of low blood sugar. Low blood sugar may occur during early pregnancy after a strenuous work out or after fasting or it can be caused by medications or too much intake of alcohol.

In diagnosing low blood sugar, different tests are conducted by a specialist. If a person suffering from hypoglycemia has diabetes, the doctor can therefore conclude that it is a complication from diabetes due to insulin. For patients who have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that do not have diabetes, the condition will be diagnosed using the following methods below:

- Measurement of blood glucose level while the symptoms are being experienced
- Observation of the symptoms whether they are relieved when eating foods high in carbohydrates and sugar

Test to measure insulin production may also be performed by doctors and specialized treatments will be based on the patient’s condition like the age, medical history, overall medical condition and past treatments. To help detect low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) as early as possible, it is best to look for the symptoms of low blood sugar and consult a physician.

Learn more about the symptoms of Low Blood Sugar, treatments and remedies.

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