www.eatingforenergy.ca – This episode of “Ask Yuri” is all about type 2 diabetes. How to prevent it, how to to treat it, and what are symptoms of diabetes. All the answers are here.

Useful information about Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Diabetes, Education, Health Checkups and Monitoring Blood Sugars. Visit www.diabetes-your-blood-sugar.com

One-third of diabetics don’t know that they have the condition. How can you avoid being one of them? Check out this video!Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www.healthguru.com

Useful information about Type 2 diabetes and Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Diabetes Education, Health Checkups and Monitoring Blood Sugars. visit diabetes-your-blood-sugar-australia.com

Diabetes Power is launching a campaign to raise awareness of Type 1 Diabetes, so the condition can be detected at the early stages, rather than when a person is in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Which is a life threatening condition. The campaign is targeting the Medical Professionals & the public. Together we can raise the profile of Type 1 & the” Classic Symptoms” at the onset of Type 1 Diabetes. Everyone involved in this campaign has Type 1 Diabetes or is a carer. This campaign is very real & will be sustainable. To support the campaign please visit www.diabetespower.org.uk or email:angela@diabetespower.org.uk

Hartford Athlete’s Symptoms Don’t Throw Her Off Her Game
Still, Diabetes Diagnosis Is A Huge Lifestyle Change For Active Athlete, A Star On Her Softball Team Nicole Springer wasn’t sure what was going on. She fell sick on a trip to South Carolina in the beginning of March, and again, when her softball team went to Binghamton, N.Y., at the end of April.

Read more on Hartford Courant

Diabetes is a metabolism disorder where the body does not produce or response to insulin properly. There are two types of diabetes, known as type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes happens when the body does not produce any insulin, therefore unable to control the sugar level in the blood. Type 2 diabetes happens when the insulin in the body is not enough or not responding to the glucose. Known as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes is the more common condition that will be discussed in detail in this article.

Lifestyle preferences and genetics are two of the most common causes of Type 2 diabetes. Other possible but less likely causes could be medication complications that affect the body insulin systems or existing conditions. Genetic predisposition to Type 2 Diabetes is plainly understood, as it is without complexities. If there are relatives with the condition, then chances of the offspring developing this type of diabetes is very high. You can do a diabetic risk assessment test by using the genetic genotypes of the parents.

Lifestyle preferences also contribute to increase one chances of getting diabetes. If you lead a sedentary inactive lifestyle, you stand a high change to become overweight. Research studies have found that an obese person has a high 55% chance of getting type 2 diabetes. Such a high percentage can simply not be understated. Taking of saturated fats help contribute to the percentage. Studies have shown that an obese child is more likely to develop diabetes when he grows into a teenager.

Type 2 diabetes symptoms are relatively easy to recognize. The most heavily documented are excessive thirst, excessive hunger and excessive urination, medically termed as polydepsia, polyphagia and polyuria. These are the symptoms that are most indicative of diabetes type 2 and can conclusively suffice to give a diagnosis. However, there are others which are directly linked to diabetes, like fatigue and lethargy, blurred vision, weight loss and slow healing of wounds and sores.

The good news about Type 2 Diabetes is that it can be managed. There is no cure for it, but with a series of steps, the symptoms can be alleviated, and health can be restored. The management is ongoing though, and as long as it is maintained, then diabetes shouldn’t be a problem. For those who have had a constant high blood sugar problem, and diabetes has been a rather chronic problem, there are medications to help in the management.

The advice given to Type 2 diabetics is to change their eating habits to be more suited to their conditions. In general, it simply means understanding how much calories your body needs to go through the day. There has to be increased servings of fruits and vegetables, and sometimes carbohydrate, depending on the type of diet you go for and your metabolic needs. Having an exercise routine is also advisable to keep your weight at acceptable range. With these, you can help your body manage the blood sugar levels better, and live without the diabetic Type 2 symptoms at all.

Are you at risk of Type 2 diabetes? You may not be aware that you are already at risk of diabetes. Knowing about diabetes and its types can always prevent health problems from arising.

Do you know that nearly 6 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes and do not know that they have it?

This is because many have no signs or symptoms. The symptoms may be mild that one cannot even notice them. And some individuals may have symptoms but do not suspect diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, a disease marked by high blood glucose levels. Because it’s gradual, oftentimes those with this disease have no symptoms or don’t recognize that anything is wrong. Here are the most common type 2 diabetes symptoms.

Thirst and Urination

The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are increased thirst and urination. When excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, fluids get pulled from the tissues. The body tries to lower glucose levels by excreting more urine. People become very thirsty all the time, causing them to drink and urinate more often. It may also affect eyesight. If fluid is pulled from the lenses of the eyes, vision may appear blurry, affecting the ability to focus clearly.

Hunger and Weight

Due to the body’s insulin response, the body can’t efficiently move glucose into cells. Thus, muscles and organs can become energy-depleted, which causes people to get very hungry. Yet people may actually lose weight, even if they eat more. Since cells aren’t getting the glucose from the bloodstream, the body turns to alternative fuels for energy: those stored in muscle or fat.

Fatigue

Since cells aren’t getting the necessary fuel, people may become tired and irritable. Fatigue can be extreme, causing a foggy mind or even exhaustion at having to walk a few steps. It can often hit after large meals. People are tired, even if they sleep all the time. This can be one of the most noticeable symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Infections

Those with type 2 diabetes get frequent infections. Sores and bruises may heal slowly. High blood sugar prevents cells from fighting infection normally. Slow healing may also be due to poor circulation.

Other Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Some people, especially children, get a condition known as acanthosis nigricans – patches of dark or velvety skin primarily found in the folds and creases of the body, like the armpits and neck. It may indicate insulin resistance – a hallmark symptom of type 2 diabetes. Other people experience tingling, burning, or numbness in feet and hands. Still others have problems with sweating, dizziness, or gum disease. Men may experience erectile dysfunction. Over time, type 2 diabetes symptoms get worse and lead to more serious problems with the heart, nerves, kidneys, blood vessels, and eyes.

Around one-third of those with the disease don’t know that they have it. If people find these symptoms of type 2 diabetes familiar, they should schedule an appointment with their healthcare professional.

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.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) results when the pancreas loses its ability to make the hormone insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the person’s own immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Once those cells are destroyed, they won’t ever make insulin again.

There are two forms of type 1 diabetes:

idiopathic type 1 diabetes – refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.

immune-mediated diabetes – an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system destroys, or attempts to destroy, the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 1 diabetes takes only a few weeks to develop. The initial symptoms are:

increased production of urine (because the body tries to get rid of the excess glucose in the urine, diluting it with water),
excessive thirst,
fatigue (because the glucose is not being converted into energy),
loss of weight,

If the blood sugar level is not stabilized to a normal value, there will be an accumulation of chemicals in the body called ketones, and this condition is called diabetic ketoacidosis. This serious condition can lead to coma and death. The signs of ketoacidosis are:

-Vomiting,

-Pain in the stomach

-Rapid breathing

-High pulse rate

-Somnolence (abnormal tendency to sleep)

Treatment

Diabetes is mainly treated through insulin replacement therapy and by regularly keeping track of your blood glucose levels.

Insulin Replacement therapy
Insulin may be infused into the body using an injection or an insulin pump. It cannot be taken orally as the body’s digestive juices do not allow it to enter into the blood stream.

Insulin injections are the most common form of diabetes treatment, and generally have to be taken 1 to 4 times a day to be effective, depending on the severity of your case and the dosage given. There are a variety of insulin dosages, ranging from fast to slow acting, available nowadays, which can be used individually or combined together to give the best results.

Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily injections of insulin. Oral diabetes medications are not effective. Many patients with Type 1 diabetes, after beginning insulin injections, experience a period of reduced insulin need called the honeymoon period. During the honeymoon period, the remaining beta cells continue to produce insulin. It is very important to continue insulin therapy during the honeymoon period, because even low doses of insulin appear to help prolong the duration of the honeymoon.

THE CAUSES OF DIABETES TYPE I

When the glucose uptake into the body cells is reduced, but glucose instead accumulates in the blood, the following physiological effects occur:

-The body cells do not get enough fuel for the work they shall do.
-The molecular thickness (osmality) of the blood increases. This causes water to be pulled out from the body tissues and into the blood. The tissues thus get dried out and the urine production increases.
-The tissues begin to break down protein and fat to get energy, causing weight loss and muscular reduction.

Your liver acts as a glucose storage and manufacturing center. When your insulin levels are low ?” when you haven’t eaten in a while, for example ?” your liver releases the stored glucose to keep your glucose level within a normal range.