Diabetes and Neuropathy, Be Aware

Neuropathies are a variety of ailments which arise when nerves of the peripheral nervous system - the nervous system aside from the brain and spinal cord - are damaged; this is most commonly referred to as peripheral neuropathy. Approximately 50% to 70% of the people who suffer with diabetes, in all probability will have some form of neuropathy. Most often it affects the motor nerves which control muscle movement and the sensory nerves which are responsible for our awareness of sensations such as coldness or pain. It first becomes apparent in the extremities but can manifest itself in the heart, blood vessels, bladder and intestines

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic Neuropathy is often classified into four distinct categories: peripheral, autonomic, proximal and focal. Since neuropathy can affect nerves throughout the body this classification is dependent on which part of the body is affected.

(a) Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type and causes loss of feeling or pain in the hands, arms, toes, feet and legs. It can also cause muscle weakness and foot deformities. Due to the loss of feeling, injuries can go unnoticed, resulting in infection(s) and additional complications.
(b) Autonomic neuropathy affects the nerves which support the heart and blood vessels, the urinary tract, the lungs and eyes, the sex organs, the sweat glands and the digestive system. Autonomic neuropathy can also be responsible for hypoglycemia unawareness whereby a person no longer experience the warning symptoms of low blood sugar levels.
(c) Proximal neuropathy affects the thighs, hips, or buttocks resulting in weakness of the legs. Due to weakness of the legs it becomes difficult to go from a sitting to standing position and assistance may be required. This affliction is more common among persons with Type 2 diabetes.
(d) Focal neuropathy affects one nerve or a group of nerves leading to muscle weakness or pain. It can affect the nerves which control the facial muscles, eyes, ears, chest, abdomen, pelvis and lower back, thighs, legs and feet. It is painful and unpredictable, existing mostly among older adults suffering with diabetes. It tends to improve by itself and does not cause long-term damage.

Symptoms

The symptoms are dependent on: the type of neuropathy contracted, the nerve(s) affected (autonomic, motor, sensory) and their location. It is not uncommon for many types of neuropathy to affect all three types of nerves. Some neuropathies may appear suddenly while others develop gradually.

(a) Autonomic Nerve Damage: Swollen abdomen, Blurred vision, Feeling full quickly, Nausea/ Vomiting after eating, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Weight loss, Dizziness/Fainting, Overflow and/or Urinary incontinence, Difficulty beginning to urinate, Abnormal perspiring, Sensitivity to heat, Impotence in men and Vaginal dryness in women.
(b) Motor Nerve Damage: Experiencing difficulty to move a part of the body (loss of balance and coordination), Lack of dexterity and muscle control, Cramps or Spasms, Loss of muscle tissue and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
(c) Sensory Nerve Damage: Nerve pain, Tingling or numbness, Burning sensations, Lack of coordination and a Lessening or absence of sensation to such an extent that nothing can be felt.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Presently there's no cure for diabetic neuropathy. Treatments are focused on prevention of further damage to the nerves and relief of pain (to those already afflicted) and are often determined by the extent to which the ailment has progressed. Antidepressants (low doses), Analgesics and anticonvulsant drugs may be prescribed for relief of burning, tingling and pain. Pills, creams, special diets and therapies to stimulate the nerves and muscles are also employed. Non-medicinal therapies may include: meditation, yoga, acupuncture, chiropractic massages and cognitive therapy. All treatments depend on the type of nerve problem and symptom.

Good foot health is particularly important and special preventative steps should be taken to avoid degenerative progress of the disease:

(a) Avoid continuous pressure on the knees and elbows
(b) Do not walk barefooted
(c) Avoid getting your feet too hot or cold
(d) Wash your feet daily with lukewarm water and mild soap
(e) Dry your feet well and use non-medicated powders with shoes, socks and stockings
(f) Apply cream or lotion to keep foot, especially heels smooth.
(g) Daily foot exams, checking for cuts, blisters, calluses or bruises.

The best way of preventing diabetic neuropathy is by adhering to the recommended treatment for your diabetes as prescribed by your doctor. Taking your diabetes medicines or insulin, blood glucose monitoring, a proper diet and physical activity will help keep your blood sugar levels under control. Keeping your blood glucose level as close to normal as possible will help protect the nerves throughout the entire body.

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Diabetes May Be the Outcome and Risk Factor of Depression

Depression is defined as a state of low disposition that it influenced person's thoughts, behavior, emotion and physical well-being. This could lead to lose interest on hobbies, difficulty in concentration and even suicide attempt. The patient might experience insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems.

Depression can also affect diabetics. It is not listed as a complication but can become one of the most dangerous complications to a diabetic patient. A depressed individual may loss his interest in controlling glucose level.

In a study conducted by An Pan, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and his team measured the connection of the two syndromes with 65,381 women participants whose age ranges from 50 to 75 in 1996. The women were requested to provide information about their medical records and health practices. The questionnaires were done every two years all through 2006. Women who were identified as diabetic was given another questionnaire about symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatments.

Throughout the 10 years record, 2,844 were identified as type 2 diabetic and the 7,415 has depression problem. Depressed women has trouble managing body mass index (BMI).

As soon as the other risk factor of mood disorder is controlled, women with diabetes were 29 percent to acquire depression. Those who are taking insulin have 53 percent chances than those without diabetes.

The outcome shows that lifestyle issue such as physical activity and BMI in some measure acts as a referee between depression and diabetes. However the link remained irrelevant following the adjustment of such factors, therefore depression may really play a role on diabetes. The findings is also a proof that depression and diabetes are related.

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Diabetes Research Gives You the Tools You Need

Diabetes research is an important subject for many, many people. There are different types of diabetes, and different ways that it needs to be handled. In order to know that you are handling yours properly you need to immerse yourself in the subject.

If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with diabetes, it can be a scary time, filled with terms and procedures that you aren't familiar with. You have to learn about what causes diabetes, how you need to control it, and what you can do to make everything easier on everyone involved.

Diving into diabetes research may seem overwhelming, but it is actually a great way to empower yourself. By doing a lot of reading and studying on the subject, you will become well acquainted with it quickly, which makes dealing with it much easier. Also, it makes you feel more confident when you are shopping for diabetic supplies and talking with medical professionals about it.

One thing that you should do if you or a loved one has diabetes is to keep up with medical sites. As new diabetes research comes out, you should be able to find news of it quickly and easily. This can give you the upper hand when you are thinking about new treatment options. Knowing about new diabetes discoveries can also help you to make decisions that will make life easier for the person living with diabetes, which is always welcome.

Some sites offer information on day to day living with diabetes. You should be able to find many recipes that are made specifically for those with diabetes and that cater to many tastes and age groups. Also, you will find lesser known information, such as what you can do to deal with the depression that many people with diabetes suffer from. There are some surprising side effects to diabetes that most people aren't familiar with, and by doing diabetes research you can be ready if you or your loved one encounters those side effects.

Look around at some of the available sites that offer good information about diabetes. You will be able to pick a few that are reputable, offer pertinent, up to date info, and are easy to navigate. Once you find these sites, make sure you check in with them regularly to make sure you don't miss important updates.

By doing lots of diabetes research, you will feel ready to handle any curveballs that diabetes may toss your way. You will also find living with this issue easier if you are familiar with it.

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Type 1 Diabetes Diet - Know Your Carbs

Type 1 diabetes may also be called insulin dependent diabetes. It develops whenever your pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Insulin is a very important hormone which allows the cells of your body to take blood sugar. Whenever you do not have sufficient insulin, serious health complications as well as death can result. Type 1 diabetes is often genetic and develops during childhood however it may also strike adults. It is a different condition from type 2 diabetes that is much more common. With type 2 diabetes, your pancreas produces plenty of insulin your cells are unable to utilize it properly. Both types are managed with medication and diet. Type 1 necessitates the use of insulin along with a type 1 diabetes diet.

A diabetes diet should be strictly adhered to and adjusted to the amount of insulin you are taking. It takes frequent blood sugar monitoring. Should you skip meals but still take the usual quantity of insulin, your blood sugar levels can dip lacking and throw you into hypoglycemia and cause you to distribute. Therefore it is very important to comprehend the role of a type 1 diabetes diet and how it relates to managing insulin and blood sugar levels.

Your diet plan is composed mainly of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Of those, carbohydrates are what have the most impact on blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates are found in sugar and starch; they break down within your body to form glucose. Glucose is exactly what provides your body with energy, so eating enough carbs is important to some nutritious diet. However, eating the right type in the correct amount and at the best time is important to some type 1 diabetes diet.

You should count carbohydrates with type 1 diabetes. The grams of carbs you are taking in are regulated against the dose of insulin you need. Even being off by a number of grams can be enough to affect your blood sugar levels in a negative way. Firstly you should understand what foods have carbs inside them These include vegetables, particularly squash, corn, and potatoes; fruit, milk, honey, sugar, sodas, sweets, rice, cereal, pasta, grains, lentils, and dried beans.

To help you determine the very best carbohydrate containing foods to consume on a diabetes diet, you need to use an index list chart. Foods which have a minimal index list convert into blood sugar more slowly so that they are the best choices. Only carbs are rated on the glycemic index because protein and fat do not have a big effect on blood sugar levels.

In general, for diabetes diet, you need to choose complex carbohydrates whenever possible over refined carbs. This means whole grain bread rather than white bread. It is also better to eat whole fruit and veggies rather than the juices from them as the fiber helps maintain your sugar levels down. Greens for example salad foods could be eaten in abundance. Protein for example meat, egg-whites, and beans could be enjoyed as long as they aren't over eaten because high protein intake stimulates your liver to produce blood sugar.

Type 1 diabetes is really a serious medical condition that may have dire consequences if left untreated. Fortunately by using supplemental insulin and a type 1 diabetes diet, the problem can be successfully managed to help you carry on living a complete and productive life.

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How Gestational Diabetes Symptoms Build Up?

Gestational diabetes is an endocrine and metabolic disorder of pregnant women. There are changes in the hormone that causes the gestational diabetes symptoms. Every pregnant woman is at risk of this kind of diabetes but not all will suffer. Statistically speaking, four percent of expectant mothers have been diagnose with this type of diabetes and may suffer the different symptoms of this kind of disease.

An abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy is the universal definition of gestational diabetes. There have been four known causes of the disorder and it includes obesity during pregnancy, age of more than 35 years, the mother is classified as multiple gestations, and has a family history of gestational diabetes. The latter causes were identified as the primary cause that triggers the human placental lactogen (HPL), a hormone that antagonizes the production of insulin needed by the pregnant mother. Normally, HPL were produced in order to prevent the glucose absorption needed by the mother, instead, the glucose was being provided for the consumption of the baby.

In this type of diabetes, since HPL were being activated, an increase supply of glucose flooded the blood circulation. The flooding of glucose causes the gestational diabetes symptoms that are more likely the same with a patient having diabetes mellitus. If this disorder were left untreated and unmonitored, there will be expected complications to the mother might as well to the fetus. The newborn may have a large body built and heavy weight compared to the normal weight of the newborn, which is called macrosomia. Macrosomia happens for the reason that the large amount of glucose was being consumed by the fetus. And for the pregnant mother the following are the classic indications or the different gestational diabetes symptoms.

? Blurred vision. This manifestation is the most common among the gestational diabetes symptoms. Because of viscosity of the blood, a process called osmosis is activated. As a result, there will be an increase blood volume on the blood circulation. The increase of the blood volume swells the cells of the different body including the lens of the eye causing blurry vision.
? Weariness. Weariness is the lay man's term for fatigue. Fatigue usually happen because of decrease of energy. Always remember that cells need glucose in order to produce energy. In this type of diabetes, since the HPL prevents the absorption of the glucose to be used up for the body cells of the mother, as a result, no energy will be produce resulting to fatigability.
? Frequent infections, including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin. This disease causes the urine to be less concentrated. Less concentrated urine would mean alkalinity which is a good pH for the bacteria to grow and divide. Consequently, there is an increase risk for bacterial infections to the mother.
? Increase Urination or Polyuria. It was observed that there is an increase of glucose in the blood and the body compensates through increasing the blood volume. The kidneys are the ones that maintain the blood volume balance in the body. And since there is an increase amount of blood volume in the body, the action of the kidney is to get rid of the excessive fluid in the blood causing an increase in urination.
? Increase thirst and hunger. In order to replace the loss fluid, the body compensates by increasing the thirst and to relieve the fatigability, a large amount of food will be the recompense.

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Controlling Blood Sugar Levels Important To Prevent And Treat Diabetes

We as a species are clearly heading down the wrong path with regards to the protection of our health and wellness. The almost total lack of muscular exertion in our sedentary modern world combined with the wrong types of foods and way too much of them are making an ever increasing number of us overweight, sick and immobile.

The outcome of the way we are living is a downgrading of our metabolism (our bodies engine) which is causing us to become over-fat as we simply cannot utilize the energy we take in each day because we have become so inactive.

Being overweight is not a natural condition for the human body and accelerates a host of problems. Even things like the increased loading of the spine and joints causes them to break down and hurt which means the desire to be active is reduced even more.

As a person's strength and fitness further deteriorate and be lost, the world becomes a smaller place and the downward health spiral continues. The quality of life is then reduced for as much as the last third of life which is not how it should be.

Our modern diet of mainly refined and processed non-foods (they have few to zero nutrients) have an abundance of empty calories meaning our blood sugar levels are continually high. There is not enough muscular activity to burn up the sugar in the blood so it hangs around circulating in the blood stream ending up getting into places it should not be causing damage to body organs, tissues and cells.

It is this damage that can trigger serious disease which we see all around us today. Eventually if we keep going down this track our body tries to protect itself from high blood sugar by shutting down the receptors that allow it into the cells. This 'glucose intolerance' is the fore-runner to diabetes which means your body's ability to control blood sugar levels has become impaired.

This is so serious that over the last 20 years the number of diabetics has risen from 30 million to 246 million. This is predicted to be just the tip of the iceberg for as many as one third of diabetics do not even know that they suffer from the disease. Therefore they are doing nothing to halt its progress.

This creeping blood sugar intolerance often displays no visible symptoms and it can be one of the most destructive changes to our body as we get older. Of course we cannot control our age but we can absolutely control the main three factors that change the processing of blood sugar for the worse.

1 - not doing enough proper muscle building and maintaining exercise
2 - a diet high in processed foods that contain man made fats, sugars and starches
3 - body fat levels increasing

The solution - a proper strength training program that will ensure muscles are exercised properly through their ranges of movement with adequate resistance to keep them strong and healthy. This will have them gobbling up sugar from the blood efficiently. Next ditch the processed non-nutrient foods and replace them with whole natural foods that you cook from scratch.

This simple solution of proper exercise 2-3 times each week supported with improved nutrition means you can bring this problem under control or prevent it happening in the first place. The two factors that will have a lasting effect on metabolism is by improving and reducing high levels of glucose in the blood stream and reducing body fat levels over time.

You will be improving your health from the inside where it may not be visible but will give you not only a higher quality of life as well as greater disease protection from these modern killer diseases stalking us all.

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

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You Can Keep Normal Blood Sugar Levels to Stay Safe

It is from the studies on diabetes and its spread ratio that United States has an increased bulk of diabetics. Some people are born with diabetes while most others have acquired and developed diabetes. Though proper medications can do with controlling diabetes by way of keeping normal blood sugar levels, many have not been successful with easy methods. As means and measures, insulin and other diabetic medicines are prescribed in pretty many cases. They are proudly saying that diabetes is kept under control simply by injecting a small dose of insulin. It's Ok, but taking insulin is the last resort and the diabetic becomes insulin dependent which is not pleasing though safe. While there are natural ways of increasing blood sugar sensitivity, why should you spend a handful on prescription medication?

If it's put in specific terms, the ways and means can be helping you in easygoing with normal sugar levels and staying safe. It cannot be an issue that you accept a change of lifestyle including proper food, and exercise. Leaving poor eating habits and adopting healthy eating is the first formula to do away with sugar diabetes. When it comes to natural way of keeping the body with normal glucose levels, any sugar sensitive diabetic needs to be stubborn in trying the following.

First, it should be kept in sense that what you eat affects your body's potential to manage low blood sugar at optimal levels. This is because the food intake contains not merely sugar but even increased amount of carbohydrates. Considering this, you should have right choices of diets to maintain normal blood sugar levels after eating. You need to say goodbye to processed foods as they are the first enemies to distort the level of normal blood glucose in the blood stream. If you are able to control your diet, you will be half way on the track to keep off diabetes. Foods high in fiber should be the best choice when you go for eating. In this category, you have to prioritize bean varieties (black beans and kidney beans) as they are atop the list of high fiber foods. Green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits low in sugar can be good choices of natural foods with all nutrients.

Consistent exercise program with simple exercises like jogging and riding on bicycle can help burn fats and reduce inches of waistline with weight loss. That way, with right diet choices and exercise, you can better maintain normal blood sugar levels chart ideal to your whims.

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