Diabetes And Your Child's School

If your child has diabetes, it is probably type 1 diabetes, which means that your child is insulin-dependent. Even if your child has type 2 diabetes, you will want to tell the school so that your child is supported during their learning process. You want your child to get the most of their education, and that means helping to make sure that your child gets the proper care at school.

1. Meet with the School

You will want to have a meeting with your child’s teacher, every year. This will probably take about 30 minutes to an hour to discuss the teacher’s questions and your child’s needs. Bring along information about diabetes. There are even pamphlets on diabetes aimed at teachers that you can bring with you.

Your child’s teacher is going to wonder, “Do I have to give insulin treatments?” The answer is that no, teachers are not responsible for giving injections. Many children manage their diabetes without ever getting insulin injections at school. Others get their injections at school, and are supervised by the teacher while they do this.

Help the teacher understand the blood glucose monitoring system that your child uses. It might be helpful to create a chart that explains what the different levels of blood glucose are, and what action should be taken for each one.

It is important to determine what policies the school has in place for diabetics. If there are no pre-existing policies, you can help your child’s school create thoughtful and inclusive policies.

2. Ally yourself with the Teacher

Especially with younger school-aged children, they might not understand the importance of eating their regular snacks. Ask the teacher to help remind your child to eat these snacks.

Your child’s teacher is the best person to observe your child during the day. A common occurrence for children with diabetes is that they develop low blood sugar before lunch. Have the teacher monitor your child to see if there are patterns of lethargy that should be noted and altered (possibly with an extra snack). The teacher can help remind the child to do blood testing as well.

3. Prepare your child

Before your child goes to school, be sure that they understand diabetes. You will want them to know what their responsibilities are.

Remember that as your child grows up, you are transferring the responsibility of monitoring and regulating their own blood sugar from your hands to their hands. During this transition period, you might find that your child makes a mistake, and occasionally misses snacks. This is a normal part of the growing up experience. Help your child overcome these mistakes, but allow your child to make these mistakes in the first place.

Consider getting a medic alert bracelet for your child, or similar piece of identification that explains that they have diabetes so that emergencies can be averted or cared for properly.

4. Help pack the lunch.

When your child is young, you will probably be the one packing their lunch to take to school. Be sure to pack extra snacks in case your child gets low blood sugar at school. Or leave some extra snacks with the teacher if you are worried that your child would eat them all at once. Pack some snacks that are quick to eat, such as carrot sticks instead of an apple, so that your child won’t have to

5. Know your rights.

Even though your child is diabetic, your child has a right to participate in every athletic event, field trip, and class outing that is planned. Your child has a right to monitor their blood sugar when necessary, and to eat snacks when they are needed. Your child also has a right to free access to water and to the bathroom. Your child will also be allowed to take as much time as necessary to eat the needed snacks. These rights are mandated by federal law in Canada, and by state law in the United States. If you feel these rights are being violated, begin by contacting your teacher to discuss how you can solve the situation. If this does not work, speak to your school principal, and take it further if necessary. Most times diabetes education will help the school meet your and your child’s needs.

The teachers, facilitators, and administration all want your child to succeed in school. Help them by giving them the salient information about diabetes. This can be an experience in ongoing education for you, your child, and the school staff. Let your child help in this education. If your child wants to do a presentation or project on diabetes, encourage them to share their knowledge. If your child prefers to keep quiet about diabetes, respect that right as well.

About The Author

Vivian Brennan is an editor of http://www.theguideto-diabetes.com/living_with_diabetes/. For tips on how to deal with diabetes at any age or stage, check out the The Guide to Diabetes.

Breastfeeding And Diabetes

If you are a diabetic and have a baby, there are certain things to keep in mind while you are breastfeeding. Firstly, studies have proven that breastfeeding a baby can help to prevent type 1 diabetes development. Babies who breastfeed until at least six months will be at a lower risk for type 1 diabetes. Doctors generally recommend that mothers breastfeed their children until nine to twelve months.

Doctors are unsure if the positive effects of nursing come from special nutrients in the colostrum (the special milk from mothers) or if it because babies who are breastfed often grow at a more regular pace than those who are fed from cow’s milk. Babies weaned on cow’s milk often experience growth spurts rather than the steady growth associated with mother’s milk. If you are a diabetic, consider breastfeeding to help lower your child’s chances of diabetes due to genetic predisposition.

Breastfeeding is not only positive for the babies, but also for the mothers. Breastfeeding can help maternal weight loss, and it is particularly important for diabetic women to maintain a healthy weight. Some breastfeeding mothers find it easier for them to manage their diabetes because their glucose levels stay more constant and they have a remission of some symptoms while breastfeeding.

Just like during pregnancy, breastfeeding requires much blood sugar level monitoring from the mother. You will probably find that your need for insulin is lower than before your pregnancy. Insulin will not enter your baby’s body because it is too large to be carried on the breast milk. However, if you have type 2 diabetes and are taking diabetes medication, talk with your doctor to make sure that you are on a type of medication that will be healthiest for both you and for your baby.

Breastfeeding means that you have to be extra careful of your nutrition, so be sure to see your doctor or dietitian to create a meal plan that will work for you. It is important to eat regular snacks when you are breastfeeding because you want to keep your blood glucose levels constant. You will need to increase your caloric intake by about 500 calories a day to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. You can do this simply by drinking a glass of milk each time you breastfeed, which will keep you both hydrated and full of vitamins.

In order to maintain a balanced diet, experts suggest that mothers eat 20% of calories from protein, 40-60% from carbohydrates, and 30-40% from fruits and vegetables. Keeping up with all of these food groups will ensure that your body has the nutrients to provide for the baby.

As a breastfeeding mother, low blood sugar is an increased risk. However, by eating a healthy diet full of legumes, whole grains, other healthy foods, you will be able to keep low blood sugar at bay. Drinking lots of fluids is also an important part of having a healthy blood sugar level. Most importantly, monitor your blood glucose levels and record the results frequently. Having a newborn baby around will mean that you are very busy, but it is also the time when it is most important to take care of yourself so that you will be able to care for your baby.

When the baby is born, often it is a good idea to immediately allow the baby to breastfeed, which will prevent low blood sugar. Some hospitals will try to take babies away for observation. You can ask politely, and firmly insist that you baby stays with you for the first feeding and for some initial bonding time. If you are hospitalized after the baby is born, ask to bring your baby with you so that you will still be able to breastfeed. Diabetic mothers are not often hospitalized, but since breastfeeding is even more important for diabetic mothers, it is important to keep this in mind.

Some diabetic mothers may find that their milk comes in late, between two days to two weeks. In the meantime, use a breastpump and speak to your doctor to establish the best solution for you and your baby. Even babies who are too weak to breastfeed can be fed breastmilk that has been pumped.

Breastfeeding is a bonding experience for mothers and babies. Diabetics can breastfeed and gain even more benefits than the emotional closeness, such as lowered diabetes risk for the baby, and improved diabetes control for the mother.

About The Author

Vivian Brennan is an expert on diabetes, and is currently an editor at http://www.theguideto-diabetes.com/living_with_diabetes/ She is also a mother of two. She believes in educating people about diabetes to help people improve their lives.

Need Help With Diabetes? Get Rid Of Toxins and Lose Weight Fast

Weight Loss Matters

Did you know that nearly 9 out of 10 people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight? If you are overweight, losing some weight could help you better manage your diabetes. Weight Loss Matters is an American Diabetes Association program that will help you lose weight and take care of your diabetes. You can lose weight and keep it off.

Your first step is to talk with your doctor about losing weight. It can be hard to talk about weight loss. But Weight Loss Matters will help you get started.

Diabetes and Metabolic Health

People with diabetes are more likely to be overweight and to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. At least one out of every five overweight people has several metabolic problems at once, which can lead to serious complications like heart disease.

Are You at Risk for Obesity?

One way to find out if your weight puts you at risk for diabetes is to look at your body mass index, or BMI, which is based on a calculation of your height and weight. Use our BMI calculator to find out.

Getting Motivated

Getting motivated to lose weight can be hard, especially if you have tried to lose weight in the past. Find out whether you are ready to begin a weight loss plan and get inspired to take the first step.

Getting Started

Learn what you can do to lower your risk.

Small Steps for Your Health

Changing to a healthier lifestyle can be tough. Get ideas and tips for making small steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Also, find out what the ingredients are for success.

Healthy Weight Loss

Reality is that losing weight in a healthy way and learning how to to keep it off for years is not easy. It takes a new way of thinking. Are you ready?

Be Active! But How?

Being active is a big part of living a healthy lifestyle.

Check out the benefits of being active, how much activity is best for you, and get a few tips to be more active now.

Copied from the American Diabetes Association web site

As you can see 9 out of 10 of people are overweight when suffering from type 2 diabetes, therefore, it is imperative that body weight must be controlled.

One must look at the percentage of people overweight on this continent today; it wasn’t like that 40 years ago was it? A person doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to know why this is so, we live in a different world today.

Our whole atmosphere, soil conditions, eating habits, are so different. The toxins we collect in our bodies which effect our organs do not allow our systems to work as the should.

I recall, a couple of years ago a show on Oprah Winfrey. Oprah had as a guest some sort of specialist, what he was doing was cutting up cadavers. Not the best subject for a show I think you will agree. The whole thing wasn’t very pleasant.

The specialist opened the subjects stomach and took out I would suggest about 10 lbs of pure fat. Right in the middle of the fat was the liver.

We have to ask ourselves how apart from the man carrying all this extra weight around all his life, how ever did his liver or his kidneys work to full efficiency.

You can well understand, Oprah had a lot to say about this as you can well understand.

They went into a long discussion as to why this was happening way more than it ever did.

They brought things up how thousands and thousands of people were suffering with so many different illnesses, which included diabetes due mainly to the toxins.

I quote from another article I wrote, “Why we have to get rid of toxins”

Victims of a Toxic Colon

Have you ever considered this simple question: Are you clean inside? We shower, brush our teeth and wash our hair on a daily basis, but we tend to ignore cleansing our insides until some form of disease sends us a wake-up call. Believe it or not, our insides, especially the colon which functions as the “sewer system” of our body, also requires regular cleaning.

Constipation, parasites, IBS, gas, bloating, stomach pain, chronic fatigue, digestive problems can all be signs of a toxic colon. Don’t be a victim, suffering silently from these painful and often embarrassing health conditions. Find out the truth about colon cleansing and how it can help you.

Why Is Colon Cleansing So Crucial?

We are all exposed to thousands of toxins and chemicals on a daily basis at work, in the home, through the air we breathe, our food and water supply, and through the use of pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, we are eating more sugar and processed foods than ever before in human history and regularly abuse our bodies with various stimulants and sedatives.

"Death Begins in the Colon"

These toxins and “dead” foods lead to poor digestion, constipation, toxic colon build-up, weight gain and low energy.

These common symptoms are more than just an inconvenience – they can lead to long-term health problems and serious disease.

The combination of environmental toxins, an unhealthy diet and parasites poses a grave danger to humans. “In fact, parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history”, reported National Geographic in its award-winning documentary, The Body Snatchers.

In order to rid ourselves of these toxins it was required someone came up with a body cleanse which would be able to clean out the fat particles, and the toxins from the colon, liver, kidneys and lungs,plus all the other organs. I am happy to say I used John Anderson's natural cleanse, after I used it I felt 100% better.

Hear what the experts are saying. visit http://theteam.isagenix.com Please click on the ISAVIDEOS on the left, listen to Dr Becky Natrajan, M.D.For full information why we have to get rid of Toxins.You can also take the opportunity to see what ABC and FOX television thought of this cleanse.

These Television giants felt that Isagenix was so far ahead in their thinking and their results, and were impressed enough to give this company the best advertising anyone could ever receive and that is free advertising.

For further information Ralph Morton 604-536-6813 or email noviorbis@telus.net

About The Author

Ralph Morton is the author of"Need Help With Diabetes? Get Rid Of Toxins and Lose Weight Fast" he has helped thousands of individuals to lose a lot of weight. Visit his site to find out how you can do a cleanse plus you will be able to listen to to the Gastroenterologist, the good Doctor Becky Natrajan will explain the toxins, and why they must be removed from your system, Visit http://theteam.isagenix.com ,after it loads, on the top left click on ISAVIDEOs, and hear what she has to say. Next to that video are one each from ABC and FOX news, explaining the ISAGENIX cleanse. Don't miss these.Any Questions Call 604-536-6813 or Email: noviorbis@telus.net

Coffee Intake Linked To Lower Diabetes Risk

Drinking coffee, especially when it is decaffeinated, will be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the Sept 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The link between coffee and diabetes risk appears to be very consistent across different ages and body weights; in addition, most research has found that the more coffee an individual drinks, the lower his or her risk for diabetes. However, it remains unclear whether it is the caffeine or any other ingredient in coffee, which may confer a protective effect.

Mark A. Pereira, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, had studied coffee intake and diabetes risk in the 28,812 postmenopausal women in Iowa over a 12-year period. At the beginning of the study, in 1986, the women answered questions about the risk factors for diabetes, including age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption and other smoking history. They also reported how often they consumed a variety of foods and these beverages over the previous year, including regular and decaffeinated coffee.

Based on this information reported in the initial questionnaire, about half of the women (14,224) drank one to two cups of coffee per day; 2,876 drank more than six cups; 5,553 four to five cups; 3,232 less than one cup; and 2,927 none. Over the following 12 years, 1,417 of the women reported on surveys, which they had been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting the data for some of the other diabetes risk factors, women who drank more than five cups of any type of coffee per day were 21 percent less likely than those who drank no coffee to be diagnosed suffering from diabetes; those who drank more than five cups of decaffeinated coffee per day had a 32 percent reduction in risk compared with those who drank none.

Overall caffeine intake did not appear to be much related to diabetes risk, further suggesting that some other ingredient in coffee was also responsible. "Magnesium, for which coffee is a good source, can explain some of the inverse relation between coffee intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus through known helpful effects on the carbohydrate metabolism," the authors write. However, the study found no relation between Magnesium and diabetes risk. Other minerals and nutrients found in the coffee bean including compounds known as polyphenols, which have also been shown to help the body process carbohydrates and antioxidants, which might protect cells in the insulin producing pancreas can contribute to its beneficial effects and needs to be examined in future studies.

About The Author

Adam Akelis is a professional copywriter who has a sound knowledge on coffee, his all time favorite drink. Not only Adam, there are lot of coffee lovers all over the world interested in knowing the benefits on coffee intake. To know more on coffee, its types (such as gourmet coffee, Instant Coffee, Cains Coffee, Costa Coffee, Alterra Coffee, Cappuccino,...) and its benefits please visit http://www.bluehillcoffee.com/. And to contact Adam Akelis mail to adamakelis@gmail.com.

Feline Diabetes

Diabetes in Cats

Diabetes mellitus ("sugar" diabetes) is a complex and common endocrine disorder in the cat. It is caused either by insufficient production of the hormone, insulin, by the pancreas (type 1 diabetes) or by inadequate response of the body's cells to insulin (type 2 diabetes).

Because diabetic cats are not able to utilize glucose properly, they ultimately develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) and subsequent glucosuria (sugar in the urine).

The glucosuria leads to polyuria (excessive urination) and polydipsia (excessive thirst). In spite of maintaining a good appetite, diabetic cats lose weight because the body's tissues are unable to utilize glucose properly.

Progression of the disease ultimately leads to further metabolic disturbances and causes vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness, and dehydration.

Although affecting cats of any breed, sex, or age, diabetes mellitus most often occurs in older, obese individuals; males are more commonly afflicted than females.

The exact cause of the disease in cats is not known, although genetic predisposition, obesity, pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalances, and certain medications have all been incriminated.

After a period of time, a small percentage of diabetic cats lose their requirement for specific therapy with either insulin or hypoglycemic medications.

Signs of Diabetes Mellitus

Polyuria, polydipsia, increased appetite, and weight loss are hallmark signs of diabetes mellitus in cats. In the earlier stages of the disease, cats remain active and alert with few other signs of disease. However as the disease progresses, poor skin and haircoat, liver disease, and secondary bacterial infections become more common.

An infrequent disorder called diabetic neuropathy may cause cats to become progressively weaker in the rear legs and assume a unique, plantigrade stance. A dangerous condition called ketoacidosis may develop in some cats. Signs of ketoacidosis include a loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, and breathing abnormalities.

Without proper and prompt treatment, this condition ultimately proves fatal.

Diagnosis

Diabetes mellitus is diagnosed based on the cat's clinical signs, physical examination findings, laboratory test results, and the persistent presence of abnormally high amounts of sugar in the blood and urine.

Treatment

Proper treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on the severity of the disorder. Cats with ketoacidosis require intensive care.

Treatment includes fluid therapy to correct dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities, and short acting insulin. Diabetic cats that are not ill usually require insulin injections to be given once or twice daily under the skin, and a carefully controlled diet. As an alternative to insulin, treatment with an oral hypoglycemic drug (see below) may be attempted.

Insulin

Adequate control of most diabetic cats requires long- acting insulin injections to be given once or twice daily.

Each cat responds differently to insulin, so the proper choice of insulin type, dose, and frequency of administration needs to be individually determined.

Selection of the appropriate insulin type, dose, and frequency of administration for an individual diabetic cat is ideally based on 18- to 24-hour blood glucose profiles.

In order to perform a glucose profile, the cat is hospitalized, and following insulin administration, frequent determinations of blood glucose values are made throughout the day. The proper dose of insulin may change with time and may need to be adjusted based on blood glucose profiles, intermittent blood and urine sugar measurements, and response to therapy.

Overdosage of insulin causes hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Signs of this potentially dangerous complication include weakness, listlessness, incoordination, convulsions and coma.

Left untreated, death may result. If hypoglycemia develops, the cat should immediately be offered its normal food if it is able to eat. Alternatively, a tablespoon of Karo syrup should be rubbed on the gums or, if the cat can swallow, given slowly by syringe into the mouth.

Never force fingers, food, or fluids into the mouth of a convulsing or comatose cat. Your veterinarian should be contacted immediately if your cat experiences an episode of hypoglycemia so that further treatment instructions can be given and a modification of insulin administration, if necessary, can be made.

Cats requiring excessively high insulin doses (greater than one to two units of insulin per pound per day) should be evaluated further. Other diseases may be underlying or complicating the diabetes mellitus and as a result, necessitate high insulin dosages.

Problems with insulin injection, poor absorption or too rapid metabolism of insulin, or even insulin overdose are potential causes of an apparently excessive insulin requirement.

Oral Hypoglycemic Medications

Healthy diabetic cats can sometimes be successfully treated with a hypoglycemic medication, glipizide. Glipizide acts by lowering blood glucose, but unlike insulin, it is given orally. Adverse side effects are not common but include vomiting, loss of appetite, and liver damage. If hyperglycemia persists after one or two months of therapy, or if the cat becomes ill or ketoacidotic, glipizide therapy should be discontinued and insulin therapy instituted.

Diet

Obese diabetic cats should lose weight gradually, with no more than 3 percent of their body weight lost per week. Your veterinarian will help in tailoring a safe weight-loss program for your cat. High fiber, high complex carbohydrate diets are useful, not only by assisting in weight loss, but by helping to control blood glucose levels after eating.

Underweight diabetic cats should be fed a high fiber diet only after reaching their ideal body weight after being fed a high calorie diet.

Cats receiving insulin once daily should be fed half the daily food requirement at the time of the injection and the remaining half at the time of peak insulin activity (as determined by a blood glucose profile).

If receiving twice daily insulin injections, cats should be fed half the daily ration at each administration. Cats receiving oral hypoglycemic medication should be fed a high fiber diet, but ideally as multiple small meals consumed throughout the day.

Home Care

Topics to be thoroughly discussed with your veterinarian include:

Insulin storage and handling Insulin administration Signs and treatment of hypoglycemia Diet Monitoring at home Prognosis

Managing a diabetic cat requires good communication between you and your veterinarian. A diabetic cat may live many healthy years with owners who are willing to put forth the effort of monitoring the cat's condition daily.

Cats tend to be difficult to maintain on the same regimen for long periods of time, and increases or decreases may need to be made in drug dosages.

Prepared by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Cornell Feline Health Center, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York 14853-6401.

The ultimate purpose of the Feline Health Center is to improve the health of cats by developing methods to prevent or cure feline diseases and by providing continuing education to veterinarians and cat owners. Much of that work is made possible by the financial support of friends. ©1996 by Cornell University. All rights reserved. Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer.

http://www.eliminatecatodour.com

About The Author

Anita Hampton http://www.eliminatecatodour.com

Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Really Under Control?

If you are among the growing number of people
suffering from type 2 diabetes,
here is some good news: A plan of basic therapies
including education, a personalized meal plan,
nutritional supplements, and ongoing monitoring
and support can reduce the amount of insulin and
oral medications needed to manage the disease and
decrease the symptoms and complications of
diabetes. When you are empowered by knowledge,
you can learn to effectively manage this
potentially devastating disease.

Many diabetic patients think their symptoms are "
under control" because they are taking insulin
and other oral medications that help keep their
blood sugars within acceptable levels.
Medications are, of course, critical in the
treatment of the disease. However, if the patient
does not commit to an active role in addressing
the causes of problems, then the result may be an
ever-increasing dependence on insulin or other
medications, which have their own negative side
effects over time. For instance, did you know
that insulin is a fat-storing hormone that often
leads to unwanted weight gain among diabetic
patients? That weight gain can then lead to other
problems such as high blood pressure or joint
problems.

In my own work with patients, I stress four
important factors. The first is
education about the disease process. It is
critical to understand what diabetes is and what
the effects can be on your body. Without proper
treatment, problems such as loss of vision, pain
or numbness in the extremities, ulcers on the
feet, and damage to vital organs can occur.
Learning about how the disease affects the body
to cause these problems is the first crucial step
in your treatment plan.

The next factor is developing a personalized meal
plan. "You are what you eat" was never truer than
when talking about diabetes. By understanding how
certain foods affect your body and your blood
sugars, it is possible to enjoy good meals while
still controlling blood sugars and decreasing
your weight. As an example, eating a piece of
fruit alone can cause blood sugars to rise, but
taking a protein such as nuts or cheese with the
fruit will prevent a spike in the blood sugars.

Targeted nutritional supplements or botanical
treatments can also be very helpful. Recent
studies have shown these alternative therapies to
be effective in decreasing blood pressure,
lowering cholesterol, and decreasing blood sugars,
thus reducing potential organ damage.

Perhaps the most important factor in a treatment
plan is an ongoing monitoring and support program.
Working with a healthcare provider who will
spend time discussing your progress and modifying
your treatment plan on a regular basis is
critical to successfully managing the disease.

You don't have to be a "victim" of type 2
diabetes. By being proactive and working with a
knowledgeable physician, you can control your
diabetes without letting it control you.

About The Author

Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Mesa, Arizona. Before entering medical school she was a registered nurse. Dr. Marcantel has over twenty-five years of experience in the health care field including diabetes management, women's health, weight loss, and mental health. She practices holistic, integrative patient care. For more information please visit her site at http://www.drmarcantel.com

Heart Disease Prevention - The Diabetes-Heart Disease Connection

If you saw a tiger, you’d run for your life. But what if you didn’t see it? For those of you with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, heart disease is that unseen tiger. You’re two to four times more likely to develop a heart condition than people without diabetes? Even more shocking, those individuals are more likely to die from heart disease or other cardiovascular ills than from the complications of diabetes itself. Yet surveys show that 68 percent of Americans with diabetes are unaware of their increased cardiovascular risk.

If you have diabetes, now is the time to take steps to protect your heart.

“High blood glucose alters cell metabolism,” says Richard Kahn, Ph.D., chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). When the function of platelet cells changes, the likelihood of blood clots increases and the risk of heart attack rises. Cells that line the artery walls are also affected; the ability of blood vessels to dilate is impaired, which can lead to high blood pressure.

One pivotal phenomenon underlying these changes is inflammation, already known to promote heart disease. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, for example, found high blood glucose linked to chronic inflammation in the blood vessel walls of mice.

Prevention Works

The first step to protecting your heart? Control your glucose. In the groundbreaking Diabetes Control and Complications Trial to determine the effects of glucose on complications, type 1 patients underwent intensive glucose control. A later study found these participants were 57 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease over the next 16 years.

Although the findings haven’t been confirmed in those with type 2, high blood glucose levels have been proven to increase the risk of heart disease in both kinds of diabetes. Says David Nathan, M.D., professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-chair of the type 1 study, “The major difference is that people with type 2 are generally older, heavier and more likely to have hypertension and abnormal cholesterol levels, all of which puts them at much higher risk for heart disease.” For them, prevention is even more urgent.

Keep your heart healthy by following the ABCs of diabetes prevention: Aim for A1C levels below 7 percent, blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg and LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dl.

“Everyone with diabetes should know their numbers and goals, and get checked regularly,” says John Buse, M.D., lead author of the ADA and American Heart Association’s new joint statement on preventing cardiovascular diseases in people with diabetes. Start with a healthy lifestyle:

* Nutrition

Eat less fatty red meat, cheese, butter, processed foods and fast food; instead, choose more beans, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, along with lean meats and poultry, seafood, low-fat dairy and nuts. If you’re overweight, cut some 250 to 500 calories a day until you’ve lost about 7 percent of your weight. “To do this right, ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian,” Dr. Buse says.

* Exercise

Each week, be sure to do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity—swimming, biking, walking briskly. Exercise at least every other day.

Even if your doctor prescribes medication, don’t give up on diet and exercise: A healthy lifestyle not only has broad positive effects on blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, says Dr. Buse, but also helps you fight depression, function at your best and maintain your energy.

Sources: "Journal of the American College of Cardiology," November 20, 2002; "Journal of the American Medical Association," November 27, 2002, and January 21, 2004; "Arthritis and Rheumatism," 2005 supplement, Abstract 149; "New England Journal of Medicine," December 22, 2005.

If you have diabetes, you can stem your risk for heart disease by controlling your glucose levels and adopting a healthy lifestyle——and enjoy the years ahead in better health.

Writer: Diana Benzaia

©MDminute: Diabetes Issue 1, 2007

About The Author

Diana Benzaia

Get a FREE 2-year subscription to the award-winning health magazine, REMEDY--http://www.healthisnow.com Sign up today! Also, check out http://www.HealthyUpdates.com --a health education website produced by MediZine, LLC.

Does Stress Lead to Increased Diabetes Risk?

It is believed that improperly unmanaged stress is a major determinant in almost all illness conditions. Does stress also leads to diabetes? Let us investigate.

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is also known as juvenile diabetes because it starts in children and young adults. It is due to insufficient amount of insulin being produced (known as insulin deficiency). Since it does not start later in life, we can safely conclude that type 1 diabetes mellitus is unlikely to be caused by stress.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus usually occurs later in life, after the age of forty. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the problems arise because

1. Either the body does not produce enough insulin, or
2. The insulin produced is ignored by the cells in the body (known as insulin resistance), or both.

Discussion on what insulin is and what the roles it plays is in order.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism (and to some extent fat metabolism as well). Insulin helps the body to use sugar. Sugar is the basic source of energy for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

When we say blood sugar, we refer to glucose in the blood. Glucose is the main type of simple sugar in our blood. Our body needs to have glucose level controlled to within a narrow range (0.7-1.1 mg per ml). Below 0.7 mg per ml is termed "hypoglycemia", and above 1.8 mg per ml is termed "hyperglycemia". Both can result in problems as we shall see later.

When there is more glucose in the blood, more insulin is secreted into the blood, resulting in cells (muscle cells, red blood cells and fat cells) absorbing the glucose out of the blood, thus reducing the blood glucose level.

When there is less glucose in the blood, more glucagon (counter part of insulin) is secreted into the blood, stimulating liver to release the glucose it has stored in its cells into the blood stream, thus increasing blood glucose. Glucagon also induces the liver and some of the muscle cells to produce glucose out of protein.

If the glucose does not go into cells, instead it builds up in the blood, two problems arise. Firstly, if the cells do not get the glucose they need, they die. Secondly, prolong period of high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. Insulin is used to treat this "hyperglycemia" aspect of diabetes.

"Hypoglycemia" or low blood glucose level condition can happen when more insulin is introduced than there is food in the stomach to be acted on. This often happens when a patient injects insulin in anticipation of food consumption, but the food consumption is delayed or insufficient food is consumed. Symptoms of "hypoglycemia" include strange behavior, clumsy or jerky movements, seizure, confusion, tingling sensations around the mouth, dizziness, sweating, headache etc.

Now that we understand the mechanics of diabetes, is there anything to suggest that stress can cause diabetes (type 2)?

The usual reason explaining where stress lead to sickness is the weakening of our immunity system caused by stress. However, diabetes is not caused by weak immunity system.

Psychological stress caused by the death of a spouse, a financial crisis or other life-altering event has been associated with higher risk of developing diabetes in middle age. Many studies have shown that the abovementioned types of major life events were associated with type 2 diabetes regardless of family history of the disease, exercise or alcohol use. However, although such circumstantial evidence seems to suggest a link between a higher proportion of people under greater stress and diabetes, we cannot conclude that stress cause diabetes.

There is a theory that says that stressful life events increase the diabetes risk by increasing levels of the hormone cortisol and decreasing levels of sex steroids such as testosterone, which have been shown to influence the action of insulin.

Some researchers have tried to determine whether stress, which can be measured using the ratio cortisol:testosterone, affects insulin resistance. In the prospective study by George Davey Smith and colleagues from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, cortisol:testoterone ratio was positively associated with IHD (ischemic heart disease) mortality and incidence. Adjustment for potential socioeconomic and behavioral confounding variables had little influence on these associations, but they appeared to be mediated by components of the insulin resistance syndrome (elevated blood pressure, triglyceride levels, body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and impaired glucose tolerance). This suggests that methods of reducing the cortisol:testoterone ratio may improve insulin resistance and reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). But, it does not suggest that reducing stress can reduce the risk of diabetes.

More conclusive research findings will be needed before we can conclude that stress does indeed lead to diabetes.

About The Author

Jacob Gan PhD (Michigan) has more than 20 years of teaching experience in a university and 8 years of business/industrial experience. He writes for http://succezz.com, http://JacobGan.com, http://JacobEducation.com and http://jacobLearning.com.

The Hidden Side of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes continues to be in the headlines as a health crisis because more people are getting the disease and not enough of them are doing what it takes to minimize the complications that come with it. This is hard for those around them to understand. Friends, family and co-workers can’t grasp why it is so hard to get a healthier lifestyle if it means less suffering and pain. They wonder why those with cancer or other life-threatening diseases take action, while those facing diabetes seem stuck and unwilling to take better care of themselves. Are you one of those asking this question?

Unfortunately many of those at risk or who already have diabetes don’t understand it themselves. They don’t know why it is so hard to make changes or maintain better habits. It just is. But what so many of them do know is they feel misunderstood, frustrated and sick of dealing with the disease. The result is that millions of them simply give up trying and shut off their feelings, which leads to resignation and a denial of their situation.

I have worked with enough pre- and diagnosed type 2 diabetics (people with insulin resistance) struggling with lifestyle changes to understand their mental state, why it is so hard to take action and what can help them turn things around. And I will admit right up front that not everyone can be helped, but many can by understanding that diabetes is often a personal crisis for the individuals involved. They just can’t see it.

The typical person diagnosed with insulin resistance has not lived a healthy lifestyle, is often overweight, probably suffers from low self esteem (due to their weight, feeling out of control around food or other issues) and may be depressed. Upon diagnosis their life changes immediately. They must change the way they eat, monitor their carbohydrate intake and blood sugar levels throughout the day, and take an insulin sensitivity medication at specific times. The guidelines are very specific and rigid. They must also lose a certain amount of weight and given a deadline for when their blood sugar levels should get into the normal range. Many leave their appointments overwhelmed, in shock and frightened.

Initially people follow the guidelines fairly well and attempt to do what is asked of them, but it is a dramatic change from what they are accustomed to doing. As with dieting, they inevitably have days when it is too hard to do. This makes them feel guilty, believing they are bad and failing, further impacting their self esteem and depression. The more often this happens, the lower they feel. And the lower one’s self esteem or depression, the less likely they will take care of themselves. This becomes a downward spiral. If you have ever been depressed, you can appreciate this.

For most it is also challenging to comply with the exercise requirements. Many try, but it is tough to create a regular routine, especially if they’ve been sedentary. So despite their initial efforts to eat right and get exercise, the majority can’t keep it up and they discover something interesting. It doesn’t seem to make much difference in how they feel when they don’t exercise or eat so well. Sure their blood sugar levels go up or down too much, but it doesn’t seem so urgent or important when there aren’t obvious ramifications. What they can’t see or feel is the damage building up and the slippery slope of no return when they get past a certain point. But that can be several years from the initial diagnosis.

As an onlooker, what we see is their denial and refusal to do more. What they are actually experiencing is something far deeper: the repression of their emotions. They are dealing with feelings (many that contributed to their eating habits, lifestyle and diagnosis) such as shame, unworthiness, not being good enough or perfect enough. Add to that fear, stress, and all their other painful feelings that are pushed down and out of reach. Hiding beneath the surface is a personal crisis driving their behaviors.

The way to address it is with a non-judgmental approach to lifestyle intervention that is flexible and slowly rebuilds confidence through small goals and successes and provides a place for feelings to be released and beliefs to be changed. It can be done, but it may take about a year of weekly coaching and lots of patience. Even if they don’t believe it at first, those struggling with insulin resistance are worth it. This week reconsider what it is like to be struggling with this disease and understand that there is more than meets the eye.

About The Author

Alice Greene, founder of Feel Your Personal Best, is a Healthy Lifestyle Coach, who has helped many people feel great. Alice is co-host of Living Your Personal Best radio show. She provides a unique perspective on how to succeed at making lifestyle changes that facilitate making all your life dreams come true. Sign up for her free report, "9 Life-Changing Secrets Every Woman Must Know" and confirm what you already know deep in your soul to be true. Ignite something in you that changes your perception of yourself and gives you permission to put self care on equal par with the other priorities in your day and week. To receive your free copy, visit http://www.feelyourpersonalbest.com.