Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Diabetes mellitus in women.

The research team studied a group of 13,475 women from the Nurses' Health Study II. During 10 years of follow-up, 860 incident GDM cases were identified. After adjustment for known risk factors for GDM including age, family history of diabetes, parity, physical activity, smoking status, sugar-sweetened beverage intake, alcohol intake, prepregnancy BMI, and Western dietary pattern, intake of sugar-sweetened cola was positively associated with the risk of GDM. No significant association was found for other sugar-sweetened beverages or diet beverages.

"Compared with women who consumed less than 1 serving per month, those who consumed more than 5 servings per week of sugar-sweetened cola had a 22 percent greater GDM risk," notes Dr. Chen.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as glucose intolerance beginning during pregnancy, is one of the most common pregnancy complications. Women with GDM are at increased risk for complications and illness during pregnancy and delivery, as well as post-pregnancy Type 2 diabetes. Children of mothers with GDM are at increased risk for obesity, glucose intolerance, and early onset diabetes.

Although the underlying mechanism remains unclear, available evidence suggests that the main defect in the development of GDM is relatively diminished insulin secretion coupled with pregnancy-induced insulin resistance. The researchers discuss a number of explanations of their findings. Consuming a large amount of sugar-sweetened beverages could contribute to a high glycemic load (GL) by providing a large amount of rapidly absorbable sugars. High-GL foods induce a greater plasma glucose response after eating which can result in insulin resistance and impaired beta cell function. (Pancreatic beta cells make insulin.) In addition, higher sugar intake itself may lead to impaired pancreatic cell function.

"We don't know why significant association was only found in sugar-sweetened cola, but not other types of sugar-sweetened beverages -- fruit drinks, other soft drinks, etc...," says Dr. Chen. "One of the explanations could be the tremendous popularity of cola in the US."

Previous studies in children and adults have shown that regular consumption of sugary drinks is associated with excess caloric intake, greater weight gain, and increased risk of obesity. Sugary drinks have also been linked to Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

"This is the first study on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on GDM risk," notes Dr. Chen. "This finding is important because sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet, particularly in the age group most likely to conceive. Cutting down sugary drinks is clearly an important way to reduce this common pregnancy complication."

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2001, from 1977 to 2001, soft drink intake increased from 4.1 percent to 9.8 percent for 19- to 39-year-olds. In percentage terms, soft drink intake was highest among this age group in comparison to other ages.

Sign of diabetes mellitus.

Your body changes most of the food you eat into glucose (a form of sugar). Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter all the cells of your body and be used as energy.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when a person’s body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use insulin properly. When you have diabetes, the sugar builds up in your blood instead of moving into the cells. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease and damage to the nerves and kidneys.

There are 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce any insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Between 90-95% of people who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

The early stages of diabetes have very few symptoms, so you may not know you have the disease. But damage may already be happening to your eyes, your kidneys and your cardiovascular system even before you notice symptoms. Symptoms of diabetes may include the following:
* Extreme thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Frequent urination
* Sores or bruises that heal slowly
* Dry, itchy skin
* Unexplained weight loss
* Blurry vision
* Unusual tiredness or drowsiness
* Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
* Frequent or recurring skin, gum, bladder or vaginal yeast infections

If you are regularly experiencing any of these symptoms, call your family doctor right away.

Independent diabetes mellitus.

Generally, diabetes mellitus is treated by diet, exercise and drug medication or insulin pumps and injections for the type 1. However, continuous researches about this disease have led to the development of new treatment therapies such as:

1. Pancreatic Islet Transplantation (Islet of Langerhans)

2. Pancreas transplantation

3. The introduction of new drug using synthetic human insulin.

4. Insulin analogs, a medication that can mimic the action of insulin in the body.

To ensure the effective implementation of the diabetes mellitus treatment, diabetic patients should have deep understanding about the value of working closely with their physician and certified dieticians and educators. They can provide the patient with information about food nutrient contents, proper exercises and medicinal administration.

Diabetes mellitus meaning.

Generally, the diabetes mellitus treatment entails the promotion of a healthy diet and exercise routines to control the blood sugar level. Other medications needed to support the treatment will depend whether the diabetic is a type 1 or a type 2 sufferer.

Since the disease is mainly concerned with insulin production, the reader is likewise informed that insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Its role is to move the glucose (sugar) from the blood to the liver cells, fat and muscles so that the body can use it as energy. If there is an imbalance in the production of insulin versus the amount of glucose in the body, the result is high blood sugar level or diabetes.

There are three types of diabetes namely; Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes that require treatments in order to control the blood glucose level. Otherwise, the progression of a type 2 diabetes into becoming a type 1 is liable to take place. In addition, lack of care or treatment for all types of diabetes mellitus can lead to complications like heart disease and stroke.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system of the body erroneously attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas resulting to little or no production of insulin at all. This is common among children and young adults, hence, the moniker "juvenile diabetes".

This accounts for 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes. Treatment includes a daily injection of insulin and oral medication. However, the latter is discouraged for this type of diabetes as this will only be digested by the stomach.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the produced insulin is insufficient to control the sugar or wherein the cells failed to react to the insulin known as insulin resistance. This used to be common among obese persons and now includes younger children due to the effects of high technology in their environment.

Children nowadays are often seen in front of computers and television sets instead of burning their calories by indulging in physical sports like basketball, tennis, badminton etc. They now comprise 90 to 95 percent of diabetics.

Gestational diabetes arises in the later months of pregnancy and is expected to vanish after birth but it can recur as type 2 . Patient with gestational diabetes should seek proper treatment from their physicians to avoid its progression into type 2 diabetes.

Define diabetes mellitus.

The symptoms and signs of high blood sugar are classified into two types - Common signs and Warning signs of diabetes. The chronic disorder of the body is classified as type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Though the warning signs of high blood sugar are the same in all types of diabetes they differ with diabetics. Perhaps you might have come across such warning signs of increased blood glucose in your body. Yet, a deliberate clarification of signs of high blood sugar is presented in this juncture.

When a diabetic suffers with increased blood glucose there is greater chance for obesity health risks and other secondary risk factors such as heart problems, nerve damage, kidney damage, and stroke. The acquaintance of presence of diabetes symptoms can compel you to go for a screening test of diabetic sugar in your body.

Screening Tests for diabetesIf you go for test for diabetes with low or high blood sugar signs you can be safe against enhanced risk factors or bodily complications. If not diagnosed and treated properly to bring down the levels of blood sugar you cannot maintain your health. Here are three warning signs of high blood sugar which are to be seriously viewed.

Numbness and tingling sensation
Numbness and tingling sensation in hands and feet is a significant warning sign of high level of glucose in the bloodstream. It is true that the tingling sensation in hands or feet is a sure symptom of high blood sugar. This numbness is sometimes felt in the teeth gum also. Some diabetics may feel tingling sensation in the eye lids too. All these are indications of increased sugars finding their way everywhere.

Skin wounds not healingAnother symptom of blood glucose is the slow healing of wounds and infections. As the sugar increases in the blood vessels, the density of the blood increases. The thick blood cannot pass through the fine capillaries to heal the wounds. Cuts and wounds at the feet of the diabetic take longer time to healing, sometimes leading to amputation and gangrene in severe cases.

Thirst for water
The third symptom of high blood sugar is unquenchable thirst. It is a notable symptom because the thirst felt by a diabetic is quite extraordinary. It is not like taking one or two glasses of water on a hot day. Instead, the diabetic is seen very now and then opening the water jug and emptying with a devilish thirst.

Diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

Diabetes medication is not always prescribed for type 2 diabetics. Your medical doctor will decide this based on your case. The higher your fasting blood level, the greater the chance that you will be given prescription medication.

The type of medication that is given to a type 1 diabetic is different than that given to a type 2 diabetic. That’s because the person diagnosed with type 1 diabetes cannot create the quantity of insulin he or she needs … whereas a type 2 diabetic is pumping out more than enough! As a type 2 diabetic, you would never be able to share medication with a a person with type 1 diabetes. Of course, sharing medication is against the law anyway!

Usually type 2 diabetics are given oral medications that are in the category called biguanides. One example of a biguanide is Metformin. These drugs lower blood sugar levels by decreasing the amount of glucose produced by your liver. They also increase the amount of insulin that the muscles in your body recognize as insulin and then use. Metformin is one of the most prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes.

Some health care providers will prescribe medications that stimulate the beta cells of your pancreas to release more insulin. Drugs that are used to do this fall into the category of sulfonylureas and meglitinides. The physician determines whether or not you will need these drugs by examining your insulin levels. It’s possible that your pancreas has been overworked so hard that it’s cells are not capable of producing enough insulin, and if that is the case, that is when he’ll prescribe these medications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus definition.

Years ago, when someone received a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes, they only had one choice … go on medication and consult with a dietitian for an hour or two. Luckily, things have changed. With thousands of research studies on the topic of diabetes, the world is different now. We know a thousand times more about diabetes than we knew 20 years ago!

We know that there is a gene that is associated with diabetes. We know how to create diabetes in the laboratory animals, how to measure blood sugar control over a three-month period, and what the ideal fasting blood sugar level is. We have better ways to deliver insulin to those via pumps (Type 1 Diabetics) and how to prevent problems in those who still give themselves injections. We know what to look for to identify the complications of diabetes and when to intervene so that these complications don’t become life-threatening.

All these are medical and technological advances but it’s the nutritional advances that are helping diabetics the most. We know that antioxidants quench free radicals that are created during infections, and diabetics are more prone to infections of all types. Scientists told us that cataracts were a result of the excess blood sugar that needed someplace to go. Researchers reported on the Glycemic Index for carbohydrate foods in the 1980s and diabetics learned that all carbohydrates are not equal. We learned that foods containing the most fiber were the ones that delayed the blood sugar rise after a meal. We discovered that certain foods and herbs contained medicinal constituents that had the potential to lower blood sugar levels and that if we consistently ate them, our blood sugar levels could be drastically lower.

What many people have discovered now is that the more that Type 2 Diabetics focus on their diet, the more quickly they can regain control over their blood sugar levels. The result of this is less chance of developing complications such as peripheral neuropathy, dementia, cataracts, infections, high cholesterol, kidney damage and high blood pressure.

Whenever you are starting any type of protocol for beating Type 2 Diabetes, it is really important to start with diet. Reduce the carbohydrate foods that are high on the Glycemic Index (GI) scale. Replace the hydrogenated fat foods with ones rich in healthy fats such as avocados. Stop eating sugar and processed foods and only let foods touch your lips that are wholesome. Take your supplements to insure that you have healthy levels of all nutrients that your body needs. Don’t give your body a reason to have diabetes.