Diabetes is a growing health problem in the world today. Did you know that approximately 20.8 million children and adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States alone? These numbers are growing every day.

Diabetes is a growing health problem in the world today. Did you know that approximately 20.8 million children and adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States alone? These numbers are growing every day. The exact cause of diabetes is not clear, however, lack of exercise and obesity are huge factors in the development of diabetes. This article will give some general information about diabetes.

Glucose is considered the body%26#8217;s fuel. We get glucose from the foods that we eat. It is not just sugar alone that is converted into glucose, but also starches and carbohydrates are chemically broken down into glucose. Without glucose your body would not function. All muscles and major organs in your body need glucose. But how does the glucose get to the proper destinations?

Insulin is the hormone that distributes the glucose to the liver, fat cells and muscles. A diabetic does not produce enough insulin or for some reason, his body is not able to process it effectively. When this happens the glucose stays in the blood and produces high blood sugar.

Diabetes can be classified into the following three types:

Type 1 Diabetes

In type 1 diabetes the body produces little or no insulin and daily injections of insulin are necessary to sustain life. This type is usually present from childhood and is also called insulin dependent diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

It is the more common type of diabetes and usually develops in adulthood. With type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to effectiv

ely use the insulin produced. Most type 2 diabetics are managed by diet and oral medications.

Gestational Diabetes.

This type develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby.

It is important to know the risks factor of diabetes. One of the biggest risks factors is a family history. If you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, your chances of developing diabetes are very good. Also being over 45 years of age, being obese, having poor eating habits or being of African American or Native American descent can increase your chance of becoming a diabetic.

If you have any of the above risk factors, be aware of the warning signs of diabetes. Contact you doctor if you have any of these signs and symptoms:

- Increased appetite

- Increased thirst

- Frequent urination

- Slow healing cuts or infections

- Increased amount of infections

- Blurry vision

If you are diagnosed with diabetes, treatment will usually involve diet changes and oral medications. In more severe cases, insulin injections may be prescribed.

Diabetes is manageable if the proper treatment regimen is followed. Talk with your doctor and a good diabetic educator. Have your doctor set you up an appointment with a registered dietician. She can show you what you can and cannot eat on a diabetic diet. Check your blood sugar levels frequently. Educate yourself about all the treatment options out there. Lose weight and become more active. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes is no reason to stop living.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

How to detect, prevent and manage Diabetes

Diabetes alters the way your body uses food. The food you eat turns to sugar. Your blood takes this sugar throughout your body. Insulin assists in getting the sugar from the blood into the body to provide the energy your body needs. With diabetes your body does not get the fuel it needs, and your blood sugar stays high. High blood sugar can cause heart and kidney problems, blindness, stroke, the loss of a foot or leg, or even death.

However,you can manage diabetes. Be careful what you eat and get enough exercise, use medications wisely and check your blood sugar often.

There are two types of Diabetes.

Type 1 - The body does not produce any natural insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to stay alive.

Type 2 - The body does not make enough insulin, or use insulin well. The most prevalent type of diabetes is Type 2.

There is no specific diet for people with diabetes. Work with your doctor to come up with a plan that works for you. You can continue to consume your favorite foods by watching size of the portions.

The foods we eat are made up of: Carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, breads, juices, milk, cereals and desserts) fats,protein,cholesterol,

fiber (fruits, vegetables, beans, breads, and cereals).

Carbohydrates are the the biggest factor and most responsible for raising your blood sugar. Reading the Nutrition Facts label provided on food packaging can help to determine the number of carbohydrates in each serving. You should be aware that most pre-packaged foods contain more than one serving. You can multiply the number

of carbohydrates times five to determine the number of calories per serving. The resulting number suprises most people who don%26#8217;t realize that they are consuming many more calories than they imagine.

You must maintain an exercise program. Try to be active at least 30 minutes a day for 4-5 days of the week. Even moderate exercise helps your body%26#8217;s insulin work better. It will also lower your blood sugar levels, blood pressure and your cholesterol.

People with diabetes usually need to take medication or administer a shot of insulin each day. Be sure to follow the medications directions explicitly.

Check with your your doctor or pharmacist and ask them what your medication does, when to take them, and if you can expect any side effects.

Check Your Blood Sugar

You can help prevent heart disease and stroke by controlling your blood sugarlevel, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Check your blood sugar using a glucose meter (home testing kit) available by prescription from your doctor. The glucose meter tells what level your blood sugar is so you can make intelligent choices about your diet, determining which foods to eat and which foods to avoid.

Consult with your doctor about getting an A-1-C (A-onesee) blood test. This test measures blood sugar levels over 2-3 month period.

Most people with diabetes do not notice any signs of the disease. It is estimated the there are over 3 million people in the USA with diabetes that are unaware they have the disease.

Visit our website to keep up to date on news and information to help you with your diabetes.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

Diabetes Type - Natural Cure

The first type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes that affects the people who have high blood pressure, are being overweight or have a family history of diabetes. Other causes may be the inactiveness, strokes, vascular disease, or very high cholesterol levels. People over forty-five are at risk for type 2 diabetes here as well. People who have type 2 diabetes but do not take insulin because the body produces enough insulin, however the body does not recognize here the insulin as insulin and does not use it the right way. As a result then the glucose enters the blood stream and builds up causing the body to malfunction.The build up of glucose in the blood stream can cause the dehydration, diabetic coma, nerve damage, hardening of the arteries and also kidney damage. The longer the body goes without a proper treatment, more damage is done to the body and can then lead to death. Although type 2 diabetes is found in the more adults, children are prone to this type of diabetes here as well.Type 1 diabetes typically shows up in children, but can affect some adults as well . Type 1 diabetes is caused when the pancreas does not make any insulin that for the body. The insulin is needed so that the glucose can enter the body cells right instead of staying in the blood stream, which leads to a build up of sugar in just the blood. If a build up of sugar in the blood occurs then long-term health problems will arise such as diabetic ketoacidosis, which can also lead to death. If left untreated type 1 diabetes can often lead to kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness and some other eye problems as well as heart problems.Type 1 diabetes was called the juvenile diabetes for years before being given the current title. Type 1 diabetes was known to affect the children more so than it did adults. The different between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is also that with type 1 diabetes the body does not make insulin and with type 2 the body does not produce enough insulin make to sustain the body. For the most part most people who have type 2 diabetes just need a proper diet with exercise and some medication to treat the diabetes. With those type 1 diabetes most people have to take insulin shots and watch there sugar counts.Some symptoms of type 1 diabetes might be an wide increase in thirst, hunger just after eating, dry mouth, and increased urination, weight loss and fatigue. Type 2 diabetes may have the similar symptoms as type 1 diabetes, but however most of the time you do not experience any symptoms. Some other symptoms you may get you notice with type 2 diabetes are tingling of the feet or hands, weight gain, itchy skin around the groin or the vaginal area as well as yeast infections and sores that heal slowly.If you experience here any of these symptoms, you should seek a medical advice to confirm if it is or is not a form of diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment is very significant for people who have diabetes or show any particular signs of diabetes symptoms. If you discover your diabetes much early, you can work to counter it so before it becomes too serious. Prolonging a check up can cause more grown harm to the body.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.The symptoms of diabetes may develop extremely quickly (over the course of weeks or even days) in children or adolescents who had previously been exhibiting signs of health. However, in adults over the age of 40 the symptoms can appear very gradually.In type 1 diabetics, a condition called ketoacidosis is common. This occurs when acid compounds (ketones) form in the blood. If untreated, this can result in extremely serious complications and even death, but it can be the first indicator of the presence of type 1 diabetes.Amongst type 2 diabetics, the condition may not be picked up on until the patient comes in for other medical treatment. The symptoms of the two forms of diabetes are listed below.What might the symptoms be of a type 1 diabetic?Symptom checklist for type 1 diabetic:• Weakness or fatigue• Blurred vision• Exceptional thirst• Dry mouth• Frequent urination• Loss of weightWhat might the symptoms be of a type 2 diabetic?Symptom checklist for type 2 diabetic:• Cuts or sores that take a long time to heal• Itching skin or yeast infections• Blurred vision• Dry mouth• Frequent urination• Excessive thirst• Leg painPre Diabetes SymptomsPre diabetes is a condition where no physical symptoms are seen although you are predisposed to having diabetes because of the risk factors that are present – like history of diabetes in the family, obesity, age, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, smoking, alcoholic abuse and an unhealthy lifestyle. To detect this condition, usually a blood test is taken and processed with the different risk factors. An elevated glucose level is not yet indicative of diabetes but a retest can be taken to confirm it.Insulin resistance, the main cause of pre diabetes initiates a disparity between glucose and insulin levels in the blood. This may result in obesity via an unhealthy lifestyle and food intake. This condition is reversible, based mainly on losing weight and having a more active and healthy lifestyle. If it is not treated, it will eventually lead to type 2 diabetes which does not have a treatment, only management and possibly requiring daily insulin injections to maintain blood glucose in normal levels.The common symptoms of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are similar to those felt by diabetics, as compared to those who are already diagnosed with it. Pre diabetes symptoms are mainly due to obesity. The first symptom is usually an increase in urination, wherein the body is trying to lower down the excessive glucose in the body by flushing it out with water. An increased feeling of thirst is due to the dehydration of cells because of polyuria. Tiredness and fatigue occurs since the glucose is not being utilised by the cells thus no energy is produced. A marked weight loss is observed in spite of an increase in appetite for the reason that the body cannot utilise the food, specifically the carbohydrates, into energy and fat, so it cannot be stored and you lose weight. A feeling of being ill is due to decrease in energy production by the cells. Blurred vision occurs when the high levels of glucose in the blood causes water from the lens to go outward and deforming the lens, making the vision unfocused. Genital infection and thrush is caused by the drying up of skin due to increased blood sugar.Some individuals with type 2 diabetes feel slightly unwell or may think they are just aging. Almost everyone suffering from this condition first has pre diabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than a normal individuals but have not yet reached the range of type 2 diabetics. Fortunately, pre diabetes doesn’t automatically become the irreversible Type 2 variety, which must be managed throughout the individuals lifetime and most likely will require daily insulin. General causes of pre diabetes are resistance to insulin and being overweight, which can generaly be corrected by changing to a balanced regular exercise a nutritious diet and support to encourage healthier lifestyle changes.Being overweight is the main cause of insulin resistance which causes the development of pre diabetes. Reversing the effects of insulin resistance is important in preventing the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and the risk of having cardiovascular problems. Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that breaks down glucose to facilitate its entry into the cell and be converted into energy. Being insulin resistant means that the cells react slowly to insulin, thus lowering the rate in which glucose is utilised and in turn increasing the glucose in the blood leading to pre diabetes. Some of the free glucose in the blood are sent to the liver to initiate lipogenesis, or the production of lipids and stored as fat. An increase in insulin in the blood stream stimulates the liver to produce more lipids and cholesterol, thus making the heart more prone to disease and myocardial infarction.The links between insulin resistance, obesity and pre diabetes are complicated. Insulin resistance leads to obesity and causes pre diabetes while obesity makes insulin resistance worse; when insulin resistance gets worse, this consequently enhances the development of pre-diabetes. Pre diabetes is the precursor of type 2 or juvenile diabetes. There is no single solution that can treat all the symptoms of insulin resistance and pre diabetes. A treatment suggested is to control body weight buy using nutraceuticals which are vitamins, herbs and minerals that are specific for certain diseases. To enhance a healthy lifestyle, an exercise program can be undergone combined with nutritional guidance and support to be able to get your weight under control. This is an effective way to treat the symptoms of pre diabetes. Regular exercise increases the amount of insulin receptors on the cells thus more glucose can enter the cell and boost your energy. Muscles use up glucose for its energy, thus balancing glucose levels with insulin.Other conditions and symptoms like high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels that may arise because of pre diabetes should be consulted with a doctor or your healthcare provider. They should be treated with medications until weight is controlled and lowered to normal levels. As soon as the diet affects insulin production into normal, cholesterol and blood pressure will also normalise.For more information on this article and diabetes please check out our website at: http://www.whatarethesymptomsofdiabetes.com

Natural Remedies for Diabetes – Vital Information for Adults and Children

Diabetes is a disease caused by a failure of the biological mechanisms for regulating blood sugar, due to insufficient of the production of insulin (hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy) by the pancreas. The disease is characterized by a significant increase in blood sugar. Three major types of diabetes are Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetesType 1 diabetes is characterized by a loss of insulin production by particular cells of the pancreas (Beta cells or Langerhans cells. The causes of this loss of insulin production are still unknown. Type 1 diabetes can affect children or adults but, most of times, it starts between few months of life and about 35 years. The organism of a diabetic patient rejects, by the formation of antibodies, cells which are capable of producing insulin. The symptoms are discomfort and frequent urination which can lead to dehydration and weight loss. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of patients with diabetes.Type 2 diabetes or Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a form of diabetes characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. This type of diabetes results from a lack of insulin secretion and its ineffectiveness to keep the blood sugar within a normal level. Type 2 Diabetes can be caused by genetic factors or unhealthy lifestyle, lack of exercise, obesity, alcohol abuse and high-fat diet. However, the causes of diabetes in the vast majority of cases have not yet any logical explanation.Gestational diabetes mellitus is a type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women only. No specific cause has been identified, but it is believed that during pregnancy, the body of the mother produces hormones to support the fetus as it grows. In some women, these hormones work against their bodies, making them less able to make the insulin needed to get energy from body cells. Without this insulin, the level of sugar in the mother’s blood starts to build up, which can do harm to both mother and fetus, if left untreated . Gestational diabetes occurs in nearly 7 percent of all pregnancies. Unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Gestational diabetes is often treatable. General signs of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetesThe symptoms of diabetes may occur in different ways: fatigue, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, intense thirst, frequent urination, insatiable hunger, weight loss,muscle weakness. Some or all of these symptoms are present in patients with diabetes early in the disease. However, some diabetics have few symptoms. The disease is then detected in a blood sample.Diabetes Natural remediesNatural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to support pancreatic health , the endocrine system and all its functions. In more recent times, research has confirmed the importance of natural remedies in diabetes treatment. There are now many published clinical studies demonstrating the ability of a range of herbs to support the endocrine system and pancreatic health and to maintain normal blood sugar levels.Our natural herbal remedies have several synergistically acting compounds present that have anti-diabetic effects. You can find a relief you never found before if you use them along with a healthy diet and a regular exercise program. We have formulated the herbal capsules with all the original qualities of the respective herbs intact. To Learn more about our Natural remedies for diabetes and how you can save 5%, Visit our Diabetic Remedies website.

It seems like everywhere I travel I continue to hear the five diabetes myths. The myths are circulating from one generation to the next. Everyone seems to believe these folklores. I have decided to take all of the mystery out of these myths and give you what actually works with the new technology today.

1. Sugar causes diabetes. How many times have you heard this one? I lost track of how many times someone has either asked me or made a statement of this. This is a myth, and the truth is, consuming a lot of sugar does not cause diabetes. Someone did not get diabetes by becoming a cookie monster. Type 1 diabetes is a result of autoimmune damage to the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. The insulin secretion is not enough or completely absent. Therefore, the hormone insulin is injected or administered via pump. Type 2 diabetes is a result of a metabolic syndrome. People with Type 2 produce their own insulin but are unable to utilize it properly. It most often affects men, women and children who are overweight. This no longer is “adult-onset diabetes.” Children are getting Type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate.

2. If you do have diabetes, you cannot have any sugar, it must be sugar-free. This is a myth, and the truth is our bodies not only recognize sugar, but they know how to use it. For me, personally, wheat raises my blood sugar more than white sugar. If you do want a safe sugar substitute, I would recommend vegetable glycerin.

3. I can no longer have too many carbohydrates. This is another myth. It is not how much carbohydrate, but what type that makes the difference. Actually, some foods that are low on the glycemic index get in the way of good insulin function. Some foods can lower one individual’s blood sugar but increase another’s. Are you eating beneficial foods or avoids?

4. Exercise always lowers blood sugar. This myth has been around for a long time. However, if the body does not have enough insulin for proper glucose utilization, exercise will raise your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is over 200mg/dL before exercising, the exercise will only make your blood sugar go higher. When the body is conditioned and there is enough insulin, the blood sugars will lower. Physical exercise is one of the important aspects to living as if you do not have diabetes.

5. You can no longer live a “normal” life after being diagnosed with diabetes. This myth is one of the strangest ones. I believe that once you bury Type 1 or 2 diabetes you can live a happy and healthy normal life. My life has been better than normal! Nick Jonas is a 14-year-old living a normal life after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2005. Nick is a member of the Jonas Brothers Band. He has said, “At first, I was worried that diabetes would keep me from performing and doing everything a teenager likes to do, but my career is really ramping up.” Way to go Nick! Best wishes for a great life!

About the author: Julie Wanner Rossetti is the author of Diabetes Can Be Sweet … Once You BURY It, and President of Diabetes Done Right, where she specializes as a diabetes consultant. Visit Diabetes Done Right

Diabetes - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Diabetes disease is when the metabolism and sugar level in the body is disrupted from performing its normal function. People with diabetes have high glucose blood levels due to the lack of function of insulin which maintain low blood glucose levels. When the human body system fails to produce insulin this results in diabetes. Insulin is created in the pancreas. Main Causes of DiabetesWe know that diabetes develops as a result of your body’s cells not getting enough insulin (a hormone which helps convert blood sugar/glucose into energy). This is usually because your pancreas fails to generate enough insulin or because your body’s cells start to resist insulin. Although we know what leads to the development of diabetes we do not currently know why this happens in certain individuals and not others.Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body’s immune system destroys the insulin creating cells in the pancreas. This process quickly leads to a complete lack of insulin in the body, therefore forcing a dependency on insulin injections.Another factor is the inappropriate diet. If you eat too much sugar, proteins, fats and refined carbohydrates, which transform into sugar, you can unleash the diabetes. Studies have shown that in the poor countries, people are not affected of diabetes in such a large number because they do not overeat.Recent research has discovered that infections, such as strephylococci, can also lead to diabetes. Age is being blamed as well. As you get older, your chances of developing diabetes increase. Furthermore, just as diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, suffering from hypertension can lead to diabetes.Diabetes Symptoms The level of glucose in your blood stream is going to be high if you are a diabetic patient and this will cause an excessive amount of blood flowing to your kidneys, indirectly increasing the frequency of urination. With this and the symptom of profuse sweating, you risk getting your body into dehydration.When the glucose in the bloodstream increases, the insulin released by the pancreas regulates the glucose level. But patients diagnosed with diabetes have high glucose levels that can no longer be normalized. This results to the high levels of glucose which often leads to glucosuria or glucose presence in urine.Insulin resistance occurs as a result of the body continuously producing increased insulin in an attempt to maintain normal blood sugar levels. The body does this because the digestive process converts carbohydrates into sugar that goes directly into the blood stream.Diabetes is usually accompanied by sudden weight loss, due to the body not being able to utilize the available glucose to generate energy. This can result in the individual being hungry throughout the day (polyphagia), which leads to weakness and fatigue. In diabetes the high sugar levels do not allow some of the body tissues and cells to work normally; hence, it can result in poor or blurred vision.Treatment for DiabetesMany natural foods also help with blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. These include sage, buckwheat, okra, peas, brewer’s yeast, fenugreek seeds, and broccoli and other greens. These foods help because they are high in fiber. Certain herbs also reportedly help, including hawthorn, nettle, ginger, ginseng, and garlic.Diabetes mellitus is known in Ayurveda as “Madhumeha”. Ayurveda describes the pathology of this disease as resulting from a disturbed “Meda, Kleda and Kapha”. It is believed that all the body tissues lose their vitality because of this condition.Hands on therapy or massage can improve the well being and health of a person. Soft tissues and muscles are manipulated in this process which affects the circulatory, muscular and nervous systems of the body. Massage had since been used to treat diabetes and other diseases.

The Simple Basics About Diabetes

Simply put, diabetes is the inability of the body to properly handle sugars. When we eat or drink our pancreas produces a hormone called insulin. Insulin is released into the blood and helps regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Diabetes is a state where this process is not working properly. This is due to: — No insulin produced, often called type 1 diabetes, and requires the patient to use insulin injections, or … — Insulin is produced, but the body becomes resistant to it. What makes ineffective insulin. This is normally called type 2 diabetes and is increasingly common. Searches latest show that 2 out of 100 people suffer from diabetes. Alarmant of half these people do not even know they have. Many people have diabetes without being aware of it because someone with diabetes appears to be no different than any other person. Someone may have diabetes for months or even years without realizing they have the condition. The danger is that if diabetes is not immediately life threatening the long-term effects of high blood sugar can be harmful to health. No prolonged diabetes and high blood sugar may, later in life, cause problems in many organs including the kidneys, eyes, nerves and heart. This May his dark, but the control of blood sugar by a combination of medicine, diet and exercise will largely reduce the long-term complications. The easiest way to check if you have diabetes is to get a blood sugar check with your doctor. A small sample of blood obtained by pricking a finger is checked using a small electronic tester. A normal blood sugar is generally between 72 - 126 mg / dl or 4 - 7 mmol / l (1 mmol / l = 18mg/dl). Diabetes is diagnosed when the body is unable to maintain the level of sugar in the blood within these limits. The unit of measurement used (mmol / l or mg / dl) will depend on which country you live in. The diagnosis of diabetes may occur in the blue during a routine check-but more often it results from the person suffering the symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms may be much or little, mild or severe depending on the individual. The symptoms are as follows: Nothing at all (???) No it’s not a typo. It is true many people do not feel a different effect and are surprised to discover they have diabetes. However, even if you feel you must end your take diabetes seriously and act on the advice of a doctor. THIRST (polydipsia) It is a very common symptom. Often, it seems no matter how much you drink your mouth still feels as dry as Death Valley. The problem is compounded before diabetes is diagnosed by patients drinking copious quantities of sugary drinks …! Of course, it only increases the level of sugar in the blood and causes an increase in thirst. INCREASED urinate (polyuria) Another very common symptom. Patients need to urinate frequently and spend large volumes each time. Moreover, this symptom does not take into account the time for sleep is constantly disrupted by the obligation to visit the bathroom during the night. It is a mistake to think this is caused by increased thirst and drink more. The opposite is true. High level of sugar in the blood to spread in the urine which makes syrupy. To counter this law on water is drawn from the body, causing dehydration and therefore thirst. WEIGHT LOSS Glucose is the form of sugar which is the principal organ of fuel. Diabetics can not deal properly so it passes through the urine and outside the body. Less fuel, the body’s reserve tissues are broken down to produce energy with weight loss. Other symptoms include constipation, fatigue, lack of energy, tingling or pins and needles in hands and feet, blurred vision and increased infections. If you met any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you are diabetic, but it might be advisable to consult your doctor to be sure. If it does transpire that you have diabetes please do not panic. It may come as a shock and it will result in changes in your life. While (currently) incurable, it can be treated as long-term complications are reduced or eliminated. As a result May actually increase your health and life expectancy compared to before when you do not take care of your body whatsoever. It requires discipline and self-control but there is no reason for anyone with diabetes can live full and perfectly normal life.

It seems like everywhere I travel I continue to hear the five diabetes myths. The myths are circulating from one generation to the next. Everyone seems to believe these folklores. I have decided to take all of the mystery out of these myths and give you what actually works with the new technology today.

1. Sugar causes diabetes. How many times have you heard this one? I lost track of how many times someone has either asked me or made a statement of this. This is a myth, and the truth is, consuming a lot of sugar does not cause diabetes. Someone did not get diabetes by becoming a cookie monster. Type 1 diabetes is a result of autoimmune damage to the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas. The insulin secretion is not enough or completely absent. Therefore, the hormone insulin is injected or administered via pump. Type 2 diabetes is a result of a metabolic syndrome. People with Type 2 produce their own insulin but are unable to utilize it properly. It most often affects men, women and children who are overweight. This no longer is “adult-onset diabetes.” Children are getting Type 2 diabetes at an alarming rate.

2. If you do have diabetes, you cannot have any sugar, it must be sugar-free. This is a myth, and the truth is our bodies not only recognize sugar, but they know how to use it. For me, personally, wheat raises my blood sugar more than white sugar. If you do want a safe sugar substitute, I would recommend vegetable glycerin.

3. I can no longer have too many carbohydrates. This is another myth. It is not how much carbohydrate, but what type that makes the difference. Actually, some foods that are low on the glycemic index get in the way of good insulin function. Some foods can lower one individual’s blood sugar but increase another’s. Are you eating beneficial foods or avoid them?

4. Exercise always lowers blood sugar. This myth has been around for a long time. However, if the body does not have enough insulin for proper glucose utilization, exercise will raise your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is over 200mg/dL before exercising, the exercise will only make your blood sugar go higher. When the body is conditioned and there is enough insulin, the blood sugars will lower. Physical exercise is one of the important aspects to living as if you do not have diabetes.

5. You can no longer live a “normal” life after being diagnosed with diabetes. This myth is one of the strangest ones. I believe that once you bury Type 1 or 2 diabetes you can live a happy and healthy normal life. My life has been better than normal! Nick Jonas is a 14-year-old living a normal life after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in November 2005. Nick is a member of the Jonas Brothers Band. He has said, “At first, I was worried that diabetes would keep me from performing and doing everything a teenager likes to do, but my career is really ramping up.” Way to go Nick! Best wishes for a great life!

About the author: Julie Wanner Rossetti is the author of Diabetes Can Be Sweet … Once You BURY It, and President of Diabetes Done Right, where she specializes as a diabetes consultant. Visit Diabetes Done Right

Diabetes Information and Prevention

Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. An estimated 18.2 million people in the United States–6.3 percent of the population–have diabetes, a serious, lifelong condition. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both. There are three major types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood.The body produces little or no insulin, and daily injections of insulin are needed to sustain life. Type 1 diabetes is usually due to the auto-immune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas. Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although the destruction of beta cells can begin years earlier. Symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision and extreme fatigue. Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 and makes up most of all cases of diabetes. It usually occurs in adulthood. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain blood glucose standardal. The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is increased if it runs in your family. Nine out of ten people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and over 80% of these people are overweight. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year. Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. About 20%–50% of affected women develop type 2 diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes are more likely to have large babies. The treatment of diabetes is highly individualized, depending on the type of diabetes.Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Tips There are many steps to get rid of diabetes. Some include1. Insulin must be given as an injection.2. Aspirin therapy also recommeded.3. Smoking cessation can also help lower risk.4. Lose weight if you are obese and begin an exercise program.5. Metformin medicine also helpful or type 2 diabetes. 6. Anti-hypertensive medicines to control high blood pressure.7. A statin, such as simvastatin or atorvastatin, to reduce high cholesterol levels8. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes.