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Managing blood sugar levels requires a planned balanced diet which is usually accompanied by the right diabetes medication to contain the disease and not allow it to worsen. Performing regular exercise is highly recommended in combination with weight loss and eating a moderate and well-balanced diet although there is no getting away from the fact that diabetes medication is most effective in controlling the different types of diabetes and it can be taken orally or injected.

Helps Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

It is usual for a diabetes sufferer to have very high blood sugar levels that persist over a period of time, and which warrants taking diabetes medication to help keep the disease in check and prevent it from worsening. When insulin is not produced in the required quantities, and when a person suffers type 1 diabetes, then the best course of action is taking diabetes medication in the form of insulin that can be injected in order to bring down blood sugar levels. On the other hand, for those with type 2 diabetes, the answer may lie in low cost diabetes medications taken in the form of pills which will increase blood glucose.

The pills themselves require different ingredients and there are five classes of such drugs which include sulfonylurea, thiazolidinediones, biguanides, melitinindes as well as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors that are all what goes into the pills that you take to treat diabetes. Each of these diabetes medications work differently and can reduce blood sugar while also enhancing the production of insulin as is required under different diabetic conditions.

Part of your diabetes care should include ensuring that the drug you are taking is safe to use and it does not cause harm to your body as there have been previous cases of drugs that have caused hepatitis and disease to the liver. Due to the known problems with these diabetes medications they were subsequently withdrawn from sale.

One such supposedly miracle diabetic medication is the drug named Troglitazone whose main function and use was to reduce type 2 diabetes instances and which was also thought to provide relief from complications arising from resistance to insulin and also from diseases of the ovaries. However, this particular diabetes medication was found to have been the cause of serious liver damage and was until a few years ago, available in the form of Rezulin or Romozin. So, if you come across a diabetes medication such as this you need to be very wary about using it if you want to safeguard your overall health.

Always act only on the advice of your doctor, who should monitor your liver condition to ensure that no damage is being caused due to low cost diabetes medications.

For a diabetic a diabetic diet is very important to managing their condition, and in some cases even working towards reversing it.  Here is more on this type of diet which cuts fat and carbohydrates.

Both types of diabetes can benefit from the diabetic diet. Type I, called juvenile diabetes, is often diagnosed in children while type II usually starts in adulthood and is more common.  Type I diabetics suffer because their bodies don’t produce insulin, while Type II diabetics suffer because their cells don’t absorb insulin.  Both forms of the disease respond well to a diabetic diet, although it is more likely that type II diabetes can actually be avoided or reversed in early stages.

Ideal body weight is a key of the diabetic diet. It’s easy to calculate ideal body weight for men or women. In women add five pounds to 100 for every inch above five feet, and subtract five pounds from 100 for every inch under five feet.  Here’s a quick example – a woman who is 5′4” tall ideally should be 100+20 pounds, in other words 120 pounds.  For men start with 106 pounds for a height of 5 feet than add 6 pounds for every inch about 5 feet. So for a 6 foot tall man ideal weight would be 178 pounds.

The ideal formula for a diabetic diet varies, but there are some common basics. For type I diabetics, the ideal diet includes about 16 calories per pound.  As an example, someone who weighs 170 pounds would eat 2720 calories daily. Type II diabetics eat about 1500 calories per day to lose weight, then differing amounts of calories to maintain ideal weight.

Carbohydrates account for about 50% of the calories consumed in a diabetic diet. Some people consume less carbohydrates, but then they tend to eat more fat.  

But if saturated fats are avoided, a little more fat in the diet is OK.  Also check out these other diets 

low carb diet

Acne Treatment For Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a type of skin condition that manifests as inflamed skin and blemishes, usually on the face. This skin condition is common to adolescents who are entering puberty but may extend to adulthood. Many individuals seek out the best acne treatment early on to avoid scars and permanent blemishes on the skin on the face, chest and back. The best acne treatment is actually dependent on what works well for each individual suffering from the skin condition. Natural

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Food Allergies: Why Are we Allergic?

It is pretty strange how some people are allergic to certain foods. There are a few common food allergies which the majority of people are allergic to and this would include peanuts, fish, and milk. If you ever find that you are allergic to any type of food, you should not be alarmed, and certainly don’t think that your life is going to be over.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that is distinguished by a distorted metabolism and raised blood sugar levels which lead to reduced levels of insulin. The symptoms of diabetes can look very much like those of a host of other conditions and the condition can go undetected for many years. Screening for this particular condition is very important as early diagnosis and treatment greatly increase the quality of life for people who are suffering from this condition.

There are two major forms of diabetes that those people who are unfamiliar with the condition often find it hard to tell apart and these are type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells which itself is the result of an auto-immune attack. It cannot be prevented and accounts for roughly 10 percent of all cases of diabetes in North America and Europe. It is found in both children and adults and is sometimes called juvenile diabetes. 

This form of diabetes can be treated successfully by diligently monitoring blood glucose levels and adding insulin to the body. Both types of diabetes can require supplementary insulin and diabetic coma or even death can result if the body’s insulin level falls too quickly.

Aside from taking insulin, type 1 diabetes is best managed by diet and exercise. People with this disease must be aware of their body glucose level and ensure that insulin is topped up as necessary by injection.

Type 2 diabetes is different from the type 1 form of this disease because it occurs as a result of a resistance to insulin or a sensitivity to insulin  combined with the body’s decreased insulin production. This form of diabetes is common in people who are obese, are elderly, have a family history and who do not exercise.

Individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes must take medication because their bodies are unable to make insulin. Type 2 diabetics however have various different choices in terms of controlling their condition. In some cases exercise and diet may be enough to control type 2 diabetes but oral medication and insulin may also be included in treatment. 

There are many different treatment plans available but the most critical part of the equation is the patient. This may well be a chronic condition but that does not mean that it is a lost cause and there are many ways to keep the body in good health when you are suffering from diabetes. In fact, the diabetic himself is the key player when it comes to fighting the side effects of this all too common disease.

If you have questions about diabetes then there is no better place to visit than http://diabetes-treatment-and-cure.com where you will find a wealth of answers to your diabetes questions

For more information on getting the best information on Diabetic Cooking Guide!

Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. An estimated 20.8 million people in the United States—7.0 percent of the population—have diabetes, a serious, lifelong condition.

Of those, 14.6 million have been diagnosed, and 6.2 million have not yet been diagnosed. In 2005, about 1.5 million people aged 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism—the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells. In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

What are the types of diabetes?

The three main types of diabetes are

• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

At present, scientists do not know exactly what causes the body’s immune system to attack the beta cells, but they believe that autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors, possibly viruses, are involved. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5 to 10 percent of diagnosed diabetes in the United States. It develops most often in children and young adults but can appear at any age.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin years earlier. Symptoms may include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue. If not diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes can lapse into a life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Type 2 Diabetes

The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents. However, nationally representative data on prevalence of type 2 diabetes in youth are not available.

When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for unknown reasons the body cannot use the insulin effectively, a condition called insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes—glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Their onset is not as sudden as in type 1 diabetes. Symptoms may include fatigue, frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some people have no symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes

Some women develop gestational diabetes late in pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually disappears after the birth of the baby, women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years. Maintaining a reasonable body weight and being physically active may help prevent development of type 2 diabetes.

About 3 to 8 percent of pregnant women in the United States develop gestational diabetes. As with type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes occurs more often in some ethnic groups and among women with a family history of diabetes. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormones of pregnancy or a shortage of insulin. Women with gestational diabetes may not experience any symptoms.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

The fasting blood glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes in children and nonpregnant adults. It is most reliable when done in the morning. However, a diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on any of the following test results, confirmed by retesting on a different day:

• A blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more after an 8-hour fast. This test is called the fasting blood glucose test.
• A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more 2 hours after drinking a beverage containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. This test is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
• A random (taken at any time of day) blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more, along with the presence of diabetes symptoms.

Gestational diabetes is diagnosed based on blood glucose levels measured during the OGTT. Glucose levels are normally lower during pregnancy, so the cutoff levels for diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy are lower. Blood glucose levels are measured before a woman drinks a beverage containing glucose. Then levels are checked 1, 2, and 3 hours afterward. If a woman has two blood glucose levels meeting or exceeding any of the following numbers, she has gestational diabetes: a fasting blood glucose level of 95 mg/dL, a 1-hour level of 180 mg/dL, a 2-hour level of 155 mg/dL, or a 3-hour level of 140 mg/dL.

What is pre-diabetes?

People with pre-diabetes have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Pre-diabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it. Some people have both IFG and IGT.

• IFG is a condition in which the blood glucose level is high (100 to 125 mg/dL) after an overnight fast, but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes. (The former definition of IFG was 110 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL.)
• IGT is a condition in which the blood glucose level is high (140 to 199 mg/dL) after a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

Pre-diabetes is becoming more common in the United States, according to new estimates provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. About 40 percent of U.S. adults ages 40 to 74—or 41 million people—had pre-diabetes in 2000. New data suggest that at least 54 million U.S. adults had pre-diabetes in 2002. Many people with pre-diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

The good news is that if you have pre-diabetes, you can do a lot to prevent or delay diabetes. Studies have clearly shown that you can lower your risk of developing diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight through diet and increased physical activity. A major study of more than 3,000 people with IGT, a form of pre-diabetes, found that diet and exercise resulting in a 5 to 7 percent weight loss—about 10 to 14 pounds in a person who weighs 200 pounds—lowered the incidence of type 2 diabetes by nearly 60 percent. Study participants lost weight by cutting fat and calories in their diet and by exercising (most chose walking) at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

What are the scope and impact of diabetes?

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In 2002, it was the sixth leading cause of death. However, diabetes is likely to be underreported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates. About 65 percent of deaths among those with diabetes are attributed to heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. The disease often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes.

In 2002, diabetes cost the United States $132 billion. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work, and premature death, totaled $40 billion; direct medical costs for diabetes care, including hospitalizations, medical care, and treatment supplies, totaled $92 billion.

Who gets diabetes?

Diabetes is not contagious. People cannot “catch” it from each other. However, certain factors can increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs equally among males and females but is more common in whites than in non-whites. Data from the World Health Organization’s Multinational Project for Childhood Diabetes indicate that type 1 diabetes is rare in most African, American Indian, and Asian populations. However, some northern European countries, including Finland and Sweden, have high rates of type 1 diabetes. The reasons for these differences are unknown. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in children but can occur at any age.

Type 2 diabetes is more common in older people, especially in people who are overweight, and occurs more often in African Americans, American Indians, some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos. On average, non-Hispanic African Americans are 1.8 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of the same age. Mexican Americans are 1.7 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. (Data are not available for estimation of diabetes rates in other Hispanic/Latino groups.) American Indians have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world. On average, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.2 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. Although prevalence data for diabetes among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are limited, some groups, such as Native Hawaiians, Asians, and other Pacific Islanders residing in Hawaii (aged 20 or older) are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents of Hawaii of similar age.

Diabetes prevalence in the United States is likely to increase for several reasons. First, a large segment of the population is aging. Also, Hispanics/Latinos and other minority groups at increased risk make up the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. Finally, Americans are increasingly overweight and sedentary. According to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes will affect one in three people born in 2000 in the United States. The CDC also projects the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the United States will increase 165 percent by 2050.

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