Diabetes Guidelines

Best Information on Diabetes Guidelines

Controlling the Level of Glucose Through Out the Body

American Diabetes Association 4 Comments »

Once diagnosed with diabetes one should know that a compleat change of hie or hers way of life is needed. A very stable and regular diet should in this way be put together, following the guidelines of the food pyramid. A special count of lipids, glucides, protein and carbohydrates should be made in order to make the intake of nutrients properly so not to disturb the balance of glucose through out the body. Eating at regular ours should also be done.

Because not eating properly is a major risk in developing diabetes, starting a healthy diet may prove to be a very tricky situation. For this The American Dietetic Association would be a very wise to check with.

Eating more starch would be one of the first and most important things to start doing. Six time a day would be a perfect count of servings. Some of the most recommended meals would be cereal, nonfat milk, cooked black beans or corn.

Vegetables and fruits are also very important foods that should be taken in consideration. Eating up to 5 fruits or veggies a day is kind of the perfect amount because it is also very balanced. Fruits for snacks are again a very good idea.

Sugars and sweets should be the things to try to keep away from; although once every one or two weeks u could try out just a beet of cake or simple desert.

Fibers are one of the most important foods that should constantly be in the diet of a patient suffering from diabetes. Vegetables, cereal, seeds and certain legumes are perfect to keep in ones diet. Carrots, whole grains and nuts should be consumed on a daily bases. Some of the cereals actually act as scrubbers for the lower intestinal tract.

Weight is the next most important thing to confront. A healthy and maintained weight is a very important thing for everyone suffering from diabetes. Loosing some body fat will most certainly improve the usage of ones own created insulin, in the case of type 2 patients.

Smoking and alcohol are serious problems when it comes to fighting this disease. Severe smoking can worsen the circulation of blood even more being so tragic in some cases that the amputation of limbs is necessary. Also alcohol can seriously damage tissue in diabetes patients, especially if taken on an empty stomach.

Different foods have different times of digestion and that is why the level of glucose in the blood is seriously affected depending on what you eat.

A healthy way of life is always preferable when it comes to fighting diabetes.

So, if you want to find out more about type 1 diabetes or even about symptoms of diabetes please follow this link http://diabetes-info-center.com/

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/controlling-the-level-of-glucose-through-out-the-body-106422.html

Two Steps you Must Take to Avoid Vision Loss

American Diabetes Association No Comments »

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s most people didn’t rate diabetes as a major problem. Back then, all the focus was on dealing with more prominent diseases such as polio and tuberculosis. If diabetes was thought about, it was more in the context of cutting out sugar in your coffee, rather than as a serious threat to your eyesight or your life.

That’s all changing. It’s not too much to say that diabetes is now reaching epidemic levels in most of the western world. According to the American Diabetes Association there are over 20 million diabetics in the United States alone, with a staggering one third undiagnosed.

It’s also going to get a lot worse with another 41 million Americans already showing pre-diabetic signs.

Diabetes is a disease that mostly affects blood vessels and in its extreme forms can lead to serious heart disease, stroke and kidney damage. Clearly these life threatening diabetic vascular diseases deserve priority attention, but high on the critical list for diabetics is the risk of serious eye disease and loss of vision.

Vision is one of our most critical senses and in this “need for speed” information era, over 70% of our sensory information comes through our eyes.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, diabetics are 25 times more likely to lose vision than those who are not diabetic. With diabetes already being the number one cause of blindness in the United States, it’s no wonder eye care professionals are predicting a devastating increase in vision loss as the diabetic epidemic grows alarmingly.

Newly diagnosed diabetics often have nothing more than minor vision fluctuations which settle when blood sugar levels improve with treatment. Early on it’s easy to believe everything is fine. After some years though, continuing high blood sugar can gradually damage the blood vessels at the back of the eye in the retina. This causes a problem called diabetic retinopathy and the longer you have diabetes the more likely you are to have retinopathy.

The risk increases further when there is poor control of blood sugar levels. More than 70% of diabetics develop some changes in their eyes within 15 years of diagnosis.

Retinopathy is graded as Non-proliferative or Proliferative. Non-proliferative retinopathy is the common milder form, where small retinal blood vessels break and leak. There may be some mild retinal swelling but it rarely requires treatment unless it causes hazy central vision or straight lines appear bent.

Proliferative retinopathy is the less common, but more serious form where new blood vessels grow abnormally within the retina. If these vessel scar or bleed they can lead to potentially serious vision loss including blindness. Early laser treatment can seal leaking vessels and slow the progress of diabetic retinopathy, but can’t reverse existing vision loss.

For now, there is no “magic pill” to eliminate the risk of diabetic eye damage, but you can do two important things to help prevent the more serious complications. Poor blood sugar control is one of the main causes of serious diabetic retinopathy.

The critical first step is making sure you stabilize and control your blood sugar with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The second step is to make sure you have a yearly diabetic eye examination. An experienced eye care professional can pick up subtle diabetic eye changes long before you notice any vision change, and more importantly, early enough to do some good.

If you or your family is affected by this rising sign of diabetes: take action now to reduce your risk of vision loss. Don’t be a victim!

Aron Wallad
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/two-steps-you-must-take-to-avoid-vision-loss-116552.html

Nutrition Standards for Juvenile Diabetics

American Diabetes Association No Comments »

The nutritional recommendations for juveniles with diabetes are much the same as the general population in this country. Children with diabetes need to eat a well balanced and healthy diet in order to keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range. Because of this need to control blood sugar they must eat foods in specified amounts depending on how they affect blood sugar levels.

Finding out that their child has diabetes can be quite shocking for many parents. One of the most challenging parts of any diabetics lifestyle change is learning how to prepare meals and snacks. This can be doubly hard for the parents of a diabetic child because following the dietary advice of the doctor and dietician can affect the entire household.

Attempting to learn what foods to feed a juvenile with diabetes can be confusing at first. There is a wealth of information in books and on websites but for most parents in can be overwhelming trying to figure it all out. The important thing for parents with newly diagnosed diabetic children to do is learn to spot the good information from the bad.

The best place to start is the American Diabetes Association where they will find the Diabetes Food Pyramid. This pyramid is much like the USDA food pyramid that everyone is familiar with with one difference. The USDA pyramid classifies food by the group they are in whereas the diabetic food pyramid groups foods based on their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content and breaks them down into the amount of servings for each. There are six groups that make up the diabetic pyramid and they include starches, proteins, fats, meats, fruits and vegetables.

If we take a look at each category we can get a better understanding of each and how they fit into a well balanced Diabetic Diet plan.

Starches and Grains: These are the primary sources of carbohydrates for everyone. These include foods like whole grains, rye, oats and the starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn. This group also includes the dry beans such as pinto beans and black eyed peas. The suggested number of serving per day is between six to eleven. This is a range and must be personalized to the individual’s needs and goals with the help of a registered dietician.

Vegetables: Vegetables should always be a part of every dietary plan. They are full of many vital nutrients, are low in fat, and high in fiber all of which contribute to good health. Diabetics should have three to five servings per day. It is important to note that the starchy vegetables are not included in this category and should not be substituted into this group of the pyramid.

Fruits: Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as carbohydrates. Serving sizes are determined by the individual fruit and suggested serving are two to four per day.

Milk: Milk and dairy products are essential in that they contain protein, calcium and many of the vitamins we need each day. Because they can contain a substantial amount of fat it is best to choose low fat or non fat versions of these products. The pyramid recommends two to three servings per day.

Meat and Meat Products: Meat and meat products are a primary supply of protein for all people. They also provide essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids the body needs to function in a healthy fashion. Choose only lean cuts and trim any visible fat to help keep the amount of saturated fat ingested to a minimum.

Fats, Sweets and Alcohol: While diabetics can partake of these it is recommended to keep their use in meal preparation and snack to a minimum. For the juvenile with diabetes this is important in that it teaches them food habits that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

The American Diabetes Association is a good place to start when it comes to learning about feeding a juvenile with diabetes. They have everything needed for healthy meal planning, exchange lists, weight control and recommended exercise programs.

Andrew Bicknell
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/nutrition-standards-for-juvenile-diabetics-140631.html

Top 5 Diabetes Diet Tips for Creating Healthy Meal Plan

American Diabetes Association No Comments »

Diet plays a key role in controlling your blood sugar. A healthy-eating plan tailored to your needs will do that and more. Majority of people affected with diabetes are overweight or obese. In fact, your risk of getting diabetes increases the more weight you put on.

So controlling your diet can be the key to reducing the risk of diabetes as well as improving your symptoms if you are already affected by this disease people often refer to as “the silent killer.”

Everybody knows that maintaining a good diet is a healthy choice for every person. But for diabetes patients, this statement means something more significant than the recent fad over healthy living.

For diabetes patients, having a healthy diet means eating in a way that reduces the risk for complications that are commonly associated with their conditions, including heart disease and stroke. For them, a healthy diet could mean the difference between die-abetes and live-abetes.

Eating healthy involves eating a wide variety of foods that encompasses the whole diet spectrum of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, non-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, poultry, and fish.

No, you do not have to eat all of that, but a little bit of this and that enough to balance the three basic food groups (Go, Grow, and Glow) is what you should aim for.

Tip #1: Preparing a Meal Plan

When you go on a diabetes diet, the first things you need to do is to prepare a meal plan. This will serve as your guide to how much and what kinds of food you can choose to eat at meals, and even at snack times if you wish to include that.

Now, be sure that your meal plan fits in with your schedule and eating habits. That way you will not be likely to ruin your diet simply because your work schedule conflicts with your meal schedule.

Keep in mind your end-goal: To keep your blood glucose in levels that are easy enough to maintain.

In addition to that somewhat myopic diet goal for diabetes, you also want to follow a meal plan that will help you improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as keep your weight on track.

All these – blood pressure, cholesterol and weight – are factors that contribute to the worsening of your diabetes symptoms, so controlling them could very well mean controlling your diabetes.

When preparing a meal plan, be sure to balance uptake and down take – that is, food and exercise, respectively. Additionally, your doctor may have prescribed you with insulin or oral medications to help you manage your condition.

Take those medications into account as well when you plan your meal plan, making sure that the food is balanced with the drugs. The whole thing sounds like it’s a lot of work but with a few suggestions from your physician and/or dietician you can start building a meal plan that is best for you and your condition.

Tip #2: Use the Diabetes Food Pyramid

The Diabetes Food Pyramid, released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is composed of six food groups (arranged according to how much you should eat from the least to the most and based on carbohydrate and protein content):

• Fats, sweets, and alcohol
• Milk
• Meat, meat substitutes, and other proteins
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Grains, beans, and starchy vegetables

Fats, sweets, and alcohol are the one food group that diabetes patients should avoid.

The problem with diabetes involves a certain malfunction in the way our bodies make use of glucose in the blood. It is either there is too much glucose in our blood because we ate too much food rich in sugar so that the hormone responsible for regulating glucose – insulin – is unable to cope. Or, our cells are defective so that even though we have enough insulin to handle the job, our cells do not respond.

In order to control the levels of glucose in the blood stream, controlling Diabetes Diet is important. The intake of fats, sweets, and alcohol and other generally “unhealthy” foods should be minimized and only for special treats.

As for the rest of the food groups, here are the serving sizes recommended by the American Diabetes Association:

• Meat and Meat Substitutes: 4-6 oz. per day and divided between meals. This is equivalent to ¼ cup cottage cheese, 1 egg, 1 tbsp peanut butter, or ½ cup tofu.
• Milk: 2-3 servings per day
• Fruit: 2-4 servings per day
• Vegetables: 3-5 servings per day
• Grains and Starches: 6-11 servings per day, equivalent to 1 slice of bread, ¼ of a bagel, or ½ of an English muffin or pita bread.

Use this Diabetes Food Pyramid only as a guide in planning your meals. If you want a more individualized option, consult your dietician.

Tip #3: Draw Lines on Your Plate

Another good way to ensure that you are eating a balanced diet is to draw a line across your plate. It could only be an imaginary line. As you sit there for a meal, the exercise might even prove to be fun.

The first step, of course, is to imagine that you are drawing a line through the center of your plate. Then, divide one of the halves into two.

Then, fill this section with grains or starchy foods, such as rice, pasta, potatoes, corn, or peas.

The other section should comprise your meat and meat substitute group – meat, fish, poultry, or tofu.

Next, fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. You can place there broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, salad, tomatoes, and cauliflower.

Last, add a glass of milk and a small piece of roll, and eh voila! You are ready to eat.

Tip #4: Reading Food Labels

With food labels, it all comes down to the Nutrition Facts. It’s that list of nutrition information found on the package of foods sold in the grocery store. Reading food labels can help you make wise choices about the foods you buy. The labels will tell you what ingredients were used, the amount of calories, and other pertinent information essential to a diabetes patient.

For instance, a typical food label would contain the total amounts per serving for the following nutrients:

• Calories
• Total fat
• Saturated fat
• Cholesterol
• Sodium
• Total carbohydrate
• Fiber

Use the nutrition facts found in food labels to compare similar types of foods and buy the one that contains fewer calories, lower fats, cholesterol, etc.

Pay close attention to free foods like sugar-free gelatin desert, sugar-free ice pops, sugarless gum, diet soft drinks, and sugar-free syrups. Just because they are called “free” does not mean they are entirely free of calories so don’t be overconfident. Instead, read the label. Most free foods should have less than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

Another thing, “no-sugar added” means no sugar was added during the manufacture and packaging of the foods. The ingredients do not include sugar. However, the food may be high in carbohydrates still so be sure to read the label carefully.

Fat-free foods could still mean that they contain lots of carbohydrates. Often, they contain almost the same amount of calories as the foods they replace so be sure to pay attention to the label. Buying fat-free foods instead of regular foods does not necessarily mean that you are making a wise choice.

Tip #5: A Word about Sweets
Now, you know that sweets are generally discouraged among diabetes patients. However, having diabetes does not necessarily mean that you cannot have sweets. Imagine how bad life can be for the sweet tooth with diabetes. But as long as you keep your intake of sweets in moderation, there is no reason you have to eschew sugar from your life forever. After all, glucose (sugar) is still the most basic source of energy that the body needs.

So sweeten your foods with these following options:

• Sugar and other sweeteners with calories: honey, brown sugar, molasses, fructose, cane sugar, and confectioners sugar

• Reduced calorie sweeteners: erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol

• Low calories sweeteners: ascelfume potassium, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose

Research has overturned the long standing belief that sugar caused diabetes. The new studies show us that sugar has in fact the same effect on blood glucose levels as other carbohydrates like bread and potatoes. Based on this discovery, experts agree that a diabetic can now consume sugar as long as they incorporate it into their meal plan the way they would with any ordinary carbohydrate-containing foods.
Now that you have been pointed to the right direction with these tips to improve your diabetes diet, you can go ahead and live a healthier, fuller life where nothing – no carb nor sweets – is denied you, as long as you keep it all in moderation.

Nishanth Reddy
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/top-5-diabetes-diet-tips-for-creating-healthy-meal-plan-58626.html

An Avoidable Tragedy — the Relationship of Premature Death and Serious Mental Illness

Asthma Guidelines No Comments »

New research indicates that people with serious mental illness — which include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major clinical depression — die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population. Sixty percent of premature deaths in persons with schizophrenia are due to medical conditions such as cardiovascular, pulmonary and infectious disease.

Unfortunately, people with serious mental illness also suffer from a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors, in particular obesity and tobacco use. Compounding this problem, people with serious mental illness have poorer access to established monitoring and treatment guidelines for physical health conditions.

Our nation?s healthcare system tends to be fragmented, with increased reliance on specialists who address very focused aspects of the health/illness continuum.

Fragmentation is most notable in the separation between the treatment for mental and physical illnesses. This separation is an artifact of how services have been funded historically, with the preponderance of funding for mental illness treatment coming from states and directed toward state psychiatric facilities that were often — literally and figuratively — far away from the mainstream of medical delivery.
What Can Be Done to Address this Tragedy?

There are solutions to this epidemic of premature death and morbidity among persons with mental illness. Policy makers can provide the policies, resources, and leadership to close this gap. We will have accomplished this goal when we can say that:

- Adequate funding is available to allow every provider of public mental health services to assess the physical health status as well as mental status of clients served in the public mental health system.

- States are learning from and following the examples of states such as Missouri and Louisiana, which are implementing primary care medical home initiatives with explicit mechanisms and financing integrated treatment between the mental health and primary care providers for coordination of services.

- State legislatures can create the policy infrastructure through statute or regulation to ensure that there is a strong working partnership between community mental health and community health provider organizations. These policies can define roles for these organizations, establish referral protocols, or allow for the cross-placement and reimbursement of clinical staff.

Disease Management: Another Promising Approach

Usual medical care often fails to meet the needs of chronically ill patients, even in managed, integrated delivery systems. The medical literature suggests strategies to improve outcomes in these patients. Effective interventions tend to fall into one of five areas: the use of evidence-based, planned care; reorganization of practice systems and provider roles; improved patient self-management support; increased access to expertise; and greater availability of clinical information. The challenge is to organize these components into an integrated system of chronic illness care. One approach to meeting these goals is through the creation of disease management programs.

Disease management (DM) is an approach to care coordination for individuals with chronic or persistent medical conditions for two important reasons: improved quality of care and decreased cost. Quality is improved because treatment is coordinated across the spectrum of care for individuals with these conditions using evidence-based practice guidelines and education on illness self-management. States have also been able to reduce costs through this approach.
The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued a letter to state Medicaid directors encouraging the adoption of DM. Currently, DM is now widely used in states for asthma, diabetes, hypertension and other persistent medical conditions, and increasingly for enrollees with serious mental illnesses.

Washington State Example

On June 28, CMS approved a state plan amendment (SPA) for Washington State that uses the Benchmark Plan option to offer regular Medicaid State plan services plus disease management (DM) services to adult Medicaid recipients with complex medical needs. The benchmark State plan option provides States with the opportunity to offer an alternative benefit package to beneficiaries without regard to comparability of services, a traditional Medicaid requirement.
Medicaid recipients statewide will be identified by a contractor based on claims history, referred by a provider, or may be self-referred. Eligible recipients include those who are diagnosed with certain chronic medical conditions, including: diabetes, heart failure, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal failure, and chronic pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions and other chronic illnesses, including co-morbid depression and/or anxiety.

In addition to the traditional State Medicaid plan services, individuals enrolled in the DM program will receive assistance in locating a primary care provider (”Medical Home”) and additional benefits tailored to specific health needs, including:

- Condition-specific education;

- Access to a nurse call line;

- Regularly scheduled telephonic health care management and support; and

- Care coordination, including feedback to the primary care physician.

Linda Rosenberg
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/an-avoidable-tragedy-the-relationship-of-premature-death-and-serious-mental-illness-696271.html

HERBAL MEDICINE FOR TYPE TWO DIABETES

American Diabetes Association 3 Comments »

For Salacia Oblonga herb Capsules and Extract Write to Botanika
herbalpowders@operamail.com treeseeds@operamail.com
treeseeds@rediffmail.com : : : : WWW.SALACIAOBLONGACAPSULES.COM
Traditional Indian medicine, herb Salacia oblonga may help treat
diabetes Posted By: News-Medical in Medical Study News
Published: Tuesday, 8-Feb-2005 Printer Friendly Email to a
Friend : : : : Herbs used in traditional Indian medicine to
treat diabetes seems to lower blood sugar and insulin levels in
a manner similar to prescription drugs, a new study reports.
Researchers gave extracts of the herb Salacia oblonga to 39
healthy adults, and the results were promising. The largest dose
of the herb extract – 1,000 milligrams – decreased insulin and
blood glucose levels by 29 and 23 percent, respectively. : :
“These kinds of reductions are similar to what we might see with
prescription oral medications for people with diabetes,” said
Steve Hertzler, a study co-author and an assistant professor of
nutrition at Ohio State University. : : Salacia oblonga, which
is native to regions of India and Sri Lanka, binds to intestinal
enzymes that break down carbohydrates in the body. These
enzymes, called alpha-glucosidases, turn carbohydrates into
glucose, the sugar that circulates throughout the body. If the
enzyme binds to the herbal extract rather than to a
carbohydrate, then less glucose gets into the blood stream,
resulting in lowered blood glucose and insulin levels. : :
“Lowering blood glucose levels lowers the risk of
disease-related complications in people with diabetes,” Hertzler
said. “Also, poor compliance with diabetes medications often
hinders the effectiveness of these drugs. It may be easier to
get someone to take an herb with food or in a beverage, as
opposed to a pill.” : : The study appears in a recent issue of
the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. : :
Thirty-nine healthy adults participated in four separate meal
tolerance tests. These meals, which were given in beverage form,
were spaced three to 14 days apart. Each participant fasted for
at least 10 hours before consuming the test beverage. : :
Participants were asked to drink about two cups’ worth of the
chilled beverage, which contained zero, 500, 700 or 1,000
milligrams of Salacia oblonga extract. Afterward, the
researchers used the finger-prick method to draw blood samples
from each person every 15 to 30 minutes for three hours. These
blood samples were used to determine insulin and blood glucose
concentrations. The biggest changes in blood glucose and insulin
levels usually happen within the first two hours after eating. :
: The beverage that contained the highest concentration of the
herbal extract – 1,000 milligrams – provided the most dramatic
reduction in insulin and blood glucose levels. Insulin levels
were 29 percent lower, while blood glucose levels were 23
percent lower as compared to the control drink, which contained
no herbal extract. : : As Salacia oblonga can cause intestinal
gas, the researchers had the study participants collect breath
hydrogen samples hourly for eight hours after drinking the test
beverage. The participants collected their breath in small
plastic tubes. The researchers then analyzed these breath
samples for hydrogen and methane content – the level of either
substance in the breath corresponds to the level contained in
the colon. : : The subjects also rated the frequency and
intensity of nausea, abdominal cramping and distention and gas
for two days after consuming each test meal. : : While the test
beverages containing Salacia oblonga caused an increase in
breath hydrogen excretion, reports of gastrointestinal
discomfort were minimal, Hertzler said. : : Right now he and his
colleagues are trying to figure out what dose of the herb is
most effective, and when it should be taken relative to a meal.
: : “We want to know how long it takes for the herb to bind to
the enzymes that break down carbohydrates,” Hertzler said. “The
participants in this study took the herb with their meal, but
maybe taking it before eating would be even more effective.” : :
The researchers also want to study the effects of Salacia
oblonga in people with diabetes. : : “A lot of studies show that
lowering blood sugar levels reduces the risk for all kinds of
diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease and nerve
and eye damage,” Hertzler said. “We want to see if this herb has
this kind of effect.” : : Salacia oblonga is still relatively
difficult to find in the United States, Hertzler said, although
there are manufacturers that sell the herb through the Internet.
: : This study was supported by the Ross Products Division of
Abbott Laboratories in Columbus. : : Hertzler is continuing to
conduct Salacia oblonga studies with the Ross Products Division
of Abbott Laboratories. He has no links to the company beyond
this affiliation. : : Hertzler conducted the work with former
Ohio State colleague Patricia Heacock, who is now at Rutgers,
the State University of New Jersey; Jennifer Williams, a
clinical scientist with Ross Products Division, Abbott
Laboratories; and Bryan Wolf, a former research scientists with
Ross Products Division

Goldie
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/herbal-medicine-for-type-two-diabetes-221.html

What would happen if you don’t take teh treatment for type 2 diabetes?

Diabetes Treatment Guidelines 3 Comments »

How long would it take to die also?

Type 2 is a condition, and you must take ir very seriously. Diabetes (type 1 or 2) affects everything in your body. Long term, if you’re not careful, you can eventually go blind. You can suffer amputations (toes, whole feet and even the leg up to the knee. Cardiac complications, the list never ends. You do what you must to try to delay the inevitable….

Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis Question?

Diabetes Diagnosis 5 Comments »

Hi, anyone out there with experience of diagnosing diabetes help with this please.

I was showing usual signs of type 2 so had blood tests done which showed a result of 22. I was prescribed 1000mg of metformin a day 3 days ago which I was told would take up to 6 weeks to show results. However both yesterday and today when I tested my blood at different times of the day my levels have been averaging out at around 9.

With the levels dropping so quickly I was wondering,
1. Can the metformin work so quickly?
2. If not then have I possibly been misdiagnosed?

Thanks for any advice.

Your bm’s can change substantially during the day anyway, depending on when you eat and what you eat, especially if you’ve taken advice to heart and completely cut out sugars etc. That’s why they usually don’t recommend self-testing your blood frequently, or for that matter at all, with Type 2. It’s unnecessary and often leads to confusion and alarm over the results. Instead you’ll be tested on maybe a 6 monthly basis to see what the average has been over several months.

Don’t fret over it too much, let your professionals tell you what you need to do.

what is the different of treatment between diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2?

Diabetes Treatment Guidelines 2 Comments »

pharmacology and non-pharmacology… thanks…

Diabetes 1 your body produces no insulin and you must take insulin to keep your blood sugar under control (diet, excercise and oral hypoglycemics will sometimes be given to help control sugars).

Diabetes 2 your body does not produce enough insulin so treatment is aimed at helping your body control sugar … start by controlling diet, then add oral hypoglycemics (metformin, glyburide, avandia etc…) and insulin only if necessary.

HbAic test to see wether treatment is helping with longterm sugar control.

Hope this helps,

C

I need help with this diabetes assignment my teacher has given me?

Diabetes Guidelines 2008 4 Comments »

Read the case study and answer the questions that follow:
Debra is a 45 year old woman of Pacific Islander descent who has been living with diabetes for 5 years. She has come in for a check-up. She has always considered herself to be overweight, and does not take part in regular physical activity. Debra does not take insulin to control her diabetes, but does have to take oral medications to help her cells become more receptive to her own insulin. Her lab tests show the following: HbA1c 8.3%, serum cholesterol 214 mg/dl, and triglycerides 275 mg/dl.

When Debra was diagnosed with diabetes she did not seek the help and expertise of a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). Instead she followed the diet advice of her great aunt who also has diabetes, which was simply to avoid anything with sugar. This guideline, though simple, has not been working well for Debra and her sweet tooth.

Questions: (All answers can be found in the notes)
1.Interpret the results of Debra’s lab tests.
a.Are they within normal limits? Explain. (1 point)
b.If not, what are the normal levels of those particular lab tests? (1 point)
c.We know that Debra has already been diagnosed with diabetes, but her lab results indicate that she is at risk for another disease/condition. What is she at risk for and why? (2 points)

2.Based on the information provided in the case study, what type of diabetes does Debra likely have? What have you based your answer on? (2 points)

3.During the Diabetes lecture, we discussed diet changes that can be beneficial in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. What are these diet changes? (2 points)

4.Which of the risk factors (not the same as complications) for diabetes discussed in class (in the notes) apply to Debra? (1 points)

5.Explain briefly the functions of insulin and glucagon, respectively, with regard to blood glucose control. (2 points)

6.Explain the major difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. (1 point)

7.Briefly explain the following terms: Glycogenesis, Glycogenolysis, Gestational diabetes, Polyphagia, Insulin resistance, Hypoglycemia, Glycated hemoglobin, Glucometer. (8 points)

I think it would be better if you did your own homework. Go to webmd and research your project.