Don't Be Scared If You Are Suffering From Diabetes Mellitus

A common type of diabetes that often takes place in people all over the world is the one which involves the patient's sugar levels rising up beyond the allowed levels in the body. This condition is well known as Diabetes mellitus. When a patient suffers from this kind of problem, he or she usually excretes urine that is full of sugar otherwise known as "sweet urine" by doctors. Other symptoms may include, experiencing moments of excessive thirst, irritability, experiencing nausea accompanied by vomiting, unusual weight loss and sometimes having a sweet smelling breath. As for men, this disease can make them have erectile dysfunction.

Diabetes mellitus usually occurs when the body fails to either produce or respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone in the body that makes it possible for the glucose in the blood to enter body cells for it to be used for energy production. When this fails to happen, most of the glucose is forced to stay in the blood hence being saturated with sugar a condition that is known as hyperglycemia. For this reason, some of the excess glucose in the blood is forced to trickle into the urine and that is why you will find patients of diabetes mellitus passing urine that is full of sugar. Other problems that may occur apart from urinating sweet urine are such as, body cells experiencing starvation for energy or damaging of the kidneys, nerves, heart vessels and blood vessels.

A common way of diagnosing diabetes mellitus is through a test referred to as The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. With this test, the patient is required to fast for about 16 hours before the test can be conducted. An initial blood sample is then taken from the patient before several other samples amounting to at least five within a period of 3 hours are taken right after the patient is made to drink a solution full of sugar. Once this has been done, sugar levels in the blood get to be compared with the ones in the immediate previous blood sample that was taken.

For people without diabetes mellitus, the first sample of blood after taking the solution, will appear to have its blood glucose rise very sharply but as the doctor continues testing, the subsequent blood samples will appear to have their blood glucose levels also drop sharply until they return to normal levels. However, the same cannot be said for diabetic patients. Diabetes mellitus patients will in turn have the first blood test show that glucose content has rapidly shot up but unlike in people without this disease where the elevated blood glucose reduced rapidly in the subsequent tests, in diabetic people, the subsequent blood tests will show a slow drop of the glucose levels.

There are four main types of diabetes mellitus that exist today and Type I also known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes mellitus is one of them. This condition often occurs in people who are below the age of 30 years and is usually caused by the auto-aggressive T cells in the body that cause the infiltration of the pancreas which lead to the destruction of the insulin-producing B-islet cells. Type II also known as Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus is another type of diabetes mellitus that is usually caused by either inactivity, consumption of certain drugs, obesity or excess consumption of alcohol among other lifestyle habits. This disease is however common in people above the age of 30 years.

Another type of diabetes mellitus is known as Secondary diabetes mellitus. This condition develops as a result of a previous medical condition which may have caused a destruction of the pancreatic tissue that is responsible for insulin production. These medical problems may include, trauma, chronic pancreatitis not forgetting a surgical removal of the pancreas. To bring to four the list of diabetes mellitus is the Gestational diabetes. This is a problem for pregnant women which lead to both the expectant mother and the unborn child develop other forms of diabetes in future. An appropriate diet together with exercises may help to make this type of diabetes mellitus go away once the baby has been born.

Type 2 Diabetes and Skinny People - How Do They Handle Their Blood Sugar Levels?

One of the ongoing mysteries of Type 2 diabetes research has been that sometimes people who aren't fat nonetheless become diabetic. The reason may be genetic.

Nevertheless, aside from weight gain, the signs and symptoms are pretty much the same although some people never show any signs.

The most common signs and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are:

• feeling very tired


• increased need to urinate


• skin becomes very dry


• vision becomes affected... blurriness


• hunger and/or thirst may increase


• sores, or cuts and abrasions usually take longer to heal


• various recurrent fungal infections such as genital thrush, or bacterial infections (especially urine infections)

Although some of these symptoms seem to be minor, if they are not acknowledged and investigated, they usually lead to more serious complications. The cause is high blood sugar levels... the sooner you manage your blood sugar levels your risk for the various diabetic complications will most definitely be reduced.

Italian scientists who conducted the Verona Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Study have found that Type 2 diabetics who have high blood sugar levels but who aren't overweight often have abnormalities in a gene called TCF7L2. When this gene does not function correctly, the beta cells may stop producing enough insulin but fat, muscle, and liver still respond to insulin properly. Usually Type 2's develop insulin resistance and then their insulin-producing cells "burn out". When the problem is genetic, and with this gene, then Type 2 diabetes comes about without the years of insulin resistance and weight gain first.

Will chromium help? This also means that if you are thin and have been diagnosed with Type 2, taking chromium won't help you one little bit. Chromium improves insulin resistance, and that's not your problem!

How about exercise? This means that if you are thin and diabetic, exercise won't help you specifically with your Type 2 either; load-bearing exercise will help you in a very different way. If you are insulin resistant, exercise reduces insulin resistance. If you are not insulin resistant, load-bearing exercise at least helps clear out excess blood sugars in the post-exercise period.

What can a thin Type 2 diabetic do? If you are thin and diabetic, you just may be able to deal with your high blood sugar levels with injected insulin. That's actually easier than dieting and exercise, and maybe for you, insulin will take care of your Type 2 diabetes without making you gain weight. Put simply, insulin unlocks the "doors" of cells to let the sugar in and it also suppresses liver glucose production. Slim people with Type 2 diabetes may need supplementary injected insulin if they are insulin deficient. Otherwise, you need to be very, very careful with your diet and intake of carbohydrates.

The Lowdown on High Blood Sugar

Diabetes. High blood sugar. Isn't that an 'old people' disease? Doesn't that only cause problems for your grandparents or other elderly relatives and friends? Is that the disease where you have to give yourself shots every day? That's the disease that you get from eating too much sugar, right? Isn't it true that only fat people get that illness?

Before we go much further, let's go over some basics about diabetes. First, about 5.5 million Americans are currently being treated for diabetes. Studies imply that 5 million more Americans have undetected diabetes and another 20 million have an impaired glucose tolerance that may lead to diabetes. That's a significant amount of people. The National Institutes of Health state that millions of people lose their vision each year due to undetected diabetes. Most important to note is that the third leading cause of death in the United States is the complications of diabetes.

There are two different forms of diabetes and it's not the Type I and Type II that you always hear about. The first form is called Diabetes Insipidus. This kind of diabetes is very rare and has two causes. There may be a low level of a hormone called vasopressin or the kidneys cannot effectively respond to the vasopressin. The key symptoms of this metabolic malfunction are an extreme thirst and high urine output.

The more common form of diabetes is called Diabetes Mellitus. It is the result of a problem with the pancreas and its production of insulin. The body's blood sugar level is dependent on the proper amounts of insulin produced to breakdown the glucose (sugar) in our diet. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease of carbohydrate metabolism. Genetics certainly plays a part in developing diabetes but a diet of highly processed, low-fiber foods has been seen as a major contributor in most cases. This type of diet leads to obesity resulting in overweight individuals having a higher risk of diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is the Type I and Type II diabetes that you've heard about. Type I, known as insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. This form of diabetes involves the destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It is most common in children.

Individuals with Type I diabetes show the following symptoms:

o Irritability

o Frequent urination

o Abnormal thirst

o Nausea/Vomiting

o Weight loss

o Fatigue

o Weakness

o Unusual hunger

o Frequent bedwetting (in children)

Type I diabetics are also susceptible to episodes of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Either of these conditions can cause serious medical problems.

Hyperglycemia can sneak up slowly over a period of hours or days and it is most common during an illness. A chief warning sign is the inability to keep down fluids. Possible complications include stroke, coma, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Hypoglycemia, on the other hand, comes on rapidly and can be caused by skipping meals or exercising too much. The signs of hypoglycemia include dizziness, hunger, confusion, sweating, and tingling lips. Complications can be double vision, trembling, disorientation, and coma.

Type II diabetes is most likely to happen in individuals with a family history of diabetes. This form of diabetes is slightly different. The pancreas produces insulin but it doesn't work properly. As a result, the blood sugar level remains high because the glucose cannot get into the body's cells as quickly as it should.

Folks with Type II diabetes exhibit the following symptoms:

o Blurred vision

o Itching

o Unusual thirst

o Fatigue

o Slow wound healing

o Numbness in hands and feet

o Skin infections

o Lingering flu symptoms

o Loss of hair on legs

o Increased facial hair

o Small, yellow bumps on the body

A common first indicator of diabetes in men is a condition known as balanoposthitis. This condition is an inflammation of the penis and foreskin and usually accompanies frequent urination.

There is a wide range of natural health options that are available to diabetics. Maintaining a proper diet and participating in an exercise program are two of the most important ways to control diabetes. Your physician and dietician will be most helpful in developing a food plan that will be best for you. A rule of thumb for a diabetic diet is to eat foods that contain complex carbohydrates, low fat, and high fiber. That means plenty of fruits and vegetables, including juices. The complex carbs enter the system more slowly, the fiber helps slow the blood sugar spikes, and the low fat keeps the fat levels in your bloodstream down. Avoid the simple sugars and the saturated fats.

Exercise is of equal importance since obesity is a major contributing factor in Type II diabetes. Your physician and therapists can help you develop a weight reduction program to fit your needs.

In addition to diet and exercise, there are nutritional supplements that have been found helpful for diabetes. These supplements are: Chromium picolinate - enhances the effect of insulin resulting in lower blood sugar levels L-Glutamine - reduces sugar cravings Biotin - assists in glucose metabolism Manganese - important for repair of the pancreas

Do not take any supplements that contain cysteine, an amino acid. It can cause problems with the ability of the cells to absorb insulin properly.

Vitamins B, C, and E are also helpful as antioxidants. They work toward the prevention of secondary complications of diabetes such a vision and vascular problems. However, large doses of Vitamin C or B1 should be avoided because they may inactivate insulin.

Several herbs are also advocated for diabetes. These herbs are cedar berries, huckleberry, ginseng, bilberry, dandelion root, buchu, and uva ursi. Each herb has a specific role in maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

Because diabetes causes problems with the circulatory system, it is vital to avoid tobacco in any form. Tobacco constricts the blood vessels and slows the circulation. Tobacco use provides less oxygen to the extremities. This lack of oxygen plays a major role in the development of foot ulcers commonly seen in diabetics.

There are many reasons to try to prevent the onset of diabetes. It threatens your overall health and can lead to a wide range of complications. Here are just a few. Diabetic Retinopathy - This is damage done to the retina and is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Diabetic Nephropathy - This is damage done to the kidneys and is the leading cause of death in diabetics. Diabetic Neuropathy - This is damage done to the nerves and is characterized by numbness, tingling, and pain. It affects the feet, legs, and hands.

It has been said that diabetes is deceptive, insidious, and inconvenient. If you feel that you are experiencing signs of diabetes, check with your primary care provider.

For more information on diabetes, you can contact the organizations listed below.

American Diabetes Association 1660 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-549-1500

International Diabetes Center 3800 Park Nicolett Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55416 612-927-3393 National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 1 Information Way Bethesda, MD 20892-3560 301-654-3327

If you would like more information on topics discussed in this article or to suggest ideas for a future article, you can contact me at my website.

I hope that you have found this information useful and educational. Be a major contributor to your health care. Learn all you can about the body you have with you 24 hours a day.

Different Types Of Insulin

Insulin is an important human hormone that is produced by the beta cells or the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and secreted into the human blood. Insulin is critical in maintaining the normal human metabolism including the regulation of blood glucose and fat levels. Presence of insulin results in lowering of glucose levels in the blood, absence of insulin results in reduced glucose uptake by the cells and increased usage of fat so as to generate energy.

In case of individuals suffering with Type I or Type II diabetes, the body is unable to secrete sufficient amounts of insulin or the cells do not respond to the insulin secreted by the pancreas. As a result, these individuals need to depend on an external source of insulin in the form of injections to maintain their normal metabolism and functions.

In the U.S., there are different types of insulin and there are more than 20 different varieties of commercial insulin. There are different factors that differentiate these types from each other. These include the species from which the insulin has been extracted, site of injection, onset, peak time and duration of activity. Each insulin type works at different rate and for different duration of time. Depending on these, commercially available insulin has been categorized into four basic types.

1. Rapid-acting insulin: Response generated by this is very rapid. Onset of insulin action is very quick, it has a really sharp peak and very short duration time. This insulin type is considered to be good for mealtime dosage.

2. Short-acting insulin: Although the action of this insulin is quick, it is not as instant as the rapid-acting types. Onset is slow, it has a sharp peak time that comes after several hours after taking the injection and it has a short duration time.

3. Intermediate and long-acting insulin: This is referred to as basal insulin. This is because this insulin has a very long duration period with a slow but sustained delivery of the drug.

4. Premixed insulin: This is usually a combination of intermediate-acting and short- or rapid-acting insulin.

Insulin - The Hormone That Diabetics Lack

Insulin is need by the body to burn that glucose that is produce when we eat something. The pancreas is where it is produce, somewhere inside the pancreas the beta cells are located which produce insulin.

Having type 1 diabetes means that the body isn't capable of producing any hormone, the bets cells are ruined thus it is not able to produce insulin to use the sugar from the food that we consume. Having type 2 diabetes means that the body is still capable of producing insulin but the problem is with body. In this type of cases, the bodies can not fully absorb and use the hormone. A person who has type 2 needs diabetic pills so that it maximizes the use of insulin in our body.

To help the patient break down the glucose and create energy for the body, insulin is use. If insulin would be taken as a pill then it would just break down like any other food that we eat. In order to get the insulin to our body a patient needs to inject the hormone to their body so that they will have a supply of insulin in their bodies.

The insulin that we are using comes from animals like pigs. There are different types of insulin in the market right now. A patient must consult a doctor first before using it. Some doctor advices diabetic to change their insulin once in a while to make some adjustment depending on the reaction of the body to the insulin type.

3 Steps to Remove Diabetes

Though diabetes is a damaging disorder worldwide, there are still people taking the disease lightly. They like to continue consuming the forbidden foods, lead a sedentary life and refuse to exercise. This disorder is very costly to the public at large as it saps out the funds that the state could use to finance more beneficial projects for the well-being of the citizens.

Not controlling diabetes can have a detrimental effect on your life years down the road. Why wait and accept the complications of diabetes instead of taking diabetes by the horn and boot it out of your life?

The complications of diabetes, once they creep up, can be very devastating to you and your loved ones. One complication is kidney failure. If you have this, you will be left to living your final life on syringes and dialysis. You have only one life to live. Why waste it?

The disorder which now affects 260 million people worldwide may reach a figure of 380 million by the year 2025 if no concrete actions are taken to combat this disorder. 10% to 20% of diabetics die of kidney failure. Diabetes forms the largest cause of kidney failure in developed countries and it is responsible for large dialysis cost. Every 10 seconds, a person dies from diabetes related complication. This is indeed tragic.

There are ways to overcome diabetes and it is just a matter of will power to reach a successful end.

1. Check what you eat everyday and make sure that the food is devoid of sugar. Avoid all flour-based foods and reduce your carbohydrate intake to a very possible minimum. If you need carbohydrate, focus on complex carbohydrate and refrain taking simple carbohydrates.

2. Have a regular exercise to boost your body system. Whether it is swimming, cycling, aerobic dancing or just brisk walking for 30 minutes, as long as you exercise, your body will be more receptive to insulin thus enabling good blood sugar level control.

3. Take supplements to compensate for body stress due to free radicals bombardment. Start with a multi vitamins and minerals tablet. In addition take omega 3 1000 mg twice daily, and evening primrose 1000 mg twice daily. Folic acid 15 mg daily. These are the secret weapons to optimum body maintenance that can add more years to your life.

Natural Diabetes Cure - 2 Effective Treatments For Diabetic People

Do you know that diabetes could be a fatal disease? Yes, that is the reason why you should follow strict regimens and treatments, how about controlling your blood glucose levels more than 3 times per day? it is not easy for sure. However, this article is intended to analyze 2 different natural diabetes cures, these ones have proven to be effective diabetes treatments, and they are massages and detoxification diet plans.

Firstly, even if it might be difficult to believe, massage is considered a form of passive exercise, by applying advanced massaging techniques, therapists eliminate unwanted toxins from the body, and as a consequence the condition of diabetics get improved. Moreover, massages help to calm down the nervous system, this way you can reduce stress and relieving tension of your muscles, this is a natural way to heal diabetes.

Secondly, there are many diet plans that help to detoxify your body, in this case you need - generally - specialized advise from a doctor or a health agency, these diets usually include supplements as a part of the program, and the key to be successful is being persistent with the treatment, by researching online you will find several detoxification diet programs specially designed for diabetic people. This natural diabetes cure has become one of the most popular treatment among diabetics.

In conclusion, those are two effective diabetes treatments and the best part is that they are all natural, if you have been struggling with diabetes for so long, would not you give a chance to at least one of the cures listed above? Certainly, you have nothing to loss and they deserve a try, after all it is in your best interest.

Diabetes News - Use Flavonoids For Diabetic Complications

The beneficial effects of flavonoids in battling the complications of diabetes are numerous. They are even better than the nutrients vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and zinc, because flavonoids are more potent against a wider range of oxidants.

Diabetics who are already having signs of long-term complications can benefit from a flavonoid-rich extract. Flavonoids concentrate in specific tisses, so it is possible to take flavonoids that target specific body parts.

- Bilberry extract is the best choice for retinopathy or cataracts.

- Ginkgo biloba extract is the best choice for improving blood flow to the legs.

- Grape seed extract is the best choice for poor wound healing and protection against heart disease.

- Quercetin is a good choice for prostate enlargement or bladder irritation.

There is tremendous overlap in the benefits of all flavoniod-rich extracts, the idea is to take one that is most specific to your personal needs.

Flavonoid-rich extracts don't get the publicity of drugs, but they can be just as effective and at far less cost. They can be far safer than drugs when used as directed.

Flavonoids increase intracellular vitamin C levels, decrease the leakiness and breakage of small blood vessels, prevent easy bruising, and have potent antioxidant effects.

Flavonoids are "nature's biological response modifiers" because of anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties.

Flavonoids are a group of plant pigments responsible for the bright colors of many fruits. That's why a diet that includes colorful fruit is so important to diabetics. You can't go wrong eating something that tastes good and is good for you.

Fasting With Diabetes

Religious fasting days such as Yom Kippur should be approached with caution by a diabetic. If your condition is entirely controlled by dieting, or even by diet and oral medication, then you should not have any problems. Although, it may be a good idea to hold out on taking your pill until right before the evening meal that breaks the fast. The problem that occurs falls within insulin dependent diabetics.

It's not very wise to fast if you're an insulin dependent diabetic. Fasting for you is much trickier and actually dangerous. It may be best to alter the tradition than to have a medical emergency.

If fasting is something that you just don't want to give up, that's fine, as it is possible, just make sure you take precaution and do it right. Lets say you usually require 10 regular and 30 units of intermediate insulin when you wake up. During a fasting day, you would take 0 insulin before breakfast, and skip breakfast and lunch. Now if you go through your day without any negative symptoms, then check your blood sugar right before supper, and if it's high, don't take your usual morning dose. Take more regular than you normally would, and less intermediate. For instance, you may take 20 regular, and 20 intermediate. You do this to compensate for the higher than average blood sugar level, but you don't want it lasting into the following day.

Suppose you do run into some symptoms after skipping breakfast and lunch, as well as your morning insulin. You may get high sugar and acidosis, more frequent urination, thirst, etc. In this case you should not continue fasting until dinner. Break the fast, start eating, and take your insulin. In this case as well, you should increase your regular intake and decrease your intermediate intake. Remember, you may want to follow your religion by fasting, but seriously risking your health and/or life is not necessary.

If yo u take oral medications for your diabetes the night preceding your fast, then you should take only half of your regular dosage. This is because you will likely have excess insulin as you skip meals the next day.

Any type of diet and health maintaining routines you follow should be approved by your physician. This includes the information in this article.

How Can You Possibly Reverse Diabetes Naturally?

In my current job in the health field industry, I have noticed a drastic increase in the number of individuals who have Diabetes. Even more alarming is that children are developing diabetes in greater volumes as well.

Diabetes Mellitus results when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels or when cells in the body don't respond appropriately to insulin.

People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes) produce little or no insulin at all. In contrast, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes), the pancreas continues to manufacture insulin, sometimes even at higher than normal levels. However, the body develops resistance to its effects and the sugar in the blood does not enter the cells as well as it should, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetes usually begins after age 30 and becomes progressively more common with age.

Research indicates that overweight people who have Diabetes suffer from a biological imbalance involving insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use and conserve food energy in several ways: insulin tells your body when to eat, Insulin delivers food energy to wherever the body needs it, Insulin also commands the body to save food energy stored in fat cells for a time when no food is available. Many people produce so much insulin that their bodies are unable to absorb it all. The result of this is an excess of insulin in their bloodstreams. This imbalance leads to a cycle in which they experience overpowering cravings for carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, and snack foods. The more carbohydrates that are consumed, the greater the amount of insulin the body releases. Fortunately carbohydrate addiction and insulin imbalance can be reversed so that you can lose weight and be healthy the rest of your life-without feeling deprived or struggling to manage your eating patterns.

Check out the website in the resource box concerning more on Diabetes and weight loss.

To help reverse Diabetes naturally you must eliminate or reduce sugar, fructose, corn syrup, white bread, and maple sugar. People who regularly drink sugar-sweetened beverages are at a high risk for both Diabetes and Obesity.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/ patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of this publication based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher isn't responsible for errors or omissions. The Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products aren't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

When Your Hunting Dog Has Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs

We recently had our eleven-year-old dog Sadie diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus. While talking to my veterinarian about the chances of a few more years together she explained the process of getting the disease under control and then told me once that is done we have a pretty good chance.

Not A Death Sentence

I told her I was willing to go for it! She was glad to hear that because she said that about 40% of her clients have their dog put down when they hear the diagnosis. That is a shame because this disease is so treatable.

There are two forms of diabetes in dogs: diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is a very rare disorder that results in failure to regulate water content. My dog has the more common diabetes mellitus. This is a fairly common disorder and is most often seen in dogs five years of age and older. There is a congenital form that occurs in puppies, but this is not common.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the pancreas. This is a small but vital organ that is located near the stomach. It has two significant populations of cells. One group of cells produces the enzyme necessary for proper digestion. The other group, called beta-cells, produces the hormone called insulin. Simply put, diabetes mellitus is a failure of the pancreas to regulate blood sugar.

The Types of Diabetes

In humans two types of diabetes mellitus have been discovered. Both types are similar in that there is a failure to regulate blood sugar, but the basic mechanisms of the disease differ somewhat between the two groups.

1. Type 1, or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, results from total or near-complete destruction of the beta-cells. This is the only type of diabetes known in dogs. As the name implies, dogs with this type of diabetes require insulin injections to stabilize blood sugar.

2. Type II, or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus is different because some insulin-producing cells remain. However, the amount produced is insufficient, there is a delayed response in secreting it, and the tissues of the dog's body are relatively resistant to it. People with this form may be treated with an oral drug that stimulates the remaining functional cells to produce or release insulin in an adequate amount to normalize blood sugar. Because Type II diabetes does not occur in dogs, oral medications are not appropriate for treating diabetic dogs.

The Purpose of Insulin

The role of insulin is much like that of a gatekeeper: it stands at the surface of body cells and opens the door, allowing glucose to leave the blood stream and pass inside the cells. Glucose is a vital substance that provides much of the energy needed for life, and it must work inside the cells. Without an adequate amount of insulin, glucose is unable to get into the cells. It accumulates in the blood, setting in motion a series of events that can ultimately prove fatal.

When insulin is deficient, the cells become starved for sources of energy. In response to this, the body starts breaking down stores of fat and protein to use as alternative energy sources. As a consequence, the dog eats more; thus, we have weight loss in a dog with a ravenous appetite. The body tries to eliminate the excess glucose by excreting it in the urine. However, glucose (blood sugar) attracts water; thus urine glucose takes with it large quantities of the body's fluids, resulting in the production of a large amount of urine. To avoid dehydration, the dog drinks more and more water. Thus, we have the four classic signs of diabetes:

Classic Signs Of Diabetes Mellitus

The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is based on three criteria; the four classical clinical signs, the presence of a persistently high level of glucose in the blood stream, and the presence of glucose in the urine.

The normal level of glucose in the blood is 80-120mg/dl. It may rise to 250-300 mg/dl following a meal. However, diabetes is the only common disease that will cause the blood glucose level to rise above 400 mg/dl. Some diabetic dogs will have a glucose level as high as 800mg/dl, although most will be in the range of 400-600mg/dl.

To keep the body from losing its needed glucose, the kidneys do not allow glucose to be filtered out of the blood stream until an excessive level is reached. This means that dogs with a normal blood glucose level will not have glucose in the urine. Diabetic dogs, however, have excessive amounts of glucose in the blood, so it will be present in the urine.

What Diabetes Means to You and Your Dog

For the diabetic dog, one reality exists: blood glucose cannot be normalized without treatment. Although the dog can go a day or so without treatment and not get into crisis, treatment should be looked upon as part of the dog's daily routine. Treatment almost always requires some dietary changes and administration of insulin.

As for the owner, there are two implications: financial commitment and personal commitment.

When your dog is well regulated, the maintenance costs are minimal. The specific diet, insulin, and syringes are not expensive. However, the financial commitment is significant during the initial regulation process or if complications arise.

Initially, your dog may be hospitalized for a few days to deal with any immediate crisis and to begin the regulation process. The "immediate crisis" is only great if your dog is so sick that it has quit eating and drinking for several days. Dogs in this condition, called "ketoacidosis", may require a week or more of hospitalization with quite a bit of laboratory testing. Otherwise, the initial hospitalization ma only be for a day or two to get some testing done and to begin treatment. After which your dog goes home for you to administer medication. At first, return visits are required every 5-7 days to monitor progress. It may take a month or more to achieve good regulation.

Your Veterinarian will work with you to achieve consistent regulation, but a few dogs are difficult to keep regulated. It is important that you pay close attention to your veterinarian's instructions related to administration of medication, to diet and to home monitoring.

Many people are initially fearful of giving insulin injections. If this is your reaction, consider these points:

1. Insulin does not cause pain when it is injected.

2. The injections are made with very tiny needle that your dog hardly feels.

3. The injections are given just under the skin in areas in which it is almost impossible to cause damage to any vital organ.

Please do not decide whether or not you will treat your dog until your veterinarian demonstrates the injection process. You will be surprised at how easy this is to do. I do it twice a day and I couldn't even open a can of dog food without gagging.

What You Need To Know About Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization, a few decades back diabetes was an uncommon disease, in both developed and developing countries. Today, the story is different. It is currently estimated that over 143million people worldwide are affected by the disease. This figure is ever increasing, by 2020 over 220million people are expected to be living with diabetes, if the current trend continues.

In the United States alone, there are 18.2 million people (6.3% of the population) living with diabetes. While another 13million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, 5.2milion (or nearly one third) are unaware that they have the disease.

The figure for Nigeria is not readily available, but it is estimated that over 1.5million people have diabetes in Nigeria.

In developed countries, most patients of diabetes are over sixty, but in developing countries, diabetes is found to affect people in their prime.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes Mellitus (or simply diabetes) is derived from the Greek word 'Diabeinein', meaning 'To pass through' describing copious urination, and Mellitus from the Latin word meaning 'Sweetened with honey'. These two words signify sweetened urine or sugar in urine.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use Insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed, in the body, to control the rate at which sugar, starch and other food are converted into glucose required as energy for daily life. The hormone is produced and released

into the blood by an organ called 'Pancreas'. This insulin help to maintain the blood glucose level within a normal range. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts this normal range between

60 - 100mg/dl (Before taking any food for the day, hence this value is called Fasting Blood Glucose). In health, despite several demands for glucose in different situations, the blood glucose rarely exceeds this value.

After a meal the liver stores the glucose from the meal as glycogen and releases it into the blood in between meals. The role of insulin is the control of this storage and release of glucose. It ensures that the amount of glucose in the blood at every particular time does not go beyond or below the normal range.

TYPES OF DIABETES.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), five classes of diabetes are recognized, these are; Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) or Type I Diabetes, Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) or Type II Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, Diabetes Insipidus and Bronze Diabetes.

INSULIN DEPENDENT/TYPE I DIABETES: This type of diabetes was initially called Juvenile onset diabetes because it affects adolescents and young adults. It is caused by a sudden failure of the pancreas to produce Insulin. It is, therefore, an acute disease, presenting with thirst, polyuria (passing large amount of urine), diuresis and weight loss. Type I diabetes is not common, it accounts for less than 10% of all diabetes cases.

NON-INSULIN DEPENDENT/ TYPE II DIABETES: This is the most prevalent type of diabetes, accounting for more than 80% of all diabetic cases. It is found in adults and the elderly. This type of diabetes develops gradually over a long period of time (unnoticed) and is characterized by insufficient insulin, deficient insulin in the blood or the inability of the body to utilize the insulin resent (Insulin resistance). Because of its slow and gradual occurrence, it is mostly undetected until one or more of its long-term complications appear.

Unlike in Type I Diabetes, the Insulin in the blood of a Type II diabetic may be normal or even high, but lacks the desired effect, due to insulin resistance, and this is prevalent among obese people.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES: This type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy and disappears after delivery, within 3weeks. An estimated 3% of all pregnancies are accompanied by gestational diabetes and almost half of these patients are prone to developing permanent diabetes later in life.

WHAT CAUSES DIABETES.

As with hypertension and other non communicable diseases, no clear cut cause(s) can be attributed to the most prevalent type of diabetes (Type II Diabetes, Type I diabetes being secondary to failure of the pancreas). However, some factors are known to increase one's chances of becoming diabetic and these are called risk factors. For example, indolent and well-fed populations are 2 - 20times more likely to develop type II diabetes than active and lean population of the same race. Some other factors known to increase one chances of getting diabetes include:

OBESITY: It is estimated that three quarter (¾) of all Type II diabetes patient are obese. Indolent and affluent lifestyles tend to contribute to this. It is believed that a 10kg loss of weight can reduce fasting blood sugar level by almost 50md/dl. An active lifestyle with frequent exercise is also known to increase Insulin sensitivity.

The International standard for measuring overweight and obesity is based on a value called BODY MASS INDEX (BMI). This value is derived by dividing the body weight (in Kilograms) by the square of height (in metres).

i.e. BMI = Body weight (Kg) / Height2 (Metres).

Note: 1ft = 0.305metres.

For adults, a BMI less than 25kg/m2 is preferred.

25 - 29kg/m2 is considered overweight and above 30kg/m2 is Obesity.

FAMILY HISTORY: A family history of diabetes increases one's chances of getting the disease. In such a situation, leading a healthy lifestyle and constant monitoring of one's blood sugar level becomes very important.

AGE AND RACE: Most Type II diabetes patient are over 40yrs at presentation of the disease. However, the proportion of increase in the incidence of this disease with age is higher for those with a family history of diabetes, obese and probably those leading sedentary lifestyles. Moreover, diabetes tends to be more prevalent among Africans, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans. Belonging to any of the races is a risk factor in itself.

HISTORY OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES: in a woman also increases her chances/possibility of developing permanent diabetes later in life.

YOU CAN PREVENT/DELAY DIABETES!

Diabetes have no permanent cure once it develops, it is managed al through life. But you can prevent ever falling into this life long pain. Before diabetes present in people, it is almost always preceded by a situation called PRE DIABETES. A situation where the blood glucose is higher than normal, but not yet enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Saddening, however, you cannot know when you fall into this category, if you have not being monitoring your blood glucose regularly.

Pre Diabetes is itself a serious medical situation, though can still be reversed by making changes in diet pattern and increasing physical activity. To determine one's blood sugar a test called Fasting Blood Glucose has to be conducted. This test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in one's blood before taking any meal for the day. It is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).

A value below 100mg/dl is generally accepted to be normal, while a value greater than 100mg/dl but less than 120mg/dl is not full diabetes yet, so it is regarded as Pre diabetes. An individual with a pre diabetes blood glucose level need to take urgent steps to reduce his blood glucose or risk life long diabetes.

It should be emphasized, however, that the racial and genetic factors predisposing to diabetes are still beyond human comprehension and control. It makes common sense, therefore, to reduce all human controllable factors to the barest minimum. Most of these factors have to do with social occupational and diet habits.

The following tips can help reduce your diabetes risk:

* Reduce weight. Obesity seems to be the single most significant factor in diabetes. Reducing body weight and fat and maintaining an average body weight is very essential. To this end a body mass index (BMI) less than 25kg/m2 for males and less than 24kg/m2 for females is recommended.

* Increase Physical Activity. It is an established fact that diabetes is more common among people that lead a sedentary affluent lifestyle. Simple dynamic exercises like brisk walking for 30-50mins daily or 3-5times weekly has been shown to be very helpful. Exercise reduces bodyweight and fat, increases functionality of the heart, reduces the chances of diabetes and also boosts emotions and healthy living.

* Cut down or cut out alcohol. Alcoholic intake of more than 2units per day has been shown to adversely affect the body. Alcohol being an addictive drug makes it very difficult to maintain a definite amount of intake for a long time. It is better therefore to strive to cut out alcohol completely.

* Avoid Smoking. Cigarette smoke has been shown to contain several poisonous substances. Cigarette smoking and alcohol have been related to several disease. Stopping smoking will definitely reduce the chances of several other ailments apart from diabetes.

* Lean good eating habits, such as;

* Cut down on fatty food and junks

* Eat more of fish and poultry (without the skin is better).

* Garlic reduces blood pressure cholesterol; add it to your meal plan once in a while.

* Cut the number of eggs you take to 3- 4 weekly (better boiled than fried).

* Reduce salt intake to less than 5.8grams daily.

* Eat more of vegetables and fibre rich food, especially fruits.

* Finally, constantly monitor your fasting blood glucose, as this is the only way to know when you are getting into trouble.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes and Hypertension being so interlinked requires a comprehensive plan of care, and this revolves round one's dietary habits, social and environmental factors. Several lifestyle changes like regular exercise, maintaining a moderate body weight, reduction of fat intake and high fibre diet all help to live a normal healthy life. These measures are known to increase insulin sensitivity and also reduce blood pressure.

Conclusively, it is very important to create a more health conscious individuals in the populace. A people who practically believe that it is better and cheaper to prevent an illness than to treat it, when it has become stronger. Moreover, preventive health cannot be divorced from regular medical checks, as this two go hand in hand. There is no way to detect several non-communicable diseases without undergoing regular medical checks. The importance of these checks cannot be over emphasized.

Be alive to your health. Know your Blood glucose values and live a healthier life free from the pains of diabetes.

How Diabetes Causes Heart Attacks

A recent study from Washington University in St Louis may explain why more than 75 percent of diabetics die of heart disease (Journal for the American College of Cardiology, February 7, 2006). The heart muscle of diabetics uses a much higher percentage of fat for energy than that of non-diabetics, to markedly increase risk for heart attacks.

The energy source for heart muscle is mostly sugar and fat, and to a lesser degree, protein. Muscles need far more oxygen to process fat than to process sugar. The blood supply to heart muscle comes from large arteries on the outside of the heart. Diabetics have narrowed arteries because high blood sugar levels cause plaques to form and reduce the diameter of the coronary arteries. The increased need for blood flow from burning fat and the decreased blood flow from narrowed arteries put diabetics at very high risk for heart attacks, heart failure and sudden death. The increased use of oxygen increases blood levels of oxidants that further damage the inner linings of arteries.

Another study from Sweden shows that many people discover that they are diabetic only after they have had a heart attack. Researchers recorded blood sugar levels in men who had had heart attacks and then did sugar tolerance tests at discharge and three months later. They found that 35 percent had diabetic sugar tolerance tests at hospital discharge and 40 percent had impaired sugar tolerance tests three months later (Lancet, Volume 359, 2002).

Therefore, 40 percent of people who have heart attacks are diabetic, even though they may not know it. Many of the diabetics had normal HBA1C blood tests, the standard test to measure diabetic control. Furthermore, the patients who were unknown diabetics had a much higher rate of sudden death from their heart attacks than those who were not diabetic. The authors recommend that all people with heart attacks be tested for diabetes.

How Does Increased Age Have an Impact on Diabetes Mellitus?

It is believed that the cells become tired and can no longer absorb insulin. It could also be that the pancreas gets tired and can no longer produce enough insulin. There are also many reasons why diabetes can be a larger issue for elderly people. Consider the following obstacles that people over sixty often face when it comes to diabetes.

Diagnosis in people over sixty years old can often be a problem. Many people over this age have health issues that may be credited for signs and symptoms of diabetes. Some older people dismiss the signs of diabetes, such as excessive thirst or frequent urination, as just part of old age. For this reason, diagnosis is often not made until severe complications occur.

Because of the delay in diagnosis, elderly people often suffer from kidney failure or blindness. This can lead to a harder road ahead for managing diabetes and maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

It is often hard for elderly people to find affordable health care solutions. Since many of these people are on Medicare or have no coverage at all, it can be difficult for these people to afford extra doctors visits, medications, or proper education from a nutritionist.

It can also be very costly to eat a healthy balanced diet. Since many seniors live on an income of only a few hundred dollars, it may be hard to buy the right foods. With the recent rise in the cost of vegetables and fruits, making the decision between utilities and food can be very hard.

Treatment options can be more difficult as well for seniors. Since exercise is a main component in a healthy diabetic plan, seniors with physical limitations may not enjoy the benefits of this component. It is often hard for some seniors to remember to take their insulin shots as well.

Many elderly people who have diabetes simply don't want to put forth the effort to manage diabetes. They may have other physical issues and feel that they have lived a long life and simply don't have the energy left to fight something else. In this case, many patients simply refuse to take their blood sugar regularly and change their lifestyle.

Because of these many issues that face elderly people with diabetes, it is imperative that family members or friends provide assistance. There are also many programs that can provide assistance with proper diet, or transportation to doctor's visits. There are many sites that provide information on resources available to seniors. You might also ask your doctor for recommendations on possible resources for managing diabetes.

Diabetes Diet Plan - This Is How To Treat Diabetes With Diet!

Diabetes is one of the most common and serious diseases in humans. It is the third leading cause of death in many developed countries, and it occurs in at least 5% of the population. It is a syndrome characterized by the relative or absolute lack of insulin in the body, which results in the impaired metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Insulin is a very important hormone in the human body that is produced by the pancreas and plays a central role in the body's metabolism. It regulates the levels of blood sugar, because it helps the glucose (which is the main fuel of the body) to get transferred into the cells. So the lack of insulin leads to the increase of blood sugar above normal levels.

The Symptoms:

Common symptoms of high blood sugar include thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, lethargy, blurred vision and recurrent infections. However, many people show no symptoms and therefore early detection is very important. The main indicator of diabetes is the excessive blood glucose, which is detected by tests. More specifically, here are some of the possible symptoms of the disease:

• Abscess


• Skin rashes


• Skin infections


• Slow healing of the skin


• Urinary tract infection


• Dry, itchy skin


• Skin with scales, ulcers or boils


• Peripheral neuropathy


• Tingling sensation on the feet or hands


• Hand Numbness


• Blurred vision


• Sexual problems


• Unusually dry vagina


• Early menopause


• Absence of periods


• Bad scars


• Weight Loss or gain


• Excessive hunger


• Fatigue


• Headaches


• Nervousness


• Muscle cramps and weakness

The Causes:

You may be wondering why you have diabetes and if your children have an increased risk of developing the disease. Unlike other diseases, diabetes does not appear to be strictly hereditary. Of course, there are people who, due to heredity have more chances to suffer from this condition compared to others.

Diabetes Type I and Type II have different causes. But there are two factors that play an important role in both cases. The first is the hereditary predisposition and the second is the environment.

The genes themselves, however, do not cause diabetes. A proof of this fact is the case of twins. Twins have identical genes. But in cases where one twin has diabetes Type I, the other one has only 50% chances of developing the condition. If you are a man with type I diabetes the chances that your child will also suffer from the disease is 1 in 17. If you are a woman with the same condition and you have a child before the age of 25, the chances are 1 in 25. If you have a child after 25, the chances are 1 in 100.Scientists believe that a child is at greater risk of developing diabetes type II, if the mother has it. But, if both you and your partner suffer from it, then the chances for the child are 1 in 2.

Regarding environmental factors, scientists believe that the climate may be a factor. Diabetes Type I occurs more often in areas with cold climates. Nutrition during infancy can also play an important role. It has been found that people who are breast-fed for longer periods of time are less likely to develop the disease.

Diabetes Type II has a stronger genetic basis than Type I, but nonetheless, it is highly dependent on environmental conditions. The western way of life, characterized by poor eating habits and little exercise, may be partly responsible for the problem. People who do not follow the western lifestyle, don't suffer from this condition very often, regardless of their genetic predisposition. Obesity is also a major factor for the occurrence of the condition. Obesity is more dangerous for young people and for those who stay obese for long periods of time. Diabetes during pregnancy may be even more dangerous. Older and obese women are more likely to develop this condition.

What is the diet you should follow, in case you suffer from diabetes?

Proper nutrition is one of our main weapons against diabetes (but never alone). The first thing you need to know is that there are no forbidden foods. However, there are certain foods that should be eaten in small quantities. Some general guidelines are:

• The diabetic diet should be one that helps you maintain a healthy body weight (or rather a normal body mass index - BMI). If you are currently overweight, then you need to limit the amount of calories you consume, so as to lose weight. This will reduce insulin resistance and thus help you regulate blood sugar.


• Contrary to previous guidelines, the basis of your diet should be carbohydrates (about 50% of daily calories). Prefer complex carbohydrates and foods rich in fiber (legumes, vegetables, fruits, whole grain bread, etc.) and in general, foods that are of low glycemic index. Low glycemic index means that the carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly and don't cause sudden increases in blood sugar. Sugar has a high glycemic index, which means that you should avoid foods that contain it (such as sweets and soft drinks).


• Your fat intake should be limited to less than 30% of daily calories. This can be done by selecting dairy products that are low in fat, removing visible fat from meat, and avoiding fried foods. Monounsaturated fat is the best source of fat you can eat.


• Your protein intake should not exceed 15-20%.


• Finally, it is important to eat small quantities of food throughout the day, instead of large meals. In this way you will be able to absorb the ingredients more gradually, so that the body can handle them better.


• Since diabetics are prone to heart disease you need to follow a diet that can lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. This means that it would be a good idea to reduce animal fats, foods high in cholesterol and high in salt. Your weekly menu must be rich in vegetables, legumes, cereals, fish, poultry, lean beef and low-fat dairy, and you need to stay away from lamb or pork, and eat no more than 3 eggs per week.

Type 2 Diabetes - Will Using Insulin Help Rest and Repair Your Pancreas?

If you have recently received a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, you may have heard of using synthetic insulin via injection for a short period of time to rest your pancreas and help in its recovery. As well, using insulin will help you take control of your blood sugar and then you can go off of it and your pancreas will be "rested" so it will be healthier, and you'll be able to control your blood sugar without using insulin.

This concept is partially true. When you use synthetic insulin, your pancreas doesn't have to work as hard. In many people Type 2 diabetes develops first through increasing insulin resistance. So your body is still making insulin but your cells aren't responding to it. This makes your blood sugar levels become higher and higher because the insulin is not moving the sugar or glucose into your body's cells. Then your pancreas starts working harder, producing more insulin to try to combat the high blood sugar level. Over time, the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, become worn out and can stop working altogether. As the beta cells slow down, your body produces less and less insulin - or none at all. When you start taking insulin injections, your blood sugar levels become better controlled, and the cells of the pancreas don't have to work as hard to try to produce a large amount of insulin.

So it's true using insulin makes things easier for your pancreas. But, does this mean after your pancreas is rested, you'll be able to go off of insulin? Maybe not. When your beta cells stop working altogether, they won't start producing insulin again. If you stop taking insulin without making other lifestyle changes, your body won't produce enough on its own to manage your blood sugar.

However, it is possible to...

• become more responsive to insulin,


• improve the health of your pancreas, and

to be able to stop taking insulin and still control your diabetes.

Studies have shown the best way to do this is through...

• adopting a lower calorie diet that eliminates simple carbohydrates, and


• by losing weight. Losing weight helps rid your body of fatty particles that help prevent your pancreas working effectively, and not enable sugar to enter the cells normally. Losing even 10 pounds can make a big difference.


• and exercise helps too - it makes it easier to lose weight, and it allows your body to use glucose for energy, even without insulin.

Overall, diet and exercise, plus using synthetic insulin when prescribed by your doctor, are effective ways to heal your body and manage or possibly help to reverse your Type 2 diabetes.

Dog Urinating Frequently? 5 Possible Causes and What You Can Do About It

Are you frustrated with your dog urinating frequently and in the most inappropriate places? There are a variety of factors that could be causing your dog's frequent urination. The first important step is to take your dog to a veterinarian and get a proper diagnosis. The condition can become life-threatening if you don't start treatment in time. Here are 5 possible reasons why your dog is urinating frequently and what you can do to stop it.

1. If you notice your dog urinating excessively, he could be ill and extreme thirst may be the first symptom you notice. Dogs that drink abnormally large amounts of water suffer from what is known as polydipsia. The cause could be a serious disease such as a pituitary tumor, high blood cortisol, diabetes insipidus, liver disease, central diabetes, or Cushing's disease. Cushing's disease increases the production of cortisol, hence leading to hormonal imbalance and excessive urination. It is important to report any increases in your dog's water consumption to your veterinarian and have your vet do blood tests and other examinations immediately.

2. Old age can also be the cause of your dog urinating frequently. As dogs age, their sphincter loosens and it gets harder for them to hold in urine. There are medications that your dog can take to tighten his sphincter but they are not without their significant side effects. Instead, try giving your dog a homeopathic remedy that promotes bladder health and a healthy flow of urine.

3. Diet may be the cause of the symptom of your dog urinating excessively. If your dog is eating a diet high in salt that may be the reason why he is urinating so frequently. To avoid this problem, make sure to feed your dog plenty of raw food rich in minerals like magnesium, aluminum, and phosphate. Drinking plenty of fresh, filtered water is also important.

4. The symptoms your dog is experiencing may stem from behavioral issues such as separation anxiety or territorial marking. A dog urinating frequently needs training if these behavioral issues are the underlying cause. Dogs that bond well with their owners may get distressed when their owner is gone and urinate frequently in different, inappropriate locations of the house. You can prevent this behavior by leaving your dog chew toys to play with, taking him out on frequent walks prior to your departure to tire him out, or leave the TV on to distract him while you are out. Marking happens when your dog urinates on objects in the home as a result of territorial instincts. It is most common among unneutered male dogs. To stop it from happening, neuter your dog and keep him away from the windows so he can't see passerby.

5. Urinary tract and bladder infections caused by E. coli bacteria are most likely the cause of your dog urinating excessively. The infection can travel up to your dog's kidneys and become fatal if left untreated. For this reason it is important to treat this condition early. Your veterinarian can do a pee test to determine whether a bacterial infection is the cause. If it is, he will probably recommend treatment with antibiotics but you should weigh your treatment options carefully prior to giving your dog drugs. The problem with antibiotics is that they only suppress the symptoms and do not treat the underlying cause of the problem. Furthermore, medication is known to aggravate UTIs. If you want to treat the problem naturally and get long term results, give your dog a homeopathic remedy.

Can You Die From Diabetes?

Probably because you have the condition or maybe a friend or family member does, you might be asking, "Can you die from diabetes?" It would be best that you find out exactly what diabetes is so you may judge for yourself.

There are two types of diabetes: diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. The latter results from the lack of the vasopressin, a hormone which controls urine secretion. It is a rare disease, so much rarer than diabetes mellitus, which is what has simply been referred to as diabetes these days.

Diabetes mellitus is simply a disorder resulting from either the lack of the hormone insulin which controls sugar levels in the blood, or the inability of the body's cells to respond to insulin.

Ideally, the rise in blood sugar levels signals the beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin, which then enables sugar and amino acids in the bloodstream to enter cells in the body where they are then either assigned for storage for future use or for immediate energy consumption.

In a person afflicted with diabetes, since there is a lack of insulin or the non-response of the body to it, sugar levels remain high and may continue to rise in the bloodstream. Since the sugar remains outside of the cells and cannot be consumed for energy, the brain asks for more food for more sugar.

The excess sugar in the bloodstream also spills into the urine, and as the normal laws of physics dictate, water always follows sugar (and salt), so there is an increase in urination which also results in an increase in thirst.

So if you're asking "What does high blood sugar feel like?" those are the classic symptoms: being frequently hungry, thirsty and an increase in the urge to urinate. Knowing that, if you have diabetes, will let you know what to watch out for so you may do what you must to control the condition.

The way to manage diabetes is primarily to take insulin supplements by subcutaneous injection, but this only applies to the first type of diabetes mellitus, which is Type 1 Diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. The second type, Type 2 Diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes can only be managed by glucose control primarily by modifying the diet and exercising, although these methods should also be employed by those with Type 1 Diabetes.

If diabetes is left untreated, it may can very well cause life-threatening complications. Type 1 Diabetes can lead to diabetic coma (which is a state of unconsciousness brought about by extremely high blood sugar levels) or death. In both Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, complications include blindness, heart disease, and kidney failure.

Due to the sugar particles in the bloodstream, tiny blood vessels can be blocked. If this happens in the eyes, it can lead to retinopathy which can then lead to blindness. If this happens in the kidneys, it can lead to nephropathy and then kidney failure. Blood vessels in general, if blocked, can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Not to sound morbid, but in general you can die from a jillion other causes, such as poisoning or a vehicular accident. So to answer the question "Can you die from diabetes?" Yes, you can. If you know how to manage the condition, however, you can live the best life as can be even in spite of it.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder in which blood glucose levels increase due to the deficiency of insulin. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas which is necessary to change excess glucose of blood into glycogen. Insulin allows sugar to move from blood into cells.

Doctors believe that it is a hereditary disease. It is usually a heterogeneous group of disorders, which are characterized by elevated blood sugar level. Diabetes is unable to metabolize blood sugar in their body. They pass glucose in their urine. Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness, lower limb amputation and heart diseases. High sugar level cause narrowing of blood vessels which results in poor circulation that causes harm to brain nerves resulting in neuropathy, eyes, legs, skin resulting in angina, and skin breakdown.

There are two major types of diabetes. Type 1 is insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Type 2 is non insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Type 1 is also called juvenile Diabetes Mellitus because it is usually occur in early age before forty. It arises due to deficiency of pancreatic hormone that normally routes blood glucose to cells for use. it is an auto immune disorder. The immune system backfires manufactures auto antibodies against body, s own cells. Sometimes, specific viral infections activate auto immune response. T-Cells of immune system attack pancreas and destroy insulin production. As a result, pancreas does not produce insulin. Diabetes of type I must receive exogenous insulin to survive.

Progress is being made in understanding the genetic basis of this disease. The insulin gene is located on short arm of chromosome 11. Polymorphism and genetic variations within this locus is responsible for diabetes type I susceptibility. But today.it is no more just a recessive single gene trait, rather it is multi factorial inheritance associated with several alleles.

Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is non insulin dependent. It accounts for 90% of all the diabetic patients. These persons produce some endogenous insulin themselves, but their body cells gradually fail to respond to insulin resistance. It occurs among people over the age of 40, and is more common among the obese. Obesity increases insulin resistance. As exercise reduces obesity it indirectly increases insulin sensitivity and improves glucose tolerance.

There definitely exists a genetic component in the form of an underlying tendency to develop diabetes under certain environmental conditions. About 2%-5% of type II diabetes gets the disease early in life before 25 years age. It is called maturity onset diabetes of the young can be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. About 50% of cases of diabetes are caused by mutations in gene. Diabetes enzyme usually converts glucose to glucose diabetes in pancreas. Diabetes can also be caused by mutations in any of the four genes which encode transcription factors involved in pancreatic development and insulin regulation.

Adult Diabetes Symptoms - How To Spot Diabetes In Adults

As an adult, diabetes is something that can creep up on you without any warning. Well, that's not quite true -- there are definite warning signs for adult-onset diabetes, but they're often ignored or mistaken for other things. Since diabetes is a serious disease, it's important to recognize these signs as early as possible in order to minimize health problems and other complications. This is especially true of overweight adults, who are very much at risk of diabetes.

The classic signs of adult diabetes are frequent urination and constant thirst. The thirst is actually a side-effect of the urination, since the body is trying to prevent dehydration. Frequent or excessive urination is particularly a sign of diabetes insipidus, a form of diabetes that is hormonal in nature, unlike the more common diabetes mellitus, which is due to abnormal levels of insulin and/or resistance to insulin's effects.

Blurry vision is definitely one sign you should take seriously, as it often occurs after long periods with elevated blood sugar levels. Many adults will ignore this symptom, ascribing it to fatigue or the effects of aging. A visit to the optometrist should be scheduled as quickly as possible to determine if the blurred vision is in fact due to adult-onset diabetes or some other health problem.

Other symptoms of adult diabetes include unexplained weight loss, perhaps oddly coupled with increased hunger, as well as fatigue and irritability. Of course, there are many diseases and conditions that can cause some or all of these symptoms, especially in adults, which is what makes diagnosis of diabetes so difficult. Who hasn't been irritable, after all, or fatigued? But it's the chronic appearance of these symptoms that are worrisome. It's one thing to be fatigued for a day or two, but if you're feeling off for a couple of weeks, it's time to visit the doctor.

The good news is that diabetes responds well to treatment if caught early, especially in adults. If sugar or insulin resistance is the problem, careful control of diet and exercise may be all that's needed to keep the disease in check. For others, medication will also be required. The earlier it's diagnosed, though, the better chance you'll have of dealing with adult diabetes.

Very Early Symptoms of Adult Onset Diabetes

We often talk about adult onset diabetes but important here is to talk about early symptoms of this type of diabetes; so a person must know if he is suffering from Diabetes.

Adult onset diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in United States of America. It is a disappointing figure but good news is that 90% of these diabetics can cure their disease if they achieve the ideal weight and practice healthy living and eating habits.

The diet of a normal person must steer clean of pastry teats, pasta, cookies and soda pop. A person can eat these but only in moderation. If this is your routine diet then expect you to be diagnosed with diabetes. The diet cannot be changed overnight. It can only be done gradually with patience. It is hard to ignore these treats, but it is for our own good. This change in diet puts a person at lesser risk of developing diabetes.

The secret to stay away from early symptoms of adult onset diabetes is to have a diet low in sugar and high in complex carbohydrates.

The early symptoms of adult onset diabetes includes;

• Frequent urination


• Increased hunger


• Excessive thirst


• Blurred vision


• Tiredness


• Slow healing wounds


• Recurrent yeast infections in women


• Erectile dysfunction in men

If a person is having Early Symptoms of Adult Onset Diabetes, the following tests must be conducted

Fasting Blood Glucose Level

If level is above 126 mg/dl in the past two sets then chances are that you are diabetic.

Random Blood Glucose Level

If the level is above 200 mg/dl and person is suffering from Early Symptoms of Diabetes, then the person is diabetic.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

If the level of blood glucose is above 200 mg/dl then the person is diabetic.

To treat diabetes the person must uproot the cause. Whatever the case is the Early Symptoms of Adult Onset Diabetes must be given prime importance to treat the problem in time.

Here Comes a Good Explanation on Causes of Diabetes

For many years now, diabetes has brought a lot of problems to patients suffering from it. This is a disease that allows blood sugar/glucose levels to either drop way below or rise way above the required levels. When the sugar levels drop below the levels they are supposed to be, the diabetic condition is usually referred to as Diabetes insipidus and when the sugar levels become excess in the body, the diabetic condition is usually referred to as Diabetes mellitus. For both these two conditions to take place, different causes of diabetes depending on the type of, have got to occur.

Among the causes of diabetes is the deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone also known as vasopressin hormone. This deficiency often occurs when the back or posterior part of the pituitary gland gets destroyed. It is from this place that the hormone is produced and later released in order to help the kidney concentrate urine and the blood with glucose thus enabling the sugar levels to rise up to the level they are supposed to be. Therefore, for patients suffering from diabetes insipidus, the antidiuretic hormone has to be induced iatrogenically through the use of various drugs from time to time so that the sugar concentration in the body can be boosted.

Destruction of the pancreatic tissue in charge of insulin production is also among the causes of diabetes. The tissue often gets destroyed after suffering from diseases such as chronic pancreatitis, trauma or after undergoing a surgical procedure to remove the pancreas. When insulin is not produced because of the destruction of the pancreatic tissue, the type of diabetes condition that is established in the body is referred to as Secondary diabetes mellitus. However, secondary diabetes mellitus can also result from other causes of diabetes such as hormonal disturbances or acromegaly (a condition where by there is an excessive production in the growth hormone).

For Type 1 diabetes, the main cause of the problem comes from damaging the pancreas itself. The pancreas is an organ that resides near the stomach and contains cells known as beta cells which are responsible for the production of insulin. This damage may originate from a small glitch in the immune system which may trigger it to attack the beta cells found in the pancreas hence hindering the process of insulin production. Without the production of insulin, glucose present in the body cannot be metabolized by the body cells and therefore, Type 1 diabetes is likely to occur.

Obesity may also be put in the list of the causes of diabetes 2. Obesity is a health problem where by a person accumulates a lot of body fat which makes him or her appear extremely huge or overweight. With excess fat in the body, insulin is often blocked from reaching the glucose present in the blood and for this reason, the glucose is not acted upon by the insulin hence making the blood get saturated with sugar. The moment this takes place, type 2 or what is commonly known as diabetes 2 can easily occur. Therefore, doctors often advise people not to eat food very rich in fat so as to avoid the possibility of having this problem.

A temporary form of diabetes known as Gestational diabetes which occurs in pregnant women can occur due to the presence of pregnancy hormones or a shortage of insulin in the body. If left untreated, gestational diabetes may cause both the expectant mother and the unborn baby to suffer from other forms of diabetes later in their lives.However, exercises and having a proper diet can ensure that this type of diabetes disappears once the baby is born.

Diabetes Treatment With Cupping And Pure Salt Therapy

There are two types of diabetes namely diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes insipidus is a rare metaboilc disorder in which the patient produces large quantities of urine and is constantly thirsty. It is due to a deficiency of the pituitary hormone vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone which regulates reabsorption of water in the kidneys. Treatment is by administration of vasopressin to the patient and cannot be treated by Cupping and Pure Salt therapy as the pituitary glands are located deep inside the brain.

Diabetes mellitus affects about 7% of the general population and can be divided into type 1 (insulin-dependent) and type 2 (non insulin-dependent). Type 1 accounts for about 10% while type 2 represent 90 % of all diabetes mellitus. Type 1 normally affect children and teenagers which have little or no ability to produce the hormone insulin and patients are entirely dependent on insulin injections for survival. The hormone insulin is produced by the pancreas and helps to regulate the blood sugar level when it exceeds the preset limit. It is thought that type 1 is caused by damage to the pancreas tissues that produce insulin due to misplaced attack of the pancreas by the patient's own immune system (autoimmune attack). Cupping and Shin Gum Pure Salt therapy cannot treat type 1 because of permanent damage to the pancreas.

Type 2 being the most common diabetes was prevalent amongst patients in the middle and old age. However, in recent years the number of young people suffering from type 2 diabetes has increased. It can be found in young people in the twenties and thirties. Type 2 diabetes is due to inadequate production of insulin to meet the needs of the patient or the result of the body becoming resistant to the effects of insulin. The accumulation of sugar leads to its appearance the blood (hyperglycaemia) and then in the urine. Symptoms include thirst, excessive production of urine, aging and itching skin, loss of sensation, loss of teeth, blurring of vision, constant hunger, and lost of weight due to the use of body fats as an alternative source of energy to sugar. Risk factors include incidence in family members (genetics), obesity, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes during pregnancy and unhealthy eating habits (too much sugar, excessive carbohydrates, overeating).

Long term complications of type 2 diabetes include higher risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke attack (cerebro vascular accident), highest incidence of blindness due to damage of blood vessels supplying the optic nerve (diabetic retinopathy), highest cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis (diabetic nephropathy), thigh pain and progressive weakness of knee extension (diabetic amyotrophy), pain or numbness of the feet due to nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy), amputation of legs due to gangrene, and impotence due to damage nerves of the penis (erectile dysfunction).

Type 2 diabetes can be treated with cupping of points 2, 3, 6 and 8 with only 30% success rate due to the fact that the pancreas are located deep inside the viscera behind the liver. However, a much higher success rate is achieved by applying Aggressive Cupping combine with Pure Salt therapy. For diabetes type 2 Pure Salt therapy comprise of daily one hour exercise, gradual reduction of food followed by fasting, daily pure salt half body bath, consumption of pure salt (preferably 200 hour pure salt or minimum 30-hr pure salt), stress reduction techniques and adopting a positive mental attitude to diabetes.

Cause of Diabetes Mellitus - What Causes Diabetes?

There is ample research supporting the fact that somebody with a history of diabetes in the family has a 33% higher chance of developing diabetes than a person with no such history. We may not understand all the causes for diabetes, however it is widely known among the scientific community that diabetes is a genetic condition.

While it is true that heredity plays an important role in determining whether you are at risk for diabetes, it may be true that learning the causes of diabetes mellitus and taking steps to control its onset can mean that you can be in control of your life and have the ability to live a healthy, long life.

Often described by medical experts as the "prosperity" disease, diabetes is frequently caused when people overeat methodically, particularly if they consume great amounts of processed foods, proteins, and fats. Processed foods, such as bread, cake, chocolate, and ice cream, are rich in refined carbohydrates and are dangerous to the body when eaten in great quantity over a long period of time. Proteins and fats are as well major contributors because the body transforms them into sugar.

Scientific studies show that up to 85% of people having diabetes are obese. Nearly 80% of type-two non-insulin dependent diabetics, in the United States alone, are overweight. When excessive fatty tissue is present in the body, insulin 'll not work effectively. Normally, insulin allows blood sugar to enter the tissue and muscle cells by using receptor sites located on cell surfaces. If too much fat is present, the cells become insulin resistant, thereby leading to diabetes.

In the aging procedure, people have a tendency to put on extra weight and some end up developing mild diabetes due to increased blood sugar. If they choose to modify their diet and lose weight, their diabetes condition will improve greatly.

One of the well-documented contributory causes of diabetes mellitus is too much stress in your life. An individual who is suffering from too much anxiety and stress should search out ways to relieve some of the burden and learn to relax so as to cut back their danger of developing diabetes. When you're continually stressed out, this can have a negative impact on your metabolism and guide to sugar in the urine.

A person who strives to be physically active can greatly cut back the chances of developing diabetes later in life. Maintaining a regimen of moderate exercise not only helps in controlling your weight though will greatly improve your wellbeing and sense of health. A healthy person's body functions better and can procedure blood sugar more effectively as insulin production stabilizes. The stress on your pancreas 'll decrease and it won't wish to work as troublesome, making you healthier for the long term.

Diabetic Symptoms - Signs of Diabetes Type 2

The signs of diabetes type 2, also termed adult onset diabetes, must be identified at their earliest. This is vital as it is a medical condition that can prove to be life threatening. It is an ailment in which blood sugar becomes high thus creating some diabetic symptoms or signs of diabetes.

The root cause behind these signs of diabetes type 2 is either inadequate insulin or an inability to use provided insulin. Sometimes both of these can be the diabetic symptoms in type 2. A carefully calculated data says that more than 17 million people of America are suffering from signs of diabetes.

There are basically three main types of this disease

Type 1 Diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in childhood. The body of the sufferer either makes no or little insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes: More than 85% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes accounts for type 2. In this acute condition the pancreas produce enough insulin but the cells of the body become inefficient to use the provided insulin.

Signs of type 2 Diabetes are rapidly becoming more popular as the number of diagnosed diabetics is increasing day by day. The basic reason behind this increased number is the lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits. This leads to an increase in the number of obese individuals. Obesity is one of the leading causes of this type of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes: Gestational diabetes is a short-term phase of diabetes suffered by women during pregnancy. This temporary phase is over after the completion of pregnancy.

Signs of Diabetes Type 2

Here are some common diabetic symptoms

• Blurred vision


• Frequent urination


• Excessive hunger


• Excessive thirst


• Slow healing infections and wounds


• Fatigue

It is important to find out the root cause of this disease to treat the signs of diabetes.

The Possible Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is the common type of diabetes most people talk about. It consists of two different keywords; 'diabetes' and 'mellitus'. Diabetes means excess urination while mellitus literally means honey and thus diabetes mellitus is simply the abnormal high concentrations of sugar (honey) in the blood and urine with excessive urination.

Diabetes mellitus comprises two types namely; Type 1 diabetes, which is insulin dependent diabetes (IDD) and Type 2 diabetes, which is non insulin dependent diabetes (NIDD). Type 1 diabetes occurs most commonly in children while type 2 occurs mainly in adults. The main difference between the type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is that there is absolute lack of insulin in the former and relative lack of insulin in the latter.

How Diabetes Mellitus Occurs.

Diabetes is a systematic condition that occurs following malfunction of certain cells and tissues of the body. High level of sugar in both urine and blood results from absolute or relative lack of insulin. It is therefore imperative that you understand this hormone, insulin, because all the effects and complications of diabetes mellitus revolve around the failure of the hormone to carry out its functions.

When someone eats, the food gets to the stomach, digested (broken down) and the nutrients it contains get absorbed into the blood. Through the blood vessels, the nutrients mainly glucose (sugar) are carried to different tissues and cells in the body where they are taken up for energy production.

Through this fundamental mechanism, the body generates energy for daily functions. However, the body regulates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood and the amount that is delivered to the cells per time. Diabetes therefore results from the inability of the body to regulate or control the level of sugar in the blood. Sugar is a poison to the entire body cells, if it gets beyond certain limit. To avoid such toxicity, the body regulates the amount of sugar (glucose) present in the blood at every given time. This it does through the hormone 'insulin'.

Insulin is a hormone produced by an organ in the body called pancreas which is located beside the stomach. Understanding the functions of this all important hormone 'insulin' simply means understanding of all the dangers imposed by diabetes including why it causes stroke, heart attack and coma.

Insulin is one of the most important hormones in the body. It is the main anabolic (builder) hormone in the body. It performs several important functions that regulates body metabolism.