Diet For Diabetics

A proper diet exists for diabetics. This is true as well as a fact in issue. Thus, if you have heard claims such as there is no proper diabetic diet, help yourself by throwing away this assumption. This reason for this is simple. Contrary to what was said in the past, there is now a way by which you can control diabetes. All that is required is a little commitment. However, if you are going to follow the diet for diabetics, you will soon get accustomed to the routine and you will hardly know the difference between a normal meal and a diabetic meal. The essence of this is to seamlessly add-on to your life. Keep in mind that you do not have to do something extraordinary to control your diabetes. All that is required is a well planned routine chart.

The first thing that you should remember when you follow a diet for diabetics is that you should eat often. Contrary to the myth that says that diabetics should be on strict diets, you should know that eating often actually helps you to reduce the side effects of diabetes. This is because you should remember that diabetes is not a disease or infection that you can contract. It is just a condition of the body where the body tends to produce less insulin. Therefore, with proper diet and a regular means of maintaining this diet, you can effectively control the effects of diabetes on your body.

With a diet for diabetics, you should ensure that you eat from a colourful plate. This means that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. When it comes to vegetables, eat fruits of your choice. These include dry fruits as well as canned fruits. You have to maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, you must eat the right amount of calories in order not to fall sick.

A proper diet for diabetics also lets you know that you should have food with a lot of fibre. In fact, a typical diabetic patient should have 25 to 35 grams of fibre everyday. With a diet of high fibre content, you can control cholesterol as well as sugar levels in your body. This will help to reduce the side effect of diabetes in your body. Do not skip meals. You should have regular snacks with regular intervals and take your medicines at the appropriate times. With a regular routine, you can check and even eliminate the condition of diabetes from your body.

Gestational Diabetes - Diet Plans, Menus and Recipes

Gestational diabetes also known as Gestational Diet Mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which a woman who normally doesn't have sugar, gets diabetic during her pregnancy. This diabetic condition now occurs widely throughout the world, 5% of all pregnant women have gestational diabetes, and the mother has nothing to worry about her delivery or her child as long as she keeps the sugar levels under control. The sugar levels should be closely monitored to avoid complications during the delivery period.

A hormone called insulin is responsible for getting the glucose from the blood into the cells of your body. If you are diabetic, then your body is not producing as much insulin as is required, or your cells are not using it the way it should be used.

If the gestational diabetes is in the mild stage then it can be controlled purely through proper diet. In some cases where the diabetes is in a more progressed state you may have to take insulin to bring your blood sugar levels under control. Your physician will know what to do, and when a diet needs to be followed, he will draft out the diet taking into account your present eating habits making sure that you get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

General Guidelines:

• Eat a variety of foods and make sure that most of your calorie content comes from carbohydrates and foods that are rich in fiber.


• It is recommended by the American Diabetes Association to eat three small to moderate sized meals per day and two to four snacks every day. It is also advisable to have a bedtime snack just before you get into bed.


• Never skip meal. Your blood sugar level will be consistent if your meals and calories are distributed evenly throughout the day.


• Meals should be taken around the same time every day.


• Do not wait till you are burning with hunger to start eating. When you do eat like this, your blood sugar levels will rocket up.


• Restrict your intake of foods and juices that are rich in simple sugar like sodas, colas and fruit juices. These foods will quickly raise your sugar levels so limit their intake or if possible avoid them altogether. Instead of drinking fruit juices, you can eat fresh fruits which are also rich in fiber. Also, milk contains lactose which is a form of sugar. So if you drink more than two glasses of milk a day you may need to think for another source of calcium and avoid drinking more that two glasses of milk a day.


• Get some exercise. It need not be something that is strenuous and physically exerting. A simple walk after your meals has been shown to work wonders on gestational diabetes.


• Drink lots of water to maintain the body's water levels.


• Continuously monitor your body's blood sugar levels and keep a record of them.

Sample Diet:

Mild cases of gestational diabetes can be controlled by proper dieting. We are looking for reducing the amount of fat, simple sugar and salt consumption and increasing the amount of complex carbohydrates and fiber rich foods. According to the American Diabetes Association, less than 30% of the total calorie count should come from fats, no more than 10% to 20% of the total calorie count from proteins, and around 50% of the calories should come from carbohydrates and fiber rich food stuffs like whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

A day's calorie intake can be divided into six small meals to make sure that the calories are distributed evenly throughout the day.

Meal 1:

When you wake up in the morning your blood sugar levels will normally be low. To start your day, a small high protein meal that includes meat and a food that is rich in carbohydrates like whole grain toast will be good. Wash it down with a glass of milk or a cup of low calorie yogurt.

Meal 2:

Vegetable sticks with a low calorie dip, whole wheat crackers, and small servings of fruits or cottage cheese will be ideal for the second meal of your day. This will keep you fill till it is time for your lunch.

Meal 3:

Choose a meal that is rich in proteins like garden vegetable salad or whole grain pasta or pita bread.

Meal 4:

Meal 4 mainly comprises of fruits and vegetables. Vegetable or fruit juices with a dash of cheese and whole grain bagel will make a quick, tasty and healthy snack.

Meal 5:

A whole grain wrap stuffed with chicken and salad is a good meal. You can dress this up with a drizzle of a salad of your choice or you can treat yourself with a sugar free cookie.

Meal 6:

When you are up for more than three hours after having your dinner, you sugar levels will start to dip. An apple or a whole grain muffin or a few peanut crackers with a cup of milk will be an ideal bed time snack.

As you would have surmised, with proper diet and exercise as advised by your doctor it is easy to fight gestational diabetes.

Diabetes and Obesity - Why You Should Take Off That Pound of Flesh

Look! You better wake up and don't expect me to talk to you as a friend. You don't know the time bomb you carry around you until it explodes and hurts you. You have not realized the troubles you bring to yourself when you sit down there and do nothing about your obesity.

Hey! If you know anybody who is obese and love him very much, you better sit him down and make him read this article.

Obesity can cost you your life because it causes diabetes and diabetes kills. You don't want to suffer from that. Do you? Oh! You say? Don't you know that diabetes can kill? Well, if you don't know, know it now. Diabetes kills! It can make you go into coma then death. Medical people call it hypoglycemia and diabetic coma. So, if you think I'm just bringing this up, go and ask them (medical people). Diabetes kills!

Medical people might begin to say to themselves "...but it can be treated" but do you realize that when you get attacked by hypoglycemia in a place where medical treatment is not forth coming, you might die before treatment gets to you? Besides, nobody wants to live with a disease the rest of his life. You know what I think? Prevention is better than cure. Worst still, when there is no cure, prevention is best.

Enough said. the only thing you can do for me, my friend, is to wake up to reality and do something about your overweight. It can cost you your life.

Dealing With Diabetes, But Enjoying Life

Learning that I had diabetes was devastating. But learning to deal with it was another thing entirely. I really did not understand what diabetes really was though. I had seen it of course but I was unsure what it meant to have it. I had seen it around me and it was in my family, but I did not know what someone had to deal with every day having to live with this disease.

After first coming to grips with it, I knew I had to learn more about it and how I was going to deal with it. I knew that it was a dangerous disease and that it could be a crippling disease and that it could even be a killer. It can be the mother of all diseases in the world, but I was determined to learn more about it.

So exactly what is diabetes? Well it is where the body is incapable of producing enough insulin to do what it is suppose to do. The main job of insulin is to break down sugar in the bloodstream. Their our two types yet various levels that are considered. Diabetes includes Diabetes Insipidus and Mellitus, they are usually more commonly referred to as type I and type ll.

The Insipidus form is where your body is incapable of producing enough insulin to do what is required for it to do. This type can be treated, usually being treated with medications, exercise, and a strict diet. These treatments usually keep this type of diabetes in control. Mellitus is a different story, there are five different forms of this type. Each one of these types result in total disruption to the system, The body can not function normally under these types, the body can not act normally and take care of it naturally. When this happens, this form of the disease requires that a person to take insulin shots as a treatment.

Most people that usually come face to face with this dreaded disease, the first thing that sets in is fear. We most often do not think about diabetes until we know someone that is affected by it. This is when most people will start to question the disease. The biggest and most often asked question, is how would I know if I have diabetes or not. Well the answer is there are a lot of signs to look for.

First and foremost, someone should take a look at your family history, diabetes can and often times is hereditary. If you know someone in your immediate family, if you think you have the signs for diabetes you need to be tested. Other symptoms differ from individual to individual.

Some of the most common signs are normal ones such as a thirst that is unable to be quenched, and frequent urination. There also can be pains or weakness that are not normally present in your normal everyday life.

My first experience with the disease was some of the typical symptoms like the being thirsty all the time. I ignored this by dismissing it as stress from work and being dehydrated. That was my first big no-no, all that I did was make things worst by downing sports drinks which we all know is mainly sugar. My next symptom was a strange one to me, that was my legs felt like they weighed a ton. I could hardly walk, let alone trying to jump which I tried to do and could not understand. Needless to say this one really scared me, I thought there was something really major was wrong. Well there was something major, it was this disease.

I give you my story to give you an idea of some of the things that you should always be on the lookout for if you are concerned about diabetes. This is something I deal with everyday like a lot of other people. But I live well and i have learned to take care of myself. I hope I can be of help to someone. I will follow up with more on this disease, because it has become very important to me.

Multiple Choice Questions Anatomy Physiology - Ace Your Exams

Taking an Anatomy and Physiology class can be a very daunting and anxious time for any student. With over 600 muscles and 206 bones in the human body, there are so many terms, functions and definitions to learn.

A lot of time and effort is required and it is vital that you have an up to date question bank of multiple choice questions for revision purposes.

The multiple choice format is the most ideal way to learn this difficult subject. With each question you get four possible answers and you must choose only one answer. Some examples of Anatomy and Physiology multiple choice questions are as follows;

01. Where does the cell receive its energy from?

a) Oxygen

b) Mitochondria - Answer

c) Centrosomes

d) Golgi apparatus

02. Onychogryphosis describes;

a) Ingrown toe nail

b) Flat or concave nail plate

c) Bitten nails

d) Very thick nail plate with an increased curve - Answer

03. Which muscle flexes the humerus?

a) Biceps

b) Brachioradialis

c) Flexor carpi ulnaris

d) Coracobrachialis - Answer

04. Hyposecretion of antidiuretic hormone causes;

a) Addison's disease

b) High blood pressure

c) Diabetes insipidus - Answer

d) Muscular atrophy

It is very important to constantly review what you have learned. Use your multiple choice questions to test yourself every week. This is a great way to revise what you have covered in that week, it also gives you an idea what areas you are strong in and what areas need more study. Always mark your test papers honestly and keep them for revision throughout your studies.

20 Effective Herbal Remedies for Diabetes to Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar

To understand herbal remedies for diabetes we need to have a basic understanding of what is diabetes, causes and its symptoms.

Diabetes is a disease characterized by polyuria (excretion of excessive amount of urine) which is also called diabetes mellitus or diabetes type 1. It occurs when the pancreases fail to produce enough insulin. Patients always have excessive thirst, hunger, urination and weight lose. We have diabetes type 2 or diabetes insipidus caused when the body produces normal amount of insulin but the target cells don't respond normally to the insulin. Patient with this conditions are usually overweight.

Causes of diabetic include: High carbohydrate intake, less physical activities, obesity, stress, genetic factors, nutritional deficient. There are different home remedy for diabetic like Avoiding sugary and oily food, take low fat meals, take a lot of fruits, avoiding stress all cost, avoiding coffee, avoiding excess salt etc which are both preventative and curative for diabetes at some point. Herbal remedy is one of these home remedies for diabetic. Herbal remedy for diabetic aims at preventing the diabetic risk factors or reduces the adverse effect of diabetes. Hence, the common herbs used in diabetes are as follow.

Curry Leaves: It reduces glycosuria and hyperglycemia. It helps to prevent obesity one of the causes of diabetes.

Malabar Kino: Therapeutic content extracted from this tree has been used for a long time to as a herbal Remedy for Diabetes.

Margosa: The use of Margosa in treatment of diabetes consist of using about five milliliter of juice of Margosa on and empty stomach early in the morning for at least 3 months.

Garlic: It has allicin that reduce blood sugar level.

Blueberry Leave: This leave have multiple benefits including: treating diabetes besides helping improving function of the circulatory system.

Cinnamon: It helps to slow down the effect of diabetes.

Onion: It reduces sugar level in the blood.

Ginkgo Biloba: Good in treating early stage when diabetes has start affecting the central nervous system.

Stevia: It helps to reduce the intake of sugar because it is sweet.

Madhuca: Just like many other herbal discussed, it help in reducing blood level sugar, thus good for diabetic type 2.

Gymnema Sylvestre: It good for diabetic type 2 where the body produces normal urine but the cells responsible are not responding.

Fenugreek: The plant help to lower blood sugar level especially in diabetes type 2.

Indian Gooseberry: It stimulates the Pancreas to secrete insulin that eventually reduces blood sugar.

Tenner's Cassia: Most oral diabetic drugs are made for it. It is ancient herbal used in Egypt.

Ispaghula: It reduces excessive absorption of sugar in the small intestine thus keeping blood at normal level and it good for diabetic type 2.

Asian Ginseng: It helps to increase production of insulin thus very good for diabetes type 1.

Sweet Potato Leaves: Potato leaves help in lowering the blood sugar. Good for diabetic insipidus.

Mango Leaves: Mango leaves helps in lowering the blood glucose level in diabetics.

Bilberry: It reduces the risk of diabetic complications.

Diabkil: It is an effective herbal supplement for lowering blood glucose levels and promotes good health. It is made by mixing many of the above mentioned powerful herbs in a perfect ratio to control and manage diabetes effectively.

A List of Vegetables That Cure Diabetes

You can't imagine how amazing it is to finally have a way to cure diabetes. We have been waiting for this for so long and we can finally provide something to put a smile on all our patients' faces. I would like to give you a great list of vegetables that will help make your life a lot easier as a diabetic, and start you on your way to becoming diabetes-free.

Spinach

Maybe the idea of eating a lot of spinach grosses you out, but it shouldn't. Spinach can be mixed with cheese to make an amazing omelet in the morning. You can add garlic and onions and make a quiche. How about a salad? It can be delicious and you should eat a lot of it. Why? It is an EXCELLENT meal for people with diabetes. It can greatly help decrease the amount of glucose in your body. Eat it!

Cucumbers

We all know that diabetics suffer from thirst. Therefore you should be eating lots of cucumbers since they are packed full of nutrients and water. It is basic common sense. Many diabetes doctors agree that cucumbers are one of the healthiest vegetables for patients with diabetes. They are part of the Mediterranean diet and should be a big part of your diet. What's in a cucumber that's so good for us? Well, there is vitamin C, carotene, fiber, and many minerals to help you. Plus it is full of water. Yes, pickles are made of cucumbers, but that does not count as they have too much salt which counteracts the benefits. Cucumbers also have a nutrient that helps prevent sugar from becoming fat. We better be careful or the diabetes diet is going to become a fad for losing weight, too.

Onions

I know that onions have a weird taste for some of you, but it's time to get over it. Onions can be delicious, especially if you saute them in a bit of light olive oil and add them to a tomato pasta. You have to remember that raw onions are much different then cooked ones. You'll be surprised that once you get used to them that onions are fantastic as a diabetic food. You should be eating them at least three times a week, and you can mix them into foods and not even know that they are there. Why are onions so good for diabetics? The are good because they are involved in producing insulin. The body reacts them and creates exactly what you have been taking medication to produce. Of course this is amazing if you have diabetes (and is even good for your family members who don't have diabetes). Onions also have amino acids and sulfur which help to regulate blood fat formation, thus preventing arteriosclerosis. You can't deny the amazing benefits of onions. Also, if you eat them cooked you won't have to worry as much about the bad breath that they can cause.

Pumpkins

You don't have to wait for Halloween to be eating pumpkin. What, you think they are only for scaring your kids? No way! Pumpkins are a fruit, yes a fruit, that has a sugar which stops the absorption of glucose and mixes it with cholesterol in your body. Think of it as a Jack-o-lantern in your body scaring off the bad things. It uses its "scaring ability" to stop cholesterol from rising above a specific level and stops the hardening of your arteries. We recommend that you take eat 150 grams of pumpkin daily.

Eel

Okay, eel isn't a vegetable. Some of you may be a bit weary of this one, but trust us: it's delicious. Go to your local sushi restaurant and try some eel over rice with the special sauce on top. Don't worry, it's cooked, and it tastes too good to be healthy. Plus, along with it eat seaweed salad which is also super healthy. Eel has special properties that can help lower your level of blood glucose. Plus it is part of a healthy diet. Look at how healthy the Japanese are. Include eel in your diet and you too can have these amazing health properties.

Most of the things that are listed here are vegetables. As a diabetic you should be eating lots of vegetables to cure yourself of your diabetes. Along with a good diet you can cure yourself of this illness, but this is only the first step. You need to follow a detailed program that can only be supplied by an expert.

Five Complications of Canine Diabetes - Is Your Dog at Risk?

Has your pet been diagnosed with canine diabetes? Is so, you need to know about these complications that often go along with diabetes in dogs. Diabetes is a complex disease, and the more information you have, the better you'll be able to care for your companion.

1. Cataracts In Dogs

It's a sad fact that the vast majority of canine diabetics will develop cataracts within a year of being diagnosed. The lenses of his eyes will gradually become cloudy and opaque, which causes him to lose his vision. This is due to high blood glucose levels that affect every organ in his body.

Once your pet's blood sugar levels are stabilized, which usually takes at least three months, cataract surgery is an option. Most dogs do quite well with the surgery and regain their vision.

2. Uveitis And Glaucoma

Uveitis is caused when the lenses in the eyes leak protein into the eyeball, which causes severe inflammation. This is a complication of cataracts. It must be treated right away, or it can progress into glaucoma, which causes permanent vision loss. A detached retina can occur, too.

Unfortunately, if a pet develops uveitis, cataract surgery isn't an option any more, since there is a much higher chance of complications.

3. Increased Susceptibility To Infections

Your pet may be subject to recurring infections. It's a vicious cycle; in a nutshell, high blood glucose levels provide plenty of food for bacteria, and then higher levels of bacteria cause higher blood sugar levels.

Urinary tract infections, prostrate infections, pneumonia, and skin conditions are commonly seen in dogs with diabetes. It's essential to monitor your pet's health to keep an infection from gaining a foothold.

4. Diabetic Neuropathy

This complication is a lot more common in cats, but it can happen in dogs, too. In fact, this is sometimes the first symptom of a diabetic canine that the owner notices. If your companion's back legs seem to be getting weak, it might not be because he's getting older. He could have diabetes in dogs.

The good news is that, in dogs, this condition is usually reversible once the blood sugar levels are normalized.

5. Diabetic Ketoacidosis In Dogs

This is a severe, life-threatening complication that results from high blood sugar levels. It's important for all dog owners to know the symptoms of canine diabetes so this doesn't happen to their pets.

Symptoms include:

• Excessive thirst


• Frequent urination


• Losing weight even though he's eating ravenously


• Sudden blindness


• Weakness


• Vomiting and dehydration


• Breath smells like acetone (similar to nail polish remover)

A dog with diabetes can develop ketoacidosis very quickly, in as little as a week. It can be fatal, but most canines will survive with the proper treatment.

The Best Cure Is Prevention

Diabetes in dogs can be prevented. The best way to do this is by keeping your pet's weight under control. Feed him a high-fiber, low-fat diet, and cut out the treats and table scraps.

Regular exercise is an excellent way to keep his blood sugar levels under control. A long walk, morning and evening, will help to keep him in shape, and burn off extra calories as well.

Studies have shown that certain herbs and dietary supplements found in natural remedies for dogs can help to control blood sugar levels. Chromium is essential for this reason, but sadly, most diets don't contain enough of this mineral.

Don't wait any longer to protect your pet from this dread disease. With diet, exercise, and herbs for dogs, you can prevent canine diabetes.

Best Laboratory Tests For Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus

History and physical examination are most important tools for diagnosing diabetes Mellitus, however to confirm diagnosis one should have following laboratory tests.

Urine sugar test

Urine ketones test

OGTT-Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, (also called glucose challenge test)

Blood glucose tests

FPG-Fasting plasma glucose Test

Random plasma glucose Test

Tests for ongoing monitoring of diabetes control:

HbA1c blood test - an average blood sugar measure over about 3 months.

Fructosamine blood test - an average blood sugar measure over about 2 weeks

It is not necessary that one should have all the tests given in above list, but it is necessary to diagnose your disease if you want best treatment for your illness.

How frequently a person must check his sugar level is the decision of your doctor. It mainly depends upon patients age and number of risk factors like blood pressure, higher cholesterol or smoking. If you are above 45 years then you should have your blood sugar level after every 3 years. Even if you are below 45 years and have one or more risk factors then you should also check your blood sugar level frequently.

A- Urine sample for sugar and Ketones:

You may have your urine analysis for sugar or ketones which are produced by breakdown of fat and muscle cells to diagnose diabetes but you should keep in mind that if you are having positive urine test for sugar then it is not necessary that you are suffering from diabetes because there are other conditions as well which also cause sugar to appear in urine.

B-THE FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE (SUGAR) TEST

For diagnosing Diabetes Mellitus one must have this test because it is best, easy and comfortable to perform. You should have overnight fast (at-least 8 hours) before performing this test. If fasting blood glucose is below 100mg/dl, then you don't have diabetes. Between 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl is called a Pre-diabetes or Impaired fasting glucose condition. If fasting blood glucose is above 126mg/dl on more than two occasions then you are suffering from diabetes.

C-RANDOM (NON-FASTING) BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST

It is also a good test for diagnosing diabetes. In this test we take sample of blood shortly after taking a meal and then check glucose level in blood. If this level is above 200mg/dl, then there are much chances that you are suffering from diabetes. But diagnosis should be confirmed the very next day by fasting blood glucose or by glucose tolerance test

D-ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT):

Though this test is not commonly used these days but it is still a gold standard for diagnosing diabetes. For diagnosing gestational diabetes this is best test.

Instructions for OGTT:

This is test for a person who is in good health and have no other illness.

Person should be normally active and not bed ridden.

Person is not taking anti diabetic drugs or any drug which alters blood sugar level.

Before test, person should eat high carbohydrate diet for three days.

No alcoholic beverages.

On test day one should not smoke or take coffee.

Glucose Tolerance Test Procedure:

First normal blood glucose is tested. Then person drinks 75gm of glucose, for pregnant woman dose of glucose is 100 gm. Then blood samples are taken at particular intervals for measuring blood glucose level.Blood glucose level is measured five times over a period of 3 hours. In simple words, in normal person, this blood sugar level gets higher value by taking 75gm of glucose, however it falls down quickly, but in person having diabetes the blood sugar level rises higher than normal but does not come down quickly. If a person have fasting blood glucose above 140mg/dl and 2 hours value after 75gm of oral glucose greater than 200mg/dl and considered as diabetics. If 2 hours blood glucose value between 140-200mg/dl is labeled as Pre-diabetic condition or impaired fasting glucose. During pregnancy, 2 hours blood glucose value between 140-200mg/dl is treated as a case of diabetes.

OTHER TESTS

Glycosylated haemoglobin Test or HB A1 Test:

Very important test which tells you how good you are in controlling your blood sugar. It shows your blood sugar control during the past 2 to 3 months. For normal individuals, a good hemoglobin A-1-c is 7 percent.

Intravenous GTT:

This test is performed in individuals who have intestinal disease or malabsorption.

Extended GTT:

In this the oral Glucose Tolerance Test is extended to 3-4 hours rather than 2 hours, for appearance of symptoms of hyperglycaemia.

In short if your fasting blood glucose is more than 126mg/dl on two or more days, or your random blood glucose is above 200mg/dl or your oral glucose tolerance test is positive i.e 2 hours blood glucose value between above 200mg/dl after 75gm of glucose, then you are suffering from Diabetes Mellitus.

Do You Understand the Different Faces of Diabetes

It is common knowledge that the moment you hear the word Diabetes, the thought of sugar immediately comes to mind. However, what many people do not know is how this condition comes to be. Diabetes is a disease that allows the sugar levels in the body to either drop below or rise above the required levels. Both these situations are often determined by the response or sensitivity of the insulin hormone towards the ingested glucose in the blood system. Insulin is a hormone present in the body that is in charge of allowing glucose in the blood to enter the body cells for the purposes of energy production.

In cases where blood glucose tends to drop below the required levels, the disease is referred to as, Diabetes insipidus (DI). This condition is usually characterized by the excretion of huge amounts of extremely dilutedurine, which tends to come out in huge quantities even after reducing the amount of fluid intake. The major reason behind this action is that, patients suffering from this condition usually have their kidneys not being able to concentrate urine. All this is caused by a shortage of the antidiuretic hormone also known as Vasopressin hormone in the body. For this to happen, the destruction of the posterior or the back part of the pituitary gland where this hormone is released from has occurred. In addition to this, when a person's kidneys become insensitive to the vasopressin hormone, diabetes insipidus may also occur in that individual.

Once suffering from diabetes insipidus, signs and symptoms such as urinating excessively or always feeling thirsty and in need of ice cold water usually become eminent in a person. To add on to these symptoms, is that, dehydration may also occur in some patients because the body may not be in a position to conserve most of the liquids being taken in. Where children are involved, diabetes insipidus may interfere with their ability to eat properly, grow or even gain weight although adults may be able to stay with this condition for decades without being affected much as long as they maintain a high rate of water intake.Common types of diabetes insipidus include; central DI,

Nephrogenic DI and Gestational DI.

For cases where the blood glucose has elevated beyond the required capacity, the condition is known as Diabetes mellitus. Here, the disease is caused by either the inability of the body to produce insulin or the body's failure to respond towards insulin. Unlike in diabetes insipidus where the patient's urine is extremely dilute, in diabetes mellitus, the patient's urine is often characterized by high content of sugar levels otherwise known as "sweet urine".

When insulin does not act on the glucose present in the blood, then the blood system becomes saturated with the glucose content hence making the patient have excessive thirst, vomiting episodes, having nausea, experiencing fatigue or having unexplained weight loss. However, these are not the only problems that can be brought by diabetes mellitus. Other serious complications including; kidney failure, heart problems, blockage of the blood vessels among many other complications may also occur.

Diabetes mellitus may come in four different forms namely, Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and Secondary Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes often occurs in young people below the age of 30 years and is often caused by a low or no production of insulin by the body. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in people who are above the age of 30 years. This form of diabetes mellitus often depends on the lifestyle a person has.When your lifestyle includes a lot of inactivity and eating food that is very rich in fat which can make you become obese or overweight, then you are a potential candidate of type 2 diabetes. The reason for stating this is that, once excess fat has been deposited in the body then it can easily block insulin from accessing the blood glucose hence making the blood get saturated with the sugar and ultimately make you suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus occurs in pregnant women and most of the time takes place due to the presence of pregnancy hormones or a shortage of insulin in the body while Secondary diabetes mellitus occurs as a result of another disease that may have previously occurred in the body.

Diabetic Rash - Signs of Diabetes

Before a person finds out they have diabetes they will start to show certain symptoms of the illness. One of these signs that will appear is a rash that will either be a darkening of the skin or even a raised area. An astute doctor may point this out to a patient as a precursor of diabetes. This rash can be a way to find out about diabetes before it has a chance to develop and stop it. However, a diabetic rash can appear after the disease has set in as well.

There are a variety of rashes caused by diabetes with different symptoms that can occur. Some rashes may be itchy and red like those of an allergic reaction. Others will simply darken the skin in small spots on the body. There is also a rash type that will cause raised bumps on the skin that have the possibility of being itchy. No matter what type of rash a person has, if it's due to diabetes there is one sure way to treat it.

 

Maintaining a proper diet that keeps sugar levels at an appropriate level when a person has diabetes will help prevent and remove rashes. Typical rash ointments and creams will also work for most types of rashes. Of course in some cases the diabetic rash may be caused by the insulin injection. If a person notices a rash in the area they receive their shot occurring soon after the shot is administered they should consult their physician immediately. Rashes should always be brought up with a doctor during appointments in case they could be caused by something other than the diabetes.

Desmopressin - Treatment For Hemophilia A and Von Willebrand Type I

Desmopressin is a medication that is used to treat hemophilia and mild hemophilic conditions. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder which prevents the blood from clotting when there is an injury. People suffering from hemophilia bleed excessively when there is an injury and the body is not capable of stopping the bleeding.

This drug helps to improve the clotting capabilities on the body and it is often administered by injecting directly into the veins of the person. It can also be taken in through nasal pumps. It also helps people with the von Willebrand Type I disease. There are several other applications of the Desmopressin and it helps to improve memory, helps dehydration, and also is used in treating diabetes.

von Willebrand Type I factor assists in transporting factor VIII, which is important for blood clotting. It somewhat acts like an adhesive to stop the blood from flowing out. In a person in whom the factor VIII is absent, he is affected by the Willebrand Type I disease. Hemophilia occurs only in men; however, the Willebrand type I disease affects both men and women.

Desmopressin helps by regulating the blood pressure and the function of the kidney. Excessive bleeding can drop the blood pressure and it can get dangerous beyond a point. A common problem faced with medication is with its effectiveness. If the medication is used too often, then the body might get used to it and stop responding to it. It is important to use the medication in the prescribed dosage and not too frequently.

Clinical Manifestation of Diabetes Mellitus

The symptomatology of diabetes is more readily recognizable in children than in adults, so it is surprising that the diagnosis may sometimes be missed or delayed, Diabetes is a great imitator: influenza, gastroenteritis, and appendicitis are the conditions more often diagnosed, only to find that the disease was really diabetes. Those families with a strong family history of diabetes should suspect diabetes, especially if there is one child in the family with diabetes. Main manifestations are:

• Polyuria

• Polydipsia

• Polyphagia

• Progressive cachexia

• Glucosuria

• Hyperglycemia

• Increasing of specific gravity of urine

The sequence of chemical events described previously results in hyperglycemia and acidosis, which in turn produce the three "polys" of diabetes- polyphagia, polydipsia, and polyuria- the cardinal symptoms of the disease. In non-insulin-dependent diabetes (which has also been found in older children), the insulin values are found to be overweight, and there is often tiredness and frequent infections (such as monilial infections in females).

The insulin-dependent diabetic has markedly decreased insulin levels and, as diabetes becomes complete, there is no demonstrable, insulin at all. The child may start wetting the bed, become grouchy and "not himself" or act overly tired. Abdominal discomfort is common. Weight loss, though quite observable on the charts, maybe a less frequent presenting complaint because of the fact that the family might not have noticed the change. Another outstanding feature of diabetes is thirst. One couple reported that their child, during a trip from California to Kensas, drank the contents of a gallon jug of water between each gas station stop. At a certain point in the illness the child may actually refuse fluid and food, adding to the increasing state of dehydration and malnutrition. Other symptoms include dry skin, blurred vision, and sores that are slow to heal. More commonly in children, tiredness and bed-wetting are the chief complaints that prompt parents to take their child to the physician. The child may be hyperglycemic, with elevated blood glucose levels and glucose in the Urine; may be in diabetic ketosis, with ketones as well as glucose in the urine but not noticeably dehydrated; may be in diabetic keto-acidosis, with dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and acidosis.

Diagnostic evaluation

Observation and testing are important to the diagnosis of diabetes in children. If children demonstrate glycosuria, are overweight, or exhibit symptoms of hypoglycemia, they are candidates for glucose tolerance testing. The Urine test will show positive glucose only when the disease is actually manifest. The negative urine test does not necessarily rule our early diabetes, nor does a positive test necessarily indicate diabetes. Renal glycosuria, unrelated to diabetes, can result in glucose in the urine.

The fasting blood glucose test may miss the diagnosis of early diabetes and has been known to miss as many as 85% of children who has an abnormal glucose tolerance test with asymptomatic disease. The 4-hour glucose tolerance test has been found to be the most successful test for the diagnosis of early diabetes, whereas the 6-hour glucose tolerance test is more helpful for the diagnosis os hypoglycemia. Based on norms established for normal, non-diabetic children or various ages, the criteria for the diagnosis of early diabetes is two or more abnormal range. However, standardization of food intake before the test may be important and those preparing for the test should emphasize the importance of following the directions for diet supplied by the physician or laboratory. It is difficult to do glucose tolerance testing in children younger than 3 years of age, since norms for children in this age-group have not been established.

Problem of diagnosis

Signs, symptoms and chemical tests may lead to the conclusion that the child has diabetes, when in reality another condition may be present, this is true in salicylate intoxication, which can be ruled our easily by boiling the urine. The acetone, if present, will boil out of the urine, leaving a negative Acetest if related to diabetes and a positive Acetest if related to salicylate intoxication. Temporary hyperalimentation, pancreatitis, and encephalitis. The glucose tests usually return to normal once the stress is reversed; however, insulin may be needed for a short period in the stress illnesses, especially when the child is undergoing hyperalimentation. Other abnormal conditions that may cause glucose to appear in the Urine are certain renal diseases, some other endocrine disorders such as hypercortisolism, and lead encephalopathy.

Diabetes and Alcohol Abuse

DIABETES

Diabetes is so wide spread in the world that there are hardly any person who does not know what diabetes is. But to recap, there are predominantly two types of diabetes; Type 1 and Type2. Some general information on these types of diabetes is given below.

In Type 1 diabetes the pancreas in the body is not able to produce insulin (the only hormone that reduces the content of sugar in the blood stream) and is common in children but not restricted to them. This type of diabetes is insulin dependent.

Type 2 diabetes is more common and it is estimated that some 95% of all diabetic patients belong to this type. In this case, the body does produce insulin, but either in insufficient quantities or the insulin produced is inefficient. This condition is also known as "Diabetes Mellitus". This type of diabetes is non-insulin dependent.

Another variety of Type 2 diabetes is "Diabetes Insipidus" where there is excessive excretion of highly diluted urine. Reduction in the amount of fluid intake does not have any effect on this condition. There are also different varieties of Diabetes Insipidus, the most common being "Neurogenic Diabetes Insipidus" and the other is "Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus".

There is another type of diabetes that occurs in pregnant women and is known as "Gestational Diabetes" and occurs in women with no history of diabetes but develop such symptoms during pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES

The symptoms of diabetes varies from person to person and depends on the following factors:

i. Type of diabetes,

ii. The stage of advancement of the disease,

iii. The age of the patient,

iv. The progress of the disease - slow or gradual

v. The history of diabetes in the family of the patient,

vi. The dietary and lifestyle of the patient, and

vii. The presence of other complications.

Based on the above factors the symptoms vary though there is some similarity. Some of the more obvious symptoms are described below:

i. The foremost symptom would be excessive urination, in excess of the quantity of fluid intake; the urine being thin and pale in color.

ii. Excessive thirst.

iii. Significant increase in appetite but no significant weight gain.

iv. General body weakness.

v. Skin problems such as itching, more predominantly in the genital areas.

vi. Slow healing of wounds, a serious condition.

vii. Pain in many parts of the body, especially in the lower back and the limbs.

viii. A sort of side effect would be loss of vision with patients becoming myopic.

ix. Impotence in men.

x. Both the blood and the urine show a marked content of sugar.

Diabetes currently has no known cure and can only be controlled through medication, diet control and regular exercise preferably walking for a minimum of twenty minutes a day; the distance covered does not matter it is the duration of the walking that counts.

COMPLICATIONS

Know that we know, more or less, the details of diabetes and its symptoms we shall move on to the complications of the disease. The most common complications include the following:

i. Kidney function complications. The earliest to occur. More so if the diet contains too much of fat. Narrowness of the arteries leading to the kidney occur and the toxins in the system are not flushed out completely leading to a complication known as "Uremia".

ii. Cardio-Vascular problems leading to hypertension and heart disease.

iii. Damage to the retina of the eye and resultant blindness.

iv. Nervous damage causing loss or destruction of the senses of the patient. In severe cases may cause paralysis.

v. The most appalling complication is undoubtedly gangrene especially in the toes leading to its amputation.

As such it essential that a specialist in Diabetology is consulted if there is a suspicion that a person is diabetic and find out exactly what type of diabetes he/she is suffering from and follow scrupulously the physician's advice in the control of the disease.

DIABETES AND ALCOHOL

The adverse effects of the abuse of alcohol is too well known and really does not really require elaboration.

A drink of alcohol in normally associated with 12 oz. (350 ml.) of beer, 5 oz. (145 ml.) of wine or 1.50oz. (45 ml.) of hard liquor. Each of these is equal to some 15 gms. of alcohol. What is the quantity of alcohol that is considered "light or moderate" and what is considered as excessive? Drinking 15 to 30 gms. of alcohol a day is considered as light or moderate and any excess of this quantity is "excessive" drinking. There are some people who should not drink at all. They include:

i. Pregnant women and those who are trying to become pregnant,

ii. Alcoholics who are recovering,

iii. Individuals who are planning to drive or engage in other activities that need skill or concentration,

iv. Individuals taking certain medicines such as antihistamines, antidepressants and anticonvulsants and

v. Individuals with certain medical conditions such a advanced neuropathy alcohol abuse, pancreatitis and hyper-triglyceridemia.

In respect of individuals with diabetes who have not been drinking it is better not to start.

WHEN IS DRINKING HARMFUL?

Drinking is considered to be harmful for diabetics if they have the following conditions:

i. Damage of the nerves in the arms or legs,

ii. Diabetic related eye disease,

iii. High levels of triglycerides and

iv. High blood pressure.

Alcohol normally damages nerve cells, even light drinking. For those diabetic patients with nerve damage there will be an increase in pain, numbness and burning or tingling sensations.

For those with symptoms of eye disease, drinking can worsen the condition, leading to blindness.

Levels of triglycerides and blood pressure increase with the consumption of drinks, in whatever quantities. Diabetic patients with a high level of triglycerides should not drink at all.

Does this mean that a diagnosis of diabetes is the end to drinking? Well, yes and no. Traditional medical practice advocates the complete cessation of the intake of alcohol. Modern thought differs. Taking a drink is not advised but allowed, but there are some considerations.

- Alcohol can metabolize to produce energy and has dietary consequences.

- Alcohol supports the intake of blood glucose into the liver.

- Many alcoholic drinks contain sugar, especially mixed ones.

- The symptoms of hypoglycemia (drop in blood sugar) and drunkenness are similar and as such alcohol is liable to mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

- Excess consumption of alcohol increases the level of triglycerides.

- Diabetics with drinking habits must remain sober enough to take care of themselves.

What is acceptable in moderation are:

- Red wines,

- Dry sherries,

- Spirits with "diet" mixers,

- Dry light beers (light ales with low residual sugars and lagers) and

- Dry or medium dry white wines.

What can be used with extreme caution because of their high content of sugar include:

- Sherries or sweet wines,

- Ports,

- Wine coolers,

- Liqueurs,

- Cocktails,

- Spirits with normal mixers and

- Stout, Porters etc. that have a high residual sugar content.

What can be used with extreme caution because of their high concentration of alcohol are neat, undiluted spirits

The above are not meant as a substitute for proper advice from a physician. As the complications of consumption of alcohol by diabetic patients are more and severe than the detrimental effects of drinkers without diabetes, proper competent advice is advised.

Introduction About Diabetes

Diabetes, it is a disease in which the pancreas produces too much or too little amount of insulin.  Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells to absorb glucose (sugar), which can be used as an energy source. Diabetes is different from diabetes insipidus hormone vasopressin least, that the amount of urine is again a lack of control.

For example, the United States represents about 21 million people (7 per cent of the population) diabetes. Each year, approximately 1.5 million people learn they have the disease. Diabetes kills more than 73,000 U.S. citizens each year, the sixth leading cause of all diseases and deaths. In addition, diabetes is the number of deaths from heart disease, kidney failure and other diseases of the role. Only the experts say diabetes accounts for about 225,000 deaths per year in the United States. Canada, approximately 2.5 million people (about 6 percent of the population) have diabetes. The disease is the seventh leading cause of death in Canada, where he died a year before about 6,000 people. Diabetes and its complications account for approximately 25,000 deaths per year in Germany

Diabetes is more common in adults over 45 years with people who are overweight or physically inactive immediate family member with diabetes and people of African, Spanish and Indian ancestors. The highest rates of diabetes in the world seem to Amerindians. More women than men diagnosed with the disease.

Diabetes prevents low levels of insulin or a negative response to the absorption of insulin-glucose by cells. Therefore, glucose accumulates in the blood. If blood glucose levels mandated by the kidneys, the organs that dirt, blood, kidneys cannot absorb all the excess glucose. This excess glucose in urine, the penetration of water and electrolyte ion cells requires the electric charge and regulates the flow of water molecules across cell membranes. This leads to frequent urination get rid of excess water drawn into the urine and excessive thirst, to start replacing the lost water and hunger, loss of glucose in urine to avoid replacing.