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Diabetic Medical Nutrition Therapy

diabeticssource — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:14:30 +0000

he American Diabetes Association (ADA) published its seventh set of recommendations since 1950. These new recommendations are categorized into goals of medical nutrition therapy that apply to all persons with diabetes or goals that apply to specific situations. General goals that apply to all diabetics include the following: 1. Attain and maintain optimal metabolic outcomes including the following: a. Blood glucose levels in the normal or near normal range. b. Lipid and lipoprotein profiles that reduce risk for macrovascular diseases. c. Blood pressure levels that reduce the risk for vascular disease. 2. Prevent and treat chronic complications. 3. Improve health through healthy food choices and physical activity. 4. Address individual nutritional needs taking into consideration personal and cultural preferences and lifestyle while respecting individual’s wishes and willingness to change. Goals that apply to specific situations include: 1. Youth with type 1 diabetes: a. Provide adequate energy to ensure normal growth and development. b. Integrate insulin regimens into usual eating and physical activity habits. 2. Youth with type 2 diabetes: a. Facilitate changes in eating and physical activity habits that reduce insulin resistance and improve metabolic status. 3. Pregnant and lactating women: a. Provide adequate energy and nutrients necessary for optimal pregnancy outcome. 4. Older adults: a. Provide for nutritional and psychosocial needs of an aging individual. 5. Individuals treated with insulin or insulin secretagogues: a. Provide self management education for treatment and prevention of hypoglycemia, acute illness, and exercise related blood glucose problems. 6. Individuals at risk for diabetes: a. Decrease risk by encouraging physical activity. b. Promote food choices that facilitate moderate weight loss or at least prevent weight gain. Owing to the complexity of nutrition issues, the ADA recommends that a registered dietician who is knowledgeable and skilled in implementing nutrition therapy into diabetes management and education be the medical team member responsible for providing medical nutrition therapy. It is also essential that all healthcare team members be knowledgeable about nutrition therapy and supportive of the diabetic who needs to make these important lifestyle changes

The Truth About Type 2 Diabetes Cure

diabeticssource — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:08:23 +0000

Have you just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? Are you looking for a type 2 diabetes cure? Find out the truth about type 2 diabetes cure.

The Type 2 Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is considered to be more critical because people with this ailment do not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels. It is believed that genetic factors may play a big role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Type 2 on the other hand is characterized by insulin resistance. A type 2 diabetic’s pancreas may be fully functional but the body’s cells are resistant to the influence of insulin and do not take in as much glucose for cell energy production.

What is most common in Americans is the type 2 diabetes. Although it is as devastating as type 1, it can be easier to manage especially when detected early because it does not involve a defective pancreas.

The Type 2 Diabetes Cure

Science has fallen short in providing a type 2 diabetes cure. At present there is no type 2 diabetes cure. Even insulin shots in severe type 2 cases are not considered a cure because an individual would still have to rely on external sources of the hormone to regulate glucose. Some researchers are now currently exploring the possibility of pancreas transplants for type 1 sufferers which may also work for severe type 2 patients. Even transplant research however has not yielded a suitable type 2 diabetes cure. Transplants could be rejected by the host’s cells or still end up failing to supply insulin.

People suffering with type 2 diabetes simply have to content themselves, for the moment, with some preventive measures and treatments that don’t really cure. With proper treatment, individuals can lead lives that are close to normal even without a type 2 diabetes cure.

Risk Factors

The most practical thing to do is to treat the condition in its first few stages before it develops into more severe type 2 diabetes stages. Most people would even consider early treatment as a type 2 diabetes cure. Treatment however relies on recognizing the symptoms early. Millions of Americans however do not show any diabetic symptoms until complications that affect the heart, eyes and skin have developed. One way to detect diabetes without the symptoms is to look at the risk factors. A family history of diabetes is most certainly a sign that you should watch over your blood glucose level or at least have it checked regularly. You should also be worried if you are heavier than the ideal weight for your age and height.

Prevention

Prevention is the best thing to do when there is no type 2 diabetes cure. Not much can be done if you are genetically predisposed to diabetes. Genetically inherited diabetes can simply be regulated through diet, exercise and medication. A lot can be done however if you have diabetes because of your weight and your lifestyle.

Some studies show that people can actually delay or prevent the development of the type 2 diabetes condition. Prevention lies mainly in strictly maintaining a planned diet and exercise program. Ask your doctor to teach you how to count your carbohydrates and come up with planned meals to keep your blood sugar level constant.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

diabeticssource — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:31:41 +0000

Type 2 diabetes can be a “silent” disease, which means that you may have it and not know you do. One of the most common things that occurs with type 2 diabetes is that you may begin to experience symptoms such as tingling in your fingers or toes (neuropathy), blurred vision, or chest pains or shortness of breath. Again, as with any troublesome symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Some people are born with this condition or has the onset of diabetes at an early age. This is called juvenile diabetes or type 1. Type 1 diabetes usually requires insulin injections. The onset of diabetes later in life is called type 2. Type 2 diabetes can be treated and in most cases prevented with simple lifestyle changes.

The chronic condition associated with the way the body metabolizes glucose (sugar) is called diabetes. When the disease surfaces in adults or involves non-insulin dependency, this form of the condition is known as type 2 diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes is often preventable, an increasing amount of people is developing diabetes symptom and signs, as a result of a growing obesity problem throughout the United States.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be a “silent” disease, which means that you may have it and not know you do. One of the most common things that occurs with type 2 diabetes is that you may begin to experience symptoms such as tingling in your fingers or toes (neuropathy), blurred vision, or chest pains or shortness of breath. Again, as with any troublesome symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age however is most common to appear during adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is caused by an insulin resistance; basically the body is unable to react properly to insulin. This resistance to react is caused by many factors which include age, obesity and having a high blood sugar throughout a long period of time.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

There are many causes for diabetes, which means that are many reasons why a person can develop diabetes type 2. The most common of all the factors that cause diabetes is genetics. Almost a half of the people who suffer from diabetes type 2 are brothers and sisters and one in three children of the same family will eventually suffer from diabetes. The second strongest cause of developing diabetes is obesity. That and an intake of many calories are the second and third of the diabetes causes. Almost a third of all people that suffer from diabetes type 2 have antibodies to the islet cells, which produce insulin. These cells so vital in diabetes can be detected in the blood. If the islet cells do not work properly, your body will not get enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of defective insulin secretion and insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity. Although the exact cause for type 2 is unknown, it seems that central obesity predisposes people for insulin resistance, possibly because of hormone secretions that impair glucose tolerance. Fifty-five percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes are obese. Aging and family history also seem to play a role in the onset of this type. Type 2 diabetes is first treated by diet and exercise, which can restore insulin sensitivity. Some diabetics can control their glucose levels just by these natural methods. If this doesn’t work, the next step is treatment with oral ant diabetic drugs. If the oral medications fail, insulin therapy will be implemented.

Comprehending the Causes of Diabetes

diabeticssource — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:53:01 +0000

It is no surprise that diabetes is one of the larger problems of health that the majority of people are suffering from and it is obvious that it’s overall effect both in the short term or in the long term can be life changing. One of the most important prevention tools of diabetes is that of education as it is to your benefit to understand the major causes that are behind diabetes that might be affecting you at this point in time and you will start to realize that it has something to do with the method that your body breaks down or processes the food that you eat.

Comprehending Metabolism

To completely comprehend and know diabetes and it’s causes, it is critical that you initially get to know more information about how the metabolism of your body breaks down the foods that you eat. One of the major causative factors behind diabetes is the lack of a persons body to produce insulin or the resistance of insulin, yet there are times when it can be both.

When the food that you consume is digested several things happen in your body, one of which is that glucose goes into the blood stream and when that happens, the pancreas produces insulin to transport the glucose or sugar to your muscles, liver cells, and fat where it might be utilized as fuel.

Since the pancreas simply creates small amounts of insulin or the fat, muscles, or liver cells don’t respond to it in the appropriate manner, individuals with diabetes have high blood sugar levels.

Know The Origins

Apart from the various causes of diabetes, you will discover that there are different kinds that correspond to the type that people are afflicted by, however mainly, the most common cause tends to be the failure of the pancreas in creating or resistance of the other sections of a persons body to insulin.

Other reasons for people getting the disease is that of genetics. When a person has a family history of relatives who have suffered from diabetes that makes them more susceptible to the disease as well. Additionally, mothers who have given birth to large sized babies that weigh in excess of nine kilos would have a more likely chance of suffering from gestational diabetes on their next pregnancy.

Some of the leading causes behind diabetes are; obesity, ethnicity particularly Asians, African Americans, Native American, Hispanics, and those form the Pacific Islands, high levels of triglycerides as well as high blood pressure, lack of exercise, and at times, age being greater than forty five.

Medical professionals as well as other experts advocate that for individuals who are older than forty five should have a regular screening for diabetes at least three years. For individuals who are at higher risk for getting diabetes should have their screening done more often.