Diabetes Impact on Teeth and Gums

Beyond many of the traditional issues considered specific to diabetics you can now add oral health. According to the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA), “Diabetics are more prone to several oral health problems, including tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, salivary gland dysfunction and infection. Patients [should remember] the importance of maintaining optimal dental health.”

Diabetes Impact on Teeth and Gums: Beyond many of the traditional issues considered specific to diabetics you can now add oral health. According to the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA), “Diabetics are more prone to several oral health problems, including tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, salivary gland dysfunction and infection. Patients [should remember] the importance of maintaining optimal dental health.”

Dr. Bruce Terry is a PDA dentist. In a recent press release, Terry suggested,

“Let the dentist know your most recent glycosylated hemoglobin (HgA1C) level to determine how well your diabetes is controlled. A good value should be under 7 percent. Inform your dentist of any recent hypo or hyperglycemic episodes. Uncontrolled diabetics are at higher risk for complications from local anesthetics (lidocaine) as well as complications with oral surgery and even simple tooth cleanings. If you take insulin, tell your dentist when you normally take insulin and when your last dose was taken.”

Regular brushing and flossing can be very beneficial to reducing plaque and bacteria from the mouth of a diabetic. The PDA press release stated, “Diabetic patients are at greater risk for tooth decay due to the presence of higher bacteria levels found in saliva when diabetes is not under control. As diabetes can lower resistance to infection, periodontal disease can develop.”

Some may suggest that dentists through normal cleanings can detect diabetes, but the truth may be that the dentist will know better how to help you achieve proper oral health if they know more about your diabetic health. For instance higher plaque levels may indicate problems with your diabetes. PDA advises, “Though brushing and flossing removes some plaque, it can’t remove it all. If plaque isn’t removed, it hardens to form tartar, which can lead to chronic inflammation and infection in the mouth.”

Having a firm handle on your health history will be meaningful to your dentist because they will know what to look for and how to treat your specific dental needs that are influenced by diabetes. Dentists will need your help to be as successful as you want them to be in oral health management. PDA offers the following advice, “Diabetic patients should contact their dentist immediately if they observe any of the warning signs of periodontal disease, including, red, swollen or tender gums or gums that bleed easily or are pulling away from the teeth; chronic bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth; teeth that are loose or separating; pus appearing between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed; or changes in the alignment of the teeth.”

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) offers the following suggestions for maintaining good oral health while living with diabetes.

  • More than half of all adults have at least the early stages of gum disease.
  • About 80% of adults have gum disease during their lives.
  • If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk for gum problems. Poor blood glucose control makes gum problems more likely.
  • Gum disease can start at any age. Children and teenagers who have diabetes are at greater risk than those who don’t have diabetes.

What you can do to fight gum disease.

  • Learn how gum problems start.
  • Brush your teeth twice a day.
  • Floss your teeth every day.
  • Look for early signs of gum disease.
  • Visit your dentist at least twice a year.

Avoid Complications: Proof in Type 1 Management

Your doctor has been telling you that tight control over Type 1 diabetes is a good idea. Now there is new proof that your doctor was right.

Your doctor has been telling you that tight control over Type 1 diabetes is a good idea. Now there is new proof that your doctor was right.

In the latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine researchers say that consistent and positive glucose control in Type 1 diabetics early and always may lead to a life without some of the worst complications associated with diabetes.

Dr. Daniel Nathan, director of the diabetes center at Massachusetts General Hospital is the co-author of the report and says, “We wanted to describe what happens with modern day management, and over a 30-year period, we found that people with type 1 diabetes should no longer be suffering from those most serious complications.”

Those complications include…

Over 1,600 diabetics participated in the study that took place over 3 decades. Researchers are quick to point out that their findings included early glucose control efforts that were not nearly as precise or controlled as they are today. They suggest this means better news in the future because with newer methods of glucose control there may be room to reduce Type 1 diabetic complications even further. “Type 1 diabetes need not be accompanied by the frequent occurrence of long-term complications, and people with type 1 diabetes can look forward to long, healthy, productive lives,” Nathan indicated.

In virtually every case the risk for the most intense diabetic complication was cut in half when measured between the tightly controlled group and those involved in the conventional group.

What this means is a 50% reduction in instances of heart disease, blindness and even amputations among Type 1 diabetics who take an active role in their diabetes management.

One struggle researchers noted was that because Type 1 diabetes often begins in childhood there may be a transitionary phase between a parental insistence on tight control and a Type 1 diabetic youth assuming personal responsibility for that control. There can be a period of time when control is not well regulated, but researchers believe that when the young person acknowledges they feel better when their diabetes is controlled the push for quality control becomes a priority for the Type 1 diabetic.

Nathan points to the positives of that swing, “Physicians and patients can now have a clear idea of what their prospects are over a long period of diabetes. They had a bad outlook — a chance of developing amputation, kidney failure, and blindness. But with modern-day therapy, their outlook is much brighter than it has ever been.”

There can be one complication that comes with the territory of tight glucose control in Type 1 diabetics and that is in regards to A1c levels. Doctors want to see that level lower than a 7, but in many instances this can lead to severe hypoglycemia resulting in a diabetic coma or seizure. Not all patients have a clear understanding of how to manage episodes of hypoglycemia even when they may be managing their diabetes very well.

In context of history diabetes was once viewed as a death sentence. This new study confirms what many health care providers have been saying all along. The better you become at assuming responsibility for your own daily care the fewer potential health issues you may encounter as you age.

Reducing Diabetic Amputations By Healing Wounds Faster

One of the problems diabetic patients have is the slow healing of wounds. Sometimes these wounds become intense enough that an amputation is required. Researchers suggest it may be possible to speed up healing time in wounds among diabetics.

Reducing Diabetic Amputations By Healing Wounds Faster: One of the problems diabetic patients have is the slow healing of wounds. Sometimes these wounds become intense enough that an amputation is required. Researchers suggest it may be possible to speed up healing time in wounds among diabetics.

ScienceDaily.com indicates, “The drug, deferoxamine, helped diabetic mice heal small cuts 10 days faster than those who did not receive treatment, according to researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The team is now working to arrange human trials for deferoxamine. If the results translate, it could help doctors combat such diabetic complications as foot ulcers.”

Deferoxamine is an iron-binding drug that seems to accelerate wound healing.

According to ScienceDaily.com, “Blisters, cuts or pressure sores on diabetic patients’ lower limbs often heal slowly or not at all, putting patients at risk for infection and amputation. Internal injuries are an issue, as well: More than 40 percent of patients hospitalized for heart attacks have clinical diabetes, and they are less likely to recover fully than their non-diabetic counterparts. The reason, say researchers, is that diabetic tissue fails to reconnect oxygen-deprived areas to the bloodstream with new vessels. What they didn’t know was why the vessels don’t form.”

The problem is in the glucose. High blood sugar in diabetic patients makes it difficult for new vessels to form. The use of deferoxamine in this context is a short jump from it’s approved use for, “The management of chronic iron-overload disorders.” This study demonstrates clinically that there may be a 90% improvement among diabetic patients who would use this type of therapy by effectively negating the effects of high glucose on wound healing.

Why does an iron-reducing drug allow for improved healing among diabetics? The research suggests, “High glucose inside cells results in the creation of free radicals, which oxidize iron. The iron then interacts with other cellular molecules to form DNA-damaging hydroxyl radicals.”

Although researchers had to develop special ways to level the playing field to compare the effectiveness of the inexpensive drug they did see extremely promising results, “Mice treated with the drug healed in 13 days, compared with 23 days in untreated mice. Treated mice also produced almost threefold more vascular endothelial growth factor.”

This research follows on the heals of other research that is finding new uses for existing drugs – new applications for drugs that might be able to facilitate positive results while remaining inexpensive.

Deferoxamine is generally administered through an injection, but scientists are discussing the possibility of a dissolvable sheet that can be placed on the wound and work to facilitate healing directly at the site of the wound.

The implications for this new research are huge. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports, “Diabetes is the most frequent cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations. The risk of a leg amputation is 15 to 40 times greater for a person with diabetes. More than 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations in the U.S. occur among people with diabetes. Each year, 82,000 people lose their foot or leg to diabetes.”

Other sources suggest amputations among diabetics are ten times higher than non-diabetics. In finding a way to reduce the wounds that can lead to amputation the end result is both lives saves as well as an improvement in the overall quality of life for many diabetic patients.

The Anemic Cycle of an Impaired Kidney

One of the problems most often associated with diabetes is a decrease in kidney function and disease that often accompanies kidney decline. It appears the kidneys may have more responsibility for good health than you may have thought.

The Anemic Cycle of an Impaired KidneyThe Anemic Cycle of an Impaired Kidney: One of the problems most often associated with diabetes is a decrease in kidney function and disease that often accompanies kidney decline. It appears the kidneys may have more responsibility for good health than you may have thought.

A recent report from the National Anemia Action Council suggests, “Persons with diabetes and hypertension are at risk for kidney disease which can be progressive, leading to reduced kidney function and even kidney failure. One of the consequences of reduced kidney function can be anemia and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and events.”

The Cycle

  • Weight. As we gain weight added stress is put on the kidneys – damage can then develop.
  • Erythropoietin Reduction. This hormone is created in the kidneys, but can be reduced dramatically as diabetes develops.  MedicineNet.com says, “The kidney cells that make erythropoietin are specialized so that they are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood that travels through the kidney. These cells make and release erythropoietin when the oxygen level is too low. The low oxygen level may indicate anemia, a diminished number of red blood cells, or hemoglobin molecules that carry oxygen through the body.”
  • Red Blood Cell Production. With a decrease in erythropoietin red blood cells are at risk. Erythropoietin is responsible for developing these cells with a destination of the bone marrow.
  • Anemia. As red blood cells decrease anemia can develop.
  • Heart Conditions. As anemia develops it can place a strain on your heart and other organs.

For those who don’t know what anemia is MedicineNet.com describes this as the, “Condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.”

Anemia.org suggests, “There are several complications that can emerge over time with diabetes and the associated elevated blood sugar levels including CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease), hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic neuropathy are prevalent in patients who have had diabetes for many years. Many complications, either directly or indirectly, may contribute to anemia and worsening of clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes.”

Essentially this cycle means that the kidneys become increasingly incapable of delivering the hormone that helps create adequate red blood cells. With a lack of those cells hypertension, heart issues and optical and kidney issues can become a problem for the diabetic. This is often why diabetics have an iron deficiency.

The good news is medical science can provide management goals that can work to keep red blood cells in balance, but this needs to be monitored in conjunction with your doctor.

If you are not diabetic you may be wondering how it is possible to determine if you may be at risk. Anemia.com offers the following checklist.

At-risk for Pre-diabetes & Diabetes

  • Family history of diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Overweight or obese state
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Latino/Hispanic, Non–Hispanic Black, Asian American, Native American, or
  • Pacific Islander ethnicity
  • Previously identified impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose
  • Hypertension
  • Increased levels of triglycerides, low concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or both
  • History of gestational diabetes
  • History of delivery of an infant with a birth weight greater than 9 pounds
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Psychiatric illness (Source: Anemia.org)

If you are a diabetic and you just don’t feel like your normal self it is possible your red blood cell count is low. Check with your doctor to get the help you need to get back on track.

Diabetes, Depression and Retinopathy

Diabetes + depression = additional disease. That seems to be the multiplication of common denominators in the arena of diabetic care. Why is this so and what can you do about it?

Diabetes + depression = additional disease. That seems to be the multiplication of common denominators in the arena of diabetic care. Why is this so and what can you do about it?

According to EmaxHealth.com, “A new study finds that diabetics who are depressed have a thirty six percent higher chance of developing severe complications from the disease. Diabetics are already at high risk for microvascular disease that can destroy the kidneys, and also cause blindness from diabetic retinopathy.”

How acute is the concern regarding depression? EmaxHealth.com suggests, “Depression was found to increase the chances of kidney disease, blindness, heart attack and stroke risk for diabetics, even after adjusting for other factors. The chances of developing disease of the large blood vessels that can lead to heart attack and stroke was by twenty five percent higher for diabetics with depression.”

Early in this millennium nearly 5,000 participants were followed to view their responses in medical data. In some cases more than 5 years of data was collected from patients. The EmaxHealth.com report suggests, “After making adjustments for weight, smoking, age, insulin use, and other medical conditions, the study still revealed increased risk of severe complications from diabetes among depressed patients. Depression and diabetes has also been found to increase mortality.”

There has been a recognized link between diabetes and depression, but this new study could go a long way in helping to determine why that link exists and how to break it.

Meanwhile, another new study may have some bearing on how diabetics can potentially avoid retinopathy related to their disease.

StateNews.com reports, “Susanne Mohr, an associate physiology professor at MSU (Michigan State University), spent more than two years working with E. Chepchumba Yego, a former graduate student at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, to find a way to treat retinopathy. The team’s research appeared in the Jan. 29 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.”

It is important to know exactly what happens to the eyes of a diabetic to result in vision loss. The StateNews.com article suggests, “cells surrounding the vascular die and leave the vascular unprotected with no support from the surrounding cells. Once the protecting cells are gone, different fluids from the brain leak into the retina, causing bruising.”

Current options for treatment are limited to shots in the eye or laser treatments. The trouble is both are uncomfortable and laser treatments are limited to 2-3 surgeries before blindness from the treatment is noted.

In Mohr’s research “the team found a way in which cell death is induced in a high glucose environment. The enzyme glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, or GAPDH, moves from its cytosolic environment to the cell’s nucleus to create energy, where cell death occurs.”

Once they figured out how cell death took place they were able to manipulate the siah-1, “to keep any cell death from occurring and therefore reducing the effects of retinopathy,” said StateNews.com.

Mohr is noted in the same article as saying, “About 5 million people have diabetic retinopathy, according to the World Health Organization. It is estimated that 80 percent of Type 2 diabetic patients progress into some stages of diabetic retinopathy, Mohr said. Type 2 diabetes patients are growing exponentially, which causes a much larger number with the disease, she said. Retinopathy develops five to 10 years after a person is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.”

The research will be ongoing, but to date the new study has helped identify causes and provide avenues of potential reductions in the incidence of retinopathy.

Making Contact With Fellow Diabetics

Being diagnosed with diabetes is often very unexpected and so many people know little or nothing about the disease to begin with. Your doctor will no doubt tell you the basics, show you how to control your disease, especially if you turn out to be insulin-dependent, and give you a food chart that lists what you can and can’t eat but where do you go for the answers to all those silly little questions that you have and are to embarrassed to ask the doctor?

Making Contact With Fellow Diabetics: Being diagnosed with diabetes is often very unexpected and so many people know little or nothing about the disease to begin with. Your doctor will no doubt tell you the basics, show you how to control your disease, especially if you turn out to be insulin-dependent, and give you a food chart that lists what you can and cannot eat but where do you go for the answers to all those silly little questions that you have and are to embarrassed to ask the doctor?

Support Groups
Most areas have special support groups that meet up regularly so that you can share your experiences with other diabetics. Occasionally these groups meet at the local hospital or clinic and so you should be able to find details regarding times and locations from your local clinic or surgery.

Not only can you sit and chat with friends, you can share new diabetic recipes or tell everyone about the new restaurant that serves proper diabetic meals. Really these groups are simply a great way to meet other people who suffer from the daily affliction of diabetes just as you do.

If you can’t find a support group in your local area you can always start one yourself as there are probably hundreds of people living nearby who have the same worries and questions as you.

Internet Forums
There are a number of forums on the internet dedicated to diabetes, such as Diabetic Discussion where people who have been living with the disease for years can help to answer any questions you have. You can also just talk to other sufferers, find out new recipes and cooking tips, get information about exercise and how it can affect your diabetes, find out about the future of diabetes and what is happening in the research labs around the world, and any number of other general bits of information.

Because diabetes is an illness that needs constant monitoring it can make you feel ostracized from your regular friends when you are first diagnosed, especially when you have to constantly watch what you eat and take your blood glucose level numerous times a day. Then there is the added pain of having to administer your insulin when you’re out and about and you may not feel up to going out to the local pub if you know you can’t drink alcohol like you used to!

Talking online with fellow sufferers can provide you with lots of handy tips and advice regarding everyday activities and how to continue leading a normal life, just as you did before you were diagnosed. Diabetes doesn’t have to ruin your life and by finding a group of people who can relate to what you are going through you can quickly get over the initial shock and settle down to a fulfilling life as a diabetic.

Advice For Those Newly Diagnosed With Diabetes

Those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes often experience a range of emotions in the first few days. There is often fear, doubt, depression, worry, and a lot of uncertainty. Make no mistake about it; a diagnosis of diabetes is a life altering event. Your lifestyle will never be exactly the same and you must be much more conscientious about your health choices than you were in the past. However, all is not lost. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, the disease is treatable. This article presents a few helpful hints to get you through those first few difficult weeks following your diagnosis.

Advice For Those Newly Diagnosed With Diabetes: Those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes often experience a range of emotions in the first few days. There is often fear, doubt, depression, worry, and a lot of uncertainty. Make no mistake about it; a diagnosis of diabetes is a life altering event. Your lifestyle will never be exactly the same and you must be much more conscientious about your health choices than you were in the past. However, all is not lost. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, the disease is treatable. This article presents a few helpful hints to get you through those first few difficult weeks following your diagnosis.

The most important thing to do after you receive your diagnosis is to better educate your self on the disease and its treatments. Pay particular attention to the techniques of glucose monitoring and dietary restrictions. By making sure that you are as knowledgeable as possible about the disease, you will find that much of your uncertainty vanishes. You will know what to expect and know what to do to effectively treat your disease and live an active and fulfilling life.

Seek out guide books that can educate you on dietary options for diabetics. You will find that, while some of your favorites foods are now taboo, that diabetics can still enjoy a rich and varied culinary life. There are many diabetic cookbooks that offer wonderful culinary options for those on a restricted diet.

Another important step that you can take to overcome anxiety during those first anxious weeks is to seek out a support group. A support group can help you learn the best way to cope with the disorder. You will also see that others who have this disease can and are having a great time enjoying all that life has to offer. While most cities will have local diabetes support groups, if you do not have such local resources, or simply do not wish to join one, there are many online communities that are devoted to diabetes issue. You will find many helpful and knowledgeable people in internet support groups that are more than willing to offer advice, inspiration, hope, or simply listen to your worries and fears.

One common reaction that people have when they are first diagnosed with diabetes is that they will think back on how, in times past, they did not take care of their body in the way that they should have. In this case, a diagnosis of diabetes represents not only a challenge, but an opportunity as well. The continuous monitoring of your condition will provide you with the feedback that you need to help you stay focused on living a more healthful lifestyle.

If you have any friends or family members who have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is a great idea to set aside some time to discuss your fears and concerns with them. Having a trusted support system is very important at this time. As time progresses, you will find that you will become more comfortable with your situation and better able to handle the emotions that are part and parcel of diabetes. However, during the early days, you will really value having a trusted voice to guide your thoughts.

Exercise is a necessary therapy for diabetes. Not only does it help control glucose levels, but exercise also releases endorphins (mood controlling chemicals) in the brain that help alleviate stress and depression. Exercising is a great way to control the symptoms of your disease, make your body more physically fit, and also make yourself feel better about your situation and your future.

A diagnosis of diabetes is not something that anyone wishes for. Nevertheless, such a diagnosis is not the end of the world. By keeping yourself informed and active, you can meet the disease head on and enjoy life to the fullest.

Can Diabetes Be A Sign Of Something More Serious

Diabetes in itself can be a very serious illness however occasionally the symptoms associated with diabetes can mask or cover up a much deeper medical problem which is only discovered later on.

Diabetes in itself can be a very serious illness however occasionally the symptoms associated with diabetes can mask or cover up a much deeper medical problem which is only
discovered later on.

The main symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:

Polyuria – excessive urine production due to the kidney’s inability to reabsorb water.
Polydipsia – excessive thirst.
Polyphagia – excessive eating.

However excessive urine production and excessive thirst are also common symptoms of diabetes insipidus, an illness that is commonly associated with an abnormality of the
posterior pituitary gland. This disorder is due to defects in the antidiuretic hormone receptors or an ability to secrete the actual hormone.

Either way, while diabetes insipidus may simply be due to the poor functioning of the posterior pituitary gland it can also show as a result of a brain tumour, a head trauma or
some viral infections, all of which can be life threatening illnesses.

Thus what may seem to be a simple case of diabetes mellitus can in fact be something much worse and totally unrelated to the pancreas and liver.

Type I diabetes is often caused by damage to the beta cells of the pancreas, either by injury or because of a disease that impairs insulin production. Viral infections and
autoimmune disorders can both be involved in the destruction of beta cells. In some cases there may be a hereditary tendency for beta cell degeneration and this can often be
initiated by some kind of viral infection or autoimmune disorder.

Thus the symptoms of type I diabetes may simply be masking a serious and potentially lethal viral infection or alternatively they may be the first visible signs of a chronic
autoimmune disorder.

Another potential underlying problem that may manifest itself as diabetes is impaired liver function. This is occasionally due to cancerous growths within the liver tissue or
within the ducts that join the liver and the pancreas. Occasionally metastases can move to the islets of Langerhans within the actual pancreas. These growths can stop the liver
from controlling the normal blood glucose levels which means that as the glucose levels in the blood increase, larger amounts of insulin are produced which, if left unchecked,
can lead to hyperinsulism. This is where excessive amounts of insulin are produced by the metastatic cancers and in some cases up to 1000grams of carbohydrate have to be
administered every 24 hours in order to prevent the individuals suffering from hypoglycaemia.

Impaired liver function can also be due to cirrhosis, especially if the individual has been a heavy drinker for much of their adult life and infections such as hepatitis.

Many of the disorders described above that can be hidden by the symptoms of diabetes will show up when the blood tests taken to confirm the patient does in fact have diabetes
are screened in a medical laboratory environment. Thus if the diabetes is a secondary illness caused by a separate underlying disorder this will quickly become apparent.

The Future For Diabetes

The underlying cause of diabetes is yet to be discovered however research today is slowly starting to develop novel new approaches to the disease’s treatment. It may be that a cure is found in the not to distant future but for now, a number of new therapies are being closely studied in many of the countries around the world.

The Future For Diabetes: The underlying cause of diabetes is yet to be discovered however research today is slowly starting to develop novel new approaches to the disease’s treatment. It may be that a cure is found in the not to distant future but for now, a number of new therapies are being closely studied in many of the countries around the world.

Advancements In Glucose Control
Recent advances have meant that patients can monitor their own blood glucose levels at home or indeed on the move but this requires the diabetic to prick their finger every time they need to take a reading. Is the next step an implantable glucose sensor that will give off some kind of signal when the glucose concentration rises or falls below the normal limits? Some researchers say it is and indeed a number of laboratories around the globe are working towards developing such a monitor.

Other research, that has been going on for years, involves shining a special light through the skin in order to establish a glucose reading however until these new types of monitors have been tried and tested over and over again, we will not be seeing them on the market as an incorrect glucose reading could ultimately end in disaster.

Advancements In Insulin Administration
According to recent reports, researchers have now developed an insulin pump that is actually implanted into the patient. This pump measures and monitors the concentration of glucose within the blood and if a rise or fall is recorded the exact amount of insulin required to bring the level back to normal can be administered, without the patient even knowing it.

In this way, the pump emulates the action of the natural beta cells in a non-diabetic person. Unfortunately however, prototypes have been plagued with problems including clogging and the detection of other bodily chemicals which affect the readings taken; hence the implantable insulin pump is still in the experimental stage.

Advancements In Surgery
The majority of the research involving surgical intervention centres on the pancreas and the beta cells for obvious reasons. Pancreas transplants are becoming a widely recognized possibility in cases of severe diabetes but the procedure is relatively difficult and is often combined with a kidney transplant. In addition, the pancreas is prone to rejection and so the patient is at risk from other illnesses while they are immunosupressed.

A second option that has gained widespread attention involves the transplant of beta cells by injecting them in such a way that they lodge in the liver. Unfortunately these cells are again prone to rejection as they are seen by the white blood cells as foreign bodies. Thus, researchers are now trying to develop a tube which protects the beta cells from the immune system but still allows insulin molecules produced by the implanted beta cells to pass out and into the blood stream.

Advancements In Genetics
Genetic manipulation research is at present focussing on reprogramming a normal body cell to become a beta cell so that it can produce insulin. Each cell within the human body
contains all of the genetic information needed to create the entire body however only specific sections of the DNA is ‘read’ in different types of cell, so for example a skin cell will read the section of DNA that says ‘you are a skin cell’.

Thus if a number of skin cells could be reprogrammed to read the section of DNA that says ‘you are a beta cell’ then they would act as a beta cell and produce insulin, just as normal beta cells do.

This research is still in the very early stages but if it did at some time in the future actually work, then it would eliminate the rejection problems encountered with transplants and put a stop to the need to self-administer insulin.

Insulin Reactions

A rapid drop in blood sugar can cause serious damage or even death. Even with preventive measures, a person may experience this type of problem. There are various methods in preventing this from happening as well as raising your blood sugar when a sudden strike occurs. It is vital to always test blood sugar levels throughout the day. This should be done before or after meals, near bedtime as well as when exertion of the body has been preformed. Several reasons may be presented that can explain a sudden drop in these levels. A person needs to be aware of the warning signs as well as proper maintenance during the day to stay active and vital.

Insulin Reactions: A rapid drop in blood sugar can cause serious damage or even death. Even with preventive measures, a person may experience this type of problem. There are various methods in preventing this from happening as well as raising your blood sugar when a sudden strike occurs. It is vital to always test blood sugar levels throughout the day. This should be done before or after meals, near bedtime as well as when exertion of the body has been preformed. Several reasons may be presented that can explain a sudden drop in these levels. A person needs to be aware of the warning signs as well as proper maintenance during the day to stay active and vital.

Causes for Sudden Blood Sugar Drops
A vigorous lifestyle or activities can be the main cause for this type of problem. Each day is different than the previous one. Preventive measures can control blood sugar levels. There are several methods that a person can take to assist in avoiding a sudden drop:

  1. Eat regularly. A person needs to maintain their food intake during the day. It is suggested that a person with diabetes needs to eat healthy and they cannot miss a meal or snack.
  2. Keep a notebook of insulin intake. Too much of this medicine can cause a drop in blood sugar quickly and can damage an individual’s body.
  3. When practicing an exercise regiment, check the levels before and after. Eating a small snack before you begin will assist in keeping the blood sugar at a steady amount.

Signs of Rapid Blood Sugar Drops
There are various signs that can assist a person or their loved ones to know when they are experiencing this problem. Levels can drop without any warning; however there are sure signs that are present when this has occurred. Diabetics as well as friends and family of diabetics should study and know the following warning signs:

  1. If an individual has not eaten in a while or is feeling stomach pains, this is a sure sign that their levels are dropping rapidly.
  2. The individual’s mood is a tell tale sign of this type of problem. A person that is usually happy and easy going may experience anger, aggravation or become upset.
  3. If a person is having troubles walking because of minimal leg movements, dizziness or falling over, this could be related to the drop in levels.
  4. Unnatural behavior for the individual can be another warning sign. If an individual is sweating for no other apparent reason, if they are shaking slightly or uncontrollably, their skin tones are lighter than normal, immediate action needs to take place.

What to do in case of Blood Sugar Drops
If the individual is unresponsive or unconscious seek a medical professional immediately. Do not give the person insulin. This medicine lowers blood sugar, it does not raise it. If they are able to communicate and understand what is being said, the following can be a quick method in restoring an individual’s blood sugar.

  1. Hard candy is the favorite among many. Various diabetics keep this on hand in their home, car or pocket in case a strike occurs.
  2. Sometimes hard candy is not present. Anything with a good amount of sugar can do the trick. Gum, mints and candy bars can assist in this matter. Remember, sugarless products, will not help.
  3. If the person can eat a meal, feed them immediately.
  4. When all of the options have been exhausted and the person is still feeling sick, seek medical advice immediately.
Secret Link