The Fructosamine Test

A fructosamine test can be done at your hospital or clinic when your physician indicates that there is a need for it. As monitoring, regulating, and controlling your blood sugar is essential for proper management of your diabetes, this diagnostic tool can prove to be an invaluable aid in helping your physician keep track of your progress.

The Fructosamine Test: A fructosamine test can be done at your hospital or clinic when your physician indicates that there is a need for it. As monitoring, regulating, and controlling your blood sugar is essential for proper management of your diabetes, this diagnostic tool can prove to be an invaluable aid in helping your physician keep track of your progress.

Some of the situations which may indicate that a fructosamine test is the most appropriate measure of your blood sugar level include pregnancy, for diabetes in pregnancy is not only more difficult to regulate but can also lead to serious complications; instances of changes in treatment, when it is essential to have consistent and accurate knowledge of your blood sugar level; or the presence of medical conditions which can have an effect on your red blood cells. The need for a fructosamine test is generally recognized as the existence of such situations which may cause the diabetic’s blood sugar to be more difficult to regulate than it would be under more average circumstances.

The main purpose of a fructosamine test is to determine whether the blood sugar level has elevated, or whether it has become erratic. In the event that either problem has occurred, having these test results as soon as possible will aid your physician in deciding on the best course of treatment for you as soon as possible. The quicker that your blood sugar level can be stabilized and remain stable, the less likely it is that you will experience complications. This fact alone can make a fructosamine test a true life-saver, for acting quickly is the best means of ensuring that no needless complications arise.

If your physician has advised that you should have a fructosamine test, it is very important for you to follow his recommendations. In addition to this test itself, he should also have your complete medical history so that he is aware of any pre-existing conditions which could cause the test to be less than fully effective. He will also advise you in advance of the test that you should avoid consuming Vitamin C prior to having the test, because high levels of this in your blood will also interfere with the effectiveness of the test.

Even though the fructosamine test is not generally used as a standard, routine part of a diabetic’s care and treatment, there are some instances in which it is the best choice currently available in diagnostic tools. You may be surprised to learn that such a simple test can be of so much help in ensuring that your blood sugar level remains as stable as it should be for the sake of your overall health, and that it can quickly alert your physician to any changes which can then be immediately addressed.

If you are uncertain as to how relevant this is to your condition, it is simply a matter of keeping your physician informed and updated so that he can alter your diabetes treatment if the test results indicate that there is the need to do so.

Eye Care: Why Annual Exams Are Important

Do you know what type of health measure does not cost an unreasonable amount of money, is completely painless, and should be a routine part of your preventative health care? The answer is your annual eye exam! While eye examinations may be recommended more frequently for those who have special concerns, an annual exam is the best way for healthy adults to ensure a lifetime of good vision.

Eye Care - Why Annual Exams Are ImportantEye Care: Why Annual Exams Are Important: Do you know what type of health measure does not cost an unreasonable amount of money, is completely painless, and should be a routine part of your preventative health care? The answer is your annual eye exam! While eye examinations may be recommended more frequently for those who have special concerns, an annual exam is the best way for healthy adults to ensure a lifetime of good vision.

If your eyesight is currently fine, you may be uncertain as to why it is so important to include annual eye exams as a routine part of your overall health care. The reason for this is so any problems can be determined and treated as early as possible, with fewer potential difficulties in the longrun. If you are like most people, you may prefer to know in advance what you can expect during an eye exam– what procedures will take place, and what each will accomplish.

Glaucoma is a progressive eye condition which causes numerous vision-related problems and can result in blindness. While most people who have difficulties associated with glaucoma are older people, most eye doctors these days have stopped limiting testing for this condition to those over aged thirty, as was usually the practice in the past, concluding that the earlier glaucoma is detected the sooner it can be treated.

There are two widely-used tests for glaucoma. The test commonly referred to as “the puff test” is a simple procedure; to the patient, it feels as if a little puff of air is blown into his or her eyes. The other test is done by putting a small amount of eyedrop into your eye. While this procedure may be a bit annoying, it is neither painful nor uncomfortable. Whichever test your eye doctor feels would be best for you, checking the pressure within your eyes goes a long way in diagnosing a potential problem and helping you to have the best possible eye health.

You may already be familiar with the machine which contains a variety of lenses. When your doctor flips these lenses in front of your eyes, asking you to state which ones appear clearest to you, this is the method used to determine the specific corrective lenses that are right for you. You may think of this procedure as being like trying on many different pairs of eye glasses, to find the lenses which are the perfect “fit” just for you!

The inner workings of your eyes will be checked by a device called a slit lamp. Many conditions, which have the potential to be debilitating to your vision, can be detected by this simple procedure. It is not at all complicated– it is an easy method of magnifying the inner structure of your eye so that these problems, if they exist, can be readily seen by your doctor.

If your doctor has requested in advance that you bring a pair of dark glasses with you to your examination, this is for the purpose of a dilation exam. While some eye doctors do this as a routine part of eye exams and others only perform it when they believe it is necessary, the purpose of a dilation exam is to determine the presence of any hidden eye disease.

As you can see, “the basics” of an annual eye exam are not difficult at all– and it is the best step you can take for good eye health!

Alcohol And Diabetes

You’ve just been diagnosed with Diabetes; some might feel frightened because of the obvious. Others might feel a tad insecure because they think perhaps the fun part of their life is over and now they much watch everything they put into their systems like a hawk. Nothing can be harder then living your life free as bird one second and then feeling as though you are not able to perform the same tasks you have for several years. You think perhaps that you will always have a choice to say what is put into your body and the you wake up to realize that the very next thing you put in you could end up killing you.

Alcohol And DiabetesAlcohol And Diabetes: You’ve just been diagnosed with Diabetes; some might feel frightened because of the obvious. Others might feel a tad insecure because they think perhaps the fun part of their life is over and now they much watch everything they put into their systems like a hawk. Nothing can be harder then living your life free as bird one second and then feeling as though you are not able to perform the same tasks you have for several years. You think perhaps that you will always have a choice to say what is put into your body and the you wake up to realize that the very next thing you put in you could end up killing you.

Having diabetes does not have to be a death sentence however and many people live their lives and enjoy many joyous occasions while still doing some of the things they did before developing it. Granted everyone is a little different and some people live for different qualities of life. This article presents you with a fact, one many think is not possible. Many question if you can still drink alcohol while having diabetes and the answer to that question is YES!

You can still have alcohol however it is now just a tad bit different for you because everything must be measured to make sure you are not drowning yourself in it. Seems like most things come with guidelines so this is not much different.

However, if you do decide to drink then there are some things that you should be warned about. It is only fair to know what drinking could lead to, I am not talking about just a glass of wine in the afternoon I am referring to those who come home to drink a pack of beer in less then 2 hours. Those people are at risk for developing some of the following conditions.
Alcohol progresses hypoglycemia and makes having lower glucose levels apparent. Not only when you have diabetes but at any point you should be sure not to drink on an empty stomach, it can be very harmful to you and your body. Some people make the mistake of drinking for their meals rather then having a good balanced meal. Most people who are diabetes worry about their blood levels getting to high and when you drink alcohol it is reversed you have to worry about it getting too low.

When you are out at a club drinking like most people do you need to know that those who are around you may not know the symptoms of hypoglycemia so it is imperative that you wear some form of badge or sticker that lets those around you know they you are a diabetic. Sometimes when you are drunk the same symptoms occur that would occur during hypoglycemia.

Sometimes you just can’t drink at all if you have developed Neuropathy that is. Alcohol has been known to increase the symptoms of Neuropathy so many people choose not to drink because of the pain that is felt while going through normal amounts of Neuropathy rather then increasing the symptoms. If you are going to drink however, you will want to make sure that you drink low amounts of it, rather then huge amounts not only because it can be more dangerous in big amounts but it can also be even more dangerous if you are the one who is driving.

When having a barbeque some people have mixed drinks if this sounds like you it would be better to make sure that you get something that is sugar-free because that will help lessen any affects of the alcohol that you might be drinking. The best thing for a diabetic to have is low alcoholic drinks; this could mean the difference in between feeling very sick and feeling somewhat normal.

You much find out for yourself sometimes what is best for you and what you will never do again. We find that out in life so why not in what we eat or drink. Things that are affected when having diabetes and drinking alcohol is increased eye concerns if you have Glaucoma or Cataracts, if you have nerve damage to your feet or hands the symptom can be worse while drinking alcohol. When having High blood sugar you may find yourself at more of a risk while drinking alcohol also.

Alcohol can also be very damaging to the nerve cells when given in high dosages, sometimes even light drinking has been proven to cause some cells to go obsolete. So it is very important to talk to you doctor to find out his/her advice on what it is you should drink if anything at all.

There are some things that can cause you to not be able to drink alcohol at all; however some people will choose to drink it anyways causing more pain and more problems. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and high blood sugar it is a very good idea not to drink alcohol at all since it can cause more problems then worth the “feel good” effects of the alcohol itself.

Alcohol can provide more triglycerides into the blood stream so those who are diabetics who already have high triglycerides need to make sure they don’t have any alcohol because it could be dangerous to the body and to their health.

If you are taking any medications for your diabetes and are drinking alcohol then you are already running a risk of health problems. The problem is, is when you drink alcohol the liver starts to produce glucose from stored carbohydrates to make up for the loss of glucose from with in the body. But when you drink alcohol it blocks that from happening and the liver is unable to produce glucose for your body thus producing problems. The liver will try to clean your body out while fighting off toxins that are associated with alcohol to rid it from the body. The liver then will stop producing any glucose whatsoever until all the alcohol is evacuated from the body.

There is less concern for those who have Type 2 diabetes but it still must be a concern however. But since their diabetes are controlled through diet and exercise they are at less risk for fatal reactions. Type 2 diabetes is a growing epidemic in the United States and has taken on new forms that are getting harder to diagnose. You will find that through-out studies there are sometimes repeats of the same symptoms while others have symptoms not yet heard of it.

It is always your choice if you want to drink alcohol but it is ideal to get all the facts straight before heading out on a wild night adventure while having diabetes. It can be dangerous and healthy. You should never have to stop living your life because you developed a disease. If possible you should try to live it more, but you family and friends would certainly attest to the fact that if you are going to do things you must make sure they are safe things. Alcohol is not a necessity in life and should never be treated that way. Some people would tell you that meditating will give you the same freedom that alcohol does so if nothing else try that.

How To Use A Lancet And Lancing Device

What Is A Lancet?

How To Use A Lancet And Lancing Device: A lancet is a piece of steel that is shaped with a point. It is used to prick the skin on your finger. Using the lancet is the way you get blood to use to test your blood glucose level. Not all lancets are used for pricking. Some of them are used to make tiny incisions in the skin. Lancets use different gauges and affect the size of the incision. The lower the gauge number, the larger the incision. The higher the gauge number, the smaller the incision. Some people prefer the lancets that have higher gauges comfortable because they inflict little to no pain. However, it may take several tries before you can get an ample amount of blood for testing.

What Is A Lancing Device?

This instrument has a spring inside that forces the lancet to prick or make an incision on your finger. After it pricks your finger, it draws back quickly. With a lancing device, you can change how deep or shallow you want the incision to be. Depending on what measurement you choose, it can alleviate additional pain and discomfort. However, you have to remember whether or not you want to sacrifice a deeper incision or additional pain and discomfort.

Different Lancet Sizes

If you’re not getting the results you want, try using a different lancet size. If that doesn’t help, thoroughly wash your hands with warm water. Using a shaking exercise, shake you hands prior to trying again. This exercise can help stimulate the blood flow in your fingers. After you’ve pricked your finger, massage them in order to stimulate bleeding.

Lancing Device Settings

Lancing devices have up to five measurement setting you can use. The best setting to use is the third one in the middle. You will have to change the level as the spring starts to wear in the lancing device. You will know that your lancing device is at the shallowest point (five) when you realize you have to exert extra pressure and energy to get the lancet to puncture your skin. At this point, you will need to replace the lancing device.

Lancet Usage

It’s been said that a single lancet can be used more than once. However, due to health concerns, it is not wise to do that. Because the lancets are already thin, they can easily get worn out if the same one is used more than once. In fact, lancets are only made to be used once. Afterward, you discard them and use a new one.

There is also a lubricant on the lancet, but it’s only so much on there. More than likely, it’s not enough to justify repeated use. The more you try to use it, the rougher it can get on your skin because the lubrication would have worn off. Your best bet, in this case, is to replace the lancet after each time you use them. That way, you won’t have to concern yourself with injury or infection by continually using the same lancet and little lubrication.

Shoes And Socks For Diabetics

I know that it seems weird to have socks and shoes specifically for diabetes but they are very necessary. Some socks can help solve the very thing that many diabetics need their toes and feet amputated for. They can lessen in-shoe plantar pressure that has become a high-risk to diabetic patients. It has been said that high plantar pressure is a huge risk in the production of plantar ulcers in a diabetic neuropathic foot.

Shoes And Socks For Diabetics: I know that it seems weird to have socks and shoes specifically for diabetes but they are very necessary. Some socks can help solve the very thing that many diabetics need their toes and feet amputated for. They can lessen in-shoe plantar pressure that has become a high-risk to diabetic patients. It has been said that high plantar pressure is a huge risk in the production of plantar ulcers in a diabetic neuropathic foot.

An examination was done providing the fact that diabetic socks reduced plantar foot pressures in a group of 19 diabetics who had Peripheral Neuropathy. Fifteen of those patients were male of at least 65 years old and showed no ulcers at the time of the study.

These socks consist of a double layer material that show a padded outer layer which cushions the feet and a low-friction fiber inner layer that help to reduce friction at the sock top layer. When in comparison with regular socks there is a major difference, normal Wal-mart socks have a maximum foot contact of 0.7 millimeters while special designed diabetic socks have 2.3 millimeters around the toe area.

Diabetes affect nearly 20 million people in the United States and nearly half those people do not even realize that they have it. It is chronic disease that can cause long-term damages all over your body such as your eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, feet, blood vessels and nerves. Over 15% of diabetic patients will develop some sort of skin ulcer on their feet which will cause pain and unnecessary agony to their daily life. Sad to say that over 20% of those people who have an ulcer will need to have their foot or toe amputated.

Sometimes a person with diabetes will find that their foot will swell more than twice the normal size of their foot. They will also experience some loss of nerve sensation which is called neuropathy. There are some ways that you can help take care of your feet when having diabetes. You need to first make sure that you are putting your feet into comfortable fitting shoes and socks. Making sure that you have proper fitting shoes and socks will stop the onset of both irritation and infections. You will also need to see a podiatrist who specializes in the care of feet. They can let you know of your condition of what can be done to ensure healthier feet.

When you look at your feet for ulcers which you should do daily when being a diabetic you will need to look for these signs to make sure you are not developing an ulcer on the foot.
Look for these conditions:

Color changes in your skin, swelling of the foot or ankle, open soars of any kind on the foot, elevation of the skin temperature, corns or calluses that show bleeding within the skin, cracks in the skin around the heel, ingrown and fungus infected toes.

Some samples of diabetic socks can be found all over the internet, on of them is called a DiaSox and generally costs about $13 for one pair. Even though they are fairly more expensive then regular socks I would have to say it would be worth the extra money to not loose your foot. This sock is made of 88% breathable cool-cotton yarn. It is helpful to those who have their feet or leg swollen up. It has a knit top that stay up so that there is no binding or marks left that can cause ulcers. Flat toe stitching for maximum comfort and can be worn by both genders. You can find them in size small through sixe XX and you can also find some with a large calf for the larger calf people. You can find them in both black and white.

Another sock you can find online is called the Therapeutic/comfort seam-free sock which generally costs up to $40. This sock is loved and offered by Podiatrists all over the world, they are seamless and designed to ensure a smooth fit that does not lie across pressure points. They are made from thin, strong yarn so that there is plenty of room in your shoe that won’t make the sock bunch up. The sock was designed to follow the shape of your foot from your toes to the tops of your leg.

There are certain things you can do help with your diabetes so that way it may never even affect your feet. You much always follow the diet plan that you have worked out with your doctor. You should stay active at least 30 minutes on most days, you can ask your doctor to provide activities that might be good for you. Always take the medication that is described to you. You’ll need to be sure to check your blood glucose every day. Check your feet for blisters, cuts, sores, redness, swelling or sore toenails. Floss and Brush your teeth daily. Don’t smoke, that is harmful in itself. Also control your blood sugar and cholesterol.

The two things from diabetes that can hurt your feet is nerve damage and poor circulation. Nerve damage is caused by the damage that happens in the nerves of your legs and feet, sometimes a cut on your foot or leg will worsen because you can’t even feel that is there. Poor circulation happens when not enough blood flow is getting to your feet and legs. Be sure to do the following things to try and prevent any foot problems while having diabetes.

Feel the inside of your shoes before putting them on to make sure there are no sharp edges sticking out. Wash your feet daily with warm water, but be sure the water is not to hot and never soak your feet and always dry them. Pay attention to your feet, when you are diabetic, this can be the number one way to say your feet. If you see any scraps, cuts, sores or blisters you need to start medical attention right away because it could eventually cause amputation. Sometimes your skin will feel over dry, you can try and rub lotion on your heels and the palm of your foot, but never put the lotion in between your toes. After taking a bath you can try using a pumice stone or file to get rid of those annoying corns and calluses. You should wear socks continuously even while you sleep to avoid blisters and sores. Always wear shoes that fit your feet well, never wear shoes that are smaller or larger then your feet because that can cause damage to your feet and toes. Cut your toenails once a week so they don’t have to chance to scratch you other toes or other foot.

These things do not insure a safe way to keep your feet from ever getting sores or blisters but they do help in trying to keep them safe. Once you have a blister you need to take very care of it and watch it to make sure it does not get any worse if it does get worse immediately see your doctor. Having diabetes is very hard and developing Neuropathy can make it that much harder, so take care of yourself and your feet.

American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association has one mission and that is to prevent and cure diabetes. While they work on that, they also are working on improving the lives of everyone who is affected by diabetes.

American Diabetes AssociationThe American Diabetes Association has one mission and that is to prevent and cure diabetes. While they work on that, they also are working on improving the lives of everyone who is affected by diabetes.

Diabetes is when your body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is the hormones that is used to change sugar, and starches into energy for your body’s cells. Today there are nearly 20.8 million people in the US, both adults and children that have diabetes. If you do the math you will see that it comes out to nearly 7% of our population. The American Diabetes Association wants to see this number drop down.

In order to see this number drop down, The American Diabetes Association not only helps those who have already been diagnosed, they also show ways that it can be prevented. They offer a diabetes risk test which will ask you questions concerning your weight, and whether or not you have a sibling or a parent who suffers from diabetes. They also show you how to prevent diabetes by eating healthy and exercising. They know that thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity combined with a 5-10% weight loss can reduce the chance of diabetes nearly 85%.

More and more people today are starting to utilize what the American Diabetes Association has to offer. Last year alone nearly thirty five thousand people called the American Diabetes Association with questions, concerns and general support. This number not only included people who have been diagnosed with diabetes but also people who have a loved one who is recently been diagnosed.

Another plus about the American Diabetes Association is the amount of support they do for diabetes research. In 2006 they provided nearly 46.4 million dollars. They also offer research grant applications so that scientists and researches can continue to investigate every option regarding diabetes and the treatment and prevention of it.

For those of you who might be trying to lose weight to better manage your diabetes, they have a section for you also. You can visit a virtual cookbook and find hundreds of recipes that have been taken from their cookbooks. They give you the exchanges and the nutritional information right there on the recipe. They also give you healthy alternatives to juice drinks such as cranberry spritzer.

The American Diabetes Association also organizes many fundraisers. In fact, each year thousands of people participate in their events and fundraisers. You can find a community based program and also learn how to organize walks in your local area.

The American Diabetes Association is a live saver for so many people. You can educate yourself there on this disease and also talk to people who are either suffering from diabetes themselves or they have a loved one who is going through it. You can read about the latest break through in diabetes research.

When you join the American Diabetes Association you will receive support, and more importantly the American Diabetes Association Annual Resource Guide for Diabetes Supplies. This book will help you shop for diabetes products that you may need.

The American Diabetes Association wants to help squash out diabetes. They are the ones who give the many nameless diabetics a voice.

Published by diabetic live.

What Is Diabetes?

Over 100 million people suffer from diabetes. It doesn’t matter your age, race or sexuality, diabetes can affect anyone. There are two types of diabetes. There is type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Both are due to problems with insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and if not enough insulin is produced, diabetes can form.

What Is Diabetes: Over 100 million people suffer from diabetes. It doesn’t matter your age, race or sexuality, diabetes can affect anyone. There are two types of diabetes. There is type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Both are due to problems with insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and if not enough insulin is produced, diabetes can form.

Type one diabetes which is also known as juvenile onset is when a person has a total lack of insulin. Insulin is needed to turn the body’s glucose into energy and for some currently unknown reason the pancreas in type 1 diabetes just does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. In fact, the insulin that the pancreas does produce is seen as the enemy by the body’s immune system. The immune system starts to create antibodies to fight the insulin. There is no prevention of this type of diabetes. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in childhood which is why it is sometimes called juvenile diabetes. Some symptoms include fast weight loss, and dehydration. Due to the fact that the body is not producing any insulin, the only way to treat type 1, is to manually administer insulin daily. Insulin moves the sugar from the blood stream.

Type 2 diabetes is the more common diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually develops by age 14, but type 2 usually happens later in life. Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not respond properly to insulin. Type 2 diabetes results in high blood sugar. This can and will starve your cells of energy and over time can cause problems with the eyes and kidneys.

Some symptoms of type 2 diabetes are increased fatigue. This is because the body is not able to convert the glucose into energy. Some sugar is moved out of the body but not as much as there would be if it were a normal working pancreas. People who suffer from type 2 diabetes also lose weight without even trying. Another common symptom of this form of diabetes is blurry vision and irritability. Most of the time, the treatment for type 2 diabetes could be exercise, diet, weight lose and some medication. Sometimes shots of insulin can be given to control the blood sugar level in the body. However most of the time the best way to treat and beat type 2 diabetes is with diet and exercise.

It has always been thought that type 1 diabetes is diagnosed when a person is young and that only adults could be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However more and more kids are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Could this be because of the fact that more and more children are obese? Most people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight and once they lose the weight, they find that their diabetes has gone away. Unfortunately with type 1 diabetes, there is no cure. Type 1 diabetics will have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

There is nothing harder in the world than watching our children suffer. Can you imagine if your child suffered from diabetes, specifically type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as juvenile diabetes because it is usually diagnosed by the time your child is fourteen. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the place for you to go to. It was founded by parents of children who have been diagnosed with diabetes and want to make a difference in this world.

Juvenile Diabetes Research FoundationJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: There is nothing harder in the world than watching our children suffer. Can you imagine if your child suffered from diabetes, specifically type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as juvenile diabetes because it is usually diagnosed by the time your child is fourteen. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the place for you to go to. It was founded by parents of children who have been diagnosed with diabetes and want to make a difference in this world.

In order to make a difference, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) knows that they have to make sure that everyone has a clear understanding about diabetes and what it is. There are a lot of misconceptions out there regarding type 1 diabetes.

For starters, taking insulin does not cure diabetes. Most people are under the assumption that taking insulin will cure diabetes is not true. Insulin only helps in the management of the disease. Another myth is that diabetes is caused by obesity and eating too much sugar. Obesity is defiantly a trigger for type 2 diabetes, but not for type 1 which is what the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is for. The myths it also dispels are that kids only get juvenile diabetes. More and more we are seeing people developing it at any age.

Next, the JDRF offers one on one support and suggestions from volunteers who have been there. This is not a organization where you or your child will be dealing with someone who has no experienced with diabetes. Here you and your child can learn how to manager their diabetes in school with some advice from parents who again have been there. You will also find useful information on how to travel with diabetes and go to college.

Going to college can be a real challenge for some. For probably most of their school aged lives, they have had you, their parents watching over them, or at least telling the school to watch over your carefully. At college your teen is on their one. JDFR will give you some tips on how to make the transition easier on you and you’re teen. Not only does it give you examples on how to tell their roommate that they suffer from type 1 diabetes. Perhaps most important is that it talks about the risks that come with drinking alcohol.

Type 1 diabetes can be very hard to deal with especially for kids. Not only do they have to deal with the normal “growing up” issues, but when you throw diabetes into the mix, it can make growing up even more challenging. JDRF can help you and your child deal with it. You can see that there are others like there that have lived with diabetes and went through everything that your child will go through. You will also find the latest news on research that is being done and any opportunities for clinical studies. Thanks to JDRF, there is no need for you and your child to go throw this alone.

Diabetics Looking At LASIK Surgery

Just because you have diabetes, it does not automatically mean you are not qualified to have LASIK surgery. Chances are you can but there are some things you need to consider before hand.

Diabetics Looking At LASIK SurgeryDiabetics Looking At LASIK Surgery: Just because you have diabetes, it does not automatically mean you are not qualified to have LASIK surgery. Chances are you can but there are some things you need to consider before hand.

Keep in mind that the statistics show that almost half of the people with diabetes experienced complications after LASIK. The amount of people who experience complications and didn’t have diabetes is only 7%. Some of these problems you could experience if you have LASIK and diabetes is visual alterations due to changes in blood glucose control. A lot of research has shown that any major change in glucose levels can cause short-term changes in your vision. So as a result, it you have diabetes you might experience blurry vision. If you wear contacts or glasses, this is not a big deal. All you need to do to fix the problem is get a new pair of contacts or glasses. However when you are talking about the permanent changes after LASIK surgery you can’t do that. In order to avoid the blurry vision, you must have good control over your blood glucose both before and after your LASIK surgery.

You might also experience slower healing of your eye’s cornea after surgery. It is not uncommon to have some abnormalities in your cornea due to diabetes and these abnormalities can lead to slow healing after surgery. You may also experience some epithelial defections that can last a long time. You might also experience further damage to your retina also, especially if you have >diabetic retinopathy. Before you have the surgery make sure you are looked at by an ophthalmologist who specializes in retina disease if you have retinopathy.

Remember that during the LASIK surgery there will come a point when suction is applied to your eye. In some cases this suction causes increase pressure in the eye and it might be harmful for you if you have diabetes. Because of all this risks there are a few things you have to make sure you have taken care of before you will even qualify for LASIK.

First, you have to have your diabetes under good control. As stated before, when you have shifts in your glucose level, your vision gets a little blurry. If this happens after the surgery you have no way to correct it. You can not just get a new pair of glasses or a new pair of contacts. It is essential that you keep your glucose level under control. Next, you can not have any preexisting complications at all before the surgery. If you do, chances are you will not qualify for the surgery. If you meet both of those then you will need to go through an extensive thorough screening to make sure you can have a successful surgery.

Just because you have diabetes, it does not mean that you should not have LASIK surgery. You can, if you fit the criteria and are aware of the higher risk you may have versus someone who doesn’t have diabetes. Talk to your doctor and get their opinion and make sure you tell the surgeon that you are a diabetic. As long as you have no preexisting complications and keep your diabetes in check, there is no reason why you can not go on to have a successful LASIK experience.

Understanding Your Pancreas

Some people don’t give their pancreas a second thought. The pancreas is a complicated organ. Not only does it produce digestive enzymes which break down the food you eat it also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin and glucagon’s main function is to control the sugar levels in your body. It is essential that your body produces the correct amount of insulin. Problems with you pancreas could lead to problems with your insulin production which can lead to diabetes.

Understanding Your PancreasUnderstanding Your Pancreas: Some people don’t give their pancreas a second thought. The pancreas is a complicated organ. Not only does it produce digestive enzymes which break down the food you eat it also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon. Insulin and glucagon’s main function is to control the sugar levels in your body. It is essential that your body produces the correct amount of insulin. Problems with you pancreas could lead to problems with your insulin production which can lead to diabetes.

Your pancreas has a small section that is made of cells that are known as islets of Langerhans. This is because these cells sit in tiny groups which look like small islands. The hormones that these cells produce are secreted right into the blood flow by four types of cells. The beta cells which make up of 65% of the Iselts of Langerhans produce Insulin and Amylin. The alpha cells which are about 20% of The Iselts Of langerhans release glucagons. The Delta cells which make up anywhere between 3-10% of the cells produce somatostian and the PP cells which make up 1% produce Pancreatic polypeptide.

Insulin and glucagon are perhaps two of the most important hormones that the pancreas produces. They work to regulate the amount of sugar in your body so that it stays in a healthy range.

After you eat food, the carbohydrates that you eat are broken down into glucose and passed into your bloodstream. Your pancreas takes notice of this rise in blood glucose and starts to secrete the insulin. The insulin takes the glucose out of the bloodstream and puts it into cells. Once it is in the cells, it is used as energy to fuel cells while they are doing their different jobs. The other thing that happens is that it is stored in the liver or muscle cells as glycogen. Once the glucose level in the blood starts dropping off, the pancreas will stop producing insulin.

Glucagon has the opposite effect to insulin. When you work out, your muscles are using glucose for fuel and your blood glucose level drops. Once this happens, your pancreas notices the drop and will slow down the production of insulin and increase the production of glucagon. Glucagon is going to break down the stored form of glucose that is in the liver. This stored form is called glycogen. Once the liver breaks it down and releases the stored glucose back into the blood stream, the pancreas will then stop producing glucagon.

Diabetes is a problem that occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin that is produced does not work right. Sometimes your body might not respond properly to insulin. What ever the cause might be, how the body reacts is the same. Your body is going to try and get rid of the high glucose level how ever it can.

This is why it is so important to take care of your pancreas and your diet. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine to help prevent some forms of diabetes such as type II diabetes.

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