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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Using Insulin Pumps To Administer More Insulin: Insulin pumps emerged about two decades ago. However, they just became on the forefront in about half of that time. The insulin pumps are very convenient for diabetics who don’t want to deal with carrying syringes and needles. It also helps them to be flexible in their daily lives. They will still be able to maintain normal blood glucose levels. The pump is the key to administering more insulin when you need it without having to use a syringe and needle.

The pumps were first used by people who were diagnosed as Type 1 diabetics. This was assisting them to keep the glucose levels stable. It also assisted them in preventing recurrences of low blood glucose levels. If you are a Type 1 diabetic, it is imperative that your blood glucose level stay at a reasonable point. Hypoglycemia can set in, and can wreak havoc on you and others. When you use the insulin pump, it can regulate the insulin you use by administering more if it’s needed.

Type 1 diabetics are not the only ones using the pumps. Type 2 diabetics are using them as well. Even for them, using the pump is another way of administering more insulin without having to use a syringe and needle. With Type 2 diabetics, sometimes their blood glucose level can shoot through the roof. That can be just as bad as encountering low blood glucose levels, but on the opposite end of the spectrum. With the insulin pump, it can be used to administer more insulin if needed. This can help to keep the blood sugar at a reasonable level. The pump will allow you to have control of how much insulin you need to administer.

The pump is great to have because you are free to do more things. You can schedule more activities as long as you don’t go overboard. You can eat without having to constantly set aside time to use the syringe and needle. You have a better selection of what kind of foods you can eat, as long as their detrimental to your overall well being.

If you’re thinking about getting an insulin pump, check with your physician to see how it would work in your plans. You would have to learn how to administer the insulin. You would also have to know how much more insulin you’d have to pump into your system. You don’t want to pump more insulin than needed; on the other hand, you don’t want to pump less either. Once you learn the ropes, using the insulin pump will be a cinch.

Using the pump will help improve your lifestyle as well as your overall health outlook. You will have more time to do things.

Before you make a final decision, find out from your insurance carrier if the insulin pump will be fully covered or not. Also, if you need any assistance in regard using more insulin with the pump, consult your physician for additional help.

An insulin pump may be just the thing you need to get more insulin in your system and create more energy for you.

Ways To Increase Your Blood Sugars In An Emergency: There are a number of different ways in which you can increase your blood sugar in emergencies– they are widely available, and most are not difficult to use. However, it cannot be stressed too strongly that these measures are intended for emergency situations only– they are not meant to be a substitute for being responsible about monitoring your blood sugar and keeping it stable on a consistent basis.

Whether your blood sugar problem is due to diabetes or hypoglycemia, it is wise to discuss this subject with your physician when he diagnoses your condition. The reason for this is that each person’s system is different, and therefore responds differently; so your physician may wish to recommend which specific method you should use if such an emergency arises.

One popular method of increasing low blood sugar is by the use of glucose tablets. The reasons for this method being so popular include their convenience– glucose tablets can be easily and discreetly carried in a purse or pocket; the fact that they are simple to use; and also that there is nothing unpleasant about this product in terms of its taste or aroma. Most people also appreciate the fact that glucose tablets are quite inexpensive. You can find glucose tablets in round or square forms; they are available in orange and lemon flavors. Glucose tablets are sold in pharmacies, as well as some larger grocery and department stores. For on-the-spot blood sugar emergencies, they are a very beneficial product to have on hand.

While liquid glucose is not yet as popular as glucose tablets, its use is becoming more and more prominent. One important reason for this is that you can find liquid glucose which also contains other beneficial elements. Instead of being plain, pure glucose, it will provide you with the additional benefits from vitamins E and B-complex, and magnesium and chromium minerals. As these elements contribute to overall health, the combination makes using liquid glucose for stabilizing your blood sugar a positive choice.

Glucose shots are often used for increasing blood sugar when a person is too severely affected to be able to use other methods. One example is if the person is having difficulty swallowing, or is approaching unconsciousness. Although it should be obvious, glucose shots should not be given to anyone unless their use has been advised by a physician, as the concentration of this product can cause serious complications or even death. Only a physician can recommend whether glucose shots are safe for the individual patient. With the doctor’s recommendation, and used correctly, glucose shots can save a life.

In order to be on the safe side, discuss the ways to increase your low blood sugar with your physician before any emergencies occur. After he has completely assessed your condition, he will be in the best position to advise you as to which method you should have on hand in case you have any such emergency. It is important to keep in mind, however, that monitoring your blood sugar and keeping it as stable as possible is the best way to avoid emergencies.

What Is An A1C Test: If your physician has recommended that you have an A1c test, it may be the first time that you have ever heard this term and would like to know more about it before you have the test.

As diabetes is a very serious condition which has the potential to cause even more serious complications, keeping it “in check” by monitoring it on a regular basis is absolutely essential for the sake of your longterm health. An A1c test is a very positive aid in the process of monitoring the specifics of your diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, having an A1c test performed immediately is preferred. The reason for this is so that your physician can monitor whether or not any changes occur after the initial onset of your diagnosis. If he concludes that you should have this test on a regular basis, such as a number of times each year, this is to alert him to any changes, whether small or significant, so that he can proceed with whichever type of treatment he deems necessary in your specific circumstances.

An A1c test is a procedure to check and keep track of the glucose level in your blood by measuring your hemoglobin-A. This test is one of the surest methods of calculating the progress of your diabetes. While other testing methods, such as urine samples, can detect the presence of high blood sugar, the A1c test is much more comprehensive, thorough, and will provide much more accurate results in determining the overall state of your diabetes.

There are two methods of performing the A1c test; while the choice of which method is most appropriate is usually at the physician’s discretion, most physicians will consider your preference. In other words, some people may intensely dislike or fear the process of blood-drawing, while others do not have an issue with it at all. The A1c test may be performed by drawing blood from the arm, or by a needle-prick to a finger. Once the blood sample is collected, it is then analyzed for its hemoglobin concentration.

Although the A1c test is primarily used for patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is also a good idea for anyone who has pre-diabetes or hypoglycemia. If you fall into either of these categories, keeping track of your glucose level in this manner is a very positive way for your physician to determine, as early as possible, if your condition has changed or progressed into diabetes.

While the medical aspect of an A1c test may sound overwhelming, it need not be– a good way to look at it is that the best method of preventing serious complications from diabetes is with early and regular testing. This one minor test can help your physician to spot a change before it has the chance to become a serious problem, and then to be able to recommend the best treatment accordingly. The A1c test is an essential diagnostic tool which can help to keep you healthier!

What Is Carb Counting: Carb counting is a relatively new method of managing diabetes. Prior to quite recently, diabetes was usually managed by placing the patient on a restrictive diet which essentially meant that there were certain foods and certain types of foods which the person could not eat. If he was motivated enough to take his health seriously, the patient simply abided by this diet, avoiding those foods completely.

Carb counting is more complicated! Instead of placing certain foods as “off-limits,” this newer method encourages the patient to monitor the number of carbohydrates which he consumes. He will find that there are a certain number of grams of carbohydrates in many types of food products, and learns how to monitor the number which he is allowed to consume.

With this method, there is far less emphasis on the difference between simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates, which are found in food products that contain fructose, sucrose, and glucose, and present the most serious potential for problems and complications in a diabetic, are no longer completely off-limits to most diabetics who elect to manage their condition with the carb counting method.

While no longer having one’s diet restricted may sound like a dream-come-true to many diabetics, carb counting is not necessarily as positive and problem-free as a person might hope. One of the most important repercussions of being free to consume foods which were formerly forbidden is that when the diabetic allows himself to consume simple carbohydrates, for which the body has little use and little nutritional value, he must balance out his food choices by limiting complex-carbohydrate foods which are much healthier. In other words, you can have your candy or cake or sodapop– but you will have to balance that out by having fewer vegetables, pasta, and bread. Most people can easily see that the types of food products which contain complex carbohydrates have much more nutritional value and overall health benefits than those which provide simple carbohydrates!

In addition to the common-sense manner of looking at it from the viewpoint of optimal health, there is also the factor of inconvenience. While many people would readily consider the prospect of being able to eat nearly anything they wish to be well worth the inconvenience of consistently keeping track of their carbohydrate intake, many others would not think it to be worth such effort at all. This factor, of course, is up to one’s individual preference.

If you wish to try carb counting, how should you begin? Until you have become well-acquainted with the specific information for the foods that you eat on a regular basis, starting this endeavor will include weighing or measuring each product that you eat, checking the package label or a book to find how many grams of carbohydrates the item contains, and keeping an accurate record of your carbohydrate consumption. It is also essential to note that such factors as your weight, gender, and activity level all play a role in determining the number of grams you need per day.

You may not yet be certain as to whether you want to try carb counting. Perhaps the best way of looking at the subject is that it is a choice between being able to eat nearly anything you want and eating what is the best for your overall health. For example, you will find that the carbohydrate content of a McDonald’s hot fudge sundae is only a little higher than a serving of fresh potatoes– and it is not difficult to see which source of carbs will give you the most nutrition and health benefits!

The Pancreas Transplant: If you have Type-1 diabetes, you may have heard about pancreas transplants, and you may be wondering if this could be an option for you. Perhaps it would be a good idea to examine the facts about pancreas transplants, so that you will be better informed in general as well as more prepared to discuss this subject with your physician.

The main purpose of a pancreas transplant is to free the patient from his need to rely on external forms of insulin. If this procedure is recommended, and successful, you will no longer have to deal with such annoyances as frequent insulin injections. If you have been dealing with the time-consuming, uncomfortable, occasionally messy process of injecting insulin into your body for a number of years, it is quite likely that you are ready to learn about an option! After all, wouldn’t any permanent “cure” be better than coping with needles and insulin throughout the day, every day?

While this may be a tempting way of looking at the subject, the fact is that nothing is as simple as one might initially believe. One of the main drawbacks of a pancreas transplant is that your body may reject the transplanted organ. This is the case whether the transplant involves a whole pancreas or only a partial organ. Your own physician is the best person to advise you as to whether your body presents a better or lesser than average chance of accepting this new organ. It is not a decision to take lightly, because if your body rejects the transplant you can be faced with more medical complications which will need to be resolved.

In addition to this basic risk, it is also essential to determine whether or not you have pre-existing medical conditions which could make a pancreas transplant unsafe for you. With the exception of your diabetes, it is very important for you to be in good general health when undergoing this procedure. A pancreas transplant is, in itself, major surgery, so a person should be strong and healthy if he is to be considered a good candidate for a transplant.

The prospect of being relieved from external insulin dependency is a positive benefit of a pancreas transplant. If you elect to have this surgery, you may indeed find that your life and state of health is much better when you no longer have diabetes. However, it is very important for you to first consider all of the possible drawbacks before you reach a final decision. One factor which you must consider is that the transplant will require you to take medication for the rest of your life, to ensure that your body will not automatically reject the organ at a later date. These medications have the potential to cause complications, such as lowering your resistence to infection, interfering with immunizations, and possibly having side-effects.

As with any form of medical treatment, a pancreas transplant presents pro’s and con’s. When you have all of these facts in hand, you are in a better position to consider both sides of the issue and to discuss your options frankly with your physician.