Diabetic Live

Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a fasting plasma glucose level less than seven mmol/l with a 2-hour oral tolerance test of glucose, at a value of between seven point eight and eleven point one mmol/l. This condition is usually characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, and is usually considered as a stage in the development of diabetes mellitus (type two).

Also, you can define it as a condition of fasting glucose being between six point one to six point nine mmol/l. It is a pre-diabetic stage of dyglycemia that is associated with heightened risk of cardiovascular pathology and insulin resistance. The most consistent predictor of the condition’s progression to diabetes is baseline plasma glucose. This condition is also known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Investigation of Impaired Glucose Tolerance
In the UK, studies shown that the prevalence rate of impaired glucose tolerance of people between the ages of 35 to 65 is 17 percent. In the United States, between ten and fifteen percent of adults are known to suffer from this condition. But who is most at risk? Risk factors that lead to the development of the disorder include obesity, hypertension, and first degree diabetes. Also, certain ethnic groups such as Asians and people of afro-Caribbean origin are known to be greatly susceptible to this condition.

Between twenty and fifty percent of people suffering from impaired glucose tolerance will end up with (type two) diabetes within a period of ten years of diagnosis. Presently this condition is not clearly associated with such microvascular complications as neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy.

With impaired glucose tolerance, you usually become asymptomatic. You may have symptoms similar to those of cardiovascular disease sometimes with mild conditions of hyperglycemia. This disease is associated with hypertension, raised serum cholesterol levels, abnormal heart findings, angina, stroke, and arteriosclerosis as well.

During investigation of the condition, you are subjected to an overnight fast that lasts between eight and fourteen hours at which time smoking is not allowed. The patient, depending on age, is then given anhydrous glucose dissolved in water. Fear blood tests? Blood sugar levels are tested before the test is conducted and thirty minutes successively after the test up to a total of two hours.

Early diagnosis and treatment of impaired glucose tolerance has shown to favorably reduce by 58% possibility of its worsening to diabetes. It is recommended that people who have suffered from the condition must go for annual screening to prevent worsening health conditions.

Management of Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Management of impaired glucose tolerance includes use of drugs and changing the patient’s lifestyle. Non-drug measures have been known to go a long way in management of the condition if combined with use of drugs. Such lifestyle intervention measures include increasing your physical activity, increasing dietary fiber intake, reducing intake saturated fats and sugar, and weight reduction for overweight people.

Treatment of the condition using drugs is equally important. One way of treatment involves reversal of iatrogenic causative factors of glucose intolerance that are drug related. Agents such as ACE inhibitors, thiazolidiones and angiotensin receptor antagonists have also been used to prevent worsening of the condition.

To improve glucose uptake, oxidation, and regulation; your doctor may opt to use carnitine temporarily as long as your glucose level is maintained within the norm. Use of acarbose and metformin has also been established to reduce chances of the condition developing into type-II diabetes.

It is a sure fact that prevention is better than cure. You can prevent the disease by eating healthy diets that consist of high fiber, lots of vegetables and fruits, and low fat. Avoiding alcohol abuse and maintaining regular physical activity will go a long way in preventing the disease.

Resistin – Hormone Related To Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes: Nowadays, obesity and diabetic conditions have become popular medical topics of discussion in many circles. There have been various debates over what really is the cause of these two medical conditions. Type II diabetes, an epidemic in industrialized countries, has for a long time been associated with obesity.

One of the most unmistakable characteristics of Type II diabetes, or adult on-set diabetes, is target-tissue insulin resistance, which is triggered by the body’s fat cells. However, until a few years ago, it was not clear which fat cell protein was responsible for this.

Discovery of Resistin
In 2001, a group of researchers led by Dr Mitchell A. Lazar from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, discovered a hormone that links obesity to Type II diabetes. They called the hormone, resistin, which stands for “resistance to insulin.” The hormone was first found in lab mice, but was later found to exist in the human body as well.

Scientists argue that this newly discovered hormone explains how obesity exposes people to the threat of the diet-induced Type II diabetes. Dr. Lazar and his team first carried out some tests in mice to find out what fat cells were responsible for insulin resistance. They treated cultured fat cells with glitazones which is the recommended treatment for Type II diabetes.

In doing so, they identified a new hormone that was expressed only in adipose tissue, or adipocytes, of obese rodents, where it was produced in plenty. The production of this hormone was found to be suppressed when the mice were treated with glitazones. They named this hormone resistin.

Resistin and Type II Diabetes
Resistin is a unique signaling molecule, or messenger RNA, which prompts tissue resistance to insulin. This greatly hampers the subsequent and all important glucose uptake triggered by insulin. Thus, obesity may result in your elevated levels of resistin, which, in turn, results in insulin resistance and Type II diabetes.

Further research has linked resistin to other physiological systems such as inflammation and energy homeostasis. Inflammation is the first inborn immune response to infection. Resistin increases transcriptional events leading to an increased expression of several pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body.

There certainly is medication that is used to combat this hormone for those who suffer from Type II obesity. However, this is not to say that the condition is curable, but it can be regulated using different anti-resistin antibodies.

Glitazones are the most recommended class of medication designed to reverse the basic problem of resistance to insulin in Type II diabetes. Administration of these anti-bodies has been known to improve blood sugar and insulin action in diet-induced obesity cases. Their greatest effect on the blood glucose occurs after eating.

The drugs reverse insulin resistance in your body by improving the sensitivity of insulin receptors in muscle, liver, and fat cells. This helps your body use insulin better. It also helps keep your liver from overproducing glucose. Also, it is known to lower blood sugar levels about 15%, while at the same time lowering insulin levels by 20%. In addition to improving insulin sensitivity, glitazones may even decrease cardiac risks.

Medical researchers are busy trying to find a drug that will be suitable enough to block the effects of resistin, but unfortunately, it will still not offer a once and for all cure for obesity. However, if you stand by the adage “prevention is better that cure,” it will not hurt to keep yourself healthy and to stay away from foods that might lead to obesity. You will save a lot of money, and yourself if you just keep it healthy.

Can Science Reprogram Your Pancreas: Your pancreas is a very versatile organ. It provides both endocrine and exocrine function.

The endocrine function of the body allows hormones to be released to all other areas of the body. For instance your thyroid is part of the endocrine system and regulates the rate at which your body will burn energy.

The pancreas secretes hormones such as glucagon, which is used to regulate how fast your body burns carbohydrates. Glucagons essentially instruct your liver to convert glycogen into blood sugars that your body can use as fuel.

The pancreas can also send out instructions via the hormone known as insulin. This function is the opposite of glucagons. In essence insulin tells the cells in your body to take glycogen into their membranes for storage effectively removing excess blood sugar (glucose) from the blood stream.

Glucagons and insulin have to work together to correctly adapt the blood stream to the metabolic needs it may face at any given moment.

The pancreas also secretes somatostatin, which is used by the body to regulate hormone-induced growth. And finally pancreatic polypeptide is released to regulate all functions of the pancrease.

Pancreatic activity also comes in the form of exocrine functions. That simply means that apart from hormonal duties the pancreas is called upon to release enzymes that are efficiently used to aid in proper digestion.

For the diabetic the pancreas is an essential part of the body’s natural defense against this disease. It appears the glucagons are readily able to signal the release of blood sugar, but the body becomes resistant to the signal of insulin to do its job effectively.

Many times the release of insulin is impaired, especially in Type 1 diabetics making insulin injections or pumps a regular part of the diabetic’s life.

Research in 2008 by Harvard University suggests that it may be possible to turn on dormant pancreatic cells to take on the function of insulin production.

Most cell-based research in recent years has focused on stem cells, but the study headed by Doug Melton bypasses some of the controversy surrounding stem cell research by simply finding ways to enlist existing, but dormant cells into service.

Researchers are calling the process “direct reporgramming”. The premise behind the study is that every cell has the body’s DNA. If it could be reprogrammed to act as a cell designed for insulin production this could eleviate much of the problems associated with diabetes. The study has proven effective in mice who suffer with Type 1 diabetes.

In Type 1 diabetes the body attacks the beta cells that manufactire insulin. This process could reprogram new cells to take over the role of insulin production.

In their study, Harvard researchers saw beta cells transform and begin take on the role of insulin producers within ten days of reprogramming.

The potential of this finding provides hope for patients with diabetes, but it also has strong applications for use in treating other diseases. While studies on stem cells will likely continue, this new approach seems to suggest damaged cells in almost any situation could be replaced by cells that have been reprogrammed for new use.

It may still be a few years before this process is available to the public, but the preliminary findings provide encouragement that may likely expand beyond diabetic research.

Diabetic Shoes Can Provide Comfort And Joy: In past decades a doctor might look at a patient’s foot and say, “Buy a good pair of shoes and everything will be all right.”

There were times when the doctor’s advice didn’t quite go far enough, but when it comes to diabetes the good doctor may have been right. If you have diabetes the shoes you wear are extremely important.

We all want shoes that fit well and are comfortable, but for the diabetic there is a potent medical reason for a good fit and comfort. You see, as diabetes progresses, peripheral neuropathy may disallow the patient from recognizing when damage may be done to their feet. As nerves in the feet are damaged they mask pain. The patient may not often do a self-inspection on their feet while infection may be setting in. This damage can result in foot ulcers, but it can also lead to gangrene and potential amputation.

When diabetic shoes are used there is an improved chance that damage will not occur. Manufacturers have developed these shoes to provide practical comfort. You will not find diabetic high heel shoes or shoes with pointed toes. These can cause both pressure and intense rubbing on toes that often result in damage.

It can be exceptionally difficult for the diabetic to manage healing in their feet primarily due to poor circulation.

Wider and deeper than comparable shoes this type of footwear works to cradle the diabetic foot in comfort that can add additional mobility to everyday life. What’s more, private insurance or Medicare may cover the cost for these shoes.

Information About Diabetes indicates proper footwear for diabetics should include the following.

 

• Diabetic Shoes need to have a breathable construction – sandals and fabric shoes are good for this.
• Deep and wide designs that allow room for custom pedorthic insoles.
• Designs with no interior seams (or covered seams) to prevent rubbing injuries.
• Diabetic Shoes need a roomy “toe box” to prevent pinching or squeezing of the toes.
• Elastic or easily adjustable fit, to prevent the diabetic shoe from sliding around on the feet.

The soft shoe materials used in the construction of diabetic footwear remain an important function because it is friction that typically leads to foot ulcers. These shoes avoid friction. Inserts within the shoe are designed to provide relief for various foot deformities that might be problematic for the long-term care of the diabetic foot.

While many well-stocked shoe stores may feature diabetic shoes your physician may suggest the purchase of custom made shoes that are designed specifically for your foot requirements. Again, in many cases this is treated as a prescription and may be covered under your health care plan.

Advances in design can allow your diabetic shoes to remain tastefully elegant while maintaining the best possible care for your feet. On the other hand the managed care of diabetes is much more important than impressing others. Expect comfort in your diabetic shoes. You will likely be impressed by the quality and selection of this type of shoe allowing a choice you can not only live with, but also show off.

Gastrointestinal Surgery and a Diabetic Cure: Significant research by Dr. Francesco Rubino of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center indicates that a surgical procedure in the gastrointestinal tract may effectively reverse diabetes.

This information was originally revealed in the spring of 2008 with a spotlight on what is typically called lapband surgery. This surgical procedure is typically suggested for individuals who are excessively obese. Dramatic weight loss is generally thought to be the reason for the reversal in diabetic symptoms. Is it possible something else is at work in this medical reversal of fortunes?

The surgical procedure Dr. Rubino has studied is a gastric bypass operation that effectively circumvents the duodenum and jejunum of the upper small intestine. In a Science Daily report, Rubino is quotes as saying, “When we bypass the duodenum and jejunum, we are bypassing what may be the source of the problem.”

Gastric bypasses have been performed on diabetic individuals in a variety of weight classes and in each instance it appears blood glucose levels were altered significantly.

While the primary focus of research has been to regulate blood sugar levels Rubino’s study opted to review the source of blood glucose regulation and reverse diabetic abnormalities.

The study seems to indicate this surgery is not a good idea for those who do not suffer from diabetic symptoms.

So, why is the surgery a possible cure for diabetes? Rubino believes the upper small intestine becomes dysfunctional in diabetics and sends wrong signals promoting the release of hormones the counter the effects of the body’s naturally produced insulin. Rubino explains this battle, “”In healthy patients, a correct balance between incretin and anti-incretin factors maintains normal excursions of sugar levels in the bloodstream. In some individuals, the duodenum and jejunum may be producing too much of this anti-incretin, thereby reducing insulin secretion and blocking the action of insulin, ultimately resulting in Type 2 diabetes.”

In essence the good doctor seems to be saying that when you bypass the upper small intestine in a diabetic you effectively remove the production and distribution of hormones that render insulin less effective. When the insulin no longer is at war with the anti-incretin the body resumes the normal cycle of insulin production resulting in proper blood sugar regulation.

Further, this means that the pancreas can resume normal function by creating a typical amount of insulin without trying to make more than it was designed to produce.

The findings of this study allow Dr. Rubino to conjecture, “The lesson we have learned with diabetes surgery is that diabetes is not always a chronic and relentless disease, where the only possible treatment goal is just the control of hyperglycemia and minimization of the risk of complications. This is a major shift in the way we consider treatment goals for diabetes. It is unprecedented in the history of the disease.”

As of this writing surgery is not an option most primary care physicians offer. They may not even be aware of existing research into the role of the upper small intestine in diabetes. Rubino hopes that one day this surgical option will allow those who suffer from diabetes to experience complete remission in their disease.

Three Diseases That Can Lead to Diabetes: Is it possible to receive a diagnosis indicating the presence of diabetes and have it only provide half the story? Yes, and this article is dedicated to a few of the most conspicuous diabetic contributors.

The first is a disease is known as Hemochromatosis and acts in almost every way like diabetes. The problem is if this disease is treated only as diabetes it address a few symptoms without treating the actual problem. The truth is when Hemochromatosis is treated correctly many diabetic symptoms are eliminated with proper care.

This disease generally affects joins, heart, liver and pancreas, which is why it can appear to fit the mold of diabetes. The problem is there is no subtle shift in symptoms for those who have this disease. Hemochromatosis seems to attack rapidly. Since this disease attacks the organ the sooner you can get accurate treatment the better.

If Hemochromatosis is the root cause of your problem you may reverse some of the diabetic issues you encounter by treating the originating disease.

The primary culprit for Hemochromatosis is a toxic buildup of iron in your body cells. While your body needs this mineral, too much of it can be the causal agent for this disease.

Chronic Pancreatitis is another disease that can appear to be diabetes simply because the disease affects the pancreas in much the same way diabetes can.

The onset of this disease is generally related to the prolonged use of alcohol, which inflames the pancreas and damages tissue. Because the disease is symptomatic of diabetes it is often treated as diabetes. Even if Chronic Pancreatitis is treated there may likely be cause to continue with secondary diabetic treatment.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is another disease that may exist in tandem with diabetes, but may need treatment beyond typical diabetic assistance. This disease exists when the symptomatic loss of pancreatic cells reduce the bodies ability to create certain digestive enzymes that aid in solid waste elimination and proper absorpotion of certain minerals.

It is believed that Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is actually the result of one of two additional diseases, Cystic Fybrosis and Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome.

The effective treatment of Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may serve to reduce the severity of diabetic symptoms.

There are about a dozen known contributors to onset diabetes. Today you’ve met three. Diabetes isn’t always an end of the road diagnosis. It may only be symptoms of something else. Many times that ‘something else’ can be treated in a way that either reverses diabetes or minimizes its impact on your everyday life.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes it may be possible there are some underlying causes for the diagnosis. By learning more about the disease as well as contributing factors you may be able to help your health care provider determine what those causes might be. If you can address those key issues you can reduce or in some cases eliminate the symptoms most closely linked to diabetes.

Your primary health care provider can provide testing for Hemochromatosis Chronic Pancreatitis and Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. If you have questions or concerns you should talk with your doctor.

Using Diabetic Software For Better Results: Managed care for diabetes has gone high tech. Sure there are huge advancements in testing equipment, but perhaps the most noted tools are to be found in software for your home computer.

Many manufacturers have developed software to help you track and trend your blood glucose levels while allowing you to import other data and develop management plans. Some allow that data to be easily accessed by health care providers and pharmacists so action can be taken quickly to adjust your care. Other software manufacturers are more concerned with nutrition and exercise.

Let’s look at a few software products developed specifically for those living with diabetes.

ACCU-CHEK 360o Software
According to company data the Accu-Chek 360o offers the following…

1. Automatically detects your ACCU-CHEK meter or insulin pump.
2. One-click downloads of meter and insulin pump data.
3. Print, e-mail or fax from any page-easily send reports to your healthcare team.
4. View simple reports or manage comprehensive health information.
5. Create easy-to-read charts and graphs showing:

• Blood glucose
• Ketones
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol
• Weight
• Carbohydrates
• Exercise
• Kidney screenings

The fee to purchase this software product is around $50.

Bayer’s WinGLUCOFACTS™
Bayer’s WinGLUCOFACTS™ is another software product that allows:

• Easy download of test results into a computer and or in printable logbook form.
• Data analysis to review trends.
• Configurations for beginners and advanced users.

The software is available at no cost through download from the company website.

The Fitness Assistant
This software product differs from the first two because it is designed to key in on fitness and nutrition. Here’s a company listing of product benefits.

• Reach Your Goals. SMART Calorie Monitoring System dramatically boosts your chances of reaching your target weight on the target date
• Not Just A Calorie Counter. Fitness Assistant is not yet another calorie counter. It is a program that actually adapts to your metabolism and gives you precise calorie advice customized to your unique body and metabolism. Say goodbye to *average person* calorie estimations.
• Enjoy a Flexible Eating Lifestyle. Fitness Assistant does not use ineffective fixed calorie diet plans. You have the absolute freedom to eat more or less than the program tells you and it will automatically correct the calorie plan for the remainder of the goal period.
• Eat your Favorite Foods. You can have the body you want by eating your favorite foods. Fitness Assistant will simply correct the amounts you eat.
• Powerful Training Log. Log, track and organize your workouts. Count only the additional calories you burn exercising and subtract the calorie overlap with your usual activities.

You will likely discover several software solutions for use with specific brands of blood sugar testing equipment or insulin pumps.

There are also multiple online tracking services that may make sense for your need.

The primary idea behind the software releases is to assist you in tracking what may or may not be working within your current strategy and allow you to gain encouragement from positive gains in your managed care plan. This article isn’t an endorsement of any one product, but a platform from which you can explore the possibilities of using software in your managed care plan. For further choices use your favorite search engine and conduct a search for additional diabetic software titles.

Turning Back the Tide of Type 2 Among Teens: One third of American adolescents are overweight. This may be described as an epidemic among American teens not just because of the weight gain, but because obesity among the young has brought a condition something primarily aging Americans have has to live with in the past. Doctors have seen an alarming number of young people developing Type 2 diabetes. WebMD.com reports, “The rate of type 2 diabetes among children has increased more than tenfold in the last two decades, from 3% to nearly half of all new pediatric diabetes cases.”

We have previously reported that a stomach bypass has worked to successfully place diabetes in remission for adult test subjects in recent research. New studies indicate a similar possibility for teens. This could open the way for new and effective ways to treat onset diabetes for a new age group.

The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center conducted the research on 11 obese adolescents who had developed Type 2 diabetes. One test subject weighed in excess of 400 pounds.

In each case the patients were subjected to a gastric bypass operation. Their progress was compared to a select group of adolescents who had medically managed diabetes care options throughout the entire study.

Following the one-year study 10 of the 11 patients who underwent a gastric bypass had lost considerable weight, and their diabetes was in remission. The patients who relied on medication to manage their care saw some positive news during their regulated treatment. However, there were no remissions among the second test group.

Lead author Thomas Inge is reported by DNJ.com as saying, “The remarkable thing is that the teens who underwent these procedures did not have any major complications.”

DNJ.com further stated, “The patients came off all diabetic medications, returned to normal blood glucose and insulin levels and significantly improved their blood pressure and cholesterol.”

While some are lauding this new research as a potential cure for Type 2 diabetes among teens there are those that provide a note of caution. DNJ.com further reported that Michael Freemark, chief of pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at Duke University Medical Center said, ”It’s encouraging, but the results should not at this point be applied in the general community.”

What this likely means is that Freemark and others might be more enthused about the findings if there were more tests and test subjects to substantiate this initial research. Perhaps this comment may be best considered guarded optimism.

However, now with research indicating that both adults and teens may find relief from diabetes if a gastric bypass is conducted soon after original diagnosis of their disease there may indeed be several additional studies. Perhaps the primary reason for the additional research is the sheer numbers of diabetic patients who remain vitally interested in a way to pull the plug on their disease.

Inge defends his findings by saying, “This opens up a discussion about what may be appropriate treatment and offers pediatric endocrinologists another tool.”

For those teens that may be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes the National Diabetes Education Program offers the following prevention tips.

• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Be more physically active.
• Choose to eat the right amounts of healthy foods.

The Encouragement Factor: A friend who once lived in England said, “I don’t know what it is about America, but the moment I set foot in your country I gained twenty pounds and I’ve never been able to lose it.”

The environment in America is one of continuous excess. We are invited to enlarge our meals and indulge in comfort foods. Some suggest those who make the food are responsible for conditions that could result in diabetes, but I won’t make that claim.

Each of us is responsible for the foods we consume. We may be somewhat ignorant of the foods that result in a healthy lifestyle, but the burden of our health rests on our own shoulders. After all if consumers had sincerely demanded healthy food and more health clubs business owners would have responded. Our actions and choices tell them otherwise. These entrepreneurs simply appealed to what they thought we wanted and then worked to supply it in abundance. We all agreed it was good.

The lifestyle we lead is also geared toward a sedentary or inactive lifestyle. We sit at the computer, we sit in front of the TV and we sit at sporting events. We are no longer required to be active for many occupations. This too contributes to conditions that may be more in tune with the development of diabetes.

It can be hard to break the cycle of inactivity. It may require a grieving process to make healthier food choices. The sad truth is if we don’t make those changes ourselves prior to onset diabetes we may be faced with the consequences of our inaction.

No one wants to hear those dreaded words, “You have diabetes”, yet we often place ourselves in long-term situations that can almost invite the disease to set up shop in our bodies.

If you have diabetes you should know that you can slow the effects of the disease by making the hard choices now to give your life outlook a whole new makeover. You can choose to manage your blood glucose through diet. You can choose to influence good health by developing and maintaining a body that is physically fit.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems for diabetics is there can be feelings of depression and fatigue that can make it easy to lay aside the good intentions you may have. You may need to seek out an accountability partner to help you keep your goals in view and keep your body in the best shape possible.

You might even try keeping a daily log that can assist in some self-encouragement to succeed. If you have weight loss goals be encouraged by those moments of success.

You are not in competition with someone else you are simply competing with yourself to manage your disease in the best way possible. You want to resist negative trends and instill a better series of opportunity that can result in a better self-image and an improved medical prognosis.

You will likely gain inspiration along the way from individuals who have lived with this disease for some time. In turn you may one day discover that you are the person who is encouraging someone else who may have been recently diagnosed with diabetes.

There is a fraternity involved in this disease. One that is developed when individuals face similar struggles and respond with care and comfort in the both good times and bad.

It’s never too late to change directions. Maybe this is your call to action. How do you respond?