Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. It’s one of the diseases afflicting humans that is often preventable. Preventable because lifestyle plays a large role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 – it’s caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin but either not enough or the body can’t properly use the insulin that’s being produced.
It used to be that type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes and then the name changed to insulin-dependent diabetes. Originally, it …read more

The FDA in the United States has approved a new medication for the management of type 2 diabetes. Onglyza (saxagliptin) is taken once a day to help normalize blood sugar levels.
Currently, management of type 2 diabetes includes a lifestyle component (healthy diet and exercise) as the first part. If lifestyle changes don’t help regulate blood sugar issues or the diabetes is too severe, doctors have a few options for medications.
Usually, type 2 diabetes is managed first with oral antihyperglycemics, pills that help the pancreas and insulin work more effectively. The main difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes …read more

I think we all want to believe that when someone robs a store they do because they desperately need the money. One such robbery attempt was just that. A man entered the E-Z Mart in Connecticut and told the clerk to open the register. He lifted his shirt to show the man he had a gun.
The robber apparently told the man that he hated to do this (the robbery) but he needed $40 for insulin.

A convenience store clerk wouldn’t open the register for a robber but gave the man $40 from his own pocket after …read more

Looking for Diabetes Notes? You’ve found us! Diabetes Notes is part of Blisstree now. How do you like our new digs?
Don’t worry, I’ll still be providing diabetes news and updates here. And the “Putting a Face on Diabetes” interview series remains alive and well! (A little “health” humor there! Tee hee).
This is an exciting time for diabetics everywhere, as each day we know more about the disease and get closer to a cure.
Remember if you’re a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic who is interested in being interviewed, please send me an email at: …read more

Every once in a while, someone will ask me to explain exactly what diabetes is. Most people know that diabetics “can’t have sugar” (which isn’t really true anymore) but they don’t understand why.
As we’ve learned over the last several years, it isn’t just about the sugar. It’s about carbs and a healthy lifestyle.
To help understand how someone gets diabetes, here’s a visual explanation:

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Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today!
I love this holiday for many reasons. First, it gives us a chance to sit down and focus on gratitude. How often do we really get to do that? It also gives us an opportunity to be with family and friends, and celebrate what life is really about: caring for one another. It’s truly a day to realize how lucky we have it. We are blest.
There might be some diabetics out there who are sad because they have a disease which causes a …read more

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I always like studies directed especially towards Type 1 diabetics. I know the majority of people are Type 2 diabetics and so many studies need to be directed towards them. But, as someone that is a Type 1, it’s nice to see some research directed our way.
So anyways, here’s an interesting study that came out regarding Type 1 diabetics and exercise. According BD Diabetes, “Intense exercise training can help normalize muscle metabolism in people with type 1 diabetes, which could result in “clinically important health benefits,” Australian researchers report.”
What does that mean for …read more

Here’s an important recall warning for diabetics:
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert that 471,000 mislabeled syringes for diabetics being recalled from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs stores pose risk of insulin overdose.
The agency warned patients and health care professionals not to use disposable 31-gauge, 1cc ReliOn syringes with Lot Number 813900 as its manufacturer, Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Covidien), recalled the product on Oct. 9, 2008 and Wal-Mart notified buyers to return them in exchange for replacements. The said syringes were sold at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs stores from Aug. 1, 2008 to Oct. 8, 2008.
The …read more

Vitamin D supplements in early childhood may help in keeping the development of type 1 diabetes at bay. Archives of Disease in Childhood revealed this finding from research.
The results showed that children given additional vitamin D were around 30% less likely to develop type 1 diabetes compared with those not given the supplement. And the higher and the more regular the dose, the lower was the likelihood of developing the disease, the evidence suggested.
What do you think about this one? Several logical reasons were given to back this research up…
1. There is a striking difference in the incidence of …read more

Weight loss and changes in ones lifestyles may be more pertinent in helping type 2 diabetics then high insulin treatments among overweight patients.
The evidence is compelling that when insulin levels are high, certain tissues are overloaded with fatty molecules, which leads to insulin resistance. And yet, the high blood glucose levels of many obese patients with insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes are being treated with increasing amounts of insulin in an attempt to overpower that resistance. While high doses of insulin may lower glucose levels, it will also increase the fatty molecules and may cause organ damage.
There are so many …read more