Insulin or medications, like metformin or glucophage are not a cures for diabetes, although that is a common belief. Insulin and medications merely manage the disease, allowing the person with diabetes to continue living as normally as possible. Unfortunately, the disease still can cause significant damage to the body, as the sugar levels fluctuate.

People with diabetes who manage to keep their blood glucose (sugar) under strict control have a better chance of avoiding complications. However, avoiding the development of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is even better. Type 1, what used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, cannot be prevented. But how best to do this? Here are some tips from Dr. Melina Jampolis a board certified internist and the newest addition to the CNN Health team:

Healthy Eating

By eating three servings (48 grams) of whole grains a day, you could decrease your chances of developing diabetes by up to 30%. According to Dr. Melina: “Cereal fiber has been found to be more effective than other types of fiber due to the combination of antioxidants and soluble and insoluble fiber included.”

Replace your junk food. If you enjoy chips, you may enjoy the crunchiness of omega-3 rich nuts, instead. Fruits can be very sweet tasting and are much healthier than snacks made with processed sugar.

Fill up. If you don’t feel hungry, chances are you won’t search for a snack, which is most likely laden with sugar and fat. Vegetables and proteins will keep you fuller than junky meals or ones that have a lot of carbohydrates.

Get Moving

Exercise is an important part of any healthy lifestyle, but is even more important for people with diabetes. However, exercise doesn’t have to be going to the gym and working out – you can find activity that pushes you in many of your every day activites. Dr. Melina asks, “Did you know doing 30 minutes of vacuuming is the equivalent of 15 minutes walking on the treadmill?”

It’s not often we can actually prevent a chronic and life-affecting disease such as type 2 diabetes, but the reality is, it’s often a lifestyle disease. Of course, there are people who develop diabetes and they have none of the traditional risk factors, but this is the exception more than the rule.

It’s time we start taking better care of ourselves, isn’t it?

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Image: MorgueFile.com

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More on National Diabetes Month – Tips

According to the American Diabetes Association:

• 24 million children and adults in the United States live with diabetes
• 57 million Americans are at risk for type 2 diabetes
• 1 out of every 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue

Unfortunately, not everyone who is diagnosed with diabetes takes it seriously. Diabetes is a disease that is more than just high blood sugar (glucose) levels. It’s a chronic illness that can cause blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, even sores on the feet that may become bad enough to need amputation.

Diabetes is a very serious illness.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Both these names didn’t describe the disease properly and now it is called type 1.

This type of diabetes is not caused by bad eating habits or lifestyles. Usually, it shows up only in children but young adults may be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as well.

People with type 1 diabetes cannot make insulin, which is needed to help break down the sugar in your body. Without the insulin, the blood sugar level rises dangerously and can cause death.

You can’t take insulin by mouth; it must be injected into the body. Someone with type 1 diabetes must take daily injections for the rest of their life.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes. As with type 1 diabetes, neither of these names adequately described the disease, so now it is known as type 2.

It used to be that only adults developed type 2 diabetes. For some, it is inevitable and they develop it because of their body make up. However, a huge number of people with type 2 diabetes developed it because of poor lifestyle choices. These include unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and generally not caring for their health.

Usually, type 2 diabetes can be controlled with oral medications (pills) because the body is still making insulin, it just can’t use it properly. However, many people with type 2 diabetes do end up taking insulin eventually.

Gestational Diabetes

Sometimes, pregnant women develop diabetes during their pregnancy. Although this is true diabetes (not enough insulin to care for the blood sugar), it usually goes away after the baby is delivered.

There is some research that shows women who had gestational diabetes may be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.

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Images: MorgueFile.com and iStock.com

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November Is Diabetes Month

I received an email from one such service, Fit4D, a personalized diabetes coaching service. In it, they announce a free 2-day On-Line Open House:

Fit4D, a personalized diabetes coaching service, is offering the unique opportunity for all who are diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes with a free two day Online Open House giving them an opportunity to speak with Fit4D’s team of Certified Diabetes Educators including dietitians, fitness coaches, registered nurses, pharmacists and physiologists. Visitors will be able to ask questions about weight loss, nutrition and meal planning, training and fitness, health and wellness, as well as learn about newly diagnosed support and diabetes prevention via web-based presentations.

The dates: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 from 1 to 3 P.M. (EST) and again at 7:30 to 9:30 PM (EST). There will be another session on Thursday, the 17, from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. (EST).

To participate, go to their Open House.

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Image: StockXchng.com

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Open House: Online Diabetes Coaching

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 was thought that only children developed type 1 diabetes but now we know that people as old as their late 20s can develop it. Then, it was insulin-dependent because insulin is the only treatment for type 1 diabetes. This was changed eventually too, because insulin is sometimes used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes and then that name changed to non-insulin dependent. While it was true that mostly adults developed type 2 diabetes, people who were being diagnosed were getting younger and younger. In fact, now teens are developing type 2 diabetes. Non-insulin dependent was also a misnomer. Although people with type 2 diabetes usually start off by taking oral hypoglycemics, or pills to lower blood glucose levels, many end up taking insulin at some point because the medications stop being effective.

Insulin

Insulin is a life saver for people with diabetes. Without it, type 1 diabetics would die. It’s also considered the last resort for people with type 2 diabetes. Many people with type 2 fight being put on insulin because they feel that it means that they’re “really” diabetic, that they’ve failed, or that they’re getting worse.

Now, researchers are saying that insulin may not be a good idea for last resort for type 2 diabetes but, rather, as a first line treatment. Researchers wanted to know if using insulin early in type 2 diabetes could improve blood glucose levels, so they studied patients with type 2 diabetes who had not yet begun treatment for up to three years. The results of the study were published in the most recent onlin issue of Diabetes Care.

The researchers found that although the results (lower blood glucose) were similar between the two groups, more patients (83%) in the insulin group stayed with the treatment than the ones who took only pills (72%).

If the results are similar in terms of blood sugar control, but compliance is better with insulin, researchers suggest that insulin may be the best way to begin managing type 2 diabetes, rather than waiting to use it.

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Insulin 1st-Line for Type 2 Diabetes?

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 is that with type 1, the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. To manage this, people with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin at least once per day, but for many, they must do a few injections every day.

In type 2, the pancreas usually still is producing and excreting insulin, but the insulin isn’t effective enough. The medications help in this function. However, if someone with type 2 diabetes can’t be controlled with the pills, then their doctor may add insulin to their treatment program. Onglyza stimulates the pancreas to make more insulin after eating a meal.

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FDA Approves Onglyza for Type 2 Diabetes

I disagree. I don’t think it is worth noting, unless they want to go down the line of judges on the court to access their lifestyle and health habits now that they are on the court. I think it’s ridiculous that Type 1 diabetics, who incidentally get the disease NOT based on health history or lifestyle at all, to have to endure this scrutiny. I also don’t think it will affect the job she will do.

What do you think?

Image: Zuma Press

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Sotomayor First Type 1 Diabetic Justice

Overall, 35% of women had some sort of sexual dysfunction. Various problems included loss of libido, problems with orgasm, reduced lubrication, reduced arousal, and pain. The study reinforces the belief that doctors should make sexual function a part of their routine examinations for diabetic women.

Image: sxc.hu.

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One Third of Diabetic Women Sexual Issues

What is the cause of Type 1 Diabetes?

With Type 1 Diabetes, (which used to be called “Juvenile Diabetes” because it most commonly hit people under the age of 30) the body no longer produces insulin. As you saw in the video the other day here, we need insulin in order to move the food (carbs, sugar) from our body into our cells. That’s how we live and have energy and function.

According to one source, “Doctors say it could be caused by a virus or an auto-immune disorder. The body basically doesn’t recognize its own pancreas and attacks it.”

That’s also why some Type 1’s have problems with thyroid once they become diabetic. The body will attack those two systems because it thinks they are foreign.

There is no hard and fast answer to the actual cause as yet, but scientists have gotten closer and closer to determining how our body reacts once we get Type 1 Diabetes. This knowledge will bring us closer to finding the cause, but even more importantly, a cure.

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What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is also called adult-onset. It is preventable and often comes with poor diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1.

Here’s a video explanation with more information about both types of diabetes, what research is currently being done, and what you can do to help in the effort for a cure.

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What is the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes?

Have you heard the thought that aspirin, specifically anti-inflammatory aspirin, is helpful in preventing diabetes?

Well researchers took this same concept and applied it to low-dose aspirin. The result? That low-dose aspirin, while having many other healthful benefits, does not help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

David S. H. Bell, MD, an Endocrine Today Editorial Board member, said:

“This finding is not surprising since low dose aspirin was utilized. High dose aspirin or other salicylates, which are truly anti-inflammatory, have been shown to decrease insulin resistance and perhaps improve beta cell function. Clinical trials to evaluate the effects of high dose salicylates are being performed in patients with type 2 diabetes and the results of these trials will be more meaningful.”

If you have any questions about whether YOU should be taking aspirin to help prevent diabetes, consult your doctor. Never assume that this will work based on a study or two. Do the research and always discuss it with your doctor before changing your health care routine.

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Low-Dose Aspirin Not Effective in Diabetes Treatment