Friday, February 22, 2008

Could You Prevent Vision Loss by Diabetes ?

What is the leading cause of blindness in the United States of America? Diabetes. Researchers are now stating that diabetes related vision loss can be prevented if the disease is treated in time.

The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. has reported that only 50 to 60 percent of people with diabetes get the recommended yearly eye exam. The effective treatments, including a dilated eye test, can reduce severe vision loss up to 94 percent. A persons risk for diabetic retinopathy increases with the length of time that they have had diabetes.

It was once thought that diabetic retinopathy only affected diabetics who have had the disease for a long length of time. We now know that that is not the case. For some diabetics, retinopathy is one of the first signs of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy happens when blood vessels in the eye’s retina are weakened due to high blood-sugar levels. The vessels begin to leak blood and fluid which makes the retina begin to swell, this is what causes the vision loss.

To be able to take preventative measures against diabetes, you first need to find out if you have the disease or not. The way to do this is by having your blood sugar levels checked once every 3 years once you are over the age of 45. In the case of diabetes… ignorance is definitely NOT bliss.

It is found that with Dbethics which contain ALA which is Alpha Lipoic Acid helps oxygen to be circulated to all your blood vessels including the capillaries in your retina to prevent retinopathy.

Dbethics has also help many with Prediabetes, Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 reduce their blood glucose level to normal naturally.

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www.curediabetes2.com

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Unite for Diabetes

What is retinopathy?

Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness in later life. Although it can be treated successfully if caught early, some of the young people in the study had already reached advanced stages of the disease.
*Why the high rate in young people?

The research of 103 young adults also shows a link between people not attending their clinic appointments and increased risk of developing retinopathy: over half (54.3 per cent) of those who showed signs of the complication had a history of non-attendance. This raises fears that the current services do not meet the specific needs of young people, making them drop out of their diabetes clinics.

In another study, statistics have shown that just over a quarter (26 per cent) of young people with diabetes aged between 12 and 17 haven’t had an eye test for retinopathy in the last 12 months, despite official government guidelines stating that all young people with diabetes should receive a yearly screening from the age of 12.

Complications arising from diabetes are scary but real. Take the necessary step to control and reduce your blood glucose by a healthy lifestyle and take diabetes supplement like Dbethics which is developed by Swiss scientists and is found to help many not only reduce their blood glucose but also avoid its complications. Take action now to control your blood glucose Get Dbethics today from www.springwell.biz
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Experiences of a teen Diabetic

Softly spoken 19-year-old Hannah was recruited to the band by her lead-singing brother in 2004. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a few years before this, when she was 12. “I was feeling very tired, thirsty all the time, waking up every night to go to the toilet and I lost a stone really suddenly. My mum recognised the symptoms and got me a doctor’s appointment where we did a urine test. I was rushed to hospital and before I knew it I was back home with syringes and needles. It all happened in one day.”
A good book

It was an upsetting time for Hannah, but she recalls a strange coincidence that helped. “The book I was reading at the time – 'The Babysitters’ Club' – actually had someone with diabetes in it, so I knew what to expect.”

But Hannah was needle phobic, so how did she come to terms with injecting? “Well, at first my mum did it for me, and gradually she held her hand on top of mine and after a few months I managed to do it on my own. I am still needle phobic – I hate having my blood readings taken, but diabetic needles are so small and you get used to it. Having support from a friend or a parent is a good way to get over it, too.”
Ambition

So has diabetes stopped Hannah fulfilling her ambitions? No way.

“I started piano lessons when I was nine and did my grade eight two years ago. From the age of 12 I’ve always wanted to be in the fashion industry, so to agree to go into the band was a complete change of ambition. But I love it and after a few practices I was sure it was what I wanted to do for life,” Hannah says.
Mixing music with study

With the band and her A levels to contend with, a change in Hannah’s treatment regime was on the cards. So, having consulted her doctor, she switched from twice-daily injections of Mixtard 30 to twice daily injections of Lantus, a long-acting insulin.

At first it was hard for Hannah but now it has its benefits. “I am now able to eat what I want when I want. I can have a salad and not worry about injecting or, if I fancy a chocolate bar, I can cover it with the correct amount of NovoRapid. Leading up to a gig I check my levels before going on stage. If it is below 7mmol/l I’ll drink a small glass of Coke to avoid having a hypo.”

But how does Hannah know how to adjust her insulin dose to suit her carb intake? “I was told that everyone’s body is different and so I would have to work out myself how many units I would have to take for each gram of carbohydrate I eat. I started with 1 unit for every 5g. My blood glucose was slightly high for this ratio, so I lowered it by taking 1 unit for every 3g of carbohydrate.”
Sounds

Hannah takes being the only girl in a band with four boys in her stride. “It’s fine. I like it. Obviously, because my brother is the lead singer, if anyone is out of line I have him to stick up for me.”

WinterKids’ music is reminiscent of ’80s bands like The Cure and The Inspiral Carpets, so is Hannah herself influenced by that musical era? “Because I was classically trained as a pianist I listen to all sorts of different music. If you listen to the part I play on keyboard, it sounds a bit more like Bach and modern-day sounds like Imogen Heap. It’s my brother who is more influenced by sounds like The Cure.”
Awareness

What about an awareness-raising song about diabetes? “We haven’t done one yet, but that’s a very good idea. I suppose I don’t think about doing things like that because diabetes is part of who I am so I don’t think of it twice. But I will definitely raise the subject of that in the next band practice.”

WinterKids released their debut single 'I’m not used to you' in summer 2006 with critical acclaim from the likes of Steve Lamacq at Radio One and music magazine NME, and have played gigs all around the country – even abroad in Sweden. They fund their endeavours by running a monthly indie music night in their hometown Guildford, and through CD sales online and in selected stores.

Taking action early is important with Diabetes. With early treatment and a change of lifestyle you can improves your blood glucose level and live a better life.

Unite to overcome Diabetes, we have come to know of Dbethics a plant based supplement
that has help many to balance their blood glucose naturally and safely without side effects. So many have benefited from it. Take action and check out today at www.springwell.biz and see how Dbethics can help you reduce your blood glucose
to normal at www.dbethics.com ;http://www.springwell.biz; www.curediabetes2.com

What is Diabetes Mellitus ?

To be able to manage diabetes it is important to know what is diabetes mellitus ?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose.

Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body.
Diabetes types

There are two main types of diabetes. These are:

* Type 1 diabetes
* Type 2 diabetes

Type 1

Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. Type 1 diabetes is the least common of the two main types and accounts for between 5 – 15% of all people with diabetes.
Type 2

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). In most cases this is linked with being overweight. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people often appears after the age of 25. However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven. Type 2 diabetes is the most common of the two main types and accounts for between 85 - 95% of all people with diabetes.

There are currently over 2.3 million people with diabetes in the UK and there are up to another 750,000 people with diabetes who have the condition and don’t know it.

For those who has to reduce their blood glucose level, be glad to know that many who
try Dbethics a plant based health supplement developed by Swiss scientists have managed to reduced their blood glucose level to normal after experiencing it for a few months. See how Dbethics have helped many like you from all over the world. Take action today visit www.springwell.biz; www.dbethics.com for your supply of Dbethics
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How to Tell if You Have Pre-Diabetes

The number of people with pre-diabetes usually outnumbers those with Type 1 and 2 by two to one. Hence it is very crucial for you to take the necessary precautions to prevent yourself from getting diabetes.

While diabetes and pre-diabetes occur in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing the disease than others. Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. This means they are also at increased risk for developing pre-diabetes.

There are two different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have pre-diabetes: the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) or the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, or whether you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG); if your blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

see www.curediabetes2.com for more

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Enjoy your celebrations but watch your Glucose

Happy New Year to all Asians who are celebrating their Lunar New Year today

At some point, whether on special occasions or over periods of festivity, you may find that you have higher blood glucose levels than normal. Being less active, over-indulging or changing your routine could be the reason. The odd one or two high glucose readings shouldn’t affect your long-term diabetes control or health.
Your diabetes medication


Changes in meal times can have a big impact on your timing of medications. If your diabetes is treated with insulin and you’re going to eat a meal later than usual, you may be able to delay your insulin injection until you are about to eat. You may need to have a starchy snack such as a sandwich at your usual mealtime to prevent a hypo (hypoglycaemia).

If you inject just twice a day then you cannot significantly delay your lunch, as your morning insulin covers your lunchtime meal. Your diabetes care team can offer advice on adjusting the timing of your injections.

If you are confident with adjusting your insulin you may be able to increase the amount of insulin you inject to fit in with the food you eat. Your diabetes care team will be able to offer you advice on how to do this, although there will be some element of trial and error involved.

If your diabetes is treated with food alone or food and tablets, the exact timing of your meals isn’t so crucial and you can delay your meals within reason, as long as you keep an eye on your blood glucose levels.
Physical activity


Some form of activity after a meal will help to use up the extra energy you have eaten and help to control your blood glucose levels. A brisk stroll after lunch and dinner will make all the difference and get rid of that sluggish feeling after a heavy meal. Ask your friends and family to join you, as they will benefit too – not just those with diabetes.

Fitting in some other forms of activity at social occasions can help too – what about a boogie or jive on the dance floor?
Going to parties


Having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t eat out or make the most of a party. It’s worth checking beforehand whether food is going to be provided so that you can make any adjustments that you feel necessary. If there are just going to be nibbles, you may need to eat a meal before you go, or have a snack if food is going to be served much later than you usually eat. Some barbecues or buffets may not have many starchy foods. If this is the case, make a beeline for the bread and don’t be afraid to ask for something else if you need some additional carbohydrate food to keep your blood glucose at the right level.

If you are going to be dancing the night away, it may be more activity than you are used to. If you take insulin or sulphonylurea tablets this will increase your chances of having a hypo. To prevent this you may need to eat extra starchy foods like bread, pasta, chapatis, plantain, rice or potatoes at your meal before any extra activity and you may need a snack during the evening. What you have depends on what is easily available – for example, a bag of crisps from the bar. Reducing your diabetes medication may also help.

Remember to always carry treatment for a hypo, such as glucose tablets, with you. Check with your healthcare team if you are unsure which type of tablet you are taking and before making any changes to your diabetes medication, as this action may not be right for you.

A good lifestyle, diet, with Dbethics a plant based health supplement developed by Swiss scientists to help you reduce your blood glucose naturally and safely
Join the many who have benefited from lower blood glucose and reduced medications gradually get your box of Dbethics today at www.springwell.biz

How I control my Blood Glucose By Elizabeth Perkins Part 1

I'm a happier person than before! - Elizabeth Perkins

Actress Elizabeth Perkins spent more than a decade feeling constantly run down—and having doctor after doctor tell her there was absolutely nothing wrong. Then, in 2005, at the age of 44, she finally learned that she had type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed while filming the first season of her critically acclaimed Showtime series Weeds—an instant cult smash—she initially struggled to accept her illness, hiding her disease from coworkers and giving herself insulin injections on the sly, alone in her on-set trailer.

Today, Perkins has come a long way, both in getting a handle on her diabetes and in her much-admired turn as Celia Hodes — Weeds’ resident acid-tongued tart of a suburban housewife, whose best friend is the neighborhood drug dealer—which has earned her two best supporting actress Emmy nominations in the past two years.

This fall, on hiatus from the show and taking some much-needed “me time” to putter around the garden and helm carpool, the blunt, charismatic 47-year-old mother of four spoke about handling diabetes in Hollywood, why she can’t wait to get an insulin pump, and how her diagnosis ended up changing her life for the better.

When did you start feeling ill, and how were you finally diagnosed? Believe it or not, I hadn’t really felt well since I had my daughter who just turned 16. I had a lot of pain, I always felt run down, thirsty, but none of my blood work showed anything except slightly elevated glucose levels. It got to the point where I thought I had some sort of psychosomatic illness. I started seeing a therapist because I’d had a series of endocrinologists who all said “there’s nothing wrong with you.”

Finally I agreed to have a hysterectomy and it wasn’t until we did the preliminary workup and I had a blood glucose level of 690 that somebody said “Oh, you know what, you have diabetes.” Looking back on it, I don’t want to be bitter and say “Hey, you know, I exhibited some high glucose levels at different points, but nobody took it seriously.”

[But] the more I’ve learned about latent autoimmune diabetes and diabetes in middle age, if you present any kind of high glucose level, you should be monitored extensively, and that didn’t happen. And because I was so misinformed, it didn’t send an alarm to me. Tell me about being diagnosed during your first season on Weeds.

I felt completely overwhelmed that first year on the show, and I didn’t tell anybody I had diabetes. All of a sudden I was in my trailer at work, testing my glucose, and shooting myself up, and I was really scared and felt very alone and completely in over my head. And it wasn’t until about 6 months later that I thought, “Now why did I do that?” I guess I felt like it was going to hurt my career somehow, like suddenly I was going to become the sick person, uninsurable.

There was the fear of, “Oh well, that’s why she doesn’t look good, that’s why she’s tired, that’s why she has to take breaks,” and I didn’t want that stigma, and it took me a good year and a half to embrace this and say, proudly, “I’m diabetic, and I’m in control of my disease.”

see more testimonies from www.springwell.biz
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Lower Blood Glucose without side effects

I was diagnosed with severe diabetes in year 2002. I was given Glucophage and have been taking that regularly ever since. However, much to any disappointment my sugar level has not improved much. In 2005, I was diagnosed with cataract as a result of my diabetes. My renal functions also gone down dramatically and it affected my cholesterol and uric acid readings. I was advised to go on Dbethics from a family friend and took it on good faith for the past 4 months. To my surprise, my insulin levels stabilized and I feel much better now. I don’t feel lethargic and sick like I used to. Thank you, Dbethics.
(Carmen Thompson, UK)

Big Breasts higher risks of Diabetes ?

Undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Bad habits regarding food and exercise. All contributors to my type 2 diagnosis at ohmygosh so close to 29.

And now, I have yet another possible cause of type 2 - my breast size at age 20. You see, some Canadian researchers determined that women with D-cups or larger at age 20 have an almost quintuple chance at type 2 diabetes.

Back then, I was a scrawny 120 pounds (if that). Years of the weight yo-yo have seen me as high as 180, now I’m at 140-145. One thing has remained the same - breast size.

I knew big boobs were a curse. ;)

Rosie

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Exercise & Diet your way to lower blood sugar

Any diabetic who has incorporated regular exercise into his or her diabetes management plan knows how exercise can help to work-up a sweat. As the body muscles move more and more, the body makes an ever larger amount of heat. Both heat and movement are forms of energy, energy produced by cells in the body.

The production of energy demands the presence of a fuel. Food gives the body the fuel that it needs to make energy. Carbohydrates are a prime source of energy. Fats and proteins can also be broken-down, stored and used by the body to obtain energy. The biochemistry of the body even directs the manner by which the body will make at least some of its energy. That direction opens and closes certain biochemical pathways.

The movement of voluntary muscles calls-for the availability of a ready-to-go source of energy. The body stores energy for the purpose of supplying it to muscles that are getting signals from the brain. That stored energy, potential energy, is found in a naturally-produced phosphorous compound called ADP.

When a muscle receives a signal from the brain, then muscle cells start to change molecules of ADP into ATP. The body can obtain the energy that it needs from the ATP. At the same time, the body anticipates the creation of added amounts of heat. The body appreciates the need to limit the amount of its natural energy production.

The body produces catechinpolyphenols, chemicals that can block the biochemical pathway that is used for heat production in the non-active individual. The production of heat in a non-active individual is called thermogenesis. The sort of polyphenols produced during times of muscle activity limit the ability of the body to carry-out thermogenesis.

How do the polyphenols limit the rate of thermogenesis? The polyphenols act on the fatty acids inside of the body’s fat storage cells. The cells then make the chemicals that are necessary for the production of heat.. The cells thus facilitate the movement of hydrogen ions (H*) into the cell’s mitochondria. The mitochondria help the cell to make energy.

The mitochondria do not make energy for muscle movement; they the energy that the cell uses to produce heat. The movement of H+ into the mitochondria allows the cell to bypass the biochemical pathway that is used to make ATP. Still, because it is a fat-burning process, thermogenesis requires a source of fuel (calories).

Some health professionals have sought-out foods that have high polyphenol content. According to the above information, such foods should help the body to burn fat. Recent reports indicate that green tea contains such chemicals. That is why green tea has been tooted as a way to loose weight.

Now a diabetic, more than most people, must pay attention to a second aspect of energy production. That is due to the fact that the diabetic with a well-managed diabetes control plan eats a diet with few carbohydrates. The diabetic who wants to control his or her diabetes eats lots of dairy products, and lots fruits and vegetables. The cells of the diabetic must thus obtain energy from the proteins found in those foods.

When cells use protein as an energy source, then the cells (in the course of making energy) make certain unneeded chemicals. Those unneeded chemicals can build-up in the muscles. The body must find a way to get rid of those unneeded chemicals.

The body needs to wash those chemicals out of the muscle cells. The performance of exercise initiates a rise in the movement of blood in the circulatory system. As more blood flows into the muscles, that blood then carries-away the unneeded chemicals in those muscles. An extended period of exercise washes out a larger number of chemicals.

The above fact underlines that reason why exercise should be included in a diabetes management plan. Exercise does help the body to burn energy, but exercise does even more. Exercise helps the body to deal with the biochemistry of energy production whenever the fuel for that energy comes from proteins instead of carbohydrates.

When a diabetic engages in some form of exercise, then he or she encourages the formation of more capillaries in the muscles of the body. Sometimes, the body can make up to 50% more capillaries. At the same time, the diameter of the existing capillaries increases. Blood begins to flow more quickly in those capillaries.

As the blood rushes past the muscle cells, it takes-away the unneeded chemicals in those cells. When the blood flow increase, those chemicals disappear at an ever faster rate. The blood helps to clean the muscles. Exercise enhances the rate of the blood flow. That is why diabetics need to include regular exercise in a diabetes management plan.

Exercise can also help to control hunger pangs. Diabetics understand the discomfort of hunger. Diabetics want to control their hunger, so that they are not tempted to eat foods with high carbohydrate content. Exercise can help a diabetic to reduce the number of temptations that arise from the presence of strong hunger pangs.

In that way, a diabetic can avoid the temptation to “wolf-down” his or her food. The slow digestion of food insures the slow absorption of food. The slow absorption of carbohydrates should be one goal of a diabetes management plan. That is why such a plan normally includes complex carbohydrates, as opposed to simple carbohydrates.

Bearing that fact in mind, one can better appreciate the danger of frequent visits to a fast-food restaurant. Such frequent visits should not be part of a diabetes management plan. At the same time, a diabetes management plan should provide for times spent outside of the home. A diabetic should not remain at home all day long. In that way the diabetic normally fails to obtain an adequate amount of exercise.

By understanding the biochemistry of energy production, a patent with diabetes can better fashion the sort of diabetes management plan that helps with weight control and also insures removal of any unwanted by-products from that energy production

see more at http:www.springwell.biz

Saturday, February 2, 2008

How I overcome Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 by Halle Berry

This has been quite a year for Halle Berry.

Not only did the 41-year-old actress achieve a long desired pregnancy, but she stirred up a storm of controversy when she claimed that she had cured herself of type 1 diabetes -- a claim refuted by many doctors and the diabetes community. Berry is the latest example of the many stars, alive and dead, who have waged a battle with diabetes.

Halle Berry struggled with managing her type 1 diabetes throughout her childhood, and then reported a surprise. "I've managed to wean myself off insulin, so now I'd like to put myself in the type 2 category," the Web site contactmusic.com quotes the actress as saying in early November.

Diabetics quickly admonished Berry for her comments and doctors confirmed: It is not possible to "cure" anyone of diabetes. If Berry were truly a type 1 diabetic, it would be suicide to stop taking insulin. She claims that a healthy diet and exercise has changed the course of her illness.

"When someone really has type 1, it means their immune system has destroyed the insulin producing part of the pancreas. In that case, there is no way to wean yourself off insulin," Dr. Francine Kaufman, a diabetes expert at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, told ABC News.

Some 20.8 million people -- 7 percent of the population -- have diabetes, according to the National Institutes of Health. African-Americans, however, are particularly at risk. According to institute statistics, 3.2 million black Americans, or 13.3 percent of all non-Hispanic blacks, have the disease.

Type 2 tends to affect the unfit and obese; 90 percent of all type 2 patients are overweight. Berry, however, was a healthy 22-year-old working on the TV show "Living Dolls" in 1989 when she was first diagnosed, she told the Daily Mail in 2005.

Before she was diagnosed and after becoming ill on the set, she told the paper, she slipped into a diabetic coma for a week.

Berry is currently pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend of two years, Gabriel Aubry.

more testimonies at www.dbethics.com; http://www.springwell.biz