Archive for the ‘Type 1 Diabetes’ Category

I think I might have diabetes. I’m going to go to the doctor real soon. Until then I have a question I’d like answered. Can anyone tell me, that has type 1 diabetes, what lead you to believe you have it, like I researched a little bit and most of the things said alot of time people get had an illness of some sort that triggered it or something. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry about the bad grammar and punctuation.

I’ve dated a girl who is Type 1 diabetic and has several health problems. It has crossed my mind that if I end up marrying her, maybe my kids would have diabetes. Her dad has diabetes and her great uncle died by diabetes as a child several years ago. If I ended up having kids with her, what are the chances of passing the disese to them?

I know that type 1 diabetes can’t be avoided, and it’s pretty much genetic. Also it’s most common in white people. But I’m black girl with no family history of type 1 diabetes. I’m the only person in my family that has it. Do you or anyone you know have the same situation, and do you know how I could’ve gotten it?

It is very important that people understand that exercise and losing weight can prevent or delay diabetes.

In the United States, almost 21 million people are living with diabetes and an estimated 6.2 million of these people don’t even know that they have diabetes.  According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have medical expenditures that are 2.3 times higher than non-diabetics.  Yet, most diabetes cases are preventable or reversible through exercise, weight loss, and healthy living.

What if the 6.2 million people who were undiagnosed knew they had diabetes? Or the estimated 57 million Americans with Pre-Diabetes were educated on how they could mange their health and avoid becoming a Type 2 Diabetic?

Being diagnosed as Pre-Diabetic does not mean that Type 2 diabetes is inevitable. If you lose weight and increase your physical activity, you can prevent or delay diabetes and even return your blood glucose levels to normal (ACSM 2006).

Do you know the signs of diabetes? Take a look around you. Do you see any signs of diabetes in your friends and family right now? It is very possible that there are people that are diabetic (or will become diabetic) around you every day. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in three Americans may develop diabetes in their lifetime. Those statistics are staggering and PREVENTABLE for most.

What about Type 2 diabetics that have been diagnosed? What if we educated them that through diet and exercise they could reduce their medication or eliminate it? Let’s get down to the business of taking some personal responsibility for our health.

Many of you who are trying to understand diabetes and take responsibility for your health immediately have several questions:

• Should you cut out sugar?
• Is your weight putting you at risk?
• If you are skinny, you don’t have to worry, right?
• Can exercise and diet really help YOU?
• How do I control blood sugar levels?

And then there are the issues that you might not even know to ask about:

Having diabetes for more than five years can increase your likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease
Regular exercise can make you more sensitive to insulin, which can reduce medication dosages.

What is insulin?

Insulin is the main hormone that controls the entry of blood sugar from the blood stream into the cells of the body to be used as energy.

How does exercise influence the insulin hormone? Exercise has an insulin-like effect on the body. When exercising, your muscles require a steady flow of sugar to keep contracting and keep you moving. Exercise increases the rate at which your muscles take up the sugar from your blood stream.  Exercise acts the same as insulin by emptying the excess sugar in your blood stream into your muscles. This action, therefore, lowers your blood sugar.   In fact, a twenty minute walk a day can lower glucose levels by twenty points.

Here is a great example to explain insulin’s function in your body. Think of insulin as a bus for a moment. Glucose (sugar) is the passenger. There are two types of diabetics. Type 1 diabetics manufacture no insulin (or have no bus), which, according to the Center for Disease Control, is 5% – 10% of all diagnosed cases. The second type (Type 2), have insulin resistance, which means the bus is there, but it is not picking up passengers and, there are less buses running the route. According to the Center for Disease Control, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95% of all diagnosed cases.

When you exercise, your muscles work harder than usual and require more fuel than usual; so your muscles send out their own buses to pick up the sugar in the bloodstream and carry it back to the muscles. Working muscles take over for insulin and (for Type 2 diabetics) they can even show the buses (insulin) how to work again (pick up passengers).

Exercising has many benefits for a diabetic. It increases glucose uptake by the cells, improves insulin sensitivity by improving glucose metabolism and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Reduction of blood glucose levels improves insulin sensitivity by making it more effective. Exercise may reduce dosage requirements or need for medication and improve the ability to lose and/or maintain body weight if combined with an intuitive diet.

What are the common misconceptions?

There are many popular myths about diabetes.  Here are a few that I hear often.

1.  Diabetics must stay away from sweets.

While simple carbohydrates or sweets raise your blood glucose levels, you can safely eat an occasional sweet if you eat them in moderation and make them a part of your meal plan.

2.  Only obese people get diabetes

The key thing to remember is that there is no typical “diabetes” body type, genetic trait, race, age or gender. Type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle choices.  While being obese puts you at risk for Type 2 diabetes, also keep in mind that 20% of people with Type 2 Diabetes are slim.

3.  There is no natural remedy for diabetes.

The natural remedy for diabetes is called exercise and balanced eating.  In addition to that, always monitor your your glucose levels, combining exercise with balanced eating, or use medication.

4.  I am only borderline and a high blood sugar reading is normal for me.

There is no such thing as being borderline.  You are either a diabetic or not.  While a high blood sugar may seem normal for you, keep in mind that having high glucose levels are not safe.

Diabetes is a serious disease and it is best that you take personal responsibility for your body.  There are serious health complications especially when you are stressing your body with high blood sugar levels.

5. I don’t believe that exercising will do me good.

The Diabetes Prevention Study revealed that exercising for a total of two hours a week can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 50%, that can be as little as 20 minutes, 6 days a week.  This means that even taking a short, ten minute walk before and after work can help you prevent diabetes or lower your glucose levels.

Diabetes is serious but you can do something about it.  Get educated about your disease, determine what your beliefs are about diabetes and make lifestyle changes starting today.  Exercise a little everyday until you build up to the recommended guidelines and eat a balanced, healthy diet.  Keep in mind that over 90% of diabetes cases are preventable and can be maintained with some natural remedies such as exercising, healthy eating, and/or combined with low doses of medication.

What are some common diabetes terms?

1.  Type 1

The body cannot manufacture its own insulin because the beta cells of the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production are destroyed. It is an auto immune disease that destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas.  About 5-10% of all diagnosed cases (CDC 2005)

2.  Type 2

This is also known as insulin resistance or adult onset diabetes.  The body loses its sensitivity to insulin so the body’s cells are unable to utilize insulin properly. About 90% – 95% of all diagnosed cases fall within this category.

3.  Pre-Diabetes

This is the onset of diabetes.  If your fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) indicates your levels are 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl, you will be diagnosed with pre-diabetes as your body is already showing signs of becoming a diabetic.  This requires you to change your lifestyle if you want to prevent having diabetes.

4.  Gestational Diabetes

This is a form of insulin resistance.  This is when the glucose levels rise due to the pregnancy hormones interfering with the mother’s insulin.  In most cases, this ends with the birth of the child.

5.  Metabolic Syndrome

A combination of medical disorders that increases the risk factors of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high cholesterol levels and elevated plasma triglyceride levels.

6.  Hypoglycemic

This is when you have abnormally low blood sugar levels which could be caused by excessive insulin or your diet. Some of the symptoms are:

• trembling or shakiness
• nervousness
• rapid heart beat
• increased sweating
• headache
• impaired concentration or attentiveness
• unconsciousness
• coma

7.  Hyperglycemic

This is when you have abnormally high blood sugar levels.  Some of the symptoms are:

• frequent urination
• thirst
• nausea
• abdominal pain
• dry skin
• disorientation
• labored breathing
• drowsiness

What are the telltale signs of diabetes?

Some very telltale signs include:

• frequent thirst, hunger and urination
• weight loss
• fatigue
• crankiness
• frequent infections
• blurred vision
• cuts/ bruises that are slow to heal
• tingling and numbness in hands and feet
• recurring skin, gum and bladder infections

What are the guidelines for exercising safely?

• Prior to starting an exercise program, always consult with your doctor first.
• Track your blood glucose levels during your exercise program.  Do this before exercising, immediately after exercising and two hours after exercising
• Always warm-up, cool-down, stretch and adhere to an intensity of Type 1 (3 to 5 RPE) and Type 2 (3 to 6/7 RPE).
• Always wear well-fitting, well cushioned, supportive shoes
• Minimize trauma to your feet by wearing polyester or cotton polyester socks.  This will keep your feet dry.
• Remember that any strenuous, high-impact or static activity must be approved by your doctor.
• It pays to be prepared.  Keep a carbohydrate snack with you.  These snacks must have about 10-15 grams of carbohydrate.
• Wear identification that lets people know that you have diabetes.  This will come in handy in case of a hypoglycemic response http://www.n-styleid.com
• Understand and monitor the signs of exercise-induced hypoglycemia
• Do not exercise if you have 250 mg/ dl blood glucose levels or if you have ketones in your urine
• Certain diabetic conditions require specific and strict guidelines.  If you have autonomic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy or any other related conditions to diabetes, it is required that you obtain your doctor’s approval before starting an exercise program.
• If you are new to exercising, it is best that you exercise with a partner.  Do this until you know your body’s response to exercise
• Always check your feet before and after exercise for lesions
• Drink plenty of water. A good rule is to take a mouthful or two at least every fifteen minutes

Will I have to go to the hospital if I am diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes? If so, what will I do there? Will they just teach me how to control my diabetes? Will they just monitor me? Will they do anything that hurts to me besides insulin injections, and checking my blood sugar?

I have Type 1 diabetes and am having trouble losing weight. I am just starting to take insulin to get my sugar under control and I seemed to have gained 7 pounds in a week despite exercising everyday and eating under 1300 calories for a week! Will I ever lose this weight or will I just keep gaining? Please help.

What happens to a person with type 1 diabetes who does not care for themselves?? HELP !!

Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of people worldwide.  It is a permanent disease that requires to be constantly managed to avoid the many complications that it brings such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, lower-extremity amputations and in many cases even death.

Yet, despite the number of people suffering from diabetes, scientists and doctors have not yet discovered the root cause of this disease.  Needless to say, it is very important that people who suffer from diabetes monitor their health and seek medical help as soon as they notice changes in their body and unusual symptoms.

Diabetes occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas which produce the insulin are destroyed.  The absence of beta cells to produce insulin which transfers the glucose in the cells results to the sugar remaining in the blood.  And because the body cannot use the sugar, it is spilled over into the urine and lost.

People who notice certain symptoms which indicate the presence of diabetes should see a physician in order to receive a proper diagnosis. Some of the most common symptoms of diabetes are:

• excessive hunger and thirst
• frequent urination
• dramatic weight loss
• lack of energy
• dry skin
• wounds that do not heal
• nausea
• stomach pains

There are two main types of diabetes:

1.  Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or Juvenile-Onset diabetes.  It is a common disease in children and accounts for five to ten percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.  The factors which cause Type 1 diabetes are still unknown.  However, genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as viral infections might have an important influence.

2.  Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes.  While it has been considered that certain races and ethnicities, such as African Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans are more exposed to get Type 2 diabetes than other people, this type of diabetes may also appear due to certain factors such as:

• older age
• obesity
• impaired glucose tolerance
• family history of diabetes
• physical inactivity
• prior history of gestational diabetes

3.  Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes, as the name implies, occurs during pregnancy.  About two to five percent of all pregnancies develop gestational diabetes.  While this usually disappears when the woman gives birth, she or the baby may develop Type 2 diabetes in the future.

4.  Other types of diabetes

There are other types of diabetes which account for one to two percent of all known cases of diabetes.  They may be caused by:

• genetic syndromes
• surgeries
• drugs
• malnutrition
• infections

Medical treatments for diabetes are vital for the body and include important changes in one’s lifestyle to be able to maintain blood glucose near normal levels at all times.

People who suffer from Type 1 diabetes need special treatment which includes:

• administration of insulin injections
• home blood glucose testing several times a day
• healthy diet
• physical exercise program

On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes requires a strict treatment which consists of:

• special diets
• physical activities
• home blood glucose testing
• oral medication

Only 40% of Type 2 diabetics require insulin injections.

In order to take care of the people who suffer from diabetes, the diabetes community offers, pursued by the US Department of Health and Human Services offer three options:

• prevent diabetes
• cure diabetes
• take better care of people with diabetes to prevent dramatic complications

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is involved in finding a cure for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes while the Center for Disease Control and Prevention focuses through their programs on ensuring that the proven science is put into daily practice for people with diabetes.

While diabetes may seem to be an incurable illness, be assured that the scientists and doctors are all trying to discover and consequently to utilize in practice several methods to cure diabetes.  This includes:  pancreas transplantation, artificial pancreas development, islet cell transplantation and genetic manipulation.

Do note however, that these approaches need to pass through a series of clinical studies, research and investigations before it can become a reality.  Some of the things they need to confirm are: preventing immune rejection, finding an adequate number of insulin cells, keeping cells alive and many others.

Both my husband and sister in law have type 1 diabetes. My husband develop type 1 diabetes when he was 5 years old, but his identical twin did not. His younger sister developed type 1 diabetes when she was 12 years old.

I have a 10 year old sister who has Type 1 diabetes.  She has had it for 3 years now.  She is experiencing a lot of stress and I would like to know what I can do to help her out.   Also, do you have any advice for her?