Diabetes Info

Januvia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved of Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate) oral tablets, made by Merck & Co., the first in a new class of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors. Januvia works by blocking the activity of an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase IV, or DPP-4, that breaks down the proteins that increase the release of insulin. This gives the proteins more time to work and this, in turn, enhances blood-sugar control. 

Januvia lowers blood sugar level, especially after meals and also between meals. It helps to increase the levels of insulin produced by your body after a meal. It decreases the amount of sugar made by the body. It cannot cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) because it does not work when the blood sugar level is low.  

The medicine is specifically approved for use in case of type 2 diabetes mellitus that cannot be controlled by either diet or exercise. Don’t use it if you are a type 1 diabetes mellitus patient or if you have diabetic ketoacidosis, that is, increased ketone level in the blood or urine. 

Use Januvia exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Januvia is taken orally either with or without food. Your doctor may prescribe lower doses of Januvia if you have kidney problems. Your doctor may also prescribe Januvia along with other medicines that lower blood sugar level. Don’t take an overdose of Januvia. If you have accidentally taken too much of Januvia, call your doctor or the local Poison Control Center immediately. 

You might experience side effects such as upper respiratory infection, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and headache when you are taking Januvia. Occasionally, Januvia may also cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea. 

A lot of study still needs to be done on Januvia. It has not yet been studied in children under the age of 18. Its effects when taken with medicines that cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylureas or insulin, are not yet known. Give your doctor the entire list of medicines, including the vitamins and supplements that you are taking. The effects of Januvia on the human fetus are still not known. Januvia may pass on to the baby through its mother’s milk. So, pregnant women and nursing mothers need to take their doctor’s advice before taking Januvia.

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Good Fats vs. Bad Fats

Diabetes is definitely curable, claims a diabetes and cancer Web site. But first, you need to know something about the role of fats in the human body, as well as the difference between “good fats” and “bad fats.”

The American diet, unfortunately, lacks unsaturated fatty acids or “good fats”; instead, it is loaded with artificial oils, also known as trans fats or “bad fats”. Unable to spot the difference between the “good fats” and the “bad fats,” our cells accept these trans fats, which destroy the fine balance within the cells and cause them to suffocate. This, in turn, interferes with the natural processes by which a cell accepts nutrition and releases wastes.

Moreover, these fats make the cell wall so rigid that large molecules such as insulin cannot penetrate it in order to do its job, and glucose cannot enter and nourish the cells.

So, bad fats or trans fats or man-made artificial oils, and not unsaturated fatty acids or cholesterol, are the main culprits. They mess up the cells and prevent them from functioning. They are responsible for Type 2 Diabetes, coronary disorders, and obesity.

It is easy to eliminate the culprit once it is identified. Eliminate bad fats, and you automatically eliminate Type 2 Diabetes. If you avoid trans fats, the existing cells in your body that are made up of trans fats will be slowly replaced by healthier cells, a process that will take several years. However, there is no need to despair. You can speed up this process by filling your system with the right type of good fats such as water-soluble omega 3. Replace the trans-fat rich food, such as margarine, that you have been eating all these years with food that is rich in natural oils such as flaxseed, olive oil, real butter, lard, any organic animal or plant fats, coconut oil, and so on.

Researchers say that this treatment will normalize your blood sugar level in three to twelve months. Add to this a lot of exercise, an organic diet, and plenty of vitamin C, and you will be rid of coronary disorders, cancer, obesity, and diabetes for life.

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Can Chromium Help Diabetics?

More and more diabetics, especially those who do not find the time to control and manage the disease through the time-tested and reliable methods of diet, exercise, and weight control, are turning to supplements, such as chromium. Many studies suggest that chromium picolinate can lower blood sugar levels, and thereby, help control diabetes.

However, the subject of the beneficial qualities of chromium with regard to the treatment of diabetes has been a medical debate for several years. The fact that it is essential for human health, however, is undisputed. It plays a vital role in the processing of carbohydrates and fats. It assists the cells of the body to respond properly to insulin. It is said to promote weight loss, treat diabetes, prevent cardiovascular disorders, build muscles, and alleviate depression.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council recommends 50–200 mcg of dietary chromium per day—a fact that has led to a lot of questioning among the American medical community because it suggests that most Americans are chromium deficient. An article titled, “Insulin Amplifier”, published in Taste for Life Magazine, says that diabetics should take at least 200 mcg of chromium two to three times a day.

The best dietary sources of chromium are rice and other whole grains, brewer’s yeast, dried beans, corn and mushrooms, broccoli, organ meats, and processed meats.

It is true that there is a link between Diabetes and chromium. One of the characteristics of Diabetes is a low level of chromium. However, there is no evidence to prove beyond any semblance of doubt that chromium intake is safe and can truly help diabetics. Certain studies, conducted on Chinese subjects, have shown that chromium can help control diabetics. However, several inadequacies have been pointed out in the methodology used for this study. Moreover, laboratory studies have shown that chromium picolinate could cause cancer.

To put it in a nutshell, medical studies on the relationship between chromium intake and the treatment of diabetes are limited and inadequate, and nobody knows if chromium can really help diabetic or even whether it is safe to take chromium.

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Eye Care for Diabetics

Diabetics have to take special care of their eyes because it may lead to fluctuations in vision, cataracts, decreased vision, and double vision. If you are a diabetic, you need to beware of diabetic retinopathy and its complications. The disease can affect four parts of your eye: retina, vitreous, lens, and optic nerve. 

The bad news is that there is no treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Any diabetic might develop it. The good news is that you can delay and slow down the onset of diabetic retinopathy simply by keeping diabetes under control. Keep these simple tips in mind:

• Keep your blood sugar level under control
• High blood pressure can worsen your eye problems; so, keep your blood pressure under control.
• If you are a smoker, quit smoking immediately.
• See your ophthalmologist at least once a year for a dilated eye examination.
• Keep your blood cholesterol level under control.
• Eat a healthy diet and maintain normal body weight.
• Exercise regularly; you need at least half an hour of physical activity per day.
• If you are pregnant, see your ophthalmologist after the first trimester of your pregnancy.
• Remember to ask your ophthalmologist to check your eyes for cataract and glaucoma.
• If you are planning to get pregnant, ask your doctor if you should see an ophthalmologist.

 Moreover, it is very important to see your ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any of the following problems in your eyes or vision: 

• Your vision becomes blurred.
• You can’t read books or signs comfortably.
• You suffer from double vision.
• You have pain in one or both your eyes.
• Your eyes turn red
• You feel pressure in your eyes.
• You see spots or floaters.
• Straight lines appear crooked.
• You have lost side vision.

Take care, and be healthy.

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Acupuncture for Diabetes

Many diabetics seek refuge in alternative medicine when modern medicine fails to do the job. However, there is no guarantee that alternative medicine will be successful in cases where modern medicine hasn’t provided any benefits. This is not to say that success stories through alternative medicine are unheard of. People have claimed to be cured of diabetes, thanks to certain alternative therapies, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture.

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting 4-25mm long needles into specific areas of the body in order to stimulate the functions of the organs. Acupuncture claims to halt the onset of diabetic neuropathy. Treating the area of the pancreas through the related acupuncture points on the body has been shown to reduce the autoimmune component central to diabetes. Diabetics, who have taken acupuncture treatment, claim to need less insulin. Ear acupuncture might be beneficial in that it stimulates the nervous system of those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

Acupuncture is often used with TCM, which is based on different principles and herbs. However, TCM experts claim that the disease is better treated if caught in the early stages. TCM aims at improving blood circulation, which can completely stop, or at least, slow down the debilitating onset of diabetic neuropathy. TCM could also stabilize blood sugar levels for those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes by putting order in the endocrine system.

Recently, a group of 17 experts conducted a study in the UAE, under the auspices of the Dubai Wellbeing Center, on the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating diabetes. Twenty-two participants had taken the usual modern treatment for diabetes. Although the treatment was quite effective in most of the cases, about twenty of them complained of side effects, such as kidney malfunction. However, twenty-seven of the thirty-eight patients who had opted for acupuncture were successfully treated, and eleven were in need of more treatment. But, none of them complained of any side effects.

It cannot be denied that TCM and acupuncture have helped a number of diabetics in the past. However, it is not advisable to rely only on these therapies and give up modern medicine altogether. These therapies should be used as a complement to the existing medical aid and not on their own.

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Caring for a Diabetic Child

Taking care of a diabetic child can be a very challenging task. Your child requires special care in the form of food at regular intervals, blood tests, urine tests, and insulin injections. It is very important to maintain your child’s blood sugar level between 4 and 7 millimoles per liter to prevent health complications in future. 

All parents of diabetic children should know about federal laws that protect diabetic children from discrimination in schools and child care centers. The “504” plan, in particular, incorporates laws that protect people with disabilities, and that includes diabetes. Visit the American Diabetes Association Web site for more information. 

Schools and child care centers are required by law to provide for the special needs of diabetic children. They must provide qualified people who can check the child’s blood sugar level, give insulin injections, treat hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia, and take general care of the child. Moreover, diabetic children should be provided a safe place to store their medication, and sufficient privacy to receive treatment. The children should be allowed to participate actively in the activities of the school. 

Work with your child’s school or care center to create a care plan that meets your child’s needs. The school should have the contact numbers of the child’s parents or doctor in case of emergencies. See that there is a stock of all the material and equipment your child requires in the school. Check the expiry dates of the supplies your child has at school at regular intervals.

Parents of diabetic children do not have to despair. You are not alone. Take the help and guidance of the large number of diabetes health professionals available. They can teach you more about the disease, its treatment, and control. They can also help you take better care of your child. Talk to a diabetes health professional regularly about the progress your child is making.

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Natural Remedies for Diabetes

It’s natural for people to seek herbal remedies for a malady they are forced to live with. After all, allopathic medicine isn’t without its side effects and limits. In the case of a diabetic, healthy eating coupled with regular physical activity is the best natural remedy available. In addition to this, a diabetic could also try one of the several herbs that have been used world-wide to regularize blood sugar levels. 

Most natural remedies have been traditionally handed down from generation to generation. Knowledge of these herbs has been carefully preserved because they have been found to be highly effective in the control and cure of diabetes, although there isn’t a lot of scientific research or study that has been conducted on them.  

A lot of diabetic herbal remedies, which are available over the counter, should be taken with a pinch of sodium chloride, common sense, and a lot of study before wasting any money, time, or energy on them. 

Here is a short list of certain effective herbs that can cure diabetes. 

Bitter Gourd: Also known as Bitter Melon, Karela, and Momordica Charantia, it is considered a champion cure for diabetes. A team of British doctors conducted a research on bitter gourd, and found that it contains a substance that is insulin-like, which lowers blood and urine sugar level. Do not be afraid to take as much bitter melon as you can, in any form. 

Garlic: Diabetics have used garlic to control diabetes with positive effects, although not much has been found out about its relationship to insulin and blood sugar levels. Eat 3-4 grams of freshly crushed garlic a day, and follow it with a glass of water. 

Aloe Vera: This is a familiar and much-loved herb all over the world. In some parts of the world, they dry the sap and gel of aloe Vera, and use it to treat diabetes. 

Jamun: After the bitter gourd, the Indian blackberry or Jamun or Eugenia jambolana or Syzygium cumini is considered another champion cure for diabetes. Take a quarter teaspoon of Jamun seed powder with a teaspoon of honey for 50 days. 

Neem: The famous neem is almost a panacea for all ills. Neem seeds and neem leaves are believed to help control diabetes.

A mine of information is about herbal remedies for diabetes is available here. A Web site offering information on diabetes mellitus also gives an exhaustive list of various diabetic herbal remedies. 

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The Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes is a mystery disease. There are many hypotheses regarding its causes, but none of these hypotheses have been proven so far. The most recent studies point to a hormone secreted by the skull, not the pancreas.  

The aggressive nature of certain cells in the body destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, leading to an acute shortage of insulin. The condition is called Type 1 Diabetes. It has been proposed, though not yet proved, that this condition may be due to viral or bacterial infection. It could also be due to an exposure to certain food-borne chemical toxins. Cow’s milk is said to contain an unidentified element that leads to this condition. Therefore, persons who are given cow’s milk at a very young age are more liable to develop Type 1 Diabetes. However, these are as yet unproven facts. 

In Type 2 Diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or it does not produce insulin at all. In some cases, the insulin produced does not function effectively, and this raises the level of glucose in the blood. A series of factors, such as heredity, poor diet, obesity, hypertension, and sedentary life style could lead to diabetes. People, who have diabetic parents or siblings, are 25 percent more prone to get diabetes. 

In addition to this, there are some rarer causes of diabetes. Sometimes, the condition can be induced by drugs, such as Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, and Ziparsidone. It can also be caused by pregnancy. The culprit could also be a disease, such as pancreatitis, that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin. 

It is important to know what does not cause diabetes. Food, in itself, is not a culprit. However, overeating and lack of exercise leads to obesity, and this in turn, increases the risk of diabetes.

Diabetes is not caused by stress alone, although stress might lead to other unhealthy conditions that might lead to diabetes.

Diabetes is definitely not contagious. A proper study of the factors that raise the risk of diabetes will go a long way in helping a person prevent or delay its onset.

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Foot Care for Diabetics

Developing a proper foot care program is absolutely essential for diabetics. The disease is responsible for several health complications that directly affect the feet. 

Diabetes damages nerves, affects blood circulation, causes infection, and makes the joints stiffer. Diabetic neuropathy, one of the terrors of diabetes, is caused by damage to the nerves. If you a victim of this condition, you will not be able to sense any discomfort in your feet. For example, a pair of new shoes would be biting into your skin, and you will not be able to feel it. This will lead to the formation of a sore.  

Here are some tips that will help you take care of your feet. 

Keep your feet clean:  Wash your feet regularly with a mild soap and lukewarm water, and dry them well. If your skin is too dry, use a good emollient; but take special care to see that there is neither moisture nor emollient in between your toes. 

Examine your skin regularly: Examine your feet for warning signs, such as redness, swelling, warmth, pain, slow healing, dry cracks, bleeding corns or calluses, tenderness, and loss of sensation.  

Maintain good circulation: Put your feet up when you are sitting. Wiggle your toes and move your ankles up and down for five minutes, two to three times a day. Don’t cross your legs for a long period. 

Take care of your feet: When you trim your toenails, trim them straight across; don’t attempt to cut nails at the corners. Don’t try to remove corns and calluses yourself. Avoid going barefoot even in your own house. Wear shoes that fit you well; ill fitting footwear causes more problems than you can imagine. 

Do not attempt to treat your foot problems yourself. If you sense something is wrong, consult a good podiatrist. Apart from this, visit your podiatrist at least once a year. Needless to say, it is very important to take good care of your general health and well-being while you take care of your feet. Lose excess weight; exercise regularly and develop healthy eating habits. 

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Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Nearly one third of diabetics in the US are totally unaware of their condition. The American Diabetes Association test will help you find out whether you have or are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. 

You are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes if: 

• You are an African, Latino, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.
• You are overweight, and close to middle age.
• You have a diabetic parent, brother, or sister.
• You have had gestational diabetes, or have given birth to at least one baby weighing more than nine pounds.
• You suffer from high blood pressure.
• You have poor eating habits and lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Your age, genetic make-up, and ethnicity is beyond your control. However, you can do your best to change your lifestyle and prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. 

Drink lots of water; it is the laziest and easiest way to lose weight. You will lose more fat if you drink chilled water; however, make sure that the water is not too cold.

 It is better to eat five or six small meals a day instead of one or two big ones. In addition to this, eliminate processed carbohydrates from your diet. Make healthy food choices; for example, eat more fruit, vegetable, and high fiber food. 

At least half an hour’s physical activity is a must for those with a risk of diabetes. Take a daily walk; it is a great exercise, which can raise your rate of metabolism and regularize your blood sugar. Try to burn calories in as many ways a possible. For example, you can walk instead of taking the car, or you can use a push mower instead of a riding mower. 

According to studies, people at a high risk for Type 2 Diabetes can prevent or delay the disease by losing five to seven percent of their body weight. Thirty minutes of physical exercise coupled with a healthy diet is enough to achieve this.

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