Diabetes

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Diabetes Other names: High Blood Sugar Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, which result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease and other blood vessel diseases. What causes Diabetes?

Insufficient production of insulin (either absolutely or relative to the body 9s needs), or the inability to use insulin properly and efficiently leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes. Glucose is a simple sugar found in food and is an essential nutrient that provides energy for the proper functioning of the body cells. Glucose cannot enter the cells alone and needs insulin to aid in its transport into the cells.

Without insulin, the cells become starved of glucose energy despite the presence of abundant glucose in the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by specialized cells of the pancreas. In ... more. less.

addition to helping glucose enter the cells, insulin is also important in tightly regulating the level of glucose in the blood. What are the different types of diabetes? There are two major types of diabetes, called type I and type II . In type I diabetes, the pancreas undergoes an autoimmune attack by the body itself, and is rendered incapable of making insulin. The patient with type I diabetes must rely on insulin medication for survival. Type II diabetes was also referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes, or adult onset diabetes. In type II diabetes, patients can still produce insulin, but do so relatively inadequately for their body 9s needs. A major feature of type II diabetes is a lack of sensitivity to insulin by the cells, thus larger quantities of insulin are produced as an attempt to get these cells to recognize that insulin is present. Type II diabetes occurs mostly in individuals over 30 years old and the incidence increases with age. What are the symptoms of Diabetes? The early symptoms of untreated diabetes are related to elevated blood sugar levels and loss of glucose in the urine. High amounts of glucose in the urine can cause increased urine output and lead to dehydration. Dehydration causes increased thirst and water consumption. The inability to utilize glucose energy eventually leads to weight loss despite an increase in appetite. Some untreated diabetes patients also complain of fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Fluctuations in blood glucose levels can lead to blurred vision. How is Diabetes treated? The major goal in treating diabetes is controlling elevated blood sugars without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Type diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise and a diabetic diet. Type II diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered. Self-care for diabetes can be approached in a number of ways including: Slim down 3 if you are overweight, lose weight with a long-term program of exercise and by eating healthier. Fight back with fiber 3 stabilize your blood sugar by eating fiber from whole grains, beans, vegetables and consider using a fiber supplement. Aim for total nutrition with a multivitamin 3 help ensure your body is getting the vitamins and minerals it needs to help prevent common infections. Recommended Lyflo Select products: Multivitamin: A well balanced multivitamin is probably the single most important supplement you can take to help fight against infections. Lyflo Select 9s Multivitamin contains high potency vitamins and minerals to promote optimum health. And being liquid, the nutrients are better absorbed by the body than most pill or tablet forms. Daily Fiber / Digestive Harmony: Adding fiber to the diet helps regulate blood sugar levels. In addition some people with diabetes can achieve a significant reduction in their blood sugar levels and may find they can reduce their medication by adding fiber to their diet. Both Daily Fiber & Digestive Harmony contain a 50/50 ratio of soluble to insoluble fiber and are similar to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. They provide twice as much fiber per serving as other brand names. Studies suggest that FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides) in Digestive Harmony can help in lowering blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Omega Defense: People with diabetes tend to have high triglyceride and low HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Omega-3 fatty acids can help lower triglycerides and raise HDL. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids also improves glucose tolerance. Omega-6 fatty acids in the form of GLA may assist nerve function and prevent nerve disease associated with diabetes. Evening primrose oil has been found to improve nerve function and relieve pain symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Omega Defense contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. References: Medicinenet.com, Vitasearch.com The products and claims made about specific products have not been evaluated by Renutra Natural Health Products or the United S tates Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided is for informati on purposes only. Copyright© 2006, Renutra Natural Health Products. All rights reserved.

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