Studies have shown that in the case of diabetes caused by insulin resistance, that is, Type 2 diabetes, a change in lifestyle is the best thing. Overall, when doctors focus on making sure that a patient changes his lifestyle, focusing on diet and exercise over first and foremost, the incidence of diabetes is reduced by almost sixty percent. This has been proven in numerous studies all over the world, and one of the main areas of diabetes research is comparing the effects of diet and exercise over medication or surgery alone.

The way these studies usually work is by dividing up the patients into a control group (one that receives only general health advice and Continue reading “Lifestyle Changes and Insulin Resistance Treatment” »

According to a World Health Organization fact sheet on Diabetes released this January 2011, over 220 million people around the world have diabetes. However, recently there have been more and more children acquiring this disease. This trend has alarmed health authorities, sending numerous health organizations to start their campaigns towards a healthier and active lifestyle among the younger members of society. Typically, people are used to believing that this condition, especially type 2 diabetes, is very rare in this age group. As a result, parents are advised to have their kids undergo a series of tests to determine if they have diabetes, as there have been so many cases of this disease going undetected among children.  The modern, sedentary lifestyle kids are used to have made them more susceptible to getting diabetes early on in their lives. In addition to that, foods available on the market are filled with sugar and carbohydrates that contributes to their obesity, another factor that scientists have found to have been linked with diabetes.

Continue reading “Increasing Cases of Diabetes Among Children and Adolescents All Over the World” »

For a long time it has been thought that the absolute best way to control glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes is through dieting alone. However, recent studies have uncovered that gastric bypass surgery can be more effective than dietary measures in maintaining normal levels of blood glucose. One of the results of this discovery suggests that amino acids with branched chains have an important role to play in the treatment of diabetes and the way this disease develops.

It has been observed that gastric bypass surgery improves the levels of glucose in the blood in most of the cases, but it is still not clear why this is. Obviously, the weight loss that is the result of these kinds of surgeries goes a long way towards improving the blood sugar levels of patients. However, results have been reported in many cases before the weight loss has occurred, which suggests to researchers that there is something else going on. Perhaps other chemical or biochemical pathways or hormonal triggers that have not been thoroughly studied.

Continue reading “Gastric Bypass Surgery Effective In Diabetic Patients” »

Scientists and researchers have long suspected that the development of Type II diabetes is related to high fat intake in the diet.  Overweight individuals, who are at most risk of becoming diabetic in later life, may well have become overweight through eating a fatty diet and a large amount of fat in the diet is also associated with many other diseases.  High fat levels in the diet may also be associated with poor nutrition generally, as in the case of poorly educated people who know little about healthy eating.  Because of poor nutritional awareness, lower income levels, and shortage of time, these people may eat a lot of processed foods and junk foods, as take out food or TV dinners.

Continue reading “Fatty Diets Linked to Diabetes, Say Researchers” »

Type II diabetes has generally been associated with people in late middle age or old age, especially if they are overweight.  Increasingly today it is being diagnosed at earlier ages as the obesity epidemic grows more serious for the younger population, including children.  Western eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are blamed for this large increase in the incidence of diabetes.

A generation or two ago mom would serve home-cooked meals, usually with an abundance of homegrown vegetables and fruit, to children who had been playing outside much of the day.  The children may have had candy on weekends, given as a treat or bought with an allowance.  Continue reading “The Benefits of Establishing Good Life Habits Early in Life to Beat Type II-Diabetes” »

A new study shows a new aggressive treatment for Type 1 diabetes can lower the chances of kidney disease by half. The study followed the participants who had diabetes since the 1980s. This study and the findings were published by the New England Journal of Medicine. Kidney disease shuts the insulin making parts off and is a major complication of having Type 1 diabetes. If an individual cannot make insulin, they cannot break down sugar properly. Insulin is the driving force behind the movement of sugar, which gives the body energy.

The study showed that there was a need to find those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes to ensure that their blood sugar levels were around normal. They followed over 1,400 diabetics who had Type 1 Continue reading “Early Treatment Cuts Diabetes Risks of Kidney Disease” »

Do you or someone you know have Type 2 diabetes? Are you ensuring that you are taking care of it and not denying the fact that you have it? Because denial just makes things worse and can be deadly. It is important that you or that someone you know takes care of it and monitor your blood sugar.

Have you ever heard “If you didn’t eat so many sweets, you wouldn’t have diabetes.” or “If you weren’t so fat, you wouldn’t have diabetes” ? These statements are not only hurtful but they are false. People with cancer and heart disease are considered sick and unhealthy by onlookers but diabetes is typically considered a disease for those who Continue reading “Denial Just Makes Diabetes Worse” »

Diabetes affects millions of Americans every year. It is a metabolic disorder that occurs when the body has trouble metabolizing glucose, either because there is not insulin being produced or because the body’s cells have become resistant to insulin. A group that is at especially at a high risk are African American women. In fact, about one fourth of all African Women older than 55 have type II diabetes. This rate is quite disproportionate in comparison with the rate in Caucasian women, which is more than two times lower. Studies have been done to find the racial factors that may be contributing to this higher rate of diabetes. Not only is diabetes more prevalent among African Americans, the most severe complications derived from diabetes are also more Continue reading “African-American Women at a High Risk for Diabetes and Diabetic Complications” »

Diabetes can take years off your life.  And we don’t mean that in a good way.  Unlike a “Miracle Cream” that can make one look years younger, research has shown that Diabetes is shortening the life span of Americans.  In fact, the average 50 year old Diabetes patient lives about 8.5 years less than a person who does not have the disease.  This was revealed in a study by the National Academy on an Aging Society and confirmed by Sanofi-Aventis U.S, which is a pharmaceutical company.

The University of Michigan conducts a study every two years.  This particular information was provided by them after surveying more than 20,000 Americans over the age of fifty.  The report was published in Continue reading “Diabetes is Taking Years off the Lives of Americans” »

Medications currently available only on prescription to treat diabetes and other common conditions could one day be sold over the counter, the US Food and Drug Administration has said.  The controversial suggestion comes as a possible way to encourage people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol to take their life saving drugs more regularly.

Up to one third of all adults in the US suffer from raised blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, and 26 million in the country have diabetes, which can cause serious complications, including heart disease.  Around one in every six adults has high cholesterol – higher levels of LDLs – which can double their chance of heart attacks.  The cost to the nation’s healthcare facilities of these conditions is immense – Continue reading “Over-the-Counter Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Drugs Plan” »