Even though diabetes is becoming more prevalent every day, according to statistics, there are many myths that are still floating around even with all of the informational resources available about the disease.

The #1 myth that concerns more people than you may think is that once you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you can’t have sweets anymore.  Thank goodness that this one is not true.  The American Diabetes Association indicates that people with type 2 diabetes can eat sweets in moderation.  It’s true that limiting them is necessary because sweets often contain not just empty calories but loads of sugar, which is a carbohydrate that increases glucose levels dramatically.  The ADA recommends that diabetics can partake in desserts, in moderation, after they have a low-carb meal.

The 2^nd persistent myth is that eating a large amount of sugar will cause diabetes.  For all those chocoholics out there, take heart in the fact that you are not destined to develop diabetes.  Scientists believe that the disease comes about due to a combination of both genetic and lifestyle factors.  Also, it needs to be known that the high level of sugar in a person’s bloodstream, a sign of diabetes, is not the same thing as the refined sugar we buy at the grocery store.  There is though, a relation between sugar and diabetes.  Eating loads of sugar can pack on pounds and overweight people have an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

This brings to mind another myth.  Many people believe that only overweight people get diabetes.  Diabetes is not a discriminatory disease.  Even thinner people have the disease and scientists know that many cases of Juvenile-onset diabetes (type 1) happen in thin people just as much as in the obese.

One of the silliest persistent myths is that diabetes is a contagious disease.  This is totally and irrevocably false.  Even though scientists are still working on the exact science of the disorder, it cannot be contracted from another person.  There is a genetic predisposition for developing type 2 diabetes if there is a family history of the disease, but you can’t “catch” diabetes by association.

Even though diabetes is a very serious disease, which is in fact progressive, many people believe that you won’t die from the disease, that it’s “not that serious.”  This is not true.  In fact, diabetes is a major factor in causing more deaths per year than AIDS and breast cancer put together.  Statistics have so far shown that 2 out of 3 people with the disease will die from a stroke or heart disease.

This brings about another myth that if you develop diabetes, you are doomed.  While it is true that diabetes is a progressive, long-term disease which currently doesn’t have a cure, people can avoid a death sentence by taking care of themselves by following their doctor’s prescribed treatment to the letter.

There is no need to hide under a rock after developing diabetes.  There are many people who do lead spontaneous, active and busy lives while at the same time managing their diabetes successfully.  With support from a strong base of people, including family, friends and health care professionals, it is very probable that you will have a full and meaningful life.

Senator Daniel Akaka has introduced a bill in his home state of Hawaii about which the American Diabetes Association is very happy. The bill is meant to remove racial health disparities and ethnic health disparities. The bill intends to take action by improving the research, training in the work force, and awareness so that more people know about how to prevent diabetes. The American Diabetes Association helps spreads awareness about diabetes as they strive to cure, manage, and control their conditions. The support of the American Diabetes Association makes Senator Daniel Akaka very confident that his bill is going to be passed so that more research to help those who suffer from diabetes can have a more manageable life.

Stats about Diabetes in America

Continue reading “Changing the Future for Those Suffering From Diabetes” »

There has been research that may open a brand new venue of treatment for those suffering from diabetes. A protein called fibroblast growth factor has been identified as a way to keeping the body sensitive to insulin, which will result in steadier blood sugar levels. The fibroblast growth factor can be triggered by consuming a diet that is high in fat. This research is not rock solid, but it does provide hope.

Activating the Fibroblast Growth Factor

Humans can store fat on their bodies so that they can survive in times of famine. An excess of fat can lead to obesity, which as astronomical numbers across the nation, which has been linked to causing diabetes. When the fibroblast growth factor is activated and regulated with a diabetics drug there can be serious side effects. This can allow patients to experience only a limited amount of use, which only allows a limited amount of success. Some diabetics feel that even a little success from the use of the fibroblast growth factor protein.

Continue reading “Information Regarding a High Fat Content Diet and Better Controlled Diabetes” »

Parents often warn their children watching too much television is not good for their health. Besides having the potential to reduce attention spans, television can have other negative effects on the body. Experts have found watching too much television promotes bad eating habits and inactivity, which can lead to weight issues associated with Type II diabetes. Just about everyone is guilty of indulging in an unhealthy snack or downing sweet drinks while watching TV. Too many lazy relaxing days in front of the television can harm your health. All of these factors can lead to Type 2 diabetes. Watching what may seem like as little as two or three hours of television everyday could put you on this path to diabetes path.  Simply put, the more TV that you watch, the higher the chance is that you could develop diabetes later if not countered with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Engaging in these unhealthy habits can lead to poor blood sugar control, which can lead to a condition known as pre-diabetes.

While bad eating and television watching habits can be difficult to change, changing these habits is impossible task. One easy and simple change you can make is to instead of munching on unhealthy snacks like potato chips, chocolates, or candy while you eat, opt for healthier options such as cereals high in fiber or full of whole grains, vegetables dipped in your favorite fat free dressing, or even fat free popcorn. Instead of guzzling soda by the liter, switch to water or natural fruit juices. By changing what you eat while you are watching television, you are taking the first step in changing unhealthy and Continue reading “Watching Too Much TV Can Lead to Increased Diabetes Risk” »

Researchers from Italy have found that a bariatric surgery could be more effective in treating type two diabetes than regular medicine. Researchers even go as far to state that it may be possible to reverse the effects of type two diabetes with a bariatric surgery. The bariatric surgery that these Italian researchers are referring to is called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Italian researchers state that eighty percent of diabetics’ patients who underwent the surgery were relieved of their symptoms within a period of eighteen months.

About The Study and the Surgery

All of the participants in the study had been diagnosed with diabetes for less than ten years. In the procedure that Italian researchers are raving about, doctors remove approximately eighty percent of the stomach. What is left of the stomach is then placed into a tube that requires the patient to consume fewer calories. The sleeve, or tube, is what is responsible for the weight loss that soon follows the procedure. Doctors are calling the procedure a miracle for those suffering for both obesity and diabetes.

Continue reading “Bariatric Surgery Said to Cure Diabetes” »

We are all living longer, but the quality of life we can expect as we get older is declining, say researchers who have studied US life expectancy trends.  Old age looks bleaker, with more illness than it did 30 years ago.  Moreover, the fault lies with our lifestyles, especially our eating habits and our reluctance to exercise.

The good news is that anyone who stays slim and fit can look forward to a healthy, happy old age with minimal risk of diabetes.  In fact, slimmer Americans are responsible for raising the average life expectancy stats, which means they are living even longer than tubbier neighbors.

In 1960, the average American could expect to live to 69.8, and by 1961, this had risen above 70 and has continued to rise steadily.  By 2009, the average American could expect to live to 78.7 years – but the amount of time he will probably stay healthy is declining and it is increasingly probable that his latter years will be filled with illness and misery.

Continue reading “Americans Living Longer but not Better Lives” »

Type II diabetes has been called a “silent killer” because the lack of recognizable symptoms means a patient may live with the disease for a long period without diagnosis.  Common symptoms like thirst, excessive urination, and fatigue may just be attributed to aging. The longer diabetes goes undiagnosed and therefore untreated, the more likely it is to lead to other health issues and shorten the life of the sufferer.

If you are in an “at risk” category, it is important to get yourself tested. Testing for diabetes is easy, involving a small prick with a needle to extract a drop of blood – and could save your life.  People at greater risk of contracting type II diabetes include older people, overweight people, those with sedentary lifestyles, and people with diabetes in their families. Certain racial types are more predisposed to the Continue reading “Taking Care of Oneself in Later Life to Lessen the Risk of Diabetes” »

Sugary and fizzy sodas have never exactly had a reputation as health drinks, but scientists now say they could significantly increase your risk of getting not only diabetes but also even heart disease.  Drink water instead and you will be safeguarding yourself from the extra risk.

America’s favorite drink, Coca Cola, gives you a whacking 97 calories for 8 fl oz – that’s just under a half pint, and Pepsi is even worse at 100 calories.  For this amount of calories you could eat an average serving of 4oz potatoes or about one and a half slices of bread.  Dieters have always known these drinks were fattening, but now scientists have officially linked them with increased risk of diabetes.  All drinks sweetened with sugar are implicated, said Professor Frank Hu from Harvard School of Public Health, where the study was carried out.

Medical advisors have always told people to drink plenty of fluids, especially if they are feeling tired or unwell or have been exercising, and this advice still holds good.  But drinks that have been sweetened with large amounts of sugar add a lot to your daily calorie intake and put you on the road to weight gain and obesity – the most important factor in developing diabetes.  They also cause tooth decay, and the high amounts of caffeine and sodium present in many of these drinks can contribute to high blood pressure.  These sugary drinks are an important part of the western lifestyle that has caused the diabetes epidemic, said Professor Hu.

In theUS25.8 million people are currently living with diabetes, and another 79 million are pre-diabetic and likely to go on to develop the disease fully, with probably another seven million undiagnosed, says the American Diabetic Association.  These people all face serious health consequences, including increased risk of heart disease and strokes, nerve damage which can necessitate amputation, blindness and renal failure.  Diabetes itself can cause diabetic coma if blood sugar levels are not controlled carefully with diet and medication.

Professor Hu said, “There is convincing evidence that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes, and emerging evidence that these beverages increase the risk for heart disease.”  He said it was important for people to try to replace these drinks in their diet with unsweetened drinks such as water and tea or coffee with no added sugar.  Milk and natural fruit juices are healthier than sodas, but they do contain calories, which must be taken into account in the diet to avoid gaining weight.

Many people now drink sugar free sodas, which many people have come to prefer for their lighter flavor, and these do not increase your calorie intake, so do not contribute to weight gain.  Many delicious types of bottled water are on the market, as well as lower calorie spring water and fruit juice mixes, which have even less calories than pure fruit juice.  Herbal teas are another drink which is readily available, pleasant to drink and sugar free, and these have the added advantage of having little or no caffeine in them.

People with type 1 diabetes have long cherished the hope that stem cell technology may one day cure the disease that attacked them, often in early childhood.  Now this cure has come a step nearer with the discovery of a possible therapy using cord blood stem cells.

Type 1 accounts for around 10% of all diabetes cases, and cruelly often affects quite young children or babies.  Most type 1 diabetics are diagnosed before the age of 20, and the disease is not associated with poor lifestyle or obesity.  At this stage, there is no prevention or cure for this form of the disease, although doctors are able to identify children at risk by examining family medical records.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the patient’s immune system attacks the beta cells in his pancreas, destroying his ability to manufacture insulin, the hormone needed for metabolizing sugars from the food.  Continue reading “Stem Cells Might Help in Type I Diabetes” »

“Know your enemy,” said Chinese military tactician Sun Tzu, and diabetics who put this into practice do better than those who know little about their condition.  Two recent studies have shown intensive education about diabetes management can help diabetic patients lower their blood glucose levels and minimize the risk of the deadly side effects of the disease.  Education is especially important in the case of diabetics who are not good at controlling their blood sugar by themselves.

However, although they can all have a positive effect, some educational interventions are better than others at producing results.  Best of all is one on one teaching of a patient by a trained nurse who gives him individual attention.

Diabetes can be a tricky disease to manage, with patients needing to take a lot of information on board in order to do all the right things to improve their condition.  As well as learning about how to calculate Continue reading “One on One Teaching is the Best for Diabetic Care” »