Posts Tagged ‘Diabetes’

Anti Diabetic Plants

Plants have been used as a source of medicine through out the years of time. The use of plants in treatment of various human ailments has been noted in many of the ancient Indian literature. There are about 45,000 plant species in India and several thousands have been used as medicine because of the purported medicinal properties. In the last few decades the studies performed on the plants mentioned in the literature or were used traditionally for diabetes have shown to actually have anti-diabetic properties. The study reviews 45 of the anti-diabetic plants and their products have shown experimental or clinical anti-diabetic activity. The most commonly studied and the most successful of these plants used in association of diabetes and their problems are the Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Aloe vera, Cajanus cajan, Coccinia indica, Caesalpinia bonducella, Ficus bengalenesis, Gymnema sylvestre, Momordica charantia, Ocimum sanctum, Pterocarpus marsupium, Swertia chirayita, Syzigium cumini, Tinospora cordifolia and Trigonella foenum graecum. A varying degree of hypoglycemia and anti-hyperglycemic activity were shown in a variety of degrees in all of the plants.

In preliminary clinical and experimental observations, the dried sap of the al0e plant is a traditional remedy used for diabetes in the Arabian Peninsula. In fact it is one of the many traditional remedies used in diabetes in the Arabian Peninsula. 5 patients wit non-insulin-dependent diabetes and in Swiss albino mice were studied. With one half teaspoon of the aloes ingested daily for 4-14 weeks, the fasting serum glucose level fell in every patient from 273 to 151 with no weight gain or loss. In normal mice, the doses of 10 mg twice daily of glibenclamide and 500 mg twice daily of aloes induce hypoglycaemia (an abnormally low level of sugar) after 5 days. 71 from 91, versus 130 in the control animals only glibenclamide was effective after 3 days. Glibenclamide and aloes noticeably reduced the fasting plasma glucose in the diabetic mice after 3 days. Only the aloes was useful after that and by day number 7, the plasma glucose was 394 versus 64, in the controls and 726 in the glibenclamide treated group. The conclusion to this study was aloes contains a hypoglycaemic agent, which lowers the blood glucose, however the specific cause is unknown.

In this study the objective is to perform a methodical review of the published literature on the effectiveness and the safety of the use of herbal supplements, vitamins and minerals, and therapies as glucose control in patients with diabetes.

An electronic literary search was perform of Medline, Oldmedline, Cochrane Library Database, and performed hand searches and consulting with experts in the field. This study also included any available clinical studies involving human participants and examined glycemic control. When data had been extracted in a consistent manner, two independent investigators assessed the procedural quality of the randomized controlled trials using the Jadad scale.

The Results found a total of 108 trials examining 35 herbs, whether single or in combination, and 9 vitamin/mineral supplements, which involved 4,565 patients with diabetes or weakened glucose tolerance. The criteria was met and analyzed. There were 58 controlled clinical trials, 42 were randomized and 16 were non-randomized trials, which mostly used patients with type 2 diabetes. Of the 58 trials, the direction of the evidence form improved glucose control was positive in 76%, which equals to 44 of the 58. Very few adverse effects were reported.

The Conclusion is still insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of individual herbs, however they do appear to be safe. With the data available it does suggest several of the herbal supplements need further study because of their positive results in the preliminary trials. These are Aloe vera, vanadium, nopal and a few others.

With Aloeride containing pure Aloe vera it is safe to say, the findings show positive results in lowering glucose among type II diabetics, and it has been found to be safe to take. Check into the other qualities of Aloeride with pure Aloe Vera. You just might be surprised. More info about Aloeride Benefits.

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Right Blood Glucose Numbers

What are the Right Numbers?

Depending on where you look, recommended blood glucose levels can vary. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) numbers differ from the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) guidelines. The ACE recommendations are more strict than the ADA’s. How do you know which to follow? Ask your healthcare provider which goals are right for you. The table below compares the two sets of guidelines for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol.

How many times a day should you check your blood glucose levels?

Checking your blood glucose levels often through out the day will help you to figure out how to keep good control. First thing in the morning before breakfast, two hours after a meal and before bed are good times to test. Other recommended times include before, during and after an exercise session, especially if it is strenuous or if you are feeling like your blood sugar may be low or high.

What is the A1C?

It’s a blood test that helps you and your doctor monitor your overall glucose control.

It gives an average of the amount of glucose in your blood over a few months’ time. It is usually ordered 2 to 4 times a year. If you are newly diagnosed or having trouble maintaining good day-to-day control, it may be ordered more often. Read More

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Diabetes Management

As of 2010, there is no cure for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This may seem like a dim outlook for many people, but the fact is that even though there is no cure, there certainly are ways to manage your diabetes.

Remeber that proper management can give you many years of healthy living.

Diabetes management starts with a visit to your doctor. first, finding out you have diabetes, what type you have then arming yourself with as much information as possible about the diabetes you are diagnosed with.

All management begins with controlling the glucose cycle.

The glucose cycle is affected by two factors, entry of glucose into the bloodstream and blood levels of insulin to control the transport out.

Your glucose levels are very sensitive to both diet and exercise, so change in either should first be discussedwith your physician. Proper management of diabetes can be very intrusive to the patient.

Proper management complete lifestyle change and frequent, sometimes multi-daily checks of glucose in the blood.

It can change as people grow and develop and no two cases are ever really the same. Today it is easier to measure the blood sugar level.

Glucose meters are readily available and are quite easy to use with a little practice and patience.

With a small drop of blood to the testing strip attached to the glucose meter, the user is given the number, which represents their blood sugar level. This in turn will let the user know if and when insulin is needed.

Diabetes Symptoms

All too often we get sick but ignore the Diabetes symptoms we may be feeling, shrugging them off to a cold, stress from work, or just not feeling well.

There are certain symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored if they develop. These symptoms could lead to blindness, amputation of limbs, coma or even death.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes often come on suddenly and are severely dramatic. The extra stress of diabetes can lead to something called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms of ketoacidosis may include nausea and vomiting, which may also lead to dehydration and serious problems with the blood levels of potassium. This could lead to a diabetic coma and ultimately death.

Other symptoms of diabetes may include extreme fatigue. We all get tired at times, but diabetes triggers a more severe fatigue than normal.

People with diabetes also experience unexplained weight loss. This is because they are unable to process many of the calories they consume. Losing sugar and water in the urine also contributes to the weight loss.

Extreme thirst is another symptom of diabetes. Diabetes develops high blood sugar levels and the body tries to compensate by diluting the blood, which translates to our brain that we are thirsty.

With this is also excessive urination. It is another way our bodies have of getting rid of the extra sugar in our system. But this can also lead to dehydration.

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with is poor wound healing. Wounds heal slowly, if at all when the carrier has diabetes. This along with infections that are not easily remedied can attribute to ulcers and loss of limbs.

Beta Glucan Lowers Blood Lipids

Barley beta-glucan reduces serum lipid levels, according to research presented at the First International Congress on Pre-Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome.

In the six-week study, 76 men and 79 women with hypercholesterolemia, aged

25 to 73, completed a four-week lowfat diet prior to baseline. At the beginning of the trial, test subjects were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups or a control group and assayed for blood lipids and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers. During the course of the study, test groups were administered 3 g and 5 g doses of low molecular weight (LMW) or high molecular weight (HMW) barley beta-glucan (from Cargill) twice daily, in cereal and juice.

Posttreatment assessment of blood lipids and other CVD biomarkers revealed improvements in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, markers of glycemic control

(glycosylated hemoglobin, HOMA model) and a key marker of inflammation (hs-CRP).

The researchers concluded both doses of LMW and HMW barley beta-glucan improved blood lipids over a six-week treatment period.

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What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing problem With the population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in health care, the problem is only growing.

Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism. Our metabolism is what the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most food that is processed through our bodies is broken down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on.

When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin into our blood.

In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced or the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to the insulin that is produced. Therefore the glucose builds up and overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the natural glucose.

three types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. People who have type 1 are known as insulin-dependent.

This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s natural system is fighting against another part of the body. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks the insulin producing cells and destroys them.

Therefore the pancreas can produce little to no insulin. These people are in need of daily injections of insulin to live. Five to ten percent of diabetes cases are type 1 in the US.

Between 2001 and 2002, the diagnosis of diabetes went from 5.5 percent of Americans to an alarming 6.5 percent. In just one year! Overall, twelve million Americans have been diagnosed and another 5 million Americans have diabetes and don’t know it. And yet another 12 millions are on their way to type 2 diabetes because of impaired glucose levels.

Not knowing is the worst because risks of untreated diabetes puts us at a terrible risk of complications including but not limited to blindness, amputations and ultimately death.

The stickler is, that type 2 diabetes is almost completely preventable. Doctor’s say eat less, eat better and exercise. The numbers show just how many Americans are currently overweight.

Statistically, people are now living longer, and it has been on the rise for years. But this will not if type 2 diabetes is not put under control.We are a gluttonous society and ultimately it is affecting how we live and how long we live.

And unfortunately, the diabetes epidemic is not just a US problem. It is spreading worldwide with epidemic reports in Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

It is estimated that by 2025, the number of diabetics worldwide will rise to 380 million. And diabetes is now affecting more of the young and middle-aged population in developing countries between the ages of 40 and 59.

Diabetes and Hair Loss

Diabetes and Hair Loss: Don’t Lose Your hair Because of Diabetes

Quite often, significant hair loss can alert an individual to the possibility of the development of diabetes. If an individual is losing hair in larger than normal quantities, and the loss does not appear to be common pattern hair loss, evaluation by a medical professional would be warranted.

The reason is this: diabetes is a disease that is hormonal related, and this imbalance can often be seen first in loss of hair. The links between hair loss and diabetes are as follows:

1. Diabetes causes poor blood circulation. Poor blood circulation can affect the ability of hair follicles to operate normally. Under normal conditions, hair grows for 2-6 years; then it goes into a period of dormancy, and eventually it dies and falls out as a new strand is produced in the follicle to push it out. When blood circulation is poor, the follicle is not producing a new strand as normal, the old strand dies and falls out, and there is no replacement hair. Further, strands tend to die and fall out more quickly when blood circulation to the head area is poor. Therefore, more hair falls out and is not replaced, creating much thinner hair.

2. Diabetics are more susceptible to skin conditions, and skin conditions on the scalp can cause hair loss. Both bacterial and fungal infections of the scalp can interrupt the normal growth process of hair.

3. The medication often prescribed and taken for diabetes can interrupt the normal cycle of hair growth. More often, this is reversed as the body adjusts to the medication, but anyone beginning medications should be aware of this.

4. Diabetes causes both physiological and psychological stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are direct factors in hair loss. Dehydration is a factor as well. When coupled with stress, it can be a killer for hair.

If you have hair loss related to diabetes, here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Wait to see if the condition will right itself once you have been on your medication for some time. This may take a few or more months.

2. Keep your body hydrated. Eight glasses (8 0z. each) should be consumed daily, no matter what other liquids you consume.

3. Exercise regularly. Exercise increases blood circulation, and your head will be a recipient of that increased circulation. Your follicles will love you for it.

4. Try Yoga or some other form of relaxation to relieve stress and anxiety.Diabetes is a significant diagnosis and a life-changing illness. Follow your physician’s instructions carefully and continue to do those things that you know are good for your general health. Hair health is affected by all that you do and consume.

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