Awareness on Diabetes Mellitus

Source : Diabetes Center of the Philippines

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and of insulin itself. This lead to elevations of the blood sugar, and the appearance of sugar in the urine. When uncontrolled over the long run, diabetes can produce devastating complications. Diabetes mellitus can lead to blindness, kidney failure and gangrene of the extremities. People with diabetes are more prone to develop high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

It is said that one is not born with diabetes mellitus. However, one is born with predisposition to develop it. A predisposed individual is one who may have close relatives who are diabetics or who has a cell type which renders him very susceptible to these triggering factors. Many predisposed individuals may ward off the appearance of the disease.

What are the triggering factors of diabetes? Obesity is a major triggering factor for diabetes mellitus. The increase in body weight reduces the effectivity of insulin in various tissues. Multiple pregnancies make the woman, so predisposed, to develop diabetes, especially after the third pregnancy. Various physical and emotional stresses may trigger the appearance of the disease in the predisposed individuals. Certain hormones, drugs and other medications may act against insulin to render it less effective, and thus also trigger the appearance of the disease. Viruses may attack the beta cells of the pancreas causing destruction of some of them, the destroyed cells then act to incite the formation of anti-bodies which will now destroy the remaining beta cells, - a process of self destruction which leads to the type of diabetes which is insulin dependent. Thus, one who has diabetic relatives should not overeat, and should always exercise to prevent undue weight gain.

Despite these ominous facts, many diabetic patients can live with this dreaded disease and lead full and meaningful lives. But first they must learn all about diabetes. They must receive the proper diabetes education.

Diabetes is so complex and so demanding that proper education becomes an important and integral part of diabetes treatment. All diabetes patients must learn the proper diet, correct exercise, continuous medications, proper care of the teeth and feet, correct usage of blood tests, daily record keeping.

There is quite clearly an urgent need for proper diabetes education.

By Dr. Gary S. Sy (The Manila Bulletin Online)

A LACK as well as an excess of blood sugar (glucose) can be devastating. For this reason, the body strives to maintain blood sugar levels within a narrow range through the coordinated effort of several glands and their hormones. If these control mechanisms are disrupted, diabetes (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may result.

Normally, the body responds to the rise in blood glucose after meals by secreting insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas.

Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder that occurs when your pancreas either totally stops producing insulin or does not produce enough of the hormone for your body's need. This lack of insulin results in a low absorption of glucose, both by the body's cells, which need it for energy, and by the liver, which stores it and this result in an abnormally high level of glucose in your blood, along with a spillover of some of the excess glucose into the urine.

1.) Type I (also called juvenile onset or insulin dependent) diabetes - associated with destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, which manufacture insulin. This type of diabetes occurs mostly in children and young adults. Recent evidence implicates a viral cause in some cases. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include irritability, frequent urination, abnormal thirst, nausea or vomiting, weakness, fatigue, weight-loss despite a normal (or even increased) intake of food, and unusual hunger. In children, frequent bedwetting - especially by a child who did not previously wet the bed - is another common sign.

2.) Type II (non-insulin dependent or maturity onset) diabetes - In this form of diabetes mellitus, which usually affects people over 40, the insulin-producing cells in your pancreas function, but the output of insulin is not adequate for your body's needs. People who have this form of disorder usually over-eat and are over-weight. Heredity is also a factor. In most cases, there is a family history of the disorder. Age is also a factor, because the efficiency of your pancreas decreases as you become older. Symptoms include blurred vision, itching, unusual thirst, drowsiness, fatigue, skin infections, slow wound healing, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and loss of weight since the fat and muscle are burned up to provide energy. Other symptoms are reduced resistance to infections (boils, urinary tract infections and fungus vaginal infections are sometimes the first signs of diabetes mellitus), impotence in men, and the absence of menstrual period in women. Certain microorganisms (bacteria) are attracted to sugary urine, and these can cause complications, such as bladder infections and other urinary tract problems.

If you suspect you have diabetes mellitus, see your physician, who will ask you for urine and blood tests.

Peripheral neuropathy, chronic kidney failure and diabetic retinopathy are possible complications that are treatable and preventable with good glucose control. The best results come from early recognition and assessment of how far the disorder has advanced. It is important that you assume some of the responsibility for your care, which includes diet and weight control, checking your urine for sugar, exercising appropriately, and regular comprehensive medical checkups.

• No cure has yet been found for diabetes mellitus, and you will need treatment for the disorder all your life, once it has been diagnosed.
• There is no question that type I diabetic requires insulin. Insulin preparations have been used in the treatment of diabetes since 1922. Since insulin is not absorbed orally, it must be injected. Your physician will show you how to use a syringe to inject the insulin just under the skin of your thigh, arm or abdomen.
• Diet alone can control type II diabetes mellitus in many cases. A diet to control diabetes restricts the amount of carbohydrates you eat at one meal. When type II diabetes cannot be controlled satisfactorily with diet therapy, many medical doctors use drugs known as oral hypoglycemic agents. They appear to stimulate the secretion of insulin by the pancreas as well as enhance the sensitivity of body tissues to insulin

The treatment of diabetes and hypoglycemia requires nutritional supplementation. Diabetes and hypoglycemia have such an increased need for many nutrients that dietary supplementation is the only practical solution. Supplying these people with additional key nutrients has been shown to improve blood sugar control as well as help prevent or improve many of the major complications of their conditions.

Chromium picolinate

Chromium picolinate is a nutritional supplement that can help control diabetes. As the name implies, it is a combination of two different substances: Chromium and picolinate. Chromium is a mineral that helps to increase efficiency of insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose (blood sugar) levels; picolinate is an amino acid derivative that allows the body to use chromium much readily.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is perhaps the most publicized vitamin. The primary function of vitamin C is in the manufacture of collagen, the main protein substance of the human body. Since collagen is such an important protein in the structure that holds the body together (connective tissue, cartilage, tendons and so on), vitamin C is vital for wound repair, healthy gums, and the prevention of easy bruising. The fact is that a diabetic person needs more vitamin C than healthy non-diabetics. A chronic, latent vitamin C deficiency can lead to a number of problems for the diabetic. This includes an increased tendency to bleed, poor wound healing, an elevated cholesterol level, and a depressed immune system.

Magnesium

Magnesium reduces the complications associated with diabetes. A deficiency in magnesium can occur in people with diabetes, and is associated with immediate and long-term complications, namely: Heart disease, kidney problems, diabetic retinopathy, impotence and nerve damages. Magnesium is essential for the transport of glucose and is also important for the release of the hormone insulin, which helps to control blood sugar levels.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

A vitamin B12 deficiency is characterized by numbness of the feet, "pins and needles" sensations, or a burning feeling. It has been used with some success in treating diabetic neuropathy. Oral supplementation with 1,000 to 3,000 micrograms (100 mg - 300 mg) of B12 per day may be sufficient for diabetic and hypoglycemics, but intramuscular vitamin B12 may be necessary.

Other nutritional supplement that helps control the blood sugar level are the following... vitamin E, manganese, potassium, zinc and flavonoids.

1. Gymnema sylvestre (Gumar) is a woody climbing plant that grows in the tropical forests of Central and Southern India. The leaves are used in herbal medicine preparations. The active ingredient in gymnema silvestre is "gymnemic acid," which affects the taste buds in the oral cavity. It interferes with the taste of sweetness, which explains the Hindi name gumar... "Destroyer of sugar." It also reduces the metabolic effects of sugar by altering its digestion by the intestine, thus reducing the absorption of sugar in the blood.

2. Eugenia Jambolana (Jambul) seeds found in Central and South India and Western America have been found most effective for diabetic people as they quickly reduce the sugar in the urine, which is known as glucosuria. It also has the power of regulating the diabetes-inducing conversion of starch into sugar in cases of an increase in production of glucose.

3. Momordica charantia (Bitter melon) has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. It contains an insulin-like property known as polypeptide-P, which helps lower blood sugar levels.

4. Trigonella foenum graeceum (Fenugreek seeds) has been clinically shown to reduce the risk of complications of diabetes particularly coronary artery disease. It reduces total cholesterol levels; low-density lipoprotein levels (LDL) or bad cholesterol and triglycerides in both type I or type II diabetes.

The four herbs mentioned above plus chromium and magnesium are available in a capsule under the brand name "Diabetrol." Its recommended dosage is 1-2 capsules twice daily after meals. Diabetrol, from the words "Diabetes Control," is now available at all leading drugstores nationwide.