Diabetes: sugar and the body!

Most people today know that diabetes and sugar are somewhat related. The fact that it is an illness that can have devastated effects is also common knowledge and the truth is statistics just released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the prevalence of diabetes in the US population is expected to increase by at lease twelve percent by 2050.

These figures are indeed alarming although there are some good news for people who are willing to make some basic lifestyle changes!

Diabetes: its in the urine!

• Records show that in 1500 BC, healers were noticing that people who were dying from a mysterious emaciating disease had urine which commonly attracted ants.
• A third Dysnasty papyrus dated 1552 bc in fact records a frequent urination illness
• Arateus in 150 AD talks about the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine
• As early as the 10th. century, Greek physicians start prescribing excercise as means to relieve excess urination
• In addition, urine was found to have a sweet taste and the latin word for honey (Melllitus) is coined to the condition: Diabetes Mellitus
• 1914. Frederick Madison Allen launches his Starvation Diet for his diabetic patients. Patients were restricted to 1000 cal per day until the sugar disapeared from their urine. However this largely inadequate dieting regimen did not offer patients an oportunaty to enjoy ordinary life activities.
• 1920 Dr.Banting conceives the idea of insulin.
• 1955 Oral drugs are introduced to lowe blood sugar levels
• 1966 First pancreas transplant
• 1970 Introduction of the first glucose meters and insulin pumps
• 1975 Introduction of disting types of diabetes (1 and 2)

Diabetes refers to a disease in which the body is unable to process sugar (glucose). It is important to recognize the symptoms of diabetes early so that you can get the necessary treatment. Diabetes occurs when the body cannot adequately use the sugars we ingest from the foods we eat. While the disease is partially a result of our lifestyle, it is also based on your genetic background.

There are three types of diabetes mellitus:

1. Type 1 diabetes is the type of diabetes where the body is unable to produce any of the insulin it needs to function. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease; that is, the body is turning on itself. With Type 1 diabetes, it does this by destroying the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Once these cells are destroyed, the body can no longer produce insulin. Persons with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin daily for the rest of their lives.Type 1 diabetes used to be known as juvenile diabetes because it is found most frequently in children and young adults.
2. Type 2 diabetes:This was formerly referred to as adult-onset diabetes, but even children can have type 2 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, the body produces some insulin, but not as much as it needs to regulate sugar levels.
3. Gestational diabetes: This type of diabetes only affects pregnant women, hence, the name. It normally occurs late in a pregnancy and results from the hormonal changes taking place.

Risk factors for diabetes

Although genetics plays a role in determining who will develop diabetes, there are other factors that may indicate that you are at risk. These risk factors include being overweight, an inactive lifestyle, and your age. Hormonal fluctuations in pregnancy also increase your risk of developing diabetes later on.

Symptoms of diabetes

The main signs of diabetes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Increased thirst and hunger

• Increasing need to urinate and increased quantity of urine produced

• Blurry vision Minor cuts and scratches take longer to heal than usual

• Losing weight without any apparent reason

• Being constantly tired

Treatment of diabetes

Typical treatment for diabetes includes:

• medication (primarily insulin)

• controlling and lowering your blood pressure

• lowering your cholesterol levels (especially LDL)

• exercising

• losing weight

Getting a diagnosis of diabetes can be difficult, but remember that with current medical advances, the outlook is better than ever. Diabetes, while serious, is controllable with proper diet, exercise, and following your doctor's orders. Taking steps to change the factors you can control that lead to developing diabetes is the first step to a healthier you.

Vitaman writes about health for a variety of online ezine, isnare and various other nutritional supplements websites .

He also promotes a range of Organic Vitamins

Please make sure to consult a doctor before taking any nutritional supplements. Do not take a supplemental component as a cure for a disease unless you have discussed it with your doctor first!