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In the United States alone there is an estimated 17 million people that suffer from diabetes. Of those 17 million who suffer this disease nearly 5.9 million have not been medically diagnosed. The reason for this could well be that many of the early warning signs of diabetes are shrugged off by those who suffer them because the symptoms do not seem that severe.

Even when those who heed the early symptoms of diabetes do go to the doctor they often express disbelief that they are diagnosed as being diabetic. In the early stages of diabetes the symptoms can be more of a minor annoyance, leading those who are diagnosed saying things like “I don’t feel sick”. In fact many people are diagnosed with diabetes when they visit the doctor because they think they have something else wrong with them. Many of the early signs of diabetes are often attributed to some other ailment or condition.

The sooner the symptoms of diabetes are recognized and diagnosed the better the chances of a managing this condition and avoiding many of the serious and sometimes life threatening complications this disease can bring. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the United States today.

The American Diabetes Association has a list of the early warning signs of diabetes and they include:

1. Increased Urination - This is caused by high blood sugar levels which increase the amount of blood that flows through the kidneys.

2. Excessive Thirst - The increased output of urine can lead to dehydration.

3. Extreme Hunger - Because diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin or insulin resistance glucose is unable to cross over from the blood stream into the cells where it is needed for energy production. The body thinks it’s hungry because of the energy deficit and manifests hunger pangs.

4. Unexplained Weight Loss - The body will start to break down its own proteins (muscle) and fat to make up for the perceived lack of cellular energy. This despite the fact that the person is actually eating more.

5. Fatigue - Caused by the decreased energy levels.

6. Irritability and Depression.

7. Vision Impairment - An increase in blood volume caused by high blood glucose levels can lead to swelling of the eye’s lens.

Taken by themselves, or even as a group it is easy to see why these diabetic symptoms could be seen as part of any number of other conditions that can cause them. Everyday stress can cause fatigue, irritability, and depression. Depression is known to cause weight loss. Many of these signs and symptoms start out small; barely noticeable and as time progresses many people don’t actually see the changes because of the slow rate at which they occur.

These symptoms will get progressively worse as the affects of the diabetes creates a variety of complications that affects many of the bodily systems. It is important to note that these symptoms will not resolve themselves.

The sooner one can recognize the early warning signs of diabetes the sooner they can seek medical attention. Diagnosing diabetes early is key to successfully managing its long term affects. There is no known cure for diabetes but with lifestyle changes and proper medical treatment it can be controlled and its affects minimized.

To learn more about the symptoms and complications of diabetes please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

What is PCOS? It seems to be in the news and on TV programs these days, but it is difficult to understand what it is, and what causes it. PCOS stands for “Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome,” which is, at basis, a condition in which women produce many follicles on their ovaries each month, but generally do not produce a mature egg.

These follicles emit hormones, and wreak havoc on a woman’s hormonal system. Since the follicles emit testosterone, they can cause a woman to grow facial hair. They also secrete insulin, which results in long-term insulin resistance, and can eventually result in full-blown Type II diabetes, which must be treated for the rest of a woman’s life.

PCOS often is the cause for infertility. Many of us know that fertility requires a careful balance of female hormones in order to produce an egg on a regular basis. Since the woman suffering from PCOS has a deficit in estrogen and progesterone - the two primary female hormones associated with fertility and female qualities - she is often unable to produce an egg for fertilization.

What causes PCOS? It’s been called a “syndrome” because the cause is unknown. Although we know that the follicles are overactive and unproductive, we don’t know what causes this activity to take place.

We know that, in a normally functioning reproductive system, a woman’s ovaries contain all the eggs she will have for her lifetime. These eggs are expressed from puberty to menopause, typically one per month. The mechanism of expression is the follicle, which both grows at the surface of the ovary and issues signaling hormones to let the rest of the body know when an egg is coming.

In a malfunctioning system, more than one follicle develops at a time. The excess of hormones may trigger a ‘defensive’ mechanism in the follicles which prevents their full expression, and thus inhibits overall production of an egg ready for fertilization.

The symptoms of PCOS can be confusing, as they are so diverse. The first indication is a weight gain, despite exercise and proper diet control. Insulin resistance occurs because of a spike in insulin production over a long period of time; the cells of the body receive an oversupply of insulin for so long that they develop an overall resistance, which results in insulin losing its effect to control serum glucose levels and results in a diabetes which needs to be controlled through diet, and sometimes through insulin injections.

Other symptoms can include acne (as a part of the hormonal storm), hair growth, and extremely irregular periods. A woman with PCOS can go for several months with no period, and then suddenly have extremely heavy bleeding for a longer-than-usual period of time.

Depression is a common symptom, which may be related to hormone-caused mood swings, or to other underlying causes of the disease. Of course, women who suffer these other symptoms, including infertility, would have reason to feel depressed.

Until recently, few physicians were trained to recognize PCOS. There are now a good deal more articles in the scientific literature on how both to recognize and treat the syndrome.

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on PCOS Insulin Resistance.

A complication that all people with diabetes need to be aware of and on the lookout for is diabetic neuropathy. This is a disorder of the peripheral nerves, which are the nerves in the outermost portions of the body (feet, hands, etc.). Recognizing the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are of major importance because to miss them can have life altering or even threatening affects.

Diabetic neuropathy is caused by the walls of the blood vessels that supply the nerves becoming thicker. The end result of this is less nutrients are unable to get to the nerves as well as a demyelinization (destruction of the myelin sheath that protects nerves) of the Schwann cells that surround and insulate the nerves. This slows the ability of the nerves to conduct impulses back to the brain. Sorbitol also forms and accumulates in the Schwann cells causing further nerve conduction impairment.

There are two forms of neuropathies that can form with diabetes; polynueropathies and mononeuropathies. Polynueropathies are the most common in those with diabetes and is a bilateral sensory disorder. The symptoms for this form of diabetic neuropathy are most common in the toes and feet and normally appear there first. The finger and hands can also be affected but this usually occurs during the later stages of the disease. Where the symptoms appear will depend on what nerves fibers are affected.

The symptoms can differ among individuals and is dependent on the amount of damage done to the nerves. It is a disorder that will get progressively worse if the diabetes is not properly managed. The first signs will normally be a subjective change in sensation in the extremities that can include numbness and tingling.

Other symptoms can include an aching pain, a burning or shooting sensation, or feeling like you have cold feet. As the neuropathy progresses the symptoms can include impaired sensations of pain, touch, temperature, vibration, and two-point discrimination. The only way to treat polyneuropathy is through management of the diabetes itself.

Mononeuropathies are isolated events that affect single nerves. The symptoms of this form of neuropathy are entirely dependent on which nerve is affected. They can affect the oculomotor nerve which can lead to headache, eye pains and an inability to move the eye in any direction.

Another symptom of mononeuropathies is Radiculopathy which is characterized by pain that seems to radiate from the spine to extend outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation. It is thought to be caused by an inadequate blood supply to the spinal nerve roots.

All diabetics, whether type 1 or type 2, need to be aware of the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. The sooner it is brought to the attention of the diabetics health care providers the sooner it can be managed through proper lifestyle choices that are centered on diet, exercise, and proper medical management.

For more information about the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

Diabetes Mellitus is an insidious disease that causes a whole slew of complications that can have life altering and threatening effects for anyone who suffers from it. From heart disease to kidney problems, blindness and nerve damage, recognizing the symptoms of diabetes mellitus early and getting proper medical treatment is key to managing it effects and the complications it can cause.

It is estimated that 17 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States alone. Further more nearly 5.9 million of those 17 million have not been diagnosed and are suffering the effects of not managing their condition. Many people remain undiagnosed because they do not recognize or understand their symptoms and never seek medical help until their symptoms have manifested into the later complications.

The treatment of diabetes is about managing the condition through proper diet, exercise, and medication. The sooner a positive diagnosis is made the better the chances of avoiding potential life threatening complications that this disease is known for. There is no known cure but millions of people with diabetes live normal lives through healthy lifestyle choices.

The symptoms of diabetes mellitus as listed by the American Diabetes Association include:

1. Increased Urination - Increased blood flow through the kidneys due to high blood sugar levels contributes to this.

2. Excessive Thirst - Caused by the increased urine output that brings about dehydration.

3. Hungry All the Time - Because glucose (sugar) is unable to leave the blood stream and enter the cells due to a lack of insulin or insulin resistance the cells do not get the fuel they need for energy. The body senses this energy deficit and thinks it needs more calories to fuel its metabolic processes.

4. Weight Loss - Even though the diabetic is eating more the body starts to break down its own protein and fat stores to feed the perceived lack of energy for the cells.

5. Fatigue - Decreased energy levels lead to constant feelings of fatigue and lethargy.

6. Irritability and Depression.

7. Eye Problems - High blood glucose levels cause an increase in blood volume which can cause the lens of the eye to swell.

These signs will usually start out as nothing more than minor annoyances, but with time they will increase in severity. Many people attribute them to other things and brush them aside. Many of the symptoms can be attributed to other things like the stress of everyday life which can cause fatigue, depression, and irritability.

Many people are often surprised when they are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus saying things like “I don’t feel sick”. Many people are visiting their doctor for other concerns when they are first diagnosed. But once they putt all their symptoms together along with the results of their blood glucose test that the doctor will order the diagnosis is easily seen.

Recognizing the symptoms of diabetes mellitus early in the disease’s stages is the single most important factor when it comes to minimizing the long term complications that are associated with this disease.

To learn more about the symptoms of diabetes mellitus please visit the web site Diabetic Diet Plans by Clicking Here.

A diabetic diet is a balanced healthy diet with appropriate mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and fats at each meal so as to both provide essential nutrients as well as create an even release of glucose into the blood from meal to meal on a daily basis. A diet for diabetes, however, needs to be adjusted to suit each diabetic’s requirement as there are tend to be differences in everyone’s level of physical activities, injections of insulin (if taking) and intake of oral diabetic drugs, and the action and timing of the medications taken.

The exchange lists, which are dietary guidelines from the American Diabetes Association, are the basis of a meal planning system designed by a committee of the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association. There are differing philosophies on what is the best diet but below is a guideline with some general principles. Patients with Type 1 diabetes should have a diet that has approximately 35 calories per kg of body weight per day (or 16 calories per pound of body weight per day). Patients with Type 2 diabetes generally are put on a 1500-1800 calorie diet per day to promote weight loss and then the maintenance of ideal body weight.

Most people with diabetes find that it is quite helpful to sit down with a dietician or nutritionist for a consult about what is the best diet for them and how many daily calories they need. It is quite important for diabetics to understand the principles of carbohydrate counting and how to help control blood sugar levels through proper diet.

To keep blood sugar levels under control, a diabetic diet strikes a balance among the carbohydrates, fats, and protein you take in.

Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates are the source of energy that starts with glucose, the sugar in your bloodstream, and includes substances containing many sugar molecules called complex carbohydrates, starches, cellulose, and gums. Carbohydrates comprise the highest source of blood sugar and are the primary fuel for your body and brain. Carbohydrates are any food that can be broken down into sugar and the more of these you eat the higher your blood sugar will rise.

Fat:

Fats should contain no more than the 30% of the daily basis calorie count. Fats are the most important concern for diabetics because the management of cholesterol is done according to the amount of fat taken into the body. The dietary key to managing cholesterol, then, lies in understanding fats and oils.

Reducing the consumption of saturated fats and trans-fatty acids is the number one step in managing weight and cholesterol. To manage these fats it is important to understand both saturated fats and trans fatty acids. Saturated fats are found in animal products and dairy products. Trans-fatty acids are created through a process called hydrogenation. These fats can be found in stick margarine and in fast foods, baked goods and white breads.

Protein:

Protein is another element that is important to take account of in the diabetic diet. Protein foods do not raise your blood sugar, so you can add more fish, eggs, meat, etc with your meals. Protein is limited to 15-20% of the total calorie requirement of the body. Whenever you eat a meal or snack, it should always include a small amount of protein that has its own natural fat. The protein food with its own natural fat tends to hold onto the food longer so that your blood sugar doesn’t spike and then drop immediately.

A diabetic diet can be customized to suit each patient’s preferences, and a nutritionist can help with this. This type of diet should also take into consideration the medical condition, lifestyle and eating habits of the diabetic patient.

If you are diabetic or know someone who is and you want to learn more about diabetic diet plans please visit the website Diabetic Diet Plans by clicking here.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that tends to be recognized through high levels of blood sugar and other physical manifestations, and it differs significantly from a typical illness or chronic disease. There are several types of diabetes known to the medical community, and all are caused by a variety of different things - in fact, current research in the medical community tends to discover new potential causes of diabetes each year.

Ultimately, diabetes is brought on by an individual’s pancreas becoming unable to produce the necessary amount of insulin to prevent the development of hyperglycemia. Once a person has developed type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is incurable - but it is treatable. If the diabetes is not controlled through medical treatment, it can lead to life-threatening complications, such as a higher risk of heart failure, blindness, severe nerve damage, and foot wounds that could lead to amputation.

Type 1 diabetes differs from type 2 in that it is more commonly found in men, and it may have a small genetic link. This type of diabetes tends to develop when the cells inside of one’s pancreas are attacked by the immune system, disallowing the pancreas to produce the required amount of insulin and thereby causing an insulin deficiency. It is also possible to develop type 1 diabetes through after-complications of viral infections contracted during one’s childhood or youth. These may take a toll on the immune system, causing it to malfunction later in one’s life.

Type 2 diabetes has a much larger genetic link, generally resulting from a predisposition toward the disease and lifestyle choices that cause the disease to develop. Parents may pass this disease on to their children at birth, though it is possible to reduce the risk of ever developing type 2 diabetes: this involves wise choices when it comes to lifestyle habits and diet, such as reducing or eliminating the consumption of high-fat foods and excessive alcohol, keeping active, and being careful to avoid becoming overweight.

It is possible for type 2 diabetes to become onset with age, regardless of previous lifestyle choices, simply due to genetics. Risk for genetically onset diabetes tends to increase at around 45 years old, and after 65 the risk becomes even greater.

In addition, there are certain ethnic groups whose genetic predisposition toward developing type 2 diabetes is much higher. These groups include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and Japanese Americans. Individuals belonging to these ethnic groups would do well to take extra care when it comes to diet and lifestyle, in order to ensure a long and happy life.

Chiron Data provides diabetes software for diabetes management experts.

The ADA 67th Scientific Sessions in Chicago started today and there has been a noisy buzz on everything diabetes. However, what got my interest more is the research development on oral insulin. The Type 1 diabetics are dependent on insulin. While the type 2 diabetics do not, still at a later stage, they will insulin as well. At the moment, insulin is only available by injection. Of course there are ongoing trials and investigation on oral insulin, but as far as I know, there is nothing approved in the market yet, and everything is still investigational. Here are a few recent lead stories I got on oral insulin:

‘Insulin pill” hope for diabetes - a UK company, Diabetology and Cardiff University experts may have solved the previous setback on oral insulin with their capsules’ special coating that protects the drug from acids in the stomach, which will allow it to pass into the small intestine where it is absorbed.

Capsules against diabetes - Biotechnologists at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed a new type of alginate capsule -called TAM (the Trondheim Alginate Microcapsule) - that could solve the problem of the body’s immune system recognizing and attacking alien, implanted insulin cells. The say that the gel capsule is designed with a view to camouflage the insulin-producing cells to the body’s immune system.

Also, since the type 2 diabetes is characterized by being insensitive to insulin leading to high sugar levels, a leading a team of researchers from Ohio University, Athens (led by John Kopchick) to believe that the condition can alter the abundance of various skin proteins, which thereby makes the skin a possible alternative in diagnosing type 2 diabetes. Kopchick and his colleagues decided to see whether they could detect protein changes in the skin of mice that are specially bred to gain weight and develop diabetes when fed fatty food. The results, although may potentially diagnose diabetes through the skin, are still being studied further whether the changes in skin protein biomarkers are due to diabetes alone and not obesity - since obesity is usually a precursor of type 2 diabetes.

However, if the study proved to be successful in human, we are looking at a future of a dermal diagnostic tool that will detect type 2 diabetes even before the symptoms appear. This method can also have possible applications in other serious diseases.

The author writes about snack for diabetics and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

They are joining the lowly ranks of candy and sugary sweets. Some researchers even warn against diet soda, claiming it could lead to a loss of calcium. And of course, ‘regular’ soda is being blamed for contributing to weight gain and diabetes.

Then, with regards to association with heart disease, it doesn’t matter which one you chose, both are linked to increased risk of heart disease and developing metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels — three or more of which, increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also increases the risk of heart disease by two to four times that than the normal population and increases the risk of type-2 diabetes by nine to 30 times, not to mention its detrimental effects to the kidneys, liver, ovaries, a person’s ability to sleep and even dementia.

According to statistics, metabolic syndrome affects up to 30 percent of the industrialized world’s population, and is expected to affect 50 to 75 million Americans by the year 2010.

As reported by the Framingham researchers in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, drinking one or more soft drink daily (whether regular or diet) may increase the risk factors for heart disease, among others:
- 31 percent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kilograms/meter2 or more);
- 30 percent increased risk of developing increased waist circumference;
- 25 percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose;
- 32 percent higher risk of having low HDL levels.

A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure that was not statistically significant. According to Ravi Dhingra, M.D., lead author of the study and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School: “Moderation in anything is the key. If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease.”

For those who already have diabetes, soft drinks are double trouble anyway. What with all that sugar content!

Also, According to Ramachandran Vasan, M.D., senior author of the Framingham Heart Study and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine: One explanation is that the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, and can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. But then you would expect to see an association with regular soft drinks, but not diet soft drinks.

Our findings suggest that this is not the case. Another possible explanation is that consuming more liquids is associated with a lesser degree of dietary compensation. However, the researchers admit that these results need to be replicated in further studies before recommendations can be made.

The author writes about Snacks for Diabetics and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

VeraLight Inc. is the developer of the non-invasive diabetes-screening device code-named “Scout” and its researchers conducted the study on 322 subjects ranging from 21 to 88 years old with a broad range of skin color. Manufactured in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Scout DS is a simple-to-use device that weighs about 10 pounds and does not require the patient to fast or provide a blood sample but instead uses light directed onto a small area of an individual’s forearm to be able to detect abnormal concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

AGEs has been found to correlate well with diabetes and pre-diabetes and are associated with the disease’s serious complications. AGEs are a sensitive metric for the cumulative damage the body endures due to the effects of abnormally high blood sugar and oxidative stress. AGEs harm the proteins that make up the blood vessels, connective tissue, and are thought to be major factors in aging and age-related chronic diseases.
Previous studies have shown that a Scout DS prototype is better than both the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and the A1C test as a rapid and non-invasive screen for pre-diabetes and type2 diabetes. IGT is a condition that often progresses to type 2 diabetes, therefore its detection is very crucial.
“…results showed a prototype of the device was able to identify 78% more individuals with the IGT form of pre-diabetes than the FPG test, and 47% more than the A1C test.”

This medical device is slated for U.S. market introduction in the second half of 2008 and was previewed for the first time last week at the 67th annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association held at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is able to detect abnormal concentrations of the skin biomarkers known to be associated with diabetes in less than one minute using fluorescent light from an individual’s forearm.

According to Timothy J. Lyons, M.D., a clinical investigator for VeraLight who heads the endocrinology section at the Oklahoma University Health Science Center:
“Considering its excellent speed, convenience and sensitivity, the Scout DS may be ideally suited to detect the more than 70 million individuals worldwide who have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

VeraLight’s diabetes screening technology represents a critical response to the worldwide diabetes epidemic, making screening more accurate and accessible to everyone at risk for this devastating disease.”

Take note: WITHOUT drawing blood and no overnight fasting prior to testing, unlike the FPG and AIC test.

Wow, non-blood pre-diabetes screening?! I am all for that kind.

The author writes about Snacks for Diabetes and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.

As a young child I’ve been taught that milk is a complete food because it contains most of the nutrients necessary for good health. Most especially, milk is the best natural source of Vitamin D and Calcium - the key nutrients for bone health.

Now, the combination of Vitamin D and Calcium has been found to reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, giving us (even adults) additional reason to drink milk.

According to this article: the recommended three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk provides 900 mg of calcium, 300 IU of vitamin D and 80 mg of magnesium daily.

Magnesium in there caught my eye - because increased magnesium in the diet has recently been linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes as well.

Well, I guess we should all start drinking milk - especially if like me, you’ve lost the habit somewhere in time - though we should remember to keep it fat-free.

A German study suggests that increased intake of fiber and magnesium-rich grains can significantly reduce the risk of developing diabetes. The said research, led by Matthias Schulze, from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke revealed the following:

- Consumption of fiber through cereal, bread and other grain products (cereal fiber) was associated with a reduced risk of diabetes; highest fiber intake (an average of 29 grams per day) resulted to 27% lower risk than those with the lowest intake (an average of 15.1 grams per day).
- No difference observed in the reduction of risks between soluble or insoluble fiber
- Highest consumption of cereal fiber was associated with a 33 % reduction in the risk of diabetes
- Consumption of the most magnesium had a 23 per cent lower risk, compared to those who consumed the least

In both cases (fiber or magnesium), no association was found between fruit or vegetable fiber and diabetes risk. The study’s findings, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, strongly support the importance of whole grain foods in diabetes prevention.

But of course, it cannot be just fiber and magnesium but an entirely nutritionally balanced diet that will lower our risks of developing diabetes.

Other sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and eating more of these may be able to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes, according to meta-analysis of observational studies by Karolinska Institutet researchers.
“Findings from this meta-analysis of cohort studies indicate that increased intake of magnesium may reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes. This observational evidence should be treated as compelling but not definitive.

The potential protective role of magnesium intake against type-2 diabetes may be due to improvement of insulin sensitivity. Studies in animals have demonstrated an adverse effect of magnesium deficiency on glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

In contrast, magnesium supplementation was shown to prevent fructose-induced insulin resistance and reduce the development of diabetes in a rat model of spontaneous type-2 diabetes.”

The author writes about Berberine and blogs at http://www.daily-diabetic.com/.