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September 30, 2008
With the busy life-style the current generation has, it is almost impossible to take notice about some of the early warnings on our health. These cases always end up being a major health concern and if we were more conscious, these conditions could have prevented.
In this article, we try to understand some of the first signs of diabetes. Hope this will help so many to understand the first signs and use practically if required.
One thing to remember is that these signs may appear for a long time. Usually the signs for diabetes are not short term signs. Therefore, if you notice any of the below signs for some time, it is advisable to meet a doctor and look for professional care.
In most of the reported cases, often excessive thirst has been the very first sign of diabetes. Usually, the thirst has no relationship with the patient’s physical condition, exercise, or environmental conditions. The thirst appears out of nowhere for no apparent reason.
The next one which follows the thirst is the excessive hunger. Hunger can appear at any time of the day regardless of whether you just had a meal or not. You might feel hungry just after finishing your meal. If you notice this for some time, better make a call to meet the doctor.
Frequent urination is another sign for diabetes. There can be many reasons for short term frequent urination, but if it is long term, then it is an alarm for diabetes. You will notice that you will wakeup repeatedly at night for urination than earlier.
One of another common signs is the tiredness. You might feel tired all of a sudden regardless of the time of the day. Sometimes, you might feel tired after meals and fall asleep. This is severe sign that emphasize that you are somewhere in the middle of the path to diabetes.
If you notice any one or more of these signs for some time, contact your family doctor. After a few initial tests, you can be sure of the signs.
Posted in Introduction To Diabetes, Symptoms 
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September 14, 2008
I’m sure you have heard that exercising can significantly improve the health of people suffering from diabetes. This is especially true if the sufferer is classified as a type II diabetic.
The simple mechanism behind exercising having a positive impact on diabetes is that when someone exercises their body consumes oxygen twenty or so times more than usual. Consumption of oxygen is also elevated in the working muscles therefore; the muscles use more glucose to meet their increased energy levels. Thus as a result, the blood glucose level of the individual’s blood drops significantly.
Additionally, exercising improves the action of insulin in the peripheral muscles. Therefore, you will find the body using insulin more efficiently. In the case of older generations, scientists claim that decreased sensitivity in individuals comes from lack of physical exercise. Therefore, despite the age if one could involve in physical activities that exercises the body, he/she will reap effective and healthy results for years to come.
While it is very important to keep yourself healthy with exercises, it is even more important to know the correct way of doing exercises that is suitable for your condition and the best times to exercise.
Scientists at Quebec Heart Institute claim that the best time to exercise is after meals as opposed to exercising in the morning after fasting. They arrived at this conclusion by studying the impact on the blood glucose response followed by the amount of time that passed since the previous meal. Their observation was that the greatest reductions were shown only after 4 or 5 hours after the last meal. So deriving from the evidence, we can safely determine the best time to exercise as 5 or 6 pm if you have lunch at 1 pm.
As per the types of exercises that should be used by a person with diabetes, both aerobic and anaerobic exercises would be suitable. However, it is always best to seek advice from an instructor depending on the gravity of your condition and depending on any side effects or complications you experience.
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September 5, 2008
If you have ever been to China, you couldn’t have missed the strange sight of people gathering in groups in every possible open space to perform a little dance, in the mornings. This little dance is the practice of Tai Chi. On the outlook it looks like a mixture of slow motion dancing mingled with martial art movements. But if you experience it, you will know that it is a type of meditation that brings vitality and many benefits to your everyday living.
If you are skeptical about its effectiveness, take a look at the Chinese people as they are the living evidence of its glory. Among the many secrets and wisdom from the East, the Chinese people have been thriving on the effectiveness of Tai Chi and its many benefits from the dawn of their generations. In order to prove its effectiveness, two groups have conducted studies on Tai Chi and its impact on type II diabetes.
The first study was carried out in Taiwan where two groups were formed each consisting of 30 individuals categorized in to the groups of those who were suffering with type II diabetes and those who were not. All participants were then assigned to a one hour Tai Chi class three times a week for twelve weeks. At the end of the twelve weeks, people with type II diabetes were checked for their HbA1c level which is the measurement to check how well the body can control blood sugar and showed positive results.
A similar study carried out in Australia shows evidence that Tai Chi combined with Qigong for twelve consecutive weeks showed decreased levels of blood sugar in people who had elevated blood sugar levels, previously.
Having walked in the path of western medicine for many decades, people are increasingly on the outlook for alternative methods of remedies nowadays. Tai Chi if performed and learnt the correct way would bring the relief you seek in life. However, it is important to remember that your instructor should be a qualified professional. Practices such as Tai Chi carry no side effects. After all, it is renowned as a perfect way of keeping life in balance. So why not try it out?
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August 29, 2008
Whatever the controversies you may have heard about men being at higher or lower risks of diabetes than women, scientists have conducted a several studies to determine a proper answer and their findings are alarming.
According to scientists at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Aurora, men need to work harder to gain the same benefits of reducing diabetes risk than women. Having conducted a study of 1100 adults who are at risk of type II diabetes, scientists have discovered that men work harder and for longer to cut down calories. Consequently they would lose more weight and would exercise for longer yet their reduction of diabetes risk is not significant.
Another interesting study carried out at the University of Buffalo brings forth alarming news as the endocrinologists claim to have found a condition that could have a critical effect on mens’ quality of life and their procreation ability. The study was conducted followed by earlier research which claimed that one third of middle aged men with type II diabetes had significant low levels of testosterone levels which led them to require treatment for erectile dysfunction and similar disorders.
Furthermore, the scientists add that patients with type II diabetes have been reported of having very high concentrations of C reactive protein which could increase their risk of developing heart disease and atherosclerosis, apart from the other risks involved with diabetes.
Interestingly, the hypothesis of the study was proved once again with majority of young men with type II diabetes having significantly low levels of testosterone.
So the important thing for you to understand from all these findings are that if you are a young man who is suffering from type II diabetes, it is time for you to act now and work hard to reduce calorie intake while losing weight. The lack of testosterone during critical years of your life means you are vulnerable to have diminished bone mass and diminished development of skeletal muscles. It will also make you gain more weight and become more insulin resistant.
Now it’s the time for you to act on it and make things right in order to avoid many implications that type II diabetes may have in your life. If you are a parent with children suffering from type II diabetes, this is your chance to educate them and motivate them to control their condition to avoid further issues.
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August 11, 2008
Most of us would take medicines or eat fruits and vegetables for controlling diabetes as a precautionary step. But the latest researches suggest that taking broccoli regularly with your meal would undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels.
The research team in The University of Warwick believes that a compound found in vegetables called “sulforaphane” is the key. Chemically speaking, this particular compound encourages the production of enzymes which protect the blood vessels and also helps the reduction of molecules that causes cell damage.
The vegetable family where broccoli is also a member is known for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The specialty with diabetes patients is that they have a risk of getting heart attacks and strokes five times than usual. So broccoli can be considered as one of the best food for reducing this fivefold risk.
I would like to quote a statement made by the lead researcher Professor Paul Thornalley: “Our study suggests that compounds such as sulforaphane from broccoli may help counter processes linked to the development of vascular disease in diabetes. In future, it will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect that it will.”
As the key observation of the research, the research team recorded a 73 percent reduction of molecules in the body called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and it is a clear and direct indication of risk reduction for cell damage. Usually high glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) can cause cell damages and produce a high level of ROS.
The research team also found that sulforaphane activated a protein in the body called “nrf2” which protects cells and tissues from damage by activating protective antioxidants and enzymes. So eating broccoli would protect and undo the damage caused by diabetes in multiple ways.
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