Daily Health Tips: Trusted Medical Information, Health Tips and Advices

We do not yet know of a way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, however, can be prevented in some cases. Control weight to normal or near-normal levels by eating a healthy low-fat, high-fiber diet. Regular exercise is crucial to the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Keep alcohol consumption low. Quit smoking. If you have high blood fat levels (such as high cholesterol) or high blood pressure, take your medication as directed. Lifestyle modification and/or certain medications can be used in people with prediabetes to prevent progression to diabetes. Pre-diabetes can be diagnosed by checking fasting glucose and two hours after ingesting 75 grams of glucose. If you or someone you know already have diabetes, your focus should be on preventing the complications, which can cause serious disabilities such as blindness, kidney failure requiring dialysis, amputation, or even death. Tight glucose control: The single best thing the patient can do is t...

Depending on how elevated the patient's blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are at the time of diagnosis, they may be given a chance to lower blood sugar level without medication. The best way to do this is to lose weight if obese and begin an exercise program. This will generally be tried for three to six months, then blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin will be rechecked. If they remain high, the patient will be started on an oral medication, usually a sulfonylurea or biguanide [metformin Glucophage)], to help control blood sugar level. Even if the patient is on medication, it is still important to eat a healthy diet, lose weight if they are overweight, and engage in moderate physical activity as often as possible. The healthcare provider will monitor the patient's progress on medication very carefully at first. It is important to get just the right dose of the right medication to get the blood sugar level in the ...

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment of diabetes almost always involves the daily injection of insulin, usually a combination of short-acting insulin [for example, lispro (Humalog) or aspart (NovoLog)] and a longer acting insulin [for example,  NPH, Lente, glargine (Lantus), detemir, or ultralente]. Insulin must be given as an injection. If taken by mouth, insulin would be destroyed in the stomach before it could get into the blood where it is needed. Most people with type 1 diabetes give these injections to themselves. Even if someone else usually gives the patient injections, it is important that the patient knows how to do it in case the other person is unavailable. A trained professional will show the patient how to store and inject the insulin. Usually this is a nurse who works with the healthcare provider or a diabetes educator. Insulin is usually given in two or three injections per day, generally around mealtimes. Dosage is individualized...

  Type 2 diabetes are often subtle and may be attributed to aging or obesity. A person may have type 2 diabetes for many years without knowing it. People with type 2 diabetes can develop hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome. Type 2 diabetes can be precipitated by steroids and stress. If not properly treated, type 2 diabetes can lead to complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage. Common symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired. Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may lose weight even though they eat an appar...

Type 1 Diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly. Type 1 diabetes is usually recognized in childhood or early adolescence, often in association with an illness (such as a virus or urinary tract infection) or injury. The extra stress can cause diabetic ketoacidosis. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and often-serious disturbances in blood levels of potassium follow. Without treatment, ketoacidosis can lead to coma and death. Common symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired. Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may ...

Type 2 diabetes has strong genetic links, meaning that type 2 diabetes tends to run in families. Several genes have been identified and more are under study which may relate to the causes of type 2 diabetes. Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include the following: High blood pressure High blood triglyceride (fat) levels Gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds High-fat diet High alcohol intake Sedentary lifestyle Obesity or being overweight Ethnicity, particularly when a close relative had type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes: certain groups, such as African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Japanese Americans, have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. Aging: Increasing age is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Risk begins to rise significantly at about age 45 years, and rises considerably after age 65 years.

Type 1 diabetes is believed to be an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. A predisposition to develop type 1 diabetes may run in families, but genetic causes (a postitive family history) is much more common for type 2 diabetes. Environmental factors, including common unavoidable viral infections, may also contribute. Type 1 diabetes is most common in people of non-Hispanic, Northern European descent (especially Finland and Sardinia), followed by African Americans, and Hispanic Americans. It is relatively rare in those of Asian descent. Type 1 diabetes is slightly more common in men than in women.

Treatment: Follow the healthcare provider's treatment recommendations. Keep records of blood sugar levels as often as recommended by the healthcare provider, including the times the levels were checked, when and how much insulin or medication was taken, when and what was eaten, and when and for how long the patient exercised. Call the healthcare provider if the patient has any problems with their treatment or symptoms that suggest poor glucose control. Education: Attend diabetes education classes at the local hospital. The more educated the patient and their family are about the disease, the better they are likely to do. Regular visits to the primary healthcare provider If the patient takes insulin, they should see the healthcare provider about every three months or more often. For other diabetics, every three to six months is generally adequate, unless they are having problems. Recognize low blood sugar levels and know how to treat them The pat...

Medical Treatment The treatment of diabetes is highly individualized, depending on the type of diabetes, whether the patient has other active medical problems, whether the patient has complications of diabetes, and age and general health of the patient at time of diagnosis. A healthcare provider will set goals for lifestyle changes, blood sugar control, and treatment. Together, the patient and the healthcare provider will devise a plan to help meet those goals. Education about diabetes and its treatment is essential in all types of diabetes. When the patient is first diagnosed with diabetes, the diabetes care team will spend a lot of time with the patient, teaching them about their condition, treatment, and everything they need to know to care for themselves on a daily basis. The diabetes care team includes the healthcare provider and his or her staff. It may include specialists in foot care, neurology, kidney diseases, and eye diseases. A profess...

If you or someone you know has diabetes, they would be wise to make healthful lifestyle choices in diet, exercise, and other health habits. These will help to improve glycemic (blood sugar) control and prevent or minimize complications of diabetes. Diet: A healthy diet is key to controlling blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes complications. If the patient is obese and has had difficulty losing weight on their own, talk to a healthcare provider. He or she can recommend a dietitian or a weight modification program to help the patient reach a goal. Eat a consistent, well-balanced diet that is high in fiber, low in saturated fat, and low in concentrated sweets. A consistent diet that includes roughly the same number of calories at about the same times of day helps the healthcare provider prescribe the correct dose of medication or insulin. It will also help to keep blood sugar at a relatively even level and avoid excessively low or high blood suga...

Doctors use special tests in diagnosing diabetes and also in monitoring blood sugar level control in known diabetics. If the patient is having symptoms but are not known to have diabetes, evaluation should always begin with a thorough medical interview and physical examination. The healthcare provider will about symptoms, risk factors for diabetes, past medical problems, current medications, allergies to medications, family history of diabetes or other medical problems such as high cholesterol or heart disease, and personal habits and lifestyle. A number of laboratory tests are available to confirm the diagnosis of diabetes. Finger stick blood glucose: This is a rapid screening test that may be performed anywhere, including community-based screening programs. A fingerstick blood glucose test is not as accurate as testing the patient's blood in the laboratory but is easy to perform, and the result is available right away. The test involves sticking the pa...

If you someone you know are not known to have diabetes but are having any symptoms that suggest diabetes or concern you in any way, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. When you make the appointment, tell the operator that you are concerned about diabetes. He or she may make arrangements for blood sugar testing before the appointment. If the patient is known to have diabetes, call a healthcare provider right away if any of the following apply: The patient is experiencing diabetes symptoms. This may mean that your blood sugar level is not being controlled despite treatment. The patient's blood sugar levels, when tested, are consistently high (more than 200 mg/dL). Persistently high blood sugar levels are the root cause of all of the complications of diabetes. The patient's blood sugar level is often low (less than 60 mg/dL). This may mean that management strategy is too aggressive. It also may be a sign of infecti...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a set of related diseases in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar (specifically, glucose) in the blood. Glucose in the blood gives you energy to perform daily activities, walk briskly, run for a bus, ride your bike, take an aerobic exercise class, and perform your day-to-day chores. From the foods you eat, glucose in the blood is produced by the liver (an organ on the right side of the abdomen near your stomach). In a healthy person, the blood glucose level is regulated by several hormones, including insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, a small organ between the stomach and liver. The pancreas secretes other important enzymes that help to digest food. Insulin allows glucose to move from the blood into liver, muscle, and fat cells, where it is used for fuel. People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cannot use insulin properly (type 2 diabetes), or both (which occurs wi...