Type 1 diabetes is the result of an autoimmune attack on the pancreas, but what triggers the attack in the first place? Immunologists have always blamed defective immune cells, but there may now be an alternative explanation.
Denise Faustman at Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, and her colleagues have found differences in the structure of several organs – including the pancreas – in mice predisposed to develop type 1 diabetes, even before any autoimmune attack takes place.
This suggests that abnormal organ development before birth could predispose certain individuals to autoimmune disease.
Faustman’s team noticed before that mice and humans with type 1 diabetes are also more likely to experience hearing loss and Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease affecting the salivary glands.
Embryonic link
So they examined the pancreas, salivary glands, tongue, cranial nerves and inner ears of mice predisposed to develop type 1 diabetes, and found structural abnormalities in all of them – even in mice lacking an immune system.
Since all of these cells and organs originate from embryonic cells expressing a transcription factor called Hox11, Faustman suggests that mis-production of Hox11 could make the animals more susceptible to autoimmune attack, possibly sensitising their immune systems to attack the organs.
“It challenges the orthodoxy that autoimmunity is solely caused by a defective immune system,” says Faustman, although she adds that immune system defects are probably implicated as well.
Taken from: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13377-embryo-defects-may-give-predisposition-to-diabetes.html
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Experts Speak About Developing Diabetes Therapeutics
Speid & Associates, a San Diego-based regulatory affairs and drug development consultancy, is hosting a six session Webinar series on diabetes and related metabolic diseases during the months of March and April. Speakers will include former Food and Drug Administration officials Dr. Alexander Fleming and Dr. Ray Lipicky, as well as a distinguished list of other guest speakers and panelists.
Researchers and companies involved in diabetes therapeutic development are finding a complex array of possible targets across diabetes (both type 1, type 2), the metabolic syndrome, and the complications and causes of diabetes. This translates into a complex pathway for therapeutic development and registration with many potential pitfalls along the way. The webinar series will promote discussion on the inter-related issues of diabetes/metabolic therapeutic development and registration.
Dr. Speid said, "I am delighted that the series will feature such a stellar list of speakers, to address these important topics and issues." Dr. Alexander Fleming, ex-FDA (formerly headed diabetes drug review) said, "There is no more active and controversial therapeutic development area than for diabetes drugs. I look forward to discussing the implications of the ACCORD trial and a number of other timely topics."
For many years, Dr. Ray Lipicky headed FDA's Division of Cardiorenal Drug Products. Among his many drug approvals was the first and essentially only approval of treatments for a diabetic complication. The participation of Drs. Lipicky and Fleming in this series mirrors the convergence of cardiovascular and metabolic therapeutics at multiple levels -- pathophysiology, drug targets, trial design, and clinical disciplines.
Republished from: http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/diabetes-series-2008-experts-speak-developing-diabetes-therapeutics_492046_1.html
Researchers and companies involved in diabetes therapeutic development are finding a complex array of possible targets across diabetes (both type 1, type 2), the metabolic syndrome, and the complications and causes of diabetes. This translates into a complex pathway for therapeutic development and registration with many potential pitfalls along the way. The webinar series will promote discussion on the inter-related issues of diabetes/metabolic therapeutic development and registration.
Dr. Speid said, "I am delighted that the series will feature such a stellar list of speakers, to address these important topics and issues." Dr. Alexander Fleming, ex-FDA (formerly headed diabetes drug review) said, "There is no more active and controversial therapeutic development area than for diabetes drugs. I look forward to discussing the implications of the ACCORD trial and a number of other timely topics."
For many years, Dr. Ray Lipicky headed FDA's Division of Cardiorenal Drug Products. Among his many drug approvals was the first and essentially only approval of treatments for a diabetic complication. The participation of Drs. Lipicky and Fleming in this series mirrors the convergence of cardiovascular and metabolic therapeutics at multiple levels -- pathophysiology, drug targets, trial design, and clinical disciplines.
Republished from: http://www.foxbusiness.com/article/diabetes-series-2008-experts-speak-developing-diabetes-therapeutics_492046_1.html
Monday, February 18, 2008
What is Pre-diabetes?
What is Pre-diabetes? This is a fact that before developing diabetes mellitus type 2, almost always that patient develops Pre-diabetes condition. Though we will not diagnose that person as diabetic, but if he or she will not control his or her blood suger level, he will probably have diabetes mellitus in future. In pre-diabetes, blood sugar levels are in higher limits, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes mellitus. In USA only, more than 54 million people have pre-diabetes condition.During pre-diabetes damage to heart and circulatory system may already be occuring.
Various studies have shown that if you control your pre-diabetes condition earlier, then there are very less chances to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, or you can delay it to develop. So always try to manage your blood glucose under control limits when you are in pre-diabetic stage to prevent yourself from developing type 2 diabetes.
Do you have Pre-diabetes Condition, How to Tell? There are two important tests that can tell you that you are having pre-diabetes condition. 1-The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) 2: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Your doctor can do any of these two tests. Fasting Plasma Glucose Test values for pre-diabetes are between 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl. If your glucose level is below 100mg/dl, then you have normal metabolism, if above 125mg/dl then you have Diabetes. It means if your level is between 100-125mg/dl, then you will have pre-diabetes. In case of OGTT, if less than 140mg/dl, then normal, between 140-200mg/dl is pre-diabetic condition and above 200mg/dl is diabetic condition.
How you can prevent pre-diabetes? Pre-diabetes can be very lethal to your health if you will not manage it seriously. Sooner or later you will probably have type 2 diabetes. There are two simple things that you can do to get rid of this pre-diabetes situation. You can also even get your glucose level within normal limits if you follow these 3 steps. A: Change in your diet habit. Try to avoid sweets in your diet. B: Half hour moderate exercise C: Weight reduction. Just 30 minutes daily moderate physical activity or exercise, along with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, can produce a 58% reduction in diabetes
Who should get tested for pre-diabetes? If you are overweight and above 45 years of age, then you should have your FPG and OGTT. If you are not overweight and above 45, should consult your doctor. If you are below 45 and overweight, you should also check your fasting plasma glucose level.
How often should I be tested? If you are having normal blood glucose levels you should have FPG test every 3 years. If you have pre-diabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every year after your diagnosis of pre-diabetes.
Children pre-diabetes Children have much less chances of developing pre-diabetes condition, however if they are very obese then one must think of pre-diabetes condition and get yourself be checked for pre-diabetes.
Reprinted from: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/article/30095/Every%20Person%20Before%20Developing%20Type%202%20Diabetes%20Almost%20Always%20Has%20Pre-diabetes
Various studies have shown that if you control your pre-diabetes condition earlier, then there are very less chances to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, or you can delay it to develop. So always try to manage your blood glucose under control limits when you are in pre-diabetic stage to prevent yourself from developing type 2 diabetes.
Do you have Pre-diabetes Condition, How to Tell? There are two important tests that can tell you that you are having pre-diabetes condition. 1-The fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) 2: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Your doctor can do any of these two tests. Fasting Plasma Glucose Test values for pre-diabetes are between 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl. If your glucose level is below 100mg/dl, then you have normal metabolism, if above 125mg/dl then you have Diabetes. It means if your level is between 100-125mg/dl, then you will have pre-diabetes. In case of OGTT, if less than 140mg/dl, then normal, between 140-200mg/dl is pre-diabetic condition and above 200mg/dl is diabetic condition.
How you can prevent pre-diabetes? Pre-diabetes can be very lethal to your health if you will not manage it seriously. Sooner or later you will probably have type 2 diabetes. There are two simple things that you can do to get rid of this pre-diabetes situation. You can also even get your glucose level within normal limits if you follow these 3 steps. A: Change in your diet habit. Try to avoid sweets in your diet. B: Half hour moderate exercise C: Weight reduction. Just 30 minutes daily moderate physical activity or exercise, along with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, can produce a 58% reduction in diabetes
Who should get tested for pre-diabetes? If you are overweight and above 45 years of age, then you should have your FPG and OGTT. If you are not overweight and above 45, should consult your doctor. If you are below 45 and overweight, you should also check your fasting plasma glucose level.
How often should I be tested? If you are having normal blood glucose levels you should have FPG test every 3 years. If you have pre-diabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every year after your diagnosis of pre-diabetes.
Children pre-diabetes Children have much less chances of developing pre-diabetes condition, however if they are very obese then one must think of pre-diabetes condition and get yourself be checked for pre-diabetes.
Reprinted from: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/article/30095/Every%20Person%20Before%20Developing%20Type%202%20Diabetes%20Almost%20Always%20Has%20Pre-diabetes
High-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diet for Diabetics
Diabetes is a disease that is caused by a combination of genetics and poor lifestyle, in which the organism does not produce adequate amount of insulin necessary for its absorption of glucose, which then accumulates in your bloodstream until it reaches a dangerously high level. Basically, diabetes is a disorder of metabolism – the way your organism makes use of digested food for growth and energy. Digestive juices break down most of the food you eat into a simple sugar known as glucose, which passes into your bloodstream to be available to body cells to use for growth and energy. However, in order for glucose to get into your body cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas, a large gland behind your stomach.
Statistically, diabetes is presently the 3rd main cause of death in the U.S.A.
Whenever you eat, your pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move the glucose from your blood into your cells. Unfortunately, if you are diabetic, either your pancreas produces little or no insulin, or your body cells simply do not respond to the insulin produced. As a result, glucose builds up in your blood, overflows into your urine, and passes out of your body. So, your organism loses its primary source of fuel even though your blood may contain large amounts of sugar, which then becomes harmful to your body. Because your pancreas is the next "connection" in your digestive system, whatever you eat goes directly to this body organ. Instead of digesting food and producing insulin, it now becomes your pain and torture that only grows wors with age.
Diabetes strikes various people in differently. It depends on their degree of diabetic complication, and their age. It is associated with long-term complications, which affect almost every major part of the body. As a matter of fact, diabetes may lead to blindness, problematic heart condition, strokes, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can even leave significant complications in case of pregnancy. As you age, the long-term effects of diabetes on your overall well-being are more exhausting and desolating.
Unfortunately, there is only control, but no medical treatment. Thus, only a healthy diet appears to be the best therapy to control insulin in diabetes. It is recommended to stick to high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet. Carbohydrates are present in fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy foods, and starchy foods such as breads and pastas. Buy whole-grain breads and cereals with no trans-fat.
Avoid fried and high-fat starches, such as regular tortilla chips and potato chips, French fries, pastries, or biscuits – they are near junk foods! Use mustard instead of mayonnaise on a sandwich.
Avoid foods which contain significant proportions of ingredients ending in "-ol" or "-ose" - which are only confusing names for sugars!
Avoid all sugar and artificial sweeteners, including honey. Avoid sweets and chocolates, including all sugar-free types. If you must indulge yourself with some chocolates, go for the dark ones (not because they are recommendable but because they may contain more cocoa and less sugar). Read the labels, and make sure the first-named ingredient is cocoa and not sugar. Remember, chocolate manufacturers want you to believe that chocolates are "healthful" for you, and more importantly, they fund most of the research studies for the obvious reason.
Eat fresh or dried fruit, but never canned fruit – which is loaded with syrup. Buy smaller pieces of fruit. Eat fruit rather than extracting its juice. If you must drink fruit juice, dilute it with water, and drink in small amount so as not to "suddenly shock" your pancreas. Eat high-sugar and high-fat fruit desserts such as apple or cherry pie (not the ones sold at the supermarket) on very special occasions, and only in moderation, if you must.
Eat both raw and cooked vegetables with little or no fat, sauces, or dressings. Use a little vinegar or some lemon or lime juice, sprinkled with herbs and spices for seasoning. These flavorings add almost no fat or few calories. Steam vegetables using a small amount of water or low-fat broth. Mix in some chopped onion, ginger and garlic.
Cook meat in low fat, such as steaming, stir-frying, broiling, and grilling. Avoid deep-frying totally.
Buy cuts of organic beef, pork, and lamb with only a little fat on them. Trim off extra fat. Organic pork is hard to come by – it is best to avoid pork totally. Eat organic chicken or turkey without the skin.
It only may seem to be hard to stick to all these numerous tips, but if you wish to live a long and painless life, give your body what it really needs and don't stuff it with what it can't take.
Statistically, diabetes is presently the 3rd main cause of death in the U.S.A.
Whenever you eat, your pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move the glucose from your blood into your cells. Unfortunately, if you are diabetic, either your pancreas produces little or no insulin, or your body cells simply do not respond to the insulin produced. As a result, glucose builds up in your blood, overflows into your urine, and passes out of your body. So, your organism loses its primary source of fuel even though your blood may contain large amounts of sugar, which then becomes harmful to your body. Because your pancreas is the next "connection" in your digestive system, whatever you eat goes directly to this body organ. Instead of digesting food and producing insulin, it now becomes your pain and torture that only grows wors with age.
Diabetes strikes various people in differently. It depends on their degree of diabetic complication, and their age. It is associated with long-term complications, which affect almost every major part of the body. As a matter of fact, diabetes may lead to blindness, problematic heart condition, strokes, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can even leave significant complications in case of pregnancy. As you age, the long-term effects of diabetes on your overall well-being are more exhausting and desolating.
Unfortunately, there is only control, but no medical treatment. Thus, only a healthy diet appears to be the best therapy to control insulin in diabetes. It is recommended to stick to high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet. Carbohydrates are present in fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy foods, and starchy foods such as breads and pastas. Buy whole-grain breads and cereals with no trans-fat.
Avoid fried and high-fat starches, such as regular tortilla chips and potato chips, French fries, pastries, or biscuits – they are near junk foods! Use mustard instead of mayonnaise on a sandwich.
Avoid foods which contain significant proportions of ingredients ending in "-ol" or "-ose" - which are only confusing names for sugars!
Avoid all sugar and artificial sweeteners, including honey. Avoid sweets and chocolates, including all sugar-free types. If you must indulge yourself with some chocolates, go for the dark ones (not because they are recommendable but because they may contain more cocoa and less sugar). Read the labels, and make sure the first-named ingredient is cocoa and not sugar. Remember, chocolate manufacturers want you to believe that chocolates are "healthful" for you, and more importantly, they fund most of the research studies for the obvious reason.
Eat fresh or dried fruit, but never canned fruit – which is loaded with syrup. Buy smaller pieces of fruit. Eat fruit rather than extracting its juice. If you must drink fruit juice, dilute it with water, and drink in small amount so as not to "suddenly shock" your pancreas. Eat high-sugar and high-fat fruit desserts such as apple or cherry pie (not the ones sold at the supermarket) on very special occasions, and only in moderation, if you must.
Eat both raw and cooked vegetables with little or no fat, sauces, or dressings. Use a little vinegar or some lemon or lime juice, sprinkled with herbs and spices for seasoning. These flavorings add almost no fat or few calories. Steam vegetables using a small amount of water or low-fat broth. Mix in some chopped onion, ginger and garlic.
Cook meat in low fat, such as steaming, stir-frying, broiling, and grilling. Avoid deep-frying totally.
Buy cuts of organic beef, pork, and lamb with only a little fat on them. Trim off extra fat. Organic pork is hard to come by – it is best to avoid pork totally. Eat organic chicken or turkey without the skin.
It only may seem to be hard to stick to all these numerous tips, but if you wish to live a long and painless life, give your body what it really needs and don't stuff it with what it can't take.
Diabetes and Bad Breath: Any Relation?
There are numerous causes for bad breath, and you may have to talk to your doctor concerning the reasons that you may be experiencing bad breath, and are incapable of getting rid of it. Diabetes is one of the main reasons for bad breath halitosis, but most people don't realize it, and many people don't realize that this problem is very simple to fix.
Individuals with halitosis and diabetes have to continually be watchful of their blood sugar, and the primary way to make sure that blood sugars are kept at a healthy level is to maintain a healthy diet. Since the body does not produce insulin in people with diabetes, eating foods that are high in artificial sugars is definitely not a good idea.
So, you will have to make sure that you are eating foods with natural, healthy sugars in order to keep blood sugars normal. When blood sugar is too high or too low, even in people who do not have diabetes, your breath can smell sugary, or like spit. This is because sugar stops the body from adequately processing nutrients, and sugar also takes on a distinctive scent after it has dried.
The function of the liver and the kidneys is also compromised when you eat foods with elevated amounts of sugar, and the odor of your breath can also be a symptom of improper liver function.
If you want to ensure fresh breath all day, you should be sure that you are drinking at least half a gallon of water every day, especially if you have diabetes. If you drink sodas or fruit juices, try to minimize your intake of these substances, and buy the diet version of these drinks whenever possible.
Making sure that you're exercising at least three times a week is also ideal, since it will compel you to drink more water during the day, and will allow the body to function at a healthier rate.
If you've tried these suggestions and are not seeing (or smelling) any improvement in your breath, tell your doctor right away. You may not be noticing any improvement because of a more serious internal or digestive problem, so your physician may have to modulate your insulin injections in order to help regulate your blood sugar.
Checking your blood sugar from your side instead of your finger may also be a better way to get an accurate reading, so you will know which changes to make in your diet or lifestyle for a healthier body and fresher breath.
Taken from: http://www.articlesarea.com/article.detail.php/34990/175/Diseases_and_Conditions/Health/24/Can_Diabetes_Cause_Halitosis
Individuals with halitosis and diabetes have to continually be watchful of their blood sugar, and the primary way to make sure that blood sugars are kept at a healthy level is to maintain a healthy diet. Since the body does not produce insulin in people with diabetes, eating foods that are high in artificial sugars is definitely not a good idea.
So, you will have to make sure that you are eating foods with natural, healthy sugars in order to keep blood sugars normal. When blood sugar is too high or too low, even in people who do not have diabetes, your breath can smell sugary, or like spit. This is because sugar stops the body from adequately processing nutrients, and sugar also takes on a distinctive scent after it has dried.
The function of the liver and the kidneys is also compromised when you eat foods with elevated amounts of sugar, and the odor of your breath can also be a symptom of improper liver function.
If you want to ensure fresh breath all day, you should be sure that you are drinking at least half a gallon of water every day, especially if you have diabetes. If you drink sodas or fruit juices, try to minimize your intake of these substances, and buy the diet version of these drinks whenever possible.
Making sure that you're exercising at least three times a week is also ideal, since it will compel you to drink more water during the day, and will allow the body to function at a healthier rate.
If you've tried these suggestions and are not seeing (or smelling) any improvement in your breath, tell your doctor right away. You may not be noticing any improvement because of a more serious internal or digestive problem, so your physician may have to modulate your insulin injections in order to help regulate your blood sugar.
Checking your blood sugar from your side instead of your finger may also be a better way to get an accurate reading, so you will know which changes to make in your diet or lifestyle for a healthier body and fresher breath.
Taken from: http://www.articlesarea.com/article.detail.php/34990/175/Diseases_and_Conditions/Health/24/Can_Diabetes_Cause_Halitosis
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Types and Causes of Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic, incurable disease that takes place when the human organism doesn’t produce enough amount of insulin. Subsequently, it leads to the excessive amount of sugar in blood. Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas, is a hormone that helps the cells of the human body use the glucose (sugar) in food. Cells need this energy to work in the right way.
There are several predominant types of diabetes. Among the are:
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent, juvenile-onset or immune-mediated diabetes. Usually it is caused by an auto-immune reaction where the organism’s defence system attacks the insulin-producing cells. The underlying cause for this is not fully investigated. People with type 1 diabetes produce no insulin or a very small amount of it. The disease can strike people of any age, but usually it happens in kids, teenagers or young adults.
Type 2 diabetes is the most usual kind of diabetes. The pancreas of patients suffering from this type still produces insulin, but it does not produce enough or it has trouble using it. Among its symptoms are: fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, sleeping disorders, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores. But some people have no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over 35 years old, and especially in those who are overweight. But recently type 2 diabetes has begun to appear more in children and teenagers, as more and more of them are becoming overweight.
There's also the so called Pre-Diabetes, or Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). It occurs when when the blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
There different factors that can cause different types of diabetes. It can be insulin resistance. Scholars they have discovered two possibilities here. The first could be a defect in insulin receptors on cells. Like an appliance that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, insulin has to bind to a receptor to function. Several things can go wrong with receptors. There may not be enough receptors for insulin to bind to, or a defect in the receptors may prevent insulin from binding.
It also can be serum lipids and lipoproteins, when high triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood are related to high blood sugars, or sarcoidosis, a multi-system disorder characterized in affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas. But still it is unknowns what causes this inflammation. Sarcoidosis can occur in any part of the central or peripheral nervous system. When sarcoidosis affects the central nervous system, various cranial nerves can be damaged and may paralyze specific areas of the body.
Last but not least, it is diabetes mellitus. It results from a defect in the production of insulin by the pancreas. As a matter of fact, diabetes mellitus is the 3rd largest killer in America. Without insulin, the body cannot utilize glucose, which is an important blood sugar. A blood glucose level above 180mg percent leads to excessive amount of sugar to spill over in the urine and make it sweet. Some people can develop diabetes mellitus as a result of stress, obesity, or pregnancy. A diet high in sugar and white flour can result in diabetes. Also certain medications can also cause it: oral contraceptives, adrenal corticoids, diphenylhydantoin, or thiazide water pills.
There are several predominant types of diabetes. Among the are:
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent, juvenile-onset or immune-mediated diabetes. Usually it is caused by an auto-immune reaction where the organism’s defence system attacks the insulin-producing cells. The underlying cause for this is not fully investigated. People with type 1 diabetes produce no insulin or a very small amount of it. The disease can strike people of any age, but usually it happens in kids, teenagers or young adults.
Type 2 diabetes is the most usual kind of diabetes. The pancreas of patients suffering from this type still produces insulin, but it does not produce enough or it has trouble using it. Among its symptoms are: fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, sleeping disorders, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores. But some people have no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over 35 years old, and especially in those who are overweight. But recently type 2 diabetes has begun to appear more in children and teenagers, as more and more of them are becoming overweight.
There's also the so called Pre-Diabetes, or Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). It occurs when when the blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
There different factors that can cause different types of diabetes. It can be insulin resistance. Scholars they have discovered two possibilities here. The first could be a defect in insulin receptors on cells. Like an appliance that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, insulin has to bind to a receptor to function. Several things can go wrong with receptors. There may not be enough receptors for insulin to bind to, or a defect in the receptors may prevent insulin from binding.
It also can be serum lipids and lipoproteins, when high triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood are related to high blood sugars, or sarcoidosis, a multi-system disorder characterized in affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas. But still it is unknowns what causes this inflammation. Sarcoidosis can occur in any part of the central or peripheral nervous system. When sarcoidosis affects the central nervous system, various cranial nerves can be damaged and may paralyze specific areas of the body.
Last but not least, it is diabetes mellitus. It results from a defect in the production of insulin by the pancreas. As a matter of fact, diabetes mellitus is the 3rd largest killer in America. Without insulin, the body cannot utilize glucose, which is an important blood sugar. A blood glucose level above 180mg percent leads to excessive amount of sugar to spill over in the urine and make it sweet. Some people can develop diabetes mellitus as a result of stress, obesity, or pregnancy. A diet high in sugar and white flour can result in diabetes. Also certain medications can also cause it: oral contraceptives, adrenal corticoids, diphenylhydantoin, or thiazide water pills.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Diabetes in a Nutshell
Diabetes mellitus, is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate. The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production (polyuria), excessive thirst and increased fluid intake (polydipsia), and blurred vision. These symptoms are likely absent if the blood sugar is only mildly elevated.
The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have different causes and population distributions. While, ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia, the causes are different. Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target tissues. This causes a need for abnormally high amounts of insulin and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.
Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions. All types have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas, is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management. Type 2 may be managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets and injections and, frequently, insulin supplementation. While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering, either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action. Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a specialized pump which subcutaneously provides insulin through a changeable catheter.
Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications (hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure, retinal damage (which can lead to blindness), nerve damage (of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may cause impotence and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors (such as not smoking and keeping a healthy body weight), may improve the risk profile of most aforementioned complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults, and diabetic nephropathy is the main illness requiring renal dialysis in the United States.
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes
The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have different causes and population distributions. While, ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia, the causes are different. Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target tissues. This causes a need for abnormally high amounts of insulin and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.
Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions. All types have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921. Type 1 diabetes, in which insulin is not secreted by the pancreas, is directly treatable only with injected or inhaled insulin, although dietary and other lifestyle adjustments are part of management. Type 2 may be managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets and injections and, frequently, insulin supplementation. While insulin was originally produced from natural sources such as porcine pancreas, most insulin used today is produced through genetic engineering, either as a direct copy of human insulin, or human insulin with modified molecules that provide different onset and duration of action. Insulin can also be delivered continuously by a specialized pump which subcutaneously provides insulin through a changeable catheter.
Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications (hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure, retinal damage (which can lead to blindness), nerve damage (of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may cause impotence and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors (such as not smoking and keeping a healthy body weight), may improve the risk profile of most aforementioned complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults, and diabetic nephropathy is the main illness requiring renal dialysis in the United States.
Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes
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