If you have diabetes mellitus what hormone injection do you receive to lower blood sugar levels?

March 11th, 2010

This is bio 30, the subject ate a meal prior to this and then received an injection that made blood sugar levels rise. Is it insulin or glycogen? I’m not sure … Please help :)

The answer to the question if it RAISED blood sugar levels it’s GLUCAGON… Which stimulates glycoGENolysis :-) ….

Insulin, blood sugar drops because it’s going into cells
Glucagon, blood sugar increases
Glycogen, storage form of glucose in hepatocytes, muscle and some small pockets in kidneys and intestines.

Hope this helps :)

Category: Lowering blood sugar
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Supplements for Diabetes – What Recent Studies Say?

March 10th, 2010

Diabetes:

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which body does not produce or produce less insulin compared to healthy individual or body develops resistance to insulin (body does not respond to insulin).

Most foods that we consume finally enter into the blood in form of carbohydrate, fat & protein. From blood, these nutrients enter into cells. Insulin is required for this entry of glucose into cells. Body cells utilize carbohydrate & fat for energy & growth.

Because of less insulin or resistance to insulin in diabetes, blood sugar cannot enter into cells & remain in blood resulting in high blood sugar.

Studies have shown that supplements like chromium, alpha lipoic acid & vanadium plays an important role in the management of diabetes. You can get details on diabetes at http://www.truevalue4money.com/diabetes/diabetes.html

Chromium supplements in diabetes:

Diabetes is associated with low concentrations of chromium in blood, so, an early, long-term addition of chromium to the standard therapy has been recommended in several studies. Some latest clinical reports also support the safety and therapeutic value of chromium supplementation for the management of high cholesterol and sugar in subjects with diabetes.

Chromium increases insulin receptor numbers & insulin binding to cells. Since chromium acts by increasing insulin efficiency, so lower amount of insulin is required in presence of chromium.

A clinical study published in ‘Diabetes Care. (2006, August)’ has shown that chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Chromium supplementation also reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation

A latest review article published in Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 December has mentioned that 13 of 15 clinical studies involving a total of 1,690 subjects reported significant improvement in at least one outcome of glycemic control. (Glycemic control is a medical term used for blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes) Beneficial effects of chromium supplementation included reduced blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and reduced requirements for drugs for diabetes.

Reduction in blood sugar & improvement in insulin sensitivity with chromium results in decrease risk for diabetes complications.

Alpha lipoic acid in Diabetes:

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant, which is produced in the body & also present in food. High blood sugar in diabetes increases free radical formation in body, which leads to additional complications of diabetes like atherosclerosis, heart problems, nerve damage & cataract. Antioxidant decreases free radicals in body & decreases risk of complications.

There are number of publications confirming beneficial effect of lipoic acid in therapy of many diseases, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, degenerative processes in neurons, diseases of joints,

A recent clinical study on diabetic patients treated with alpha lipoic acid was published in ‘hormones (Athens). 2006 Oct-Dec 5(4)’. The result of the study has proved that short-term oral alpha-lipoic acid treatment increases peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Improvement in insulin sensitivity could improve both blood sugar control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral insulin sensitivity gives an idea about how body cells respond to insulin. In diabetes, because of decrease response to insulin by body cells, blood sugar cannot enter into cells causing high blood glucose. Alpha lipoic acid enhances glucose uptake by cells in type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage is a complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease, which can cause pain, loss of sensation and weakness, in the feet and sometimes in the hands. Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid is effective in management of diabetic nerve damage called neuropathy and it reduces pain associated with neuropathy.

Vanadium supplement in diabetes:

Vanadium is a trace mineral required by the body in small quantities. Numerous studies have shown that vanadium has insulin-like effects in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. It may improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Along with chromium & alpha lipoic acid, some other supplement like evening primrose oil, fenugreek & some herbs also help in management of diabetes.

Stephen Thomson
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/supplements-for-diabetes-what-recent-studies-say-124793.html

Category: Lowering blood sugar
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Some Useful Vitamins That Lower Blood Sugar

March 10th, 2010

Certain vitamins and minerals have been found beneficial in lowering blood sugar and thus useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Vitamin B complex - Vitamins of the B group are valuable in the treatment of diabetes. Despite and adequate intake of these vitamins, diabetics often have abnormally small amounts of vitamin B in their blood because of high urinary loss of exhibit symptoms of vitamin B deficiency. Marked clinical improvement has been reported in patients of diabetes with only 16000 units of daily supplements of vitamin B complex. Because these vitamins help reduce blood fat and cholesterol, they should be generously supplied at all times.

Thiamine or Vitamin B1 - Of the various vitamins of the B group, thiamine or vitamin B1 and pyridoxine or vitamin B6 is of special value in diabetes. Diabetic diet inadequate in vitamin B1, often leads to the development of neuritis, which is relieved as soon as large amounts of this vitamin are given. Vitamin B1 is said to be particularly valuable in preventing damage to the brain during diabetic acidosis. The greater the insulin requirement, the higher is the requirement for vitamin B1, pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 and biotin or vitamin B8.

The primary natural vegetable sources of thiamine are wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, the outer layers of rice, wheat and other whole grain cereals, pulses, nuts, peas, lime, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, banana and apple. Those of pantothenic acid are wheat germ, whole grain bread, green vegetables and peanuts. Biotin is found in brewer’s yeast, rice bran, rice germ, rice polishing and peanut butter.

Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6 - When diet is inadequate in vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, and essential amino acid tryptophan, is converted into a substance known as xanthurenic acid. It has been shown in laboratory experiments that xanthurenic acid tends to damage the pancreatic tissue.

Diabetics who have been given 50 mg of vitamin B6 daily have shown a rapid and marked decrease in urinary xanthurenic acid. In one case, the quantity dropped almost 97 percent the first day. Total absence of urinary xanthurenic acid amongst those who continued with a daily dosage of 10 to 20 mg of this vitamin indicated that none was being formed in the body. Diabetics are thus greatly helped by a liberal intake of vitamin B6. The main natural sources of pyridoxine are milk, brewer’s yeast, cereals, legumes, green leafy vegetables and carrot.

Find complete diabetes information, diabetes supply, diabetes treatment, diabetes diet, diabetes causes, diabetes types. More on Diabetes Mellitus Information and Treatment Supply. Also see Natural Ayurvedic Herbal Cure for Diabetes.

Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-useful-vitamins-that-lower-blood-sugar-61209.html

Category: high blood sugar
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Herbal Remedies – Can They Cure What Ails You?

March 10th, 2010

You’ve probably heard about herbal remedies before and how they can treat a variety of health problems with fewer side effects than conventional medicines. Like many, you might have thought they seemed too good to be true or you’ve simply passed them off as quackery or voodoo medicine. While all of that is perfectly understandable, if you invest some time to learn about these natural alternatives, you’ll be surprised to learn how effective, affordable and beneficial herbal remedies can be to your health.

So now that you’re interested in herbal remedies, what are they and how do they work? Quite simply, herbal remedies are the original and most traditional form of medicine, with thousands of years of practice backing up their claims. Using ingredients found in nature, particularly from plants and from some animal life, herbal remedies are effective in treating a number of common ailments and promoting the overall health of the body. And as with conventional medicine, there are multiple uses for each specific herb and so many applications that entire books have been written to describe and teach the cures made possible through herbal remedies.

Plants are the primary source of herbal remedies because many of them contain chemical properties that are beneficial to the body’s health. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that even commercial pharmaceutical offerings often list plant products among the ingredients in their drugs. One example is saponin, a chemical compound that’s often used to treat heart conditions and is believed to have some cancer fighting properties. Known for its detergent, or cleansing characteristics, this herb like many others can be toxic if misused. Tannins, another plant compound, can help slow the bleeding of wounds and some types also possess strong antimicrobial properties. As with saponin, tannins can also be harmful if not administered properly.

Once you have discussed your needs with an herbal expert or your doctor, you’ll want to decide how to take your chosen herbal remedy. Herbal remedies are often administered as teas and tinctures. Although most people are familiar with herbal tea, some may not be aware that a tincture is actually a concentrated liquid extract of an herb. It is also possible to eat many kinds of herbs fresh from the garden, either alone or as part of a meal. Some herbs can be processed to use as compresses, creams, poultices, salves, and essential oils. Herbal remedies are increasingly popular these days and are commonly found in commercial stores in capsule or tablet form for greater convenience.

What exactly should you expect to gain by using an herbal remedy? Known to boost overall health and immunity, herbal remedies can treat a wide variety of chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, digestive problems, memory problems, cardiovascular disease, and acute conditions such as skin problems and colds. However, if you’re already taking medication, discuss your herbal remedy treatment options with your doctor, as some herbal remedies have been known to interact negatively or decrease the effectiveness of some prescription drugs. Also, just because herbs are natural, they’re not necessarily safe, especially in large doses. For best results, meet first with a trained herbalist or naturopathic doctor.

C Lynn Beebe
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/herbal-remedies-can-they-cure-what-ails-you-94495.html

Category: Lowering blood sugar
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The Myth About Sugar Free Foods

March 10th, 2010

If you suffer from Diabetes then you know that keeping track of the sugar in foods you consume is critical to your health. It is a daily process of controlling blood sugar levels. There are many processed snacks such as cookies, soda, and chewing gum that you want to eat, but are unable to due to your diabetes. Many food companies have created sugar free foods as a substitute for people with diabetes. If you think that these sugar free foods will have no effect on your blood sugar level then think again!

The alarming news is that sugar free foods may have the same effect as sugar foods. How can this be true? Food manufacturers use sugar alcohol instead of sugar in an attempt to minimize the effect of the food on your blood sugar level. Sugar alcohol is a sugar substitute that has roughly 50% fewer calories than regular sugar. Sugar alcohols are derived from natural foods including fruits.

Sugar alcohols help lower blood sugar levels because they are converted to glucose at a much slower rate. Therefore, they don’t cause a spike in your blood sugar level like sugar. Plus, sugar alcohols can be metabolized with very little insulin, if any at all.

Many people with diabetes are often confused by the sugar free labeling on processed foods. They automatically assume that they can eat this food because it won’t affect their blood sugar level. They do not understand that sugar free means that the product has sugar alcohols and is still a significant source of carbohydrates. Therefore, if they consume this product they will have trouble lowering their blood sugar levels.

Another negative side effect of sugar free foods is that you can experience bloating and diarrhea as sugar alcohols can mimic the effects of laxatives. These negative effects are amplified when you over indulge in these sugar free foods.

The key is to be able to read the food labels on the sugar free food products. The food label contains valuable information that diabetes sufferers need to examine to help control their blood sugar levels. The food label will list Nutrition Facts. First, it is critical to note the serving size. Serving sizes can differ and if you only focus on the calories, fat, etc. you may have a false perception of the food.

The key areas to examine are the Total Carbohydrate and sugar alcohols as these have the most profound effect on your blood sugar levels. Sugar free foods will list the sugar alcohols used. Examples of sugar alcohols include: sorbitol, mannitol, isomalt, xylitol, lactitol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. A free food is one that has fewer than 20 calories and 5 grams of carbohydrate. Check to see if the food fits these guidelines to help you determine how it will affect your blood sugar level and how much you should consume.

Essentially every person with diabetes should realize that sugar free foods may have a similar effect on their blood sugar levels as that of sugar foods. Be informed and read the food labels to ensure that you are controlling your blood sugar levels.

Julia Hanf
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/the-myth-about-sugar-free-foods-120779.html

Category: blood sugar control
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why can’t you cure diabetes (type 1)?

March 10th, 2010

the title says it all..why can’t you? can’t doctors inject something into your body that produces insulin correctly? or a transplant? or something?

(oh, please don’t say "they’ll never be a cure", you’ll just make me fell bad for myself..ugh, sorry if i sound like a brat)

In normally healthy people, insulin is produced by certain special cells. In diabetics, either those cells don’t produce enough insulin, or they don’t produce any insulin at all.

Transplants work…sort of. Usually diabetics don’t get transplants of just those insulin producing cells, because a transplant patient has to be on an even more regimented treatment plan than a diabetic. So if a diabetic needs a transplant of some other organ, s/he might very well get a transplant of those cells, as well, because s/he’ll have to take anti-rejection medicines and do all that other stuff anyway.

I think that there WILL be a cure. I have no idea when. I think that we should be doing a lot more research with stem cells.

Category: Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
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Clinical trials for type 1 diabetes in Atlanta, GA?

March 7th, 2010

My brother was recently diagnosed with diabetes & as his twin I hate having to watch him prick himself I heard about some experiments that could potentially cure him but many require umbilical stem cells which I do not have, other options ?

Well, first, there ARE public donor cord blood banks.

Next… its not the cord blood they need, its the hematopoetic stem cells – the same stem cells that are in bone marrow and peripheral blood. If you are an identical twin, you are a match to be a donor. If you arent identical, you have the same chances as any other sibling. But once again, there ARE public donor registries. In fact, the national marrow registries (and they also run the cord blood donor banks) even compile themselves together to give patients looking the ability to search for a donor world wide (or their doctors, anyways)

Category: Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
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i have type 2 diabetes and lately i have had double visioin?

March 6th, 2010

i just went to my doctor and he said it is a build of fluid behind my eyes caused by the mussels back there.also i have fatigue and have trouble staying awake (falling asleep sitting up). i am going to see a specialist in April but i am just wondering if there is a cure for this or what they are going to do for me.i am worry since i am a diabetic i might lose my eye sight if anyone knows anything i would really appreciate it thanks

The build up in fluid in your eye changes its shape enough to alter the focal point for your vision. Therefore you do not see as sharp as you once did. This will return back to normal some when you gain control of your condition and your body does not have to work over time to flush out excess glucose. To do this you body demands more water intake. The fluids in your body will return to a balanced state.

If you do not control your glucose levels, at high levels the blood vessels can weaken along with other major organs. In the case of your eyes the weaken blood vessels could burst in the back of you eye causing permanent damage to vision receptors. Not checked by controlling glucose levels this could result in blindness over time.

Before I realized I had developed diabetes I found a web site that helped. It focused on power naps. I found it work well for me. But, it was not the real solution. However, there are times when I work 16 hour days. I found it works today for those rare times.

Restful sleep for a diabetic is very important. I do not why, but I have found that doctors do not talk about this enough. I was very fortunate that over two years ago when my condition developed a friend introduced me to a diet supplement that did wonders for me. The first benefit was sleeping through the night and waking up rested. There were other benefits. Contact me and I will share with you. With the supplement I was able to improve my overall health quickly which had a positive effect on controlling by diabetes. I started with a HbA1C of 12.1 and for nearly two years I have been able to hover around 5.6.

Best Wishes.

Category: Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
3 Comments »

Diabetes: a Simple Guide to Medical Treatment

March 3rd, 2010

Type 1 diabetes
Treatment almost always involves the daily injection of insulin, usually a combination of short-acting insulin such as regular or Lispro or Aspart insulin and a longer-acting insulin such as NPH, lente, glargine, detemir, or ultralente insulins.
* 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 you your injections, it is important that you know how to do it in case the other person is not available.
* A trained professional will show you how to store and inject the insulin. Usually this is a nurse who works with the health care provider or a diabetes educator.
* Insulin is usually given in 2 or 3 injections per day, generally around mealtimes. Dosage is individual and is tailored to suit the person. Longer acting insulins are typically administered 1 or 2 times per day.
* It is very important to eat if you have taken insulin, as the insulin will lower your blood sugar regardless of whether you have eaten. If you take insulin without eating, you could have hypoglycemia. This is called an insulin reaction.
* There is an adjustment period while you learn how insulin affects you and how to time your mealtimes and exercise times with your insulin injections to keep your blood sugar level as even as possible.
* Keeping accurate records of your blood sugar levels and insulin dosages is crucial in helping your health care provider take care of your diabetes.
* Eating a consistent, healthy diet appropriate for your size and weight is essential in controlling your blood sugar level.

Type 2 diabetes
Depending on how elevated your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin are at the time of your diagnosis, you may be given a chance to lower your blood sugar level without medication.
* The best way to do this is to lose weight if you are obese and begin an exercise program.
* This will generally be tried for 3-6 months, and then your blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin will be rechecked. If they remain high, you will be started on an oral medication, usually a sulfonylurea or biguanide (Metformin), to help control your blood sugar level.
* Even if you are on medication, it is still important to eat a healthy diet, lose weight if you are overweight, and engage in moderate physical activity as often as possible.
* Your health care provider will monitor your progress on medication very carefully at first. It is important to get just the right dose of the right medication to get your blood sugar level in the recommended range with the fewest side effects.
* Your doctor may decide to combine two types of medications to get your blood sugar level under control.
* Gradually, even people with type 2 diabetes may require insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.
* It is becoming more common for people with type 2 diabetes to take a combination of oral medication and insulin injections to control blood sugar levels.

Paul Buntrage
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/diabetes-a-simple-guide-to-medical-treatment-71824.html

Category: Lowering blood sugar
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High Blood Pressure And Salt Is It Essential

March 3rd, 2010

The answer to this question is fairly obvious is it not?

Sodium Chloride (the chemical name for Salt, the culinary cooking condiment not the International Treaty on Weapons limitation) is an essential element in the life of human beings. Most people think of Salt purely in terms of that little white food seasoning found in shakers on virtually very food table the world over.

Salt was of crucial importance in Ancient times as part of the economic transactions over slaves, hence the phrase Not worth his Salt. Wars have been fought over Salt supplies and certainly the capture of a national Salt supply has certainly played an important part in the nature of military campaigns.

Salt has inspired literature and many of the more semi philosophical sayings of today (To be taken with a pinch of salt, Salt of the Earth etc) come from a fascination with Salt.

References to salt can be found in one of the worlds oldest published reference books, the Chinese book The Peng-Tzao-Kan-Mu. For an ancient text and one that almost dates prehistory the book describes in almost eerie detail two processes of extracting salt that are very much in use still today.

The actual requirement for the average Western Adult male is surprisingly small at 250 mg of sodium yet we still seem so addicted with the substance that the average consumption is almost 700 percent greater. So it comes as no surprise that Salt as a single substance is not only vitally important to our well being but also as one single substance probably causes us more harm than any other single substance (along with sugar).

With an approach to the consumption of Salt that almost borders an epidemic in that our consumption far outstrips our need as we consume on average some 3500 mg per day. This is still more than 7 times the amount actually required and goes some way to emphasise our dependency on this white granular substance.

So if this substance tastes so good how can it actually be so bad for us? Well as the Chinese have said over the past 2500 years or so, too much Salt hardens the pulse i.e. it makes the arteries harden and this can lead to High Blood Pressure. The connection between excessive consumption of Salt and Hypertension has been well documented over the years and is as reliable as one could ever expect.

Does not everyone need to consume salt in order to survive? Salt is one of those substances that you could almost connect with virtually all of our external and internal bodily functions. With regards to our metabolism, Sodium helps assist the cells in our intestines in absorbing food and lastly, with sodium, the muscles in your body would not be able to contract and therefore we would not be able to move.

So the sad aspect to the whole subject is that it is very much a case of too much of a good thing will cause you harm.

It would appear that in this case the overall approach has got to be moderation in all things.

Stephen Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/high-blood-pressure-and-salt-is-it-essential-106102.html

Category: high blood sugar
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