what is diabetes
carbohydrates never reaches your body's energy-starved
There are now over 20.8 million people with diabetes in
United States alone. And it is continuously growing. Diabetes
or diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar
(glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does
not produce enough insulin.
Insulin, a hormone released from the pancreas, controls the
amount of sugar in the blood. When a person eats or drinks,
food is broken down into materials, including sugar, that the
body needs to function normally. Sugar is absorbed into the
bloodstream and stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin.
Insulin allows sugar to move from the blood into the cells,
once inside the cells, sugar is converted to energy. Which is
either used immediately or stored until it is used.
If the body does not produce enough insulin to move the
sugar into the cells, the resulting high levels of sugar in the
blood and the inadequate amount of sugar in the cells
together produce the symptoms and complications of
diabetes.
types of diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Is an autoimmune disease that occurs when T cells attack
and decimate the beta cells in the pancreas that are needed
to produce insulin. The pancreas makes too little insulin (or
no insulin). Without the capacity to make adequate amounts
of insulin, the body is not able to metabolize blood glucose
(sugar), and toxic acids (called ketoacids) build up in the
body. There is a genetic predisposition to type 1 diabetes.
The disease tends to occur in childhood, adolescence or early
adulthood (before age 30) but it may have its clinical onset at
any age. The symptoms and signs of type 1 diabetes
characteristically appear abruptly, although the damage to
the beta cells may begin much earlier and progress slowly
and silently.
Type 2 Diabetes
Is the type in which the beta cells of the pancreas produce
insulin but the body is unable to use it effectively because the
cells of the body are resistant to the action of insulin.
Although this type of diabetes may not carry the same risk of
death from ketoacidosis, it otherwise involves many of the
same risks of complications as does type 1 diabetes (in which
there is a lack of insulin).
signs and symptoms of diabetes
The signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes often appear
after a flu-like illness and gradually intensify over the course
of a few weeks. Typical symptom may include:
Increased thirst and frequent urination. This diabetes
symptom is common with type 1 diabetes, excess sugar
(glucose) builds up in your bloodstream. A high level of blood
glucose pulls water from your body's tissues, making you
thirsty. As a result, a symptom of thirst or you drink more
fluids and urinate more. The excess sugar in your
bloodstream passes through your kidneys and leaves your
body in your urine.
Extreme hunger. Another diabetes symptom of type 1
diabetes is extreme hunger. Because of inability to produce
insulin, the hormone necessary for glucose to enter cells and
fuel their functions — leaves your muscles and organs energy
depleted. A symptom of hunger makes you feel like eating
more until your stomach is full, but the hunger persists
because, without insulin, the glucose produced from dietary
tissues.
Weight loss. Despite eating a lot to relieve their constant
hunger, another diabetes symptom of people with type 1
diabetes is rapid lose of weight. That's because the body's
cells are deprived of glucose and energy, as glucose is lost
into the urine. Without the energy glucose supplies, cells die
at an increased rate before they can divide and replace
themselves. Muscle tissues and fat stores shrink, and body
weight declines.
Blurred vision. Another diabetes symptom is blurred vision. A
high level of blood glucose pulls fluid from all your tissues,
including the lenses of your eyes. The decrease in fluid affects
your ability to focus.
Fatigue. A diabetes symptom that occures when your cells
are deprived of glucose, you become tired and irritable.
Type 2 diabetes has the same symptom as that of type 1
diabetes but may include these symptom
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. This diabetes
symptom affects your body's ability to heal and fight
infection. Bladder and vaginal infections can be a particular
problem for women.
Nerve damage (neuropathy) . This diabetes symptom is due
to excess sugar in your blood that can damage the small
blood vessels to your nerves. Symptom may include tingling
and loss of sensation in your hands and feet, as well as
burning pain in your arms, hands, legs and feet
Red, swollen, tender gums . This diabetes symptom is due to
the infection in your gums and in the bones that hold your
teeth in place. Your gums may pull away from your teeth,
your teeth may become loose, or you may develop sores or
pockets of pus in your gums — especially if you have a gum
infection before diabetes develops.
Diabetes Treatment and Diabetes Management
To control and manage type 1 diabetes, you need to inject
insulin regularly – up to eight times per day. You must also
test your blood sugar frequently, using a home blood-sugar
monitor. You use that information, in consultation with your
doctor to regulate your insulin dosage, diet and exercise
Treatment of type 2 diabetes also starts with home blood-
sugar monitor testing. But only a fraction of people with type
2 diabetes need insulin injections. Most can be controlled with
blood sugar dietary changes, regular exercise and oral
medications.
If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes,
you should definitely must be under doctor’s care and
management. And you should never stop using your
medications or injections, or alter your dosage, without your
doctor’s approval.
To enjoy a healthier lifestyle even if you are afflicted with
diabetes, you may follow some simple suggestions using
blended medicine. Though the following suggestions are more
tailored for type 2 diabetes:
alternative medicine for diabetes
Diet and Nutrition impact to DiabetesIt has been found that
Japanese men are less prone to have prostate gland
enlargement because of their diet...
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for Diabetes Taking
vitamins and mineral supplements may help prevent and
treat prostate enlargement. Some of these are...
Nutrition and Diet for diabetes
For diabetes management and control, it is generally advised
that the person should start to make adjustments on his
lifestyle. This include maintaining a simple diet, eating foods
that are less saturated with fat and cholesterol. By reducing
or eliminating animal products and eating more fiber-rich
plant foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and
vegetables.
Eat a lot of foods that are rich in anti-oxidants. Plant-derived
foods are rich in the anti-oxidant nutrient including beta-
carotene and vitamin C and E. Anti-oxidants neutralize free
radicals, preventing this unstable oxygen molecules from
damaging healthy cells. Free radicals not only lay the
groundwork for the most serious complications of diabetes,
they are also the cause of high blood sugar level.
Include fiber-rich food to your diet. Foods that is rich in fiber
helps in controlling the blood sugar level. It works by holding
the nutrient in the digestive tract longer, allowing a slower
absorption rate and reducing blood sugar ups and downs.
Soy products and Tofu can also help people with diabetes.
Soy is a good source of amino acids, glycine and arginine,
that help block the body’s synthesis of cholesterol.
Low levels of magnesium have been established in certain
studies to be a factor in developing diabetes. Beef up your
diet with magnesium rich food such as grains, nuts, and leafy
green vegetables.
home remedy for diabetes
You may also take vitamin and mineral supplements to help
you in diabetes management and control
Vitamin E – by taking vitamin E, diabetes patients may
manage and prevent its complications. Clinical nutritionists
normally recommend taking 600 to 800 international units
(IU) a day. But be cautioned that taking vitamin E more than
400 IU should be taken under doctor’s supervision.
Chromium – the mineral chromium plays a key role in the
manufacture of insulin and in the maintenance of blood sugar
with normal range. Normal recommended dosage is from 400
to 600 micrograms per day. But you must have your doctor’s
approval before taking chromium supplement.
Zinc –several studies have shown that animals deprived with
zinc develop high blood sugar. Other studies have determined
that diabetes increases the excretion of zinc in urine, reducing
the amount of the mineral in your blood. Normal
recommended dose is at 30 to 50 milligrams per day and
should be taken under medical supervision.
Magnesium – As mentioned earlier, magnesium helps in
controlling high blood sugar content. If you feel like you are
not taking enough magnesium from your diet, you may take
in some extra magnesium supplements. Normal suggested
dose is at 20 to 30 milligrams a day.
Borage Oil and Primrose oil – these oils contain gamma-
linolenic acid, which improves blood circulation through your
small blood vessels. These small blood vessels are the ones
that are normally blocked if you have chronically high blood-
sugar level. A good number of patients with high blood sugar
levels have shown remarkable improvements after taking
borage oil and primrose oil every day. Ask your doctor for a
dosage.
complementary medicine for diabetes
Herbal Medicine for Diabetes The herbal medicine ginseng,
contains compounds called ginsenosides that are classified as
adaptogens
Home Remedy for Diabetes Overweight is a primary risk
factor for type 2 diabetes in general. If you exceed the weight
recommended.
Over-the-counter drugs for Diabetes Red peppers get their
fiery flavor from a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin is
also a potent pain reliever.
exercise good for diabetes
For diabetes treatment and management, start a walking
exercise program. Most of studies conducted involving
diabetes patients have used walking as the exercise of choice.
Try weight training as another form of exercise. Weight
training exercise has been studied by Australian scientists to
have helped in lowering the blood sugar level and less insulin
resistance in diabetes patients. Before trying any form of
exercise you must consult first with your doctor.
yoga for diabetes management
Yoga is also now being used in diabetes management and
treatment. It has been found that yoga has surprisingly
benefited those people with type 2 diabetes. In one Indian
study, 149 people with type 2 diabetes were subjected to a
yoga class. Forty days later, 104 of them had significantly
lowered their blood sugar lever and were able to reduce their
medications.
Relax your way to relieve stress about diabetes
Relaxation is now gaining acceptance in diabetes treatment
and management. It is found out that Stress triggers your
body’s fight-or-flight response, a complicated series of
biochemical changes that prepares your to defend yourself or
flee from danger. One component of the fight –or-flight
response is the release of large amount of blood sugar. In
people who don’t have diabetes this extra blood sugar flows
into the cells throughout the body to provide energy. But in
people who have diabetes the blood sugar cant get into the
cells, Instead, it remains in the bloodstream, where it raises
blood sugar levels.
Deep relaxation techniques can help lower the blood sugar
level in people with diabetes who are chronically anxious or
upset.
use visualization to heal yourself of diabetes

Achieving deep relaxation may be achieved by the use of
visualization technique for diabetes management.
Dr. Martin Rossman, M.D. suggest the following visualization
technique.
Begin by closing your eyes and breathing deeply. Mentally
remove yourself from all of your daily hassles by envisioning
a stress-free hideaway. Visualize someplace beautiful – a
warm, sunny beach, a meadow filed with wildflowers, a
mountaintop with a sweeping view. Look around your
hideaway, taking in its sights, sounds, smells, and other
details. Practice this exercise for 5 to 15 minutes a day.
biofeedback as diabetes management
Biofeedback may also be used for diabetes management.
Because people with diabetes have reduced blood flow
through their feet, they often have problems with foot sores
that don’t heal. With biofeedback, you can learn to increase
blood flow to your extremities and speed the healing process.
You can attach sensitive thermometers to your fingers and
toes. Then as blood flow increases; the thermometers register
an increase in temperature.
alternative medicine for diabetes
Herbal Medicine for Diabetes The herbal medicine ginseng,
contains compounds called ginsenosides that are classified as
adaptogens
Home Remedy for Diabetes Overweight is a primary risk
factor for type 2 diabetes in general. If you exceed the weight
recommended.
Over-the-counter drugs for Diabetes Red peppers get their
fiery flavor from a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin is
also a potent pain reliever.
diabetes herbal medicine
Herbal Medicines are used in the management, control, and
treatment of diabetes. To help you control your blood-sugar
level you may use the following herbs.
Fenugreek – Like psyllium, this herbal medicine - fenugreek
seeds are rich in soluble fiber. At the Medical College in Agra,
India, researchers measured the cholesterol and blood sugar
level of 60 people with type 2 diabetes. These group were
instructed to eat a bowl of soup containing an ounce of
ground fenugreek seed before each meal. After 24 weeks,
their cholesterol and blood sugar levels fell significantly.
Ginseng – The herbal medicine ginseng, contains compounds
called ginsenosides that are classified as adaptogens.
Adaptogens help your body resist damage from illness and
stress. It is recommended that a teaspoon of ginseng extract
(4 to 7 percent finsenosides) be taken twice a day.
Garlic and Onions – garlic and onions are also used as herbal
medicine for diabetes treatment and management. Onion and
garlic are known to reduce cholesterol levels and with it
reduce the risk of heart disease. But there is another reason
that these herbs are so important for people with diabetes,
garlic and onions also reduce blood-sugar levels. You may
take your garlic and onions together in you food.
Bilberries – bilberries also known as European blue berries, is
used in herbal medicine for diabetes treatment and
management because it contain high levels of compounds
called anthocyanosides. These potent antioxidants have an
unusual affinity for the eye. They help treat diabetic
retinopathy, a condition in which the blood vessels in the eyes
begin to narrow, sometimes leading to blindness.
home remedy for diabetes
Overweight is a primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes in
general. If you exceed the weight recommended for your
height and build by 10 percent or more, you’re at risk of
developing type 2 diabetes. For most people, just by losing 10
pounds lowers the risk significantly.
Alcohol tends to aggravate diabetes. It also contains lots of
calories – almost 200 per ounce. The ADA notes that blood
sugar levels are not usually problematic if alcohol is
consumed in moderation (one to two drinks per day).
over-the-counter drugs for diabetes
Red peppers get their fiery flavor from a compound called
capsaicin. Capsaicin is also a potent pain reliever. When
rubbed into your skin, a commercial capsaicin cream
(containing 0.025 to 0.075 percent capsaicin) interferes with
substance P, a chemical involved in the transmission of pain
signals through the nervous system. Several studies have
shown that capsaicin cream helps relieve diabetic neuropathy,
a condition characterized by tingling, numbness, and
persistent pain at the hands and feet. Capsaicin creams are
sold over-the-counter in drugstores. Use according to the
package label.
alternative and conventional medicine for DIABETES
Chinese Medicine for Diabetes Practitioners of Chinese
medicine attribute diabetes to the depletion of yin...
Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes Ayurvedic practitioners
consider diabetes, or prahema a disorder or urine caused...
Conventional Medicine for Diabetes Glyburide (Micronase),
medication that spur the release of more insulin,
Warning signs for Diabetes Very high and very low blood
sugar level or diabetes- related buildup of acid in your blood
can cause confusion...
Chinese Medicine for Diabetes treatment
Practitioners of Chinese medicine attribute diabetes to the
depletion of yin. The imbalance of the yin and yang causes
Heat to dry up bodily fluids, leading to the thirst and excess
urination associated with diabetes. For diabetes treatment,
prevention and management, low-fat diet is recommended
together with intake of plenty of water and eliminating sugar,
salt, spicy foods, coffee and alcohol.
 Chinese herbs used as medications such as rehmannia root, and even coma and death. So if you are experiencing such
pueraria root, tricosanthis root, licorice root, and schisandra symptoms it is best that you contact your doctor immediately
fruit can also help in diabetes treatment and management. or call 911 for emergency assistance.

Acupuncture is another effective treatment for diabetes. You
can consult your professional acupuncturist for this kind of
therapy treatment. For self care approach, try acupressure
instead. Simply apply penetrating finger pressure to each of
the following points for 3 minutes.
Other diabetes complications such as numbness of feet,
visual problems should be reported immediately to your
doctor.

Kidney 3, located in the hollow between your Achilles tendon

and the inside of your anklebone.

Stomach 44, located on your foot in the webbing of your

second and third toes.

Spleen 6, located four finger-widths above your inner

anklebone on the back inner border of your shinbone.

Ayurvedic medicine for diabetes treatment

Ayurvedic practitioners consider diabetes, or prahema a

disorder or urine caused by an excess of Kapha dosha, which
disrupts metabolism. Ayurvedic treatment and management
of diabetes depends on your owns dosha, or constitutional
type. But generally, practitioners prescribe a combination of
dietary restrictions (less fat, fewer sweet). Herbal medications
(including fenugreek and turmeric), daily exercise (including
yoga), and Ayurvedic massage therapy (panchakarma) for
diabetes treatment.

conventional medicine for diabetes

If you are diagnosed to have diabetes whether it be type 1 or

type 2, for best diabetes treatment and management, you
should be under the care of a competent doctor. Your doctor
should work with an endocrinologist who specializes in
diabetes, or a clinical nutritionist.

Some of the oral medication normally given to type 2

diabetes patients are:

Glyburide (Micronase), medication that spur the release of

more insulin,
Metformin (Glucophage), medication that slows your liver’s
release of stored sugar,
Acarbose (Precose), medication that slows the digestion of
carbohydrates, and
Troglitazone (Rezulin) medication that increases cellular
insulin sensitivity.

Unfortunately, none of these drugs or medication is very

effective over the long term. During the first year of
treatment, these drugs may improve blood-sugar control in
about 90 percent of people who take them. But as years pass
by, the drugs stop working for about half of those who take
them. If that happens, you have to use insulin injection
instead.

There are other medical developments that may include a

pancreas transplant for type 1 diabetes. You may ask your
doctor for added information.

warning signs for diabetes

Very high and very low blood sugar level or diabetes- related
buildup of acid in your blood can cause confusion, lethargy