The word diabetes is taken from the Greek word diabainein which literally means ?passing through.? This is in direct reference to excessive urination, a major symptom of diabetes. Mellitus, on the other hand, is from the Greek word mel meaning ?honey? and was added to diabetes when Thomas Willis noted that a diabetic?s blood and urine has a sweet taste as a result of too much sugar in both.

Diabetes mellitus is a medical disorder that is characterized by persistent high blood sugar levels as a result of defective insulin secretion. Diabetes is further classified into two forms, type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both types can be treated through medicine or lifestyle changes. The main risks that come with having diabetes are cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal failure, retinal damage, nerve damage, and gangrene.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

Formerly known as juvenile onset diabetes, diabetes mellitus type 1 is marked by a decrease or the absence of insulin production in the body. This is commonly diagnosed in children and adolescents and leads to absolute insulin deficiency. When diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus type 1, the body destroys its beta cells in the pancreas, which, in turn, reduces insulin production. Diabetes mellitus type 1 is treated with insulin shots and lifestyle adjustments. Blood glucose levels must also be monitored carefully using blood test kits that may be used at home. Insulin may also be administered using insulin pumps that allow insulin infusion 24 hours a day in optimum levels.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

Adult onset diabetes, or diabetes mellitus type 2 is more common than diabetes mellitus type 2 and is characterized by the body's resistance to insulin. The symptoms related to type 2 diabetes may go unnoticed for years because they are quite mild and occur irregularly. Although type 2 diabetes is more complicated than type 1 diabetes, it is easier to treat. Type 2 diabetes may be managed by proper diet, weight reduction, proper exercise, and oral medication.

Even cats are not spared from the dangers of diabetes. Feline diabetes is a complex yet common disorder in cats caused by insufficient insulin production or the cat?s inability to respond to insulin. Feline diabetes is very similar to diabetes and how it affects humans, disabling the body fron using blood sugar properly and resulting in high blood sugar levels. Diabetic cats are also observed to have sugar in their urine and are likely to urinate excessively and thirst more than cats without diabetes. Diabetic cats also lose weight because of their body?s inability to produce or use insulin, despite having good appetite. Feline diabetes may eventually lead to more threatening problems such as vomiting, appetite loss, weakness, and dehydration and should serve as a cause for alarm to their owners.

Diabetic Cat Types

Feline diabetes may affect cats of any breed, sex, or age. It often occurs in older, obese cats. Male cats are also more likely to have feline diabetes than female cats. Although the exact cause of feline diabetes is not yet known, factors such as genetic predisposition, obesity, hormonal imbalances, and pancreatic disorders are looked into as possible causes of feline diabetes.

Signs of Feline Diabetes

In the early stages of feline diabetes, cats may exhibit few signs of the disease and may seem healthy and active. Weight loss despite increased appetite, excessive urination, and extreme thirst are the basic signs commonly related with feline diabetes. As the disease progresses, poor skin conditions and unhealthy hair become apparent. Liver diseases and bacterial infections soon follow, becoming more and more common. Ketocidoses, a dangerous condition, if untreated, may also develop in some cats. Appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration, lethargy, and weakness are some of the signs related to ketoacidosis.

Treating Feline Diabetes

The treatment of feline diabetes depends on the severity of the disorder. Insulin or oral medications may be given in proper doses to diabetic, but otherwise healthy, cats. Diabetic cats with ketoacidosis may require fluid therapy for hydration aside from insulin treatments. A healthy diet consisting of high fiber and high complex carbohydrates will also do diabetic cats well.

Juvenile diabetes is a chronic disorder caused by the body?s inability to manage sugar or glucose and store it properly to be used as fuel. When the body can?t efficiently break down glucose to be absorbed by the cells, it stays in the blood and causes health problems. An estimated one hundred and twenty individuals worldwide have diabetes, of which, approximately 3 percent have juvenile diabetes. It is projected that juvenile diabetes affects one in every 7,000 children per year. More cases reported concern individuals who are less than twenty years old.

Type 1 diabetes and juvenile diabetes are the same. The term juvenile refers to the onset of the disorder which begins in childhood. Children who are diagnosed to have juvenile diabetes depend on insulin to equip their body with the necessary insulin levels to convert food into energy. Research conducted by medical practitioners and scientists indicate that juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders are characterized by the breakdown of the body?s immune system, which directs the immune response of the body toward fighting its own defenses. With juvenile diabetes, it is believed that the body?s beta cells in Isles of Langerhans of the pancreas are destroyed automatically, hindering sufficient insulin production.

Administering insulin shots as many as five times a day to properly regulate glucose in the body may treat juvenile diabetes. Insulin does not cure diabetes, it helps in managing the blood sugar levels of diabetics to improve their lives. Years ago, being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes would have meant a quick death sentence. The discovery and use of insulin in the early 1920?s benefited countless people diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and is widely used now. Aside from insulin shots, there are also individuals who need to undergo constant fluid therapy to balance the electrolyte level in the blood that results from excessive urination.

A healthy and well-planned diet for those with juvenile diabetes is also very important to properly manage the disorder.

One of the necessary evils of diabetes is monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels. By continually keeping a close eye on your levels of glucose or blood sugar, you will come to understand just how not only your medication affects your levels, but also stress, activity, and foods. Monitoring your levels of sugar within the blood is necessary and could help in prevention or delay of severe complications commonly associated with diabetes such as kidney failure or blindness.

To accurately and properly monitor your blood sugar levels you will have to obtain some supplies. Supplies needed will include test strips, sterile lancets, alcohol pads, and a glucose meter. These are typically prescribed by your physician, obtain from your local drug store, and most often covered by your medical insurance. Your doctor will educate you on the proper use of this equipment. However, in general circumstances the following steps are taken to measure the levels of sugar within the blood.

First, you should make sure your hands are clean and completely dry before performing the tests. Then you will want to clean the area to be tested with the alcohol pad. In most cases this will be your fingertip; however, some meters will allow you to use other areas of the hand, thigh, or even the forearm. You will then take the sterile lancet and prick the area to be tested. A drop of blood will form and should be carefully placed on the testing strip. You will then place the strip into your glucose meter, following the instruction provided by the manufacture or your doctor. After the meter has completed its course, you will be provided with a number, which indicates your blood sugar level.

It is necessary to document your test results, as well as medications taken, times taken, and foods that have been eaten that day. In the beginning of your treatment your doctor will likely ask you to test and record your blood sugar levels two to three times each day. Do not forget to document foods eaten and activity as well. This will allow both of you to get a general idea of what affects your levels and why. After this initial period, you may only be required to perform tests two to three times weekly.

Treating Diabetes by Juicing can be as simple as extracting the fresh juice from raw fruit and vegetables. People with diabetes mellitus cannot properly process glucose, a sugar the body uses for energy. As a result, glucose stays in the blood, causing blood glucose levels to rise.

JUICES USED TO TREAT DIABETES

Daily Juicing of vegetables and fruits can be used in any combination of the following: ginger, garlic, celery, pumpkin, cabbage, asparagus, parsley, spinach, leeks, spinach, beets and carrots. Juicing fresh green vegetables such as brussel sprouts and string beans is a wonderful health benefit as both are good sources of natural insulin. Nutrients such as silicon works to support the pancreas and are found in alfalfa, olives, asparagus, lettuce, mustard greens, radishes, cabbage and cucumbers. Use fruit combinations sparingly due to their high sugar content. Sweet juices such as carrot, beet, grape, apple or pear juice should be half diluted with water or mixed with other juices such as celery.

Make only as much juice as needed for immediate use. In storage including refrigeration, raw juices oxidize rapidly and lose their medicinal value in as little as 10 minutes.

Bitter Melon juice has been used to treat diabetes mellitus (according to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians). The plant contains at least three known compounds that can lower the body’s blood sugar level. Recommended serving per day is 2 ounces of fresh bitter melon juice.

Mangosteen juice used as a supplement under medical supervision may decrease blood sugar levels and benefit those with type 2 diabetes. Recommended dose per day is 1 ounce or 30ml of Mangosteen juice to be taken before a meal.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Grapefruit juice interacts badly with certain prescription drugs. Please check with your physician. Diabetics who are taking the following medication should not use bitter melon juice: chlorpropamine, glyburide, phenformin, or insulin. This can increase the effects of these drugs and lead to severe hypoglycemia. Diabetics should consult their medical professional before taking this juice.

MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS

If you have complications in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or blood pressure problems please check the use of mangosteen juice with your physician. Always take fruit juices with food.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice for children under 6 years of age to four to six ounces a day. Bitter melon is an abortifacient, so women who are pregnant or nursing should not take it. Do not give this melon to small children and infants due to its hypoglycemic effects. Bitter melon is also an emmenagogue, which means that it encourages or increases menstrual flow in women.

AVOID

Due to high sugar content, diabetes may be aggravated by excessive intake of sweet juices such as carrots and most fruits. Excessive intake of tomato and citrus juices could upset the body’s natural acid (pH) balance as they are highly acidic.

SIDE EFFECTS

According to the American Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine: If too much bitter melon juice is taken; it can cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea. Multiple servings of Mangosteen juice tend to raise blood sugar initially even with as little as 15ml. This has been observed more often in people of Asian descent who are not obese.

PRELIMINARY TRIALS

Two preliminary trials found that aloe vera juice (containing 80% aloe gel) helps lower blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.

August 29, 2006 -- Drinking pomegranate juice may help people with diabetes reduce their risk of heart disease. In the small study, published in the journal Atherosclerosis, researchers examined the effects: of drinking a concentrated form of pomegranate juice. Michael Aviram, researcher of the Techion Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, Israel, says: "Patients with type 2 diabetes (who were not dependent on insulin therapy) were tested. Blood sugar levels were not affected which suggests that the antioxidants found in pomegranate juice may be especially beneficial in reducing heart-related risks associated with diabetes."

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians in Seattle has a referral database of naturopathic physicians: who practice juice treatments throughout the United States. Daily juicing of primarily organic vegetables and fruits is a beneficial part of any long term program to treat diabetes. Juicing provides a highly effective and efficient way for the body to be able to absorb essential nutrients into the blood and cells. Drinking juice is one of the best and quickest ways for the body to utilize these nutrients within minutes instead of hours.

The amount of glucose in your blood will vary depending on what and when you eat. However, in spite of these variances, the range should be relatively narrow. Generally, your blood sugar will be highest right after you eat, and lowest when you have not eaten for 8-10 hours. Most persons, after fasting all night, will have blood glucose level readings between 70 and 110 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). After eating a large meal, it is normal for a person's blood sugar to rise. Generally, this increase will not be above 140 mg/dL. People with diabetes that is untreated will have higher blood sugars than normal both after fasting, and after eating.

When giving you a diabetes test, your doctor will determine your blood sugar levels. The results of these diabetes tests, along with other clinical findings, will be used to determine if you have diabetes, and if so, what type. Your doctor will not be able to make a definite diagnosis of diabetes on the basis of one single test. Instead, two or more glucose tests will be taken before confirming your diagnosis.

The most common diabetes tests to measure glucose are the fasting plasma glucose test, the random blood sugar test, and the oral glucose tolerance test.

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test - A fasting plasma glucose test to diagnose diabetes is the test most experts recommend using. Prior to taking this test, you are not allowed to eat anything for 8 to 10 hours. Your doctor will draw blood from a vein in your arm, and send it to a laboratory for testing. Should the test results show your fasting blood glucose to be 126 mg/dL or higher, your doctor will probably diagnose you with diabetes.

Random Blood Sugar Test - It is not uncommon for many cases of diabetes to be found during routine physical exams when your blood has been drawn for other tests. It is likely that you did not have to fast before these physical exams, though you may have just eaten, and as a result your blood sugar may be high. Even so, your blood sugar shouldn't be higher than 200 mg/dL. If your random blood glucose test comes back higher than 200 mg/dL, your doctor will probably suspect diabetes, and may want you to take a fasting plasma glucose test.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test - For this diabetes test, a person will consume a drink containing glucose dissolved in water. The persons blood will then be drawn in timed intervals over a three-hour period. Should the plasma glucose levels rise more than expected, the person will be diagnosed with diabetes. This test for diabetes is often used when checking pregnant women for gestational diabetes. Because it is a time-consuming, cumbersome test, it is rarely used to diagnose diabetes in other patients.

It is only after thorough diabetes testing that a conclusive diagnoses can be made. Should you find out that you do have diabetes, chances are that your condition can be successfully managed with a combination of medication, and dietary lifestyle changes.

Vanadium is an essential trace mineral that is essential in humans. Vanadium plays a role in metabolism of carbohydrates and in regulating blood glucose levels. Vanadium also positively effects cholesterol and blood lipid metabolism.

Many studies have shown that vanadium compounds markedly improve fasting glucose. Vanadium works similarly to that of insulin. Insulin's primary function is to stimulate GLUT-4 transporters to the surface of the cell and carry glucose inside. Vanadium has been shown to activate the GLUT-4 transporters mimicking insulin.

In 1996 a small study of eight men and women with type 2 diabetes received 50 milligrams of vanadyl sulfate twice a day for four weeks. The results were remarkable; the average fasting glucose was reduced by 20%!

This amazing compound was also shown to have positive effects with type 1 diabetics. Ten patients were given 125 milligrams per day of sodium metavanate (which is another form of vanadium) for two weeks. While the type 1 diabetics showed no changes in their blood glucose levels they required much less insulin.

Other benefits of Vanadium include:

-Lowers blood sugar

-Increases muscle mass

-Helps reduce cholesterol levels

-Increases muscle vascularity and blood flow ("pumped feeling")

-Mimics insulin action

-May help improve blood pressure

-Increases glycogen synthesis and storage

Safety testing- Vanadium appears to have very little side effects. At very high doses patients reported diarrhea but at low doses Vanadium appears to be safe although more comprehensive long term studies are currently underway.

Dietary Sources- The best sources of vanadium are mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley and grain products.

Before you take any supplement you must discuss your plans with your doctor because supplements can interact with certain medications. Blood sugar levels must be closely monitored and modifications in your medications may be required.

If you have Type 2 diabetes losing weight can significantly reduce your insulin resistance. This is very important because if you lose those extra pounds you might be able to (with your doctor's approval) reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

Being overweight and obesity plays a major roll in the glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. The sooner you lose those extra pounds the better off you'll be. You've probably heard this before and you may have even tried to lose weight. It possible that the reason you haven't been able to lose weight is that you're addicted to carbohydrates; many diabetics are addicted to carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate addiction is typically characterized by the inability to stop you from eating. You might have strong cravings for sweets during the day and after you eat. Carbohydrate addiction is a real addiction. It is as powerful as any drug or smoking addiction.

If you have failed at dieting before don't get discouraged. Many people who knew that they could not lose weight have been able. There are many new alternative methods available that can help you to lose weight. As you start any weight loss program you should work closely with your doctor so he can monitor your progress and adjust your medications.

The first step should be to see a qualified nutritionist and have them develop a diet plan designed specifically for you. I would avoid the popular diets on the market and instead work with a nutritional consoler. A nutritional consoler will be able to work with your specific needs and design a program that will gradually modify your eating habits.

Some other methods you might want to consider that will compliment nutritional counseling are hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Hypnosis and EFT are the one two punch for effective weight loss.

Hypnosis can be used to reprogram you to act and respond in ways that are beneficial to your health. There are hypnosis programs that can be purchased inexpensively that will address weight loss, exercise, eating habits and many more that are designed to improve your overall well being.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a gentle process where you can neutralize the negative emotions that contribute to your negative behaviors. EFT is best described by saying that it is Acupuncture without the needles. The EFT process is not difficult to learn but it is recommended that you work with an experienced EFT practitioner to teach you the basics. It's not necessary that you have to work with an EFT practitioner face to face. EFT can effectively be done over the phone.

Diabetes and heart disease often go hand in hand. People with diabetes are at a much greater risk of having a stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure. This is because people with diabetes experience changes in the blood vessels that can lead to cardiovascular disease.

In diabetics the linings of the blood vessels become thicker making it more difficult for blood to flow through the vessels. When the blood flow is restricted heart problems or stroke can occur. Blood vessels throughout the body can also be damaged leading to kidney damage, sexual dysfunction in men, eye problems and poor circulation to the legs and feet.

What can you do to reduce your risk?

If you smoke, quit. It's no secret that smoking is bad for you. Smoking damages your health on many levels but smoking is especially bad for people with diabetes. Smoking restricts and damages your blood vessels, which in a person with diabetes compounds the damage to their blood vessels. If you smoke and have diabetes you more then double the risk of getting heart disease. If you smoke, do your heart a favor and quit.

If you are overweight then lose weight and keep it off. If you're overweight I'm guessing that you have been told many times to lose weight but this is especially important if you have diabetes.

By losing from 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can make a tremendous difference in your health. Many studies have shown that by losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight you will lower your blood pressure, make it easier to control your sugar, give you more energy and make you feel better.

You can easily lose some weight just by making some small lifestyle changes such as eat fresh fruit or carrot sticks as a snack, take a long walk each day, don't eat between meals, and eat slightly smaller portions.

Get more exercise each and every day. Movement is life, the more you move the more alive you are. Exercise is very important for people with diabetes. Exercise strengthens the cardiovascular system and helps keep the blood flowing to the legs and feet.

Regular exercise has been shown to help keep your blood sugar normal. Now you don't have to run out and get a gym membership and start bench pressing 500 pounds. Start small by going for a brisk walk each day and after doing this for a while add some resistance training in your workout. Have your doctor suggest an exercise plan that is just right for you.

By making some small simple changes you can drastically improve your health and lower your odds of developing cardiovascular disease.

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that aids in glucose metabolism, regulation of insulin levels, and maintenance of healthy blood levels of cholesterol and other lipids. The positive effects of Chromium on insulin have been known for almost 50 years. Chromium doesn't produce more insulin in the body; it makes the insulin you have work better.

Over the years there have been many well controlled clinical trials looking at the effects of Chromium supplements on patients with diabetes. These trials have shown that taking Chromium supplements showed a reduction in blood sugar, insulin and cholesterol. For individuals with high blood sugar levels, chromium may enhance insulin utilization and increase the number and activity of insulin receptors in the body.

Another benefit of Chromium supplements was to increase muscle mass and decrease fat in overweight people. In a study 122 subjects were given either a Chromium supplement or a placebo. There diets and exercise program were monitored and controlled. After 90 days the subjects that were given the Chromium lost and average of 17.1 pounds compared to 3.9 pounds for the placebo group.

Benefits of taking Chromium supplements include:

Lowers blood sugar

Increases insulin sensitivity

Reduces cholesterol levels

Reduces body fat

Controls hunger and suppresses appetite

Reduces triglyceride levels

Increases muscle mass

Chromium deficiencies are common in this country because of the high consumption of sugars and grains. Sugar and grains deplete the chromium reserves in the body. Chromium reserves also tend to decline with age.

I should point out that there have been some studies that indicate that Chromium deficiencies might not be as prevalent as once thought. More studies are needed to answer this question.

Overall the good news for diabetics is that Chromium can help with your disease.

Before you take any supplement you must discuss your plans with your doctor because supplements can interact with certain medications. Blood sugar levels must be closely monitored and modifications in your medications may be required.

Diabetes is a disease that strikes more and more people every year, and the increase seems to only continue. This disease can lead to severe complications such as heart problems, kidney trouble, blindness, and amputation of limbs.

There is some thought that diabetes is genetic and that we may be born with a tendency for this disease. It is well known that it runs in families and women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at risk as well. Can we prevent or delay the onset of diabetes? Yes, here are some simple ways to allow you to avoid or delay this disease.

1. Eat healthy and wisely. Eating smaller portions is a great way to lose weight. You can make it look like more by using a smaller plate or a salad plate. Avoid snacking while you are cooking. Don’t be tempted to eat the unfinished food to keep from throwing it away or storing it in the refrigerator. Eat breakfast every day, and make your meal and snack times regular by having them at the same time each day.
   
2. Limit your meat, poultry, and fish intake to no more than three ounces a day. In size, this is equal to about the size of a pack of cards. Another good tip is to listen to music instead of watching TV while you are eating. If you are watching TV while you are eating, you are not aware of how much you are eating and will almost always overeat.
   
3. Skip desserts and refined sugars. When eating out, have a good-sized vegetable salad to take the edge off your appetite. When you receive your entrée, share it with your dinner companion, or ask for a take-home box immediately after receiving your meal. Have meals that have been stir fried or baked.
   
4. Use low-salt broth instead of oil and butter.
   
5. Drinking a full glass of water before eating will also help reduce your appetite.
   
6. If you are eating at a fast-food restaurant, choose the healthier foods, such as grilled chicken, salads and fruits.
   
7. Increase your exercise. Next to diet, exercise is vital to a healthy body especially for diabetics. If nothing else, try walking every day or swimming at your local club. Taking walks is a nice way to keep up with your friends and an enjoyable, healthy way to take a break from work related stress. If possible, avoid the elevator and take the stairs as much as you can. You can try to march in place if you cannot get outside for some reason.

All of these activities can help you prevent the onset of diabetes and all can improve your overall health levels. Try them!

In recent years, we’ve seen lots of attention focused on the health benefits of drinking green tea. Much of the research has centered on green tea’s ability to prevent, and possibly even treat, cancer. But, there are other serious health concerns that may be positively affected by adding green tea to your diet. One of the most important is Type II diabetes.

Over 20 million people in the US have Type II diabetes, and nearly one third of them don’t even know it. And, another 54 million are pre-diabetic, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetic. This means that Type II diabetes is one of the most common health concerns in the US today. Our climbing rate of obesity has significantly contributed to the soaring diabetes rate.

Diabetes results when the body either does not produce enough insulin, or does not use it properly. Insulin is the hormone that converts sugar and other food into energy. When insulin is not used properly, as is the case with Type II diabetes, an over abundance of glucose is left in the body. This is dangerous, and, over time can cause complications such as kidney problems, blindness, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, foot problems and skin problems.

Other forms of diabetes include Type I diabetes and gestational diabetes. Type I diabetes results from the body’s inability to produce an adequate amount of insulin, and is typically diagnosed during childhood. Gestational diabetes occurs when pregnancy causes the body to use insulin improperly. With proper diet, and sometimes medication, gestational diabetes can usually be controlled, and typically disappears once the pregnancy is over.

While we don’t fully understand what causes Type II diabetes, we do know that people who are overweight are at greater risk for developing the disease. Exercise and weight maintenance are critical to preventing this disease. Type II diabetes also tends to run in families; so if you have a family history of diabetes, it’s even more important to keep your weight in check and get regular exercise.

If you’re overweight, or if your blood glucose levels are already high, there is a lot you can do to help lower your blood sugar levels and prevent your condition from developing into full blown diabetes. In addition to getting regular exercise, you should pay close attention to not only how much you eat, but what kinds of foods, as well.

Avoid processed sugar and white flour – both of these are difficult for the body to process into energy, and often leave blood glucose levels higher than they should be. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean protein. Avoid processed foods, as these tend to be high in corn syrup, white flour and other sugars. And, this is where green tea comes in. Several studies have shown that drinking green tea helps keep your blood glucose levels stable, avoiding excess highs or lows.

One study, reported by the UK Council on Tea, showed that people who consume green tea regularly are at a lower risk of developing Type II diabetes than those who don’t. In this study, over 17,000 participants were evaluated. The participants had no history of Type II diabetes, heart disease or cancer at the beginning of the study. The participants included both men and women, between the ages of 40 and 65.

The patients’ lifestyles were evaluated at the beginning of the study, and then again in 5 years. At the five year follow up, the study concluded that the participants who were tea or coffee drinkers were less likely to have developed Type II diabetes during the five year period. The participants who drank 3 or more cups of tea a day showed a more significant lowering of the chances of contracting diabetes.

This news is extremely positive for those who are looking for ways to reduce their chances of contracting diabetes. It seems there’s an additional tool in our arsenal for protecting ourselves against diabetes. Green tea, along with coffee and black tea, can’t ensure on its own that you don’t contract diabetes, but they do seem to be a simple habit that has a significant effect.

Tea may also be an effective adjunct therapy for those who already have diabetes. When used along with diet and exercise, you may find that green tea stabilizes your insulin levels enough to lower your dosage of medication. In addition, for those patients managing diabetes without medication may find it easier to do so by adding green tea to their diet. Of course, you should always consult your doctor before adding any alternative therapies to your routine.

Another benefit of drinking green tea to help control diabetes as opposed to black tea or coffee is that it seems that green tea can help you in managing your weight, which is key to preventing diabetes. Green tea appears to have a thermogenic effect on our bodies, speeding up our metabolism and helping us to burn fat. So, in addition to helping keep insulin levels stable, you may find it easier to keep your weight under control with green tea as part of your diet.

As time goes on, we’re finding more and more healthful benefits of drinking green tea. It appears to have significant potential in preventing cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and even rheumatoid arthritis. And, now, we believe that it can help prevent diabetes, too.

You should have no worries about adding green tea to your diet. It does not have any known side effects, and poses no potential health threats. And, while green tea does contain caffeine, it contains significantly less than coffee or even black tea. And, the caffeine in green tea doesn’t seem to accelerate the heart rate the way caffeine in other beverages can. For these reasons, many people who are caffeine sensitive seem to tolerate green tea quite well.

So, brew yourself a cup of tea. There seems to be no reason not to drink green tea, and many, many reasons why drinking it might be the healthiest thing you do all day!

The two main forms of diabetes are called type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Although they have different causes and, to a great extent, affect different categories of people, they share three main features.

First, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are both characterized by metabolic abnormalities that include high levels of blood sugar in the circulation, as well as increased levels of other nutrient breakdown products that are released from their storage sites.

Second, decreased insulin secretion or a decreased sensitivity to insulin action is the reason for these metabolic abnormalities. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the body makes no or very little insulin because the insulin secreting islets have been harmed or destroyed. In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot meet the increased insulin demands brought on by a condition called insulin resistance.

Thirds, both types of diabetes can result in long term complications that affect the small vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and nervous system.

These complications are related to the high levels of blood sugar that are sustained over time and can result in serious damage such as blindness, kidney failure, foot ulcers and amputation, and the dysfunction of other organs.

Both type of diabetes also substantially increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. In the short term, very high blood sugars, if not treated, can lead to sever dehydration and can cause confusion, coma and even death.

However, the two types of diabetes also have big differences. Type 1 diabetes characteristically occurs in children and young adults (once called juvenile onset diabetes) and requires treatment with insulin for survival (also called insulin dependent diabetes). In type 1 diabetes, the bodies immune system attacks the pancreas. This autoimmune attack destroys the beta cells, leaving them unable to make insulin.

The causes of type 1 diabetes are not fully understood. We don't know what triggers the immune system to start attacking the pancreas, although certain inherited genes can make you more vulnerable.

My daughter, Alissa, was eleven years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. We went through the usual struggle to adapt to living with the daily routine of being a diabetic.

Although she managed marvelously with all the changes that we had to cope with, she struggled most with being “different” from her friends at school.

This meant that she had to:-

• Eat Regular Snacks - it didn’t matter whether she was hungry, or what she was doing, she had to stop for a snack.
• Gave Daily Insulin Injections - having to “sneak” off to the medical room for injections singled her out for attention by her classmates. She was desperate to be normal and simply feel like everyone else.
• Miss Out On Sleepovers! - even sleepovers with friends were a worry. We’d have to feel confident that the parents would be able to deal with a hypo, should one occur.
• Eat Regularly - with daily injections it was important to keep mealtimes regular, in fact, it was essential to eat during a particular time window. This made school trips and socialising hard, without feeling very different.
• Worry about Hypos - if there’s anything guaranteed to make you look different in front of your classmates, it’s having a hypo! Whether you’re just feeling a little “drunk” or worse – immediately you’re singled out for special attention.

Why We Pushed for a Pump

Hurrah for the internet! It enabled me to find out loads of free information about what worked well for different children or teenagers. It swiftly became apparent that a pump was far more flexible and allowed a normal teenager lifestyle.

It had the flexibility to cope with different types of days – you could change insulin levels if it was a particular active day, or if you just didn’t feel like eating much. It also reduced the risk of serious hypos and usually resulted in better blood glucose control which reduced the risk of long term complications.

Most importantly, it gave you the option to be able to manage your diabetes rather than have your life run by it!

With one scary episode which resulted in a hospital admission by ambulance and increasingly poor control, we fought and won the funding for an insulin pump.

Since then, Alissa has been able to live a normal teenage life – spending time with friends, enjoying school trips and after-school activities, eating when she chose.

When I read of other girls the same age who have their diabetes wildly out of control, I can’t help but wonder if the restraints of daily injections might be a part of the reason that they’re rebelling.

Alissa is now at University and although her control is not fantastic, it’s not terrible either. She’s not had a hospital admission for over five years and is able to enjoy her life to the full. Her insulin pump (nicknamed Philip) is due to be changed to a funky purple one and she’s happy to tell friends and family of it’s imminent arrival.

In the Nov. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, University of Texas researchers report that Actos reduced liver fat by 54 percent in people who had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a complication of fatty liver disease that can lead to liver failure.

According to the American Liver Foundation, as many as 20 percent of Americans may be affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This will account for about 50 percent of the cirrhosis of the liver cases. About 5 percent of Americans have NASH.

In fatty liver disease the liver and may account for more than 5 percent to 10 percent of the organ's weight. This is caused is primarily caused by being overweight. Insulin resistance, diabetes and high levels of cholesterol all play a roll in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its complications.

This is just another reason why if you are overweight you need to get some of the pounds off of you. A modest weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can make all the difference in the world.

While the news about Actos is exciting the best treatment is not getting fatty liver disease in the first place. If you're at risk for diabetes and you're overweight you should see your doctor and get started on a program to get to a healthy weight.

If achieving your ideal body weight seems too difficult, if you have tried many diets only to fail, then you might want to consider other methods to lose weight. Some methods that have helped people to lose weight where diets have failed are hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).

Hypnosis can help to program your mind to think differently and therefore begin to act differently. Hypnosis can help you to want to exercise and eat healthier while implanting a feels of determination, confidence and a knowing that you will be able to achieve your goal weight. Hypnosis recordings are especially effective because you can listen to them daily and within a few weeks your new attitudes will be in place.

Emotional Freedom Techniques is a new process where by you tap on certain points on your body to alleviate the emotional causes and distress that cause you to over eat. This tapping process is very gentle yet very effective. If you are interested in EFT there are many qualified EFT practitioners. These practitioners will work with you in person or over the phone guiding you through the tapping process.

The message here is that while modern medicine is doing an amazing job developing drugs and procedures to treat our diseases. Most of our diseases would not have occurred if we just took better care of ourselves.

If you don't have diabetes and you are overweight then be proactive and lose the excess weight. If you have diabetes it's even more important to lose the weight. It doesn't matter how many times you have failed, keep trying. You can do it. Keep trying different until you find something that will work for you. Good Luck!

Diabetes is one of the ailments that is fast becoming a matter of concern among the urban population all over the world. Already the disease has assumed epidemic proportions in the USA. It is estimated that over 16 million people in the US are victims of this disease.

Indeed so rampant is the spread of this disease that several sufferers are not even aware of the fact that they are suffering from diabetes. The disease goes undetected for quite some time till the symptoms are aggravated and thus the problem has become a major matter of concern.

Even though the exact cause of diabetes is yet to be pinpointed, several factors are known to lead this disease. One of the commonest factors which leads to diabetes is obesity. That is why doctors warn their overweight patients to lose weight not only as a precaution against heart disease but also as a way to prevent such lifestyle afflictions as diabetes.

If a family member is known to be a diabetic then the next of kin in the blood line of the diabetic needs to be doubly cautious. This is for, diabetes usually affects people with a family history of diabetes. In fact, when a patient of diabetes first meets up with his or her doctor, family history is the first thing doctor inquires about. A doctor needs detailing about the family history before prescribing a course of treatment for the patient.

Often diabetics have been people with a love for sedentary lifestyle. This too, is a habit that diabetics are advised to shake off. But simply changing one’s lifestyle or eating habits is not enough. One also needs to follow a course of medication in order to keep the disease under control. The medication is needed to help the body make insulin, especially when there is no insulin production at all. In cases where some insulin is produced by the body, using insulin efficiently is important.

After a simple test which checks glucose levels in the blood, the treatment course is adjusted for the patient. Added to this, is the recommendation to eat healthy fiber-rich food, a curtailment of sweet consumption to the minimum and an exercise routine that involves walks and activity, instead of living out one’s life as a couch potato.