According to a study conducted by Columbia University’s Department of Medicine, nuts and seeds have been found to decrease inflammation in blood vessels. As a result, there’s a reduction in the risk of developing the cluster of increased risk factors for heart disease called Metabolic Syndrome (Syndrome X), as well as Type 2 Diabetes.

The study looked at about 6,000 individuals between the ages of 45 and 84. Researchers found that individuals who ate nuts and seeds five or more times a week had a decrease level of inflammatory markers, which are specific proteins in your body used to monitor inflammation. (1)

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury which causes white blood cells to be released into the bloodstream. Although this is a natural process, it can damage blood vessels. Some triggers of inflammation include exposure to increased insulin, elevated LDL "bad" cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, smoking and exposure to second hand smoke and infections. Inflammation has been long associated with heart disease and new studies are showing it may also be linked to Type 2 Diabetes.

Plaque build-up may occur in inflamed blood vessels, leading to a narrowing of the diameter, which impedes blood flow and can increase the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

The actual link between inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes is still being studied. But the connection may be due to the fact that Type 2 Diabetics are often overweight and suffering from elevated blood sugar levels – a key factor associated with inflammation. (2)

Walnuts are a healthy snack choice because they are high in mono-unsaturated fats and contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to decreased inflammation via lower LDL cholesterol and higher levels of HDL "good" cholesterol.

With the rise of obesity in America, not only are we getting heavier, but we are becoming more unhealthy. No where is this more true than with the explosion of Type 2 diabetes.

More than 21 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and 54 million more have pre-diabetes. Unfortunately, obesity has led too much of this increase.

For people who have Type 2 diabetes, your body either can no longer produce enough insulin to maintain a healthy blood glucose level, or it is no longer effective.

There is evidence that shows that our body's fat cells are more insulin resistant than muscle cells. It makes sense when you think about it. So, if someone is obese and carries a lot more fat, their insulin will also become less effective in dealing with blood sugar.

To reduce your risk of getting Type 2 diabetes, or to help maintain it, you should lose the extra weight. Even 10 pounds will give your body a huge boost in fighting against Type 2 diabetes.

You don't have to go to the gym and join an aerobics class, or lift weights and sweat like crazy. You can begin losing the extra weight just by walking every day. Start a simple walking program and within 2 weeks you'll notice improvement. Start off slowly and work your way up to longer distances. The important thing is to just start.

An added health benefit to getting exercise is that your blood pressure and cholesterol will also be healthier. So it's not only Type 2 diabetes that benefits, but many other areas in your overall health as well.

If you're obese and have Type 2 diabetes, I urge you to make a commitment. Start an exercise routine and fight the effects of this terrible disease. You can lead a happy and healthy life.

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Diabetes Mellitus is defined as a progressive metabolic disorder in which the body produces an inadequate amount of Insulin, or poorly responds to the Insulin after an intake of carbohydrates, resulting in an abnormal elevation of blood glucose level. This condition is accompanied by various other abnormal metabolic functions and abnormal vascular changes, which increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks and renal diseases. Currently, there is a worldwide epidemic of Diabetes Mellitus which is expected to have a devastating effect on the health and economics of most societies.

A popular management advice given by health professionals, in the management of Diabetes, is the restriction of carbohydrate intake especially high glycemic index foods. The glycemic index reflects the tendency of a food to increase blood sugar and Insulin levels. Is the advice of carbohydrate restriction good? Could this advice be partially responsible for the progressive nature of this disease? It is my belief, which is supported by science that this advice of restricting carbohydrates is wrong and is contributing to the acceleration and progressive nature of this disease. This scientific evidence is obvious if you examine the physiological role of the hormones, Insulin and Cortisol. Let us now look more closely at this evidence.

Insulin is the primary anabolic hormone of the body. This means that circulating Insulin encourages the body to produce and repair body tissues. Circulating Insulin is dependent on the dietary intake of carbohydrate. Restricting carbohydrates will reduce circulating Insulin and thus the repair rate of the body, in both diabetics and non-diabetics. This means that the healing of the diabetic disorder is prevented and is likely to get worse due to the normal wear and tear of our bodies with aging. Therefore carbohydrate restriction contributes to the progressive nature of diabetes. The reason put forward for restricting carbohydrates is because the body cannot produce enough Insulin to adequately metabolize this intake. Although this sounds plausible, it is not necessary, since treatment for the diabetic condition could supplement for the short fall in Insulin. Hence you would preserve the healing potential of Insulin while ensuring control of the diabetic condition.

Cortisol is the primary catabolic hormone of the body. This means that circulatory Cortisol will encourage destruction of body tissue. This destructive action includes it diabetogenic properties through the destruction of Insulin receptors on cells. Cortisol circulation is highest in the morning and is controlled by a twenty-four hour body rhythm or circadian rhythm. Exercise and stress increase circulating Cortisol levels. Cortisol’s main antagonist is Insulin. This means that the higher the circulating Insulin levels the weaker is the Cortisol effect, including its diabetogenic effect. This means that if carbohydrates are restricted, especially in the morning it would result in increased damage to insulin receptors and worsening or progression of the diabetic status. Diabetics are often advised to exercise regularly. Persons with the disease are also likely to experience psychological and financial stress as a result of this illness. All these factors lead to increased Cortisol levels which further aggravate the disease progression. Therefore, advising diabetics to restrict carbohydrate intake contributes to the progression of the disease.

Doctors and nutritionists need to review their dietary advice to diabetics. This advice needs to be structured to harmonize with the body’s physiology. It is by doing so, that we will be able to stem the tide of Diabetes Mellitus and change the disease from its progressive nature to a preventable and reversible condition

Diabetes has turned into an epidemic. It is time to wake up and smell the coffee! Do you know about one fourth of America is gripped by diabetes or syndrome X (pre-diabetes)? Moreover, the worst thing is that nine out of ten type 2 diabetes patients have not been able to control their blood sugar levels even after taking medications!

Diabetes is a tricky disease. In the first two years of the disease, you will not find any symptoms. However, when they attack, it spells doom for the patient.

Taking Diabetes Lightly Is a Big Mistake
One of the major loopholes in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is the laxity of the patient. Most type 2 diabetes patients do not visit their doctor for blood sugar tests after the first six months of diagnosis. Many others are careless about their diet and exercise. Call it psychological factor or whatever, but a majority of type 2 diabetes patients simply resigns to their fate.

Perhaps it is due to the emotional changes that occur due to type 2 diabetes. Constant stress, a lack of self-esteem, and the swirling of negative emotions in the mind can be held responsible for such an irresponsible behavior of the patients.

It is true that if a person has not paid attention to his or her health in the past, he or she is not likely to do it even after been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Many of them do not want to face the truth while others simply do not prioritize their health.

The big question ruffling the minds of medical experts is: How do you get the type 2 diabetes patients to start caring about them NOW?

Adopting a New Approach
Enough of frightening the people about the disastrous effects of type 2 diabetes. The fact is they do not fear much! So, there is a fresh approach to get the patient to realize the importance of serious treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is a gradual shift in the lifestyle of the patient.

It is difficult to change a hard-core habit overnight. Hence, strictness and extremity will not work here. The catch is to inculcate a slow but sure change in the eating habits and the way of living. A person who has lived on hamburgers and chocolates whole life cannot endure a sudden shift to sober and healthy food. It certainly requires a lot of effort to consume less oily food and less sugar, doesn't it? And what about the couch potatoes? Do you expect them to jump on their feet the very next day for exercise? Of course, not!

Therefore, the aim is to allow the patients to make a choice. The new approach involves in a gradual shift rather than a drastic change in lifestyle. It should be fun and motivating for the type 2 diabetes patients, not a punishment.

What is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?

Most people have heard of diabetes at some time in their lives. Many people in the world live with it on a daily basis. There are three major types of Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Onset. This article will be devoted to Type 2, but I will also be putting together articles on other types of Diabetes and related diseases that I have studied.

The three types of Diabetes Mellitus (sometimes referred to as Sugar Diabetes) are all similar in that they are characterized by the body’s inability to regulate the hormone Insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is responsible for regulating glucose. The pancreas is a gland that is located behind the stomach.

When all the blood glucose is raised by eating food or for any other reason the pancreas would secrete Insulin to bring it back down to an acceptable level for the body to deal with. If the pancreas does not function properly and secrete the proper amount of Insulin or sometimes the pancreas delivers no Insulin then the blood sugar levels can become dangerously high.

What Causes Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?

A child, adolescent or adult can develop Type 2 Diabetes and while no one is absolutely sure of the direct cause research has found that people with the following conditions are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes:

1. High Blood Pressure
2. High Cholesterol Levels
3. Family history of Diabetes
4. Overweight
5. Native American
6. African American
7. Asian American
8. Pacific Islander
9. Females that have had Gestational Diabetes


What are the symptoms?

1. Frequent Urination is probably the most notable and one of the first signs or symptoms.
2. Blurred Vision can be an early indicator of diabetes and numerous other diseases.
3. Being hungry most of the time can be an indicator
4. Losing weight without really trying can be a sign.
5. More thirsty than usual

How is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 diagnosed?

It is diagnosed by the use of various blood glucose tests such as the following:
1. Fasting Blood Glucose (FBS) also known as Fasting Blood Sugar, after an overnight usually 8-12 hours fast you arrive at the lab or blood collection center. A specimen of blood is drawn then analyzed for blood glucose.
2. Random Blood Glucose is a glucose test done at anytime when you are not fasting and have not been fasting,
3. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. If the Random and fasting blood glucose testing results warrant further testing the physician may order a Glucose Tolerance test. These usually last 1-5 hours depending on what exactly the physician is checking. A fasting sample will be drawn. You will be given a drink with a predetermined amount of glucose in it. You will need to drink the entire dink quickly then the lab will draw blood usually at 1 hour intervals until the time is up, during the testing period you may not eat anything, usually the lab will allow you to drink water.

What is the Treatment?

Type 2 Diabetes can often be controlled with a few lifestyle changes. These changes would include eating a more healthy diet, losing weight, and some form of mild exercise. If these lifestyle changes are not successful then a physician may recommend a diabetes medicine such a Glucophage or Insulin.

If you are diagnosed with Diabetes it is very important to monitor your blood glucose levels. Your doctor may have you check your blood sugar 3 times daily or more often in special cases. Most people diagnosed with diabetes obtain a small handheld blood glucose meter such as a One-Touch. People with diabetes should keep a journal of the blood glucose readings, have their meter checked and calibrated on a regular basis.

Persons with diabetes may also be required to have a test called the Hemoglobin A1c . The HbA1c test also known as Glycosylated Hemoglobin is a method of telling if the patient’s glucose level is well controlled or poorly controlled.

Can Diabetes lead to other health problems?

Yes, uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to many other problems and damage tissue and organs. Probably the most common is damage to the kidneys which sometimes leads to kidney failure. If you don’t seek treatment for diabetes you may be risking developing any of the following problems.

1. Eye problems, blurred vision, possibly even blindness
2. Heart attack, stroke and circulatory problems
3. Nerve Damage may cause numbness in the fingers and toes, could lead to foot ulcers and the necessity of removing some necrotic tissue even limbs.
4. Kidney problems which could lead to kidney failure

Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses digested food to maintain health, growth and energy.

Normally, the food you eat is broken down into glucose, which is a type of sugar. It becomes the major source of energy for your body. This glucose is carried in your bloodstream to be used by your cells for growth and energy.

But if your body doesn't have enough of a hormone called insulin, the glucose in your blood can't reach your cells. Insulin is naturally produced by your pancreas, which is a gland about the size of your hand, located behind your stomach.

If you have type 2 diabetes your pancreas may not produce enough insulin. That means your fat, muscle, and liver cells can't use the glucose effectively and it builds up in your blood. The glucose must go somewhere, so it overflows into your urine and passes out of your body.

When that happens, your body is left without its main source of fuel.

According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, more than 20 million people in the United States have diabetes. Of those people, 14.6 million are diagnosed by a doctor, but 6.2 million are undiagnosed and may not know they have diabetes.

Ninety to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a very serious illness. In fact, diabetes is the main cause of kidney failure, limb amputation, and blindness in American adults.

People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely than people without diabetes to develop heart disease.

Pre-diabetes is also a serious condition. It's also called impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Having pre-diabetes means your the level of glucose in your blood glucose are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.

But pre-diabetes means you're at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Your doctor can test you to see if you have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Type I diabetes is a common condition within the United States with something in the region of about one million sufferers and some 10,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. It is especially common in children and young adolescents, but is also often seen in adults in their late 30s or early 40s.

Type I diabetes is essentially an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin and production is either significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. Exactly what triggers this autoimmune response is unknown although it may well be triggered by some forms of viral infection. There are also various theories that it may be caused by the production of antibodies in response to the protein in cow’s milk, a reaction to excessive levels of vitamin D or a reaction to certain drugs, including some antibiotics. At the end of the day, however, the true cause of type I diabetes remains a mystery.

The failure of the body to produce insulin results in a buildup of glucose within the blood and it is this which gives rise to a wide range of symptoms.

In many people the first signs of type I diabetes will be an inability to regulate water within the body which will be seen as excessive urination and thirst. At the same time, because the body is not able to take up the glucose that it needs from the blood to provide it with energy, the brain also triggers the need to eat and sufferers feel very hungry. Additional symptoms caused directly as a result of the failure of the body to receive the energy that it needs are a feeling of tiredness, as well as increasing nausea and blurred vision.

Other symptoms to look out for will include muscle cramps, which are often caused by an electrolyte (sodium, potassium, calcium, or bicarbonate) imbalance and numbness or tingling in both the hands and feet.

It is also quite common to experience a drop in weight which may in part be the result of the body burning fat to replace its lost source of glucose energy, but which is much more the result of the body’s loss of water. As it is unusual for someone with an increased appetite to start losing weight this is often a good indication of the presence of type I diabetes.

Also, although bedwetting is common in young children, a marked increase in involuntary urination during the night can also be a sign of the onset of type 1 diabetes.

In most cases the onset of type 1 type diabetes will be quite gradual and by the time the symptoms are severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor he will be able to trace the onset of the disease back several weeks or even months. In other cases however the symptoms can appear quite suddenly as an emergency which will require a visit to a hospital emergency room. In this case nausea, vomiting and severe stomach pains can lead quickly to breathing difficulty and the sufferer can lapse into a coma and die without prompt treatment.

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes also known as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus or GDM is a form of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy. It is usually noted in the second or third trimester. GDM occurs when the expectant mother’s pancreas cannot make enough insulin causing the body not to able to regulate the glucose.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

No one knows the exact cause of GDM. It is very possible that the hormones made by the placenta interfere with the regulation of insulin or block the effect of insulin. The placenta is a tissue that connects the baby to the mother while the baby is in the womb. The blocking effect would seem to increase as the placenta grows and produces more hormones. In most women the body makes more insulin and takes care of the problem. GDM would be the result of the pancreas making insufficient amounts of insulin.

Some women are more likely to develop Gestational Diabetes than others.

Risk factors include the following

* Having a family member with Diabetes
* Having a history of high blood sugar
* Gaining too much weight during pregnancy
* Being overweight before getting pregnant
* Having given birth to large babies in the past (over 9lbs)
* Having glycosuria (sugar in the urine)
* Black
* Hispanic
* American Indian


Signs and symptoms of gestational diabetes;

o Frequent Urination
o Blurred Vision
o Tired feeling much of the time, more than is usual
o Frequent urinary or bladder infections
o Frequent skin rash or infection
o Gaining more weight
o Nausea
o Vomiting


How is GDM Diagnosed?

The physician or healthcare professional will do a physical examination. If there is any concern about the possibility of GDM they will likely order either a 50 Gram Glucose Challenge. This is sometimes referred to as a 1hour Tolerance Test. In most labs you will be asked to fast prior to the test, but that is not always the case. Most labs will draw a sample and check the baseline blood glucose then give you a drink containing a specified amount of glucose. After you complete the drink you will then be asked to return in 1 hour to have a second tube of blood drawn. Women that are at high risk for gestational diabetes may have this test repeated several times throughout their pregnancy.

How is Gestational Diabetes Treated?

Much of the time GDM can be treated and controlled by using a combination of diet and exercise. The person with possible GDM should keep a very close watch on her Glucose levels through use of a glucose monitoring device such as the one-touch or accu-check.

Insulin or other medications may be given if diet and exercise are not successful in the treatment of GDM.

Will having GDM affect the baby or the mother?

There is a chance that GDM will lead to the following in mother:


* Development of Type 2 Diabetes later in life
* GDM in future pregnancies
* Increases chances of need for caesarean delivery
* Possible premature labor

For people with diabetes, this may be a condition one needs to face for the rest of the life. Hence, it is important for one to find out and understand more about the condition. One of the common issues associated with diabetes is diabetic blood sugar level. It is also an important issue for people with diabetic to deal with. Let us discuss 3 common questions on diabetic blood sugar level.

Should I check my sugar level if I feel some differences?

Some people with diabetes may feel that they are able to judge whether their blood level is too high or too low. Sometimes this may work, but it does not work all the time. In other words, it is unreliable to judge through feelings.

Studies have proven that diabetic blood sugar level can rise to an extremely high level or dropped dangerously with the person knowing it. Some people can tell when it is rising, but most people cannot tell when it is decreasing rapidly. Some even has mistaken the sugar level to be low even though it is high.

So this shows that is not accurate to judge by ourselves. Hence, always check your diabetic blood sugar level before taking insulin or exercising or driving.

Is sugar in common food harmful to my body?

Sugar is a powerful pack of energy for our body. Our body takes great care to monitor the sugar level as any unbalanced in sugar level can cause disaster to our body system. However, for people with diabetes, their body cannot regulate the blood sugar level well. This may cause high blood sugar level from occurring easily. If this is not solved, high sugar level can create problems such as damages to eyes, kidneys and nerves. That is why for people with diabetes, it is important for one to watch what one eats.

Sugar in common food may not look harmful, but for people with diabetes, simple things like the food we eat can also create problems if we do not take note of what we eat. So start to lead a healthy lifestyle and eat a well balance food diet plan.

With proper medication, diet and physical activity any diabetic person can live a normal risk free healthy life. Many sites on the Internet provide useful tips for managing diabetes. The most important step in managing diabetes is to know the disease. A clear understanding of the disease and its symptoms will help you reduce your stress, depression and fear.

A periodical check for blood glucose/sugar level is important in managing diabetes. Nowadays, there are many cheap and simple devices available that are highly effective in determining blood glucose levels. Writing down the readings regularly helps you keep the level in balance. Also, periodically check blood pressure level, cholesterol level, and urine/kidney, eyes, liver and pancreases functions.

Every diabetic management program requires a change in lifestyle. Consult a healthcare professional who will decide the mode of treatment that will suit your present physical condition. The amount of food you eat depends on many things such as your sex, age, weight and occupation. A certified dietician can determine what levels of food are optimal for you.

Carbohydrates are the major contributors to blood glucose, so limit carbohydrate foods in your diet to about 1/2 to 1 cup starch, 1/2-cup fruit and 1-cup milk per meal. Limit sweets and fatty foods. Excess fat can damage blood vessels and cause weight gain. Eat more vegetables such as tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages, as these have low carbohydrate, high fiber and vitamin C that assist in controlling blood sugar levels.

Increase your physical activities. Spent at least 10 to 15 minutes a day walking and use stairs instead of elevators and escalators. Exercise not only reduces blood glucose level, but also benefits the heart, lungs and joints, and gives you a feeling of well-being.

Avoid weight gain, since excess weight not only increases diabetes, but also causes some complex health problems such as cardiovascular diseases. If you are overweight, losing weight gradually can help you control your diabetes. Take part in more social and cultural activities. They will provide you enormous mental pleasure and may also improve your social status. And lastly, don?t smoke.

A cookbook typically provides people with a large number of recipes to make tasty and nutritious dishes. A diabetic diet cookbook is written keeping in mind the specific nutritional needs of a diabetic patient. A diabetic should abstain from eating food that have high cholesterol or sugar content. Therefore, the recipes in a diabetic cookbook are low in sugar and cholesterol content but high in proteins.

Diabetic diet cookbooks are a useful source of information about food composition, cooking tips, favorite recipe modifications, portions and menus. Most diabetic diet cookbooks contain information on the amount of calories, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins and vitamins that each serving of a certain dish contains. These cookbooks offer alternate ways of cooking certain recipes that should not otherwise be eaten by diabetes patients.

The recipes in a diabetic cookbook usually contain natural, whole foods like fish, herbal sweeteners and legumes (beans, peas and lentils). These types of food help stabilize blood sugar. The recipes are designed to provide a balanced nutritional content of 50% carbohydrate, 25% protein and 25% fat.

While the recipes in a diabetic diet cookbook are designed for diabetics, a non- diabetic can also follow these diets and remain healthy. In fact, readership surveys in the US indicate that 33 % of the people who bought diabetic books in 2004 were non -diabetics.

It is estimated that 18.2 million Americans suffer from diabetes. This is viewed as a sizeable opportunity by many chefs and culinary authors to continue compiling and publishing these impressive and needed cookbooks. Non-diabetics who read these books are an added bonus for authors and publishers as well. You will find diabetic diet cookbooks in most bookstores, and they can be ordered over the Internet.

Controlling diabetes with diet is never more important than during the holidays. November, December and January are challenging for anyone who is watching what they eat, but more so for diabetics and pre-diabetics. The rich carbohydrate- and fat-laden treats so loved and served in abundance at parties and get-togethers generally tend to drive up blood glucose readings and are exactly what the doctor does not order for those at risk for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or slowed significantly with diet, weight loss and lifestyle changes.

If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, here are six tips to help control your diabetes with diet while enjoying the holidays:

Planning Makes Perfect

Face it. You will eat some of those delicious treats this season. Don't stress over it. And don't even think about trying to lose weight during the holidays. Have a strategy in place to stay in control of your diabetes diet BEFORE you indulge. Your diabetes takes no holidays or vacations. If you want more of your fave holiday treat, maybe you eat less of something else, or increase your physical activity; do something to balance the intake. Your diabetes educator or dietician can help you develop or fine-tune a plan.

Forewarned is Forearmed

If possible, call up your host and ask what’s on the menu. There’s no shame in admitting you have a special diet plan. Maybe you can influence the final offerings.

Be Conscious of Your Food

So often we eat while distracted, or mesmerized by good conversation, we don't know just how much we ate. If this starts to happen to you (and I'll bet it will), put the food down, and give your companions your full attention. You’ll enjoy your food more completely, stay mindfully in control of your diet, and your health will thank you.

Make Smart Food Choices

Start by eating the healthy stuff –- veggies, fresh salads –- first, before noshing on the fried, creamed, cheese-filled, chocolate-covered, overprocessed, high-fat goodies and desserts.

Test, Test, Test...

You cannot control diabetes with diet without testing your blood sugars. You can’t always know exactly what went into that dish you ate. So it's important to test more often this holiday season to make sure that your blood sugars stay in check.

Get Steppin'!

A brisk walk around your neighborhood or park about one hour after you eat will help lower blood glucose levels and control your diabetes. Walking after your meal is perhaps the most important thing you can do to maintain your diabetes diet plan. Invite your loved ones along and enjoy their company.

If you slip up, don’t beat yourself over it. Life's too short for that guilt. Just return to the strategy. If you still feel stressed about it, take another walk. It'll improve your mood and your glucose levels.

What is Diabetes Insipidus?

Unlike other types of diabetes such as Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that is linked to the pituitary gland in the brain. When the word diabetes is mentioned most people will assume that we are speaking of Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes). Diabetes Insipidus though is not caused by a lack of insulin or the lack of insulin regulation. Diabetes Insipidus happens when the pituitary gland does not make enough of the hormone ADH. Antidiuretic Hormone is needed to control the amount of water in the body. Diabetes Insipidus can be a serious or even fatal disease if not caught and treated. The treatment may be ongoing for the rest of your life.

What causes Diabetes Insipidus?

Like all forms of diabetes no one knows exactly what causes the actual disease however they do know that people that have had other problems are prime candidates to develop Diabetes Insipidus.

If you have or have had any of the following you may develop Diabetes Insipidus:

* A brain aneurysm which is a weak spot in a blood vessel causing the artery to balloon out much like a weak spot on a tire causes a “bulge”
* Any type of brain infection
* A Tumor of the brain
* A Tumor of the Pituitary Gland
* Compulsive, excessive fluid intake
* Bleeding inside the skull
* Family history of Diabetes Insipidus
* Head Injury that may cause damage to the Pituitary Gland
* Kidney Disease
* Surgery on the Pituitary Gland sometimes causes a temporary type that lasts about 14 days

If you have the following signs or symptoms, you should ask your physician to do further testing for possible Diabetes Insipidus:

* Dry skin, especially the hands.
* Constipation
* Passing large amounts of extremely clear urine
* Terrible thirst especially for cold or iced fluids

What is the treatment?

The treatment depends more on what appears to be causing the problem. This is one place where the allopathic medical community agrees with the naturopathic medical community. Remove the cause and you treat the disease. This is the underlying theme to most naturopathic treatments, where as the allopathic community is more a symptom treatment practice.

Depending on what may be causing the problem a person may be subjected to any or all of the following tests and or treatments:

> Complete medical history and exam
> Basic Blood and Urine tests
> Computerized Tomography scan (CT Scan)
> Daily weights to determine fluid loss or gain
> Dehydration test
> Intake and output measurements (I and O)
> Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
> Surgery. If a tumor is involved you may need brain surgery to remove it.

Everyone wants to avoid diabetes. Diabetes is an issue that will affect everyone at one point in life, whether directly or indirectly. This newsletter will provide you with more information on diabetes and perhaps will lead to lifestyle changes that can help you, your friends, and family, avoid this terrible and mostly preventable disease.

A person with "adult-onset" diabetes (Type II) has high blood sugar levels because the cells of the body do not respond to insulin (they are "insulin-resistant"). Insulin is a hormone released from the pancreas and stimulates blood sugar uptake by cells of the body.

The cells then use this sugar for energy, however chronically elevated blood sugar levels can be unhealthy. In 1996, it was reported that the number of diabetes cases is going to double to 250 million worldwide by 2025. Type II diabetes is referred to as a lifestyle disease.

By lifestyle disease, this means that factors under our control are the primary factors behind the development of diabetes. The biggest risk factors are obesity, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition. These factors are promoted in Western society by the convenience and hectic schedule that seem to plague everyone.

The North American diet is full of processed foods with poor nutritive value. According to American Society of Bariatric Physicians, obesity has increased due to increased sugar consumption. Processed foods (i.e. white bread) quickly increase blood sugar and are referred to as high-glycemic index (GI) foods. The Nurses Health Study from Harvard examined 75000 nurses and found women eating more high-GI foods had twice the risk of heart disease. As well, high blood sugar levels may damage blood vessels and induce insulin resistance over time.

In addition, this sedentary lifestyle has led many to abandon daily exercise. Two hours in a car and 9 hours behind a desk (at least) are quite a contrast to the daily activities most people had as students. Again and again, authors state that changes in diet, exercise, and weight loss are the keys to treating and preventing diabetes. Authors recommend reducing processed food and sugar intake.

Avoid a "Mega-sized burger, fries, and pop" habit. Weight loss is a big help in avoiding diabetes as well. Losing 10% of excess fat can improve health. Researchers believe that diabetes is also a "skeletal muscle" disease and that people should go to the gym and resistance train. Lose fat. Add muscle.

On a disease-related exercise note, research has also shown that intense aerobic exercise prevents heart disease. The key was intensity and not duration. They found that people that performed 15 min of hard aerobic exercise a couple of times a week had less heart disease (Harvard Alumni Health Study, Circulation 102: 975-986, 2000). So lift, work hard, eat proper and in moderation, and you will increase your odds of long-lasting good health.

Okay, that is enough preaching. There will always be people that can smoke, drink, eat poorly, and not exercise and still live to 90 years of age. However, statistics suggest that more people will be getting ill due to their lifestyle choices. Fortunately, the stats show that this can be avoided and even treated with lifestyle changes. Make the necessary changes and read more on how lifestyle interacts with diabetes.