Diabetes

Diabetes meter

Diabetes was one of the earliest diseases known to man. Egyptians around 1500 BCE described is as a condition resulting in frequent urination. Indian physicians identified the disease as ‘madhumeha’ or "honey urine", noting the urine would attract ants. The Greek physicians used the term diabetes first in around 230 BCE. 

Diabetes mellitus (or simply diabetes) is a group of metabolic diseases in which blood sugar levels are disturbed. Hyperglycemia is indicated by high level of sugar in the blood while hypoglycemia indicates a low blood sugar.
Most of the food we take is broken down into glucose, a form of sugar in the blood. Glucose gives energy to our bodies.

There are two main types of hyperglycemia – Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes results from body’s inability to produce insulin and requires injection of insulin. Therefore this was formerly known as insulin dependent or juvenile diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from the inability of the cells to use insulin properly. Sometimes this condition is worsened with an absolute insulin deficiency. This form was previously referred to as non insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. 

There is another form of diabetes known as gestational diabetes. This occurs when pregnant women without any previous diabetic condition develops high blood sugar level. Often this will be resolved after child birth. In some case this may lead to Type 2 diabetes. 

The pancreas produces two types of hormones to regulate sugar level – insulin and glucagon. Insulin keeps the sugar level low and glucagon keeps the sugar level from

Vinegar

dropping too low. 

Insulin helps to transport sugar in the blood stream into the cells to produce energy. It also helps the liver to convert the excess sugar into glycogen and fat for storage. Glucagon sends a message to the liver and then to the muscles to convert the stored glycogen and other nutrients, such as amino acids, back into sugar to be released into the blood stream. Thus insulin and glucagon help maintain a consistent blood sugar level in the body. A constant demand to produce more and more insulin eventually creates such a stress on the pancreas which will eventually burn out and give up making insulin altogether.

High blood sugar may show symptoms of extreme thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, blurred vision, dry eyes, slow healing of infections etc. The low blood sugar may be discerned from weakness, fatigue, impaired vision, rapid heart beat, trembling etc.

Managing Diabetes

Diet and exercise can help in controlling diabetes. If diet and exercise does not keep the sugar levels at optimum levels then it would be necessary to take pills or insulin

Cinnamon

injections.

Diabetic patient should visit a doctor at least 3 to 4 times a year and should do an eye test at least once in 2 years.

Glucose metres for testing blood sugar level are cheap and freely available. It is good for a diabetic patient to have one and check the sugar levels periodically. If any deviation in the sugar level is noticed, the patient should seek immediate medical advice. 

There are some food items that can lower the blood sugar levels. They are extra virgin

Bitter Melon

cider vinegar, bitter melon(Momordica charantia), cinnamon, flax seed, avocado, fenugreek, turmeric, raw vegetable and fruit diet, Gymnema sylvestre, Aloe vera, American Ginseng and nopal (Prickly pear cactus).

Vigorous exercise for half an hour will reduce glucose level by 2 mmol/L
(35 mg/dl). So will the consumption of cider vinegar, bitter melon, cinnamon and turmeric. Though I consume fenugreek daily and avocado frequently I have not checked their effect on glucose level. I take one tea spoon of fenugreek with a glass of water first thing in the morning in empty stomach.

Fenugreek 

Recent research from Denmark shows that Type 2 diabetes may be an inflammatory disease. Dr. Alexander Rosendahl, one of the researchers from the Department of Diabetes Complication Biology at Novo Nordisk A/S, in Malov, says that the study lead to development of suitable anti-inflammatory therapies benefitting type 2 patients.



Tests for Diabetes

Regular home monitoring is good for those with diabetes. For Type 2 diabetes, one or two tests per week would generally be adequate. Thos with Type 1 diabetes should check their glucose level daily preferably before each meal.

If fasting sugar level is greater than 125 mg/dl, diabetes is diagnosed. The fasting period is 10 hours. Diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dl after 2 hours of a meal (postprandial blood sugar). (This test is used more often for type 2 diabetes.) Obesity is often identified with diabetes. Glucose (sugar) level below 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) is considered normal. The glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl (7 mmol/L ) is considered as pre-diabetes condition.

There are a number of glucose monitoring systems and tests are available today. There is blood sugar meters available for home use. Some tests need to be carried out in a laboratory or a physicians’ clinic.

Oral glucose tolerance test is used to diagnose pre-diabetes and diabetes. After fasting for 8 to 10 hours, a standard dose of glucose is ingested by mouth and blood levels are checked some time. This test result indicates how well your system can manage the sugar in the blood stream. Glucose less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is considered normal glucose tolerance, and between 140 to 200 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.1 mmol/L) is considered as impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes. Glucose level of over 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) on more than one testing occasion indicates diabetes.

Glycohemoglobin A1c measures how much sugar (glucose) is stuck to red blood cells. It also shows how well your diabetes has been controlled in the last 2 to 3 months. A1c test result shows average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months

Random blood sugar test is done to track glucose level over time.

Keytones

In the case of Type I diabetes, when the body is unable to burn glucose to get the energy required for the body, it turns to the fat stored in the body for energy and produces ketones. This will also happen with inadequate consumption of carbohydrates.

Keytones are an efficient form of fat energy. If some insulin is detected in the body, signal to stop production of ketones will be give. In the total absence of insulin the stop production signal would not be generated and the body will continue to produce ketones.  This will lead to a condition known as ketoacidosis.

Some blood sugar meters can also test for the presence of ketones in the blood. Test strips are also available for testing ketones and glucose in the urine.

Treatments using certain medications such as corticosteroids and estrogens (birth control pills and hormone replacement) can temporarily increase sugar level. This needs to be monitored and controlled.

Consequences of Diabetes

If diabetes is not controlled properly it may result in many complications. A long list of complications is given here to emphasize the importance of controlling diabetes. The complications include:

Eyes

Diabetes can cause blindness, glaucoma (pressure on the eye restricting blood supply to the optic nerve), cataracts (causing loss of vision), diabetic retinopathy and bleeding of the small capillaries in the eye.

Skin

Diabetics are more susceptible to dry skin, skin infections and skin disorders.

Influenza

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that people who have diabetes, both type 1 and type 2) are at increased risk of getting flu infection even if the diabetes is managed well. This is because diabetes can debilitate the immune system in fighting infection. Further more patients with diabetes may develop pneumonia from the flu. CDC recommends pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine as the best defense for diabetics to fight flu.

Foot complications – Diabetes may lead to neuropathy and ulcers. Sometimes gangrene may set in requiring foot amputation.

Heart problems – Diabetes may reduce the blood supply to the heart muscle. It can quadruple your chance of getting a heart related problem such as heart attack, atherosclerosis (hardening and furring up of the arteries), angina, stroke, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high cholesterol. When you rise quickly from a seated position or bend forward low, you may feel light-headed or dizzy if you have a damaged and weakened heart and blood vessels

Hearing loss – Diabetics may lead to hearing problems.

Gum disease - Gum disease is prevalent in diabetics.

Gastroparesis – A condition in which the stomach muscles do not work properly.

Ketoacidosis – This is indicated by prolonged presence of ketones (ketosis ) and acids (acidosis) in the blood.

Neuropathy – Diabetes may lead to nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy.

Mental health – Diabetes can lead to depression and anxiety.

HHNS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome) – This is a condition in which blood glucose level is high but there is no ketones in the blood or urine. This may lead to an emergency condition.

Nephropathy – This is a condition in which high blood pressure leading to kidney disease 

PAD (peripheral arterial disease) - Leg pain, tingling and difficulty in walking properly.

Erectile dysfunction - Male impotence.

Healing of wounds – Wounds, cuts and lesions may take longer to heal.  

Remission of Diabetes

The saying goes that once a diabetic is always a diabetic. I was then on Metformin, 250 mg once a day. After about two years with diet and exercise I was no longer on any medication. Even though my blood sugar level is normal I keep checking my blood two or three times a month and keep a tight control over what I eat. I love chocolates (normal type and not sugar free), ice cream, milk shakes, cakes and puddings. I occasionally indulge in them. This has not upset my diet control. I check my blood and make sure that my sugar level is not disturbed.

This is a very informative article found on Dr. Mercola’s website “Diabetes Remission Possible with Diet, Exercise”.  You can also view his video - "Diabetes - How You Can Treat It the Natural Way" on Youtube.