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Type 2 Diabetes - FAQ's,
Natural Remedies and Diet
(Diabetes Mellitus)
 |
Find out
the
early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Discover natural remedies
that can help with controlling blood sugar levels. |
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Introduction
Diabetes is a condition when the pancreas is no
longer able to make enough of the hormone insulin. The body needs
insulin to allow sugar in the blood to get into the cells for use as
energy. Without sufficient insulin, the sugar stays in the blood and
causes high
blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).
Facts and
Frequently
Asked Questions about type 2 diabetes
Video - What does
diabetes do?
Natural Remedies for
the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Frequently
Asked Questions & Facts
What
are the types of diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes
- Also known as juvenile onset diabetes, this condition commonly starts in
children. Children who develop it get it very fast, sometime
overnight. Type 1 diabetic's pancreas produces no insulin and they will require
daily insulin injections.
Type 2
diabetes
- This is the most common type and accounts for about 90% of the
population with diabetes. It is a milder form and can take years to develop.
In this group of diabetics, their insulin production is
reduced or that the insulin is not as sensitive (insulin resistance).
The pancreas can't make enough to cope with the carbohydrates
found in a meal. Because of this, the sugar level spikes and
stays
higher much longer. In some people, their sugar levels stays high even
throughout the night when they are sleeping and may not even come down
to an acceptable level in the morning.
This condition may also be referred to
as impaired glucose tolerance. Diet, exercise and oral prescription
anti-diabetic medications are used to control their blood sugar levels.
In time, as the disease progresses, many people will eventually need to
go on insulin shots.
Gestational
Diabetes
- This is a type of diabetes that develops in women who are pregnant.
Usually, the
diabetes disappears after delivery of the baby. During pregnancy,
oral anti-diabetic medications can not be used so diet, exercise and
insulin injections are used to manage this condition.
Women who
suffer from gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of getting type 2
diabetes later on in life.
What
are some early signs and symptoms of type 2
diabetes?
It
is important to recognize the early signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Many people discover that they suffer from diabetes during a routine
checkup with their doctor. Early treatment will help prevent the
permanent damage that diabetes causes.
Early warning signs and symptoms include:
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Recurring vaginal yeast infection
- Impotence
- Irritability
- Wounds that do not heal in a timely fashion
Make
sure you get a full checkup by your family doctor. Many of these
symptoms are general in nature so it is important to rule out other
possible causes first.
What
causes type 2 diabetes?
No
one knows exactly what causes diabetes but there are very strong
evidence that it is a combination of genetic factors and environmental
conditions. Genetic factors seem to be present in those
people more likely to develop diabetes.
Suspected and known causes include:
- Heredity
- Poor diet (type 2 diabetes)
- Obesity / Overweight
- Autoimmune reaction (type 1 diabetes)
- Chronic stress
and production of excessive stress hormones
- Nutritional deficiency such as vitamin D and
vitamin E.
What
are some risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
There are known risk factors that increase a person's chance of
getting type 2 diabetes. They include the following:
-
Obesity (over 20% above their ideal body
weight)
-
A relative with diabetes
-
Gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
-
High
blood pressure
- High
cholesterol
-
Gave birth to a baby heavier than 4 kg (9 lb)
- Lack of physical activities (exercise)
-
Age - As you get older, especially after 45,
you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
-
Belong to an ethnic group known to have a
higher risk of diabetes (such as Blacks, Hispanic, Native American or
African
Americans)
Myths
about diabetes
As reported from the American Diabetes Association, the following
commonly held beliefs are all false.
-
Diabetes is not a serious disease
-
Overweight or obese people will get type 2
diabetes
-
Diabetics need to have a special diet
-
Since fruits are healthy, you can eat as much
as you want
-
Eating too much sugar will cause diabetes
-
If you are a diabetic, you'll need to eat only
small amounts of starchy foods (for example bread, pasta and potatoes)
-
Diabetics can't eat sweets or sugary candies
-
You are more likely to catch a cold or flu if
you suffer from diabetes
-
If you eventually have to use insulin, that
means that you didn't take care of your diabetes
What
type of damage does type 2 diabetes cause?
High blood sugar levels damage two main groups of organs in our body.
It damages nerves and blood vessels.
If left untreated, a diabetic person will eventually suffer from the
following serious health conditions.
Blood Vessel Damage
|
Nerve Damage
(neuropathy) |
| Stroke |
Lack of sensation in hands and feet |
| Heart
attack |
Burning, tingling or painful sensations in
you fingers or toes |
| Angina |
Hearing problems |
| Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) |
Nausea, vomiting, constipation from nerve
damage in the digestive system |
| Impotence
(reduced blood flow) |
Impotence
(loss of sensation) |
| Kidney failure (nephropathy) leading to a
need for a kidney transplant |
|
| Increased risk of infections (bacterial,
fungus or yeast) |
|
| Poor wound healing |
|
| Amputation of limbs |
|
| Loss of vision, cataracts or glaucoma |
|
| Osteoporosis |
|
| Alzheimer's disease or dementia |
|
Additional references used: Mayo
Clinic
Type
2 Diabetes - Which diets should I
consider?
A new study published in the Diabetes Care Journal in August 2009
showed that following the DASH diet guidelines
can reduce the risk of getting diabetes. (The DASH diet was
originally designed for lowering high
blood pressure but experts are discovering much more other
health benefits!)
Foods to eat
more of...
-
Cinnamon.
Add cinnamon to your cereals,
oatmeals or shakes.
-
Increase the amount of fiber you take daily.
-
Consider
eating foods that have a low-glycemic index such as whole grains (whole
wheat, brown rice and oats. Glycemic index is a measure of how
fast blood sugar level to go up after eating certain food.
(Sugar
is the worst and has the highest glycemic index.)
Foods to cut
back on...
-
Cut back on sugar or sugary foods. If you need
to sweeten foods, tea or coffee, consider using stevia
as a natural sweetener.
-
Avoid drinking alcohol or limit it to a glass
a day.
- Avoid
foods that have a high glycemic index. These would include sugar found
in candies and soda pop, white rice, potatoes and refined cereals.
- One major study showed that people who ate
five or
more servings of white rice weekly were 17 percent more likely to get
diabetes than those who ate less than 1 serving per month. If you enjoy
rice, replace some serving of white rice with brown rice.

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