Physicians at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have begun enrollment for a pilot study on a promising surgical approach for the management of Type 2 diabetes.

The procedure being tested is designed for adults who have Type 2 diabetes and who are overweight or obese but not morbidly obese. Millions of Americans have Type 2 diabetes and most are overweight.

Involving surgery to the small intestine and stomach, the procedure, which is called an ileal transposition with sleeve gastrectomy, is intended to improve or resolve Type 2 diabetes. It will be performed at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious health problem and can lead to blindness, limb amputation and heart disease. It is characterized by an elevated blood sugar level associated with the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or to use it properly.

The researchers’ goal is to enhance the ability of a person with Type 2 diabetes to maintain a normal blood sugar level by moving a section of intestine closer to the stomach and reducing the size of the stomach.

Currently, many with Type 2 diabetes must take medication on a daily basis to keep sugar levels in check.

The surgical procedure has been associated with encouraging results in clinical research conducted abroad. If the procedure proves effective, it could allow some people with Type 2 diabetes to cut back or quit their medications.

The objectives of the study include evaluating the safety of the procedure and determining its effectiveness compared to dietary and medical management of Type 2 diabetes.

“No one has compared this surgery directly to medical therapy in a randomized, prospective study like this,” said Brad Snyder, M.D., the principal investigator of the study and an assistant professor of surgery at the UTHealth Medical School.

The UTHealth doctors plan to treat 10 people with Type 2 diabetes surgically and 10 medically. Participants will be followed over a two-year period and their outcomes compared.

“If we can get patients into remission and off their medications, then we could open the door for people who want to pursue careers as firefighters, police officers and commercial pilots who may at times be limited by this disease,” Snyder said.

An estimated 26 million people in the United States have diabetes, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In adults, Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 -95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Also known as adult onset diabetes and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, physical inactivity and certain ethnic groups.

“This disease takes a terrible toll on both patients and their families,” said Erik Wilson, M.D., a study investigator and an associate professor of surgery at the UTHealth Medical School.

The ileum is the final section of the small intestine and transposition means to change place. Human studies have shown that when you place the ileum closer to the stomach, food from the stomach enters the ileum quickly and hormones that help regulate diabetes are easily stimulated.

In the procedure, surgeons remove a section of the ileum that is about 5 feet in length and reattach it. In addition, they remove about 80 percent of the stomach. It is a “band-aid” procedure that is performed through tiny incisions on the abdomen. As with surgical procedures, there is a risk of complication and the risk is anticipated to be in the 1 to 2 percent range.

The procedure is similar to a treatment for morbid obesity – metabolic and bariatric surgery, which can involve surgery on the stomach and intestines. Research shows that oftentimes Type 2 diabetes improves or resolves in morbidly obese patient following gastric bypass surgery.

“We’re not completely sure why people with morbid obesity and Type 2 diabetes experience this improvement following surgery,” Snyder said. It could be a combination of the different metabolism of food, the improvement of insulin action or the improvement in insulin secretion, he said.

“This research will help us find some answers and could lead to future treatments,” Snyder said.

Metabolic and bariatric surgery is typically limited to people with a body mass index of 40 kg/m² or more, or a BMI of 35 kg/m² or more with an obesity-related condition in accordance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) parameters for bariatric surgery. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight.

This pilot study for the surgical management of Type 2 diabetes is restricted to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 34 kg/m², which includes people who are overweight or obese. Participants must be between 21 and 55 years of age and being treated for Type 2 diabetes.

The clinical trial team includes Philip Orlander, M.D., a professor of medicine and director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the UTHealth Medical School, who medically treats people with Type 2 diabetes. When treating patients, Orlander often begins by recommending they lose weight through conventional means such as restricting their calories and exercising more, as well as taking commonly used medications for diabetes. If that fails and they are eligible for bariatric surgery, Orlander will recommend bariatric surgery as a way to control their Type 2 diabetes.

“The average person with Type 2 diabetes may be on 10 different medications to control their blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure,” Orlander said. “When we send people to bariatric surgery, a significant portion may be able to stop all of their diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure medications.”

Frank Moody, M.D., a professor of surgery at the UTHealth Medical School with a longtime interest in the surgical treatment of digestive system diseases, is assisting the research team and said the study could shed light on hormones involved in the metabolic process. “The team will be looking at the impact of surgery on the processing of sugars by the diabetic subjects with an expectation of fixing the break in their metabolism,” Moody said.

If successful, the next step could involve a large clinical trial, Snyder said. “Our intention is to gather this primary data in a small group to show the safety and likely significance as well.”

Snyder, Wilson and Orlander are collaborating on the study with Kelly Wirfel, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the UTHealth Medical School. Snyder and Wilson are members of a UT Specialty Surgery Center called Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas (MIST) and are on the medical staff of Memorial Hermann-TMC. Wilson is the director of MIST, chief of Elective General Surgery for the UTHealth Medical School and medical director of Bariatric Surgery for Memorial Hermann-TMC.

The study is titled “A Surgical Approach to the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with a BMI between 25-34 kg/m².” The study was approved by the UTHealth Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects and is anticipated to take about three years to complete.

Source:
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Diabetes From Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Your risk for developing type 2 diabetes can be influenced by a variety of factors. Some you can control… others you can’t. Here’s what you need to watch out for:

• being overweight
• being inactive
• having a family history of diabetes, a parent or sibling with the disease
• getting older
• being a member of certain races, blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian Americans
• having prediabetes, gestational diabetes or babies over 9 pounds.

Currently the medical community is not sure why some people get diabetes and others don’t, but if you have one risk factor (or more) there’s plenty you can do to help reduce the risk.

The Glasgow researchers studied the effects of regular aerobic exercise in 34 females who had at least one type 2 diabetic parent, and 36 women who had no family history of the condition. At the beginning of the study, the group with the family history connection to diabetes had higher insulin resistance than the subjects who didn’t have a diabetic parent or sibling did.

Bu just what type of exercise did they do? The study involved a program of three 30 minute sessions the first week, working up to five 1 hour sessions by the end of the study. The exercises the women were given were cardiovascular in nature – running, aerobics, cycling or using a rowing machine. A good, solid workout. And while the family history group showed such a marked improvement in their insulin resistance, the control group showed no significant change by the end of the study.

Though more research is surely needed, this result is a good argument for getting up, and getting moving, especially if you carry a family risk of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a nasty enough condition on it’s own, but it has been shown to also increase the risk of heart disease in patients, with a rather worryingly two thirds of diabetics actually dying from heart disease. The good news though according to Dr. Nick Barwell who participated in the study is that, “”People at high risk have it within their power to substantially reduce their risk by increasing their activity levels.”

So, if you have a parent, sibling or grandparent with diabetes type 2, it does not necessarily mean that the condition has to become a part of your life too. You can take steps today to do something about it. It may require a bit of effort… and a bit of change… but starting a regular exercise regime now, which involves aerobic exercise, can absolutely have a positive impact on your chances of avoiding this life altering disease.

Exercise is a great way to help control weight and it also lowers the blood sugar level. It also lowers a person’s risk of heart disease – a condition that is very common in people who have diabetes.

Exercise can also help you feel better about yourself and increase your overall health.

What kind of exercises to be done?
There are no specific exercises for one to do. Choose any cardio exercise (walking, running, cycling, aerobics, skating, warm-ups and cool-downs, tennis, etc.) – anything that increases the heart rate.

Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and keeps the exerciser’s muscles warm. Strength training builds stamina, while improving both joints and muscles. Warm-ups and cool-downs are essential for the safety of the exerciser.

No matter what kind of exercise one does, make sure to warm up before starting, and cool down when done. To warm up, spend 5 to 10 minutes doing a low-intensity exercise such as walking.

Then gently stretch for another five to ten minutes. Repeat these steps after exercising to cool down.

When you start an exercise program, go slowly. Gradually increase the intensity and length of the workout as one gradually gets more fit.

Consult a doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you, depending on whether one has any other health problems.

1. Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise helps increase heart rate, as well as breathing rate. This makes one breathe more deeply and also makes the heart work harder. It is best to aim for a total of about 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. Here are some examples of aerobic exercises:

• Take a brisk walk either outside or on a treadmill
• Dance classes
• Swimming
• Jogging
• Roller-skating
• Tennis or badminton
• Indoor stationary bicycle

2. Strength training
Strength training, done several times a week, helps build strong bones and muscles. Some ways to do it:

• Join a gym to do strength training with weights.
• Lift light weights at home

3. Flexibility exercises
Flexibility exercises, also called stretching, helps keep joints flexible and reduces the chances of injury during other activities. Gentle stretching for 5 to 10 minutes helps the body to warm up, as well as get ready for aerobic activities.

4. Be on the move throughout the day
Being active helps burns calories. The more you move around, the more energy one will have.

• Walk instead of driving whenever possible.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Work in the garden or do some housecleaning every day
• Walk to the market; park your car ½ kilometer before the market.

Are there any risks associated with exercising for people with diabetes?

There are some mild risks, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. So, its necessary to moderately exercise daily the right way.

Exercise changes the way in which the body reacts to insulin. Regular and strenuous exercise makes the body more sensitive to insulin, and thus, the blood sugar level may suddenly get too low after exercising.

Therefore, it is important to check the blood sugar level before and after exercising, and follow the doctor’s advice as suggested for low blood sugar.

If the blood sugar level is too low or too high right before one starts exercising, it is better to wait until the level improves, and normalizes.

It is also important to keep a check on blood sugar level if exercising in extreme hot or cold conditions, because temperature affects how the body absorbs insulin.

Should one drink plenty of fluids during exercising?

Yes. While exercising, our body uses more fluid to keep the body temperature cool. Therefore, by the time one feels thirsty, he may already be getting dehydrated. Dehydration can seriously affect the blood sugar level in the body.

Drink plenty of fluids, water before, during and after exercise.

What safety tips to follow while exercising?

Exercise can affect and lower the blood sugar level, so pay attention to possible warning signs during workout such as:

• Sudden change in heartbeat
• if one starts sweating more
• feels shaky, anxious or hungry
• feeling weak or dizzy

If you feel this way, stop exercising and check out on a doctor. It might be hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It is normally recommended to keep candy, glucose biscuits or juice nearby to treat hypoglycemia.

Exercise tips for people with diabetes:

• Talk to the doctor about the right exercise for you.
• Check blood sugar level before and after exercising.
• Wear the proper shoes and socks, so as to avoid infection and blisters.
• Drink plenty of fluid before, during and after exercising.
• Warm up before exercising and cool down afterward.
• Have some juice handy in case blood sugar level drops too low.

For diabetes information, diabetes diet, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

Insulin circulates throughout your network of blood vessels along with sugar, and acts as a key, opening channels that line your cells, which allows sugar to exit your bloodstream and enter your cells where it is used for energy. When insulin is not able to do its job, the cells can’t get the sugar they need, and too much sugar builds up in the blood. Insulin resistance, which is very common, doesn’t cause type 2 diabetes by itself. The pancreas usually rallies to compensate for the resistance by pumping out more insulin.

The overworked pancreas may eventually stop producing enough insulin and the person with type 2 diabetes may need to take daily injections of insulin. Blood samples are taken at intervals for 2 to 3 hours. Test results are compared with a standard and show how the body uses glucose over time.

Insulin levels drop as a result of decreased production, and blood glucose levels are allowed to rise to very high, toxic levels. Although diet and exercise, along with supplementation, are still strongly recommended, a number of prescription drugs might also be necessary. Insulin is a hormone made by the body to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. High levels of sugar in the blood can seriously affect other body systems, particularly over long periods of time. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, an organ behind the stomach.

Regular exercise 3-5 times a week will not only keep your heart rate and blood levels in the right places but also ensure you are maintaining your body and reducing the risk of diabetes. Regular exercise tackles several risk factors at once. It helps you lose weight, keeps your cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and helps your body use insulin. Regular exercise helps control the amount of glucose in the blood. It also helps burn excess calories and fat so you can manage your weight. Regular exercise also may help lower blood lipids and reduce some effects of stress, both important factors in treating diabetes and preventing complications.

Exercise and weight loss are very important to prevent Type 2 Diabetes from worsening. Exercise increases the body’s energy level, lowers tension, and improves your ability to handle stress. Living with type 2 diabetes is a life changing experience.

Medical management of type 2 diabetes is essential, along with nutrition counseling, medication use, behavior change therapy, and physical activity as the focuses of therapeutic intervention. There are identifiable limitations (e.g., presence of complications leading to impairment or disability) and precautions (e.g., degree of metabolic control) to be addressed when developing a physical activity program. Medically speaking, endocrinology involves the diagnosis and management of these illnesses. Endocrinology is often associated with the study of diabetes and metabolism, or with reproductive medicine. Medicines for diabetes and other health conditions may need to be adjusted if a person is also using a dietary supplement.

MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
Here are some of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes:

1. Age – As people age, the chances of getting diabetes type 2 is considerably higher. So for those who are older than 45 years, they are at a higher risk of getting the disease.
2. Overweight – Being overweight is another strong risk factor especially the person is heavier in the center.
3. Genetic factors – Having someone with diabetes in the family puts you at a higher risk.
4. Certain ethnic groups such as such as native americans, african americans, latino americans, pacific islanders and asian individuals who are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
5. People with high blood pressure and high cholestorol levels are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
6. Women at risk – women who have had a big baby of more than 9lbs are at higher risk of having type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include women who had gestational diabetes, polycystic overian syndrom, irregular menstrual cycles and developing facial hair.

Of all these common risk factors, the most common are those who have family history as well as those who are gaining weight in the middle.

HOW TO CONTROL TYPE 2 DIABETES
Diabetes can be one of the hardest diseases to treat as it does not go away. It is always there with you, day in and day out. It will affect your daily life in what you do and what you eat. You have to be always conscious of your blood sugar as you can’t let it go too high to avoid complications. The next best thing you can do to help yourself is to control the disease.

The main cause of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. So the first thing you want to do is to help reduce the resistance of insulin. Exercising and losing weight can help reducing resistance to insulin and thus control type 2 diabetes. The other way is using pills which your doctor will recommend to you. However,due to the advance technology as well as rising awareness of using alternative way to treat type 2 diabetes, herbal and natural supplements are increasingly popular.

Here are a few of the natural/alternative herbs which have worked for many diabetics:

1. Bitter melon has long been regarded as the natural cure for diabetes. This fruit is known for its abilities to regulate blood glucose level. In fact, bitter melon is recommended by the Dept of Philippines as one of the best herbal medicines for managing diabetes.
2. Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a naturopathic treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia. This herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time. The active ingredient is thought to be gurmenic acid which has structure similar to saccharose. Extracts of Gymnema is not only claimed to curb sweet tooths but also for treatment of as varied problems as hyperglycemia, obesity, high cholesterol levels, anemia and digestion.
3. Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum or Chinese cinnamon) is a close relative to cinnamon. In fact, when cinnamon is said to be beneficial for diabetes, it is actually cassia, a less delicate version of the true cinnamon. A 2003 study published in the DiabetesCare journal followed Type 2 diabetics ingesting 1, 3 or 6 grams of cassia daily. Those taking 6 grams shows changes after 20 days, and those taking lesser doses showed changes after 40 days. Regardless of the amount of cassia taken, they reduced their mean fasting serum glucose levels 18–29%, their triglyceride levels 23–30%, their LDL cholesterol 7–27%, and their total cholesterol 12–26%, over others taking placebos. The effects, which may even be produced by brewing a tea from cassia bark, may also be beneficial for non-diabetics to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels.
4. Chromium – Starting in the 1960s reports have shown that Chromium helps cells respond properly to naturally produced insulin. Current estimates show that 90% of Americans are lacking in this essential mineral nutrient.
5. Helps to improve circulation in the little capillaries in the hands and feet. Also valuable in balancing the digestion and strengthening the immune system.
6. Mulberry leaves is know to effectively help regulate blood sugar levels. Drink as tea can help to reduce absorption of sugar and carbohydrates. It is also a good source of antioxidants, vitamin C and carotene.

Beside these, there are others less known herbs for controlling diabetes. These herbs when combine together in the right balance can be very powerful in helping you manage diabetes. However, it is important to research on these supplements to ensure they indeed do what they claim. ProvenHealthCare.com provides informative reviews and articles on alternative methods of controlling diabetes.

There has been a lot of research done over recent years about the causes of type 2 diabetes. For example, doctors now realize more than ever before that type 2 diabetes is prevalent in the bloodline of families. It is very common for a person that has type 2 diabetes to find out that one or more of his relatives also had the disease. Therefore, type 2 diabetes has been labeled as an illness that is genetic.

Insulin Resistance The Major Factor In Type 2 Diabetes

While people with type 1 diabetes do not have enough insulin running through their bodies, those with type 2 diabetes actually have plenty of insulin. The problem is that they just do not respond to insulin in the normal ways a healthy person would. In other words, people with type 2 diabetes are what is called “insulin resistant”.

There are definitely signs of being insulin resistant before a person is actually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. However, these signs are often ignored for years before the disease has set in. For example, a person can get a simple test that will show if the amount of insulin in their blood is higher than normal. Right now you can be a totally healthy person, eat right, exercise, and avoid drugs and alcohol, but you may have lower insulin resistance. By getting tested in knowing this information early, you can take steps to preventing type 2 diabetes.

Myths About Type 2 Diabetes

Do not get too paranoid after reading through the common signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Although it is very important that you go see your doctor to get checked, it is also just as important to make sure that you are not the victim of false beliefs about type 2 diabetes. Below are some common falsehoods that people have about the causes of type 2 diabetes:

Stress is the cause of Type 2 diabetes : This is not true. While stress is a leading factor in many illnesses, high levels of stress have not been proven to cause diabetes. However, stress can definitely worsen the disease by triggering off other medical conditions.

Too much sugar is the cause of Type 2 diabetes? Eating high quantities of sugar does not necessarily cause diabetes. However, just like eating too much of anything, it will make you fat and lead to obesity – which is a leading cause of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is gender specific. Diabetes is reported to strike men and women in equal proportions. Gender has no role when it comes to who gets stricken down with this disease.

Too many changes in your emotions is the cause?. This is another falsehood that is mistakenly believed to be a cause of type 2 diabetes. There is no proof that changes in a person’s emotions plays a role in the development of this disease.

In medical parlance, this disease is known as “diabetes mellitus” – diabetes from the Greek word for siphon, to illustrate the excessive thirst and urination, which is characteristic of this condition, and mellitus from the Latin word for honey – as urine of a diabetic person contains sugar and is sweet. Commonly, this disease is called diabetes.

There are many types of diabetes, but the three most common are:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gestational diabetes

1. Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin dependent diabetes):

This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. It can appear at any age, although mostly under 30 (very often in childhood or during teens), and is caused by environmental factors such as viruses, diet or people genetically predisposed. This type of diabetes, is also known as juvenile-onset diabetes.

It is not really known what causes type 1 diabetes and it is not caused by eating too much sugar or sweets.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin much earlier. Common symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, blurred vision, and extreme weakness. If not timely diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes can go into life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic ketoacidosis.

2. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes):

This is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all diagnosed people. It is also known as late-onset diabetes, and is characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.
Type 2 diabetes is genetic in origin, but other factors such as excess weight, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, ethnicity and faulty diet are its major risk factors. Symptoms may not show up for many years, and by the time they crop up, considerable harm may have been done to the body.

In this condition, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but for reasons unknown, the body cannot use the insulin effectively – termed as insulin resistance. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make proficient use of its main source of energy.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms include weakness, nausea, frequent urination, excess thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds. Some people may show no symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive, lifetime condition; and over time, it may be difficult to keep the blood glucose level in the target range. However, good diabetes care and management can prevent or delay the onset of complications.

One can do this by:

• Eating healthy meals and snacks
• Following regular physical activity
• Taking diabetes medications (including insulin), if prescribed.

3. Gestational diabetes:

Gestational diabetes develops only during pregnancy. In most cases, all diabetic symptoms disappear following delivery. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 20 to 50 % chance of developing type 2 diabetes within 5 to 10 years, especially if they were overweight before the pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by blocking effects of other hormones (estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen) on the insulin that is produced, a condition referred to as insulin resistance. Normally, the pancreas is able to make additional insulin to overcome insulin resistance. However, when the production of insulin is not enough to overcome the effect of the placental hormones, gestational diabetes results.

Carbohydrate intolerance is diagnosed during pregnancy through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). While the carbohydrate intolerance usually returns to normal level after delivery, the mother has a significant risk of developing permanent diabetes later on; while the baby is more likely to develop obesity and impaired glucose tolerance and/or diabetes later in life.

Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, obesity and being a member of a ethnic group with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The complications of gestational diabetes are usually manageable and preventable. The key to prevention is careful control of blood sugar levels as soon as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made.
Other types of diabetes -

4. Diabetes insipidus:

Diabetes insipidus is an uncommon condition, that occurs when the kidneys are unable to conserve water as they perform their function of filtering blood. The anti-diuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin) controls the amount of water conserved. Diseases of the kidney (for example, polycystic kidney disease) and the effects of certain drugs may also cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
The common symptoms are excessive urination and extreme thirst.

5. Syndrome X:

Syndrome X, also known as the “metabolic syndrome” or “Insulin Resistance Syndrome”, is a condition that is linked to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It is characterised by abdominal obesity, elevated levels of triglycerides, low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Other symptoms include smoking, high fat and calorie diet, pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome.

This is more common in older people than in younger people. In addition, women were more likely to have the syndrome than men.

For diabetes information, Diabetes Testing, diabetes treatment, diabetes causes visit www.diabetesmellitus-information.com

Type-1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is an autoimmune disease – which is a result of the body’s failure to fight infection. As a result, the body begins to attack its own cells – in this case the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The body destroys the beta cells and no insulin is produced. People with type-1 diabetes have to take insulin shots daily in order to live.

The causes of type-1 diabetes are not known, however autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are believed to play a role in the onset of type-1 diabetes. This type of diabetes can affect people of any age, but most often is found in children and young adults. Symptoms of type-1 diabetes include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. An early diagnosis of type-1 diabetes is very important. Without daily injections of insulin, a person with this type of diabetes is at a high risk of lapsing into a diabetic coma, a life-threatening condition.

Type-2 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is the most common type. Type-2 diabetes usually affects adults who are obese, have a family history of diabetes, or have a previous history of gestational diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is not caused by the body’s inability to produce insulin, but rather by the body’s inability to use the insulin it creates effectively. This causes the blood to have higher levels of sugars than normal.

The symptoms of type-2 diabetes include frequent thirst and urination, nausea, unexplained weight loss, frequent infections, wounds and sores heal slowly, and fatigue.

This type of diabetes can often be prevented or controlled with certain lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and regular exercise. Some patients need to take medications and many use natural treatments to effectively control the symptoms of type-2 diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes
This type of diabetes occurs in pregnant women and is caused by an intolerance to carbohydrates, which causes blood sugar levels to increase. It is very important for a woman who has gestational diabetes to control the disease in order to prevent the baby from being affected at birth. If the blood sugar levels in the pregnant woman are not under control, there is a risk of the baby going into insulin shock at birth.

Gestational diabetes risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increased maternal age, and obesity. While the symptoms of gestational diabetes usually disappear after the birth, there are significant risks to both the mother and child. The mother is at a higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes at a later time and the child is at a higher risk of being obese or developing diabetes later in life.

Preventing the Onset of Diabetes
Many times, diabetes can be prevented or the onset can be delayed.

All three types of diabetes can be controlled effectively by changes in your lifestyle. A healthy diet is the most important change – eating healthy foods on a normal schedule allows your body to perform the tasks necessary to sustain life. A healthy diet should consist of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Once a person has been diagnosed with any type of diabetes, the intake of carbohydrates should be monitored and the intake of sugars should be greatly reduced.

Regular exercise is also important for your overall health. Keeping your body in good working order by keeping muscles toned and blood flowing correctly also helps your body to perform its normal tasks. It is important for early diagnosis and effective treatment of diabetes in order to avoid more serious illness and diseases that can be associated with diabetes such as heart disease and stroke. Diabetics are at a higher risk of developing many other diseases and illnesses, but the most important thing to remember is that if you work with your body, your body will work for you.

Well a group of British scientists have now devised an online tool for calculating your risk of developing diabetes type 2.

QDScore Results

The research was based on the medical records of more than 2.5 million people, who did not have diabetes to begin with, over a 15 year period. The researchers were able to identify nine significant risk facytors, viz; age, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, socioeconomic level, family history of diabetes, diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and use of steroid drugs.

They were able to attach a relative importance or weighting to each of these factors and incorporate them into a formula or algorithm that is able to predict the risk of Type 2 diabetes for a 10-year projection.

Living with Type II Diabetes?

There is an interactive Web version of the algorithm available at www.qdscore.org. Dr. Julia Hippisley-Cox, the lead author, said that although two of its features – postal code and ethnicity – were specific to Great Britain, the algorithm will still "give you a fairly accurate notion anyway," even without specifying those two factors.

Dr. Hippisley-Cox, who is a professor of epidemiology at Nottingham University, also stated that those people who find they have a high risk, should make weight loss and exercise essential. "Those are the interventions that have been tested," she said. "If you play around with the obesity measure, you can see how your risk will change if you lose weight."

Whilst QDScore is intended for use in the UK, it has not been accepted as yet for clinical use. All medical decisions need to be taken by a patient in consultation with their doctor. The authors and the sponsors accept no responsibility for clinical use or misuse of this score.

According to a report published in the March 15th issue of the International Journal of Cancer, prostate cancer was 17% less likely in men with diabetes. However, the reduced risk did not become apparent until at least one year after the onset of diabetes.

The report also suggested that other studies have also reported this apparent inverse relationship between diabetes and the risk of prostate cancer. However, many of these studies did not adjust for lifestyle factors or the timeframe since the onset of diabetes.

This current study featured 46,168 men without diabetes and 1,613 men with diabetes. In the follow-up from 1986 to 2004, prostate cancer was diagnosed in 4,511 men, according to Dr. Edward Giovannucci and his colleagues at Harvard School of Public Health.

The men who had diabetes for 1 to 6, 6 to 15, or >15 years were 18%, 25%, and 22% less likely to develop prostate cancer, respectively, than the men without diabetes. This inverse relationship appeared strongest in the pre-PSA testing era (before 1994) than afterwards.

The results also indicated that men who were obese and had diabetes appeared to have a lower risk of prostate cancer than men with only one of the two conditions.

“The overall evidence for an inverse association between diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer continues to grow and studying these biological clues will continue to provide insight into the metabolic and hormonal changes behind prostatic cancer,” the authors concluded.

Living with Type II Diabetes?