Diabetes Type 2
Type 2 diabetes is more common in people who don't do enough physical activity, and who are overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented or delayed with early lifestyle changes, however there is no cure. Common symptoms include being more thirsty than usual, passing more urine, feeling tired and lethargic, slow-healing wounds, itching and skin infections and blurred vision. People with pre-diabetes can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by increasing their physical activity, eating healthily and losing weight (if they are overweight). On this page: Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. The body uses glucose as its main source of energy. Glucose comes from foods that contain carbohydrates, such as potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, fruit and milk. After food is digested, the glucose is released and absorbed into the bloodstream. The glucose in the bloodstream needs to move into body tissues so that cells can use it for energy. Excess glucose is stored in the liver, or converted to fat and stored in other body tissues. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas, which is a gland located just below the stomach. Insulin opens the doors (the glucose channels) that let glucose move from the blood into the body cells. It also allows glucose to be stored in the liver and other tissues. This is part of a process known as glucose metabolism. There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune cells attack the insulin-producing cells. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin and need insulin injections to survive. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and affects 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabet Continue reading >>
Diabetes Management: How Lifestyle, Daily Routine Affect Blood Sugar
Diabetes management requires awareness. Know what makes your blood sugar level rise and fall — And how to control these day-to-day factors. Keeping your blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your doctor can be challenging. That's because many things make your blood sugar levels change, sometimes unexpectedly. Following are some factors that can affect your blood sugar levels. Food Healthy eating is a cornerstone of healthy living — with or without diabetes. But if you have diabetes, you need to know how foods affect your blood sugar levels. It's not only the type of food you eat but also how much you eat and the combinations of food types you eat. What to do: Learn about carbohydrate counting and portion sizes. A key to many diabetes management plans is learning how to count carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the foods that often have the biggest impact on your blood sugar levels. And for people taking mealtime insulin, it's crucial to know the amount of carbohydrates in your food, so you get the proper insulin dose. Learn what portion size is appropriate for each type of food. Simplify your meal planning by writing down portions for the foods you eat often. Use measuring cups or a scale to ensure proper portion size and an accurate carbohydrate count. Make every meal well-balanced. As much as possible, plan for every meal to have a good mix of starches, fruits and vegetables, proteins and fats. It's especially important to pay attention to the types of carbohydrates you choose. Some carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are better for you than are others. These foods are low in carbohydrates and contain fiber that helps keep your blood sugar levels more stable. Talk to your doctor, nurse or dietitian about the best food choices and Continue reading >>
Lifestyle Causes Of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 including: obesity, physical activity, diet, stress, and urbanization.[1] Excess body fat underlies 64% of cases of diabetes in men and 77% of cases in women.[2] A number of dietary factors such as sugar sweetened drinks[3][4] and the type of fat in the diet appear to play a role.[5] In one study, those who had high levels of physical activity, a healthy diet, did not smoke, and consumed alcohol in moderation had an 82% lower rate of diabetes. When a normal weight was included, the rate was 89% lower. In this study, a healthy diet was defined as one high in fiber, with a high polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio, lower trans fats consumption, and a lower mean glycemic index.[6] Dietary[edit] The composition of dietary fat intake is linked to diabetes risk; decreasing consumption of saturated fats and trans fatty acids while replacing them with unsaturated fats may decrease the risk.[5][7] Sugar sweetened drinks appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes both through their role in obesity and potentially through a direct effect.[3][4] Obesity[edit] Obesity has been found to contribute to approximately 55% of cases of type 2 diabetes;[8] chronic obesity leads to increased insulin resistance that can develop into type 2 diabetes, most likely because adipose tissue (especially that in the abdomen around internal organs) is a source of several chemical signals, hormones and cytokines, to other tissues. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα may activate the NF-κB pathway which has been linked to the development of insulin resistance.[9] Gene expression promoted by a diet of fat and glucose, as well as high levels of inflammation related cytokines found in the obese, ca Continue reading >>
Symptoms & Causes Of Diabetes
What are the symptoms of diabetes? Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and urination increased hunger fatigue blurred vision numbness or tingling in the feet or hands sores that do not heal unexplained weight loss Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can start quickly, in a matter of weeks. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms. Some people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes-related health problems, such as blurred vision or heart trouble. What causes type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes occurs when your immune system, the body’s system for fighting infection, attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists think type 1 diabetes is caused by genes and environmental factors, such as viruses, that might trigger the disease. Studies such as TrialNet are working to pinpoint causes of type 1 diabetes and possible ways to prevent or slow the disease. What causes type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes—the most common form of diabetes—is caused by several factors, including lifestyle factors and genes. Overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active and are overweight or obese. Extra weight sometimes causes insulin resistance and is common in people with type 2 diabetes. The location of body fat also makes a difference. Extra belly fat is linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart and blood vessel disease. To see if your weight puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes, check out these Body Mass Index (BMI) charts. Insulin resistance Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resista Continue reading >>
Dr. Sandra Castro - Hands On Health Care - Chiropractor In Encinitas, Ca Usa :: Diabetes...a Lifestyle Disease
Home > Topics and Conditions > Diabetes...A Lifestyle Disease Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in our culture today. Over $150 billion is spent annually on treatment. 29 million Americans have been diagnosed. 16 million have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic, which means they have the symptoms and are well on their way, they just haven't been given the 'label' yet. As if giving a label to your poor state of health makes everything okay. Now here is what's really disturbing about this "Lifestyle Disease" Six million children are diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Type II Diabetes used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes. Why in the world are our children developing Adult Onset Diabetes?? Please understand that Type II Diabetes is almost entirely a poor lifestyle disease, which means that Diabetes can be reversed and prevented through proper lifestyle choices. 1/3 of end stage kidney diseases are due to diabetes. 4 out of 5 diabetic patients die from cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness in the elderly. Diabetes - Insulin Resistance - Metabolic Syndrome The precursor to Diabetes is called Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome, previously called (Syndrome X). For the rest of this discussion I will call it I.R., for Insulin Resistance. It is estimated that 80 million Americans have this condition. What is the cause of Diabetes and I.R.? Americans are absolutely addicted to sugar. Dr. Tim Oshea calls it the "sweet thief of life" which I feel is an accurate description. In the early 1900s we consumed 10 lbs of sugar a year. Now we are consuming around 150 lbs of this sweet poison per year. Here is what is happening: We are consuming mega amounts of sugar in foods like bread, pasta, rice, corn, potatoes, sodas, candy, junk food, Continue reading >>
Lifestyle Diseases - Health Guide - Allianz Australia
The decisions you make today can have an enormous impact on your future and this could not be more true when it comes to your health: the lifestyle that you choose to lead can cause certain lifestyle diseases to developi. Despite having choice and control when it comes down to lifestyle factors - such as what we eat, how often we exercise, whether we choose to smoke and the amount of alcohol we drink, lifestyle diseases remain the leading cause of death in Australia - with heart disease being the most prevalentii. Of the top 10 causes of death in Australia in 2009, 8 are lifestyle related; of the top 20, 14 are lifestyle relatedii. Top fatal lifestyle diseases have been revealed in research conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statisticsii. Since 2000, heart disease has been the leading cause of death followed by Cerebrovascular Disease (Strokes)ii. Today, a major concern for health professionals has been the increasing number of people diagnosed with Type II Diabetesiii, the disease has leapt from 9th place in 2000 to 6th place in 2009ii. Cirrhosis and other diseases of the liver claimed the lives of 1,547 people in 2009: this cause of death ranked 19thii. In 2009, although 29.8% of deaths were caused by cancersii, Cancer Council Australia believes that the 13,000 lifestyle-related cancer deaths every year are preventableiv. Similar to contributing factors of other lifestyle diseases, they pinpoint smoking, poor diet, alcohol, insufficient exercise, being overweight and sun exposure as lifestyle choices that can be changed to minimise the risk of developing canceriv. The National Health Survey 2007-8 indicates that about 3 in 5 Australians (61.4%) are overweight or obesev. Poor diet and sedentary lifestyles are known contributors to child and adult obesity. Here in A Continue reading >>
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Impact Of Lifestyle-related Factors On All-cause And Cause-specific Mortality In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
OBJECTIVE To examine whether combined lifestyle behaviors have an impact on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients aged 30–94 years with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants included 5,686 patients >30 years old with T2DM who were enrolled in a Diabetes Care Management Program at a medical center in central Taiwan before 2007. Lifestyle behaviors consisted of smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, and carbohydrate intake. The main outcomes were all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between combined lifestyle behaviors and mortality. RESULTS The mortality rate among men was 24.10 per 1,000 person-years, and that among women was 17.25 per 1,000 person-years. After adjusting for the traditional risk factors, we found that combined lifestyle behavior was independently associated with all-cause mortality and mortality due to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Patients with three or more points were at a 3.50-fold greater risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI 2.06–5.96) and a 4.94-fold (1.62–15.06), 4.24-fold (1.20–14.95), and 1.31-fold (0.39–4.41) greater risk of diabetes-specific, CVD-specific, and cancer-specific mortality, respectively, compared with patients with zero points. Among these associations, the combined lifestyle behavior was not significantly associated with cancer mortality. CONCLUSIONS Combined lifestyle behavior is a strong predictor of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with T2DM. Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications are leading causes of premature mortality, imposing a heavy burden at the individual and societal level (1,2). With the Westernization of diet behaviors, the prevalence of T2DM has Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes
Print Overview Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body's important source of fuel. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. More common in adults, type 2 diabetes increasingly affects children as childhood obesity increases. There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but you may be able to manage the condition by eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar well, you also may need diabetes medications or insulin therapy. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for: Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar building up in your bloodstream causes fluid to be pulled from the tissues. This may leave you thirsty. As a result, you may drink — and urinate — more than usual. Increased hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger. Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, you may lose weight. Without the ability to metabolize glucose, the body uses alternative fuels stored in muscle and fat. Calories are lost as excess glucose is released in the urine. Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable. Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus. Slow-healing sores o Continue reading >>
Lifestyle Disease
Lifestyle diseases are defined as diseases linked with the way people live their life. This is commonly caused by alcohol, drug and smoking abuse as well as lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. Diseases that impact on our lifestyle are heart disease, stroke, obesity and type II diabetes.[1] The diseases that appear to increase in frequency as countries become more industrialized and people live longer. They can include Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, atherosclerosis, asthma, cancer, chronic liver disease or cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic renal failure, osteoporosis, stroke, depression, obesity and vascular dementia. In the U.K the death rate is four times higher from respiratory disease caused by an unhealthy lifestyle[2] Some commenters maintain a distinction between diseases of longevity and diseases of civilization. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, dental caries and asthma, appear at greater rates in young populations living in the "western" way; their increased incidence is not related to age, so the terms cannot accurately be used interchangeably for all diseases.[3] Causes of the disease[edit] Diet and lifestyle are major factors thought to influence susceptibility to many diseases. Drug abuse, tobacco smoking, and alcohol drinking, as well as a lack of or too much exercise may also increase the risk of developing certain diseases, especially later in life.[4][5][6] Between 1995 and 2005 813,000 Australians were hospitalised due to alcohol [7] In many Western countries, people began to consume more meat, dairy products, vegetable oils, tobacco, sugary foods, Coca-Cola, and alcoholic beverages during the latter half of the 20th century. People also developed sedentary lifes Continue reading >>
Diabetes: A Lifestyle Disease
So you hate it when people invite you to a party. You are even more reluctant when the party is it at your own place. Not because you hate jovial and ebullient atmosphere around, but because you cannot gorge on things being served, let alone the desserts.you have to think twice before you devour the vegetable/fruit salads because of the restrictive diet plan handed over to you by your dietitian. Life is not easy for people with diabetes. Given the fact that one has to live with the disease all through his/her life as there is no known cure and the medication available is only intended at keeping blood sugar levels as close to normal in order to avoid other health complications, its really important to take preventive measures at the first place. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, diabetics have to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes lifestyle modification and healthy eating. Because of the body`s inability to break down sugar, healthy eating doesnt mean having a well balanced three-course diet, it means keeping a count on the amount of calorie intake, depending on the type of diabetes a person is suffering from, because sheer negligence can lead to dangerous complications like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic renal failure, retinal damage and amputation. The precise etiology of diabetes is though unknown, certain genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to an increase in blood sugar levels. With the changing priorities and hectic lifestyle it becomes pretty obvious that you are diagnosed with the metabolic disease. According to the WHO estimates, more than 346 million people worldwide have diabetes, which is likely to double by 2030. Maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising, having an active lifestyle, eating healthy, avoiding junk, restraini Continue reading >>
6 Lifestyle Changes To Control Your Diabetes
Working closely with your doctor, you can manage your diabetes by focusing on six key changes in your daily life. 1. Eat healthy. This is crucial when you have diabetes, because what you eat affects your blood sugar. No foods are strictly off-limits. Focus on eating only as much as your body needs. Get plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Choose nonfat dairy and lean meats. Limit foods that are high in sugar and fat. Remember that carbohydrates turn into sugar, so watch your carb intake. Try to keep it about the same from meal to meal. This is even more important if you take insulin or drugs to control your blood sugars. 2. Exercise. If you're not active now, it’s time to start. You don't have to join a gym and do cross-training. Just walk, ride a bike, or play active video games. Your goal should be 30 minutes of activity that makes you sweat and breathe a little harder most days of the week. An active lifestyle helps you control your diabetes by bringing down your blood sugar. It also lowers your chances of getting heart disease. Plus, it can help you lose extra pounds and ease stress. 3. Get checkups. See your doctor at least twice a year. Diabetes raises your odds of heart disease. So learn your numbers: cholesterol, blood pressure, and A1c (average blood sugar over 3 months). Get a full eye exam every year. Visit a foot doctor to check for problems like foot ulcers and nerve damage. 4. Manage stress. When you're stressed, your blood sugar levels go up. And when you're anxious, you may not manage your diabetes well. You may forget to exercise, eat right, or take your medicines. Find ways to relieve stress -- through deep breathing, yoga, or hobbies that relax you. 5. Stop smoking. Diabetes makes you more likely to have health problems like heart disease Continue reading >>
Types Of Lifestyle Diseases
Melissa Angela has a master's degree in public health with a specialization in community health education. She is also a registered nurse, having worked in the health field for more than 15 years. Angela has a special interest in wellness and promotion of women's health and serves as a freelance health writer for various websites. Build a lifestyle around frequent exercise to prevent lifestyle-induced diseases.Photo Credit: Kris Timken/Blend Images/Getty Images The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that most chronic diseases can be prevented by changing risk-related behaviors. These behaviors include poor nutrition, physical inactivity, smoking tobacco and excessive alcohol use. Though people are predisposed to many chronic illnesses because of genetics, age, gender or race, there are lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your chances of being affected. Millions of people are affected by type two diabetes, but many individuals are unaware they have it, according to the American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes is when your body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin efficiently enough. This results in high blood sugar, since insulin is responsible for breaking down sugar to use for energy in the body. Diabetes can lead to long-term complications like kidney disease, blindness and poor wound healing. The risk factors for diabetes include being overweight, not eating a healthy diet and physical inactivity. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the American Lung Association, is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. This illness consists of different problems that make it difficult to breathe, including conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People with COPD experience shortness of b Continue reading >>
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Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition in which the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin and/or gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas. We do not know what causes type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors. Type 2 diabetes also has strong genetic and family related risk factors. Type 2 diabetes: Is diagnosed when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin (reduced insulin production) and/or the insulin does not work effectively and/or the cells of the body do not respond to insulin effectively (known as insulin resistance) Represents 85–90 per cent of all cases of diabetes Usually develops in adults over the age of 45 years but is increasingly occurring in younger age groups including children, adolescents and young adults Is more likely in people with a family history of type 2 diabetes or from particular ethnic backgrounds For some the first sign may be a complication of diabetes such as a heart attack, vision problems or a foot ulcer Is managed with a combination of regular physical activity, healthy eating and weight reduction. As type 2 diabetes is often progressive, most people will need oral medications and/or insulin injections in addition to lifestyle changes over time. Type 2 diabetes develops over a long period of time (years). During this period of time insulin resistance starts, this is where the insulin is increasingly ineffective at managing the blood glucose levels. As a result of this insulin resistance, the pancreas responds by producing greater and greater amounts of insulin, to try and achieve some degree of management of the blood glucose levels. As insulin overproduction occurs over a very long period of time, the insulin producing cells in the pan Continue reading >>
Is Diabetes Genetic?
Diabetes is a complex disease. Several factors must come together for a person to develop Type 2 Diabetes. While genetics may influence whether you’ll get this disease or not, other factors like environmental risk factors and a sedentary lifestyle also play a huge role. So, is type 2 diabetes genetic? And if not, which type of diabetes is genetic? Those are the questions we are faced with today. And unfortunately, the answer is not that simple. Yes, genetics can play a role in increasing the risk for both Diabetes Type 1 as well as Diabetes Type 2, but genes alone will not determine whether you will develop diabetes or not. Will You Get Diabetes If It Runs In Your Family? If you’ve just been diagnosed with diabetes, chances are that you’re not the first person in your family who has diabetes. The details of whether diabetes can be inherited, and how this occurs, are not clear yet. About 10% of patients diagnosed with insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetes have a first degree relative with this type of diabetes. By first degree relative, we mean father, mother, sibling, twin and child. However, when it comes to the more common type of diabetes, which is Diabetes Type 2, it has a tendency to occur in families, but this is also not very strong and not predictable. A Swedish study on Metabolic Consequences of a Family History of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus concluded that abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and decreased resting metabolic rate are characteristic features of first-degree relatives of patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (in other words, Diabetes Type 2). And that the decrease in resting metabolic rate is partially related to the degree of abdominal obesity. Many doctors with clinical practice treating diabetes believe that thi Continue reading >>
Only One Form Of Diabetes Related To Lifestyle Choices
Aetnas Health Section was established in 2014 to create in-depth news, analysis and perspectives on the changing health care landscape. The Health Section provides a deeper look at Aetnas efforts to transform the health care system, and our approach to building healthier communities, a healthier nation and a healthier world. Only one form of diabetes related to lifestyle choices Only one form of diabetes related to lifestyle choices Diabetes is a disease much more complicated than some may think. Thischronic disease can affect men, women and children. Different forms of the disease exist and can be brought about by genetics, lifestyle choices, race and evenpregnancy. Diabetescauses more deaths each year than leukemia and motor vehicle accidents combined. Having diabetes also doubles therisk for a heart attack. Insulin, the common thread across all forms of diabetes,helps to keep blood glucose from getting too high. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and develops throughgenetics and lifestyle factors. With type 2 diabetes, thebody doesnt use insulin properly so the pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for this deficiency. Unfortunately, over time the pancreas isnt able to keep up and cant make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at a normal level. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy and exercising regularly. A person with type 2 diabetes may not have any symptoms before they are clinically diagnosed with the disease. Typically, the disease is discovered in adulthood, but has been increasingly found in children. People on certain types of diabetes medications or insulin may develop hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels). Type 1 diabetes makes up the majority of Continue reading >>
