With Diabetes The Body's Cells Resist Both

Reversing Insulin Resistance To Reduce Type 2 Diabetes

While Regaining Control of Metabolism to Curb Carbohydrate Cravings, Control Weight A recent article in the New York Times reveals that 800,000 New Yorkers – more than one adult in every eight – have diabetes. New York health authorities admit that “diabetes is a bona fide epidemic” and, in fact, the only major disease in the city that is growing, both in the number of new cases and the number of people it kills, even as other maladies like heart disease and cancers are stable or in decline. Unfortunately, the crisis in New York City is mirrored by an unchecked epidemic of diabetes that is currently sweeping the United States. The situation has become so dire that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now predicting that one third of all children born in the US will become diabetic in their lifetime. For Latinos the forecast is even bleaker: one child in every two. China has experienced a similar epidemic of diabetes that is blamed on the widespread adoption of a Western-style diet that is high in sugar, refined starches and processed foods. To address the problem Chinese medical researchers have developed a new herbal supplement, MetaPhase®, that is designed to support recovery from insulin resistance, the primary cause of obesity and obesity-related disorders such as diabetes. By restoring healthy blood sugar regulation and normalizing insulin production, advanced herbal formulas have been shown to aid in reversing chronic metabolic and chemical disturbances caused by long-term exposure to elevated insulin and blood glucose levels. Additionally, by curbing carbohydrate cravings advanced herbal formulas have been shown to support safe and natural weight loss. Diabetes occurs when blood sugar (glucose) accumulates in the bloodstream instead of Continue reading >>

Type 2 Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects your body’s use of glucose (a type of sugar you make from the carbohydrates you eat). Glucose is the fuel your cells need to do their work. You need glucose for energy. You also need insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose enter your cells so that it can be converted to energy. Here’s the problem: People with type 2 diabetes (also known as diabetes mellitus) can’t properly use or store glucose, either because their cells resist it or, in some cases, they don’t make enough. Over time, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, which can lead to serious health complications unless people take steps to manage their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes affects more than 29 million Americans, including nearly eight million who don’t even know they have it. You may be at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes if it runs in your family, if you are of a certain age or ethnicity, or if you are inactive or overweight. Type 2 diabetes vs. type 1 diabetes What’s the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not produce insulin. The immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. People with type 1 diabetes need life-long insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is much more common. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin properly or, in some cases, doesn’t make enough. It’s usually diagnosed in middle-aged or older adults, but anyone can develop type 2 diabetes. It can be managed through diet, exercise, and medication. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t use insulin as it should or when the pancreas doesn� Continue reading >>

What Causes Insulin Resistance? Lipid Overload

Over the past year I have interacted with hundreds of people with diabetes, and have come to learn one very important lesson that has changed my view of diabetes altogether. This realization came to me early on in my career as a nutrition and fitness coach for people with diabetes, and continues to hold true. While insulin resistance is a condition that is most commonly associated with type 2 diabetes, an increasing body of evidence is now shedding light on the fact that insulin resistance is a common thread that underlies many health conditions previously unassociated with blood sugar, including (but not limited to) heart disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome, obesity and cancer. What that means is simple: insulin resistance significantly increases your risk for the development of a collection of health conditions that can significantly reduce your quality of life and decrease your life expectancy. Watch this video for a synopsis of the causes of insulin resistance: What is insulin and why should you care? Insulin is a hormone which is released by the pancreas in response to rising blood glucose. When you consume carbohydrates, the glucose that enters the bloodstream knocks on the door of the beta cells in the pancreas as a signal to make insulin. Insulin serves as the key that unlocks the door to allow glucose to enter body tissues. Insulin tells your cells “Yoo hoo! Pick up this glucose. It’s all over the place.” Without insulin, cells in the liver, muscle, and fat have a difficult time vacuuming up glucose from the blood. These tissues are capable to vacuuming up only a small percentage (5-10%) of the glucose in circulation without the help of insulin. When insulin is present, the amount of glucose that can be transported into tissues sign Continue reading >>

Blurry Vision, Excess Urination Signs Of Diabetes - Expert

var vclk_options = {sid:12386,media_id:6,media_type:8,version:"1.4"}; TOP HEADLINES We won't return, some remaining abducted Chibok girls say in new Boko Haram videoPHOTOS: Couple gets stuck together during sex in UgandaNigerian Army take delivery of vehicles Innoson vehicles [PICTURED] for military operationsFrench referee loses temper, kicks player [PICTURED] before sending him offFG summons US ambassador over Trump's 'shithole' remarks A lecturer at the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Agbaraolorunpo Francis, discusses diabetes and how to manage it with TOLUWANI ENIOLA What is diabetes mellitus? Diabetes mellitus is a disease condition in which there is a chronic rise in the level of blood glucose as a result of abnormal glucose (blood sugar) regulation, resulting from insulin deficiency or insulin poor performance. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. What are the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Both types are characterised by abnormal elevated blood glucose (sugar) above the physiologically normal range. Type 1 results from destruction to insulin-producing cells (beta -cells of islet of Langerhans) of the pancreas. It also results from the low-level of insulin in the glucose-regulating hormone. It is also referred to as juvenile diabetes (common in children). It can also result from autoimmune condition. An example is when the body's immune or defence system is hypersensitive, resulting in the self-destruction of its own organs. This implies that the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the body defence system. Type 2 diabetes results from the inability of insulin to regulate blood glucose effectively and efficiently. It is otherwise evident by the low performance of insulin, Continue reading >>

Diabetes: Basic Information And Federal Funding

98-592 STM Updated July 15, 1998 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Diabetes: Basic Information and Federal Funding Donna U. Vogt Analyst in Social Sciences Science, Technology, and Medicine Division Summary An estimated 8 to 10 million Americans know they have diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder in which the body either fails to produce, or fails to properly use, the hormone insulin. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States,1 the leading cause of adult-onset blindness, and a significant contributor to several debilitating health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease (nephropathy), nerve disease (neuropathy), and amputations. The American Diabetes Association estimates that direct and indirect costs of diabetes mellitus in the United States exceed $98.2 billion each year.2 This report describes diabetes, current treatment and management, public health impact and cost, innovations in treatment, and federal spending on treatment and research. This report will be updated periodically.3 Background Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a disease that affects the way the human body uses food as fuel. This fuel, glucose, is a sugar which comes from other sugars and starches; human body cells convert glucose into energy to live and grow. Some cells can absorb glucose only in the presence of insulin. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, is carried by blood to body cells. Insulin is produced by beta cells which are present in cell clusters called islets of Langerhans scattered throughout the pancreas. When someone is diabetic, either the body does not produce insulin or the body does not respond normally to insulin. When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the bloodstream, and causes a conditi Continue reading >>

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Home Page Volume III, No. 1 By Frank M. Jordan Read an important Health Treatment Notice about personal health issues. DIABETES – An Epidemic with Hope iabetes mellitus is a serious disorder suffered by 29 million people in the U.S. alone, with millions more pre-diabetic. Why do we say diabetes is epidemic? Because rapidly increasing rates of obesity and lack of exercise are major causes, with an amazing 30% plus with diabetes unaware of their dangerous diabetic condition! Diabetes is already the 6th leading cause of death and a major cause of blindness and amputation in America. You are at risk, but knowledge can bring obtainable solutions for prevention or control. Be aware, if you always stay what you are, you can never become what you could be! To prevent or control diabetes, most of us must change our lifestyles, including diet and exercise - now. Set your priorities as you read these words to become what you can be and then be patient and determined in accomplishing your goals. Description of Diabetes Mellitus iabetes occurs when insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is not produced or is not delivered into the body’s cells in adequate amounts. Insulin is the controlling factor for the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood and the rate at which glucose is absorbed into the blood where it eventually is delivered and enters the cells to create energy essential to life. After a meal, a portion of the food eaten is broken down into glucose, a sugar. The glucose then passes into the bloodstream and by the presence and actions of the hormone insulin, becomes glucose or blood sugar that is then transported to and into the body's cells. A malfunction in this process related to insulin creates the forms of disease known as diabetes. Normally, the pancreas produ Continue reading >>

Insulin Resistance

Tweet Insulin resistance is the name given to when cells of the body don’t respond properly to the hormone insulin. Insulin resistance is the driving factor that leads to type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes. Insulin resistance is closely associated with obesity; however, it is possible to be insulin resistant without being overweight or obese. Modern research has shown that insulin resistance can be combatted by treatment methods that reduce how much insulin the body is producing or taking via insulin injections or insulin pumps. Reducing insulin resistance can be achieved by following low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets. What is insulin resistance? The role of insulin is to allow cells of the body to take in glucose to be used as fuel or stored as body fat. [282] It also means that glucose is more likely to build up in the blood and this can lead to too high blood sugar levels. When the body becomes resistant to insulin, it tries to cope by producing more insulin. People with insulin resistance are often producing too more insulin than healthy people. Producing too much insulin is known as hyperinsulinemia. Symptoms of insulin resistance Initially, insulin resistance presents no symptoms. The symptoms only start to appear once it leads to secondary effects such as higher blood sugar levels. When this happens, the symptoms may include: Lethargy (tiredness) Hunger Difficulty concentrating (brain fog) Other signs that often appear in people with insulin resistance include: Weight gain around the middle (belly fat) High blood pressure High cholesterol levels If insulin resistance develops into prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, the symptoms will include increased blood glucose levels and more of the classic symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Causes of insulin r Continue reading >>

Blood Sugar Basics And Glucose Balance

You’ve heard the terms “blood sugar” and “blood glucose” but if you’re confused about why they matter, this guide can help. What is blood glucose? Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is one of the most important sources of energy for your body. When you eat, food is broken down into basic nutrients: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates — fiber, starch, and sugar — are broken down into glucose or “blood sugar.” Glucose is the only fuel used by brain cells except under extreme conditions like starvation. Muscle cells use glucose during short bursts of activity like running to your car in a rainstorm. Having good blood sugar balance is an important benchmark of overall wellness because it prevents certain endocrine imbalances that can threaten your health. Glucose needs insulin to fuel your cells Glucose circulating in your blood needs help to get into the cells. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, is the “key” that turns the “lock” (a cell’s insulin receptor) to let glucose enter. When a cell is working hard — like a muscle cell rapidly expanding and contracting during exercise — it needs more glucose for fuel. So the cell “summons” insulin to bring in more glucose by increasing the number of insulin receptors on its surface. Then insulin can increase the amount of glucose it has to offer the cell as necessary. Healthy glucose levels are a balancing act Blood glucose rises and falls in a process called glucose homeostasis. Blood glucose goes up after you eat carbohydrates but it can also increase in response to stress, illness, or even excitement. Rising blood glucose signals the pancreas to release more insulin so blood glucose levels stay in the healthy range. For people without diabetes, that’s around 70 ng Continue reading >>

Diabetes

Membranes of some cells are "LOCKED". They do not allow glucose into the cell. Insulin serves as the "KEY" that unlocks the door (membrane) into these cells, this way glucose can travel into muscles, etc. so it isn't in the blood stream. Lock & Key method Instead of carrying bile, the pancreatic duct carries the fluid containing the digestive enzymes produced by the acinar cells (exocrine cells) of the pancreas Pancreatic acinar cells secrete three major categories of digestive enzymes; they are α-amylase, lipase and proteases which are responsible for the hydrolysis of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, respectively. Function of pancreatic acinar cells 1. Insulin deficiency 2. Glucose builds up in the blood because it cannot get into cells to be used for energy (need insulin to get in) 3. This leads to an increased glucose level and impaired fat metabolism 4. Cells end up metabolizing their own glycogen supply and breaking down protein to produce the needed energy 5. This alters triglycerides, fatty acid and glycerol metabolism 6. Ketone bodies are formed - Metabolic acidosis Pathophysiology RECAP - characterized by absolute deficiency of insulin. - Loss of β-cell function is thought to involve autoimmune-mediated processes directed against the β-cell, and it may be triggered by an invasion of viruses or the action of chemical toxins or environmental factors. - less common (5% - 10% of diabetics) - onset is normally before 30 - lean or normal body build - weak family history - islet cell antibodies - positive for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) Type I DM Type 2 diabetes mellitus - The pancreas retains some β-cell function, but variable insulin secretion is insufficient to maintain glucose homeostasis. - increasing in children - risk factors: - abd. obesity - hypergly Continue reading >>

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Homeostasis is the tendency to resist change in order to maintain a stable, relatively constant internal environment. Homeostasis typically involves negative feedback loops that counteract changes of various properties from their target values, known as set points. In contrast to negative feedback loops, positive feedback loops amplify their initiating stimuli, in other words, they move the system away from its starting state. What's the temperature in the room where you're sitting right now? My guess would be that it's not exactly 98.6F/ 37.0C. Yet, your body temperature is usually very close to this value. In fact, if your core body temperature doesn't stay within relatively narrow limits—from about 95F/ 35C to 107F/ 41.7C—the results can be dangerous or even deadly. The tendency to maintain a stable, relatively constant internal environment is called homeostasis. The body maintains homeostasis for many factors in addition to temperature. For instance, the concentration of various ions in your blood must be kept steady, along with pH and the concentration of glucose. If these values get too high or low, you can end up getting very sick. Homeostasis is maintained at many levels, not just the level of the whole body as it is for temperature. For instance, the stomach maintains a pH that's different from that of surrounding organs, and each individual cell maintains ion concentrations different from those of the surrounding fluid. Maintaining homeostasis at each level is key to maintaining the body's overall function. Biological systems like those of your body are constantly being pushed away from their balance points. For instance, when you exercise, your muscles increase heat production, nudging your body temperature upward. Similarly, when you Continue reading >>

Insulin Resistance: The Real Reason Why You Aren’t Losing Weight

Many people have weight loss as one of their key resolutions. Sadly, 35 percent of people also give up on that goal before the month even ends. It’s not necessarily lack of time or willpower that causes you to struggle with weight loss year after year. The real reason that you may have struggled to lose weight is insulin resistance, or a condition I call metabolism dysfunction. So you may be thinking, “Why is it so hard for me to lose weight?” I’m doing “everything right,” and yet still weight loss is difficult. Perhaps (like many of my patients) you’re already following a strict diet and working out several times a week, but to no avail. The weight still won’t come off — or, worse, you are gaining weight for seemingly no reason at all! You have become resigned to being overweight. Weight problems aren’t a permanent and immovable fixture for the rest of your life. If you’re finding that weight is easy to gain and hard to lose, it’s not your fault! Weight problems aren’t just about overeating or under exercising — they’re about metabolic changes (The MD Factor Diet, 2015) that are collectively known as insulin resistance. Lab tests conducted in my practice have confirmed that over 89 percent of my patients have this real and often undiagnosed issue. So the good news is that the right combination of diet, exercise, and will to succeed you can reverse your MD factor and finally find success in losing weight and keeping it off for good. In a nutshell, insulin resistance is the inability of your body to properly convert the food that you eat into energy to fuel your cells. People with the MD Factor have difficulty regulating their blood sugar, which is often due to insulin resistance or even diabetes. In both instances, their bodies are unable t Continue reading >>

Insulin Levels Signal The Liver Whether More Glucose Is Needed

To understand what happens as your blood sugar deteriorates from normal to pre-diabetes, and finally, to full-fledged diabetes you first need to understand how blood sugar control works in a normal body. The most important factor here is the role played by special cells called beta cells. These tiny cells are scattered through an organ called the pancreas which is located just under your stomach. The job of the beta cell is to produce insulin, store it, and release it into the blood stream at appropriate times. You can learn how blood sugar fluctuates during the day in people with normal blood sugar, those with mildly diabetic blood sugars, and those with full fledged Type 2 Diabetes on this page: Blood Sugar Throughout the Day. Healthy beta-cells are continually making insulin, storing it within the cell in little granules you can see in the illustration above. This insulin is released into the blood stream in two different fashions. Some of it is secreted into the blood continually. This is called basal insulin. The rest is secreted only when blood sugars rise, which happens mostly after you eat foods containing carbohydrates. This kind of insulin is secreted in two separate phases. Let's look more closely at these different ways the pancreas secretes insulin. Basal Insulin Release The beta-cells of a healthy person who has not eaten in a while release a small amount of insulin into the blood stream throughout the day and night in the form of very small pulses every few minutes. This is called "basal insulin release." Maintaining this steady supply of insulin is important. It allows the cells of the body to utilize blood sugar even if some time has passed since a meal. Insulin Levels Signal the Liver Whether More Glucose is Needed The steady insulin level as another f Continue reading >>

Prediabetes & Insulin Resistance

What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach. The pancreas contains clusters of cells called islets. Beta cells within the islets make insulin and release it into the blood. Insulin plays a major role in metabolism—the way the body uses digested food for energy. The digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates—sugars and starches found in many foods—into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar that enters the bloodstream. With the help of insulin, cells throughout the body absorb glucose and use it for energy. Insulin's Role in Blood Glucose Control When blood glucose levels rise after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin into the blood. Insulin and glucose then travel in the blood to cells throughout the body. Insulin helps muscle, fat, and liver cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream, lowering blood glucose levels. Insulin stimulates the liver and muscle tissue to store excess glucose. The stored form of glucose is called glycogen. Insulin also lowers blood glucose levels by reducing glucose production in the liver. In a healthy person, these functions allow blood glucose and insulin levels to remain in the normal range. What happens with insulin resistance? In insulin resistance, muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot easily absorb glucose from the bloodstream. As a result, the body needs higher levels of insulin to help glucose enter cells. The beta cells in the pancreas try to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. As long as the beta cells are able to produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance, blood glucose levels stay in the healthy range. Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes and prediabetes because the bet Continue reading >>

Nutrition For Older Adults: Diet And Health Guidelines To Lower Risk Of Diabetes

What Is Diabetes The body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Insulin helps glucose enter body cells to be used for energy. In diabetes the body either does not make enough insulin, respond to insulin in the right way, or both. As a result, blood glucose levels stay high. Diabetes Complications Over time, high blood glucose can damage blood vessels and nerves. This damage can lead to: • Heart disease. • High blood pressure. • Kidney disease. • Blindness. • Infections. • Amputations. Pre Diabetes Excess weight can lower the body’s ability to use insulin. The body makes insulin, but body cells resist the action of insulin. This is called insulin resistance. At first, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin respond by making more insulin to keep blood glucose levels down. Slowly, these cells begin to wear out and make less insulin. This may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Where excess weight is carried is a factor in insulin resistance. Excess weight carried in the upper body or abdomen is linked to insulin resistance. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is less common. In type 1 diabetes, the body stops making insulin. A problem causes the body’s immune system to attack and destroy the cells of the pancreas that make insulin. Type 1 diabetes is controlled with diet, physical activity and medication. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin to survive. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop rapidly: High blood glucose. Increased urination. Increased hunger. Increased thirst. Rapid weight loss. Feeling tired. Irritability. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or does not respond correctly to insulin in the right way, or both. Type 2 diabetes tends to develop Continue reading >>

What Is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps unlock the body's cells so that sugar (glucose) from the food we eat can be used by the cells for energy. In people with type 2 diabetes, a combination of problems occurs, and scientists aren't really sure which is the chicken and which is the egg. The person's body may not be producing enough insulin to meet their needs, so some glucose can't get into the cells. Glucose remains in the bloodstream, causing high blood glucose levels. In many cases, the person may actually be producing more insulin than one might reasonably expect that person to need to convert the amount of food they've eaten at a meal into energy. Their pancreas is actually working overtime to produce more insulin because the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin. Basically the cells, despite the presence of insulin in the bloodstream, don't become unlocked and don't let enough of the glucose in the blood into the cells. Scientists don't know exactly what causes this insulin resistance, and many expect that there are several different defects in the process of unlocking cells that cause insulin resistance. Medications for type 2 diabetes focus on different parts of this insulin-cell interaction to help improve blood glucose control. Some medications stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. Others improve how the body uses insulin by working on this insulin resistance. Physical activity also seems to improve the body's ability to use insulin by decreasing insulin resistance, which is why activity is so important in diabetes management. Find more information about diabetes in The Joslin Guide to Diabetes available from the Joslin Online Store. Continue reading >>