Cost Of Diabetes Epidemic Reaches $850 Billion A Year

Cost of diabetes epidemic reaches $850 billion a year

(Reuters) - The number of people living with diabetes has tripled since 2000, pushing the global cost of the disease to $850 billion a year, medical experts said on Tuesday.
The vast majority of those affected have type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and lack of exercise, and the epidemic is spreading particularly fast in poorer countries as people adopt Western diets and urban lifestyles.
The latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation mean that one in 11 adults worldwide have the condition, which occurs when the amount of sugar in the blood is too high.
The total number of diabetics is now 451 million and is expected to reach 693 million by 2045 if current trends continue.
The high price of dealing with the disease reflects not only the cost of medicines but also the management of a range of complications, such as limb amputations and eye problems. Continue reading

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Artificial sweeteners raise risk of type 2 diabetes, study suggests

Artificial sweeteners, which many people with weight issues use as a substitute for sugar, may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to research.
The study was small and the detailed results have not yet been published, but experts said its findings fitted with previous research showing an association between artificial sweeteners and weight gain.
Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and rates of the disease are soaring around the world. Its complications, if it is not controlled, can include blindness, heart attacks and strokes.
The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Adelaide, in Australia, who wanted to investigate whether large amounts of no-calorie artificial sweeteners altered the ability of the body to control the levels of glucose in the blood.
Some of the 27 healthy volunteers who were recruited for the study were given the equivalent of 1.5 litres of diet drink a day, in the form of capsules of two different sweeteners, sucralose and acesulfame K. They took the capsules three times a day for two weeks, before meals. The others in the study were given a placebo.
Tests at the end of the two weeks showed that the body’s response to glucose was impaired. “This study supports the concept that artificial sweeteners could reduce the body’s control of blood sugar levels and highlights the potential for exaggerated post-meal glucose levels in high habitual NAS [non-caloric artificial sweeteners] users, which could predispose them to develop type 2 diabetes,” said the authors.
They presented their findings at the European A Continue reading

Does Drinking Water Affect Your Blood Sugar Level?

Elevated or increased levels of blood glucose cause lot of harm to the body. It is the primary condition when you suffer from a chronic illness such as diabetes. It is very important to stabilize the levels of blood glucose in order to keep various complications of the body at bay. in this article, we shall find out the importance of drinking water for helping to achieve the stable levels of blood glucose. So, come and join us for the article
“Does Drinking Water Affect Your Blood Sugar Level?
Relationship Between Water and Diabetes
Well, there is a close relationship between water and diabetes. Water, as we know, is devoid of any types of calories or carbohydrates. Hence, it is considered to be one of the safest drinks for patients suffering from all types of diabetes. Water is also known to reduce the levels of blood glucose in the body. The following paragraphs explain the relationship between the chronic illness and water even further.
Drinking Water Can Lead to Decrease in the Levels of Blood Glucose:
One of the studies conducted by experts proves that drinking more water regularly can lead to a reduction in developing high levels of blood glucose in the body by as much as 21 percent.
When the level of blood glucose is high due to conditions such as diabetes, the body of the patients require too many fluids in order to get rid of this excess blood glucose. The glucose is then excreted through the urine. Thus, water does not lead to increase in the levels of blood glucose as it is purely natural and does not contain any carbs or calories.
It is also believed that when Continue reading

47 Podiatrists Share Tips On Good Foot Care For Those With Diabetes

Here is exactly what we asked our panel of experts:
What tips would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed?
Why do you think a lot of people ignore their foot care when it comes to diabetes?
Featured Answer
Dr. Ira H. Kraus, President, American Podiatric Medical Association
A1: The most important tip I would give to anyone newly diagnosed with diabetes is to include a podiatrist in your care team. That may seem like a self-serving tip! But independent studies show that when a podiatrist is involved in caring for a person with diabetes, that person’s risk of hospitalization and diabetes-related amputations goes down dramatically. Seeing a podiatrist once a year can help you prevent diabetic ulcers, and if you do develop an ulcer, seeing a podiatrist can help reduce the risk of amputation by up to 80 percent.
I would also suggest that people newly diagnosed with diabetes simply pay close attention to their feet. Prevention can be the key. Watch your feet daily for any changes, and if you see something that concerns you, get in to see your podiatrist as soon as possible!
A2: A diabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming. It comes with a lot of lifestyle changes and a lot of concerns. Our feet are literally the furthest things from our minds, so it’s not surprising that many people overlook them as they’re growing accustomed to living with diabetes. Also, many people don’t understand the serious complications diabetes can cause in the feet, and by the time they realize there’s a problem, it is a significant problem. People do not realize that simple things that they ha Continue reading

When to Check Blood Sugar

“I don’t get this diabetes thing,” Zach, a 50-year-old friend with Type 2, told me. “I check my sugars twice a day, and they’re always below 110. But my A1C is 8.4%. My doctor says that’s way too high. What’s going on?”
Zach’s problem is easy to explain. He’s testing at the wrong time. Every day he checks on waking and before dinner, when he hasn’t eaten for four hours or so. His numbers are always good because he doesn’t have a problem with fasting sugars.
If he checked after eating, he would find out where his high A1C level comes from. He probably runs high numbers for several hours after meals. Those highs are probably doing a lot of damage to Zach’s blood vessels.
Zach is hardly alone. Many people check (or “self-monitor”) at the same times every day. They’re not trying to learn anything new, just keeping a record for their doctor. This mindless testing is a waste of time, as I wrote about here.
So when should you check? Some things to consider:
• The best times to check blood sugar may depend on your medications. If you’re on insulin or an oral drug that stimulates insulin such as a sulfonylurea or meglitinide (or a combination drug containing one of these medicines), you have to worry about both highs and lows. You have to check more often. If you’re not on those drugs, you’re mainly interested in what causes high blood sugar levels and how to prevent them.
• You should check to answer questions for yourself. What foods raise your sugar (and by how much), and which ones don’t? How does your body respond to exercise? What ti Continue reading