Diabetes And Your Oral Health

Diabetes and Your Oral Health

Did you know that 29.1 million people living in the United States havediabetes? Thats 9.3% of the population. Approximately 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed each year and 8.1 million people living with diabetes dont even know they have it. Diabetes affects your bodys ability to process sugar. All food you eat is converted to sugar and used for energy. In Type I diabetes, the body doesnt make enough insulin, a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to the cells that need it for energy. In Type II diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin. Both cases result in high blood sugar levels, which can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of your body. So, what does this have to do with that smile of yours, and how can you protect it? Patients with Type I or Type II diabetes are at heightened risk of developing tooth decay, fungal infections in the mouth and gum disease. Fortunately, diabetics can take a proactive approach to managing their oral health. First, its important to understand the signs of diabetes and the roles they play in your mouth.
What are some symptoms that I might have Diabetes?
Thewarning signsof diabetes affect every part of your body. After a blood test, you may be told by a doctor that you have high blood sugar. You may feel excessively thirsty or have to urinate a lot. Weight loss and fatigue are other common symptoms. Diabetes can also cause you to lose consciousness if your blood sugar falls too low.If diabetes is left untreated, it can take a toll on your mouth as well. Heres how:
You may have less saliva, c Continue reading

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What is Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)?

What is Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)?
What is Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)?
When you feel that your body is showing signs and symptoms which suggest a deviation from the normal blood sugar range , there are various tests that the doctors suggest. One such test is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test or the OGTT. In this article, we shall analyze and understand more about this test. So, come and join in for the article What is Oral Glucose Tolerance Test?
What is Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Why is the Test Done?
The test is something that helps to measure and understand the ability of our body to utilize glucose which, as we know, is the main source of our bodys energy.
The reasons why the test is done are as follows:
The test is mainly done to see if you are suffering from diabetes or prediabetes .
It is also used to check pregnant women and analyze whether or not they suffer from gestational diabetes .
The test helps in checking the amount of insulin resistance your body has
Finally, the test helps to diagnose reactive hypoglycemia
After you have decided to take the test, you need to prepare yourself for the same by taking a few simple steps as mentioned below:
At least 3 days just before the day of the test, you need to eat a balanced diet comprising around 150 grams of carbohydrates per day.
Stop smoking, drinking, vigorous exercise around 8 hours just before you give your blood sample for the test. Avoid eating too for at least 8 hours before the blood sample is taken
You will need to reveal all the medicines and drugs that you might be taking Continue reading

Diabetes and Travel - Diabetes Can't Stop Me!

If you have diabetes you will understand the anxiety that can arise when planning a trip away from home or out of your usual routine. Many people worry about how they will manage their diabetes in an environment that is unpredictable.
How will you get meals that you can eat, when you need them?
How will you get through airport security?
Will the weather impact on your blood glucose levels?
And how about keeping insulin and medications at the right temperature?
These and many other questions can run through your mind when thinking about travelling with diabetes. If you have not had diabetes for long and/or have never travelled since getting diabetes, these concerns can even prevent you from going away.
Having diabetes doesnt mean your travelling days are over!
Like many other situations in life with diabetes, to make sure you have safe, healthy and enjoyable trip it is important to plan ahead and consider all aspects of your journey such as weather, time zones, length of transit time, access to meals, the amount of activity you will be undertaking and potential adjustment to medications and insulin.
Consider how much medication, insulin, blood glucose monitoring supplies, batteries and so on and making sure you have more than enough, is also critical. Many people with diabetes travel across the world.
If travelling locally and you are driving:
Pan plenty of rest stops, opportunities to check your blood glucose levels and stock up on carbohydrates.
Dont drive long distances without keeping tabs on what is happening with your blood glucose.
Share the driving with Continue reading

Type 2 diabetes: The essentials

Odds are, you or someone you know has diabetes. It certainly pays to reinforce what you know about this disease and to take stock of the lifestyle changes you can make to manage it.
Diabetes is New Zealands fastest growing chronic health problem, with nearly 300,000 affected by the disease. Its estimated another 500,000 people have pre-diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people who dont have the disease; and they are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
But its not all doom and gloom controlling blood glucose levels and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can signficantly reduce the complications associated with type 2 diabetes. Research shows you dont have to be a saint to make a difference to your health, either. These five changes will well and truly have you on your way.
Low-GI carbohydrates are slowly digested by the body, meaning they trickle glucose into your bloodstream instead of quickly bursting into your system. Research shows that a low-GI diet can improve blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Including just one low-GI carbohydrate at each meal and snack can make a noticeable difference. Low-GI foods include wholegrain bread, pasta, basmati rice, apples, pears and low-fat yoghurt.
Search this website for more information on low-GI foods, or visit www.glycemicindex.com to find the GI values of specific foods. Look for foods with a glycaemic index of 55 or less.
2. Eat at least two serves of wholegrains daily
Upping your intake of whole grains Continue reading

Arrest Alzheimer’s

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We were talking about diabetes in the last chapter, and before we entirely leave there, it’s important to know that Alzheimer’s disease has sometimes been called “diabetes of the brain.”
Even in the earliest stages of the devastating memory-destroying disease, the brain’s ability to metabolize sugar is diminished. For decades, science has concluded that the characteristic amyloid plaques and tangles in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers interrupt the delicate circuitry of thought transmission and memory.
The characteristic beta-amyloid clusters of proteins called “plaques” and clumps of dead and dying nerve and brain cells, called “tangles” are the generally agreed upon indicators that Alzheimer’s disease exists.
Think of the brain’s network of dendrites and neurons as an electrical system. Those plaques and tangles block the transmission of the electrical current or information through those circuits.
What’s the link?
Many scientists now call Alzheimer’s “type 3 diabetes.” What’s the link between Alzheimer’s and diabetes?
Here are some things that science has proven in recent years that have advanced our understanding of this terrible disease:
We know that the risk of Alzheimer’s is doubled in people with diabetes. Some studies say the risk is four-fold.
We also know that insulin resistance defines Type 2 diabetes, sometimes called “diabesity,” is primarily caused by eating too many simple carbs and sugars and not enough fat.
We also know that insulin resistance starts the brain damage ca Continue reading