Type 1 Diabetes In Children: Signs, Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Signs, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children is a serious medical condition, where a child’s body fails to produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps the body process glucose and sugar. Glucose is a form of sugar, which is one of the biggest sources of fuel for the body. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cells for energy, which then leads to a build up of glucose in the blood. Too much glucose in the bloodstream is dangerous and could lead to life threatening conditions. Kids with T1D need to take insulin injections so that they can survive. When your child is first diagnosed with T1D, it can be frightening. Unlike other medical conditions, T1D has no cure as of yet. However, the good news is that there is treatment for T1D. Your child does not have to suffer throughout their life. If they adopt a healthy lifestyle, monitor their blood sugar regularly and take insulin injections as recommended by their doctor, they will live a healthy and happy life.
However, depending on their age, you will have to work out these changes together. The main change will be to learn how to regularly check and adjust your child’s blood glucose levels. You may need to check your child’s blood glucose levels at least 10 to 12 times every day. It will require a bit of practice before you can learn how to effectively keep their blood glucose levels within a healthy range. However, as you work with your diabetes team and learn more about managing diabetes, you will become confident. Talk to your child about which food they Continue reading

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Diabetes services in San Diego at Scripps Health

Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute is Southern California’s leading diabetes center of excellence, committed to providing the best evidence-based diabetes screening, education and patient care in San Diego.
Founded in 1981, our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with pre-diabetes, gestational diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes through innovative programs.
We offer programs in patient self-management education, clinical research, community-based diabetes care, diabetes prevention, pragmatic retinal screenings, and professional training and education.
Our dedication to diabetes care has earned Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Green Hospital recognition as San Diego’s best hospitals for diabetes and endocrinology medicine by U.S. News and World Report.
Read more about our exceptional diabetes care and offerings in the Scripps Diabetes Annual Report 2017 (PDF, 1.2 MB).
Currently, more than 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, and up to one-third of them do not know it. Learn more about diabetes, including the three types of diabetes: gestational diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Definition
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there is a high level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
Causes
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas by special cells, called beta cells. The pancreas is below and behind the stomach. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells. Inside the cells, glucose is stored and later used for energy.
When y Continue reading

Researchers identify gene variants linked to both type 2 diabetes and CHD risk

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has become a global epidemic affecting more than 380 million people worldwide; yet there are knowledge gaps in understanding the etiology of type-2 diabetes. T2D is also a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), but the biological pathways that explain the connection have remained somewhat murky. Now, in a large analysis of genetic data, published on August 28, 2017 in Nature Genetics, a team, led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has first looked into what causes T2D and second clarified how T2D and CHD – the two diseases that are the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, are linked.
Examining genome sequence information for more than 250,000 people, the researchers first uncovered 16 new diabetes genetic risk factors, and one new CHD genetic risk factor; hence providing novel insights about the mechanisms of the two diseases. They then showed that most of the sites on the genome known to be associated with higher diabetes risk are also associated with higher CHD risk. For eight of these sites, the researchers were able to identify a specific gene variant that influences risk for both diseases. The shared genetic risk factors affect biological pathways including immunity, cell proliferation, and heart development.
The findings add to the basic scientific understanding of both these major diseases and point to potential targets for future drugs.
"Identifying these gene variants linked to both type 2 diabetes and CHD risk in principle opens up opportunities to lower the ri Continue reading

4 Must-Do Gym Exercises to Help Prevent Diabetes

Are you at risk for diabetes? Diabetes is reaching an all-time high. In fact, over 29 million people have diabetes. What’s even more concerning (despite that shocking number) is that 86 million people have prediabetes, meaning they have higher than normal blood sugars and are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes within 5-10 years if they don’t make changes. The majority of Type 2 diabetes is related to excess weight, so what you eat plays a critical role. But exercise also plays an important part in burning off excess weight and improving our overall health.
So if you’ve been told you have prediabetes, besides changing the way you eat, you likely need to change the way you exercise. All those changes can be confusing, so here are four gym exercises you should consider doing:
1. Skip the treadmill and hop on the elliptical.
I am a big supporter of walking — walking up/down stairs, walking from the parking lot to entrances, walking during the morning or evening. I even have worn a pedometer for many months. But for many people at risk for diabetes, walking may not be enough. So the inevitable question: Should I use the treadmill, elliptical or exercise bikes? They all have pros/cons, and it’s mostly pros. For instance, exercise bikes are low impact and fairly safe. Basically anyone can jump on, and start using it. But overall, stationary bikes don’t burn that many calories and it mostly works lower body muscles. The treadmill — whether walking or running — involves a wider variety of muscles, including core muscles in the back and abs to stabilize your body. Trea Continue reading

Keto Diet better than high carb for Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition characterized by high levels of blood sugar, usually due to insulin resistance.
The treatment of type 2 diabetes involves medication, but lifestyle strategies are very important as well.
These include increased exercise, weight loss and diet management.
Although low-carb diets have become popular for managing type 2 diabetes, few high-quality studies have investigated their long-term effects on blood sugar control and risk factors for heart disease.
ARTICLE REVIEWED
A team of Australian researchers set out to compare the long-term health effects of a low-carb diet and a high-carb diet, focusing on differences in blood sugar control and risk factors for heart disease.
Tay et al. Comparison of Low- and High-Carbohydrate Diets for Type 2 Diabetes Management: A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a randomized trial that spanned one year, or 52 weeks total.
A total of 115 obese and overweight adults with type 2 diabetes participated. Their age ranged from 35 to 68 years.
The participants were randomly assigned to one of two diets that contained an equal amount of calories:
Low-carb diet (LC): Carbs, protein and fat comprised 14%, 28% and 58% of calories, respectively. The total carb content was under 50 grams per day.
High-carb diet (HC): Carbs, protein and fat comprised 53%, 17% and 30% of calories, respectively.
Both diets restricted calories in order to produce weight loss. Calories were restricted by 30%, which amounted to 500–1000 calories, depending on the individual.
The fat content o Continue reading