Diabetes Mellitis is the subject of this health tip. There are two forms of diabetes. The first is type I, which is of a genetic pre-disposition, and then there is the more prevalant type II diabetes which is found mostly among the overweight. Type II is much more often a diet related disorder less likely due to genetics. 

 Most of us know someone with diabetes, as it is currently one of the fastest growing diseases in America.  In the past, diabetes was found mostly in the elderly, but these days younger people are developing it just as often. African Americans are being hit particularly hard, and are more likely to suffer from kidney failure, heart ailments and limb amputations as a result of the disease. What’s more is that the death rate among African American Diabetics is 27% higher than all other races. 

 Our pancreas produces insulin which is released into our blood stream to metabolize sugars.  With type I diabetes, the immune system attacks the pancreas such that it shuts down and stops producing insulin.  With type II however, the pancreas  does produce enough insulin but the receptor cells fail to recognize it, which causes the insulin to be unable to metabolize sugar in the blood.

 With either of these conditions, you can end up with lots of sugar circulating in your blood that is not being metabolized, and this is very dangerous.   This is because excess sugar in the blood kills nerves, and can cause a host of other problems.

For example when diabetic is cut, the sugary blood which reaches the wound is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria which can lead to infections.  Most of the time type II diabetics develop the disease due to inactivity and/or obesity.  Adequate exercise will cause extra sugar in the blood to be metabolized as energy, but in inactive individuals the sugar remains in the blood too long.  Another interesting trait of diabetics is that their sense of taste for sweetness may not be as keen as it should. For example when they eat something very sweet it may not taste sweet, thereby causing the individual to add more sweetener than normal. This insensitivity is a result of the blood sugar having damaged the nerves which are involved in taste. 

 Blood glucose tests are administered to diabetics in order to monitor sugar levels. Sugar levels are in excess if after a certain amount of time following a meal, the glucose levels are greater than 126 milligrams per deciliter of blood. For an oral glucose exam,  200 milligrams per deciliter is considered  too high.  A really useful test is the HBA1c, which reveals how long one has been suffering from hyper-glycemia. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood triglycerides, excess consumption of sweets, and excess weight around the midsection are all indices that will propel an individual to develop diabetes.

 Some common symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst, excessive urination, and cravings for ice.  Many women experience recurrent yeast infections because excess blood sugar breeds yeast and fungus. The most severe problem that diabetics experience is nerve damage. This can affect vision to the point of total blindness, and many people experience such extensive damage to tissue in the limbs that amputation is necessary.  The reason limbs are amputated is because they have literally died, and if left attached would spread toxins throughout the rest of the body, which would invariably lead to death. 

Let’s talk about some solutions. It is very important for type II  diabetics to stay at an appropriate body weight. Weight reduction and calorie restriction is critical. They should eat more complex carbohydrates, and avoid refined carbohydrates such as white bread, donuts, and sweets which in excess amounts can be lethal. As mentioned before exercise is also key in keeping bodyweight down and ensuring that excess sugar is used up as energy. Supplements that have been shown to be effective in benefiting diabetes are Chromium Picolinate and Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) Chromium. Also recommended are the herbs Gymnema and Stevia.
 

 This advice is for informational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose. Please consult your physician before beginning any health care program.