Free Diabetic Supplies

Can enjoying a dip in a hot tub be good for diabetics? According to a pilot study that appeared in the September 16 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, “hot tub therapy” helped a group of type 2 diabetics reduce their blood sugars, lose weight and improve sleep patterns.

Another study was done by Philip L. Hooper, MD, of the McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado. He studied five type 2 men and three type 2 women. The patients had been suffering from diabetes from three to 14 years. The subjects sat in the hot tub by themselves with water up to their shoulders for 30 minutes per day, six days per week, for three weeks. Most patients had reduced blood glucose levels and had even lost some weight. Although, “Most subjects found that their blood sugars went back up two to three weeks after stopping the study,” says Hooper.  

“These results suggest that hot tub therapy should be further evaluated as a therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,” says Hooper. “It may be especially helpful for patients who are unable to exercise.”

Hooper is in the process of writing a grant for further research in this area from the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association and possibly the American Heart Association. “My study was a pilot study, which was published in order to provide a new thought in the management of diabetes,” says Hooper. “It cannot be endorsed as an ‘approved’ method of therapy at this time.”

Central Florida scientists are saying that citrus crops like grapefruits and grapes contain a compound that could help the diets of diabetes patients and even prevent it. Two scientists discovered a compound called emulin while researching the weight loss properties of grapefruit. The compound is found in the peels of tropical fruits. “This product mimics the activity of insulin,” researcher Joseph Ahrens said.

The idea is to extract the compound from the peel of the fruit, filter and purify it to make a tasteless substance that acts as a sugar buffer when added to foods. Studies in Type-2 diabetic rats showed great results. Rats fed the equivalent of a brownie with emulin showed a drop in glucose by as much as 27 percent.

Emulin works by reducing the amount of carbohydrates absorbed after meals and the amount of glucose manufactured by the liver. It also speeds the removal of excess sugar from the bloodstream. It would become an additive that could be used by mainstream food manufacturers. It is believed that emulin can make eating safer for Type 2 diabetics and perhaps reduce the onset of diabetes.

Double-blinded human trials are under way now and the results should be out within a few weeks. Scientists said if the product is approved by the FDA, it could be on the market within two years.

People with diabetes are more prone to peritonitis, tooth decay, oral fungal infections, taste diminishment, gingivitis and delayed healing time than people without the disease, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). This is because uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause and worsen those symptoms and conditions. According to the ADA, sugary and starchy foods contribute to high glucose levels in saliva, which can wear down tooth enamel, causing decay and cavities. 

Unfortunately, poor oral health can make your diabetes more difficult to control. Infections can cause your blood sugar to rise and require more insulin to keep it under control.

There are things you can do to have good oral health. You should see your dentist at least twice a year. Make sure your dentist knows that you have diabetes. Brush your teeth twice a day. It is recommended to use a soft nylon toothbrush and always brush the upper surface of your tongue. Floss everyday. Always look for early signs of gum disease, such as bleeding gums, redness, or swelling. If you notice any of these things call your dentist right away.

Many people have diabetes and they don’t even know it. By the time they find out, they’re at risk of severe complications like blindness or kidney disease. Researchers at MedStar Research Institute in Washington D.C. has been looking for ways to encourage more patients to get tested sooner. They believe many people put it off because of the process it takes to get tested. The traditional diabetes testing method includes fasting, drinking a sweet glucose solution and taking a blood test. This type of testing typically takes several hours.

The researchers have discovered a new light machine called the vera-light scout. It uses fluorescent light to non-invasively measure the effects of high glucose levels in the forearm’s connective tissue. Dr. Robert Ratner with MedStar Research says, “We’ve been able to identify those biochemical changes that may reflect diabetes without the need of sticking the patient or drawing blood or sending samples off to a certified laboratory.” The machine shines a light onto the skin’s surface and the layers of tissue immediately below. It measures how much light bounces back in very specific wavelengths.   Ratner says they “then compare the Scout measure with the overnight fasting with glucose method, and found that the Scout measure is as accurate, if not better.”

This system is still in the testing phase and not available to the public yet, although many doctors believe this system will be the future for diabetes detection!

There is a new national effort to stem the tide of diabetes in the United States. The National Diabetes Goal was unveiled May 7 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., the goal is for the 45 percent of Americans who are at risk for type 2 diabetes, to know their blood glucose level and what actions to take. They aim to achieve this by 2015.

There is over 21 million Americans that have diabetes, but it is thought that more than 6 million Americans are unaware that they have the disease. It is believed that type 2 diabetes can be prevented if people at risk are tested and take action. It is estimated by 2025, 15 percent of the population will suffer from diabetes.

“Early detection is critical in maintaining healthy vision”, said American Optometric Association (AOA), president, Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., PhD. “Recognizing the importance of diabetes prevention and early treatment for lifelong eye health, AOA fully supports the National Diabetes Goal.” The A.O.A., is one of the many health care provider groups, government officials and leaders from the business and academic communities that are supporting the National Diabetes Goal.

If you have type 2 diabetes and are feeling a little down, this new research may give you reason to cheer up. Posted in the journal, Diabetes Care, a research showed that depression, whether mild or severe, can raise the risk of dying in people with type 2 diabetes . It was found that people who have the combination of type 2 diabetes and minor depression have a 67% greater risk of dying. Although, people with both diabetes and major depression have a 130% greater chance of dying, compared to those who have type 2 diabetes alone.

The researchers was done at the University of Washington were they followed 4,154 people who had type 2 diabetes for three years after they filled out a questionnaire screening for depression. In order for a person to be considered depressed, the symptoms had to include depressed mood or loss of pleasure.

It was found that participants with depression were more likely to have two or more complications related to diabetes, to have another medical condition, to smoke, to be obese, and to have been treated with insulin. They were also less likely to be physically active.

During the three years of follow-up, 382 participants died from all causes. A greater proportion of participants with depression died compared to those who weren’t depressed; nearly 14% of those with minor depression and 12% of those with major depression died, while slightly more than 8% of non-depressed participants died.

While the study doesn’t pinpoint the reason the combination of depression and type 2 diabetes appears to be more deadly than diabetes alone, the researchers say the cause could be biological or behavioral. They also said, that changes in brain chemistry and the nervous system which accompany depression could also worsen diabetes outcomes.

Other known symptoms of depression include changes in sleeping and eating habits, lack of energy and changes in activity levels. If you are feeling any of the symptoms of depression or have questions about it, talk to your doctor right away!

“Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children after asthma, but the percentage of kids who have it is still relatively low,” says Parents advisor Lori Laffel, MD, chief of the pediatric, adolescent, and young-adult section at Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center. Many parents have misconceptions about the illness. This often keeps them from understanding the best ways to help kids avoid or manage diabetes.

Many parents believe that children who get diabetes are the ones with a weight problem. This is not always the case. In type 1 diabetes the immune system mistakenly destroys healthy cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone that helps the body get energy from food, and at this time there is no known cause. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas usually makes plenty of insulin, but cells throughout the body have trouble using it. This creates a condition known as insulin resistance.

Parents need to help their children keep blood sugar at normal  levels. This is the key to a healthy life for your child. Poorly controlled blood sugar levels can lead to a variety of problems, including heart attack, cirrhosis of the liver, blindness, and kidney failure. Fortunately, it takes about five to ten years of poorly controlled blood sugar to cause any of these serious conditions.

So, now is your chance to teach your children how to control blood sugar levels. There are very simple ways to accomplish this. Teach them to eat better, lose weight if needed, and exercise regularly. All these things will help insulin to work more effectively. Of course, if these lifestyle changes are no enough see a pediatrician.

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in the United States, especially among the elderly. According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, nearly half of those individuals fail to control their blood sugar levels.

The study was a comparison of data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES for short) from 1999 to 2004 and data from 1988 to 1994. They found that type 3 diabetes increased from 12.0 percent to 14.1 percent.

They did find that more elderly people are being treated for their diabetes. Also, diabetes control has been improved and the patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol has declined. Although, only 55 percent of diabetic patients achieved blood sugar control during 1999 and 2004.

The researchers were able to show that blood sugar was easier to control in people without any other co-morbid illnesses.

Diabetes is controlled by diet and exercise. Sometimes, these are found to be not enough. In such cases, in Type 2 diabetes you can try Amaryl. This has been proven to help Type 2 diabetics a great deal.

It stimulates the pancreas and creates more insulin in the body. It is sometimes taken along with Glucophage - the insulin boosting drug. In tandem, these two drugs can combat elevated blood sugar levels.

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Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of defective insulin secretion and insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity.  Although the exact cause for type 2 is unknown, it seems that central obesity predisposes people for insulin resistance, possibly because of hormone secretions that impair glucose tolerance.

About 55 percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes are obese.  Aging and family history also seem to play a role in the onset of this type.  Type 2 diabetes is first treated by diet and exercise, which can restore insulin sensitivity.  Some diabetics can control their glucose levels just by these natural methods.

If this doesn’t work, the next step is treatment with oral ant diabetic drugs.  If the oral medications fail, insulin therapy will be implemented. Click here to see if you qualify for free type 2 diabetic supplies.