Creating Order out of Chaos

In order to get a handle on Diabetes and potential complications; you have to read and learn. A lot!

I've pulled together a lot of useful information here. Hope it helps.  

Discovered the National Diabetes Information Clearing House at:

http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. This site contains a wealth of information.  There are so many great sites packed with great information such as:  http://www.diabetes.org/  and http://www.diabetesdaily.com.  There are a ton-o-sites out there and so I spent the last couple of days reading.

A summary of the disease (Type 2):

Type-2 diabetes is a lifelong illness, which generally starts in middle age or later part of life, but can start at any age. It has a different cause than Type-1: patients with type-2 diabetes do not respond properly to insulin, the hormone that normally allows the body to convert blood glucose into energy or store it in cells to be used later. The problem in type-2 diabetes is not lack of insulin production; most of these patients produce variable, even normal or high, amounts of insulin.

The first stage in type-2 diabetes is the condition called insulin resistance. Insulin helps glucose to enter cells, where it is used for energy. In patients with insulin resistance, although insulin can attach normally to receptors on liver and muscle cells, certain mechanisms prevent insulin from moving glucose into these cells where it is utilized. As a result body starts making more and more insulin and in the beginning, this amount is usually sufficient to overcome such resistance, but during the later phases of the disease the insulin resistance increases in severity and, blood glucose increases, but at the same time the body is unable to use it properly, and the body’s cells are actually starving for energy. Even with increased amounts of insulin the insulin demands of the body is not met because of the increasing tissue resistance. Because the body does not use insulin properly, blood glucose rises above the safe level. The initial effect at this stage may be an abnormal rise in blood glucose right after a meal (called postprandial hyperglycemia). Type-2 diabetes differs from type-1 diabetes in that type-1 diabetes is always caused by the body's inability to make enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90 - 95% of cases. Eventually, the cycle of elevated glucose further damages beta cells, thereby drastically reducing insulin production and causing full-blown diabetes. This is made evident by fasting hyperglycemia, in which elevated glucose levels are present most of the time.

 

Some Facts:

·       13% of adults have type2 diabetes.  About 25-27 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes. 13 million of those are men. Another 30% have pre-diabetes.

·       Even though millions of Americans have type-2 diabetes, only half of these people are aware that they have diabetes.

·       The death rate in patients with diabetes may be up to 11 times higher than in persons without the disease.

·      The occurrence of diabetes in persons 45 to 64 years of age is 7 percent, but the proportion increases significantly in persons 65 years of age or older.

·        People with diabetes are 2x times more likely to develop serious gum disease.

·      Research has shown that diabetic patients have a shorter life expectancy than non-diabetic individuals and that this excess mortality is largely attributable to cardiovascular causes.

·      Diabetes is known to double the risk of heart attacks and strokes, but the new findings show people with type 2 diabetes are also at greater risk of dying from cancer, infection and mental disorders.

·     Even after accounting for other risk factors such as age, sex, obesity and smoking, the researchers found people with diabetes were at increased risk of death from several common cancers, infections, mental disorders, and liver, digestive, kidney and lung diseases.

·       About 60 per cent of the reduced life expectancy in people with diabetes is attributable to blood vessel diseases – such as heart attacks and strokes. Only a small part of these associations are explained by obesity, blood pressure, or high levels of fat in the blood – conditions which often co-exist with diabetes.

·         Diabetes can cause feelings of isolation. Managing diabetes can cause mounting stresses that sometimes lead to poor self-care and feelings of loss of control. Depression can make it difficult to think; interfering with medication compliance and exercise goals necessary to keep diabetes under control. Diabetes doubles the risk for depression. Depression, in turn, may increase the risk for hyperglycemia and complications of diabetes.

Symptoms I was able to find:

·         Increased thirst

·         Increased hunger (especially after eating)

·         Dry mouth

·         Nausea and occasionally vomiting

·         Frequent urination

·         Extreme unexplained fatigue (weak, tired feeling)

·         Blurred vision

·         Itching of the groin

·         Irritability

·         Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet

·         Wounds that don't heal

·         Frequent infections of the skin, gums or urinary tract

Complications I was able to find:

·   Alzheimer's disease

·   Dehydration

·   Diabetic Ketoacidosis

·   Diminished ability to fight infection

·   Eye damage

·   Foot damage

·   Hearing problems

·   Heart and blood vessel disease

·   Hyperglycemia

·   Hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma

·   Hypoglycemia

·   Kidney damage (nephropathy)

·   Nerve damage (neuropathy)

·   Osteoporosis

·   Poor sleep

·   Skin and mouth conditions

 

What can I do to manage the disease? 

(Note, I’m not a doctor so this stuff is just what I’ve found by reading. Any thresholds listed are for me. You'll need to set your own if these are not applicable to you. )

•Alzheimer's disease

o   Control blood Glucose levels

•Dehydration

o   Drink 8-10 cups of water every day. This also helps flush out the Glucose.

•Diabetic Ketoacidosis

o  

•Diminished Ability to Fight Infection

o   Continued and consistent use of multi-vitamins

o   Medications as prescribed by doctor

o   Flu shot annually

o   Pneumonia shot annually

•Eye Damage

o   The American Diabetes Association recommends that patients with type 2 diabetes get an initial comprehensive eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist shortly after they are diagnosed with diabetes, and once a year thereafter. The eye exam should include dilation to check for signs of retinal disease (retinopathy).

•Foot Damage

o   Thoroughly inspect your feet daily

o   Patients should inspect their feet daily and watch for changes in color or texture, odor, and firm or hardened areas, which may indicate infection and potential ulcers.

o   When washing the feet, the water should be warm (not hot) and the feet and areas between the toes should be thoroughly dried afterward. Check water temperature with the hand or a thermometer before stepping in.

o   Apply moisturizers, but NOT between the toes.

o   Gently use pumice to remove corns and calluses (patients should not use medicated pads or try to shave the corns or calluses themselves).

o   Trim toenails short and file the edges to avoid cutting adjacent toes.

o   Well-fitting footwear is very important.

o   People should be sure the shoe is wide enough. Patients should also avoid high heels, sandals, thongs, and going barefoot. Shoes with a rocker sole reduce pressure under the heel and front of the foot and may be particularly helpful. Custom-molded boots increase the surface area over which foot pressure is distributed. This reduces stress on the ulcers and allows them to heal.

o   Change shoes often during the day.

o   Wear socks, particularly with extra padding (which can be specially purchased).

o   Patients should avoid tight stockings or any clothing that constricts the legs and feet.

o   Consult a specialist in foot care for any problems.

•Hearing problems

o   Complete and annual hearing test.

•Heart and blood vessels and Nerve Damage(neuropathy)

o   Reduction in weight if necessary and maintenance of doctor prescribed weight

o   Reduce/Manage blood glucose levels

o   Protect the heart and aim for healthy lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels and control of blood pressure.

o   Control blood Glucose levels using exercise, diet, medication, regular testing and countermeasures.

§  Test prior to taking a bite at any meal - Fasting levels 70-130

§  Test 1 hour post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels higher than 140.

§  Test 2 hours post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels high than 120.

§  Test prior to bedtime and supplement with food if blood glucose level below  .

o   Test HbA1C every three months 

o   Control high blood pressure through exercise, diet, and medication

o   Take an aspirin daily. 

o   Get regular medical checkups (every six months).

•Hyperglycemia

o   Control blood Glucose levels using exercise, diet, medication, regular testing and countermeasures.

§  Test prior to taking a bite at any meal - Fasting levels 70-130

§  Test 1 hour post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels higher than 140.

§  Test 2 hours post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels high than 120.

§  Test prior to bedtime and supplement with food if blood glucose level below  .

o   Test HbA1C every three months

•Hypoglycemia

o   Control blood Glucose levels using exercise, diet, medication, regular testing and countermeasures.

§  Test prior to taking a bite at any meal - Fasting levels 70-130

§  Test 1 hour post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels higher than 140.

§  Test 2 hours post-meal and eliminate anything from your diet that causes levels high than 120.

§  Test prior to bedtime and supplement with food if blood glucose level below  .

o   Test HbA1C every three months 

•Kidney Damage (nephropathy)

o   Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day. This helps flush the system of glucose.

o   The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes receive an annual microalbuminuria urine test.

o   Patients should also have their blood creatinine tested at least once a year.

•Osteoporosis

o  

•Poor Sleep

o  

•Skin and Mouth Conditions

o   Treatment with doctor prescribed skin lotions

o   Brush teeth in the morning and before bed with a toothpaste specifically formulated for gum health.

o   Bath in a barely warm, not hot bath with about 2 cups (500 ml) of baking soda or some Epsom salts added.

 

Can only hope this might help someone out there who needs the information.