ALL he wanted after waking up thirsty in bed one night was to ask his dad for a glass of water.
But this drink quickly turned into something more dangerous for six-year-old Connor Hoyland when he came downstairs to find his dad, Derek, who has type one diabetes, in the family living room suffering a hypoglycemic attack.
The attack – the result of Derek’s blood-sugar levels plunging after he’d spent the evening “running around daft” to get Connor and his little sister, Amy, two, ready for bed – could have resulted in hospitalisation and even coma.
Amazingly, Connor, a P2 pupil at Penicuik’s Strathesk Primary, kept calm, offered his dad a biscuit, unlocked the front door and picked up a mobile phone to ring his mum, Clair, who was at work at Beeslack High.
Clair then rushed home to administer an emergency glucose injection and stabilise Derek’s blood-sugar levels.
Today, Connor’s parents paid tribute to their son and his composure under pressure, which they said saved his dad from becoming seriously ill.
Derek, 47, a staff trainer for Scottish Widows in Edinburgh, said: “Basically I just blacked out, I can’t really remember much about the attack.
“When I’m looking after the kids, I’m running around daft about them and that can have an effect. How much a particular type of activity can affect your blood sugar if you are diabetic can be quite unpredictable.
“I was trying to get tea as well and I took something to eat and thought it should be enough. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for everything I was doing to keep things under control and it got to the stage where I couldn’t recover.
“But Connor did brilliantly for a six-year-old – he was really calm and collected, and able to handle it all very well.”
Clair, 38, who works as a learning support assistant, said she and her husband had not hidden his diabetes from their children, and had given Connor instructions on what to do if his dad ever suffered an attack.
She said: “I knew Derek was way past the stage of me being able to do anything over the phone and I was panicky when I left work.
“But Connor was absolutely fine. I just cannot believe how much he carried out everything we told him to do to a T. I remember afterwards I was jumping around in the school playground when I was telling people about it.”
Although he came downstairs during the attack last month to find his dad sweating, clammy and disoriented, Connor told the News he did not feel scared or worried.
He said: “When I found him, I thought something was wrong. I offered him a biscuit, but he just did not want it. So I phoned mum’s work and spoke to her and she said she was coming home.
“I was OK, I did not feel worried at all. I’m really happy about what I did.”
Bosses at the Scottish Ambulance Service, who presented Connor with a certificate of commendation last week, praised his actions.
A spokesman said: “For someone so young, Connor showed real presence of mind to stay so calm and call his mum, which was exactly the right thing to do.”
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Americans Aren’t Taking Care of Themselves in Regards to Diabetes
Diabetes, whether you’re ready to admit it or not, is a serious problem in this country. At present, there are reportedly over 23 million individuals currently living with the disease in the United States alone, compared to the 366 million who are affected worldwide. By 2030, it’s expected that 29 million Americans will be combating some form of diabetes, and unless something is done on an individual level, these numbers will continue to grow.
In a new international survey, it was revealed that 82 percent of Americans are aware that being overweight could lead to diabetes down the road. Of those surveyed, 58 percent had a body mass index of over 25, which tosses them directly into the overweight or obese category. Strangely, those who qualified as obese — 29 percent of respondents had a body mass index of at least 30 — 51 percent thought they were in relatively good health. Here’s where things get interesting: 74% of surveyed Americans felt that obesity, diet, and poor physical activity were among the nation’s most alarming health issues. If that’s the case, why aren’t these individuals taking steps to improve their lives?
Dr. Peter Goldbach, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dialog, believes there’s a disconnect between knowing what the risks are and actually taking steps to make a change. “Given their knowledge, people now need to realize that even small steps can make a big difference when it comes to eating better, exercising more regularly, or shedding a few pounds,” he explained. “At Health Dialog we understand the importance of wellness programs that fit easily into people’s lives and are more like fun than like a chore. It’s not about checking a box. It’s about integrating new behaviors little by little into everyday life.”
Although countries such as Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia understood that obesity could lead to diabetes, those surveyed in China, India, Egypt, Spain, and Hong Kong were less likely to make the connection.
In a new international survey, it was revealed that 82 percent of Americans are aware that being overweight could lead to diabetes down the road. Of those surveyed, 58 percent had a body mass index of over 25, which tosses them directly into the overweight or obese category. Strangely, those who qualified as obese — 29 percent of respondents had a body mass index of at least 30 — 51 percent thought they were in relatively good health. Here’s where things get interesting: 74% of surveyed Americans felt that obesity, diet, and poor physical activity were among the nation’s most alarming health issues. If that’s the case, why aren’t these individuals taking steps to improve their lives?
Dr. Peter Goldbach, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dialog, believes there’s a disconnect between knowing what the risks are and actually taking steps to make a change. “Given their knowledge, people now need to realize that even small steps can make a big difference when it comes to eating better, exercising more regularly, or shedding a few pounds,” he explained. “At Health Dialog we understand the importance of wellness programs that fit easily into people’s lives and are more like fun than like a chore. It’s not about checking a box. It’s about integrating new behaviors little by little into everyday life.”
Although countries such as Great Britain, New Zealand, and Australia understood that obesity could lead to diabetes, those surveyed in China, India, Egypt, Spain, and Hong Kong were less likely to make the connection.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Shift Work Raises Risk of Diabetes
Scientists in the United States say shift workers getting too little sleep at the wrong time of the day could be increasing their risk of diabetes.
They have found that changes to normal sleep means the body is unable to control sugar levels.
For three weeks researchers created an environment where the participants in the trial felt constantly jet lagged.
By the end, some of the 21 participants had significantly increased sugar levels and were classified as pre-diabetic.
Lead researcher Dr Orfeu Buxton, from the Harvard Medical School, says previous studies have shown night and shift workers have a higher probability of having obesity or diabetes, but have not identified the mechanism for how it happened.
"What we found in this study was that when we induced circadian disruption (activity and rhythm disruption) in the laboratory for three weeks we could alter glucose metabolism in a way that would predict elevated diabetes risk," he said.
"[It suggests] that the mechanism by which night workers have increased diabetes risk is an insufficient release of insulin by the pancreas."
Dr Buxon says the researchers are not sure why the pancreas is not responding.
"We gave identical meals when subjects were rested and when they had recovered from the circadian disruption and sleep restriction and they did recover, but the pancreas simply failed in response to that identical meal to secrete sufficient insulin to hold glucose levels in the normal range," he said.
Jet lagged
Dr Buxon says the study simulated travelling west through four times zones each day for three weeks.
"We studied 21 individuals who had a base line period where they were fully rested, we topped off their sleep very carefully and then we submitted the subjects in very controlled diet and activity and light and dark conditions to circadian disruption - we did that by scheduling the sleep and wake and light and dark and meals to occur four hours later each day," he said.
Dr Buxon says his study shows there is an urgent need for intervention.
"There are two general types of strategies for avoiding these problems or preventing them," he said.
"One would be adapting better to night work, so using timing of light and dark and meals to avoid some of the more severe disruption.
"The other is to get better sleep during the day. So one approach is to get sleep during that day that's in an environment that's dark, silent and cool and of course, turn off the phone."
Monday, 12 March 2012
Smartphone Diabetes Device Launched
A new device launched in the UK will enable diabetics to manage their condition with a smartphone.
The £48 hi-tech glucose monitor, being rolled out at Boots stores, attaches to the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. It allows sufferers to check their blood sugar levels at any time using their phone or MP3 player.
The device, iBGStar, comes with a free Diabetes Manager App that makes it possible to store, track and analyse medical data.
Accurate monitoring of blood glucose is essential to the management of diabetes, which affects 2.9 million people in the UK. It is especially important for people with type-1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can lead to dangerous rises in blood sugar level.
High blood sugar can lead to serious complications including damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.
Traditional blood glucose monitors (BGMs) are palm-sized devices that test tiny drops of blood obtained by pricking the skin.
iBGStar works the same way but is just one inch long and plugs straight into an iPhone or iPod touch. Software carries out the analysis and flashes the results onto the screen. It also allows users to follow changing trends and variations, and factors in information such as carbohydrate intake, insulin injections and exercise.
TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, who is helping to promote the device and was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes as a teenager, said: "I lead a hectic lifestyle and so keeping an eye on my blood glucose levels is challenging. iBGStar gives me the reassurance of knowing that I can get accurate blood glucose results using my iPhone, which I carry around anyway."
Sarah Johnson, from the type-1 diabetes research charity JDRF, said: "Good blood glucose control is vital to reducing the long-term effects of diabetes, but it can be difficult and demanding to achieve. As such, we welcome all developments in technology that can help people with type-1 and type-2 diabetes take control of their condition."
Dr Andrew Hockey, medical director for diabetes at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which produces the iBGStar, said the device was a "huge step forward". "It harnesses the power of the latest technology to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis," he added.
The £48 hi-tech glucose monitor, being rolled out at Boots stores, attaches to the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. It allows sufferers to check their blood sugar levels at any time using their phone or MP3 player.
The device, iBGStar, comes with a free Diabetes Manager App that makes it possible to store, track and analyse medical data.
Accurate monitoring of blood glucose is essential to the management of diabetes, which affects 2.9 million people in the UK. It is especially important for people with type-1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can lead to dangerous rises in blood sugar level.
High blood sugar can lead to serious complications including damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.
Traditional blood glucose monitors (BGMs) are palm-sized devices that test tiny drops of blood obtained by pricking the skin.
iBGStar works the same way but is just one inch long and plugs straight into an iPhone or iPod touch. Software carries out the analysis and flashes the results onto the screen. It also allows users to follow changing trends and variations, and factors in information such as carbohydrate intake, insulin injections and exercise.
TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, who is helping to promote the device and was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes as a teenager, said: "I lead a hectic lifestyle and so keeping an eye on my blood glucose levels is challenging. iBGStar gives me the reassurance of knowing that I can get accurate blood glucose results using my iPhone, which I carry around anyway."
Sarah Johnson, from the type-1 diabetes research charity JDRF, said: "Good blood glucose control is vital to reducing the long-term effects of diabetes, but it can be difficult and demanding to achieve. As such, we welcome all developments in technology that can help people with type-1 and type-2 diabetes take control of their condition."
Dr Andrew Hockey, medical director for diabetes at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which produces the iBGStar, said the device was a "huge step forward". "It harnesses the power of the latest technology to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis," he added.
Smartphone Diabetes Device Launched
A new device launched in the UK will enable diabetics to manage their condition with a smartphone.
The £48 hi-tech glucose monitor, being rolled out at Boots stores, attaches to the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. It allows sufferers to check their blood sugar levels at any time using their phone or MP3 player.
The device, iBGStar, comes with a free Diabetes Manager App that makes it possible to store, track and analyse medical data.
Accurate monitoring of blood glucose is essential to the management of diabetes, which affects 2.9 million people in the UK. It is especially important for people with type-1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can lead to dangerous rises in blood sugar level.
High blood sugar can lead to serious complications including damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.
Traditional blood glucose monitors (BGMs) are palm-sized devices that test tiny drops of blood obtained by pricking the skin.
iBGStar works the same way but is just one inch long and plugs straight into an iPhone or iPod touch. Software carries out the analysis and flashes the results onto the screen. It also allows users to follow changing trends and variations, and factors in information such as carbohydrate intake, insulin injections and exercise.
TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, who is helping to promote the device and was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes as a teenager, said: "I lead a hectic lifestyle and so keeping an eye on my blood glucose levels is challenging. iBGStar gives me the reassurance of knowing that I can get accurate blood glucose results using my iPhone, which I carry around anyway."
Sarah Johnson, from the type-1 diabetes research charity JDRF, said: "Good blood glucose control is vital to reducing the long-term effects of diabetes, but it can be difficult and demanding to achieve. As such, we welcome all developments in technology that can help people with type-1 and type-2 diabetes take control of their condition."
Dr Andrew Hockey, medical director for diabetes at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which produces the iBGStar, said the device was a "huge step forward". "It harnesses the power of the latest technology to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis," he added.
The £48 hi-tech glucose monitor, being rolled out at Boots stores, attaches to the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. It allows sufferers to check their blood sugar levels at any time using their phone or MP3 player.
The device, iBGStar, comes with a free Diabetes Manager App that makes it possible to store, track and analyse medical data.
Accurate monitoring of blood glucose is essential to the management of diabetes, which affects 2.9 million people in the UK. It is especially important for people with type-1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can lead to dangerous rises in blood sugar level.
High blood sugar can lead to serious complications including damage to the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes.
Traditional blood glucose monitors (BGMs) are palm-sized devices that test tiny drops of blood obtained by pricking the skin.
iBGStar works the same way but is just one inch long and plugs straight into an iPhone or iPod touch. Software carries out the analysis and flashes the results onto the screen. It also allows users to follow changing trends and variations, and factors in information such as carbohydrate intake, insulin injections and exercise.
TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, who is helping to promote the device and was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes as a teenager, said: "I lead a hectic lifestyle and so keeping an eye on my blood glucose levels is challenging. iBGStar gives me the reassurance of knowing that I can get accurate blood glucose results using my iPhone, which I carry around anyway."
Sarah Johnson, from the type-1 diabetes research charity JDRF, said: "Good blood glucose control is vital to reducing the long-term effects of diabetes, but it can be difficult and demanding to achieve. As such, we welcome all developments in technology that can help people with type-1 and type-2 diabetes take control of their condition."
Dr Andrew Hockey, medical director for diabetes at the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which produces the iBGStar, said the device was a "huge step forward". "It harnesses the power of the latest technology to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis," he added.
Friday, 24 February 2012
More Evidence on Common Diabetes Drug Lowering Cancer Risk
More Evidence on Common Diabetes Drug Lowering Cancer Risk
A new study has added further evidence to claims that the commontype 2 diabetes drug, metformin, can help to reduce the risk of dying from cancer. The research revealed thatcancer patients who also have type 2diabetes and who were being treated with metformin monotherapyexperienced a substantially lower overall mortality as compared to cancerpatients without diabetes.
The study, involving 8,392 patients withtype 2 diabetes and 104,016 non-diabetics who developed a first tumour, was published in Diabetes Care. It showed that those diabetics who had been taking metformin monotherapy for three months prior to their diagnosis of cancer had significantly reduced overall mortality as compared to cancer patients without diabetes.
It was also found that cancer mortality is greater for people with diabetes than those without, but that the quite small difference could be due to reduced survival from diabetes, not a worse outcome from the cancer. The research argued that the presence of diabetes was seen to substantially increased mortality in both breast cancer andprostate cancer, but that diabetes was linked with improved lung cancer survival as compared to non-diabetics.
The study follows another recent work that showed exposure to metformin can lessen cellular mutation rate as well as the accumulation of damage to keywordDNA – which claimed that such mutations are directly involved in carcinogenesis, but that reducing cancer risk by inhibiting the mutation rate could be a feasible option.
The study, involving 8,392 patients withtype 2 diabetes and 104,016 non-diabetics who developed a first tumour, was published in Diabetes Care. It showed that those diabetics who had been taking metformin monotherapy for three months prior to their diagnosis of cancer had significantly reduced overall mortality as compared to cancer patients without diabetes.
It was also found that cancer mortality is greater for people with diabetes than those without, but that the quite small difference could be due to reduced survival from diabetes, not a worse outcome from the cancer. The research argued that the presence of diabetes was seen to substantially increased mortality in both breast cancer andprostate cancer, but that diabetes was linked with improved lung cancer survival as compared to non-diabetics.
The study follows another recent work that showed exposure to metformin can lessen cellular mutation rate as well as the accumulation of damage to keywordDNA – which claimed that such mutations are directly involved in carcinogenesis, but that reducing cancer risk by inhibiting the mutation rate could be a feasible option.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Stem Cells May Help in Type 1 Diabetes
Stem Cells May Help in Type 1 Diabetes
Therapy using the patient's lymphocytes passed through a device with cord blood stem cells may "educate" the patient's cells to provide safe, lasting treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, according to the results of a small Chinese study.
Those patients with moderate diabetes and some residual beta cell function (Group A) exhibited improved fasting C-peptide levels at 12 and 24 weeks post-treatment, Yong Zhao, PhD, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and colleagues reported online in BMC Medicine.
Patients with more severe disease and no residual beta cell function (Group B) also showed improvement at every follow-up.
Treatment consisted of passing lymphocytes from the patient's blood through discs containing adherent multipotent cord blood stem cells. After two or three hours, the lymphocytes were collected and returned to the patient.
No participants suffered any serious adverse events, reporting only mild discomfort during venipuncture and apheresis, which resolved at the conclusion of the procedure. There were also no significant differences at 24 hours after treatment in white blood cell counts or body temperature.
In the phase I/II open-label trial, the researchers enrolled 15 patients with type 1 diabetes (mean duration 8.5 ± 6.4 years) receiving care at the General Hospital of the Jinan Military District. Patients were enrolled if they met the 2010 diagnosis criteria of the American Diabetes Association and blood tests found at least one autoantibody to pancreatic islet beta cells.
Exclusion criteria included liver, kidney, or heart disease, pregnancy, use of immunosuppressive medications, viral diseases, or immunodeficiency diseases. After two days of hospitalization to monitor early adverse reactions, follow-ups were scheduled at 4, 12, 24, 40 weeks after treatment.
Twelve patients were divided into two groups of six according to the severity of their diabetes and whether they had any residual beta cell function. Both cohorts were given full treatments. A third group of three individuals was given a single sham treatment to serve as a process-control.
Addressing the autoimmunity that underlies type 1 diabetes has been a major impediment to using stem cells for long-term treatment. Studies in mice have shown that cord blood stem cells can be used to alter immune function and they have been shown to modulate the immune function of type 1 diabetes patient-derived islet beta cell-specific T cell clones.
The researchers wanted to know if re-educating a patient's lymphocytes had the potential to address the autoimmunity concerns in a way that reduced donor risk, minimized ethical concerns, and avoided graft-versus-host disease.
C-peptide production at baseline in Group B was less than the minimum sensitivity of the test following a 75-g oral glucose tolerance. They had marked improvement at 12 weeks that continued to 40 weeks (P=0.026). The control group showed no changes at any time.
The median daily dose of insulin was reduced by 38% at 12 weeks (36 ± 13.2 units/day versus 22 ± 1.8 units/day) and 25% in the more severe group (48 ± 7.4 units/day versus 36 ± 4.4 units/day). These were maintained through the entire 24 weeks this measure was tracked.
Median hemoglobin A1C showed similar results.
In Group A the median was lowered from 8.73% ± 2.49 at baseline to 6.82% ± 0.49 at 12 weeks after treatment (P=0.019). This measure fell 1.68% ± 0.42 at 12 weeks in Group B with no change in the controls (P=0.86). These indicated to the authors that immune education of cord blood stem cells could lead to regeneration of islet beta cell function.
They also measured changes in the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) to see if measures of autoimmunity were altered. The percentage of Tregs in peripheral blood was significantly increased at 4 weeks in the treatment groups but not in the sham controls (P<0.0001).
There was no evidence of transfer of the cord blood stem cells to the patients as a result of the process of treating the lymphocytes, according to the investigators.
"This trial provides powerful evidence that exposing a patient's lymphocytes to [cord blood stem cells] can achieve the two essential outcomes required to cure T1D: reversal of autoimmunity and regeneration of islet beta cells," wrote the authors. "Importantly, the trial provides additional support for the mechanisms of [cord blood stem cells]-mediated immune response and demonstrates these mechanisms are apparent and lasting in patients."
Friday, 6 January 2012
Sleep Woes Tied to Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetic Kids
Sleep Woes Tied to Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetic Kids
Children with type 1 diabetes may be more likely to have sleep problems that worsen not only their blood sugar control, but also their quality of life, researchers found.
Diabetic children with more nightly apnea events had significantly higher glucose levels and spent more time in hyperglycemia than young type 1 diabetics without sleep disturbances, Michelle Perfect, PhD, of the University of Arizona in Tucson, and colleagues reported online in Sleep.
And those who reported being sleepier during the day had more trouble in school and worse quality of life, they found.
Diabetic children with more nightly apnea events had significantly higher glucose levels and spent more time in hyperglycemia than young type 1 diabetics without sleep disturbances, Michelle Perfect, PhD, of the University of Arizona in Tucson, and colleagues reported online in Sleep.
And those who reported being sleepier during the day had more trouble in school and worse quality of life, they found.
"Despite adhering to recommendations for good diabetic health, many youth with type 1 diabetes have difficulty maintaining control of their blood sugars," Perfect said in a statement. "We found that it could be due to abnormalities in sleep, such as daytime sleepiness, lighter sleep, and sleep apnea. All of these make it more difficult to have good blood sugar control."
Some work has shown that sleep can impact glucose regulation. In particular, slow-wave, or deep sleep, may be important in glucose maintenance and insulin sensitivity, the researchers said. In fact, some studies have shown that sleep architecture may be altered in diabetes patients, and they may spend more time in lighter stages of sleep and in the REM stage, and less time in deeper sleep.
Yet most research in this area has focused on adults with type 2 diabetes, not young people with type 1 disease, they noted.
So Perfect and colleagues assessed 50 type 1 diabetes patients ages 10 to 16 -- 40 of whom had polysomnography data -- and in part of the study, compared them with 40 matched controls.
They found that kids with an apnea-hypopnea index score of 1.5 events per hour or greater had higher blood glucose levels on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and a spent greater percentage of time at night in hyperglycemia (P=0.021 for both).
With regard to sleep architecture, when compared with healthy controls, youth with type 1 diabetes spent more time in N2 sleep, or lighter sleep (P=0.003), and less time in N3 sleep, or deeper sleep (P=0.011), particularly during the first half of the night, Perfect and colleagues wrote.
Those with diabetes also experienced more central apnea events per hour (P=0.029), although there were no significant differences in total apnea events, the researchers said.
Perfect and colleagues found that spending less time in N3 sleep, or deep sleep, was associated with higher HbA1c levels (P=0.003), and that more time spent in N2 sleep, or a lighter sleep, was associated with higher HbA1c levels (P<0.001), higher glucose levels (P=0.014), and more time in hyperglycemia (P=0.03).
The researchers also found that self-reported daytime sleepiness was linked with compromised psychosocial functioning.
For instance, greater daytime sleepiness was significantly associated with worse grades in school (P<0.001), reduced disease-related quality of life (P=0.004), more diabetes-related worry (P=0.005), and greater depressive symptoms (P=0.027).
Self-reported sleep problems also were related to lower scores on state standardized tests of reading, the researchers found, and spending more time in N2 sleep, or lighter sleep, was associated with worse scores on state math tests.
The findings regarding school performance "should serve as an impetus for future research to better understand the role of sleep in altering school functioning in youth with diabetes," the researchers wrote.
The researchers concluded that the study "adds to the burgeoning evidence that sleep-disordered breathing may result in higher glucose levels," but that further study is needed -- particularly a longitudinal trial to discern whether sleep problems affect glucose control, or if dysregulated glucose contributes to sleep problems in young type 1 diabetics.
They added that clinicians should routinely ask about sleep habits in this population as part of routine care.
The study was limited by its small population, and because it didn't control for insulin dosage. Also, it precluded analysis of the effects of severe sleep-disordered breathing on this population.
Friday, 23 December 2011
Are You Suffering From Diabetes?
Are You Suffering From Diabetes?
People who consider that they are at danger of diabetes should be on the look out for the warning signs. So, who ought to be looking for the signs of diabetes? Well, everybody to be honest, but especially those who have a family history of the disease.
People who have a family tradition of diabetes are the most at danger, but next come the obese and especially those chunky people who do not exercise.
The less exercise, the more chance. After those, it is hard to guess who may develop it.
Some think that food additives might also be to blame. If this is true, then those who eat junk food, canned food and pre-cooked meals, including sweets are also at a higher danger. This would make sense, because not all the people getting diabetes have a family history of it or are overweight.
And plenty of people are becoming diabetic nowadays. Lots more than ever before. It is a fact that there are more desk jobs than ever before as well and so more fat people and if heredity is a prime factor then one diabetic could produce several more, but the additives idea may be a factor as well.
There are three forms of diabetes, namely:
Type I: also called juvenile diabetes, because kids get it or are born with it.
Type II: also known as onset diabetes, because people develop it later in life.
Gestational Diabetes: pregnant women frequently develop this in the third term of their pregnancy. It is only recognized as a an illness in the USA, because it frequently goes away soon after the baby is born.
The indications of all types of diabetes are comparable, but here is a slightly more detailed list:
Type I: you do not really have to look out for this because most children get plenty of medical care at school, but otherwise look out for incessant thirst, the urgent requirement to urinate as a consequence of that and sudden weight loss.
Type II: as the illness takes a hold, sight may suffer; sight might blur and cataracts might develop. Cuts and sores might take longer to heal. There might be frequent yeast infections, thirstiness and consequential frequent urination.
The urine might smell sweet or look 'thicker'. There may be tingling or even pain in the feet and hands because of poor circulation.
Gestational Diabetes: like Type II, to which it may lead if left untreated.
If you become aware of any of the above symptoms in yourself or a friend, you have to have clinical tests carried out instantly, because the longer you leave it, the worse it gets. It will not merely get better on its own - never, ever. It is not like a cold or food poisoning
The check ups are not hard on the patient, but they may be lengthy and will involve giving some blood, although how much relies on the check ups. When giving blood, the patient may be required to fast for 8-12 hours.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Shift work Increases Diabetes in Women
Shift Work Increases Diabetes in Women
Women who worked a rotating night shift had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes that was not completely explained by an increase in body mass index (BMI), according to results of a prospective study of women who were enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Studies. Nurses who had 1 to 10 years of night shift work saw a 5% excess risk for type 2 diabetes compared to women who did minimal to no night shift work. That risk climbed to 40% after a decade of shift work, according to Frank Hu, MD, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine in Boston, and colleagues.
Women who worked a rotating night shift had an increased risk of type 2 diabetes that was not completely explained by an increase in body mass index (BMI), according to results of a prospective study of women who were enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Studies. Nurses who had 1 to 10 years of night shift work saw a 5% excess risk for type 2 diabetes compared to women who did minimal to no night shift work. That risk climbed to 40% after a decade of shift work, according to Frank Hu, MD, PhD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine in Boston, and colleagues.
Excess risk rocketed to almost 60% for those who had put in 20 years or more, the group reported. Other studies have suggested that rotating night shift work is associated with an increased risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome, both of which are conditions related to type 2 diabetes, they wrote.
Hu’s group examined the relationship between the duration of rotating night shift work and the risk of type 2 diabetes in U.S. women who participated in Nurses’ Health Studies (NHS) I and II. They also looked at whether greater weight gain was linked to duration of shift work.
Collectively, NHS I and II enrolled nearly 240,000 women. For this study, the women who completed the NHS questionnaire in 1988 or 1989 served as the baseline for this particular study. Participants were excluded if they had diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or cancer at baseline. Follow-up took place at 18 to 20 years.
Rotating night shifts were defined as working at least three nights a month in addition to days and evenings in that same month. The control group consisted of women who did not report a history of rotating night shift work. In both cohorts, women who spent more years in night shift work were older, more likely to have a higher BMI, and be smokers.
In a secondary analysis, they found that night shift work was also associated with an elevated risk for obesity and excessive weight gain during the follow-up period. They suggested that, beyond BMI, a reason for the link between shift work and type 2 diabetes may be “chronic misalignment between the endogenous circadian timing system and the behavior cycles.” This misalignment has been pegged as a reason for metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, including increases in glucose and insulin, they wrote.
In an accompanying commentary, Mika Kivimäki, PhD, from University College London, and colleagues said the study “probably represents the most accurate estimate of shift work-type 2 diabetes association available to date, suggesting this effect is comparable in size to that of work stress in coronary heart disease and larger than the effect of work stress on type 2 diabetes.”
They suggested that in an increasingly “24/7″ society, efforts need to be made to prevent type 2 diabetes among shift workers by promoting healthy lifestyle and weight control. Also, prediabetic and diabetic employees need to be identified early and treated accordingly.Friday, 2 December 2011
Diabetes Tips for the Holidays
Diabetes Tips for the Holidays
For those living with diabetes, the holidays may feel like one long forbidden buffet line. According to SSM St. Clare Health Center, in Fenton, traditional foods filled with rich, carbohydrate-laden ingredients are common. Parties and family get-togethers can disrupt carefully timed eating schedules, and travel during the holidays can mean missed meals, increased stress and less-than-optimum food choices.
Abbie Luegger, R.N. and certified diabetes educator for SSM, shares some key strategies for diabetics during the holidays with this Q&A.
Q: What are some key strategies for the holidays and eating?
A: Plan ahead for holiday meals. Decide whether you need to pack a snack if the meal is going to be later than you normally eat. Consider foods you might be tempted to eat, and create a plan on how you will stick to correct amount and portions of carbohydrates.
Q: What are some tasty, alternative foods for diabetics?
A: Tasty alternatives for diabetics might be substituting Splenda for sugar in recipes. Try recipes that use spices instead of high fat or sugar for flavor. Instead of apple pie (about 3 carb choices), have baked apples with sugar or sugar substitute (1 ½ -2 carb choices). Instead of cheesecake with strawberries (1 ½ carbs), try having 3 strawberries stuffed with cheesecake stuffing, along with a few graham cracker crumbs and a few chocolate chips sprinkled on top (1-1 ½ carbs and can be made lower in fat and calories).
Q: For those traveling, especially by air, do you have any recommendations on ways to cope both with eating and injections?
A: Work with your doctor on timing injections properly for time changes. Bring along snacks to travel with in case your flight is delayed. Carry fast-acting carbohydrates to treat low blood glucose and a glucagon kit, if needed.
Q: If one does miss a meal or gets off schedule, what are some strategies for getting back on track?
A: Missing a meal can be dangerous when on injections or some types of oral diabetes medications. Try grabbing a drink or snack while waiting on a meal. Prepare ahead of time to prevent missed meals. Planning is key to diabetes management and control.
Q: Can you talk specifically about parents of juvenile diabetes, and what strategies they can use to make eating and traveling for the holidays fun for the kids?
A: Allowing type 1 diabetics to enjoy the holidays and allowing for snacks and treats is important, especially for kids. Allowing children to eat some cookies or favorite foods is fine, as long as they are sticking within carbohydrate allotments. Make sure to bring enough insulin, testing supplies and syringes and an extra back up of insulin and insulin pumps.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Amelia Lily's Diabetes Fear
Amelia Lily's Diabetes Fear
'The X Factor' star Amelia Lily fears diabetes could leave her blind, and has to inject insulin four times a day to counteract it.
'The X Factor' star Amelia Lily fears diabetes could leave her blind.
The 17-year-old singer was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes - a condition whereby sufferers have low blood sugar levels - aged three and has to inject herself with insulin daily.
She told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper: "I need four injections a day and I've had it for 14 years now.
"It's just become a daily routine but I still need to be careful.
"It is serious and I could end up going blind if I have too many high blood sugars."
Amelia - who was sent home by mentor Kelly Rowland after the first live final, but voted back into the competition last week after Frankie Cocozza was axed - also has to adjust the amount she takes to counteract the adrenalin rush of appearing on the programme, which could potentially send her into a diabetes-induced coma.
She said: "I used to have fits when I was younger. I have to be careful with my bloods and adrenalin uses a lot of energy, so I need to decrease my insulin before I perform. It's hard to get the balance right but I always decrease my insulin just before performing to be safe."
Amelia performed Aretha Franklin's 'Think' on last night's (19.11.11) show, and admitted she has been nervous about coming back to the show aftermissing five weeks of live finals.
She added: "I'm feeling the pressure now because I've gone from not being in the show any more to being the favourite to win.
"It's hard to handle, there's a lot of stress and pressure.
"And you have your doubts but I'm a strong person and you have to be to be inthe music industry."
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Fountain Goes Blue to Eradicate Diabetes
Fountain Goes Blue to Eradicate Diabetes
From New York's Empire State Building to Paris's Eiffel Tower, landmarks around the world — including here in Columbia — were turned blue Monday in recognition of World Diabetes Day.
From New York's Empire State Building to Paris's Eiffel Tower, landmarks around the world — including here in Columbia — were turned blue Monday in recognition of World Diabetes Day.
That's why at noon Monday, representatives and supporters of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Palmetto Chapter poured bottles of food coloring into both of Five Points' fountains, transforming their waters a bright blue.
Though the event did not include a fundraising component, Dana Bruce, the Palmetto Chapter's executive director, said she hoped it would help raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes.
"Many people don't understand that it's an autoimmune disease — that no one did anything to get this disease; it's the body attacking itself," she said. "We thought this was a great way to raise awareness — a bright blue color, something simple that we could do as a group...that will last all day long."
Juvenile diabetes, she said, is an increasingly visible disease, as nearly all Columbia schools have a student who has been diagnosed, and awareness efforts are on the rise.
But for the families and friends who are affected, it has a profound impact on daily life.
Greta McMahon came with her 10-year-old daughter Morgan, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 3.
"It changes your whole way of life," she said. "Everything you buy for your family to eat or drink, everything she puts in her mouth has to be monitored."
Ruskin Foster, a third-year economics student, echoed that sentiment and explained how diabetes has impacted him.
"It literally has changed my life completely. I was diagnosed at 8 years old; I hardly remember the life without diabetes," he said. "There's nothing worse than feeling that you're helpless against the disease. That's what most people don't understand — that I'm going to wake up every morning for the rest of my life with it."
The disease impacts him every day, from weekday meals to weekend parties.
"You can't do what most people here do," he said. "I can't live the party life that everyone else lives because I have to worry every morning about waking up with something...I can't go out and drink a handle because I might not wake up."
Even eating on campus can become a tricky struggle.
"Really, you have to do all the research on your own," Foster said. "They don't have books sitting around telling you how many carbs are in [a meal]; they don't really go for diabetic-friendly food because they have to satisfy so many people."
As a result, he said, he and other diabetics often have to fend for themselves and look out for each other.
Once, that meant borrowing insulin from another diabetic in Athens, Ga.; mostly, though, it means Foster wants to spread awareness for the disease so he and other diabetics can get support and help if they need it.
"If you ever meet a diabetic, ask them what it's like. Get their perspective," he said. "The more people are aware, the better the disease is going to be treated and the closer we're going to get to a cure."
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Pregnant with Type 1 Diabetes
Pregnant with Type 1 Diabetes
Welcome to the second trimester! By now, many type 1s are experiencing fewer hypoglycemic episodes, and insulin resistance is just beginning to rear its head. You're on the other side of the miscarriage worry hump and getting settled into the pregnancy routine. Congratulations! Take a few minutes each day to celebrate your successes and pat your stomach with a smile, knowing you are doing the best you can to give your growing child everything she needs.
You probably have a large support network built by now and are often leaning on those with experience and insight, or just some kind words, to get you through these stressful days. If you haven't already spoken about your concerns and announced your successes to a diabetes online community, I suggest you do so now. Many women on social network sites have already been through pregnancy with diabetes, are muddling their way through it now, or are trying to jump on the bandwagon. I found enormous amounts of support there and couldn't have made it through my pregnancy without it.
After the first trimester was over, around week 15, I switched from NPH back to Levemir, feeling confident that my baby's major organ development was completed. My stresses with NPH during the first trimester nearly cost us both our lives numerous times. I felt it was less of a risk to simply switch back to Levemir than to battle the insulin shocks I dealt with in the first weeks. Research and speak with your doctors to decide if this is an option for you.
Around week 20, most women with diabetes are experiencing insulin resistance. My doctors explained that the placenta gives off hormones that lead to insulin resistance. As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta gives off more and more of these hormones, making your resistance steadily increase. By the third trimester, most women with diabetes are injecting four times the amount of insulin they were taking pre-pregnancy.
If this is just beginning for you, remember: Insulin is not your enemy. It is a tool to keep your body "normal," so take as much as you need to take. Do not starve yourself in order to limit your insulin needs. You and your baby need carbohydrates and calories to keep your body functioning and to keep hers growing. If you have to take a few more units at each meal, don't stress. Your body will return to normal after baby comes.
My insulin resistance began around week 20, after which I began increasing my basals by five units every two days to keep my levels down. By the end of pregnancy, it was normal for me to take 30 units of Apidra at each meal. I was also taking 135 units of Levemir twice per day, compared to before pregnancy, when I took only 35 to 45 units of Levemir twice per day. It was a huge increase, but my baby is six weeks old now, and I'm back down to 8 to 10 units of Apidra per meal and 45 units of Levemir twice per day.
Around week 20, I started taking 500 milligrams of metformin in the mornings to combat my insulin resistance and dawn phenomenon. This may be an option for you. Work with your doctors and discuss the risks of taking this prescription to decide if it's the right choice.
There are a lot of stresses in day-to-day life while pregnant. Add in being an insulin-dependent woman with diabetes, and your days will sometimes go by in a numeric blur. The key is to remember what you're working toward and the fact that this will pass. It takes hard work and determination to check your glucose readings ten times per day, take 20 or more injections per day (or corrections on the insulin pump), measure all of your food intake, and worry over your baby's progress. But in a few more months you will be returned to your diabetes norm while holding that sweet baby in your arms.
Take pride in what you've accomplished so far. It is not easy being pregnant, and it is no small feat to be diabetic. What you've achieved so far is amazing. Stay on top of things and manage your glucose ranges, but remember to celebrate every small success. If she understood, your baby would be dancing inside of you, celebrating too.
Friday, 21 October 2011
BPA Again Tied to Diabetes Risk
BPA Again Tied to Diabetes Risk
Adding to the mixed bag of research on bisphenol A and diabetes, a new study suggests that people with higher urinary levels of the controversial chemical do have a higher risk of diabetes.
Bisphenol A -- better known as BPA -- is a so-called endocrine disruptor, which means it may affect normal hormone activity in the body.
It's also all around us. BPA has been used for decades to make hard plastic containers, as well as linings for metal food and drink cans. Research suggests that most people have some amount of BPA in their blood, including about 95 percent of Americans.
Recent animal studies have hinted that the chemical could play a role in certain cancers, heart disease and abnormal brain development in children. But BPA's true effects in humans remain unknown.
Two large studies have found a link between higher BPA levels and higher heart disease risk. And a 2008 study found that of Americans in a government health survey, those with higher BPA levels showed a higher diabetes risk.
None of that, however, proves cause-and-effect. And a recent study of Chinese adults found no link between BPA levels and diabetes risk.
This latest study is based on data from a federal health study done between 2003 and 2008. Researchers found that of nearly 4,000 U.S. adults involved, those with the highest urinary BPA levels were more likely to have diabetes.
Just under 12 percent of all study participants had diabetes, based on blood sugar tests. And the odds of having the disease rose as urinary BPA increased.
Of people with the highest levels (more than 4.2 nanograms per milliliter, ng/mL), almost 13 percent had diabetes, versus 8 percent of adults with the lowest BPA levels (less than 1.1 ng/mL)
For comparison, the typical urinary BPA level among Americans has stood at about 2 ng/mL in recent years.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, do not prove that BPA is responsible for the higher diabetes risk.
"Since BPA measurements as well as diabetes diagnosis were conducted at the same time, we cannot say for sure that BPA exposure preceded diabetes development," lead researcher Dr. Anoop Shankar, of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, said in an email.
The researchers did account for a number of other factors in diabetes risk -- like body weight, age and race. And the BPA-diabetes link still held; people with the highest levels had a 68 percent greater risk of diabetes than those with the lowest levels.
But what's needed, according to Shankar, are long-term studies that start with diabetes-free adults, measure their BPA levels, then see who develops diabetes over time.
Shankar said he and his colleagues are planning such a study.
Exactly how BPA might promote diabetes is unclear. Lab research suggests that BPA can act like a hormone in the body and, in animals at least, promote weight gain.
In this study, Shankar's team found that BPA levels were related to diabetes risk in both heavy and normal-weight people. But there may be pathways other than weight gain, according to Shankar.
BPA may, for instance, promote body-wide inflammation, which is linked to diabetes and a range of other chronic diseases. Again, though, that's based on animal research.
In general, experts say that people who are concerned about BPA can try cutting down on canned foods and avoiding food containers made of polycarbonate plastics -- especially for reheating food, since high heat may transfer small amounts of BPA into food.
Polycarbonate plastics are usually marked with the recycling code "7."
Due to the controversy over BPA, the major manufacturers of infant bottles and feeding cups in the U.S. have stopped using the chemical.
Adding to the mixed bag of research on bisphenol A and diabetes, a new study suggests that people with higher urinary levels of the controversial chemical do have a higher risk of diabetes.
Bisphenol A -- better known as BPA -- is a so-called endocrine disruptor, which means it may affect normal hormone activity in the body.
It's also all around us. BPA has been used for decades to make hard plastic containers, as well as linings for metal food and drink cans. Research suggests that most people have some amount of BPA in their blood, including about 95 percent of Americans.
Recent animal studies have hinted that the chemical could play a role in certain cancers, heart disease and abnormal brain development in children. But BPA's true effects in humans remain unknown.
Two large studies have found a link between higher BPA levels and higher heart disease risk. And a 2008 study found that of Americans in a government health survey, those with higher BPA levels showed a higher diabetes risk.
None of that, however, proves cause-and-effect. And a recent study of Chinese adults found no link between BPA levels and diabetes risk.
This latest study is based on data from a federal health study done between 2003 and 2008. Researchers found that of nearly 4,000 U.S. adults involved, those with the highest urinary BPA levels were more likely to have diabetes.
Just under 12 percent of all study participants had diabetes, based on blood sugar tests. And the odds of having the disease rose as urinary BPA increased.
Of people with the highest levels (more than 4.2 nanograms per milliliter, ng/mL), almost 13 percent had diabetes, versus 8 percent of adults with the lowest BPA levels (less than 1.1 ng/mL)
For comparison, the typical urinary BPA level among Americans has stood at about 2 ng/mL in recent years.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, do not prove that BPA is responsible for the higher diabetes risk.
"Since BPA measurements as well as diabetes diagnosis were conducted at the same time, we cannot say for sure that BPA exposure preceded diabetes development," lead researcher Dr. Anoop Shankar, of the West Virginia University School of Medicine, said in an email.
The researchers did account for a number of other factors in diabetes risk -- like body weight, age and race. And the BPA-diabetes link still held; people with the highest levels had a 68 percent greater risk of diabetes than those with the lowest levels.
But what's needed, according to Shankar, are long-term studies that start with diabetes-free adults, measure their BPA levels, then see who develops diabetes over time.
Shankar said he and his colleagues are planning such a study.
Exactly how BPA might promote diabetes is unclear. Lab research suggests that BPA can act like a hormone in the body and, in animals at least, promote weight gain.
In this study, Shankar's team found that BPA levels were related to diabetes risk in both heavy and normal-weight people. But there may be pathways other than weight gain, according to Shankar.
BPA may, for instance, promote body-wide inflammation, which is linked to diabetes and a range of other chronic diseases. Again, though, that's based on animal research.
In general, experts say that people who are concerned about BPA can try cutting down on canned foods and avoiding food containers made of polycarbonate plastics -- especially for reheating food, since high heat may transfer small amounts of BPA into food.
Polycarbonate plastics are usually marked with the recycling code "7."
Due to the controversy over BPA, the major manufacturers of infant bottles and feeding cups in the U.S. have stopped using the chemical.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Men Appear to be at Higher Risk for Diabetes
Men Appear to be at Higher Risk for Diabetes
According to a new study, men who put on excess weight are putting themselves at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The research found that men do not need to put on as much weight as women in order to develop type 2 diabetes. The research was carried out by a team from the University of Glasgow, who said this may explain why in many parts of the world, diabetes rates are higher among males.
"Previous research has indicated that middle-aged men are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than women and one possible explanation is that men have to gain less weight than women to develop the condition.
“In other words, men appear to be at higher risk for diabetes," explained lead researcher, Prof Naveed Sattar, of the University of Glasgow.
The study looked at almost 52,000 men and over 43,000 whom all had diabetes, and measurements, such as height and weight, were recorded. Factors such as smoking and age were also taken into account.
The study found that men were more likely to develop the disease if their BMI (body mass index) was 31.8 while for women it was 33.6. "The results from this research confirm our hypothesis that men have to gain less weight to develop diabetes," Prof Sattar explained.
The researchers believe this may be down to how fat is distributed around the body. According to Irish Health, men tend to carry more visceral or intra-abdominal fat, which is located deep under the muscle tissue in the abdomen and is considered a more dangerous type of fat. Women on the other hand tend to carry more ‘safe' subcutaneous fat.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Diabetes at Crisis Levels in Ireland
Diabetes at Crisis Levels in Ireland
ONE IN three Irish people has a family member with diabetes, according to new research.
The figures have been described as a “national crisis” by Prof Séamus Sreenan, consultant endocrinologist and medical director of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland.
“We have been saying it for years, but these figures really bring the message home – diabetes is everywhere in Ireland,” he said.
“It’s in urban and rural communities, in rich areas and less well-off areas.”
One in five people has a family member with type 2 diabetes – which is preventable – and 77 per cent of Irish people know somebody with the disease.
The figures are based on a representative sample of more than 700 people carried out by market research company Behaviour and Attitudes on behalf of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland and the healthcare company Sanofi.
The research has been published to coincide with changes to the HbA1C clinical measurements for diabetes which come into effect from January 1st, 2012.
The Know Your Numbers! campaign aims to help people with diabetes minimise their risk of developing a complication relating to the condition.
The campaign is supported by the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
Currently, the HbA1C test measures the amount of glucose in the blood and monitors how well diabetes has been controlled in the previous two to three months.
HbA1C is the name given to a chemical reaction that causes glucose to stick to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells.
The new unit measurements for reporting HbA1C will prevent any mix-up between glucose and HbA1C results.
Obesity is one of the most common causes of diabetes, and losing weight can be one of the most cost-efficient ways of preventing it.
Other risk factors include not getting enough exercise and being over 45 years of age.
Type 2 diabetes can lead to heart disease and strokes, kidney trouble and also lower limb amputation in some cases.
Prof Sreenan said it takes an average of 12 years between the onset of type 2 diabetes and its diagnosis, by which time it is often too late for many sufferers.
Type 2 diabetes has been described as a ticking timebomb across the developed world as people live longer and obesity continues to increase.
It is estimated that there are 180,000 people in Ireland with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
That figure is expected to rise to 233,000 by 2020.
It is believed that 146,000 people in Ireland have undetected pre-diabetes and will have type 2 diabetes within five years unless they take action.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
UAE is in Midst of Diabetes Explosion
UAE is in Midst of Diabetes Explosion
Diabetes is projected to affect a quarter of the UAE population by 2015 and the medical costs due to diabetes and pre-diabetes are projected to rise to an annual Dhs5.14 billion by 2020, reveals an expert.
Diabetes forms the greatest health threat in the UAE today. The cost of living with diabetes in the UAE stood at Dhs2.41 billion in 2010, according to a study released during the World Health Care Congress, says Jan Felton, managing director of Modern Pharmaceutical Company.
“The vast majority of cases in the Emirates is diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, which is caused by lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of exercise. Genetically, Emiratis are predisposed to diabetes and are prone to getting the disease more than other nationalities,” he adds.
The economic boom has changed the lifestyle from a nomadic to a highly modernised lifestyle over the past 35 years and this has exacerbated the tendency of getting this condition.
Understanding the need for education, awareness and support to bring about lifestyle change, an alliance of six healthcare establishments have set up “Decide,” a first-of-its-kind concrete and collective effort to stem incidence of the disease in the UAE.
The initiative recognises a better education and greater awareness of the condition to achieve successful prevention and management of diabetes, says Jan Felton, an advocate of the non-profit initiative to fight the disease through increased awareness.
Decide aims to educate and provide with support to help patients and healthcare professionals diagnose, treat and manage the symptoms of diabetes. “The problem is not diagnosis or even how to treat diabetes, it is educating the patients, and most importantly helping them decide to do the right thing and to live life to the full with diabetes,” he indicated.
“The alliance, by pooling their resources together, will be able to reach out to a greater number of people with greater voice to have behavioural change for managing diabetes,” adds Felton.
Decide conveys the “Live life to the full with diabetes” message through an all-round strategy of providing support not only to diabetics and their immediate carers, but also to professional healthcare practitioners such as doctors, dieticians and health authorities.
This holistic approach is further supported by a web-portal, www.decidecommunity.com, which will not only disseminate up-to-date information but also act as a platform and forum for diabetes.
“A sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary choices contribute to the increasing concern about the country’s health, as diabetes is a serious and lifelong condition, which if not managed properly may lead to adverse health outcomes and serious complications,” explains Felton.
Diabetes is projected to affect a quarter of the UAE population by 2015 and the medical costs due to diabetes and pre-diabetes are projected to rise to an annual Dhs5.14 billion by 2020, reveals an expert.
Diabetes forms the greatest health threat in the UAE today. The cost of living with diabetes in the UAE stood at Dhs2.41 billion in 2010, according to a study released during the World Health Care Congress, says Jan Felton, managing director of Modern Pharmaceutical Company.
“The vast majority of cases in the Emirates is diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes, which is caused by lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of exercise. Genetically, Emiratis are predisposed to diabetes and are prone to getting the disease more than other nationalities,” he adds.
The economic boom has changed the lifestyle from a nomadic to a highly modernised lifestyle over the past 35 years and this has exacerbated the tendency of getting this condition.
Understanding the need for education, awareness and support to bring about lifestyle change, an alliance of six healthcare establishments have set up “Decide,” a first-of-its-kind concrete and collective effort to stem incidence of the disease in the UAE.
The initiative recognises a better education and greater awareness of the condition to achieve successful prevention and management of diabetes, says Jan Felton, an advocate of the non-profit initiative to fight the disease through increased awareness.
Decide aims to educate and provide with support to help patients and healthcare professionals diagnose, treat and manage the symptoms of diabetes. “The problem is not diagnosis or even how to treat diabetes, it is educating the patients, and most importantly helping them decide to do the right thing and to live life to the full with diabetes,” he indicated.
“The alliance, by pooling their resources together, will be able to reach out to a greater number of people with greater voice to have behavioural change for managing diabetes,” adds Felton.
Decide conveys the “Live life to the full with diabetes” message through an all-round strategy of providing support not only to diabetics and their immediate carers, but also to professional healthcare practitioners such as doctors, dieticians and health authorities.
This holistic approach is further supported by a web-portal, www.decidecommunity.com, which will not only disseminate up-to-date information but also act as a platform and forum for diabetes.
“A sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary choices contribute to the increasing concern about the country’s health, as diabetes is a serious and lifelong condition, which if not managed properly may lead to adverse health outcomes and serious complications,” explains Felton.
“Influencing change in behaviour would not only greatly reduce the increasing number of diabetics, but also the incidence of health complications and life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular and renal failure,” he concludes.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
When It Comes to Diabetes, Knowledge Truly Is Power
When It Comes to Diabetes, Knowledge Truly Is Power
When people are diagnosed with diabetes, things can seem pretty overwhelming. In a short time, they have to absorb a daunting amount of information and start making significant decisions about the way they live their lives.
For many people, their diabetes diagnosis is the first time they've heard words like hypoglycemia, neuropathy, and microalbuminuria-or even blood glucose. Despite their unfamiliarity with such terms, they are expected to quickly grasp the information, change ingrained eating and exercise habits, learn how to monitor blood glucose levels, and remember how and when to take medications.
Yet another concept with which patients may be unfamiliar is the field of diabetes education. Many nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and others are certified as diabetes educators, with specific training in teaching people how to manage their condition. Diabetes education is a proven, effective way to help people avoid some of the serious complications that may arise.
Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management. Most of that work takes place outside of the physician's office-in the daily lives of the patients. So it's necessary for patients to learn healthy behaviors and make them part of their everyday lifestyle. But how do they do this?
Diabetes educators focus on seven key areas of diabetes self-management, developed by the American Association of Diabetes Educators and called the AADE7 Self-Care BehaviorsTM. It's important for patients to understand and set goals for improvement in each of the following areas:
Healthy Eating - Learning to make healthy food choices by paying attention to nutritional content and portion sizes
Being Active - Recognizing the importance of physical activity and making a plan to start moving today
Monitoring - Learning to check, record, and understand blood glucose levels and other numbers important to diabetes self-care
Taking Medication - Remembering to take medications as prescribed and understanding how they affect the body and diabetes management
Problem Solving - Gaining skills to identify problems or obstacles to self-care behaviors and learning how to solve them
Reducing Risks - Understanding the potential complications associated with diabetes and taking steps to prevent developing them
Healthy Coping - Developing healthy ways of dealing with challenges and difficult situations related to diabetes
Patients and diabetes educators can work together to create a plan for approaching these self-care behaviors and implementing them in the patient's life.
For someone who is newly diagnosed, Medicare and most private insurance companies cover 10 hours of diabetes self-management training. Every year after that, patients are entitled to two hours of diabetes self-management training. AADE recommends that patients ask their doctors for a referral to a diabetes educator.
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