What is Diabetes?

What Is Diabetes?
From : Debra Manzella, R.N.

- The Balance of Glucose and Insulin -

Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for energy. Normally, the sugar you take in is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose. The glucose then circulates in your blood where it waits to enter cells to be used as fuel. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose into cells. A healthy pancreas adjusts the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose. But, if you have diabetes, this process breaks down, and blood sugar levels become too high.

There are two main types of full-blown diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes are completely unable to produce insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it. In either case, the glucose can't move into the cells and blood glucose levels can become high. Over time, these high glucose levels can cause serious complications.

Pre-Diabetes -
Pre-diabetes means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin or your pancreas is not producing as much insulin as required. Your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. This is also known as "impaired fasting glucose" or "impaired glucose tolerance". A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a warning sign that diabetes will develop later. The good news: You can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes by losing weight, making changes in your diet and exercising.

Type 1 Diabetes -
A person with Type 1 diabetes can't make any insulin. Type 1 most often occurs before age 30, but may strike at any age. Type 1 can be caused by a genetic disorder. The origins of Type 1 are not fully understood, and there are several theories. But all of the possible causes still have the same end result: The pancreas produces very little or no insulin anymore. Frequent insulin injections are needed for Type 1.

Type 2 Diabetes -
A person with Type 2 diabetes has adequate insulin, but the cells have become resistant to it. Type 2 usually occurs in adults over 35 years old, but can affect anyone, including children. The National Institutes of Health state that 95 percent of all diabetes cases are Type 2. Why? It's a lifestyle disease, triggered by obesity, a lack of exercise, increased age and to some degree, genetic predisposition.

Gestational Diabetes -
Gestational diabetes (GD) affects about 4 percent of all pregnant women. It usually appears during the second trimester and disappears after the birth of the baby. Like Type 1 and Type 2, your body can't use glucose effectively and blood glucose levels get too high. When GD is not controlled, complications can affect both you and your baby. Your doctor will help you work out a diet and exercise plan, and possibly medication. Having GD increases your risk for developing it again during future pregnancies and also raises your risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life.

- Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes -

Many of the signs of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar. In both, there is too much glucose in the blood and not enough in the cells of your body. High glucose levels in Type I are due to a lack of insulin because the insulin producing cells have been destroyed. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin that is being produced. Either way, your cells aren't getting the glucose that they need, and your body lets you know by giving you these signs and symptoms.

Frequent trips to the bathroom -
Are you visiting the bathroom much more lately? Does it seem like you urinate all day long? Urination becomes more frequent when there is too much glucose in the blood. If insulin is nonexistent or ineffective, the kidneys can't filter glucose back to the blood. They become overwhelmed and try to draw extra water out of the blood to dilute the glucose. This keeps your bladder full and it keeps you running to the bathroom.

Unquenchable Thirst -
If it feels like you can't get enough water and you're drinking much more than usual, it could be a sign of diabetes, especially if it seems to go hand in hand with frequent urination. If your body is pulling extra water out of your blood and you're running to the bathroom more, you will become dehydrated and feel the need to drink more to replace the water that you are losing.

Losing Weight Without Trying -
This symptom is more noticeable with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreas stops making insulin, possibly due to a viral attack on pancreas cells or because an autoimmune response makes the body attack the insulin producing cells. The body desperately looks for an energy source because the cells aren't getting glucose. It starts to break down muscle tissue and fat for energy. Type 2 happens gradually with increasing insulin resistance so weight loss is not as noticeable.

Weakness and Fatigue -
It's that bad boy glucose again. Glucose from the food we eat travels into the bloodstream where insulin is supposed to help it transition into the cells of our body. The cells use it to produce the energy we need to live. When the insulin isn't there or if the cells don't react to it anymore, then the glucose stays outside the cells in the bloodstream. The cells become energy starved and you feel tired and run down.

Tingling or Numbness in Your Hands, Legs or Feet -
This symptom is called neuropathy. It occurs gradually over time as consistently high glucose in the blood damages the nervous system, particularly in the extremities. Type 2 diabetes is a gradual onset, and people are often not aware that they have it. Therefore, blood sugar might have been high for more than a few years before a diagnosis is made. Nerve damage can creep up without our knowledge. Neuropathy can very often improve when tighter blood glucose control is achieved.

Other Signs and Symptoms that can Occur -
Blurred vision, skin that is dry or itchy, frequent infections or cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal are also signs that something is amiss. Again, when these signs are associated with diabetes, they are the result of high glucose levels in the body. If you notice any of the above signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor. He or she will be able to tell you if you have reason to be concerned about a diagnosis of diabetes.

- Treatments for Diabetes -

A diagnosis of diabetes can bring on many new challenges. Depending on what type of diabetes you have, you may need medication or insulin. You may need to make dietary and other lifestyle changes.

There are two main types of diabetes. In both type 1 and type 2, glucose can't move out of the blood and into the cells, where it needs to go. Glucose levels in the blood can become too high. In people without diabetes, the pancreas releases insulin into the blood to help move the glucose out.

People with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin. Type 1 requires daily insulin injections. People with type 2 diabetes can still produce insulin, but their cells don't respond to it as well as they should.

Diabetes is approached from many angles. There are different types of insulin and methods of insulin delivery for type 1.

Sometimes, type 2 diabetics require insulin if oral medications provide inadequate control of blood glucose levels. Several classifications of medications are available for type 2.

Little Love [touching story]

What Love is?

The story begins like this...

'How long will you be poring over that newspaper? Will you come here right away and make your darling daughter eat her food?'

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with Curd Rice.

Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. She has just turned eight. She particularly detested Curd Rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of Curd Rice!

I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this Curd Rice? Just for Dad's sake, dear. And, if you don't, your Mom will shout at me.'

I could sense my wife's scowl behind my back. Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. 'OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should...' Sindu hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire Curd Rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?'

'Oh sure, darling'.

'Promise?'

'Promise'. I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal.

'Ask Mom also to give a similar promise', my daughter insisted. My wife slapped her hand on sindu's, muttering 'Promise', without any emotion.

Now I became a bit anxious. 'Sindumma, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'. Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat something that she detested.

After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her. 'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand!

'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'a girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!'.

'Never in our family!' my mother rasped. 'She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!'

'Sindumma, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.'

'No, Dad. I do not want anything else', Sindu said with finality.

'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?' I tried to plead with her.

'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'. Sindu was in tears. 'And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for. Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honour our promises no matter what?'

It was time for me to call the shots. 'Our promise must be kept.'

'Are you out your mind?' chorused my mother and wife.

'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honour her own. Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.'

With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big & beautiful.

On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, 'Sinduja, please wait for me!'

What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. 'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought.

'Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, and continued, 'That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from ... leukaemia.'

She paused to muffle her sobs. 'Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week, and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son! Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.'

I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. 'My little Angel, will you grant me a boon? Should there be another birth for me, will you be my mother, and teach me what Love is?'

Quick Weight Loss - Tips

- Quick Weight Loss Tips -
By Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN

There are thousands of diet book and diet gurus offering a myriad of ideas for quick weight loss. Although some of these plans may provide short-term results, gimmicks and gadgets do not add up to a permanent weight loss solution. The quickest way to lose weight is to have patience, eat healthy, use a weight management supplement such as Slimirex, and incorporate a exercise plan into your daily activities.

Eat Healthy -

The body needs over forty different vitamins and minerals each day in order to function properly and maintain overall good health. Eating healthy not only allows you to control your portions and lose weight, but it also helps ensure that you get the nutrients your body needs to stay strong. Many people think that eating healthy means skipping meals and eating mostly bland, tasteless foods. But this is not true. Healthy eating simply means following two basic steps: variety and moderation.

Variety -

A healthy diet is a well-balanced one, and one that supplies ample amounts of raw fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. Eating a variety of foods ensures that you get a good dose of the many different nutrients your body needs, and it keeps your diet interesting and easier to follow. There are so many wonderful foods to choose from that it seems silly for dieters to limit themselves to low-fat cottage cheese and broccoli. Try to range from different fruits, veggies, beans, grains, range fed organic poultry, seafood, and range fed organic meats, to make your diet delicious and nutritious.

Moderation -

Moderating the foods you eat every day is a critical step to weight loss. It does not mean you should starve yourself or even go hungry. But it does mean that you should control the size of the portions you choose to eat. Eating several smaller meals throughout the day (breakfast, mid morning snack ,lunch, mid afternoon snack and dinner)will help your stomach feel fuller with less food and it will ensure that you are never hungry. It's also important to remember that there are no particularly bad foods, but there are foods that you should eat or drink in smaller amounts than others.

Increase Metabolism -

Eating raw fruit only for breakfast is the best way to fuel your body and increase your metabolism. Skipping breakfast or eating breakfast later in the morning will force your metabolism to slow down until the system receives some fuel. You can also increase your metabolism by eating four to six smaller meals throughout the day to keep the body going. Don't try to starve yourself or ignore your hunger, as this will slow down your metabolism in a hurry. If you feel hungry, your body is trying to tell you that it needs food to recharge. Energy foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables stimulate the metabolism faster than high fat or high protein foods. Also, incorporate exercise into your day to rev up your metabolism. In addition to a simple workout routine, you can park further away from your office or the grocery store, and walk the distance. Take your dog for a walk when you get home. Use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible, and do more activities around the house to burn calories and increase your metabolism. Also, be sure to chew every bite of food at least 25 times before swallowing.

Exercise -

Daily exercise is an essential component in achieving quick weight loss results. Exercise stimulates the metabolism and helps to burn calories. Long-term studies have shown that people who have lost weight and kept it off for the long-term, have found a way to incorporate exercise into their daily activities. Different exercises are better for different people, and some burn more calories than others. Here's a look at some common exercise routines and the calories they burn per hour. Choose an exercise routine that works best for you and try a few different exercises each week for the quickest weight loss results.

Bicycling (6mph) 240
Bicycling (12mph) 410
Running (5.5mph) 740
Running (7mph) 920
Jumping Rope 500
Swimming (25yds/minute) 275
Swimming (50yds/minute) 500
Tennis 400
Walking (2mph) 240
Walking (3mph) 320

Quick Weight Loss Tips -

• Don't focus on pounds as much as you focus on eating sensibly. Weigh yourself once a week to keep track of your progress, but don't go overboard.
• Don't allow your weight loss program to become stressful. Stress causes you to lose hope and overeat as compensation.
• Keep your plan simple so that you will be sure to achieve quick and permanent weight loss results.
• Remember, we all have good days and bad days. Sometimes, we may even have a string of bad days where temptation and stress get the best of us. The important thing is to remember not to panic or feel guilty. Just get yourself back on track as soon as possible. [Circulated by Article Emporium]

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Friendship Day - History

Friendship Day History -

There is not much literature on Friendship Day history as we celebrate today. However, there are numerous folktales and several instance in mythological legends that shows that friends and friendship have been valued since the beginning of civilized world. As an intrinsically social creature, men love to make friends to further this process of socialization.

History of Friendship Day in US -

Considering the valuable role friends play in our life it was deemed to fit to have a day dedicated to friends and friendship. The United States Congress, in 1935, proclaimed first Sunday of August as the National Friendship Day. Since then, celebration of National Friendship Day became an annual event. The noble idea of honoring the beautiful relationship of friendship caught on with the people and soon Friendship Day became a hugely popular festival.

Following the popularity and success of Friendship Day in US, several other countries adopted the tradition of dedicating a day to friends. Today, Friendship Day is enthusiastically celebrated by several countries across the world including India. In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie - the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Bible -

The Bible, the primary text of the western civilization, reflects upon friendship as the bond that forms the foundation to human faith, trust and companionship. Following verses from the bible aptly portray the importance of friends:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

“Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13-15

Besides, there are several tales from the Old Testament and the New Testament about the value of friendship and how true friendship is a treasure to unearth. A noticeable point is that, both the versions make a difference between the two broad meanings of friendship- one is a mere acquaintance, the other is a more affectionate relation.

In the Old Testament, Abraham is called the “friend of God” because of the intimacy of his relations. God speaks to Moses face to face “as a man…unto his friend” (Ex 33:11). The romantic friendship of Ruth and Naomi, the devotion of the subordinate Hushai for David, or the mutual relation between David and Jonathan - the Old Testament is replete with these interesting tales of friends and friendship.

In the New Testament, the relationship between Jesus and his disciples clearly depicts how human friendship can constantly grow. From being teacher and disciple, to lord and servant their relationship finally grew to an unparalleled friendship.

Importance of Friendship in Mahabharata -

In the famous Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’, Lord Krishna demonstrates the many colors of friendship - affection, romance, brotherhood, protection, guidance, intimacy and even teasing. Friendship is all about these and much more.

Back Pain Exercise

Most of us sit in a single position for the whole day in the office, and in the morning or evening drive all the way to our places. As a result at night, while going to bed, many of us experience a slight pain in the back.

Don't ignore it at all... this may lead to many further diseases and disabilities as well.
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Before beginning any exercise program, you should discuss the program with your doctor and follow the doctor's advice. It is important to exercise regularly, every other day. Before exercising you should warm up with slow, rhythmic exercises; if you haven't exercised in some time, you can warm up by walking.

Inhale deeply before each repetition of an exercise and exhale when performing each repetition. Exercises to strengthen your muscles.

A typical response to experiencing back pain is to take it easy - either staying in bed or at least stopping any activity that is at all strenuous. While this approach is understandable and may even be recommended in the short term, when done for more than a day or two it can actually undermine healing. Instead, active forms of exercise are almost always necessary to rehabilitate the spine and help alleviate back pain.

Practical Point -

For most back conditions, active exercise and stretching - not rest - is typically necessary to help reduce pain and encourage healing. To be effective, a patient’s back pain exercise program should be comprehensive, working the whole body even if it targets the back. A balanced workout should include a combination of stretching, strengthening, and low impact aerobic conditioning.

Stretching as part of a back pain exercise routine -

Almost everyone can benefit from stretching the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments and tendons - in the back and around the spine. The spinal column and its contiguous muscles, ligaments and tendons are all designed to move, and reduced motion can accentuate back pain. Stretching different muscles and ligaments is essential for gaining and maintaining mobility and flexibility. Patients with chronic back pain may find it takes weeks or months of stretching to mobilize the spine and soft tissues, but will find that meaningful and sustained relief of low back pain typically follows the increase in motion.

The most important muscles to target are -

• Hamstrings, in the back of the leg, to aid correct posture while sitting and standing, and support the gluteus muscles in the buttocks and the hip flexors and minimize stress on the low back.
• Piriformis, which run from the back of the femur (thigh bone) to the sacrum (the base of the spine). When tight, this muscle can cause sciatica-like pain, and has been linked to sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
• Psoas Major which is attached to the front portion of the lower spine and can greatly limit low back mobility if tight, making it hard to stand for extended periods or kneel on both knees.
• Gluteus muscles of the buttocks which support hip flexibility as well as the pelvis.

Stretching should be done daily, perhaps several times a day, to ensure flexibility. See also Stretching for back pain relief.

Strengthening exercises to build muscle support -

Developing strong core muscles in the abdomen, lower back and gluteus is critical to decreasing the stress placed upon the lower back. Many different exercises can contribute to overall strengthening of these core muscles, and two types of exercise programs are often ecommended for back pain patients are:

• Dynamic lumbar stabilization. This back exercise is designed to help patients find their "neutral" spine, which is the position that allows the patient to feel the least discomfort. The back muscles are then exercised to teach the spine how to stay in this position and help the patient be aware of the position.
  
• McKenzie extension exercises. These back exercises focus on extending the spine to reduce the pressure on, and the pain generated from, a herniated or degenerating disc. Pain relief can be felt in both the back and the leg, and when the pain is very acute the exercises may be done several times a day.
  
• Both of these types of exercises are best learned working with a trained physical therapist, although with practice patients can do the exercises by themselves. See also Strengthening and back pain exercises.

Low impact aerobic exercise -

Engaging in a low-impact cardio exercise program will aid rehabilitation and maintain everyday functionality. While some back pain patients can engage in running and other types of cardio exercise, for many with serious back pain it is more realistic and comfortable to engage in low impact cardio conditioning that is easy on the joints and gentle on the back.
There are several types of aerobic exercise that are gentle on the back and, when done on a regular basis, highly effective in providing conditioning:

• Walking. In general, walking is very gentle on the back, and walking two to three miles three times per week is very helpful for patients.
  
• Biking or cross-training. Bicycling or using an elliptical cross-trainer are also effective ways to exercise without putting stress on the back.
  
• Water therapy. Exercising in the water provides weightless conditioning, which minimizes stress on the back and joints throughout the body.

Most physicians recommend at least 20 to 30 minutes of cardio exercise every other day to keep in shape. Patients could alternate days of cardio and strength conditioning to get a daily dose of exercise and allow muscle groups time to rest. See also Low impact aerobic exercise.
[By Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD ]

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Don't panic, just do the following exercise for min 10 minutes every morning and shoot off the back pain.

Enjoy a healthy living.