DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy

The retina is a group of specialized cells that convert light as it enters though the lens into images. The eye nerve or optic nerve transmits visual information to the brain.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the vascular (blood-vessel related) complications related to diabetes. This diabetes eye problem is due to damage of small vessels and is called a "microvascular complication." Kidney disease and nerve damage due to diabetes are also microvascular complications. Large blood vessel damage (also called macrovascular complications) includes complications like heart disease and stroke.

The microvascular complications have, in numerous studies, been shown to be related to high blood glucose levels. You can reduce your risk of these eye problems in diabetes complications by improving your blood sugar control. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized nations. The duration of diabetes is the single most important risk for developing retinopathy. So the longer you have diabetes, the greater the risk of this very serious eye problem. If retinopathy is not found early or is not treated, it can lead to blindness.

People with type-1 diabetes rarely develop retinopathy before puberty. In adults with type 1 diabetes, it is also rare to see retinopathy before five years' duration of diabetes. The risks of retinal damage increase with progressive duration of diabetes. Intensive control of blood glucose levels will reduce your risks of developing retinopathy. The DCCT, a large study of people with type 1 diabetes showed that people with diabetes who achieved tight control of their blood sugars with either an insulin pump or multiple daily injections of insulin were 50%-75% less likely to develop retinopathy, nephropathy (kidney disease) or nerve damage (all microvascular complications).

 People with type-2 diabetes usually have signs of eye problems when diabetes is diagnosed. In this case, control of blood sugar, blood pressure and blood cholesterol with diabetes have an important role in slowing the progression of retinopathy and other eye problems. Types of Retinopathy in Diabetes:

#1 - Background retinopathy. Sometimes the blood vessel damage exists, but there is no vision problem. This is called background retinopathy. It's important to carefully manage your diabetes at this stage to prevent background retinopathy from progressing to more serious eye disease.

#2 - Maculopathy. In maculopathy, the person has developed damage in a critical area called the macula. Because this occurs in an area that is critical to vision, this type of eye problem can significantly reduce vision.

#3 - Proliferative retinopathy. New blood vessels start to grow in the back of the eye. Because retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes, a disease of small vessels, this type of retinopathy develops because of an increasing lack of oxygen to the eye from vascular disease. Vessels in the eye are thinned and occluded and they start to remodel.

Here, it is important to address the risks factors that can worsen the occluded vessels. Smoking cessation, hypertension control, cholesterol management and glucose control must take place in order to stop the progression of new vessels from forming into the orbit of the eye. These are fragile vessels that can bleed and eventually cause a clot to form in the orbit, which scars and causes detachment of the retina. This eventually leads to irreversible vision loss.

Treatment of diabetic retinopathy may involve laser procedures or surgery. In a study of people with diabetes with early retinopathy, laser therapy to burn the fragile vessel resulted in a 50% reduction of blindness.

To prevent retinopathy with diabetes, have your eye doctor screen your eyes annually. Women with diabetes who later become pregnant should have a comprehensive eye exam during the first trimester and close follow-up with an eye doctor during the rest of their pregnancy to avoid serious eye problems with diabetes. (This recommendation does not apply to women who develop gestational diabetes, since they are not at risk for retinopathy.)

LONG TERM DIABETES COMPLICATIONS

Long Term Diabetes Complications

Diabetes is often untreated very well and tends to be neglected and got the attention of the patient when more serious sign and symptoms of other diseases or disorders appear. There are also many cases where the patients are totally unaware that they suffer from diabetes and visit a physician when the development of diabetes complications comes to their attention. And at this stage the treatment become more complicated. The followings are some common long-term diabetes complication that you should be aware of.     

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Diabetes

The fact sheet is showing that CVD is a major complication of diabetes and the leading cause of early death among people with diabetes—about 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. Statistics also show that adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or suffer a stroke than people without diabetes.

High blood glucose in adults with diabetes increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, angina, and coronary artery disease. People with type 2 diabetes also have high rates of high blood pressure, lipid problems, and obesity, which contribute to their high rates of CVD. Smoking is another aggravating factor which doubles the risk of CVD in people with diabetes.

To lower the risk of CVD the National Diabetes Education Program strongly recommends a comprehensive control of diabetes and urges optimal management of A1C (a measure of average blood glucose), Blood pressure, and Cholesterol. The ABC treatment goals for most people with diabetes are:

• A A1C (blood glucose) less than 7 percent
• B Blood Pressure less than 130/80 mmHg
• C Cholesterol – LDL less than 100 mg/dl

Eye Problems and Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can harm the eyes and cause blindness. It is the high blood glucose that increases the risk of diabetes eye problems. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74. High blood glucose in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see.

To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to reduce your blood glucose back into the target range (90-130 milligrams per or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months after your blood glucose is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal.

Blurred vision can also be a symptom of more serious eye problem with diabetes. There are three major eye problems that people with diabetes may develop and should be aware of; cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy.

Diabetes Nephropathy - Kidney Disease and Diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Diabetic nephropathy - kidney disease that results from diabetes - is the number one cause of kidney failure. Almost a third of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy.

People with diabetes and kidney disease do worse overall than people with kidney disease, alone. This is because people with diabetes tend to have other long-standing medical conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis). People with diabetes also tend to have other kidney-related problems, such as bladder infections, and nerve damage to the bladder.

Kidney disease in type 1 diabetes is slightly different than in type-2 diabetes. In type 1 disease, kidney disease begins acutely and may start at an early or young age. Overt disease, when present, is obvious after about 15 years of having type-1 diabetes.

Diabetes Neuropathy - Nerve Damage in Diabetes

Diabetes may cause nerve damage called by diabetic neuropathy, which can develop at any time. Significant clinical neuropathy can develop within the first 10 years after diagnosis of diabetes and the risk of developing neuropathy increases the longer a person has diabetes Scientists do not know what causes diabetic neuropathy, but several factors are likely to contribute to the disorder.

High blood glucose, a condition associated with diabetes, causes chemical changes in nerves. These changes impair the nerves' ability to transmit signals. High blood glucose also damages blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. In addition, inherited factors probably unrelated to diabetes may make some people more susceptible to nerve disease than others.

Diabetic Neuropathy can be divided as diffuse neuropathy (peripheral neuropathy affecting the feet and hands and autonomic neuropathy affecting the internal organs) and focal neuropathy (Including multiplex neuropathy)

Stroke and Diabetes

Multiple studies have shown that people with diabetes are at greater risk for stroke compared to people without diabetes regardless of the number of health risk factors they have. Overall, the health risk of cardiovascular disease (including stroke) is two-and-a-half times higher in men and women with diabetes compared to people without diabetes.

Brain tissue needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to keep nerve cells and other parts of the tissue alive and functioning. The brain relies on a network of blood vessels to provide it with blood that is rich in oxygen. A stroke occurs when one of these blood vessels becomes damaged or blocked, preventing blood from reaching an area of the brain. When that part of the brain is cut off from its supply of oxygen for more than three to four minutes, it begins to die.

To avoid such painful long-term diabetes complications the best advice is to have a regular blood check to detect the presence of diabetes in the early stage. And if it happened to you, please refer to The Diabetes Reversal Report where your kind find the best natural convenient treatment of diabetes. 

DIABETES MELLITUS DIAGNOSIS

Tests Used To Diagnose Diabetes

A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose after you have take at least 8 hours without eating or fasting. This test is used to detect whether you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

An oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood glucose in two conditions. The first one is after you have take at least 8 hours of fasting followed by another test 2 hours after you drink a glucose-containing beverage. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes.

In a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes.

Positive test results should be confirmed by repeating the fasting plasma glucose test or the oral glucose tolerance test on a different day

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test

The FPG is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes due to convenience and is most reliable when done in the morning. Results and their meaning are shown in table 1. If your fasting glucose level is 100 to 125 mg/dL, you have a form of pre-diabetes called impaired fasting glucose (IFG), meaning that you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes but do not have it yet. A level of 126 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeating the test on another day, means that you have diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Research has shown that the OGTT is more sensitive than the FPG test to diagnose pre-diabetes, but it is less convenient to administer. The OGTT requires you to fast for at least 8 hours before the test. Your plasma glucose is measured immediately before and 2 hours after you drink a liquid containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. Results and what they mean are shown in table 2.

If your blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dL 2 hours after drinking the liquid, you have a form of pre-diabetes called impaired glucose tolerance or IGT, meaning that you are more likely to develop type-2 diabetes but do not have it yet. A 2-hour glucose level of 200 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeating the test on another day, means that you have diabetes.

Gestational diabetes is also diagnosed based on plasma glucose values measured during the OGTT. Blood glucose levels are checked four times during the test. If your blood glucose levels are above normal at least twice during the test, you have gestational diabetes. Table 3 shows the above-normal results for the OGTT for gestational diabetes.

For additional information about the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes, see the NIDDK booklet What I Need to Know About Gestational Diabetes.

Random Plasma Glucose Test

A random blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more, plus presence of the following symptoms, can mean that you have diabetes:

• Increased urination
• Increased thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Other symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, increased hunger, and sores that do not heal. Your doctor will check your blood glucose level on another day using the FPG or the OGTT to confirm the diagnosis.

Summary of diabetes diagnosis measurements can be seen in this following table:

DIABETES MELLITUS TYPES

Three Types of Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder or disease where blood glucose levels are above normal. This happens due to the incapability of the body to make use of glucose to be transformed to energy as required by body cells.

Food that enters our body, carbohydrates in particular, is digested and then absorbed by the circulation system in the form of glucose. Glucose circulates in the blood stream to be distributed to all cells throughout the body that need it for energy and growth. To make this happen, glucose enters the cell and transforms it to energy with the help of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

In diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or also because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat are not able to use insulin properly, or both. This increases the amount of glucose in the blood while the cells are starving for energy. A prolonged condition of high blood glucose, also called hyperglycemia, can damage nerves and blood vessels, which may lead to serious complications such as heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation.

The three main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is usually first diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. In this form of diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas no longer make insulin because the body's immune system has attacked and destroyed them.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form. People can develop it at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals.

Gestational diabetes develops in some women during the late stages of pregnancy. Although this form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born, a woman who has had it is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is caused by the hormonal imbalance during pregnancy or by an inadequate amount of insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes 

Those are the latest terminology to describe the onset of two main types of diabetes, regardless to how it is treated related to insulin and the age of onset as it named in the past. As recommended by the American Diabetes Association expert committee, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) agrees the following terminology

Type 1 diabetes, as a more preferred name for the former Type 1, juvenile diabetes, Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)

Type 2 diabetes, to replace the former name of Type 2, adult onset diabetes, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

Pre-diabetes

In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but still below the measures that characterizes diabetes . However, there is great chance for many people with pre-diabetes to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Pre-diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, people with pre-diabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes. There are about 54 million people in the United States suffering from pre-diabetes

DIABETES HERBAL TREATMENT

Top Ten Herbs You Can Use For Diabetes Treatments

By: Bob D Williams

Home remedies or herbal remedies catch the attention of the people due to a lot of reasons. The herbal medicines are extracted naturally from fruits, vegetables and are proved to be devoid of any side effects. Many of them are simple to be made at home and low-priced.

Herbs are medicinal plants in our surroundings that offer cure for many diseases. Modern medicines too identify many herbs as their origin. Since the ancient times, the mainstay of diabetes treatment has been herbal medicines. Researchers are going on to find the effectiveness of herbs in treating diabetes, and recent findings show that many are evidently effective.

People who are on insulin supplements have little use with the herbal treatments for diabetes. The working mechanism of the herbs is by enhancing the action of the innate insulin produced in the body. So those faced with the problem of insulin depletion will not gain much from the natural treatments. Along with the herbal treatment mode, proper exercise and maintaining the diet are very good measures to keep the blood sugar under control.

Herbal treatment for diabetes was prevalent in the Asian countries like China. The natural herb Ginseng has been found to be a wonderful remedy for diabetes. There are around eleven Ginseng species found exclusively in the Asian countries. They are thick-rooted perennial plants whose roots can be dried easily. The root of one of the species, Panax, is available across the world in the dried form.

Our list of the top ten herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes include:

#1 - Panax ginseng the herb is derived from the roots of several different types of plants and can be used for a variety of health benefits that include anti inflammatory, a antioxidant and has even been shown to have anti cancer benefits. Panex can be effective in treating conditions that are associated with diabetes.

#2 - Aloe vera, the wonderful herb is valuable in diabetes control also. The gel inside the aloe leaves are used for the treatment.

#3 - The bark of the plant Pterocarpus marsupium has the unique ability among all the herbs by promoting the regeneration of beta cells in the pancreas.

#4 - The commonly found onions and garlic increases the insulin production and lower the blood sugar.

#5 - Fenugreek seeds are also found to possess anti diabetic properties.

#6 -  The decoction of the blueberry leaves has proven efficacy in bringing down the blood sugar level.

#7 - Bitter gourd, especially the seeds of them help to reduce the blood sugar.

#8 - Gymnema is another herb that aids in insulin production. Even though many studies have not been conducted, the plant is found to be effective in controlling both type I and type II diabetes.

#9 - Cinnamon bark is effective in converting the fat cells to glucose and then to energy. It facilitates the action of insulin on the fat cells in the body.

#10 - Turmeric, mango leaves, curry leaves, gooseberry, ispaghula etc are other useful herbs to control diabetes.

Due to the difficulty involved in identifying and using the herbs in various forms, many of the herbal medicines are formulated in to tablets, powders and other forms. This will ensure the supply of medicines and supplements to different parts of the world.

Bob D Williams has been involved in the seo field for over ten years. Working in various seo services but specializeing in link building services. And in search engine optimization. [http://thebestdietfordiabetes.com/]

Article Source: Top Ten Herbs You Can Use For Diabetes Treatments

OBESITY AND DIABETES

The Link Between Obesity and Diabetes

By: Richard J Mcdonald

Physicians usually refer to diabetes by its full, medical name diabetes mellitus. According to the Merck Manual of Medical Information, 2nd Edition, diabetes mellitus is defined as "a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin." Insulin is a hormone that's released from the pancreas to control the amount of sugar in the blood. If the body doesn't produce enough insulin to move sugar into receptive cells, the result is a very high level of sugar in the blood, and not enough sugar in cells. This state is what produces the symptoms and complications of diabetes mellitus.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type One refers to the juvenile or early onset, insulin-dependent form of diabetes. This is not an obesity-related form of diabetes. People who develop this form do so before age 30; only 10% of all diabetics have type one.

Type Two usually develops between age 30 and age 70. Obesity is the chief risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, and 80% - 90% of people who have this disease are obese. Obesity causes insulin resistance, so obese diabetics need very large amounts of daily insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus, type 2, causes serious, even fatal, conditions. If you're obese and have any of these symptoms, see your health care provider as soon as possible:

• Excessive thirst, excessive urination, and excessive appetite.
• Blurred vision
• Excessive drowsiness and chronic fatigue
• Nausea
• Decreased endurance during exercise
• Rapid, unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Deep, rapid breathing

 Breath that smells like nail polish remover - This is a symptom of ketoacidosis, and can result in coma and death within hours if not immediately treated.

By now, it's obvious that diabetes is an extremely dangerous disease. It's also obvious that since obesity can be prevented by proper diet and exercise, diabetes can be prevented among people who have the early-onset type. Obesity isn't about how you look in a bathing suit; it's about your life, and how you live it.

Compilations that arise among obese diabetics include:

Artherosclerosis is a thickening and/or leaking of the blood vessels. This causes decreased blood supply to arms and legs. Over time, atherosclerosis leads to loss of feelings in the hands and feet, and peripheral (hands and feet) neuropathy (lack of blood supply to hands and feet). Treatment for this condition is usually not effective. Gangrene invades "dead" tissue; without medical action, blood poisoning slowly kills the affected person. Gangrenous tissue cannot be saved. The only alternative is complete amputation of the affected arm, hand, feet or leg. Diabetics may have multiple limb amputations.

Poor blood circulation also causes severe heart disease, kidney disease, brain disorders and breakdown of surface skin, causing skin ulcers. Wounds heal very slowly, or not at all. Bacterial and fungal infections are common.

Damage to blood vessels in the eye causes diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes this condition can be treated with laser surgery to seal leaking blood vessels. Too often, the condition leads to partial or total blindness.

Diabetes leads to renal (kidney) failure serious enough to require long-term kidney dialysis or even transplant. Diabetics don't tolerate transplant well and the new kidney is frequently rejected.

Damage to the nerves of the skin makes repeated injuries much more likely - even constant - because the diabetic person can't feel changes of pressure or temperature. For example, he/she can't tell that some part of the body is too close to a source of heat, cold, or is being pressed by a heavy object.

Diabetics often develop mental health problems like chronic depression because of their low quality of life. Living with open wounds, infections, amputations, being confined to a bed or wheelchair, kidney dialysis or lingering - waiting - for a kidney transplant are very depressing conditions. Fragile diabetics also experience marital problems and divorce due to the burdens placed upon spouses (and children) who must fulfill the role of caregivers. Adding to the fragile diabetics self-esteem problems is that he/she is unable to work and must live on disability pay.

Are you convinced, after reading this article, that if you're obese and you don't lose weight, you will either die from diabetic complications, or you will live a life filled with horrible medical conditions? This does not have to happen! Right now, today, you can start making reasonable weight loss goals. You can make the decision that you value your health - and your life - to the extent that you will take charge of your weight loss plan.

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Article Source: Obesity and Diabetes, Are You at Risk?

DIABETES COMPLICATIONS

Diabetes Complications - How to Detect and Avoid it

By: Dr John Anne

Diabetes is a disease caused by your body's inability to create insulin. This inability hinders the natural process of turning carbohydrates into energy. Since diabetes disrupts the body's normal functions, there are many diabetes complications that can occur if the disease goes untreated or in the more sever cases of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to work closely with your physician in order to develop a plan of action that will be best for you.

You may choose medications or you may choose more natural treatments. Either way, a healthy diet and regular exercise will be an important part of your diabetes management. Once you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to manage the disease to minimize the chance of suffering from diabetes complications.

Diseases and Illnesses Caused by Diabetes

Diabetes can cause the onset of other illnesses and diseases. Some of the illnesses and diseases that can be caused by diabetes complications are more serious than the diabetes itself. Let's look at some of the complications that can arise from diabetes:

Eye complications - one of the symptoms of diabetes is blurred vision caused when the body takes fluid from other tissues in order to compensate for the loss of insulin. People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of blindness.

Heart disease - the complications of diabetes makes the risk of heart disease higher in people with diabetes.

Stroke - the complications of diabetes also place the diabetic at a higher risk of stroke.

Kidney disease - the symptoms of diabetes causes the kidneys to work harder than normal. This can cause the kidneys not to properly filter out waste products and could lead to kidney failure.

Neuropathy and Nerve Damage - one of the most common complications for the diabetic is damage to the nerves connecting the spinal cord to muscles, skin, blood vessels, and other organs.

Feet - as a result of the nerve damage and poor circulation caused by diabetes, many people develop problems with their feet.

Skin - many people with diabetes suffer from skin disorders. These disorders are often an indication that a person has diabetes. Skin disorders can be prevented and treated.

Gastroparesis - this disease happens if the nerves to the stomach are damaged and causes the stomach to take too long to empty its contents. People who suffer from Gastroparesis often experience heartburn, nausea, feeling full at the beginning of a meal, weight loss, vomiting undigested food, bloating, loss of appetite, gastroesophageal reflux, and even spasms within the wall of the stomach.

Depression - many illnesses and diseases can cause people to suffer from depression. The feeling of not having control over your body can often times lead people to a false sense of failure and hopelessness.

Diagnosis and Management in Diabetes

The diabetes complications above gives you an indication of just how important it is detect diabetes as early as possible. Early detection is the best way to learn early on how to control the symptoms of diabetes and lessen your chances of the diabetes complications leading to more serious illnesses and diseases. As soon as you are given a diagnosis of diabetes, you should begin working with your physician to formulate a plan of management for the disease. There is no cure for diabetes, but in many cases, it can be controlled and the risks of it causing more serious complications can be decreased.

Management of your diabetes is a key factor in whether the disease will lead to more serious illnesses and diseases. The best way that you can remain in control is to formulate a management plan with your physician, which should consist of a treatment plan, a healthy diet, and regular exercise. Even if you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to begin a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise so that diabetes and diabetes complications can be avoided and you can live a normal, healthy life span.

Dr John Anne is an herbal specialist with years of experience and extensive research on herbs and alternative health.  If you are looking for more information, read about DiabetesComplications at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/diabetes-treatment1.htm. AyurvedicCure.com is the World�s Largest Alternative Health Portal. If you are worried about your pets health, read about Diabetes in Dogs

Article Source: Diabetes Complications - How to Detect and Avoid it