Cyndrome

Posts Tagged ‘Insulin’

Identifying symptoms of gestational diabetes could be difficult because symptoms are often mild or non-existent. As a matter of fact, most women with gestational diabetes do not experience any symptoms at all. The nature of pregnancy itself is an added complication. The body is expected to change during a pregnancy, so it is easy to fail to notice some of the symptoms that could be signs of diabetes. Women who are at risk should be checked for diabetes, regardless of whether or not they are showing any symptoms.

Gestational Diabetes is only temporary, it withdraws after pregnancy. But once you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, the odds are that it will return in the future. It is far from easy to tell whether the woman has gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

What causes Gestational Diabetes

A precise cause for diabetes during pregnancy has not as yet been identified. Nevertheless, as revealed by research, the hormonal imbalance caused during pregnancy may be a possible trigger. Autoimmunity, obesity and single gene mutations are also observed as triggers for diabetes during pregnancy. Hormones produced during pregnancy interfere with insulin action and the entry of glucose into cells. The result is that glucose remains within the bloodstream and the levels rise, consequently the need for more insulin is generated.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms to look out for

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Frequent infections
• Blurred Vision
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination

Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes

Glucose tolerance tests can be used to diagnose Gestational diabetes, the test is carried out the morning after a night of fasting. Your doctor will give you a solution of glucose to drink and take blood samples at intervals to see how your body reacts to the glucose over a period of time.

During pregnancy, if you are at a risk of contacting diabetes, your midwife or your doctor will offer you a glucose tolerance test between twenty four and twenty eight weeks. In case you had contacted diabetes at an earlier pregnancy you will be offered a glucose tolerance test at eighteen weeks, after this test if everything seems normal you will be offered another test between twenty four and twenty eight weeks.

Controlling Gestational Diabetes

Although available on most websites or a good medical blog, treatment plans formulated by Health Care Providers definitely help women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Blood glucose levels must remain in the target range. A precise plan must be designed specific to the woman’s needs, so she can stay healthy even with gestational diabetes.

Here are some general tips on controlling gestational diabetes

• Control Blood Sugar Levels
• Healthy Food
• Disciplined, moderate physical activity
• Keep Weight under control

Mild exercise, such as swimming (slow) and walking, can help you in getting your gestational diabetes under control. No exercise regimen, however, should be undertaken without consulting your health-care team. If you’re already following one, let your health-care team know anyway, as they can fine tune your regimen to best manage your gestational diabetes condition.

D Medical Industries reports that its subsidiary Spring-Set Health Solutions Ltd. has successfully completed a study of usability and security of its spring report of the Universal Infusion for delivery of insulin and other drugs from a insulin pump.

The study included 48 patients in a medical center in New York. The study examined the interfaces between users, systems and operating environments, the user ends successfully in carrying out each task. D Medical has concluded: “Most users had higher scores for satisfaction and the product has been classified as safe for use by the target population.”

D Medical Hezkiah Tsoory operations manager, said: “We conducted this study in preparation, in anticipation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510 (k) for our spring games infusion universal. This major achievement was reached earlier this week. But as we make final preparations for the deployment of the United States, we are convinced that the obvious benefits of this product is going to win the hearts and minds of the American pump users. ”

Share price closed at $ 4.79 D Medical yesterday on Nasdaq, after rising 60% on Monday, giving it a market capitalization of $ 37 million. The share price fell 5.6% in the afternoon on the TASE today to NIS 16.81

One in eight people in India are at jeopardy of diabetes and juvenile diabetes more disturbing is the rise. World Diabetes Day, we give you the story of a young man struggling against the disease. Siddharth Antonio is 24 and has type 1 diabetes. It is a chronic disease years your pancreas can not produce insulin. He was lucky to be diagnosed early, three years ago.

But the sad thing is that many children with diabetes in India are not diagnosed and die before help can reach them. There are about 10 lakh children with diabetes in India by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. If diabetes is diagnosed, can affect the heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves in the long run, especially if sugar levels are not controlled.

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes remains unclear. However, it is not caused by obesity or eating too much sugar. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can occur suddenly. If Siddharth was triggered by a viral fever. He started losing weight, had frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme hunger and so his blood sugar remained uncontrolled despite insulin injections and diet control. He was Marine Engineering from Madurai, when he was diagnosed with diabetes and, unfortunately, his life was reversed after diagnosis. He lost his job, his health and his personal life also got hit. But now he has learned to control his diabetes, it has been using an insulin pump for the last year and a half of life seems to be back on track.

Siddharth said that the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is not the end of the world. This is a difficult adjustment, but suspended and struggle, the only way. He is now looking for MBA and landed a job. He leads a perfectly normal life. All you have to do is watch your diet and exercise regularly and, of course, the insulin pump.

Novo Nordisk of Denmark plans to pull out the insulin depend on diabetes, was packed down by British experts on Monday, which said it will cause interruption for patients and increases expenses. Novo is an ax Mixtard 30 by the end of 2010, as it shifts to the marketing of new therapies, which claims to be improved.

But experts said the letter, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, an independent publication of the British Medical Journal that tracks drug treatments, said the move could cost the NHS £ 9000000 (14300000 dollars).

“We are concerned about the attitude of Novo Nordisk for people with diabetes who rely on Mixtard 30 invite the company to turn a decision simply do not have the interests of patients, health professionals and the NHS,” said the letter, which has also been published in the Daily Telegraph.

The experts – who are leading doctors of University College London, King’s College London and University or Bristol – said the modern substitute Mixtard 30, as NovoMix 30, were not effective and safer.

Novo prevented, there was a steady decline in the use of Mixtard 30, human insulin, in recent years, doctors increasingly prescribed for new forms of insulin, which offers distinct advantages over older products. “Stopping Mixtard 30, we try to focus resources on developing the next generation of insulin, “the company said.

Sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy achieves significantly better glycemic control in patients with Type 1 diabetes than multiple insulin injections, show results from the STAR 3 study.

The Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy for A1C Reduction (STAR) 3 study was set up to evaluate the use of a continuous glucose monitor combined with a glucose pump, compared with standard injection therapy in 485 Type 1 diabetics (329 adults, 156 children) with poor glycemic control over a period of 1 year.

Richard Bergenstal (International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) and team report that at study completion, mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) – 8.3% in both groups at baseline – had decreased significantly to 7.5% in the insulin pump group versus 8.1% in the multiple injections group.

In addition, 27% of patients in the insulin pump group achieved their target HbA1c of below 7% compared with only 10% of the multiple injection group.

Rates of severe hypoglycemia were similar in both groups at 13.31 and 13.48 cases per 100 person-years, respectively, in the insulin pump and multiple injection groups. No significant weight gain was observed in either group.

In an accompanying editorial, Howard Wolpert (Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) commented: “The STAR 3 study and other randomized trials have shown that continuous glucose monitoring can take the management of Type 1 diabetes to a new level: improved glycemic control without an associated increase in hypoglycemia.”

He said: “The focus now has to move on to translating this evidence into effective practice so that the broader population of patients with Type 1 diabetes can realize these benefits.”

Diagnosing diabetes symptoms can be difficult in identifying at first, as manifestation of the disease is gradual. Sometimes, because symptoms can also be common to other illnesses, the real illness may be overlooked. Diabetes symptoms may vary, the list may go on and on but not everybody (diabetes patients) has them. There are even some cases that no symptoms may show on some patients.

Diabetes occurs when the body’s ability to react to insulin gets affected. The insulin is your body hormone that allows your blood sugar (glucose) to enter body cells. When too much glucose enters the blood, this leads to the elevated amount of blood glucose, which it can cause glucose spillage towards the urine. This is the primary reason why one of the most classic diabetes symptoms, frequent urination, plagues the patient.

Because elevated glucose level is beyond normal, your body cells are energy-starved and consequently leading to the damage in your nerves, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels and your heart. The increased amount of glucose appears when the sugar of your body falls too low. It then increases production of sugar. This process starts when the pancreas releases the hormone called glucagons. The stored glycogen will be converted back into the glucose by your liver and muscles.

How are diabetes symptoms diagnosed?

Diagnosing diabetes patients may vary, and is based according to the duration and range of the high blood sugar levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes are often diagnosed relatively slowly as compared to people with type 1 diabetes, to which it may take only after weeks or some months. Symptoms may also progress slowly and mildly.

Some of the most specific and common early diabetes symptoms are:

-    Skin irritation and diseases

-    Skin infections

-    Poor skin healing

-    Athlete’s foot

-    Sexual problem

-    Unusual vaginal dryness

-    Erectile failure (to male patients)

-    Premature menopause (to female patients)

-    Absence of menstrual periods

-    Paresthesias

-    Peripheral neuropathy

-    Urinary tract infection

-    Blurry vision

-    Malaise

-    Drowsiness

-    Numbness of the hands

-    Weight loss or weight gain

Other more extreme diabetes symptoms are:

-    Excessive urination

-    Excessive thirstiness

-    Dehydration

-    Weight loss even with an increased appetite

-    Tiredness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting

-    Excessive hunger

-    More bladder, skin and vaginal infections

-    Serious blurry vision

-    Headache

-    Muscle aches, weakness and cramps

-    Acne

-    Increased sexual problems because of erectile failure for men, and vaginal dryness for women

-    Cessation of menstrual periods

Other diabetes symptoms:

-    Gums are bleeding

-    Unusual noise or buzzing in the ear

-    Feet numbness or tingling

-    Skin itching

-    Diarrhea

-    Confusion

-    Depression

Complications associated to diabetes symptoms:

-    Kidney diseases

-    Diabetic retinopathy

-    Sciatica

-    Heart diseases and

-    Stroke

As those mentioned symptoms might occur at a later time for a patient, the usual situation is delayed scheduling of the check-up. This is not a good idea as complications may increase over time, making it even harder to treat and manage the disease. In this case, it is extremely important to check with the doctor in as early as possible to prevent more damage to the body. Another, it is important to note that diabetes is one of the lifelong diseases, and one that does not infect other people upon contact.

What is the Metabolic Syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome is a collection of high-risk symptoms including elevated lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), hypertension and a proinflammatory state.  Having the metabolic syndrome places the individual at high-risk for heart disease and diabetes.  Men are more prone to developing the metabolic syndrome due to their natural tendency to deposit excess fat as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) also called intra-abdominal fat.  Postmenopausal women are also at risk due to lower estrogen to androgen ratios.  The shift from a pear shape to an apple shape displays this hormonal shift.  In fact, the apple shape is primarily caused by  as opposed to subcutaneous (fat under the skin) fat.

The American Heart Association has established standards for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome.  The patient must have 3 of the following conditions:

1. Waist circumference greater than 40 inches for men, 35 inches for women.

2. Triglycerides greater than 150 mg/dL.

3. HDL Cholesterol less than 40 mg/d for men, less than 50 mg/dl for women.

4. Blood pressure greater than 130/85 mm Hg.

5. Fasting glucose greater than 100 mg/dL.

What causes the Metabolic Syndrome?

The metabolic syndrome appears to be caused by insulin resistance and the associated accumulation of VAT.  VAT releases inflammatory adipocytokines, which contribute to the proinflammatory state.  Fatty liver is also strongly correlated with VAT [1], and is a likely cause of the elevated lipids.

VAT accumulation correlates with fasting insulin, total whole-body glucose disposal, glucose oxidation and nonoxidative whole-body glucose disposal [2]. Also, factors associated with insulin resistance are also correlated with VAT accumulation, including triglycerides [3], hepatic lipase [4] and HL/LPL ratio [5]. Likewise, factors inversely associated with insulin resistance are also inversely correlated with VAT accumulation including HDL [3].

How can the Metabolic Syndrome be reversed?

Improving insulin sensitivity is of primary importance.  This requires an improved diet along with exercise.

1. Lose weight.  Weight loss greatly improves insulin sensitivity.

2. Upgrade your fat intake.  Saturated fat significantly worsens insulin resistance, while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially omega-3) improve it [6].

3. Exercise.  Even something as simple as daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance [7].

4. Minimize stress.  Cortisol appears to be involved in VAT accumulation and insulin resistance.

5. Eat more fiber.  Fiber improves insulin sensitivity and is associated with lower amounts of VAT [9].  Pectin appears to be an especially effective fiber for reducing VAT [10].

6. Take supplements. Pantethine [11], taurine [12], calcium [13] and tea [14] all improve insulin sensitivity and reduce VAT.

David Spelts

[1] Kelley DE, McKolanis TM, Hegazi RA, Kuller LH, Kalhan SC. : Fatty liver in type 2 diabetes mellitus: relation to regional adiposity, fatty acids, and insulin resistance. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 10/2003.

[2] Laakso, Markku: Insulin resistance, body fat distribution, and sex hormones in men. Diabetes, 2/1/1994.

[3] R. B. Terry, P. D. Wood, W. L. Haskell, M. L. Stefanick and R. M. Krauss: Regional adiposity patterns in relation to lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein subfraction mass in men. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1989.

[4] C. E. Tan; L. Forster; M. J. Caslake; D. Bedford; T. D. G. Watson; M. McConnell; C. J. Packard; J. Shepherd: Relations Between Plasma Lipids and Postheparin Plasma Lipases and VLDL and LDL Subfraction Patterns in Normolipemic Men and Women. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 1995.

[5] Despres JP, Couillard C, Gagnon J, Bergeron J, Leon AS, Rao DC, Skinner JS, Wilmore JH, Bouchard C: Race, visceral adipose tissue, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein lipase activity in men and women: the Health, Risk Factors, Exercise Training, and Genetics (HERITAGE) family study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 2000.

[6] Riccardi G, Giacco R, Rivellese AA.: Dietary fat, insulin sensitivity and the metabolic syndrome. Clin Nutr. 8/2004.

[7]  Miyatake N, Nishikawa H, Morishita A, Kunitomi M, Wada J, Suzuki H, Takahashi K, Makino H, Kira S, Fujii M.: Daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance in Japanese obese subjects. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 11/2002.

[8] Gluck ME, Geliebter A, Lorence M.; Cortisol stress response is positively correlated with central obesity in obese women with binge eating disorder (BED) before and after cognitive-behavioral treatment. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 12/2004.

[9] DS Ludwig et al: Dietary fiber, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults. Journal of the American Medical Association 1999.

[10] Hendricks KM et al. High-fiber diet in HIV-positive men is associated with lower risk of developing fat deposition. Am J Clin Nutr 78: 790-5, 2003.

[11] Osono Y, Hirose N, Nakajima K, Hata Y: The effects of pantethine on fatty liver and fat distribution. J Atheroscler Thromb, 2000.

[12] Nakaya Y, Minami A, Harada N, Sakamoto S, Niwa Y, Ohnaka M: Taurine improves insulin sensitivity in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rat, a model of spontaneous type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr, Jan 2000.

[13] Soares MJ, Binns C, Lester L: Higher intakes of calcium are associated with lower BMI and waist circumference in Australian adults: an examination of the 1995 National Nutrition Survey. Asia Pac J Clin Nutrition, 2004.

[14] C. Wu, et al: Relationship among Habitual Tea Consumption, Percent Body Fat, and Body Fat Distribution. Obesity Research, September, 2003.