Archive for June, 2008
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
The symptoms of diabetes may develop extremely quickly (over the course of weeks or even days) in children or adolescents who had previously been exhibiting signs of health. However, in adults over the age of 40 the symptoms can appear very gradually.
In type 1 diabetics, a condition called ketoacidosis is common. This occurs when acid compounds (ketones) form in the blood. If untreated, this can result in extremely serious complications and even death, but it can be the first indicator of the presence of type 1 diabetes.
Amongst type 2 diabetics, the condition may not be picked up on until the patient comes in for other medical treatment. The symptoms of the two forms of diabetes are listed below.
What might the symptoms be of a type 1 diabetic?
Symptom checklist for type 1 diabetic:
⢠Weakness or fatigue
⢠Blurred vision
⢠Exceptional thirst
⢠Dry mouth
⢠Frequent urination
⢠Loss of weight
What might the symptoms be of a type 2 diabetic?
Symptom checklist for type 2 diabetic:
⢠Cuts or sores that take a long time to heal
⢠Itching skin or yeast infections
⢠Blurred vision
⢠Dry mouth
⢠Frequent urination
⢠Excessive thirst
⢠Leg pain
Pre Diabetes Symptoms
Pre diabetes is a condition where no physical symptoms are seen although you are predisposed to having diabetes because of the risk factors that are present â” like history of diabetes in the family, obesity, age, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, smoking, alcoholic abuse and an unhealthy lifestyle. To detect this condition, usually a blood test is taken and processed with the different risk factors. An elevated glucose level is not yet indicative of diabetes but a retest can be taken to confirm it.
Insulin resistance, the main cause of pre diabetes initiates a disparity between glucose and insulin levels in the blood. This may result in obesity via an unhealthy lifestyle and food intake. This condition is reversible, based mainly on losing weight and having a more active and healthy lifestyle. If it is not treated, it will eventually lead to type 2 diabetes which does not have a treatment, only management and possibly requiring daily insulin injections to maintain blood glucose in normal levels.
The common symptoms of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are similar to those felt by diabetics, as compared to those who are already diagnosed with it. Pre diabetes symptoms are mainly due to obesity. The first symptom is usually an increase in urination, wherein the body is trying to lower down the excessive glucose in the body by flushing it out with water. An increased feeling of thirst is due to the dehydration of cells because of polyuria. Tiredness and fatigue occurs since the glucose is not being utilised by the cells thus no energy is produced. A marked weight loss is observed in spite of an increase in appetite for the reason that the body cannot utilise the food, specifically the carbohydrates, into energy and fat, so it cannot be stored and you lose weight. A feeling of being ill is due to decrease in energy production by the cells. Blurred vision occurs when the high levels of glucose in the blood causes water from the lens to go outward and deforming the lens, making the vision unfocused. Genital infection and thrush is caused by the drying up of skin due to increased blood sugar.
Some individuals with type 2 diabetes feel slightly unwell or may think they are just aging. Almost everyone suffering from this condition first has pre diabetes, meaning their blood glucose levels are higher than a normal individuals but have not yet reached the range of type 2 diabetics. Fortunately, pre diabetes doesn’t automatically become the irreversible Type 2 variety, which must be managed throughout the individuals lifetime and most likely will require daily insulin. General causes of pre diabetes are resistance to insulin and being overweight, which can generaly be corrected by changing to a balanced regular exercise a nutritious diet and support to encourage healthier lifestyle changes.
Being overweight is the main cause of insulin resistance which causes the development of pre diabetes. Reversing the effects of insulin resistance is important in preventing the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and the risk of having cardiovascular problems. Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that breaks down glucose to facilitate its entry into the cell and be converted into energy. Being insulin resistant means that the cells react slowly to insulin, thus lowering the rate in which glucose is utilised and in turn increasing the glucose in the blood leading to pre diabetes. Some of the free glucose in the blood are sent to the liver to initiate lipogenesis, or the production of lipids and stored as fat. An increase in insulin in the blood stream stimulates the liver to produce more lipids and cholesterol, thus making the heart more prone to disease and myocardial infarction.
The links between insulin resistance, obesity and pre diabetes are complicated. Insulin resistance leads to obesity and causes pre diabetes while obesity makes insulin resistance worse; when insulin resistance gets worse, this consequently enhances the development of pre-diabetes. Pre diabetes is the precursor of type 2 or juvenile diabetes. There is no single solution that can treat all the symptoms of insulin resistance and pre diabetes. A treatment suggested is to control body weight buy using nutraceuticals which are vitamins, herbs and minerals that are specific for certain diseases. To enhance a healthy lifestyle, an exercise program can be undergone combined with nutritional guidance and support to be able to get your weight under control. This is an effective way to treat the symptoms of pre diabetes. Regular exercise increases the amount of insulin receptors on the cells thus more glucose can enter the cell and boost your energy. Muscles use up glucose for its energy, thus balancing glucose levels with insulin.
Other conditions and symptoms like high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels that may arise because of pre diabetes should be consulted with a doctor or your healthcare provider. They should be treated with medications until weight is controlled and lowered to normal levels. As soon as the diet affects insulin production into normal, cholesterol and blood pressure will also normalise.
For more information on this article and diabetes please check out our website at:
http://www.whatarethesymptomsofdiabetes.com
Paul Stainthorpe is a publisher of a diabetes website offering symptoms – http://www.whatarethesymptomsofdiabetes.com, He has written several informative articles on diabetes topics.
http://www.whatarethesymptomsofdiabetes.com
Whitehurst, a nine-year breast cancer survivor, and her daughter Jamie are participating in the San Francisco Avon Walk, and are asking people to help them beat the $22,000 raised during their last walk for breast cancer awareness and research.
Saint Helena, CA, May 2008 â” Kathleen Whitehurst, co-inventor of the award-winning DaysAgo⢠Digital Day Counter, is continuing her efforts to promote early detection and breast cancer prevention by participating, along with her daughter Jamie, in this yearâs Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in San Francisco.
Kathleen and Jamie want to beat the $22,000 in pledges they raised the last time they participated in an Avon Walk in 2002. This year marks Kathleenâs ninth anniversary as a breast cancer survivor, and she has pledged her time and efforts towards championing this cause which hits so close to home.
âMy daughter Jamie was my pillar of strength during my journey through breast cancer,â said Whitehurst, who underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy to fight her disease. âThat relationship and support was essential for my recovery, and Iâm thrilled to be walking side-by-side with her for the Avon Walk.â
Participating in the walk isnât the only way Kathleen is trying to promote the importance of early detection. Her company has created a special Pink edition of the DaysAgo, which counts days at the touch of a button and is a great way for women to keep track of the last time they did a self breast exam. Women can simply stick the DaysAgo to their bathroom mirror as an easy, simple daily reminder. Kathleenâs company is donating 10 percent of all sales from the Pink DaysAgo towards breast cancer awareness and research programs.
Kathleen and Jamie will walk together for the San Francisco 2-Day Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on July 12-13, 2008. Information about how to pledge support to them is available at the web site, www.howmanydaysago.com.
Details about the Pink DaysAgo can be found on the company’s web site, http://www.howmanydaysago.com/pink.php. The idea for the Pink was conceived by Jamie, who was inspired by her experience of helping her mother through her illness and walking with her in the 3-Day Avon Walk after she recovered.
âThis year, we are celebrating my victory over this disease,â said Whitehurst. âI feel very blessed to be a survivor of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women.â
The Pink DaysAgo is available for retail purchase at Amazon.com and through the DaysAgo web site. For information on purchasing the special edition at wholesale cost for fundraising efforts, please visit http://www.howmanydaysago.com, call 1.800.401.4906, or email orders@howmanydaysago.com.
About double u products inc.
The DaysAgo⢠was invented by two friends, Kathleen Whitehurst and Debbie Stephens Stauffer, who were inspired by a desire to keep the food in their own refrigerators safe for their families. Their company, double u products, inc., is based in the city of Saint Helena in Californiaâs Napa Valley. An online press kit of the DaysAgo is available at www.howmanydaysago.com/press.php
PRESS CONTACTS:
Christine Dunn Kathleen Whitehurst
Savoir Media Co. Co-founder and principal, double u products, inc.
Telephone: (617) 484-1660 Telephone: (559) 905-1672
Email: cdunn@savoirmedia.com Email: Kathleen@doubleuproducts.com
Fax: (707) 286-5538
Christine Dunn Kathleen Whitehurst
Savoir Media Co. Co-founder and principal, double u products, inc.
Telephone: (617) 484-1660 Telephone: (559) 905-1672
Email: cdunn@savoirmedia.com Email: Kathleen@doubleuproducts.com
Fax: (707) 286-5538
Dealing with loss of hair from chemotherapy is one of the most difficult types of hair loss to cope with. One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy treatments is the loss of hair. When you’re facing losing your hair due to chemotherapy, you suddenly realize just what your hair means to you.
Not every chemotherapy patient will lose their hair during treatment. It mostly depends on the type of medication you are taking and your hair type.
Why It Happens
Since chemotherapy drugs are very powerful, patients will often experience side effects which are rather severe, with complete hair loss being one of the most common, including the loss body hair, so not only the hair on the scalp is subject to loss from chemotherapy. Radiation is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy. The purpose of radiation is to kill off the cancer, but it can also damage the hair shaft as well.
Can It Be Avoided?
If you lose your hair from chemotherapy, there’s really not much you can do to avoid it, unless you just don’t go through with the chemotherapy treatments. But since cancer is such a severe disease, you’re better off dealing with loss of hair from chemotherapy as it occurs, since avoiding the treatments is not really a viable option.
What To Do
Dealing with cancer is difficult for everybody stricken with this disease, but dealing with loss of hair from chemotherapy in addition to coping with whatever type of cancer you may have only makes coping even more difficult. The loss of hair can cripple your self-esteem, so rebuilding your self-esteem after treatments are complete is something you may have to deal with as well.
Keeping lots of family and friends around during that time can help keep your spirits up, since they can offer a lot of support, and give you support and guidance. keep in mind that your life and health are much more important than your hair. Getting rid of the cancer is most important, regardless of whether you lose your hair or not. Remember also that this type of hair loss is usually temporary, so it will likely grow back after the chemotherapy treatments are concluded.
Other possible side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. Make sure that you speak to your doctor before going through with any chemotherapy treatments, so that you can discuss the other possible side effects as well.
Although your hair may be important, your health is the most important. Rest assured that your hair will most likely grow back again once you get well. When you look at it from that perspective, perhaps dealing with loss of hair from chemotherapy isn’t that difficult after all.
Angus Zimmerman – http://www.besthairlosspro.com. Angus is a hair loss expert who has spent considerable time studying the various types hair loss. More information on hair loss can be found at http://www.besthairlosspro.com.
