Many people appear to be dissatisfied with conventional diabetic therapy and have turned to complimentary and alternative health care. What the consumer has to understand is that diabetes is a chronic disorder and there is no magic bullet anywhere. The only way to prevent complications of diabetes is by better sugar control.
Facts
The role of complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is not clear cut. There are many reports of health supplements decreasing blood sugars but all the reports are anecdotal. Controlled or randomized trials are lacking and there is no scientific proof that these supplements work. The one health supplement, which has been shown to be beneficial, is omega 3 fatty acids. This substance does not directly affect blood sugars but does help lower blood cholesterol and even helps reduce high blood pressure.
All consumers should know that health supplements bought in food stores should not be a replacement for the standard diabetic medications. It is unsafe to replace your insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents with alternative health care supplements without first consulting with your physician.
It is vital that anyone who uses or is thinking of using alternative health care supplements discuss the issue with their health care provider. This is to ensure safety and proper management of diabetes.
Most alternative health care supplements have been around for decades and overall most are safe when used at low doses by healthy people. However, at high doses there is always the potential of interacting with conventional medicines. Type 2 diabetics must be aware that other herbs, nutrients or supplements can alter the blood sugars- make them either too high or too low. If this happens, the doses of the conventional drugs must be adjusted.
Finally, the majority of alternative health care is unregulated. Both the product quality and quantity vary from place to place. Fake and counterfeit products are not unheard off. There have been many reported cases of actual drug contaminants in the health supplements to mimic conventional drugs. With such an unregulated industry, the consumer should be well acquainted with the old adage- "Buyer Beware".
Showing posts with label type 2 diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label type 2 diabetes. Show all posts
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Coenzyme Q10 and diabetes Part 2
Another problem with CoQ10 sold in health food stores is that the dose of the supplement is not regulated. It is available in a wide range of concentrations and sold under many generic names. And each product appears to have a different concentration of CoQ10.
There are also reports of contamination of CoQ10 products with various chemicals. Since many of these health supplements are made in the Orient and not well regulated, it is wise for all diabetics to check with their health care provider before they start CoQ10.
For the present, all diabetics should know that CoQ10 is not a substitute for insulin or any of the other oral diabetic medications.
For more on diabetic supplies, please visit www.medexsupply.com
There are also reports of contamination of CoQ10 products with various chemicals. Since many of these health supplements are made in the Orient and not well regulated, it is wise for all diabetics to check with their health care provider before they start CoQ10.
For the present, all diabetics should know that CoQ10 is not a substitute for insulin or any of the other oral diabetic medications.
For more on diabetic supplies, please visit www.medexsupply.com
What is “pre-diabetes?” Part 2
Besides Age, other risk factors for prediabetes include:
Overweight: Individuals who have a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 or if Asian American or if Pacific Islander > 26 . BMI over 23-25 is a very high independent risk factor for prediabetes
Blood pressure: The recommended BP should be less than 140/90 mm/Hg. If the blood pressure is uncontrolled and remains untreated, damage to blood vessels, brain and heart can occur. This is further worsened in the presence of diabetes.
Lipid levels:
HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL for men
HDL cholesterol < 50 mg/dL for women
Triglyceride level ≥250 mg/dL
Family History: If diabetes is present in a parent, siblings, the chance of another family member developing diabetes are very high.
Ethnicity: Diabetes is generally more aggressive and prone to occur in the following populations: African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander heritage.
Gestational diabetes: If a female has given birth to a heavy baby (more than 9 pounds or more, she may be at risk for developing prediabetes.
Sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary life style with no or minimal exercise is a high riskfactor for developing prediabetes.
If an individual has any of the above features he /she is a candidate for prediabetic screening. Prior to the screening, it is essential that one measures random fasting blood sugars, if they are elevated, then a visit to the physician is highly recommended.
For more details on diabetic supplies, please visit www.medexsupply.com
Overweight: Individuals who have a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 or if Asian American or if Pacific Islander > 26 . BMI over 23-25 is a very high independent risk factor for prediabetes
Blood pressure: The recommended BP should be less than 140/90 mm/Hg. If the blood pressure is uncontrolled and remains untreated, damage to blood vessels, brain and heart can occur. This is further worsened in the presence of diabetes.
Lipid levels:
HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL for men
HDL cholesterol < 50 mg/dL for women
Triglyceride level ≥250 mg/dL
Family History: If diabetes is present in a parent, siblings, the chance of another family member developing diabetes are very high.
Ethnicity: Diabetes is generally more aggressive and prone to occur in the following populations: African American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander heritage.
Gestational diabetes: If a female has given birth to a heavy baby (more than 9 pounds or more, she may be at risk for developing prediabetes.
Sedentary lifestyle: A sedentary life style with no or minimal exercise is a high riskfactor for developing prediabetes.
If an individual has any of the above features he /she is a candidate for prediabetic screening. Prior to the screening, it is essential that one measures random fasting blood sugars, if they are elevated, then a visit to the physician is highly recommended.
For more details on diabetic supplies, please visit www.medexsupply.com
When to test blood sugar levels? Part 2
Testing for blood sugar levels
Testing of blood sugar is not difficult. There are many portable kits available today for home use. To test the blood sugar levels one needs a few items including a blood sugar monitor, test strips, a lancet and alcohol swabs. The majority of blood sugar monitors available today are light weight and portable.
The majority of these monitors have varied storage facilities like tracking time, date of each test and can also store your data. Some of the current devices also come with zip drives so that the information can be transferred to your PC.
Monitoring of blood sugar unfortunately involves a pin prick on your finger tip with a special lancet. Today there are a variety of lancet devices which will allow you to adjust the depth of the prick. Those with thick skin need deeper penetration. It does sound painful but eventually one gets used to it.
At Medexsupply one can obtain a wide range of diabetic supplies including blood glucose monitors, kits, lancets, infusion sets, test strips and glucose tablets.
Testing of blood sugar is not difficult. There are many portable kits available today for home use. To test the blood sugar levels one needs a few items including a blood sugar monitor, test strips, a lancet and alcohol swabs. The majority of blood sugar monitors available today are light weight and portable.
The majority of these monitors have varied storage facilities like tracking time, date of each test and can also store your data. Some of the current devices also come with zip drives so that the information can be transferred to your PC.
Monitoring of blood sugar unfortunately involves a pin prick on your finger tip with a special lancet. Today there are a variety of lancet devices which will allow you to adjust the depth of the prick. Those with thick skin need deeper penetration. It does sound painful but eventually one gets used to it.
At Medexsupply one can obtain a wide range of diabetic supplies including blood glucose monitors, kits, lancets, infusion sets, test strips and glucose tablets.
When to test blood sugar levels? Part 1
The testing for blood sugar levels is more rigorous just after the diagnosis of diabetes. Once the diagnosis of diabetes has been established, the measurement of blood sugars does depend on the type of diabetes and treatment.
Individuals who have type 1 diabetes often need to measure the levels anywhere from 3-6 times a day, at least before and after each meal.
Individuals with diabetes who exercise also need to monitor their sugars before and after exercise and just before going to sleep.
Individuals with type 1 diabetes who are ill or have a change in their routine (like traveling), stress or have been diagnosed with other medical disorder may need more frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels.
Individuals with Type 2 diabetes generally require less frequent glucose monitoring. Most of these individuals initially monitor the blood glucose 1-2times day if they are on any type of diabetic medications.
Individual who are managing their type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone need to monitor their sugars less often.
Individuals who have type 1 diabetes often need to measure the levels anywhere from 3-6 times a day, at least before and after each meal.
Individuals with diabetes who exercise also need to monitor their sugars before and after exercise and just before going to sleep.
Individuals with type 1 diabetes who are ill or have a change in their routine (like traveling), stress or have been diagnosed with other medical disorder may need more frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels.
Individuals with Type 2 diabetes generally require less frequent glucose monitoring. Most of these individuals initially monitor the blood glucose 1-2times day if they are on any type of diabetic medications.
Individual who are managing their type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone need to monitor their sugars less often.
Lancets for Diabetics Part 2
Today, whenever you buy a blood glucose monitor, a lancet device is almost always included in the kit. All lancet devices come with short and long lancet covers which allow for different degree of penetration in the skin.
Individual who have thin skin, children or elderly with delicate skin usually need superficial penetration. Those with hard and thick skin need deeper penetration. Sometimes one may have to use a different depth of penetration on different fingers.
Lancet devices are relatively easy to use. The lancet has a snap button which if pushed triggers the device. Lancet devices are relatively cheap. Most important to understand is that these devices or the blades should never be shared. Even though the risk of transmitting serious infections is low, it definitely is real.
Once the lancet is used, it should always be disposed off in a biohazard container. And never use a lancet that has been previously used by someone else.
At Medexsupply one can obtain a wide range of diabetic supplies including blood glucose monitors, kits, infusion sets, test strips and glucose tablets. Medexsupply carries lancets made by Graham Field, Owen Mumford, Surgilance, Sherwood, Bayer, Reliamed and Accu-Chek
Individual who have thin skin, children or elderly with delicate skin usually need superficial penetration. Those with hard and thick skin need deeper penetration. Sometimes one may have to use a different depth of penetration on different fingers.
Lancet devices are relatively easy to use. The lancet has a snap button which if pushed triggers the device. Lancet devices are relatively cheap. Most important to understand is that these devices or the blades should never be shared. Even though the risk of transmitting serious infections is low, it definitely is real.
Once the lancet is used, it should always be disposed off in a biohazard container. And never use a lancet that has been previously used by someone else.
At Medexsupply one can obtain a wide range of diabetic supplies including blood glucose monitors, kits, infusion sets, test strips and glucose tablets. Medexsupply carries lancets made by Graham Field, Owen Mumford, Surgilance, Sherwood, Bayer, Reliamed and Accu-Chek
Diabetes 101
Diabetes is the disorder of the present century. Almost every race and ethic group is affected by it. This chronic disease has been steadily growing in numbers and is posing serious challenges to our health care system. Among all the ethnic groups in North America, Diabetes is more severe and difficult to control in blacks, Latinos and Asians. The number of Americans who have diabetes is close to 7-9 million which is 4 times the number two decades ago. Infact it is estimated that there are close to a million more individuals who have the disorder but do not know about it. The longer these individuals have a delayed diagnosis, the greater are the chances that they will already have developed irreversible complications of the disease.
Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by high levels of blood glucose. The major problem with type 2 diabetes is that the hormone insulin is either low or not secreted or has problems working at the cellular levels. Insulin is responsible for lowering the blood glucose. When the blood glucose levels stay elevated for prolonged periods, one can develop serious complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and blockage of blood supply to the legs.
The majority of Americans develop type 2 diabetes in their middle ages. This form of diabetes develops because for some unknown reason the body fails to either make enough insulin or fails to secrete insulin. Sometimes the insulin levels are adequate but fail to work. The major treatment of type 2 diabetes is with the use of drugs, diet and/or exercise. These drugs work in a number of ways. Some act to break down the excess sugar, other drugs prevent excess glucose from getting into the body and other drugs stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. In many obese individuals, the diabetic drugs fail to work and insulin is required.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is also common and affects a significant number of children. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin is never made in the pancreas and the individual presents with diabetes as a child. In most cases, the diabetes will be evident during school age. One needs life long insulin to treat this form of diabetes.
For information on equipment and supplies for diabetes, please visit our website at www.medexsupply.com
Type 2 diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by high levels of blood glucose. The major problem with type 2 diabetes is that the hormone insulin is either low or not secreted or has problems working at the cellular levels. Insulin is responsible for lowering the blood glucose. When the blood glucose levels stay elevated for prolonged periods, one can develop serious complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and blockage of blood supply to the legs.
The majority of Americans develop type 2 diabetes in their middle ages. This form of diabetes develops because for some unknown reason the body fails to either make enough insulin or fails to secrete insulin. Sometimes the insulin levels are adequate but fail to work. The major treatment of type 2 diabetes is with the use of drugs, diet and/or exercise. These drugs work in a number of ways. Some act to break down the excess sugar, other drugs prevent excess glucose from getting into the body and other drugs stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. In many obese individuals, the diabetic drugs fail to work and insulin is required.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is also common and affects a significant number of children. In type 1 diabetes, the insulin is never made in the pancreas and the individual presents with diabetes as a child. In most cases, the diabetes will be evident during school age. One needs life long insulin to treat this form of diabetes.
For information on equipment and supplies for diabetes, please visit our website at www.medexsupply.com
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