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Archive for the ‘Diabetes’ Category

Could my dog benefit from physical therapy? | AAHA

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

Those of us who have experienced an injury or surgery know just how beneficial physical therapy can be. Rehabilitation exercises lessen pain, strengthen muscles, and speed up the recovery process, helping the body to get back into shape after a traumatic event.

But physical therapy isnt just for humans anymore. Rehabilitation is increasingly prescribed for our canine companions to address issues such as mobility, pain, and joint damage due to orthopedic surgery, musculoskeletal injury, arthritis, obesity, paralysis, neurological disease, and more.

If youve seen one of those cute videos of a dog trying to walk on an underwater treadmill or balance on a big exercise ball, you have seen a small part of canine physical therapy at work. Common conditions that benefit from physical therapy may include:

Physical therapy techniques

There are many different physical therapy techniques available for pets, including:

Where to find a physical therapist

Veterinary physical therapy is a relatively young profession. Some of the first specialists were physical therapists for humans who wanted to share their skills with animals. Today, private and university-based programs certify veterinary professionals and physical therapists in animal rehabilitation.

Despite being a relatively new form of treatment, rehabilitation is a growing resource for dogs and their owners and practitioners can be found in most major cities. Talk to your veterinarian to determine whether physical therapy is a good fit for your dog. If so, she can provide a referral or you can find a local qualified therapist through an online directory, such as Canine Rehabilitation Institutes Find a Therapist tool.

Sharon Seltzer is a freelance writer and founder of Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog, a website for owners of dogs with paralysis and other mobility disorders. Shes pet mom to a Rottweiler puppy named Bailey and two semi-feral cats.

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When the wagging stops: Is it limber tail? | AAHA

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

It seems like my dog Rios tail is always wagginghes a goofy Labrador retriever mix who sometimes even wags in his sleep. So one day when he was a few years old, I was shocked to discover his tail hanging limp like a wet noodle. He wouldnt even wag for a treat.

Panicked, my husband and I rushed Rio to his veterinarian, who asked if wed noticed him injure his tail. We hadnt. Wed been camping all weekend by a lake, where Rio spent a lot of time swimming. Then we took a long hike and he wagged his tail the entire time, sometimes so enthusiastically that I started taking video because it was so charming.

Our veterinarians diagnosis: limber tail syndrome. Basically, Rios tail-wagging muscles were overworked and had become very painful. However, we were relieved to learn limber tail isnt a permanent condition. With rest and anti-inflammatory medication, Rio was back to his happy, wagging self in a couple of days.

Joe Spoo, DVM, DACVSMR, co-owner of AAHA-accredited Best Care Pet Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and author of the GunDogDoc blog, said he tends to see an influx of patients with limber tail at the start of hunting season, when the weather starts to warm up and dogs spend more time recreating outside.

The tail either hangs limp from the base, or juts out horizontally for a few inches and then droops.

The first time anybody sees limber tail, they panic and think their dog broke their tail, he says. The tail just dangles.

Limber tailalso called swimmers tail, Lab tail, cold water tail, or pointer tailis especially common in sporting breeds, but can affect any breed with a long, active tail, Spoo says.

We can see the condition in any dog that goes from not using his tail to overusing it, whether it be swimming or playing or just being happy, he says.

While limber tail tends to occur in the first three years of a dogs life, it probably has less to do with age than the dogs muscles not yet being trained to handle a typical workload, Spoo says. Often, a dog only experiences limber tail once, but there are exceptions.

I used to say it was a one and done [condition], but well see it in a few dogs where it repeats every time the new workload starts, Spoo says. I do have a couple Labs that seem to have it once a year at the start of hunting season.

Mild cases of limber tail will resolve with rest in less than 24 hours. For more severe cases, Spoo prescribes an anti-inflammatory medication to help with the pain and recommends restricted activity to rest the tail. Dogs typically recover in two to three days.

Diagnosing limber tail is fairly easy. Other causes of a non-wagging tail, such as trauma, can be ruled out if the tail hasnt been stepped on, pulled, slammed in a door, or otherwise injured, while more serious causes, like neurological issues, would be accompanied by other signs, Spoo says.

If you suspect your dog has limber tail, do not treat him at home with over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medications for humans like aspirin or ibuprofen. Dogs do not have the same enzymes humans do and cannot break down these medications effectively, Spoo says.

Dont think, Im going to make a self-diagnosis and I have an anti-inflammatory for me, so Ill just give it to my dog. [You] can end up in a way worse situation than a day or two of a painful tail, he says. Consult your veterinarian.

Freelance journalist Jen Reeder was moved to tears when she realized her dog developed limber tail syndrome from wagging too much on the first family camping trip after her husbands kidney transplant.

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Kitties and carriers: Getting your cat to the vet with …

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

Providing regular health care for your cat is essential for a longer, healthier, and more comfortable life for her. Many cats, however, dont get the regular veterinary care they need due to the amount of stress caused by simply trying to get them to the veterinary hospital. Here, a few tips to make the trip to your veterinarian less stressfulfor both your cat and you.

Happy carrier, happy catTrips to the veterinarian should not be the only time your furry friend encounters his carrier. You want your cat to associate his carrier with positive experiences. Have him enter the carrier on a regular basis so hes more comfortable in it. Leave the carrier in a room where your cat spends lots of time and give him time to become familiar with it. Placing soft bedding or clothing inside may help him feel more secure.

Getting her inTreats, toys, or catnip placed inside her carrier will help to encourage your cat to enter. It could take days, or maybe even weeks, for her to begin to trust her carrier, so be patient. Always reward your cat for the behavior you want, so if she is sitting near or exploring the carrier, give her a treat.

If your cat is not yet used to the carrier, but needs to go to the veterinarian right away, try putting her in a small room that has few hiding places with the carrier. Put a special treat in the carrier to encourage her to enter. If the treat doesnt entice her and your carrier has an opening at the top, try to gently cradle her and lower her into the carrier. If your carrier allows, remove the top half, place your cat into the lower half, and calmly replace the top.

Picking the right carrierBefore deciding which of the many cat carriers on the market is best for your cat, consider your cats size, how well he tolerates handling, and which carrier is easiest to transport. It should be safe, secure, sturdy, and easy for you to carry. Some of the best carriers are hard-sided and open from both the front and the top. An easily removable top allows a cat who is fearful, anxious, or in pain to stay in the bottom half for exams by the veterinarian.

En routeYour furry friend will be safest in the car if you secure her carrier using a seat belt. If she seems anxious, it sometimes helps to cover, either partially or completely, her carrier with a blanket or towel, although some cats would prefer to be able to see whats going on outside of the carrier. There are also products that you can spray into her carrier to help with anxiety.

Need other ideas?If your cat is particularly stressed about getting into his carrier, ask your veterinarian for more ideas on how to make your cats travel away from home, whether its to see the veterinarian or not, more calm and pleasant for everyone. For more information, visit catvets.com.

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Six things to consider when choosing a new veterinarian | AAHA

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

The general practitioner youve been seeing for 15 years suddenly announces his retirement. You panic. Who are you going to rely on when youre sick? Hes the only one in the world who knows your medical history and the fact that lollipops can, in fact, calm your nerves!

Logically, however, you know there are steps you can take to find another great doctor. Recommendations from friends, trial visits, and online sources that provide information about a potential practitioners qualifications and experience level will certainly help you come to a sound decision.

When seeking a new veterinarian, your pet deserves the same considerations. While the task may seem daunting, taking the time to find the right veterinarian will ensure the safety, health, and happiness of your beloved pet for years to come.

Consider the following before you commit to a new veterinary practice:

AAHA accreditation: The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the accrediting body for companion animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada, regularly evaluates veterinary practices on approximately 900 standards of veterinary excellence, which means they are recognized among the finest in the industry. Use AAHAs hospital locator to find an accredited practice near you.

Communication: Understanding what style of communication you prefer and asking what you can expect will help you decide if a veterinarian (or practice) is a good fit for you, says Rose Barr, DVM, of AAHA-accredited Tender Touch Animal Hospital in Denver, Colo.

One vs. many: Do you prefer to speak with only one person about your pets health, or do you prefer a practice that offers several medical experts?

Proximity and hours: How much time do you have for a veterinary visit? Take travel time into account as well as the visit itself. Do you need to get there quickly and then hurry back home or to the office after your visit? Is it easy for you to get there? Does the practice offer evening and weekend hours? Knowing how much time you have to commit to a visit will help you in choosing which practice is best for you.

Services offered: Services play a large role in choosing a veterinary hospital. Does your new practice provide what you need and want? You will find with AAHA-accredited hospitals, they are able to take X-rays and run in-house laboratory samples that will lead to getting answers faster, Barr says.

Emergency care: What do you do when theres a medical emergency and your veterinary office is closed? Plan ahead! Barr says. Many of the 24-hour care facilities are AAHA-accredited. The beauty of these hospitals is that they often have specialists available should the need arise for advanced care. Be sure to know where the closest emergency care facility is and know how to get there ahead of time.

Remember that even the best research cannot replace an in-person visit. Stop by prospective practices and ask for a tour before you decide.

You have options, Barr says. If you arent getting the service you expect, its OK to try something new.

Katie Meyer is an animal advocate who enjoys fostering dogs for PawsCo, a nonprofit rescue in Denver, Colorado.

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How to brush your pets teeth (and why you should) | AAHA

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

Can you imagine going a day without brushing your teeth? Of course not! Yet many people dont brush their pets teeth, so most dogs and cats have evidence of dental disease by the time they are just 3 years old.

A good home dental care regimen can help your pet stay healthy and even save you money by prolonging the need for dental cleanings or tooth extractions, according to Morgen Deramus, DVM, associate veterinarian at AAHA-accredited Advanced Animal Care of Colorado in Fort Collins, Colo.

Training when theyre young and making sure youre doing it in a way that creates a positive association is the most beneficial for them, she says. With dogs, I usually recommend approaching it like any other traininglots of positive reinforcement, going slowly and stopping before that puppy gets aggravated or irritated with the process.

Deramus suggests starting with special pet toothpaste flavored like beef or poultry. Then:

Deramus says cats can be trained in a similar way, though large toothbrushes are too big for their mouths. Instead, use an infant finger brush or a gauze square to brush the teeth in a circular motion, just as you would brush your own teeth. If you have issues with your cat moving too much while brushing, you can wrap him in a towel and hold him close to you.

Beware of nonanesthetic dentistry

Some groomers, pet stores, and even nonaccredited veterinary hospitals offer nonanesthetic pet dentals, but buyer beware: This procedure is stressful for pets, does not treat any issues beneath the gum line, and can be potentially dangerous.

Be very cautious of people who offer those anesthetic-free dental cleanings, Deramus says. [Nonanesthetic dentistry] is not a safe way to clean teeth. It can often lead to secondary issues when the dog is awake and moving such as slicing gums and breaking teeth. It creates huge divots in the enamel, and doesnt protect [the pets] airways, either.

AAHA issued a mandatory dental standard in 2013 that all dental procedures in AAHA-accredited practices must be performed under anesthesia with patients intubated, and that cleaning a companion animal's teeth without general anesthesia is considered unacceptable and below the standard of care. The position was endorsed by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC).

Cats can be trained just like dogs if you put your mind to it, Deramus says.

If, despite your best efforts, tooth brushing is still impossible and has begun to affect your bond with your pet, Deramus says many other products, like food and water additives or dental chews, can help. Just be sure to look for the Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) when shopping for them, she says.

Indications of dental disease include bad breath, discoloration of the teeth, and redness of the gums. AAHAs dental care guidelines recommend annual professional, anesthetized cleaningsbeginning at 1 year for cats and small dogs, and 2 years for large breedsto prevent these and other oral health problems.

According to Deramus, this includes the transfer of bacteria and infection into the bloodstream, which can affect your pets overall well-being.

When this happens, the blood then goes into the major organs of the body and can cause major damage there, she says.

Finally, abscessed teeth and other dental issues should be taken care ofor better yet, avoidedbecause they are painful. Since cats tend to be pretty silent in their disease, Deramus has seen seemingly standoffish animals who would hide from people become happy and outgoing after dental treatment.

It can really unmask the true nature of that animal when you take care of things that cause chronic pain, she says. And what do we want for our animals? More than anything else, I think we want quality of life.

Award-winning pet writer Jen Reeder brushes her dogs teeth with poultry-flavored toothpaste. He will also cooperate for vanilla.

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I’ll take my coffee with a cat | AAHA

Sunday, April 21st, 2019

Coffee with a calico? Tea with a tabby? Or just want to unwind with a feline?

Enter the cat caf.

Its an idea that apparently started in Asia and then spread to Europe. Now its come to the United States as an engaging way to find permanent homes for cats and kittens.

The first cat caf in the U.S. was a temporary one in New Yorka four-day collaboration that took place last April between North Shore Animal League America and Purina ONE. Cat lovers had the chance to sip complimentary "cat'achinos" while visiting with 16 cats up for adoption. Fourteen of the cats were adopted by the end of the event with the remaining 2 finding homes within the month.

Now permanent cat cafs are opening, working with health code laws by keeping food preparation areas separate from the cat areas.

The first permanent U.S. cat caf, Cat Town Caf at 2869 Broadway in Oakland, Calif., opened in October. Its an expansion of the work of Cat Town, a nonprofit cat rescue, to find homes for cats being held by Oakland Animal Services.

Adam Myatt, known as the Cat Man of West Oakland because of his feral cat calendars, opened the caf with Cat Town founder and friend Ann Dunn. Split into a caf and cat zone to work with health code laws regarding food preparation areas, Cat Town Caf allows 14 people every hour to observe and play with cats.

The limit on the number of people, says Myatt, is to prevent stressing the cats who might face up to 154 people per day, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., five days per week.

Near the end of the first month of operation, 30 cats had already found new homes, says Myatt.

[Cat Town Caf is] doing pretty well, he noted. Its been a process to see which cats are going to do best in this space. A cat caf is not for every cat. It has to be one that can handle meeting hundreds of people.

The hardest part, he says, is curbing peoples expectations. Cat activity varies, as cat lovers know, he says.

Cats sleep a lot and dont always want to play, so some people might be disappointed. But if visitors really want to interact, we recommend that they reserve a time in the morning when the cats are super playful, ready to go crazy, or around 5 or 6 p.m. when they start getting active again.

We dont have Wi-Fi or a ton of seating. Most of the space is the cat zone. Its not a caf you would try to work in or bring your laptop to. But we do have great coffee and bagels and sell T-shirts, and were really trying to make this a super-fun, magical space for cats.

In San Francisco, cat enthusiasts Courtney Hatt, David Braginksy, and Benjamin Stingle are getting ready to open KitTea, part gourmet tea house, part cat and human oasis, at 96 Gough Street in late March.

Its been a lot of work after starting with a complete blank slate. There was a lot of construction and customization to cover, as well as permits, the cost of San Francisco, very busy contractors in a fast-growing city, and trying to dot all of the i's and cross all of the t's, says Hatt.

How will it work when it opens?

You will enter KitTea through a vestibule that keeps the tea and cats separate and be greeted by a friendly host/hostess who will take your order. From there you will walk into the cat/human oasis and be alerted once your tea and/or snacks are available for pickup at the hostess desk.Due to strict health regulations, no employee of KitTea can serve you tea or snacks in the space due to the risk of cross contamination in the two spaces.

If you choose to only come to KitTea for the tea, says Hatt, you can take a seat in our tea space. There you can view all the happenings in the cat area through a glass partition while you relax and learn about Japanese tea service.

KitTea is working with Give Me Shelter Cat Rescue, providing a space where the rescue can house its adoptable cats and thus make more room for rescuing other cats in California and across the U.S.

How do these operations help adopt cats?

At shelters, Hatt explains, cats who are scared will often come off as aggressive, aloof, and, in general, completely different from who they really are.

In these cafs, she says, the cats are going to be far less stressed than they would be in a shelter situation.

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Diabetes Mellitus: An Overview | Cleveland Clinic

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

What is Diabetes What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Diabetes occurs in one of the following situations:

-Or-

To better understand diabetes, it helps to know more about how the body uses food for energy (a process called metabolism).

Your body is made up of millions of cells. To make energy, the cells need food in a very simple form. When you eat or drink, much of your food is broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose provides the energy your body needs for daily activities.

The blood vessels and blood are the highways that transport sugar from where it is either taken in (the stomach) or manufactured (in the liver) to the cells where it is used (muscles) or where it is stored (fat). Sugar cannot go into the cells by itself. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood, which serves as the helper, or the "key," that lets sugar into the cells for use as energy.

When sugar leaves the bloodstream and enters the cells, the blood sugar level is lowered. Without insulin, or the "key," sugar cannot get into the body's cells for use as energy. This causes sugar to rise. Too much sugar in the blood is called "hyperglycemia" (high blood sugar).

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2:

Other types of diabetes might result from pregnancy (gestational diabetes), surgery, use of certain medicines, various illnesses and other specific causes.

Gestational diabetes occurs when there is a high blood glucose level during pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses, the developing baby has a greater need for glucose. Hormone changes during pregnancy also affect the action of insulin, which brings about high blood glucose levels.

Pregnant women who have a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes include those who:

Blood glucose levels usually return to normal after childbirth. However, women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

The causes of diabetes are not known. The following risk factors may increase your chance of getting diabetes:

It is important to note that sugar itself does not cause diabetes. Eating a lot of sugar can lead to tooth decay, but it does not cause diabetes.

The symptoms of diabetes include:

Most people have symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when their blood sugar is less than 70 mg/dl. (Your healthcare provider will tell you how to test your blood sugar level.)

When your blood sugar is low, your body gives out signs that you need food. Different people have different symptoms. You will learn to know your symptoms.

Common early symptoms of low blood sugar include the following:

Late symptoms of low blood sugar include:

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Diabetes – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Saturday, March 23rd, 2019

Overview

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is vital to your health because it's an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It's also your brain's main source of fuel.

The underlying cause of diabetes varies by type. But, no matter what type of diabetes you have, it can lead to excess sugar in your blood. Too much sugar in your blood can lead to serious health problems.

Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Potentially reversible diabetes conditions include prediabetes when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes and gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered.

Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. Some people, especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe.

Some of the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are:

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, though it often appears during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, can develop at any age, though it's more common in people older than 40.

To understand diabetes, first you must understand how glucose is normally processed in the body.

Insulin is a hormone that comes from a gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

Glucose a sugar is a source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. What is known is that your immune system which normally fights harmful bacteria or viruses attacks and destroys your insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leaves you with little or no insulin. Instead of being transported into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors, though exactly what those factors are is still unclear. Weight is not believed to be a factor in type 1 diabetes.

In prediabetes which can lead to type 2 diabetes and in type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and your pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to overcome this resistance. Instead of moving into your cells where it's needed for energy, sugar builds up in your bloodstream.

Exactly why this happens is uncertain, although it's believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes too. Being overweight is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, but not everyone with type 2 is overweight.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones to sustain your pregnancy. These hormones make your cells more resistant to insulin.

Normally, your pancreas responds by producing enough extra insulin to overcome this resistance. But sometimes your pancreas can't keep up. When this happens, too little glucose gets into your cells and too much stays in your blood, resulting in gestational diabetes.

Risk factors for diabetes depend on the type of diabetes.

Although the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, factors that may signal an increased risk include:

Researchers don't fully understand why some people develop prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and others don't. It's clear that certain factors increase the risk, however, including:

Any pregnant woman can develop gestational diabetes, but some women are at greater risk than are others. Risk factors for gestational diabetes include:

Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually. The longer you have diabetes and the less controlled your blood sugar the higher the risk of complications. Eventually, diabetes complications may be disabling or even life-threatening. Possible complications include:

Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.

Left untreated, you could lose all sense of feeling in the affected limbs. Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. For men, it may lead to erectile dysfunction.

Most women who have gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. However, untreated or uncontrolled blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby.

Complications in your baby can occur as a result of gestational diabetes, including:

Complications in the mother also can occur as a result of gestational diabetes, including:

Prediabetes may develop into type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented. However, the same healthy lifestyle choices that help treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can also help prevent them:

Lose excess pounds. If you're overweight, losing even 7 percent of your body weight for example, 14 pounds (6.4 kilograms) if you weigh 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) can reduce the risk of diabetes.

Don't try to lose weight during pregnancy, however. Talk to your doctor about how much weight is healthy for you to gain during pregnancy.

To keep your weight in a healthy range, focus on permanent changes to your eating and exercise habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of losing weight, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem.

Sometimes medication is an option as well. Oral diabetes drugs such as metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others) may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential. Have your blood sugar checked at least once a year to check that you haven't developed type 2 diabetes.

Aug. 08, 2018

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Diabetes Basics

Saturday, February 16th, 2019

Millions of people around the world live with diabetes or know someone living with diabetes. Regardless of the type of diabetes, diabetes isnt yet a curable disease. However, it is a very treatable disease, and no matter how frightening, annoying, and frustrating it can be, people with diabetes can live long, healthy, and happy lives.Our goal is to provide you the information, tools and resources to help make that happen.

This is the place to begin your education about diabetes.

This section of our site provides basic overviews of the major issues surrounding diabetes, with plenty of links to more in-depth information if you need it.

Take our type 2 diabetes risk test for a quick assessment of your risk.

There is no way to predict your chances of getting type 1 diabetes, but you can familiarize yourself with its symptoms.

Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes.

Expecting? Learn why women who have never had diabetes may be at risk during pregnancy.

The numbers associated with diabetes make a strong case for devoting more resources to finding a cure.

Clear up some common misunderstandings about what causes diabetes, the effects of diabetes, and how diabetes can be managed.

Become familiar with terms commonly used when discussing diabetes.

Pulitzer prize winning photographer Jay Dickman, volunteered his time and talent to photograph three individuals that are living with diabetes to share their up close and personal daily lives.

These well-known men and women have joined the Association's "Celebrity Cabinet" to help stop diabetes.

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Diabetes mellitus type 2 – Wikipedia

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019

Diabetes mellitus type 2SynonymsNoninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), adult-onset diabetes[1]Universal blue circle symbol for diabetes[2]PronunciationSpecialtyEndocrinologySymptomsIncreased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger[3]ComplicationsHyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, diabetic ketoacidosis, heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy, kidney failure, amputations[1][4][5]Usual onsetMiddle or older age[6]DurationLong term[6]CausesObesity, lack of exercise, genetics[1][6]Diagnostic methodBlood test[3]PreventionMaintaining normal weight, exercising, eating properly[1]TreatmentDietary changes, metformin, insulin, bariatric surgery[1][7][8][9]Prognosis10 year shorter life expectancy[10]Frequency392 million (2015)[11]

Diabetes mellitus type2 (also known as type 2 diabetes) is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin.[6] Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss.[3] Symptoms may also include increased hunger, feeling tired, and sores that do not heal.[3] Often symptoms come on slowly.[6] Long-term complications from high blood sugar include heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy which can result in blindness, kidney failure, and poor blood flow in the limbs which may lead to amputations.[1] The sudden onset of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state may occur; however, ketoacidosis is uncommon.[4][5]

Type2 diabetes primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise.[1] Some people are more genetically at risk than others.[6] Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90% of cases of diabetes, with the other 10% due primarily to diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes.[1] In diabetes mellitus type1 there is a lower total level of insulin to control blood glucose, due to an autoimmune induced loss of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.[12][13] Diagnosis of diabetes is by blood tests such as fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, or glycated hemoglobin (A1C).[3]

Type2 diabetes is partly preventable by staying a normal weight, exercising regularly, and eating properly.[1] Treatment involves exercise and dietary changes.[1] If blood sugar levels are not adequately lowered, the medication metformin is typically recommended.[7][14] Many people may eventually also require insulin injections.[9] In those on insulin, routinely checking blood sugar levels is advised; however, this may not be needed in those taking pills.[15] Bariatric surgery often improves diabetes in those who are obese.[8][16]

Rates of type2 diabetes have increased markedly since 1960 in parallel with obesity.[17] As of 2015 there were approximately 392million people diagnosed with the disease compared to around 30million in 1985.[11][18] Typically it begins in middle or older age,[6] although rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing in young people.[19][20] Type 2 diabetes is associated with a ten-year-shorter life expectancy.[10] Diabetes was one of the first diseases described.[21] The importance of insulin in the disease was determined in the 1920s.[22]

The classic symptoms of diabetes are polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), and weight loss.[23] Other symptoms that are commonly present at diagnosis include a history of blurred vision, itchiness, peripheral neuropathy, recurrent vaginal infections, and fatigue.[13] Many people, however, have no symptoms during the first few years and are diagnosed on routine testing.[13] A small number of people with type2 diabetes mellitus can develop a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (a condition of very high blood sugar associated with a decreased level of consciousness and low blood pressure).[13]

Type 2 diabetes is typically a chronic disease associated with a ten-year-shorter life expectancy.[10] This is partly due to a number of complications with which it is associated, including: two to four times the risk of cardiovascular disease, including ischemic heart disease and stroke; a 20-fold increase in lower limb amputations, and increased rates of hospitalizations.[10] In the developed world, and increasingly elsewhere, type2diabetes is the largest cause of nontraumatic blindness and kidney failure.[24] It has also been associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia through disease processes such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.[25] Other complications include acanthosis nigricans, sexual dysfunction, and frequent infections.[23]

The development of type2 diabetes is caused by a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors.[24][26] While some of these factors are under personal control, such as diet and obesity, other factors are not, such as increasing age, female gender, and genetics.[10] A lack of sleep has been linked to type2 diabetes.[27] This is believed to act through its effect on metabolism.[27] The nutritional status of a mother during fetal development may also play a role, with one proposed mechanism being that of DNA methylation.[28] The intestinal bacteria Prevotella copri and Bacteroides vulgatus have been connected with type2 diabetes.[29]

Lifestyle factors are important to the development of type2 diabetes, including obesity and being overweight (defined by a body mass index of greater than 25), lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, and urbanization.[10][30] Excess body fat is associated with 30% of cases in those of Chinese and Japanese descent, 6080% of cases in those of European and African descent, and 100% of cases in Pima Indians and Pacific Islanders.[13] Among those who are not obese, a high waisthip ratio is often present.[13] Smoking appears to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.[31]

Dietary factors also influence the risk of developing type2 diabetes. Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in excess is associated with an increased risk.[32][33] The type of fats in the diet are important, with saturated fats and trans fatty acids increasing the risk, and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat decreasing the risk.[26] Eating a lot of white rice appears to play a role in increasing risk.[34] A lack of exercise is believed to cause 7% of cases.[35] Persistent organic pollutants may play a role.[36]

Most cases of diabetes involve many genes, with each being a small contributor to an increased probability of becoming a type2 diabetic.[10] If one identical twin has diabetes, the chance of the other developing diabetes within his lifetime is greater than 90%, while the rate for nonidentical siblings is 2550%.[13] As of 2011, more than 36genes had been found that contribute to the risk of type2 diabetes.[37] All of these genes together still only account for 10% of the total heritable component of the disease.[37] The TCF7L2 allele, for example, increases the risk of developing diabetes by 1.5times and is the greatest risk of the common genetic variants.[13] Most of the genes linked to diabetes are involved in beta cell functions.[13]

There are a number of rare cases of diabetes that arise due to an abnormality in a single gene (known as monogenic forms of diabetes or "other specific types of diabetes").[10][13] These include maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), Donohue syndrome, and RabsonMendenhall syndrome, among others.[10] Maturity onset diabetes of the young constitute 15% of all cases of diabetes in young people.[38]

There are a number of medications and other health problems that can predispose to diabetes.[39] Some of the medications include: glucocorticoids, thiazides, beta blockers, atypical antipsychotics,[40] and statins.[41] Those who have previously had gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type2 diabetes.[23] Other health problems that are associated include: acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, and certain cancers such as glucagonomas.[39] Testosterone deficiency is also associated with type2 diabetes.[42][43]

Type2 diabetes is due to insufficient insulin production from beta cells in the setting of insulin resistance.[13] Insulin resistance, which is the inability of cells to respond adequately to normal levels of insulin, occurs primarily within the muscles, liver, and fat tissue.[44] In the liver, insulin normally suppresses glucose release. However, in the setting of insulin resistance, the liver inappropriately releases glucose into the blood.[10] The proportion of insulin resistance versus beta cell dysfunction differs among individuals, with some having primarily insulin resistance and only a minor defect in insulin secretion and others with slight insulin resistance and primarily a lack of insulin secretion.[13]

Other potentially important mechanisms associated with type2 diabetes and insulin resistance include: increased breakdown of lipids within fat cells, resistance to and lack of incretin, high glucagon levels in the blood, increased retention of salt and water by the kidneys, and inappropriate regulation of metabolism by the central nervous system.[10] However, not all people with insulin resistance develop diabetes, since an impairment of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells is also required.[13]

The World Health Organization definition of diabetes (both type1 and type2) is for a single raised glucose reading with symptoms, otherwise raised values on two occasions, of either:[47]

A random blood sugar of greater than 11.1mmol/l (200mg/dl) in association with typical symptoms[23] or a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 48mmol/mol (6.5 DCCT%) is another method of diagnosing diabetes.[10] In 2009 an International Expert Committee that included representatives of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) recommended that a threshold of 48mmol/mol (6.5 DCCT%) should be used to diagnose diabetes.[48] This recommendation was adopted by the American Diabetes Association in 2010.[49] Positive tests should be repeated unless the person presents with typical symptoms and blood sugars >11.1mmol/l (>200mg/dl).[48]

Threshold for diagnosis of diabetes is based on the relationship between results of glucose tolerance tests, fasting glucose or HbA1c and complications such as retinal problems.[10] A fasting or random blood sugar is preferred over the glucose tolerance test, as they are more convenient for people.[10] HbA1c has the advantages that fasting is not required and results are more stable but has the disadvantage that the test is more costly than measurement of blood glucose.[50] It is estimated that 20% of people with diabetes in the United States do not realize that they have the disease.[10]

Diabetes mellitus type2 is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.[51] This is in contrast to diabetes mellitus type 1 in which there is an absolute insulin deficiency due to destruction of islet cells in the pancreas and gestational diabetes mellitus that is a new onset of high blood sugars associated with pregnancy.[13] Type1 and type2 diabetes can typically be distinguished based on the presenting circumstances.[48] If the diagnosis is in doubt antibody testing may be useful to confirm type1 diabetes and C-peptide levels may be useful to confirm type2 diabetes,[52] with C-peptide levels normal or high in type2 diabetes, but low in type1 diabetes.[53]

No major organization recommends universal screening for diabetes as there is no evidence that such a program improve outcomes.[54][55] Screening is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in adults without symptoms whose blood pressure is greater than 135/80mmHg.[56] For those whose blood pressure is less, the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against screening.[56] There is no evidence that it changes the risk of death in this group of people.[55] They also recommend screening among those who are overweight and between the ages of 40 and 70.[57]

The World Health Organization recommends testing those groups at high risk[54] and in 2014 the USPSTF is considering a similar recommendation.[58] High-risk groups in the United States include: those over 45 years old; those with a first degree relative with diabetes; some ethnic groups, including Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native-Americans; a history of gestational diabetes; polycystic ovary syndrome; excess weight; and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome.[23] The American Diabetes Association recommends screening those who have a BMI over 25 (in people of Asian descent screening is recommended for a BMI over 23).[59]

Onset of type2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented through proper nutrition and regular exercise.[60][61] Intensive lifestyle measures may reduce the risk by over half.[24][62] The benefit of exercise occurs regardless of the person's initial weight or subsequent weight loss.[63] High levels of physical activity reduce the risk of diabetes by about 28%.[64] Evidence for the benefit of dietary changes alone, however, is limited,[65] with some evidence for a diet high in green leafy vegetables[66] and some for limiting the intake of sugary drinks.[32] A 2019 review found evidence of benefit from dietary fiber.[67]

In those with impaired glucose tolerance, diet and exercise either alone or in combination with metformin or acarbose may decrease the risk of developing diabetes.[24][68] Lifestyle interventions are more effective than metformin.[24] A 2017 review found that, long term, lifestyle changes decreased the risk by 28%, while medication does not reduce risk after withdrawal.[69] While low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of diabetes, correcting the levels by supplementing vitamin D3 does not improve that risk.[70]

Management of type2 diabetes focuses on lifestyle interventions, lowering other cardiovascular risk factors, and maintaining blood glucose levels in the normal range.[24] Self-monitoring of blood glucose for people with newly diagnosed type2 diabetes may be used in combination with education,[71] however the benefit of self monitoring in those not using multi-dose insulin is questionable.[24][72] In those who do not want to measure blood levels, measuring urine levels may be done.[71] Managing other cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and microalbuminuria, improves a person's life expectancy.[24] Decreasing the systolic blood pressure to less than 140mmHg is associated with a lower risk of death and better outcomes.[73] Intensive blood pressure management (less than 130/80mmHg) as opposed to standard blood pressure management (less than 140-160 mmHg systolic to 85100 mmHg diastolic) results in a slight decrease in stroke risk but no effect on overall risk of death.[74]

Intensive blood sugar lowering (HbA1c<6%) as opposed to standard blood sugar lowering (HbA1c of 77.9%) does not appear to change mortality.[75][76] The goal of treatment is typically an HbA1c of 7 to 8% or a fasting glucose of less than 7.2mmol/L (130mg/dl); however these goals may be changed after professional clinical consultation, taking into account particular risks of hypoglycemia and life expectancy.[59][77][78] Despite guidelines recommending that intensive blood sugar control be based on balancing immediate harms with long-term benefits, many people for example people with a life expectancy of less than nine years who will not benefit, are over-treated.[79]

It is recommended that all people with type2 diabetes get regular eye examination.[13] There is weak evidence suggesting that treating gum disease by scaling and root planing may result in a small short-term improvement in blood sugar levels for people with diabetes.[80] There is no evidence to suggest that this improvement in blood sugar levels is maintained longer than 4 months.[80] There is also not enough evidence to determine if medications to treat gum disease are effective at lowering blood sugar levels.[80]

A proper diet and exercise are the foundations of diabetic care,[23] with a greater amount of exercise yielding better results.[81] Exercise improves blood sugar control, decreases body fat content and decreases blood lipid levels, and these effects are evident even without weight loss.[82] Aerobic exercise leads to a decrease in HbA1c and improved insulin sensitivity.[83] Resistance training is also useful and the combination of both types of exercise may be most effective.[83]

A diabetic diet that promotes weight loss is important.[84] While the best diet type to achieve this is controversial,[84] a low glycemic index diet or low carbohydrate diet has been found to improve blood sugar control.[85][86] A very low calorie diet, begun shortly after the onset of type 2 diabetes, can result in remission of the condition.[87]

Vegetarian diets in general have been related to lower diabetes risk, but do not offer advantages compared with diets which allow moderate amounts of animal products.[88] There is not enough evidence to suggest that cinnamon improves blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.[89]

Culturally appropriate education may help people with type2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels, for up to 24 months.[90] If changes in lifestyle in those with mild diabetes has not resulted in improved blood sugars within six weeks, medications should then be considered.[23] There is not enough evidence to determine if lifestyle interventions affect mortality in those who already have DM2.[62]

There are several classes of anti-diabetic medications available. Metformin is generally recommended as a first line treatment as there is some evidence that it decreases mortality;[7][24][91] however, this conclusion is questioned.[92] Metformin should not be used in those with severe kidney or liver problems.[23]

A second oral agent of another class or insulin may be added if metformin is not sufficient after three months.[77] Other classes of medications include: sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs.[77] As of 2015 there was no significant difference between these agents.[77] A 2018 review found that SGLT2 inhibitors may be better than glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.[93]

Rosiglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, has not been found to improve long-term outcomes even though it improves blood sugar levels.[94] Additionally it is associated with increased rates of heart disease and death.[95] Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) prevent kidney disease and improve outcomes in those with diabetes.[96][97] The similar medications angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) do not.[97] A 2016 review recommended treating to a systolic blood pressure of 140 to 150 mmHg.[98]

Injections of insulin may either be added to oral medication or used alone.[24] Most people do not initially need insulin.[13] When it is used, a long-acting formulation is typically added at night, with oral medications being continued.[23][24] Doses are then increased to effect (blood sugar levels being well controlled).[24] When nightly insulin is insufficient, twice daily insulin may achieve better control.[23] The long acting insulins glargine and detemir are equally safe and effective,[99] and do not appear much better than neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, but as they are significantly more expensive, they are not cost effective as of 2010.[100] In those who are pregnant insulin is generally the treatment of choice.[23]

Vitamin D supplementation to people with type 2 diabetes may improve markers of insulin resistance and HbA1c.[101]

Weight loss surgery in those who are obese is an effective measure to treat diabetes.[102] Many are able to maintain normal blood sugar levels with little or no medication following surgery[103] and long-term mortality is decreased.[104] There however is some short-term mortality risk of less than 1% from the surgery.[105] The body mass index cutoffs for when surgery is appropriate are not yet clear.[104] It is recommended that this option be considered in those who are unable to get both their weight and blood sugar under control.[106][107]

Globally as of 2015 it was estimated that there were 392million people with type2 diabetes making up about 90% of diabetes cases.[10][11] This is equivalent to about 6% of the world's population.[11] Diabetes is common both in the developed and the developing world.[10] It remains uncommon, however, in the least developed countries.[13]

Women seem to be at a greater risk as do certain ethnic groups,[10][108] such as South Asians, Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and Native Americans.[23] This may be due to enhanced sensitivity to a Western lifestyle in certain ethnic groups.[109] Traditionally considered a disease of adults, type2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in children in parallel with rising obesity rates.[10] Type2 diabetes is now diagnosed as frequently as type1 diabetes in teenagers in the United States.[13]

Rates of diabetes in 1985 were estimated at 30million, increasing to 135million in 1995 and 217million in 2005.[18] This increase is believed to be primarily due to the global population aging, a decrease in exercise, and increasing rates of obesity.[18] The five countries with the greatest number of people with diabetes as of 2000 are India having 31.7million, China 20.8million, the United States 17.7million, Indonesia 8.4million, and Japan 6.8million.[110] It is recognized as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization.[1]

Diabetes is one of the first diseases described[21] with an Egyptian manuscript from c. 1500 BCE mentioning "too great emptying of the urine."[111] The first described cases are believed to be of type1 diabetes.[111] Indian physicians around the same time identified the disease and classified it as madhumeha or honey urine noting that the urine would attract ants.[111] The term "diabetes" or "to pass through" was first used in 230BCE by the Greek Apollonius Of Memphis.[111] The disease was rare during the time of the Roman empire with Galen commenting that he had only seen two cases during his career.[111]

Type1 and type2 diabetes were identified as separate conditions for the first time by the Indian physicians Sushruta and Charaka in 400500AD with type1 associated with youth and type2 with being overweight.[111] The term "mellitus" or "from honey" was added by the Briton John Rolle in the late 1700s to separate the condition from diabetes insipidus which is also associated with frequent urination.[111] Effective treatment was not developed until the early part of the 20th century when the Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Best discovered insulin in 1921 and 1922.[111] This was followed by the development of the long acting NPH insulin in the 1940s.[111]

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Diabetes mellitus type 2 - Wikipedia

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What You Need to Know About Diabetes

Saturday, December 29th, 2018

According to research conducted in late 2016, life expectancy in the United States has declined for the first time in two decades, leaving the researchers baffled as to what the exact cause is.1

One of the primary perpetrators of this decline is believed to be drug overdose. But there is another major factor that has been pinpointed by a supporting study: diabetes, specifically Type 2 diabetes.2

Theres no doubt that diabetes is steadily growing to be an epidemic, particularly among Americans. According to data from the American Diabetes Association, at least half of all adults in the U.S. are either in a state of prediabetes or already have diabetes.3

Researchers also noted that it is actually an underreported cause of death on death certificates and should be considered the third leading cause of mortality in America, right after cancer and heart disease.4

Unfortunately, there is a growing amount of misinformation surrounding this common health condition. And, in some cases, it is the physicians themselves who are perpetuating this misinformation. But what exactly is diabetes? Why does it manifest, and more importantly, how can you protect yourself from falling victim to this growing epidemic?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines diabetes as the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy.5 When you eat, the food you consume is transformed by your body into sugar to be used as energy. For glucose to enter the cells of your body, it needs a hormone called insulin.

The pancreas, an organ found near the stomach, is responsible for releasing this hormone into your bloodstream. However, if you have diabetes, either your body fails to produce enough insulin or it does not use insulin as well as it needs to. This causes glucose levels to build up in your blood.6

There are three well-known types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. However, there are other lesser known types or classifications of this illness.

Many people think that diabetes is a disease of blood sugar but it is not. Rather, it is a disorder of insulin and leptin signaling. Insulin acts as a source of energy for your cells. In other words, you NEED insulin to live. In healthy people, the pancreas does a wonderful job of providing your body with just the right amount.

But in some, risk factors and certain circumstances put the pancreas at risk of not functioning properly. This causes insulin and leptin resistance, which then evolves over a long period of time. It starts as prediabetes and if left untreated, goes on to become full-blown diabetes.

The reason why conventional medicine fails to treat diabetes is because the solutions they put in place address the insulin deficiency through insulin shots or pills. In short, they are addressing the symptom and NOT the root cause, which isinsulin sensitivity.

What many fail to realize is that diabetes, particularly Type 2 diabetes, is preventable and reversible. All it takes is proper attention to your lifestyle, especially your diet. In fact, in the majority of cases, diabetes does not need any type of medication.

Many diabetics usually find themselves falling down a black hole of helplessness, as theyre clueless on how to reverse their illness. But there is a way out, and the first step is to be informed.

Visit these pages and learn everything you need to know about diabetes: common risk factors, its hallmark symptoms, the different types, and how to effectively reverse this condition. Find out how your diet and lifestyle play a role in the occurrence of this illness.

Diabetes now affects people of all ages and from all walks of life, so this is crucial, must-know information. Share these pages with someone you know whos struggling with this illness. Who knows, you just might save them from the perils of this disease.

What Is Diabetes?

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What You Need to Know About Diabetes

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Diabetes – NHS

Saturday, December 29th, 2018

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

There are2 main types of diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. Inthe UK,around 90% of all adultswith diabetes have type 2.

During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose that their body is unable toproduce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known asgestational diabetes.

Flu can be very serious if you have diabetes. Ask for your free NHS flu jab at:

Many more people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes.

This is sometimes known as pre-diabetes. Ifyour blood sugar level is above the normal range, your risk of developing full-blown diabetes is increased.

It's very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it will get progressively worse if left untreated.

Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which include:

Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days.

Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.

The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).

When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy.

However,if you havediabetes, yourbody is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.

Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.

Read about how to reduce your diabetes risk.

If you're diagnosed with diabetes, you'll need toeat healthily, take regular exerciseand carry out regular blood teststo ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced.

You can use theBMI healthy weight calculator to check whether you're a healthyweight.

You can find apps and tools in the NHS Apps Library to help you manage your diabetes and have a healthier lifestyle.

People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes also require regularinsulin injections for the rest of their life.

As type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, medication may eventually be required, usually in the form of tablets.

Read about:

Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year.

If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if it's not treated.

Screening, which involvesa half-hour check to examine the back of the eyes,is a way of detecting the condition early so it can be treated more effectively.

Read more about diabetic eye screening.

Page last reviewed: 12/07/2016Next review due: 12/07/2019

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Diabetes - NHS

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Diabetes | Medical Conditions | Rush University Medical Center

Saturday, December 29th, 2018

Diabetes occurs when you lack the hormone insulin or when your insulin is not able to work effectively to move blood sugar (blood glucose) to the bodys cells. That causes glucose to rise to abnormally high levels in your blood, which can cause damage to many organs.

Also called juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where your body destroys cells that make insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin injections in order to live.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It starts when the body does not use insulin properly. Over time, your body cannot produce enough insulin to function properly. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood and can damage many organs.

Gestational diabetes is type 2 diabetes that only develops during pregnancy and goes away after the baby is born. Women who develop gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Some people with diabetes do not have symptoms. But others may experience the following:

Just because you have these symptoms does not mean you have diabetes other conditions can cause similar problems.

Having a high blood sugar level can cause serious health problems and may contribute to complications such as the following:

If you have diabetes symptoms, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor. A blood test can determine if you have diabetes.

You may also call for an appointment at the Rush University Diabetes Center. At the center, you can receive education and treatment from a specialized team of physicians, nurses and dietitians.

If you are overweight and not physically active, you are at higher risk for diabetes. You are also at higher risk if you have family members with diabetes. Regular checkups are important so that your doctor can check for early signs of the disease. You can then start treatment to help prevent the development of serious health problems.

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Diabetes | Medical Conditions | Rush University Medical Center

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Diabetes – Harvard Health

Saturday, December 29th, 2018

Diabetes occurs when the body has trouble using the sugar it gets from food for energy. Sugar builds up in the bloodstream. High blood sugar can have immediate effects, like blurry vision. It can also cause problems over time, like heart disease and blindness.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (once called juvenile-onset diabetes) and type 2 diabetes (once called adult-onset diabetes). Both are caused by problems making or using insulin, a hormone that makes it possible for cells to use glucose, also known as blood sugar, for energy.

When you eat, your body breaks down carbohydrates into a simple sugar called glucose. It also produces a hormone called insulin that signals the body's cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin, or stops making it altogether. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells don't respond to insulin. Either way, since sugar can't get into cells, it builds up in the bloodstream.

Too much sugar in the blood can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms. These include:

Type 1 diabetes often comes on suddenly. It usually strikes children and teenagers, but can appear later in life. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning it happens because the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body's insulin-making cells. Type 1 diabetes can't be cured, but it can be managed by taking insulin before eating.

Type 2 diabetes takes longer to develop. It can begin any time from childhood onward. Type 2 diabetes is usually triggered by being overweight or obese and not getting much physical activity. Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes weight loss if needed, daily exercise, a healthy diet, and medications.

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Diabetes - Harvard Health

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Diabetes mellitus type 1 – Wikipedia

Saturday, December 29th, 2018

Diabetes type1SynonymsT1D, insulin-dependent diabetes,[1] juvenile diabetes[2]A blue circle, the symbol for diabetes.[3]PronunciationSpecialtyEndocrinologySymptomsFrequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, weight loss[4]ComplicationsDiabetic ketoacidosis, nonketotic hyperosmolar coma, poor healing, cardiovascular disease, damage to the eyes[2][4][5]Usual onsetRelatively short period of time[1]DurationLong term[4]CausesNot enough insulin[4]Risk factorsFamily history, celiac disease[5][6]Diagnostic methodBlood sugar, A1C[5][7]PreventionUnknown[4]TreatmentInsulin, diabetic diet, exercise[1][2]Frequency~7.5% of diabetes cases[8]

Diabetes mellitus type1, also known as type 1 diabetes, is a form of diabetes mellitus in which very little or no insulin is produced by the pancreas.[4] Before treatment this results in high blood sugar levels in the body.[1] The classic symptoms are frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, and weight loss.[4] Additional symptoms may include blurry vision, feeling tired, and poor wound healing.[2] Symptoms typically develop over a short period of time.[1]

The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown.[4] However, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.[1] Risk factors include having a family member with the condition.[5] The underlying mechanism involves an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.[2] Diabetes is diagnosed by testing the level of sugar or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in the blood.[5][7] Type 1 diabetes can be distinguished from type 2 by testing for the presence of autoantibodies.[5]

There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.[4] Treatment with insulin is required for survival.[1] Insulin therapy is usually given by injection just under the skin but can also be delivered by an insulin pump.[9] A diabetic diet and exercise are important parts of management.[2] If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.[4] Complications of relatively rapid onset include diabetic ketoacidosis and nonketotic hyperosmolar coma.[5] Long-term complications include heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, foot ulcers and damage to the eyes.[4] Furthermore, complications may arise from low blood sugar caused by excessive dosing of insulin.[5]

Type1 diabetes makes up an estimated 510% of all diabetes cases.[8] The number of people affected globally is unknown, although it is estimated that about 80,000 children develop the disease each year.[5] Within the United States the number of people affected is estimated at one to three million.[5][10] Rates of disease vary widely with approximately 1 new case per 100,000 per year in East Asia and Latin America and around 30 new cases per 100,000 per year in Scandinavia and Kuwait.[11][12] It typically begins in children and young adults.[1]

The classical symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), dry mouth, polyphagia (increased hunger), fatigue, and weight loss.[4]

Many type 1 diabetics are diagnosed when they present with diabetic ketoacidosis. The signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include dry skin, rapid deep breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, frequent urination, abdominal pain, and vomiting.[14]

About 12 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have clinical depression.[15]

About 6 percent of people with type 1 diabetes have celiac disease, but in most cases there are no digestive symptoms[6][16] or are mistakenly attributed to poor control of diabetes, gastroparesis or diabetic neuropathy.[16] In most cases, celiac disease is diagnosed after onset of type 1 diabetes. The association of celiac disease with type 1 diabetes increases the risk of complications, such as retinopathy and mortality. This association can be explained by shared genetic factors, and inflammation or nutritional deficiencies caused by untreated celiac disease, even if type 1 diabetes is diagnosed first.[6]

Some people with type 1 diabetes experience dramatic and recurrent swings in glucose levels, often occurring for no apparent reason; this is called "unstable diabetes","labile diabetes" or "brittle diabetes".[17] The results of such swings can be irregular and unpredictable hyperglycemias, sometimes involving ketoacidosis, and sometimes serious hypoglycemias. Brittle diabetes occurs no more frequently than in 1% to 2% of diabetics.[17]

Type 1 diabetes is associated with alopecia areata (AA).[18] Type 1 diabetes is also more common in the family members of people with AA.[19]

The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown.[4] A number of explanatory theories have been put forward, and the cause may be one or more of the following: genetic susceptibility, a diabetogenic trigger, and exposure to an antigen.[20]

Type1 diabetes is a disease that involves many genes. The risk of a child developing type 1 diabetes is about 5% if the father has it, about 8% if a sibling has it, and about 3% if the mother has it.[21] If one identical twin is affected there is about a 40% chance the other will be too.[22][23] Some studies of heritability have estimated it at 80 to 86%.[24][25]

More than 50 genes are associated with type 1 diabetes. Depending on locus or combination of loci, they can be dominant, recessive, or somewhere in between. The strongest gene, IDDM1, is located in the MHC Class II region on chromosome 6, at staining region 6p21. Certain variants of this gene increase the risk for decreased histocompatibility characteristic of type1. Such variants include DRB1 0401, DRB1 0402, DRB1 0405, DQA 0301, DQB1 0302 and DQB1 0201, which are common in North Americans of European ancestry and in Europeans.[26] Some variants also appear to be protective.[26]

There is on the order of a 10-fold difference in occurrence among Caucasians living in different areas of Europe, and people tend to acquire the disease at the rate of their particular country.[20] Environmental triggers and protective factors under research include dietary agents such as proteins in gluten,[27] time of weaning, gut microbiota[28] and viral infections.[29]

Some chemicals and drugs selectively destroy pancreatic cells.Pyrinuron (Vacor), a rodenticide introduced in the United States in 1976, selectively destroys pancreatic beta cells, resulting in type 1 diabetes after accidental poisoning.[30] Pyrinuron was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1979 and it is not approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in the U.S.[31] Streptozotocin (Zanosar), an antineoplastic agent, is selectively toxic to the beta cells of the pancreatic islets. It is used in research for inducing type 1 diabetes on rodents[32] and for treating metastatic cancer of the pancreatic islet cells in patients whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery.[33] Other pancreatic problems, including trauma, pancreatitis, or tumors (either malignant or benign) can also lead to loss of insulin production.

The pathophysiology in diabetes type 1 is a destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, regardless of which risk factors or causative entities have been present.

Individual risk factors can have separate pathophysiological processes to, in turn, cause this beta cell destruction. Still, a process that appears to be common to most risk factors is an autoimmune response towards beta cells, involving an expansion of autoreactive CD4+ T helper cells and CD8+ T cells, autoantibody-producing B cells and activation of the innate immune system.[26][34]

After starting treatment with insulin a person's own insulin levels may temporarily improve.[35] This is believed to be due to altered immunity and is known as the "honeymoon phase".[35]

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia, and is diagnosed by demonstrating any one of the following:[38]

About a quarter of people with new type1 diabetes have developed some degree of diabetic ketoacidosis (a type of metabolic acidosis which is caused by high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids) by the time the diabetes is recognized. The diagnosis of other types of diabetes is usually made in other ways. These include ordinary health screening, detection of hyperglycemia during other medical investigations, and secondary symptoms such as vision changes or unexplained fatigue. Diabetes is often detected when a person suffers a problem that may be caused by diabetes, such as a heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, poor wound healing or a foot ulcer, certain eye problems, certain fungal infections, or delivering a baby with macrosomia or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).[citation needed]

A positive result, in the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia, should be confirmed by a repeat of any of the above-listed methods on a different day. Most physicians prefer to measure a fasting glucose level because of the ease of measurement and the considerable time commitment of formal glucose tolerance testing, which takes two hours to complete and offers no prognostic advantage over the fasting test.[40] According to the current definition, two fasting glucose measurements above 126mg/dl (7.0mmol/l) is considered diagnostic for diabetes mellitus.[citation needed]

In type1, pancreatic beta cells in the islets of Langerhans are destroyed, decreasing endogenous insulin production. This distinguishes type1's origin from type2. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, while type 1 diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency, generally without insulin resistance. Another hallmark of type 1 diabetes is islet autoreactivity, which is generally measured by the presence of autoantibodies directed towards the beta cells.[citation needed]

The appearance of diabetes-related autoantibodies has been shown to be able to predict the appearance of diabetes type 1 before any hyperglycemia arises, the main ones being islet cell autoantibodies, insulin autoantibodies, autoantibodies targeting the 65-kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), autoantibodies targeting the phosphatase-related IA-2 molecule, and zinc transporter autoantibodies (ZnT8).[20] By definition, the diagnosis of diabetes type 1 can be made first at the appearance of clinical symptoms and/or signs, but the emergence of autoantibodies may itself be termed "latent autoimmune diabetes". Not everyone with autoantibodies progresses to diabetes type 1, but the risk increases with the number of antibody types, with three to four antibody types giving a risk of progressing to diabetes type 1 of 60100%.[20] The time interval from emergence of autoantibodies to clinically diagnosable diabetes can be a few months in infants and young children, but in some people it may take years in some cases more than 10 years.[20] Islet cell autoantibodies are detected by conventional immunofluorescence, while the rest are measured with specific radiobinding assays.[20]

Type1 diabetes is not currently preventable.[41] Some researchers believe it might be prevented at the latent autoimmune stage, before it starts destroying beta cells.[26]

Cyclosporine A, an immunosuppressive agent, has apparently halted destruction of beta cells (on the basis of reduced insulin usage), but its kidney toxicity and other side effects make it highly inappropriate for long-term use.[26]

Anti-CD3 antibodies, including teplizumab and otelixizumab, had suggested evidence of preserving insulin production (as evidenced by sustained C-peptide production) in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients.[26] A probable mechanism of this effect was believed to be preservation of regulatory T cells that suppress activation of the immune system and thereby maintain immune system homeostasis and tolerance to self-antigens.[26] The duration of the effect is still unknown, however.[26] In 2011, Phase III studies with otelixizumab and teplizumab both failed to show clinical efficacy, potentially due to an insufficient dosing schedule.[42][43]

An anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, inhibits B cells and has been shown to provoke C-peptide responses three months after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, but long-term effects of this have not been reported.[26]

Some research has suggested breastfeeding decreases the risk in later life[44][45] and early introduction of gluten-containing cereals in the diet increases the risk of developing islet cell autoantibodies;[46] various other nutritional risk factors are being studied, but no firm evidence has been found.[47]Giving children 2000IU of vitamin D daily during their first year of life is associated with reduced risk of type1 diabetes, though the causal relationship is obscure.[48]

Children with antibodies to beta cell proteins (i.e. at early stages of an immune reaction to them) but no overt diabetes, and treated with niacinamide (vitamin B3), had less than half the diabetes onset incidence in a seven-year time span than did the general population, and an even lower incidence relative to those with antibodies as above, but who received no niacinamide.[49]

People with type 1 diabetes and undiagnosed celiac disease have worse glycaemic control and a higher prevalence of nephropathy and retinopathy. Gluten-free diet, when performed strictly, improves diabetes symptoms and appears to have a protective effect against developing long-term complications. Nevertheless, dietary management of both these diseases is challenging and these patients have poor compliance of the diet.[50]

Diabetes is often managed by a number of health care providers including a dietitian, nurse educator, eye doctor, endocrinologist, and podiatrist.[51]

A low-carbohydrate diet, exercise, and medications are useful in type 1 DM.[52] There are camps for children to teach them how and when to use or monitor their insulin without parental help.[53] As psychological stress may have a negative effect on diabetes, a number of measures have been recommended including: exercising, taking up a new hobby, or joining a charity, among others.[54]

Injections of insulin either via subcutaneous injection or insulin pump are necessary for those living with type 1 diabetes because it cannot be treated by diet and exercise alone.[55] Insulin dosage is adjusted taking into account food intake, blood glucose levels and physical activity.

Untreated type1 diabetes can commonly lead to diabetic ketoacidosis which is a diabetic coma which can be fatal if untreated.[56] Diabetic ketoacidosis can cause cerebral edema (accumulation of liquid in the brain). This is a life-threatening issue and children are at a higher risk for cerebral edema than adults, causing ketoacidosis to be the most common cause of death in pediatric diabetes.[57]

Treatment of diabetes focuses on lowering blood sugar or glucose (BG) to the near normal range, approximately 80140mg/dl (4.47.8mmol/l).[58] The ultimate goal of normalizing BG is to avoid long-term complications that affect the nervous system (e.g. peripheral neuropathy leading to pain and/or loss of feeling in the extremities), and the cardiovascular system (e.g. heart attacks, vision loss). This level of control over a prolonged period of time can be varied by a target HbA1c level of less than 7.5%.[5]

There are four main types of insulin: rapid acting insulin, short-acting insulin, intermediate-acting insulin, and long-acting insulin. The rapid acting insulin is used as a bolus dosage. The action onsets in 15 minutes with peak actions in 30 to 90 minutes. Short acting insulin action onsets within 30 minutes with the peak action around 2 to 4 hours. Intermediate acting insulin action onsets within one to two hours with peak action of four to 10 hours. Long-acting insulin is usually given once per day. The action onset is roughly 1 to 2 hours with a sustained action of up to 24 hours. Some insulins are biosynthetic products produced using genetic recombination techniques; formerly, cattle or pig insulins were used, and even sometimes insulin from fish.[59]

People with type 1 diabetes always need to use insulin, but treatment can lead to low BG (hypoglycemia), i.e. BG less than 70mg/dl (3.9mmol/l). Hypoglycemia is a very common occurrence in people with diabetes, usually the result of a mismatch in the balance among insulin, food and physical activity. Symptoms include excess sweating, excessive hunger, fainting, fatigue, lightheadedness and shakiness.[60] Mild cases are self-treated by eating or drinking something high in sugar. Severe cases can lead to unconsciousness and are treated with intravenous glucose or injections with glucagon. Continuous glucose monitors can alert patients to the presence of dangerously high or low blood sugar levels, but technical issues have limited the effect these devices have had on clinical practice.[citation needed]

As of 2016 an artificial pancreas looks promising with safety issues still being studied.[61] In 2018 they were deemed to be relatively safe.[62]

In some cases, a pancreas transplant can restore proper glucose regulation. However, the surgery and accompanying immunosuppression required may be more dangerous than continued insulin replacement therapy, so is generally only used with or some time after a kidney transplant. One reason for this is that introducing a new kidney requires taking immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine, which allows the introduction of a new pancreas to a person with diabetes without any additional immunosuppressive therapy. However, pancreas transplants alone may be beneficial in people with extremely labile type1 diabetes mellitus.[63]

Islet cell transplantation may be an option for some people with type 1 diabetes that are not well controlled with insulin.[64] Difficulties include finding donors that are compatible, getting the new islets to survive, and the side effects from the medications used to prevent rejection.[64][65] Success rates, defined as not needing insulin at 3 years following the procedure occurred in 44% of people on registry from 2010.[64] In the United States, as of 2016, it is considered an experimental treatment.[65]

Complications of poorly managed type 1 diabetes mellitus may include cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, among others. However, cardiovascular disease[66] as well as neuropathy[67] may have an autoimmune basis, as well. Women with type 1 DM have a 40% higher risk of death as compared to men with type 1 DM.[68] The life expectancy of an individual with type 1 diabetes is 11 years less for men and 13 years less for women.[69]

People with diabetes show an increased rate of urinary tract infection.[70] The reason is bladder dysfunction that is more common in diabetics than in non-diabetics due to diabetic nephropathy. When present, nephropathy can cause a decrease in bladder sensation, which in turn, can cause increased residual urine, a risk factor for urinary tract infections.[71]

Sexual dysfunction in diabetics is often a result of physical factors such as nerve damage and poor circulation, and psychological factors such as stress and/or depression caused by the demands of the disease.[72]

The most common sexual issues in diabetic males are problems with erections and ejaculation: "With diabetes, blood vessels supplying the peniss erectile tissue can get hard and narrow, preventing the adequate blood supply needed for a firm erection. The nerve damage caused by poor blood glucose control can also cause ejaculate to go into the bladder instead of through the penis during ejaculation, called retrograde ejaculation. When this happens, semen leaves the body in the urine." Another cause of erectile dysfunction is reactive oxygen species created as a result of the disease. Antioxidants can be used to help combat this.[73]

Studies find a significant prevalence of sexual problems in diabetic women,[72] including reduced sensation in the genitals, dryness, difficulty/inability to orgasm, pain during sex, and decreased libido. Diabetes sometimes decreases estrogen levels in females, which can affect vaginal lubrication. Less is known about the correlation between diabetes and sexual dysfunction in females than in males.[72]

Oral contraceptive pills can cause blood sugar imbalances in diabetic women. Dosage changes can help address that, at the risk of side effects and complications.[72]

Women with type 1 diabetes show a higher than normal rate of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).[74] The reason may be that the ovaries are exposed to high insulin concentrations since women with type 1 diabetes can have frequent hyperglycemia.[75]

Women with type 1 diabetes are higher risk for other autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.[76][77]

Type1 diabetes makes up an estimated 510% of all diabetes cases[8] or 1122million worldwide.[41] In 2006 it affected 440,000 children under 14 years of age and was the primary cause of diabetes in those less than 10 years of age.[78] The incidence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing by about 3% per year.[78]

Rates vary widely by country. In Finland, the incidence is a high of 57 per 100,000 per year, in Japan and China a low of 1 to 3 per 100,000 per year, and in Northern Europe and the U.S., an intermediate of 8 to 17 per 100,000 per year.[79][80]

In the United States, type 1 diabetes affected about 208,000 youths under the age of 20 in 2015. Over 18,000 youths are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes every year. Every year about 234,051 Americans die due to diabetes (type I or II) or diabetes-related complications, with 69,071 having it as the primary cause of death.[81]

In Australia, about one million people have been diagnosed with diabetes and of this figure 130,000 people have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Australia ranks 6th-highest in the world with children under 14 years of age. Between 2000 and 2013, 31,895 new cases were established, with 2,323 in 2013, a rate of 1013 cases per 100,00 people each year. Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people are less affected.[82][83]

Type 1 diabetes was described as an autoimmune disease in the 1970s, based on observations that autoantibodies against islets were discovered in diabetics with other autoimmune deficiencies.[84] It was also shown in the 1980s that immunosuppressive therapies could slow disease progression, further supporting the idea that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder.[85] The name juvenile diabetes was used earlier as it often first is diagnosed in childhood.

The disease was estimated to cause $10.5 billion in annual medical costs ($875 per month per diabetic) and an additional $4.4 billion in indirect costs ($366 per month per person with diabetes) in the U.S.[86] In the United States $245 billion every year is attributed to diabetes. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes have 2.3 times the health care costs as individuals who do not have diabetes. One in 10 health care dollars are spent on individuals with diabetes.[81]

Funding for research into type 1 diabetes originates from government, industry (e.g., pharmaceutical companies), and charitable organizations. Government funding in the United States is distributed via the National Institute of Health, and in the UK via the National Institute for Health Research or the Medical Research Council. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), founded by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, is the world's largest provider of charity-based funding for type 1 diabetes research.[citation needed] Other charities include the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes UK, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation,[87] Diabetes Australia, the Canadian Diabetes Association.

A number of approaches have been explored to understand causes and provide treatments for type 1.

Data suggest that gliadin (a protein present in gluten) might play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes, but the mechanism is not fully understood.[27][46] Increased intestinal permeability caused by gluten and the subsequent loss of intestinal barrier function, which allows the passage of pro-inflammatory substances into the blood, may induce the autoimmune response in genetically predisposed individuals to type 1 diabetes.[6][46] There is evidence from experiments conducted in animal models that removal of gluten from the diet may prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes[27][88] but there has been conflicting research in humans.[88]

One theory proposes that type1 diabetes is a virus-triggered autoimmune response in which the immune system attacks virus-infected cells along with the beta cells in the pancreas.[29][89] Several viruses have been implicated, including enteroviruses (especially coxsackievirus B), cytomegalovirus, EpsteinBarr virus, mumps virus, rubella virus and rotavirus, but to date there is no stringent evidence to support this hypothesis in humans.[90] A 2011 systematic review and meta-analysis showed an association between enterovirus infections and type 1 diabetes, but other studies have shown that, rather than triggering an autoimmune process, enterovirus infections, as coxsackievirus B, could protect against onset and development of type 1 diabetes.[91]

Gene therapy has also been proposed as a possible cure for type 1 diabetes.[92]

Pluripotent stem cells can be used to generate beta cells but previously these cells did not function as well as normal beta cells.[93] In 2014 more mature beta cells were produced which released insulin in response to blood sugar when transplanted into mice.[94][95] Before these techniques can be used in humans more evidence of safety and effectiveness is needed.[93]

Vaccines to treat or prevent Type 1 diabetes are designed to induce immune tolerance to insulin or pancreatic beta cells.[96] While Phase II clinical trials of a vaccine containing alum and recombinant GAD65, an autoantigen involved in type1 diabetes, were promising, as of 2014 Phase III had failed.[96] As of 2014, other approaches, such as a DNA vaccine encoding proinsulin and a peptide fragment of insulin, were in early clinical development.[96]

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Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms – verywellhealth.com

Sunday, December 16th, 2018

While 21 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, there are about 8.1 million people who are walking around with the disease and don't know it (27.8 percent of people with diabetes are undiagnosed). Symptoms of diabetes vary from person to person. But, the earlier you catch them, the better it is for your overall health and diabetes care.

It is worth getting to know, and keeping a lookout for, the symptoms of diabetesespecially if any of the below already apply to you.

If you are experiencing any of the following, you should be seen by your primary care doctor as soon as possible.

Polyuria (Excessive Urination)Polyuria is defined as an increase in the frequency of urination. When you have abnormally high levels of sugar in your blood, your kidneys draw in water from your tissues to dilute that sugar, so that your body can get rid of it through the urine. The cells are also pumping water into the bloodstream to help flush out sugar, and the kidneys are unable to reabsorb this fluid during filtering, which results in excess urination.

To meet the clinical definition of polyuria, urine output for an adult must exceed 2.5 liters per day (normal urine output is 1.5 liters per day).

As it's pretty hard for you to measure this yourself, simply note if you're visiting the restroom far more often than usual and/if you're staying there longer when you do.

Polydipsia (Excessive Thirst)Excessive thirst typically goes hand-in-hand with increased urination. As your body pulls water out of the tissues to dilute your blood and to rid your body of sugar through the urine, the urge to drink increases. Many people describe this thirst as an unquenchable one. To stay hydrated, you drink excessive amounts of liquids. And if those liquids contain simple sugars (soda, sweet iced tea, lemonade, or juice, for example) your sugars will skyrocket even higher.

Extreme FatigueYour body is like a carit needs fuel to function. Its primary source of fuel is glucose (sugar), which is gained from foods that contain carbohydrates that get broken down. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, takes sugar from your blood to your cells to use for energy. However, when you have diabetes, either your pancreas isn't making enough insulin or the insulin that your body is making isn't being used the way it's supposed to be, typically because the cells become resistant to it.

This results in your cells becoming deprived of sugar, or fuel. The result: tiredness and extreme fatigue. This often gets misunderstood as hunger, and people eat more.

Polyphasia (Excessive Hunger)Excessive hunger goes hand-in-hand with fatigue and cell starvation. Because the cells are resistant to the body's insulin, glucose remains in the blood. The cells are then unable to gain access to glucose, which can trigger hunger hormones that tell the brain that you are hungry. Excessive eating can complicate things further by causing blood sugars to increase.

NeuropathyNumbness, tingling, or "pins and needles" in the extremities is referred to as neuropathy. Neuropathy is usually a symptom that occurs gradually over time as excess sugar damages the nerves. Keeping blood sugars within normal range can help prevent further damage and reduce symptoms. People with severe symptoms may receive medication.

Cuts and Bruises That are Slow to HealWhen the blood is thick with sugar, nerves and circulation can be affected.

Adequate circulation is needed to heal. Poor circulation can make it hard for blood to reach affected areas, slowing down the healing process. If you notice that you've had a cut or bruise that is very slow to go away, this could be a sign of high blood sugars.

Blurry VisionBlurred vision can result from elevated blood sugar. Similarly, fluid that is pulled from the cells into the bloodstream to dilute the sugar can also be pulled from the lenses of your eyes. When the lens of the eye becomes dry, the eye is unable to focus, resulting in blurry vision. It's important that all people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a dilated eye exam shortly after diagnosis. Damage to the eye can even occur before a diagnosis of diabetes exists.

These symptoms are not experienced by everyone with diabetes, but they can signal the disease and are worth being aware of:

The same tests used to screen and diagnose diabetes are used to detect individuals with pre-diabetes. There are a few ways to get diagnosed. Your doctor can choose to do a variety of blood tests, depending on whether or not you have symptoms. Whether you are at low or high risk for diabetes, your physician will use these same tests:

Sometimes people don't experience symptoms of diabetes and the diagnosis is made not because a doctor necessarily suspects the disease, but as the result of a routine check-up.

For someone who is not having any symptoms to be considered to have type 2 diabetes, he or she must:

For someone who is having symptoms of type 2 diabetes, he or she can have any of the above test results or a random blood sugar of 200mg/dL or higher.

According to the American Diabetes 2016 Clinical Guidelines, unless the patient is experiencing symptoms, tests should be repeated using a new blood sample to confirm a diagnosis.

If you've just been diagnosed with diabetes, it is normal to feel scared, confused, and overwhelmed. There are so many myths out there about diabetes, which can certainly make coping more difficult. Try not to listen to things other people have to say, such as, you can never eat carbohydrates again. Instead, get educated.

Talk with your doctor about connecting with a certified diabetes educator and receiving diabetes self-management education. Learning about what to eat, what your medicines do, and how to test your blood sugars are just some of the things these resources can help with. Educators can also dispel myths, create meal plans, coordinate other doctors appointments for you, and listen to your needs. They are trained to teach using a patient-centered approach. They are your advocates who specialize in diabetes. Ask your doctor today or go to the American Association of Diabetes Educators website to find someone near you. Be sure to call your insurance company to see if these services are covered, too.

We give you special kudos for managing your condition, as it is not always easy. If you've had diabetes for a long time, it's normal to burn out sometimes. You may get tired of your day to day tasks, such as counting carbohydrates or measuring your blood sugar. Lean on a loved one or a friend for support, or consider talking to someone else who has diabetes who can provide, perhaps, an even more understanding ear or ideas that can help you.

If you find that you are a little rusty and could use a refresher course in nutrition or anything else related to diabetes, consider signing up for a diabetes conversation map class. These classes are a good way to re-learn key components of diabetes in a group setting. If you have adequate knowledge and are instead looking for ways to make your life easier, check out some apps, nutrition resources, or fitness trackers that can help you stay moving and cook healthy meals. Keeping up the good work is worth it, as it can help prevent complications.

If, on the other hand, you are already starting to develop complications or your medication regimen has changed because your blood sugars are getting higher, remember that diabetes is a progressive diseaseand sometimes these things just happen without any influence from your own actions. As you age, beta cells in the pancreas get tired and stop working. If you've had diabetes for 20 years and now need to start insulin, for example, it doesn't mean you've failed. It just means that your body needs some help. Make sure you continue to receive education and that you continue to have someone to lean on when you need it, and keep the lines of communication open with your doctor. It truly can make a difference.

Getting diagnosed with diabetes can be shocking, but the good news is that, although it is a disease you must deal with daily, it is a manageable one. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, especially if you are someone who is at high risk, you should meet with your primary care physician to get tested. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the more likely you can get your diabetes under control and prevent complications.

And remember not to let others scare you into thinking the worst. Getting educated will help you to understand that a diabetes diagnosis, while serious, is not the end of the world. For some people, lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, healthy eating, and exercise can actually get blood sugars below the diabetes threshold. You can control your diabetes and not let it control you.

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Type 2 diabetes – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

Saturday, November 24th, 2018

Overview

Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body's important source of fuel.

With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level.

More common in adults, type 2 diabetes increasingly affects children as childhood obesity increases. There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but you may be able to manage the condition by eating well, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar well, you also may need diabetes medications or insulin therapy.

Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can have type 2 diabetes for years and not know it. Look for:

See your doctor if you notice any type 2 diabetes symptoms.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. Exactly why this happens is unknown, although genetics and environmental factors, such as excess weight and inactivity, seem to be contributing factors.

Insulin is a hormone that comes from the gland situated behind and below the stomach (pancreas).

Glucose a sugar is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues.

In type 2 diabetes, this process doesn't work well. Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. As blood sugar levels increase, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas release more insulin, but eventually these cells become impaired and can't make enough insulin to meet the body's demands.

In the much less common type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the beta cells, leaving the body with little to no insulin.

Researchers don't fully understand why some people develop type 2 diabetes and others don't. It's clear, however, that certain factors increase the risk, including:

Type 2 diabetes can be easy to ignore, especially in the early stages when you're feeling fine. But diabetes affects many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Controlling your blood sugar levels can help prevent these complications.

Although long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually, they can eventually be disabling or even life-threatening. Some of the potential complications of diabetes include:

Healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent type 2 diabetes. Even if you have diabetes in your family, diet and exercise can help you prevent the disease. If you've already received a diagnosis of diabetes, you can use healthy lifestyle choices to help prevent complications. And if you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can slow or halt the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.

Sometimes medication is an option as well. Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others), an oral diabetes medication, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients.

For Candace Clark, bariatric surgery meant the difference between struggling with weight issues, including medical problems triggered by obesity, and enjoying renewed health and energy. "I felt like I was slowly dying," says Candace Clark, a 54-year-old Barron, Wisconsin, resident who had dealt with weight issues for years. "I was tired of feeling the way [...]

When Debbie Hundley learned she had diabetes and realized what it was doing to her body, she was determined to make the adjustments needed to get the disease under control and keep it that way. For Debbie Hundley, the shift was gradual. Life got busy. She let things go, and before she knew it, her [...]

Sept. 15, 2018

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Diabetes – pcrm.org

Saturday, November 24th, 2018

Growing up, Marc Ramirez thought that diabetes was inevitable. As a young adult, his mother and six of his siblings battled type 2 diabetes and suffered through side effects, including kidney and pancreas transplants, amputations, and dialysis. Eventually, Marc was diagnosed, too. He tried to improve his health by lowering his carb intake and exercising, but he soon found himself on daily insulin injections and four other medications. Frustrated and feeling hopeless, he asked his doctor if he would ever live a life without daily medications. When his doctor said, no, Marc decided to take his health into his own hands.

After hearing about the health benefits of a plant-based diet, he and his wife decided to give it a try. His new diet followed just a few simple rules: He would avoid animal products and keep it low in fat. Otherwise, he could eat as much as he wanted, without counting carbs or calories. Marcs daily menu included foods like oatmeal with fruit, pasta primavera piled high with vegetables, and spicy black bean burritos. Under his doctors supervision, in less than two months, Marc was not only able to drop his daily insulin injections, but every last one of his medications. His glucose levels are now completely normal.

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Diabetes - pcrm.org

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Diabetes – Lab Tests Online

Thursday, November 8th, 2018

NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.

Sources Used in Current Review

Khardori, R. (Updated 2014 September 15). Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117739-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed September 2014.

Khardori, R. (Updated 2014 September 16). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117853-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed September 2014.

Patel, S. and Reddy, D. (Updated 2012 September 18). Gestational Diabetes Testing Protocol. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2049380-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed September 2014.

Nichols, G. (2014 September 24). The Existential Question of Prediabetes. Medscape Multispecialty [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/831930 through http://www.medscape.com. Accessed September 2014.

Drobnik, J. and Schwartz, R. (Updated 2013 July 25). Dermatologic Manifestations of Hemochromatosis. Medscape Drugs & Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1104743-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed September 2014.

(2012 July). Prediabetes, What You Need to Know. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/prediabetes_ES/ through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(Updated 2014 February 12). Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/index.aspx through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(2014 June). Causes of Diabetes. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/causes/Causes_of_Diabetes_508.pdf through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(Updated 2014 July 28). National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(Updated 2014 September 10). Diagnosis of Diabetes and Prediabetes. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/ through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(Updated 2014 August 27). Monogenic Forms of Diabetes: Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus and Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/mody/index.aspx through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

Parkin, C. (2013 February). LADA, the Other Diabetes, Can Be Hard to Spot. Diabetes Forecast [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2013/feb/lada-the-other-diabetes-can-be-hard-to-spot.html through http://www.diabetesforecast.org. Accessed September 2014.

(2013 September). Gestational Diabetes: What You Need to Know. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/gestational_ES/ through http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(2014 January). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes 2014. Diabetes Care Volume 37, Supplement 1 [On-line information]. Available online at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/Supplement_1/S14.full.pdf+html through http://care.diabetesjournals.org. Accessed September 2014.

(2014 January). Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care Volume 37, Supplement 1 [On-line information]. Available online at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/Supplement_1/S81.full.pdf+html through http://care.diabetesjournals.org. Accessed September 2014.

(2013 September). Gestational Diabetes. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Gestational-Diabetes through http://www.acog.org. Accessed September 2014.

Copeland, K. et. al. (2013 January 28). Management of Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics v 131 (2) [On-line information]. Available online at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/2/364.full?sid=d1840c80-287b-43ca-ac9c-68b0b1d5dfa8 through http://pediatrics.aappublications.org. Accessed September 2014.

(Reviewed 2013 August 2). Hemochromatosis. American Diabetes Association [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/related-conditions/hemochromatosis.html through http://www.diabetes.org. Accessed September 2014.

Gebel, E. (2010 May). Another Kind of Diabetes: MODY, Often misdiagnosed, the disease is caused by a faulty gene. Diabetes Forecast [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2010/may/another-kind-of-diabetes-mody.html through http://www.diabetesforecast.org. Accessed September 2014.

Gebel, E. (2010 May). The Other Diabetes: LADA, or Type 1.5, Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is gradually being understood. Diabetes Forecast [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2010/may/the-other-diabetes-lada-or-type-1-5.html through http://www.diabetesforecast.org. Accessed September 2014.

(2014 July). Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents. From the National Diabetes Education Program [On-line information]. Available online at http://ndep.nih.gov/media/Overview-of-Diabetes-Children-508_2014.pdf through http://ndep.nih.gov. Accessed September 2014.

(October 2014) U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Draft Recommendation Statement. Abnormal Glucose and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults: Screening. Available online at http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementDraft/screening-for-abnormal-glucose-and-type-2-diabetes-mellitus through http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Accessed November 22, 2014.

July 25, 2013. Lisa Nainggolan. ACOG Issues New Practice Bulletin on Gestational Diabetes. Medscape News. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/808409 through http://www.medscape.com. Accessed October 29.

July 01, 2014. Brown, HL. ACOG Guidelines at a Glance: Gestational Diabetes. Available online at http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/content/tags/acog-guidelines/acog-guidelines-glance-gestational-diabetes-mellitus through http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com. Accessed October 2014.

Soures Used in Previous Reviews

Thomas, Clayton L., Editor (1997). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA [18th Edition].

Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (2001). Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 5th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO.

(1995-2004). Diabetes Mellitus. The Merck Manual of Medical Information-Second Home Edition [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec13/ch165/ch165a.html?qt=Diabetes&alt=sh through http://www.merck.com.

(2005 January). Diagnosis of Diabetes. National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIH Publication No. 05-4642 [On-line information]. Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/index.htm through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. Reaccessed 2/20/08.

All About Diabetes. American Diabetes Association [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp through http://www.diabetes.org. Reaccessed 2/20/08.

National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet.htm through http://www.cdc.gov.

Jonnalagadda, S. (2004 February 19). Serum ketones. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003498.htm.

Magee, C. (2005 December 9, Updated). Ketones urine. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003585.htm.

(2003). Ketone testing. National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines [On-line information]. PDF available for download at http://www.nacb.org/lmpg/diabetes/5_diabetes_keytone.pdf#search='%2C%20ketone%20diabetes' through http://www.nacb.org.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: National Diabetes Statistics (2005). Available online at http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/ through http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Recommendations and Rationale: Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (February 2003). Available online at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/gdm/gdmrr.htm through http://www.ahrq.gov.

American Diabetes Association. Executive summary: standards of medical care in diabetes2010. Jan 2010. Diabetes Care 33: S4-S10.

(January 2010) The Endocrine Society Statement on the use of A1c for Diabetes Diagnosis and Risk Estimation. PDF available for download at http://www.endo-society.org/advocacy/upload/TES-Statement-on-A1C-Use.pdf through http://www.endo-society.org. Accessed January 2010.

(Updated 2011 May 5). Basics about Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/learn.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed May 2011.

(2011). National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011. CDC [On-line information]. PDF available for download at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed May 2011.

(Updated 2010 October). Type 2 Diabetes Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health [On-line information]. Available online at http://report.nih.gov/NIHfactsheets/Pdfs/Type2Diabetes(NIDDK).pdf through http://report.nih.gov. Accessed May 2011.

Khardori, R. (Updated 2011 May 19). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117853-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed May 2011.

Moore, T. (Updated 2011 April 13). Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/127547-overview through http://emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed May 2011.

Mayo Clinic Staff (2011 March 9). Diabetes. MayoClinic.com [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetes/DS01121/METHOD=print through http://www.mayoclinic.com. Accessed May 2011.

Grenache, D. (Updated 2011 April). Diabetes Mellitus. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/DiabetesMellitus.html#tabs=0 through http://www.arupconsult.com. Accessed May 2011.

Kerr, M. (Updated 2009 June 23) ADA 2009: New Blood Test Bridges Time Gap Between Serum Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c. Medscape Medical News [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/704358 through http://www.medscape.com. Accessed May 2011.

American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes2011. Diabetes Care January 2011 34:S11-S61. Available online at http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/Supplement_1/S11.full throughhttp://care.diabetesjournals.org.

Metzger BE, et al. International association of diabetes and pregnancy study groups recommendations on the diagnosis and classification of hyperglycemia in pregnancy. Diabetes Care 2010; 33: 676-82.

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About Diabetes, Type 2: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by "insulin resistance" as body cells do not respond appropriately when insulin is present. This is a more complex problem than type 1, but is sometimes easier to treat, since insulin is still produced, especially in the initial years. Type 2 may go unnoticed for years in a patient before diagnosis, since the symptoms are typically milder (no ketoacidosis) and can be sporadic. However, severe complications can result from unnoticed type 2 diabetes, including renal failure, and coronary artery disease. Type 2 diabetes was formerly known by a variety of partially misleading names, including "adult-onset diabetes", "obesity-related diabetes", "insulin-resistant diabetes", or "non-insulin-dependent diabetes" (NIDDM). It may be caused by a number of diseases, such as hemochromatosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, and can also be caused by certain types of medications (e.g. long-term steroid use). About 90-95% of all North American cases of diabetes are type 2, and about 20% of the population over the age of 65 is a type 2 diabetic. The fraction of type 2 diabetics in other parts of the world varies substantially, almost certainly for environmental and lifestyle reasons. There is also a strong inheritable genetic connection in type 2 diabetes: having relatives (especially first degree) with type 2 is a considerable risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. The majority of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are obese - chronic obesity leads to increased insulin resistance that can develop into diabetes, most likely because adipose tissue is a (recently identified) source of chemical signals (hormones and cytokines).

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