Diabetes Mellitus - abnormally high blood sugar

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high because the body does not produce enough insulin to meet its needs. The two most common forms of diabetes are due to either a diminished production of insulin (in type1), or diminished response by the body to insulin (in type 2 and gestational).

Causes:

Hereditary and environmental causes,such as exposure to certain chemicals or drugs,some viral infections,obesity,advanced age ,unhealthy diet ,family history of diabetes,improper functioning of the pancreas, medication (cortisone and some high blood pressure drugs) ,women having given birth to a baby weighing more than 9 lbs.previously diagnosed gestational diabetes.

Symptoms:

Frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, blurred vision, irritability, nausea and vomiting. Fatigue,Poor wound healing,Altered mental status ,unexplained weight gain, pain, cramping, tingling or numbness in feet, unusual drowsiness, frequent vaginal or skin infections, dry, itchy skin and slow healing sores.

Treatment:

Type 1 treatments include combination use of regular or NPH insulin, and/or synthetic insulin analogs (eg, Humalog, Novolog or Apidra) in combinations such as Lantus/Levemir and Humalog, Novolog or Apidra,use of the insulin pump (eg, from Deltec Cozmo, Animas, Medtronic Minimed, Insulet Omnipod, or ACCU-CHEK), pancreatic transplantation.For treating Type II diabetes the drugs prescribed are: Sulfonylureas (Diabinese, Dymelor, PresTab, Orinase, Tolinase, Micronase, DiaBeta, Glynase, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL and Amaryl), Biguanides (Glucophage and Metformin,Alpha-glucoside inhibitors (Precose),Meglitinides.D-phenylalanine derivatives,Amylin synthetic derivativessuch as pramlintide (Symlin),Incretin mimetics,exenatide (Byetta) .

Prevention:

A healthy diet is key to controlling blood sugar levels and preventing diabetes complications. Use breakfast cereals based on oats, barley and bran,use breads with whole grains, stone-ground flour,reduce potatoes use, include fruits and vegetables ,use Basmati, Doongara or Japanese koshihikari rice , Eat plenty of salad vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing , glucose control,maintain a healthy weight,Drink an adequate amount of water and avoid taking too much salt, breastfeeding ,Giving children 2000 IU of vitamin D during their first year of life. exercise,walking,fat intake and eating sufficient fibre,moderate alcohol intake,avoid smoking.

Alternative Treatment:

It includes:homeopathy,hydropathy,aromatherapy,traditional Chinese medicine,acupuncture,healing touch therapy,ayurvedic treatment,Yoga and meditation,herbal medicines,hypnotherapy,psychotherapy,use blood sugar regulators, drink lots of distilled water, eating lots of vegetables and fruits(apple)fiber rich foods.