Diagnosis
The Eyes Have It
08/04/08
Diagnosis
New Technology Predicts Diabetic Trouble
03/10/08
Diagnosis
Chronic Stress Could Be Elevating Your Blood Sugar
11/08/07
Living Well, Diagnosis
Stress can complicate life with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
There are two kinds of stress. The first kind is the immediate stress one feels in a moment of thrill or panic. A roller-coaster ride or an argument can send adrenaline and other stress hormones pouring into the blood stream, along with an infusion of glucose from muscles and the liver. For most people this is an infrequent experience and it does not impact long-term blood sugar levels. However, if you work in an emergency room, or as a police officer, a few adrenaline rushes each day may be elevating your blood sugar.
The second kind of stress is the chronic stress that people live with every day. This prolonged state of mind can be harmful to people with diabetes.
Researching Cinnamon's Possible Diabetes Benefits
10/12/07
Treatment Options, Diagnosis, Research
While the latest study on cinnamon shows that it does not help diabetes, it may not be time to dismiss the tasty spice altogether.
A recent edition of the the journal Diabetes Care reported on a study that tested doses of cinnamon to determine if it could help people with diabetes. The study found that cinnamon did not reduce blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, or lower cholesterol.
Heart Images Identify Pre-diabetes Fat Deposits
09/05/07
Prediabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance, Type II Diabetes, Living Well, Treatment Options, Diagnosis, Prevention, General
According to research reported in this article, fat often builds up on the heart before the onset of diabetes. Researchers in Texas learned this while developing an exam that would allow them to take more complex images of the heart during an MRI scan.
Meals that won't digest - diabetic gastroparesis
04/23/07
Nutrition & Exercise, Diagnosis, General
Diabetes can damages nerves in the strangest places. Each of us has a vagus nerve that sends signals between the brain, stomach, and intestines. One of those signals tells the stomach to push all of its contents into the intestines. When diabetic neuropathy damages the vagus nerve, the stomach can sit for a long time without passing the contents on down the line. This phenomenon is called diabetic gastroparesis.
New Test for Diabetic Nephropathy Could Be Giant Leap
03/22/07
Diagnosis, Prevention, Disease Basics, General
One of the big problems with kidney disease is you don't know you have it until a lot of damage has been done. It is rare for a patient or physician to identify diabetic kidney disease, or nephropathy, early on. The urine test just does not pick up the proteins that indicate damage until a lot of damage is done.
Are there Gaps in Your Diabetes Care?
03/08/07
Treatment Options, Diagnosis, General
- by Matt Nilsen
In many parts of the world, governments finance health care rather than individuals, health plans, or insurers. Perhaps it is more accurate to state that the health plan or health insurer is the government. Parallel with the financial responsibility, many governments also feel an obligation to manage health the best that they can. We assume that most of our readership is from the United States, so we'll do a little comparing.
Do Some Diabetics Suffer from Depression
06/19/06
General, Disease Basics, Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment Options, Living Well
What can you learn from 145 youth, and some insight from their parents, when you ask them specific questions about depression? In a recent study, Harvard researchers learned that depression is more common among young Type I diabetics then their peers who do not battle diabetes.
Researchers interviewed kids between the age of ten and eighteen, and asked them the questions from a common psychological test, the Children’s Depression Inventory. They also administered a questionnaire called the Diabetes Family Conflict Scale. They found that:
- 15.2% of the youth with diabetes exhibited symptoms of depression. In the general population of ten to 18 year olds, one would expect six to ten percent of youth to report depression symptoms.
- Kids that exhibited symptoms of depression also tended to have higher A1C levels, report more family conflict, and exhibit negative affect (unpleasant outlook and attitude).
The 2006 clinical guidelines published by the ADA, coach physicians and other health care providers to recognize possible indicators of depression. It reads: “Screening for psychosocial problems such as depression, eating disorders, and cognitive impairment is needed when adherence to the medical regimen is poor.”
When kids are not complying with their doctor’s advice, it is a sign that depression could be present.
It would be irresponsible to speculate if diabetes by itself is a major cause of depression. However, we all remember being a kid. We know that managing diabetes is a challenge as a routine. It also could be socially awkward is some social situations. Furthermore, your body is working harder because it is fighting the disease. That can wear down you physical and emotional health.
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Adults living with diabetes have a higher risk of developing depression. The National Institutes of Mental Health created this document. It outlines some of the symptoms of depression. If you are experiencing some of the symptoms it mentions, talk to your doctor. You don’t even need to make an appointment. A phone call may actually be easier. Your doctor has listened to many people as they have battled depression. She or he has opened doors to help them. Within a few days or weeks the sorrow often starts to depart, and emotional healing starts to progress.