What Exactly Is This “Gestational Diabetes”?

By Ashish Jain

Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs
during pregnancy. It is one of the top health complications
that a woman has to face during pregnancy. Indeed a double
curse!

If the woman had gestational diabetes during pregnancy then she
is most likely to pass it on to the child. So, if a woman has
gestational diabetes during pregnancy, there is an increased
risk of developing diabetes for both mother and child. Timely
knowledge about this condition, goes to control it effectively
by diet and exercise. After the baby is born, the mother and
the child both recoup their original health.

One problem gives room for a series of problems. The major risk
is the birth of a fat baby. The condition is known as
macrosomia. The baby by birth will have its own problems, the
common one being damage to its shoulders during birth.

Some basic precautions have to be taken to prevent the risk of
gestational diabetes. It is taking recourse to natural methods
again! Make it a point to lose weight, if you are overweight.
Be careful and choosy about your food, and above all, do
exercises regularly. This type of diabetes is a temporary
condition, a passing phase, that occurs during pregnancy.

There is another risk for the baby. It may develop breathing
problems.

The exact causes of the gestational diabetes are not known yet.
But there are certain clues and possibilities, why gestational
diabetes occurs! It is insulin resistance.

The baby, as it grows, is supported by the placenta. Hormones
help the baby develop. But the hormones also do a damaging act.
They block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body. The
mother’s body finds it hard to use insulin, so her requirement
of insulin goes up by 300 % and gestational diabetes is the
result!

Utmost care is needed to combat gestational diabetes, as it
concerns the health of the mother as well as that of the baby.
Food choices are of paramount importance. This will have
beneficial effects on the health of your baby’s growth. If you
are fit and healthy, the risk of cesarean section birth can
also be avoided.

In many cases, it has been found that gestational diabetes
leads to type II diabetes later.

Do exercises regularly even during pregnancy, but only after
consulting your doctor. This is the formative period for you as
well as for the baby. Proper exercises provide strength to your
body and act favorably for the growth of the baby within.

Shut the door on the face of the diabetes, even if it pleads
that it is only gestation. This evil does not deserve mercy.


About The Author: Ashish Jain writes about many topics. For
more information on diabetes visit http://www.diabitieslife.com.

Two Types of Diabetes and How They Differ

By A. Pruder

There are two types of diabetes, which consists of Type I and
Type II. It is important to understand the distinction between
the two and how both are treated.

Type 1 diabetes is commonly found in children and/or
adolescents, but may also occur in adults. With type 1
diabetes, there is almost always a complete deficiency of
insulin. As a result, the most common treatment is insulin
injections, a lifestyle that consists of both diet and exercise
and regular monitoring of blood glucose levels with the use of
blood testing monitors. Patients who have been diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes can continue to enjoy a normal life providing
they continue with their treatment and take special care to
follow their doctor’s instructions and/or recommendation.

With type 2 diabetes, an individual’s insulin level is usually
either normal or sometimes even elevated, but is not deficient.
This form of diabetes is believed to be more complicated than
type 1, but ironically is thought to be easier to treat.
Because insulin is still being produced inside the body, type 2
diabetes often goes undetected for years. Symptoms are milder
and may even be sporadic, which often reduces the level of
concern. The main problem with type 2 diabetes going unnoticed
is the potential for serious complications, including renal
failure and coronary artery disease. The initial treatment
phase of type 2 diabetes will likely include a lifestyle
adjustment to feature increased physical activity and a diet
that is geared toward weight loss. The next step, if necessary,
will be medication and possibly insulin therapy if needed.

Both types of diabetes require that the patient maintain normal
blood glucose levels in an effort to reduce the possibility of
organ damage, including eyesight, kidney, blood circulation,
etc. In order for this to occur, patients must carefully
monitor their food intake and make sure to participate in
regular exercise, all the while continuing to monitor their
blood glucose level.

As of 2006, there is no known cure for diabetes. A chronic
disease that effects many, diabetes is best treated through
patient education, nutrition, self awareness and long-term
care. In addition, patients are often urged to be aware of
other symptoms that may indicate complications arising from
diabetes.

The contents of this article are to be used for informational
purposes only. It should not be used in conjunction with, or in
place of, professional medical advice relating to diabetes. This
article must not be used as a basis for diagnosing or treating
diabetes, but rather an informational source designed to
explain the difference between the two types. For further
information, a diagnosis or recommended treatment method for
diabetes, individuals should consult a licensed physician.


About The Author: For more information about diabetes, click
the link to visit our website at http://www.diabetesreport.info.

Can I Go Tanning With Diabetes

Article by Kacey C. Hall

Diabetes and Tanning
If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes or are
susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these conditions can
be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation from
tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition,
your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight
if you use certain medications, for example, antihistamines,
tranquilizers or birth control pills. Your tanning salon may
keep a file with information on your medical history,
medications, and treatments. Make sure you update it as
necessary.

Protecting Yourself
Limit your exposure to avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device,
ask whether the manufacturer or the salon staff recommend
exposure limits for your skin type. Set a timer on the tanning
device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow
signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that
exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of
exposure is important relative to burning.

Knowing your Tanning Lotion
Some suntanning products don't contain sunscreen. It only takes
a few bad sunburns to raise the risk of skin cancer, and skin
damage builds up over years even when no burning occurs. This
is why sunscreen, which blocks UVA and UVB, is recommended. The
FDA has expressed concern about suntanning products without
sunscreen, and encourages consumers to check the labels for SPF
protection.

Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an OTC drug. Look for
products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The
higher the number, the better the protection. Sunscreen should
be liberally applied to skin 30 minutes before going out in the
sun, and then every two hours after that.

Tanning Salons
It's true that most sun lamps emit mainly UVA radiation, and
that these so­called "tanning rays" are less likely to cause a
sunburn than UVB radiation from sunlight. But, contrary to the
claims of some tanning parlors, that doesn't make them safe.
UVA rays have a suspected link to malignant melanoma, and, like
UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage.

Tanning Safely
We urge you to find out more about self tanning. You can self
tan with a Sunless tanning lotion. Sunless tanning lotion is a
tanning lotion that gives you that great tan without the
dangers of UVA and UVB! Find out more about Self Tanning!


About The Author: Self-tanning products, also called
''sunless'' tanning lotions, contain dihydroxyacetone. Find out
about Self Tanning at http://SelfTanning.ewhy.info.

How to Live with Diabetes

By Ashish Jain

One of the most dreaded diseases is diabetes. It is a killer
disease and it is really very difficult to control. Going by
the official US stats, diabetes is the third biggest giant
killer among the deadly diseases in the United States of
America. The global statistics is also mind-boggling!

First things first, how does a person become diabetic? When
your body is unable to produce insulin that is necessary for
its normal functioning, it becomes unable to absorb glucose
(sugar). When the levels of glucose take a course to the blood
stream, you become a diabetic patient.

Once you become diabetic, you have a problem for life. You live
hour by hour, during the day. Medication becomes part of your
life, which is likely to demand a good portion of your pension!
Your lifestyle will be changed. You will suddenly become a
thinking man now—thinking about diabetes. You might find your
self pronouncing the term diabetes, diabetes, and diabetes
hundreds of times a day!!

When it has finally seized you, it is not only diabetes alone!
Many other dreaded diseases live in waiting to take hold of
you. Some of them are kidney failure, heart diseases, nervous
breakdown, blindness, blurred vision, limb amputation and the
ultimate for the human body—death!

The prescriptive medicines complete the remaining process of
the damage. Many toxic side effects are reported- skin rashes,
weight gain and respiratory ailments, are few to quote.
Notwithstanding the claims of many over-the-counter drugs that
promise cure, the one thing that can really help you is your
diet control and perfect discipline as regards to time
management.

For example, your morning walks. Now, all the medical
practitioners agree that morning walks do great service to tame
the intensity of diabetics. So, you need to take a complete
brief about the articles of food that is suitable for you,
vegetables included! If anything will have the exacting affects
to take you out of the influence of this disease, it is nature!
So, have a perfect dietary discipline. It has taken many to the
path of complete recovery! Some of the local treatments have the
intrinsic capacity to tame your high blood sugar and such cases
are the only hope for the diabetic patients!

So, do not think that everything is lost for you! From the dark
ashes, sprouts a seedling!


About The Author: Ashish Jain writes about different topics.
For more information on diabetes visit:
http://www.diabitieslife.com.

Diabetes Rate Doubled in Last 30 Years

A new article from CNN.com you should check out:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The occurrence of new cases of type 2 diabetes has doubled over the past three decades, according to a report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

"Most, but not all, of the increase in diabetes occurred in people who were obese -- those with a body mass index of 30 or more." lead author Dr. Caroline S. Fox, from the National Lung, Heart, and Blood Institute in Framingham, Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The findings are based on a study of 3,104 subjects, with an average age of 47 years, who were free from diabetes when they enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. After an initial examination, the subjects were followed to document the occurrence of diabetes over eight-year periods.

In the 1970s, the incidence of diabetes was the lowest, at 2.0 percent among women and 2.7 percent among men. By the 1990s, the corresponding rates had climbed to their highest points: 3.7 percent and 5.8 percent.

Compared with the 1970s, the risk of developing diabetes in the 1980s and 1990s increased by 40 percent and 105 percent, respectively.

Article: Coffee drinking may lower diabetes risk

A great article from CNN.com:

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Consumption of coffee, particularly the decaffeinated variety, is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study is not the first to document this association. However, in previous studies it was unclear whether the relationship was true among people of different ages and body weights and whether the caffeine component was the ingredient primarily responsible for the anti-diabetes effect.

Dr. Mark A. Pereira, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues addressed these uncertainties by analyzing data from 28,812 women enrolled in the Iowa Women's Health Study, which ran from 1986 to 1997. All of the women were free from diabetes and heart disease when the study began.

The subjects were divided into groups based on the amount of coffee they drank: none, less than 1 cup, 1 to 3 cups, 4 to 5 cups, or 6 or more cups per day. During follow-up, 1,418 of the women were found to have diabetes.

Women who drank the most coffee were 22 percent less likely to develop diabetes than the group that drank no coffee, the report indicates. Further analysis showed that this association, which remained relatively stable by age and body weight groups, was largely accounted for by intake of decaffeinated coffee rather than regular coffee.

The coffee ingredients responsible for the possible protective effect remain unclear. Two coffee components, magnesium and phytate, did not account for the association seen. Caffeine intake from all sources, including soft drinks, also had no bearing on diabetes risk.

Although the first line of prevention for diabetes is exercise and diet, in light of the popularity of coffee consumption and high rates of...diabetes in older adults, these findings may carry high public health significance."