The most crippling effect of diabetes, literally is foot ulceration. This may lead to one of the debilitating effects of diabetes, which is amputation of a foot or leg. This is the final step in the fight with the disease resulting in poor circulation, reduction of sensory perception and dry skin. Another effect of diabetes is the susceptibility of the individual to yeast and other fungal infections as there is a compromised immune system and slower healing process compared to non-diabetics.

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As you very well know, one of the most pleasurable activities known to man is eating. Gastronomic pleasure is the only pleasure that truly nourishes and gives life to an individual. Sadly, this pleasure needs to be curtailed when it comes to diabetes sufferers. This article provides the basis why diabetes diets need to be special and the secrets in keeping the diet of diabetes within bounds of health rather than the cause of exacerbating the condition.

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Diabetics, more often than not, succumb to a form of blindness called diabetic retinopathy. This is caused by the light absorbing nerves in the eyes or the retina’s degeneration. Inadequate supply of glucose to be used by these nerves is the main culprit in this degeneration because there is either no or low supply of the hormone insulin to be used to process glucose for the cell’s use. Also, the thickened bloodstream causes damage to the fine blood vessels leading to the eye, causing these blood vessels to burst. This leads to the cut off of supplies to these nerves in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is just one of the many conditions that diabetics succumb to in the long run. The main difference though is that many advances in eye treatment have been made in the past few years and one of them is Laser eye surgery. Is Laser eye surgery or any laser eye surgery for that matter, good to treat diabetic retinopathy?

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Glucose is the fuel of the body. This is metabolized from the ingestion of food, especially carbohydrates. The glucose is then absorbed by the body and is carried by the blood throughout the body. In order to unlock the energy properties of glucose for the cells, the hormone insulin is needed. Special cells in the pancreas called beta cells produce this hormone. This is what happens in a normal person but this is not what happens with a diabetic. In a diabetic, the pancreas does not or is unable to produce the hormone insulin for the regulation of blood glucose. This causes many problems for the body, which happens in a diabetes sufferer.

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There are millions of diabetes sufferers in the world. The individuals suffering from diabetes has been steadily increasing over the past few years. There are two types of diabetes, the first is genetic in nature, called Type I diabetes and the second one is called Type II or onset diabetes. In the first kind of diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, the body attacks the cells in the pancreas that produces insulin. Insulin is the hormone required to process and regulate the amount of glucose in the body. The absence of this hormone makes the cell starve since the proper fuel for cell function, which is glucose, cannot be absorbed and used. The second type of diabetes is a result of obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise. This causes the pancreas to improperly function making the insulin levels in the body abnormally low resulting in problems as to glucose use in the body.

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The issue of obesity rising in many millions of individuals throughout the world have resulted in a significant increase of diabetic sufferers each year and the numbers still continue to rise. One of the most celebrated discoveries of the Western world has been the curative properties of the acai berry, a fruit that has been used by the Amazons of Brazil since time immemorial but has even gained national attention by being called the “superfood” by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray. Now, the question being raised is whether the acai berry can help alleviate the conditions of millions of diabetics the world over.  Continue reading ‘Acai Berry’s Gifts to the Diabetic’ »

US scientists have made what could potentially be one of the largest and most significant breakthroughs for diabetic sufferers around the world. It has been revealed that scientists are currently working on a program of pancreatic cell transplants for humans although they have taken the first steps towards this using laboratory mice. Pancreatic cell transplant is the Holy Grail for diabetic suffers as if successful it will lead to the body producing its own insulin and the need for medication will disappear. So how far have the US scientists moved ahead?

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As diabetes continues to become a major problem around the world with sufferers growing in numbers year-on-year, a Canadian biotechnology company has stepped forward with what could be the solution to long-term insulin demand around the world. SemBioSys has developed a genetically modified variation of the safflower which can produce high concentrations of human insulin on a regular basis. The insulin is produced and stored in the plant seeds which can be harvested by drug companies and then potentially administered by diabetic sufferers.

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A team of scientists from Warwick University have opened up a very interesting debate about diabetes induced kidney disease which can have a terrifying impact upon the life of a diabetic. The team has found a direct link between thiamine and the ongoing problem of kidney disease amongst diabetes patients. It has long been known that diabetes patients commonly have a deficiency of thiamine which can lead to problems with kidneys as various proteins can be lost through urine.

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Astrazeneca, the leading worldwide drug company, has today announced a deal with medical research company Biocompatibles which could see the emergence of a major treatment for diabetes and obesity. While Biocompatibles is the vastly smaller partner in the deal they have a reputation for bringing new drugs and new technology to the market with the help of larger partners.

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