Type 1 or 2 Diabetes

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The Actions Of Insulin With Reference To Glucose, Fat And Protein Metabolism

Insulin is a protein hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, which enables the body to metabolise and use glucose. It has a major affect on the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, and a significant but lesser effect on protein metabolism.

Insulin enters a cell by mean of an insulin receptor, which is found within the plasma membrane. The insulin receptor is comprised of two alpha sub-units and two beta sub-units, which are linked by a disulfide bond. Insulin receptors are tyrosine-kinase receptors, meaning that their function is to transfer phosphate groups from ATP to intracellular proteins, which increase glucose transporter molecules on the outer membrane of cells, which facilitate an uptake of glucose.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are broken down to monosaccharides in the small intestine, and absorbed from the small intestine to the hepatic portal vein. A rise in the concentration of glucose stimulates the release of insulin, which acts on cells throughout the body to stimulate the uptake, and storage of glucose. Insulin’s effect on glucose metabolism varies according to the tissue destination. Insulin aids the entry of glucose into muscle, adipose and other tissue by facilitated diffusion using a glucose transporter (GLUT). For example muscle use a transporter called GLUT4. Insulin regulates glucose uptake by moving intracellular vesicles containing the GLUT4 glucose transporters to the cell surface, where glucoses enter s by facilitated diffusion. However not all tissue require insulin for uptake of glucose, the brain and liver use a different sort of non-insulin dependant transporter.

Insulin also stimulates the liver to store glucose in the form of glycogen. If glucose absorbed from the small intestine is not immediately required for ATP energy, it is taken up by the hepatocytes, which convert glucose into glycogen. Insulin activates the enzyme hexokinase, which phosphorylates glucose causing it to remain in the cell. Insulin also activates enzymes such as glycogen synthase, which is responsible for glycogen synthesis.

Fat
Insulin stimulates hepatocytes to synthesize fatty acids once glycogen stores are full. Fatty acids are taken from the liver as lipoproteins and broken down by li 1000 pase. The fatty acids are either utilized straight away or stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue. . Insulin facilitates entry of glucose into fat cell, to be synthesized as glycerol, (fatty acids plus glycerol combine to form triglycerides). When the body’s store of glycogen is used, triglycerides are broken down by lipase into their component parts. Hormones such as glucagon, adrenaline and growth hormone activate lipase; these hormones are active when insulin is not present. The resulting glycerol and fatty acids are released into the blood, and travel to the liver through the bloodstream.

Protein
If insulin is present, proteins are digested, broken down into amino acids and used to synthesise the body’s protein requirements. If amino acids are in excess of immediate requirements they are either used for ATP, or converted to fat for later use. In the absence of insulin (either due to lack of food or conditions such as diabetes) the body’s supply of glycogen is quickly used. In order to supply the body with glucose alpha cells in the pancreas secrete glucagon, which acts on the same cells as insulin, but has the opposing effect. It stimulates the liver and muscles to release stored glycogen – glycogenolysis. Other hormones capable of stimulating glycogenolysis are cortisol, thyroxine, adrenaline and growth hormone. These hormones also stimulates glucose from non-carbohydrate sources – gluconeogenesis from either glycerol, lactate from glycolysis of red blood cells, but mainly from stored amino acids in muscle tissue. Insulin levels then rise to respond to and increased level of blood glucose.

Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Lack of insulin (type 1 diabetes) or insulin resistance (type ll diabetes) cause high blood glucose. After a meal, even though blood glucose levels are high, cellular uptake cannot be facilitated. The body reacts by initiating glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, which further raise blood glucose. High levels of glucose causes frequent urination as glucose in the kidney filtrate draws in water due to osmosis. Constant urination increases thirst, by increasing osmotic pressure of the blood, which directly stimulates thirst receptors. Increase in urination also increases the loss of sodium, which also stimulates thirst receptors.

Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis lead to fat loss and muscle loss, which lead to weight loss. Metabolism of fatty acids may produce ketone bodies, which can lead to breathing problems; a lowered blood PH decreased nerve firing and possibly coma and death. Therefore it is necessary to control diabetes by either medication to act as insulin, (type 1 diabetes) or by dietary and lifestyle measures (type ll). Thus it can be concluded that the function of insulin has a fundamental effect on metabolism.

By: Rebecca Weller

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Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a small organ located behind the stomach with many vital functions. The islet cells within the pancreas secrete insulin.

What Does Insulin Do?

Insulin allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, which grab the insulin and convert it into energy. When the body detects an increase in blood glucose after a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin. The cells in the bloodstream grab the insulin, which activates receptors that allow the cells to absorb the glucose into the cell. Insulin is like a key, it opens the door of the cell to allow the glucose in the bloodstream to enter it.

Without insulin, the body can actually begin to starve, as the cells would not be able to absorb the glucose and convert it into energy. Over time, the build up of glucose in the bloodstream will also cause serious complications. As you can see, insulin is a vital hormone.

Insulin and Diabetes

  In type 1 diabetes , the body generates antibodies that kill the betta cells within the islet cells, which produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics need to have insulin shots or use insulin pumps in order to control their blood glucose levels.

People with type 2 diabetes usually develop insulin resistance, where although the levels of insulin in the body are normal, the body cannot properly use the insulin, causing the glucose to build up in the bloodstream. Type 2 diabetics need insulin shots sometimes, but mostly treatment includes a healthy diet, weight loss and regular physical activity.

Types of insulin

Insulin is classified by how fast it begins to work and how long the effects last. Based on factors like your body’s natural reaction to the insulin, your lifestyle choices and your age, the doctor will determine which type of insulin is appropriate for you.

Types of insulin include:

Rapid Acting: Starts to lower blood glucose within 5 to 10 minutes and lasts 3 to 5 hours

Short Acting: Stars to lower blood sugar with 30 minutes and lasts 5 to 8 hours

Intermediate Acting: Starts to lower blood sugar levels within 1 to 2 hours and lasts 18 to 24 hours.

Long Acting: Starts to lower blood glucose four to six hours after injection and lasts 20 to 36 hours, depending on the type and bra 1000 nd that is used

Premixed insulin: Combination of intermediate acting and short acting insulin.

Conclusion

If you have  pre diabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance , it is important that you educate yourself as much as you can on your condition and on the important functions of insulin. Talk to your health care professional and discuss which treatment options and insulin types are right for you. Following the doctor’s advice and making the needed lifestyle changes will help you stay happy and healthy for a long time to come.

For more information on diabetes, insulin and insulin resistance visit http://www.yourlifewithdiabetes.com

By: jesus chirino

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Jesus Chirino is webmaster of Your Life with Diabetes, a website dedicated to providing free diabetes information and resources.

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Overview of Gout

Gout is a systemic disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain. This condition can develop for two reasons. The liver may produce more uric acid than the body can excrete in the urine, or a diet of rich foods (e.g., red meat, cream sauces, red wine) puts more uric acid into the bloodstream than the kidneys can filter. In both cases, a condition called hyperuricemia results. Over time, the uric acid crystallizes and settles in the joint spaces, most commonly in the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe or in the ankle joint.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptoms of gout are inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in the joint of the first toe. Touching or moving it is intensely painful and patients often say it hurts to have as much as a bedsheet over the toe. Gout develops quickly and typically occurs in only one joint at a time. Symptoms may develop in two or three joints simultaneously, but this is rare. If widespread symptoms occur, the condition is probably not gout.

Diagnosis

The most reliable way to diagnose gout is to examine the joint fluid for uric acid crystals. This is done by drawing fluid from the joint with a needle and examining it under a polarized light microscope. Although the test is invasive, the results are definitive, and a positive result facilitates proper treatment and quick relief.

Treatment

 Treatment for gout  involves decreasing the amount of uric acid in the joint. If dietary habits are the cause, the patient’s lifestyle must be changed to avoid the condition. Gout is readily corrected with patient cooperation, and it is usually not treated unless it occurs frequently. Colchicine is a common medication for treating acute gout attacks. If continuous medication is necessary, the two most common choices are probenecid and allopurinol.

Prevention

Alcohol and rich foods are primary contributors to excessive uric acid levels. Although some patients have a genetic predisposition to excessive uric acid production, most gout patients have normal kidneys and uncontrolled dietary habits. Prevention is the best defense against the disease.

Many patients who suffer from gout continue to indulge, and suffer frequent attacks as a result. Although medication makes it possible to live with gout, the continued accumulation of uric acid in the joints eventually damages them, seriously inhibiting movement.

Overview of Diabetes

New to diabetes? Learn the basics – check with your local diabetes clinic or research it on the internet.

A key to diabetes management is maintaining a regular exercise program. Its never too late to start – see below. Sticking to dietary goals while eating out also can be very challenging – see comments below.

20 million Americans and Canadians have diabetes. Nearly 7 million don’t know it. Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly, and the symptoms often go unnoticed. Our son developed a puffiness to his face which we noticed right away because we saw him only a couple of times a year. He and his wife put it down to simple weight gain. After 2 years they finally snapped to there being something wrong and when he was finally checked out his diabetes was ‘off the charts’. Fortunately, they caught it in time, but it should have been caught over a year earlier.

Nearly 90 to 95% of all people with diabetes have type 2. Who gets it? Just about any body. Fat, skinny, regular build, it makes no difference; just about everyone can develop diabetes. Most at risk are people regardless of body build who live on a high intake of ‘junk food’. Least at risk are people who eat a regular balanced diet.

What you may not know about diabetes – the truth about insulin resistance. 92% of people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance. Get the facts – go to your local diabetes agency or research it on the internet.

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Obesity is not a guarantee you will develop diabetes and many obese persons never develop it, but persons who are obese

Diabetic meals can be healthy and savory.

A key to diabetes management is maintaining a regular exercise program. Its never too late to start and you can do it with a simple walking program. Just walk 1 kilometer a day and over a period of a month build it up to two miles (3 kilometers) a day.

Sticking to dietary goals while eating out can be very challenging. Many, even most, restaurants cater to people with special dietary needs – just ask. And learn those restaurants which do not and avoid them.

When it comes to diabetic nutrition, not sure what to believe? There are many stories out there, some believable, others not. Research what you need to know from trusted resources – your local diabetes support center, the internet, friends who have diabetes.

The help of friends and family can make all the difference to someone with diabetes.

Help for Diabetes, Gout and Other Disorders

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On the testimonials page below I am L. Windblad and my wife is J.D. Windblad. I have long-term gout (since 1977), damage from gout including numbness and pain in the feet, a prostate which had ceased functioning for the past 2 years, and in Jan 2004 I was diagnosed with a lazy thyroid. By the end of January my thyroid was functioning normally, by April I was noticing an improvement in prostate functioning and by mid-May it was definitely clear that not only was the pain gone but feeling was coming back into my feet. This is written in June 2004 and its all still getting better.

Check out these product testimonials and see what you think about what these products have accomplished in many other lives. Scroll to the bottom of the page and contact the people who gave these testimonials.

There are other stories of ‘miracles’ with these products and they will be posted as soon as they can be collected. What these products actually do is work to make your body function the way it is supposed to function, and they accomplish this at least in part by restoring your natural Ph balances.

Make sure to go to the product testimonials page above, scroll to the bottom, and click on the email contact for any of the people given, and receive their confirmation and personal full testimonial.

About The Author

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. His latest business endeavor is at http://www.organicgreens.us

What You Must Know About Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that helps the body’s tissues absorb glucose (sugar) so it can be used as a source of energy. The condition may also develop if muscle, fat, and liver cells respond poorly to insulin. In people with diabetes, glucose levels build up in the blood and urine, causing excessive urination, thirst, hunger, and problems with fat and protein metabolism. Diabetes mellitus differs from the less common diabetes insipidus, which is caused by lack of the hormone vasopressin that controls the amount of urine secreted.

Diabetes is most common in adults over 45 years of age; in people who are overweight or physically inactive; in individuals who have an immediate family member with diabetes; and in people of African, Hispanic, and Native American descent. The highest rate of diabetes in the world occurs in Native Americans. More women than men have been diagnosed with the disease.

There are two types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, which usually starts in childhood, the pancreas stops making insulin altogether. It is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, which starts in adulthood (and in some teenagers) the body still makes some insulin. But it doesn’t make enough insulin, or the body can’t use it properly. It is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Diabetes is detected by measuring the amount of glucose in the blood after an individual has fasted (abstained from food) for about eight hours. In some cases, physicians diagnose diabetes by administering an oral glucose tolerance test, which measures glucose levels before and after a specific amount of sugar has been ingested. Another test being developed for Type 1 diabetes looks for specific antibodies (proteins of the immune system that attack foreign substances) present only in persons with diabetes. This test may detect Type 1 diabetes at an early stage, reducing the risk of complications from the disease.

Once diabetes is diagnosed, treatment consists of controlling the amount of glucose in the blood and preventing complications. Depending on the type of diabetes, this can be accomplished through regular physical exercise, a carefully controlled diet, and medication.

Individuals with Type 1 diab 1000 etes require insulin injections, often two to four times a day, to provide the body with the insulin it does not produce. The amount of insulin needed varies from person to person and may be influenced by factors such as a person’s level of physical activity, diet, and the presence of other health disorders. Typically, individuals with Type 1 diabetes use a meter several times a day to measure the level of glucose in a drop of their blood obtained by pricking a fingertip. They can then adjust the amount of insulin injected, physical exercise, or food intake to maintain the blood sugar at a normal level. People with Type 1 diabetes must carefully control their diets by distributing meals and snacks throughout the day so as not to overwhelm the ability of the insulin supply to help cells absorb glucose. They also need to eat foods that contain complex sugars, which break down slowly and cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels.

For persons with Type 2 diabetes, treatment begins with diet control, exercise, and weight reduction, although over time this treatment may not be adequate. People with Type 2 diabetes typically work with nutritionists to formulate a diet plan that regulates blood sugar levels so that they do not rise too swiftly after a meal. A recommended meal is usually low in fat (30 percent or less of total calories), provides moderate protein (10 to 20 percent of total calories), and contains a variety of carbohydrates, such as beans, vegetables, and grains. Regular exercise helps body cells absorb glucose even ten minutes of exercise a day can be effective. Diet control and exercise may also play a role in weight reduction, which appears to partially reverse the body’s inability to use insulin

By: Scott Michaels -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

It is believed that unmanaged stress is a major determinant in almost all illness conditions. Does stress also lead to diabetes? Let us investigate type 1 and 2 diabetes.

There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is also known as juvenile diabetes because it starts in children and young adults. It is due to insufficient amount of insulin being produced (known as insulin deficiency). Since it does not start later in life, we can safely conclude that type 1 diabetes mellitus is unlikely to be caused by stress.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus usually occurs later in life, after the age of forty. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the problems arise because

1. Either the body does not produce enough insulin, or
2. The insulin produced is ignored by the cells in the body (known as insulin resistance), or both.

Discussion on what insulin is and what the roles it plays is in order.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism (and to some extent fat metabolism as well). Insulin helps the body to use sugar. Sugar is the basic source of energy for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

When we say blood sugar, we refer to glucose in the blood. Glucose is the main type of simple sugar in our blood. Our body needs to have glucose level controlled to within a narrow range (0.7-1.1 mg per ml). Below 0.7 mg per ml is termed "hypoglycemia", and above 1.8 mg per ml is termed "hyperglycemia". Both can result in problems as we shall see later.

When there is more glucose in the blood, more insulin is secreted into the blood, resulting in cells (muscle cells, red blood cells and fat cells) absorbing the glucose out of the blood, thus reducing the blood glucose level.

When there is less glucose in the blood, more glucagon (counter part of insulin) is secreted into the blood, stimulating liver to release the glucose it has stored in its cells into the blood stream, thus increasing blood glucose. Glucagon also induces the liver and some of the muscle cells to produce glucose out of protein.

If the glucose does not go into cells, instead it builds up in the blood, two problems arise. Firstly, if the cells do not get the glucose they need, they die. Secondly, prolong period of high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. Insulin is used to treat this "hyperglycemia" aspect of diabetes.

"Hypoglycemia" or low blood glucose level condition can happen when more insulin is introduced than there is food in the stomach to be acted on. This often happens when a patient injects insulin in anticipation of food consumption, but the food consumption is delayed or insufficient food is consumed. Symptoms of "hypoglycemia" include strange behavior, clumsy or jerky movements, seizure, confusion, tingling sensations around the mouth, dizziness, sweating, headache etc.

Now that we understand the mechanics of diabetes, is there anything to suggest that stress can cause diabetes (type 2)?

The usual reason explaining where stress lead to sickness is the weakening of our immunity system caused by stress. However, diabetes is not caused by weak immunity system.

Psychological stress caused by the death of a spouse, a financial crisis or other life-altering event has been associated with higher risk of developing diabetes in middle age. Many studies have shown that the abovementioned types of major life events were associated with type 2 diabetes regardless of family history of the disease, exercise or alcohol use. However, although such circumstantial evidence seems to suggest a link between a higher proportion of people under greater stress and diabetes, we cannot conclude that stress cause diabetes.

There is a theory that says that stressful life events increase the diabetes risk by increasing levels of the hormone cortisol and decreasing levels of sex steroids such as testosterone, which have been shown to influence the action of insulin.

Some researchers have tried to determine whether stress, which can be measured using the ratio cortisol:testosterone, affects insulin resistance. In the prospective study by George Davey Smith and colleagues from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, cortisol:testoterone ratio was positively associated with IHD (ischemic heart disease) mortality and incidence. Adjustment for potential socioeconomic and behavioral confounding variables had little influence on these associations, but they appeared to be mediated by components of the insulin resistance syndrome (elevated blood pressure, triglyceride levels, body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and impaired glucose tolerance). This suggests that methods of reducing the cortisol:testoterone ratio may improve insulin resistance and reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD). But, it does not suggest that reducing stress can reduce the risk of diabetes.

More conclusive research findings will be needed before we can conclude that stress does indeed lead to diabetes.