The increasing obesity epidemic among children today is thought to be a leading cause in the increase in juvenile diabetes in this country today. While not everyone agrees on the causes and affects it is hard to argue with the continuing increase of children with Type 2 diabetes who are also overweight. In fact as the percentages of obese children raises so does the percentage of those affected with juvenile diabetes at nearly the same rate.

There appear to be two main reasons for this increase in Type 2 diabetes among children. Most children these days have a sedentary lifestyle that revolves around watching TV, playing video games, or using their computer to chat with and email their friends. The second issue for many kids is their poor eating habits and nutrition. Living the fast food life style or eating a bag a chips while playing video games is one of the major reasons for the preponderance of overweight kids we see today.

For many years Type 2 diabetes was something that overweight adults had to contend with, mainly because children weren’t having the weight issues they have today. Type 2 diabetes in an adult is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The primary treatment for this type of this disease is lifestyle changes involving diet and exercise for both children and adults.

One of the main concerns with type 2 juvenile diabetes is the affects it can have later on in a child’s life. Children with type 2 diabetes have been found to have more life threatening complications than type 1 diabetics. Some of the major problems juveniles with this type of diabetes face include heart disease, damage to the nervous system, renal failure, blindness, and limb amputations, particularly of the feet and lower legs.

The first line of defense against juvenile type 2 diabetes is probably the most obvious. Maintain a healthy body weight through proper diet and exercise thus preventing the onset of the disease. For children already diagnosed this same treatment applies if they are to avoid the complications to their health later in life.

For the juvenile diabetic a healthy diet is the cornerstone of their treatment. A well balanced diet low in sugar, saturated fats, and salt is the way to go. High fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, along with complex carbohydrates are best for the diabetic. Even then foods high in carbs should be eaten throughout the day to help prevent large rises in blood glucose levels. Regular physical activity or exercise is also recommended to help insulin move glucose out of the blood and into the cells.

Childhood obesity is an epidemic all parents should take seriously. The long term health affects of all children are at stake, particularly with an increased risk of juvenile diabetes, a disease that will affect any child for their life time. By making easy lifestyle changes centered on a healthy diet and physical activity the onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented, or even delayed in children at high risk.

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Type 2 diabetes, which is sometimes called non-insulin dependent diabetes, is a condition that develops over time. Your body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin resulting in increased blood sugar levels. Family history of diabetes and obesity are two of the biggest risks factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. Normally, insulin levels fluctuate in relation to the amount of glucose in your body. The level will increase after eating and decrease if no food is being consumed. The main function of insulin is to move the glucose to various destinations throughout your body. If you have more glucose than your body needs, the excess will be stored in the liver, where it will be released as needed. It is a complex balance between the pancreas, liver, insulin and glucose.

In type 2 diabetes one of two things can occur. Your pancreas will stop producing the needed levels of insulin or your body will become resistant to insulin. In both cases, the result will be high blood sugar levels.

Your body has ways of telling you when something is wrong. It is important that you know the symptoms of type 2 diabetes because, the sooner treatment starts, the less damage will be done to your body. The following paragraphs will give you an idea of what to look for in type 2 diabetes.

Extreme fatigue is often an overlooked symptom of type 2 diabetes. This is probably due to the fact that it is such a general symptom and is associated with other factors such as busy lifestyle, not getting enough sleep or stress. However, if you always feel tired and sleepy, even after a good night’s sleep, you should see your doctor.

A drastic change in weight is a good indicator of diabetes. You may eat more because you are feeling hungry all the time. This will result in weight gain. Excess fat in the tissues causes your body to become even more resistant to the effects of insulin. The opposite is true also. You may eat more than normal but start losing weight. This is due to the fact that your muscles don’t get enough glucose to exert energy or grow.

Blurry vision is another sign of diabetes. High blood sugar levels will pull fluid from tissues. This includes the lenses of the eye, making it very difficult to focus. Most vision problems will be resolved once the diabetes is treated. However, in a few cases, blindness can result from diabetes, especially if it is left untreated.

Another symptom of type 2 diabetes is frequent infections or slow healing infections and cuts. Diabetes interferes with the healing process. Increased incidences of yeast infections is a big indicator of type 2 diabetes.

If you notice that your gums are becoming red, swollen and inflamed you need to see your doctor. Diabetes will increase the risk of developing infections in your gums and in the bones that hold your teeth in place.

Your body is an amazing , complex machine. Listen to what it has to say. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, see your doctor right away. The sooner treatment begins for type 2 diabetes, the sooner your life can return to normal.

If you or someone you know suffers from diabetes, check out The Truth About Diabetes. What you don’t know could kill you! Jeff also suggests visiting http://www.FreeArticles.com to read 50+ free diabetes articles.

Diabetes is a common medical concern that millions of people live with. It can be controlled and treated so that the majority of individuals with diabetes are able to live a fairly normal life. There are three types of diabetes people are diagnosed with – type I, type II, and gestational. While each of the three types of diabetes is caused by the pancreas not being able to produce enough insulin, they do have several differences.

Type I diabetes often results in the immune system not working properly. This is the most severe type of diabetes because the individual is at a very high risk of getting illnesses such as pneumonia. There is also the risk of infections in the body, especially the extremities. Insulin has to be taken by individuals with type I diabetes. It is generally diagnosed during childhood or the teenage years.

Type II diabetes usually doesn’t cause too many issues for the body as long as the blood sugar is regulated. Both Type I and Type II diabetes are treated with a variety of methods including insulin, a proper diet, plenty of exercise, and working closely with doctors and dieticians. Type II diabetes generally is diagnosed in adulthood.

Gestational diabetes takes place only in pregnant women due to changes in the body that are taking place. It is very important for the woman to get prenatal care and eat properly throughout the pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is known to be linked with low birth weight and premature labor.

If diabetes is not treated properly or it is so severe it can’t be controlled, it can result in a variety of health issues. It can lead to blindness and in some cases amputations of the arms or legs. Some individuals have to receive dialysis treatments several times a week due to their diabetes.

The sooner an individual is properly diagnosed with diabetes, the better chance they have of leading a normal life. The amount of insulin has to be adjusted to the individual so that they get enough to balance out the other body functions. Some common symptoms of diabetes that has not been diagnosed include frequent urination, constantly feeling thirsty, high blood pressure, and either weight loss or gain.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is important to contact a doctor. A screening for diabetes includes a simple blood test to check the glucose levels in the body. If it goes undetected, diabetes can cause a person to suffer a heart attack, stroke, or other serious medical problem.

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Insulin resistance appears to have a major effect on heart disease. Work at Stanford Medical Center, the University of Buffalo Medical Center, and other medical research facilities have pointed to the higher incidence of CHF (Congestive Heart Failure) amongst patients with insulin resistance. Congestive Heart Failure is a rapidly-growing healthcare problem in the United States, with over five and a half million people suffering from the consequences of an inefficient, enlarged heart. Many in later stages are unable to walk or even get out of bed.

CHF can come from many sources, but insulin resistance is an independent causative factor which does not depend on lack of exercise or obesity to cause its damage to the heart and circulatory system.

How does insulin resistance affect heart health? The answer is difficult, as it is tied to complex interactions between various hormone levels and the reaction of organs to chronically higher levels of insulin in the blood. Those who have insulin resistance tend to have other factors (or ‘co-morbidities’) which, taken on their own, also increase the dangers to the heart and circulatory system.

For example, patients with insulin resistance also have lower levels of HDL (high-density lipids), the ‘good’ cholesterol which is associated with fewer heart attacks, and higher levels of LDL (low-density lipids), which are associated with artery-clogging plaque. They also tend to have higher blood pressure, another heart risk factor.

What lies behind these greater co-morbidities, and resultant risk for patients? Androgen levels were found to be higher in patients with insulin resistance, and androgen is the male hormone that is associated with stress and increased heart disease. Just as estrogen seems to have some heart-helping qualities, androgen has some inhibitors to heart health, both by diminishing estrogen levels and increasing stress-related inflammation.

In addition to the hormonal effects, high insulin levels in the blood over a longer period of time can lead to breakdowns in organs, particularly those sites in the body where changes arteries and capillaries can result in food and oxygen starvation. Diabetics are generally known to have higher incidences of heart disease, but they are also much more likely to have problems with lower leg circulation (because the blood circulates particularly slowly in the legs), vision (because of the network of small capillaries in the eyes, which are subject to blockage) and peripheral vascular systems, such as kidneys and the carotid arteries.

Recent work in Canada points to the effect of insulin resistance on inflammation and associated plaque production. Plaque is implicated in a number of diseases, including that which causes ‘silent’ heart attacks in individuals who seem healthy. The effect of insulin resistance on plaque formation could be a primary one, or a secondary effect from other hormonal and metabolic changes in the body related to cholesterol levels and inflammation.

The overall conclusion in early research is clear. Insulin resistance poses problems to the body directly, through influence of high levels of insulin to critical organs, and indirectly, through influence on the secretion of other hormones and inflammatory substances which can lead to heart disease. While many diabetic patients are insulin-resistant, and diabetic patients tend to have much higher rates of heart disease, insulin resistance in itself poses an increased risk of complications for patients.

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Insulin Resistance.

Every morning I wake up knowing that I am a diabetic and that I have to check my blood sugar just to see if I am going to have a good day. It was not always this way. I enjoy food and my family loves my cooking and so do I.

Diabetes runs in my family but I thought that some how I was overlooked. Well my world of security came shattering down, when I was diagnosed with diabetes on my 50th birthday.

When I think back to the months before my diagnoses, I felt tired all the time. I was never one for drinking a lot of water but I was drinking it like it was going out of style. I didn’t worry too much about it because I wasn’t losing weight which was also one of the symptoms of diabetes.

What worried me was the 10 hour shift I was suppose to work each day at a surgery center. I would drag myself to work and then drag myself home. I can still remember the day I came home from work and couldn’t get myself out of the car because I was so exhausted. I even felt like honking the horn so my husband could come out and carry me inside the house. I am a registered nurse and I still ignored all those symptoms because I did not want to believe I had diabetes.

I decided to check my blood sugar with a glucometer a few days later and what I saw on that monitor scared me. My blood sugar was 285 (normal 70-120) it was a wonder that I was still walking around.

I also checked my urine and it also showed a lot of sugar. I was always in the bathroom and I thought it was because of all the water I was drinking.

I went directly to my primary care doctor and was very quickly assessed and diagnosed with diabetes after a few simple lab tests. I walked out of the doctor’s office with a prescription for a oral medication to be taken by mouth three times a day with meals and a machine called a glucometer which I used several times a day with a small amount of blood to check the level of my blood sugar.

Just the thought of turning my body into a pin cushion was not my idea of fun. Today, I still have a hard time poking myself! After all that, the doctor had the gall to tell me that if I lost weight, that would really help control the diabetes. They think losing weight is the number one cure for every disease known to man!

I was scheduled for a diabetic nutrition class and went to the class knowing that every food that I ever loved would be taken away from me. Let’s say I went to this class with a chip on my shoulder and had no intention to listen to that thin instructor tell me I could no longer eat those comfort foods that I grew up with and had also taught my family to enjoy!

That first day in class just dragged because I didn’t want to hear that the food I had enjoyed on a daily basis was lifting my blood sugars to a dangerous level not compatible with life. I think the words that really got my attention was “live longer.”

You see, I have a four year old grandson, who is the apple of my eye and I sure want to see him grow up. I finished my class and was determined to conquer this disease that I had to live with for the rest of my life. It seems that I didn’t have to give up my favorite foods but the portions were cut in half and lots of water became my friend.

Well good intentions lasted two years. I lost my oldest brother to stomach cancer. He was only 54 and my world was turned upside down. We were just getting to know each other again and I felt angry. Once again, I went to those comfort foods and I saw my blood sugars go sky high and my weight escalated as well.

I was starting to experience the effects of long term uncontrolled blood sugar. The bottom of my feet felt numb yet burned at night like fire. Falling asleep was almost impossible!

I was also experiencing blurry vision and felt dizzy all the time. I contacted my doctor and was put on insulin. I was depressed about having to poke myself all over in different places just to get my blood sugar back under control.

So here I was taking pills, using insulin, and feeling sorry for myself, and I was stuck in a situation I could not control. What was even worse was I had to teach diabetic patients of the importance of controlling their blood sugar and I was not practicing what I was teaching.

I was teaching a patient one day but the words were ringing loud and clear in my own ears. I admitted to the patient that I too was a diabetic and I had a hard time accepting lifestyle changes as well as changes in my eating habits. Every day was a struggle because I was fighting something that I let become greater than me.

I once again decided to tackle the dreaded dragon called diabetes. My sword would be my medications, knowledge, and the strength that came from my faith in god and family.

I admit I still struggle with my weight and exercise is not my cup of tea but I’m still working on that problem. I no longer feel guilty when I talk to my patients and now I share my story.

It is unbelievable how my patients open up and share their own personal struggles and victories. I can now teach them with the knowledge of a nurse and the compassion and empathy of a fellow diabetic.

I want to thank my family for helping me with my struggle with this disease. They have given me a reason for going on with life.

Here are some of the symptoms of diabetes.

1. Extreme thirst
2. Frequent urination
3. Fatigue
4. Weight loss
5. Blurry vision
6. Extreme hunger

These are only some of the symptoms. Not everyone experiences them at one time. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms call your doctor and let them know. So do not let Diabetes control you but rather you can learn to control it!

Jim Martinez is a National Sales Director with Ameriplan USA. Offering discount dental and health plans for individuals or households. Any age or prexisting conditions are accepted and plans start at only $11.95 per month. Be sure to visit the section on health articles for more quality information.