Eye problems are just one of the many concerns anyone with diabetes is surely aware of. Diabetic retinopathy is serious in that it has a direct effect on your vision. What happens is the diabetes causes damage to the retina. But to understand how and what can be done to prevent it, you first need to understand the retina itself.

Simply put, the retina is a lot like the camera of your eye. It is a group of nerves at the back of the eyeball that transmits the picture you see to your brain. It’s not a complicated process unless retinopathy interferes.

The blood vessels that are in the retina are very sensitive. When they split, the fluid that was in the vessels starts to drip into the eye’s compound. And when this happens the problems begin.

Most people will start to observe what appears to be an obstruction in their sight. Then scar tissue starts to occur around you eyeball and in it. Finally, the retina detaches or breaks away from where it should be sitting.

So how does this relate to diabetes? Well high levels of sugar in the blood can cause the damage we just talked about to occur. But the bigger problem is that all too often the noticeable symptoms happen only after the problem damage has become extremely severe. The result is that frequently you may not even realize the problem exists until it is too late to correct. This means that regular eye checkups from a doctor are essential. In the case of diabetics, you’ll need to visit your eye doctor a minimum of every year. Discovering a problem in the early stages makes it much easier to correct.

Also be aware of any symptoms that may occur between scheduled visits. Some people notice floaters, which are nothing more than black or white spots that appear for no reason. Double vision, weak vision or blurry vision can also be signs of diabetic retinopathy. Take these symptoms seriously, even if they appear to be extremely mild. Contact your eye doctor immediately if any of these things should happen.

Often times treatment is not necessary, but if it is, there are several treatments available. These treatments can reduce the amount of vision being lost. They include surgery, prescriptions medication and also laser treatments. Your doctor will discuss all your treatment options with you.

But again, don’t wait until you have symptoms. Have your eyes checked regularly. Then your doctor can begin any treatment for your diabetic retinopathy before the problem becomes too severe.

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The symptoms of diabetes can be puzzling. Even the common ones may not be present in all cases. They may come and go. And the same symptoms can be produced by other conditions. Nevertheless, there are a cluster of common circumstances that tend to mark out the disease.

A typical symptom of diabetes is excessively frequent urination. The primary definitive symptom of diabetes is an excess of glucose in the blood. In Type 1 diabetes the body fails to produce sufficient insulin to process glucose, while in Type 2 diabetes insulin is not used properly.

Excess urination stems from the body’s attempt to restore the glucose body. The kidneys work overtime to process the extra sugar; however they can’t filter is all. The remaining glucose is then eliminated through other metabolic mechanisms.

The excess urination leads to extreme thirst. A person with untreated diabetes may be constantly thirsty. No amount of fluid seems to quench the thirst, but it does cause more urination.

Constant tiredness may also be a sign of diabetes. The body’s insulin is failing to help cells absorb glucose from the blood and the result is fatigue. Glucose powers most body functions, including movement and cell repair.

Symptoms of diabetes can show up in other body systems as well.

Blurry vision can result from any number of conditions, even simple age where it is often just presbyopia. Presbyopia results from reduced elasticity of the lenses as we age, leading to a lessened ability to focus. But the cause in the case of diabetes is very different.

High blood sugar levels reduce fluid in the tissues, including those of the eye and in particular the lenses. That affects your ability to focus. When the disease becomes more advanced it can cause new blood vessels to form in the retina. That again affects your vision. Though in this circumstance, the result is more often seeing dark spots or flashing lights, or rings around room lights.

Diabetes can also affect wound healing. Cuts, especially on the feet may heal more slowly in a person with Type 2 diabetes. Scientists don’t clearly understand the reasons for this problem, but can be another symptom. In addition, the immune system is weakened and cannot fight infection as well.

Since so many of these symptoms can be (and are) produced by a number of other conditions, the best course of action if you suspect you have diabetes is to seek a professional diagnosis. Simple blood tests can determine with a high degree of confidence whether or not you do in fact have the disease. They’re relatively painless and most are covered by ordinary health insurance.

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

Dealing with diabetes brings a host of challenges. Emotional, psychological, and physical adjustments are needed in order to successfully deal with diabetes.

Without proper care the eyes, kidneys, and other organs are eventually damaged by diabetes. Diabetes can cause the kidneys to filter at less than the optimal level. Visual acuity can diminish. Fortunately, these physical problems can be dealt with by attention to diet and exercise, as well as with medication (if necessary).

But coping with the disease and its effects involves another dimension, one less easy to quantify and treat, and one which has both physical and mental consequences.

Stress from being concerned about those effects can be both cause and consequence. Stress weakens the immune system, which in turn reduces the body’s ability to ward off infection, colds and so forth. Those are just some of the possible complications of diabetes. But those in turn may lead to additional stress as the ability to function is reduced. A vicious cycle is established.

To break this vicious cycle, people with diabetes must use an arsenal of diabetes management strategies. Taking care of your general health is the first step. The second step involves learning to cope emotionally with the problem and reaching a positive outlook.

This may be difficult at first, but in time most diabetics learn to cope. The greatest difficult may be coming to terms with the fact that diabetes is a long-term condition, one you will likely have to manage as long as you life.

Careful monitoring of blood glucose levels is a basic and essential factor. Controlling that level – by diet, exercise, and (if necessary) medications – is vital. That helps reduce the physical strain on body systems. That helps reduce the worry. Monitoring and management will need to become a daily routine, as common as brushing your teeth.

Being informed of the damage diabetes can cause if action is not taken to prevent them can motivate you to take action. Understanding the possible consequences of diabetes is an essential part of developing the right attitude towards the disease and warding off its physical effects.

Of course, being an informed patient does not necessarily mean you will be a proactive patient. You must make a determined commitment to stick to a diabetes management program. This requires both patience and bravery.

Start by making simple changes. Walk ten minutes a day three times a week and work up to longer exercise sessions. Gradually, make dietary changes. Soon you will feel up to starting a more involved exercise program on a daily basis.

Don’t worry! You will slowly develop your skills and ability to manage your diabetes. This new found control will give you confidence that you can continue to successfully deal with diabetes. Diabetes management will become routine and you will cease to feel as burdened by it.

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

Over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year and over 200,000 deaths are attributed to the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or if you simply want to take better care of how you eat, it is to your benefit to follow the American Diabetic Diet in order to keep your diabetes under control.

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics must learn to follow a diabetic diet plan in order to stay healthy. When following the right meal plan, such as the American Diabetic Diet, diabetic patients are able to effectively control their blood sugar without the need for medications.

The reason the American Diabetic Diet is so highly effective is because it comprises all food groups. The American Diabetic Diet plan recommends food high in mono unsaturated fats or polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Most of the calories recommended in the American Diabetic Diet come primarily from carbohydrates, second from fats, then from proteins.

The American Diabetic Diet is to be followed daily and carries the following recommendations:
-5 portions fresh fruit and vegetables (spinach, broccoli and carrots)
-6 portions whole grains (cereals, bread and pasta)
-2 portions (meat, fish or chicken)
-Dairy products (eggs, skim milk, non-fat cheese, yogurt even low-fat ice cream)

Everyone’s make-up is different, so too are their bodily requirements. Some require high calorie consumption. The American Diabetic Diet accommodates this group of people.

The American Diabetic Diet plan for the people requiring 1200-1600 calorie consumption includes:
-Three portions fruits and vegetables
-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat
-Three portions of fats
-Six portions of starches

The American Diabetic Diet plan for people requiring 1600-2000 calorie consumption includes:
-Three portions fruits
-Four portions vegetables
-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat
-Four portions of fats
-Eight portions of starches

The American Diabetic Diet plan for diabetic people requiring 2000-2400 calorie consumption include:
-Three portions fruits
-Four portions vegetables
-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat
-Five portions of fats
-Eleven portions of starches

Popular belief is that diabetic people are not to eat sweets. This is not always the case. The American Diabetic Diet recommends eating sweets but in limited amounts. It is important to eat low-calorie sweets or artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar.

The American Diabetic Diet plan is helpful not only for people suffering from diabetes, but for everyone. People who have diabetes have the same nutritional needs as everyone else. The need for regular exercise is also the same for those with diabetes as it is for those without.

Incorporating exercise and the American Diabetic Diet, along with individually prescribed medications, are essential for managing diabetes. By having a well-balanced diet and choosing the right types of foods, the diabetic can move their blood sugar back towards regular levels. Controlling blood glucose levels is the primary goal of the American Diabetic Diet.

Be healthy and live a longer, happier life through the American Diabetic Diet. Prior to implementing the American Diabetic Diet, please consult your health care physician.

Need a few more diabetic diets? Check out our blog at http://www.diabeticsource.org.
Get an expanded list of ingredients for the American Diabetic Diet

Diabetes is an illness that the patient must live with the rest of their lives. The key to living with diabetes successfully is tight glycemic control, or controlling blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels can vary from time to time depending on several factors such as stress levels, amount of food consumed, type of food consumed, amount of insulin used or insufficient insulin coverage and the time of day.

The human being responds to Circadian Rhythms. These are regular changes in mental and physical characteristics that occur in the course of a day. This term may be more familiar as the, “biological clock”. A good example is that of someone working midnights for the first time. They find it very difficult to sleep during the day and stay awake all through the night. It is as if their body has a mind of its own. In fact, there is some truth to that statement. Bears hibernate because of their biological clock.

Circadian Rhythms combined with the above mentioned factors can produce wide fluctuations in the blood glucose levels of diabetics while they sleep. A diabetic’s blood glucose level may be at 135 mg/dL prior to bedtime and at two A.M. may drop to 40 mg/dL, causing a severe state of hypoglycemia. The body responds to such a drop by producing glucose from alternate sources, since there is no source of ingested food. The only sources of glucose come from the liver via gluconeogenesis, lipolysis (break down of lipids) and glycogenolysis.

The body’s hormones stimulate this cascading response to dangerously low blood sugar. The results of such a response, is that of high blood sugar. This rebound hyperglycemia can in turn causes ketosis. Ketosis occurs because the body is fooled into thinking that there is not enough glucose, since the cells are starved, and the glucose is floating in the blood stream instead of being utilized within the cells. The body then begins to break down proteins which in turn cause the release of ketones. The release of ketones causes the pH of the system to drop. If the pH of the body drops below 7.35, a state of Diabetic Ketoacidosis occurs, which can cause a diabetic coma.

This rebound hyperglycemia known to occur in response to hypoglycemia in the early hours of the morning between two and four A.M., is called, the Somogyi Effect. A good way of detecting the Somogyi Effect is to have the diabetic test their blood sugar during those hours. If their blood sugar is low, then they can correct it by eating a snack, before going back to sleep.

The Somogyi Effect can occur at anytime during the day, but is most often equated with the early hours of the morning. Symptoms include headache, nightmares and night sweats. The treatment of this phenomenon usually involves lowering insulin dosage prior to sleep.

Another disorder similar to the Somogyi Effect is known as the Dawn Phenomenon. Although most diabetics are affected by this disorder, it seems to occur more often in pubescent adolescents. Adolescents’ blood sugar is affected adversely by their body releasing counter regulatory hormones. These counter regulatory hormones produce precipitously high blood sugar levels. It is thought that the growth hormone has some impact in relation to the production of counter regulatory hormones. Usually upon waking, the diabetic’s blood sugar is excessively high. Correction of the Dawn Phenomenon requires an increase in insulin coverage prior to bedtime.

It is easy to see how both of these disorders can be mistakenly diagnosed for the other. That is why it is important for the diabetic to test their own sugar on several early morning intervals and present the results to their doctor. Correct determination of which disorder is occurring is crucial to continued health of the diabetic.

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