Your A1C levels are a commonly used indicator for diabetes control. Hemoglobin is the protein that allows red blood cells to transport oxygen. Glucose reacts with hemoglobin to form A1C; the higher your blood glucose levels, the more hemoglobin...
Nicotine is an alkaloid present in tobacco products at concentrations between 1 and 3 percent in the United States. It is also used medically, most often for replacement therapy for people trying to quit the use of tobacco products. Nicotine is...
Diabetes is a condition in which patients have chronically elevated blood sugar. Diabetes is caused by problems with insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to carbohydrates. Insulin causes the liver, muscle and fat cells...
If you have diabetes, you try to keep your blood glucose (sugar) level stable to lower the risk of serious complications such as nerve and kidney damage, heart disease, and vision problems. You can check blood glucose levels daily, but the...
Diabetes is an illness that decreases the body's ability to break down sugar for fuel. The body requires a chemical called insulin to metabolize sugars that are ingested. In type I diabetes, the body may fail to make insulin at all. Type II...
Diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are too high due to problems with a hormone called insulin. Patients who do not make enough insulin or who are resistant to its function can develop diabetes. One method of measuring blood...
Diabetes is actually more than one disease--type 1 and type 2 diabetes are chronic diseases, and gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that affects some women during pregnancy. With healthy lifestyle choices, diabetes is increasingly...
Many people who have just been diagnosed with diabetes face a world full of questions. The most important being, "What's an optimal blood sugar level for me?" Blood sugar (also called blood glucose) levels fluctuate throughout the day. In the...
Diabetes is a condition in which elevated blood sugar levels are caused by problems with the hormone known as insulin. Chronically high blood sugar can cause a number of complications, including problems with circulation, cardiovascular disease,...
Diabetes is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body either does not make insulin or cannot use it properly. Managing diabetes means eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and testing blood sugar levels often. For some...
Testing for abnormal glucose metabolism is an important part of diagnosing diabetes. High blood glucose levels indicate that sugar in the body is not making its way into the cells to be used for energy. Advances in technology have lead to new and...
"Salvia Hispanic," commonly referred to as chia or salba, is a Latin American plant that is part of the mint family. The seeds of chia are popular in North America. Chia seeds are abundant in nutrients and offer a variety of purported medicinal...
Diabetes is a disease caused by the body's inability to regulate blood glucose levels. In a healthy person, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin to process glucose in the bloodstream. A person with diabetes either does not produce enough...
About 1 in 100 women of childbearing age has diabetes before becoming pregnant, and most can have successful pregnancies and healthy babies, the March of Dimes says. However, if you're diabetic, you face special challenges to avoid complications...
The incidence of diabetes is increasing as more people become overweight or obese. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of new cases of diabetes that were diagnosed in the U.S. each year tripled from 1980 to...
Blood glucose levels are influenced by a number of factors, and thus fluctuate during the day. A fasting blood glucose between 55 and 109 mg/dL is considered a healthy goal for both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals, according to the American...
Type II diabetes is a metabolic disease in which cells of the body no longer respond well to the hormone insulin, and insulin is not secreted in sufficient amounts by cells in the pancreas. The American Diabetes Association and the European...
Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels become chronically elevated due to problems with insulin, which is a hormone that allows the body to use sugar in the blood for energy. Patients with type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin,...
Type 2 diabetes refers to a chronic disease of uncontrolled blood sugars. Insulin is a chemical made in your body, and its job description is to lower blood glucose levels. In this type of diabetes, your body no longer makes or responds to...
The American Diabetes Association states that tracking your daily blood glucose levels is a very important part of maintaining your health if you are living with diabetes. Having a good idea of what your average daily blood glucose level is will...
If you're diabetic, there are a number of tests you can use to help you manage your blood glucose levels. One is by monitoring your glucose levels yourself using a portable glucose monitor. Another is by having your blood drawn by a clinical...
Insulinogenic foods are foods that cause high peaks in blood sugar levels quickly after consuming them. These foods have higher glycemic index values, which indicate that they are digested and absorbed more rapidly than foods with lower glycemic...
Diabetes is a condition that requires a diagnosis and treatment to prevent serious complications. Without treatment, blood glucose levels can become dangerously high, causing damage to blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, says the...
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. Patients who are diabetic may be asked to monitor their blood sugar daily at home with a glucometer. The hemoglobin A1C test is a simple blood test that calculates your average...
Often diabetics are required to monitor their blood glucose levels. The options that are available for blood glucose monitors may seem overwhelming. A person with diabetes needs a monitor that is easy to use, reliable and accurate. The website,...
Diabetes melitus, or diabetes, is a disease of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism. Diabetes affects the storage of glucose in the liver and has an influence on fat metabolism. Types 1 and 2 vary in causative factors, but early detection and control...
Your blood naturally contains a certain amount of a sugar known as glucose. Glucose is the predominant fuel for cells within the body. High blood glucose levels can be a sign of diabetes, a condition caused by problems with how your body produces...
Diabetes is a condition in which patients have elevated blood sugar as a result of problems with insulin, which is a hormone that regulates glucose in the blood. Diabetics either don't produce enough insulin or may be resistant to its effects....
As of 2007, more than 23 million Americans were living with diabetes. Of those 23 million, approximately 12 million of them are adult men. Whether you have diabetes or not, the American Diabetes Association recommends regular evaluation of your...
