Over six million adults suffer from diabetes in this country. Diabetes affects how your body processes sugar, or glucose, which is its main source of energy. Diabetes causes too much glucose to circulate in your bloodstream, which leads to a...
According to the Mayo Clinic, what all types of diabetes have in common is their influence on the body’s blood glucose. Levels of glucose in the body are crucial to health because glucose serves as the key energy supply for cells. All types...
Lifestyle choices play a large part in managing diabetes. Exercise has been shown to improve insulin resistance and blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and take insulin medication, you must take certain precautions when it comes to physical...
Regular monitoring of your blood glucose is the main tool you have for managing your diabetes. This is recommended for anyone who takes insulin, has a difficult time controlling their blood sugar, experiences low blood sugar without warning or who...
After you enjoy a meal or snack, your body breaks nutrients down into a sugar known as glucose and your pancreas releases insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to enter your body cells. If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn't make...
The FreeStyle Blood Glucose Monitoring System is a device that reads and stores your blood glucose levels, making it a useful tool for diabetics. To receive accurate blood glucose readings, you must code the device to match your vial of test...
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the body produces too much thyroid hormone. An excess of this hormone, according to Diabetes Monitor, commonly leads to symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, hot flashes, heart palpitations, tremor, hair...
A wide variety of medications can affect blood sugar levels. This applies to individuals with or without diabetes. For those with diabetes, it is especially important to be aware of these medications as they might spur the development of abnormal...
A blood glucose monitor is a device that an individual or health professional can use to check blood sugar levels. There is a variety of devices available on the market, and some require calibration before use. This is typically only done with the...
Glucose is necessary for every function in the human body. A certain level of glucose is needed in the blood for the brain and bodily processes to function efficiently. The normal blood glucose levels fall between 70 and 120 mg/dL. If there is too...
Exercise is essential for good health. Unlike some forms of exercise that require physical fitness to participate, walking is an easy and low-impact activity almost anyone can do. Walking is free, easy and generally safe. According to the Mayo...
Diabetes is a major health problem that affects people from all walks of life, but black Americans face an especially high risk of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, 14 percent of blacks over age 20, or 3.7 million people,...
Chocolate is usually associated with delectable treats and considered forbidden, particularly for those who want to lose or maintain weight. While an excessive amount of chocolate can be detrimental to the waistline, a small amount may provide...
Metformin is an oral medication used primarily to lower blood glucose levels in type II diabetes. Metformin works by lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver and decreasing the amount of glucose absorbed by the intestines. Metformin is...
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is transmitted between humans in three ways: through sexual transmission, by direct blood contact or from mother to child, AVERT claims. Although no vaccine against HIV nor a cure for AIDS presently exist, it is...
Acarbose is a medication prescribed for treating diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Manufactured by Bayer Corporation, acarbose is available as the brands Precose and Glucobay. It helps most people lose weight more easily, according...
When you have diabetes the foods you eat can significantly impact your health. A lack of insulin in diabetes, or the inability to use insulin properly, elevates your blood sugar levels. Eating in a healthy way helps to control blood glucose...
Byetta is an injectable diabetic medication that helps the pancreas make more insulin, so glucose can be absorbed into cells for use as energy. Byetta is used only for people with type 2, or adult onset, diabetes. Byetta is taken an hour or less...
The size of your belly is a known risk factor for several diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and heart failure. According to the Diabetes Monitor, "if you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to...
Type I diabetes may affect your appetite. This type of diabetes was previously referred to as "juvenile" or "insulin-dependent" diabetes and is usually diagnosed in children or young adults. The type I diabetic is unable to produce her own...
Prediabetes means you have abnormally high blood sugar but not high enough to be called diabetes. Risk factors for prediabetes include being overweight, inactive, over age 45, having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes and having low levels...
Blood tests are available to diagnose diabetes and monitor sugar levels. Decades ago, people had to test their urine for the presence of sugar. This showed only that blood sugar levels were much too high. Today's diagnostic tools show both the...
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...
A low calorie diet can mean little more than cutting back on the number of calories you consume each day. However, a healthy low calorie diet encourages weight loss while maintaining proper nutrition. Some calorie restriction diets are regarded...
A number of medical conditions can lead to malnutrition in the elderly. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, conditions such as cancer, depression, gastrointestinal disorders and cardiac disease can cause senior patients to lose...
Metformin HCL 500 mg is an oral prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is sold under such brand names as Glucophage, Fortamet, and Riomet, and belongs to a drug group known as biguanides. Metformin controls the amount of glucose...
Blood glucose monitors enable a patient with diabetes to monitor his blood sugar levels at home. According to MayoClinic.com, the ability to monitor glucose levels allows diabetics to adjust the factors that influence blood glucose. Most blood...
Getting regular exercise when you have diabetes will help you stay energized and reduce your risk of developing serious diseases, like nerve damage and heart disease. Aerobic exercises, like jogging, are particularly beneficial because they...