Diabetes refers to a number of conditions that affect the body's ability to use blood glucose for energy. Excessive amounts of glucose have been linked with a number of serious health conditions, including organ failure and nerve damage.
It is rare that you would get too much calcium from your diet. Because bone mass decreases with age, many individuals, especially post-menopausal women have been advised to take calcium supplements. Excess calcium from supplements is not likely to...
One of the latest trends in healthy supplements is the malva verticillata plant, more commonly known as Chinese mallow or mallow. The plant was originally grown in southern Europe and Asia but now grows from July to September on plains and arable...
Calcium plays an important role in building healthy bones and regulating certain brain and muscle functions. Higher than normal levels of calcium in the blood lead to a condition called hypercalcemia which can disrupt these functions....
The Recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, of calcium for adults is 1,000 mg per day. Calcium is a mineral that is abundantly found throughout your body and is consumed through many of the foods you eat on a regular basis, including milk, cheese,...
In the United States alone, more than 6 million people don't recognize diabetes symptoms, making them unaware that they have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is a disease in which the body allows excess sugar to...
Serum glucose and triglycerides refer to the levels of sugar and fatty acids in your bloodstream, respectively. Glucose and triglycerides enter your blood externally from your diet and internally from your liver. Serum glucose and triglycerides...
Vitamins are needed to support a healthy body. In large amounts, however, certain vitamins can be toxic, leading to a condition called vitamin toxicity or vitamin poisoning. The dosage at which toxicity occurs, and the symptoms of toxicity, depend...
The bones in your body get some of their strength from the minerals calcium and phosphate. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones lose some of their strength, making them more prone to breaking especially after a fall or other trauma....
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient found in numerous foods and beverages. It is also synthesized by the body in response to sunlight. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk for...
In 2006, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 7.8 percent of the population diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. It is a manageable disease that can often be prevented and you may or may not have symptoms....
Nearly every part of your body suffers when your blood sugar level rises, particularly if your diabetes is not well-controlled with insulin treatment, diet or exercise. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times...
Unintentional weight loss is a symptom that should never be ignored, especially when accompanied by pain. The digestive tract--especially in children--can easily be affected by physical and emotional changes in your child's life. Although the...
Thiamine, or vitamin B-1, plays a role in a number of functions in the body, from metabolizing fats and carbs to reducing stress. Moreover, it's necessary for healthy hair, skin, nails and eyes. Thiamine might also be beneficial for individuals...
Glucose is the main sugar the body uses as a source of energy. The levels of glucose in the body are regulated by several hormones and affected by the foods we eat. Children with blood sugar abnormalities can exhibit symptoms of altered mental...
Insulin plays a critical role in metabolism. Abnormal insulin levels contribute to a variety of medical conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes, which is caused when no insulin is produced by the pancreas, and Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the...
Rooted in ancient Indian tradition, Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old health system concerned with balancing the mind, body and spirit, the Mayo Clinic states. Ayurvedic teachings include the concept of three distinct body types, known as "doshas,"...
Anhydrous calcium aspartate is a type of calcium supplement. Manufacturers promote this form of calcium as having a higher absorption rate than other calcium supplements, such as calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Better absorption can be a...
Along with hormones secreted by your thyroid and parathyroid glands, vitamin D helps your body regulate its levels of the mineral calcium. If you take too much supplemental vitamin D, you can trigger a condition called hypercalcemia, which occurs...
High blood sugar levels over the long term can increase your risk of developing diabetes, kidney disease, vision loss and heart disease. Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent thirst and urination, feeling tired and weight loss. Evidence...
Diabetes is a prevalent disorder characterized by chronic high blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia. While several types of diabetes exist, cases of type II diabetes mellitus are rapidly increasing in most age groups due to a rise in obesity rates....
Symbicort, generically known as budesonide and formoterol, is a medication used to treat bronchospasms (airway constrictions) in such lung diseases as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), states Drugs.com. Symbicort is an...
Consuming sugar is natural craving you get in response to a drop in blood glucose levels. You may want sugar because a food or drink is appetizing to you. After eating sugar, you may feel satisfied, but if you have too much or have an underlying...
Your body needs calcium for a number of vital tasks, including formation of your teeth and bones and proper function of your muscles, nerves and blood vessels. However, too much calcium in your diet, supplements or medications can trigger serious...
Adrenocortical carcinoma is not a phrase many people are apt to hear too often; this rare type of cancer is seen in only one out of 1.5 million people. It affects the outer layer (adrenal cortex) of the adrenal glands, which are small glands...
Your kidneys are bean-shaped organs which are essentially the colander of the body. Their function is to filter waste products and excess water from your blood. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a...
A diabetic coma is a life-threatening complication affecting people with type I or type II diabetes. Diabetic comas are typically caused by complications from either extremely high or low blood sugar levels. Careful management of your blood...
Most people know that calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, but calcium is also vital for nerves, heart and muscle function throughout the body. Calcium is the most plentiful mineral in the body, according to University of Maryland...
Whether eating sugary food or just plain bread, the body breaks them down and converts them into glucose, or simple sugar, because the body primarily uses this form of energy. In diabetics, the body lacks enough insulin to help absorb glucose in...
Sugar levels in the blood, or blood sugar, are regulated in the body by insulin. Learn about blood sugar, including treatments and safe levels, in this health video.
Diabetes is a disease wherein the body cannot produce adequate amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar. Learn about diabetes including treatment options in this medical video.
Type II diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar or glucose. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for diabetes type II in this video.
Gestational diabetes is a rare diabetes develops in women during pregnancy. Watch this video for more on this unique condition and how to prevent and treat it.
