Diabetes is a multi-system disease, meaning it can affect different parts of your body and various organs. That's why controlling diabetes is so important to maintaining overall health. Diabetes that affects the eyes is called diabetic...
Diabetes is an endocrine, or hormonal, condition that causes increased blood glucose. Medications and insulin injection can help to balance blood glucose levels on an hourly to daily basis. Self-care and home glucose monitoring is very important...
Most individuals without an underlying disease have very little reason to ever need to check their own blood sugar levels. Diabetics, however, need to do so regularly. Diabetes, explains Dr. Lauralee Sherwood in her book "Human Physiology," is a...
Some people have abnormally low or high levels of fat-soluble vitamins, either due to poor diet or a medical condition such as chronic fatigue. Your physician will order a test to measure the amounts of fat-soluble vitamins in your body if she...
If you're a newly diagnosed diabetic, or you live with the disease but are trying new approaches to getting your disease under control, the hemoglobin A1c tests may be some of the best tests available to your and your doctor. Unlike a single blood...
Diabetes results when there is no control of blood sugar in the body because of inadequate insulin production or decreased response to insulin, the hormone that regulates the level of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. Hypoglycemia, or low blood...
Chronically high blood glucose levels generally occur due to problems with insulin. Blood glucose levels can become high if your pancreas does not produce enough insulin or if your body does not respond properly to what insulin is produced. If you...
Humulin is the brand name for several types of human insulin used to lower your blood sugar level if you have diabetes mellitus. Humulin R is a regular, short-acting insulin. Humulin N is an intermediate-acting insulin, also known as NPH. Humulin...
Home blood glucose monitoring is essential for patients with diabetes or who have an increased risk of diabetes. Not only can regular use of a glucose meter give information about how well the disease is being controlled, but it can also help...
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...
One of the biggest challenges for diabetics is learning how to manage their blood glucose levels. Diet, exercise and medication all play a role in glucose levels and must be balanced. A good way to start is by learning how to use the glycemic...
If you're diabetic, the most important part of your day should be monitoring your blood glucose. Unmanaged diabetes can lead to a number of other complications, including kidney failure, coronary artery disease, blindness and even loss of limbs....
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...
If you have diabetes, you probably use a hand-held machine called a glucometer to measure your blood glucose level at different points throughout the day. According to the American Diabetes Association, or ADA, "All people with diabetes can...
A fasting blood glucose test monitors the body's ability to handle and regulate blood sugar levels. It is commonly used to test for and monitor the control of diabetes, because it is less variable than other tests. Fasting blood glucose levels...
As of 2002, type 2 diabetes was present in 19.3 million American adults over age 20, or 9.3 percent of that demographic, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Another 26 percent were in a state of insulin resistance,...
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...
Sugars are named in many different ways depending on their various chemical structures, and the names mostly end with "-ose." For example, fruit sugars are known as fructose, milk sugars as lactose and table sugars as sucrose. Glucose...
Diabetics or prediabetics may want or need to test blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, at home. Testing at home can help an individual keep track of changes in blood glucose and help him and his doctor make changes to diet,...
High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, is a common occurrence in people with diabetes. It results from a defect in insulin production or utilization. Hyperglycemia can be managed and treated.
Glucose is the main type of sugar in your body, KidsHealth.com reports. Glucose is your body's main source of energy. It is obtained from your diet or your body can synthesize it from other chemicals. Fruits can provide you with various amounts of...
Glucose is a sugar in your bloodstream, and its levels fluctuate depending on your diet and health. A high level of glucose for a prolonged period is usually a sign of diabetes. If you feel that you might be at risk of diabetes, speak to your...
If you've been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during your pregnancy, it's important to plan your diet right to avoid complications during pregnancy and birth. Most women with gestational diabetes can manage this condition through diet alone,...
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that begins during pregnancy. It can cause high blood sugar, which in turn can affect the baby. A healthy pregnancy is possible if the diabetes is managed properly during the pregnancy. According to the March of...
A blood glucose monitor tests the level of glucose in a person's blood. People who have diabetes mellitus do not produce or their bodies do not properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar (glucose), starch and other forms of...
Our blood glucose is a measurement of how much sugar is in the bloodstream. The body uses glucose as a fuel source for all the cells. Too much or too little can upset the balance of the body. Diabetes is a disease that has to do with circulating...
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that causes glucose to be pulled out of the blood by muscle, fat and liver cells. Diabetes is a condition that is caused by the body not making enough insulin or not responding properly to it. Type 2...
Pregnancy takes over your body and some of the internal regime changes it makes ripple through the body and affect otherwise healthy body systems. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a potential side effect of your body's many changes. While...
At-home glucose meters are portable instruments allow anyone to test their blood easily with a simple prick of the finger. The readings help diabetics determine how much medication to take and whether they are in control of their blood glucose....
