Depression is the most common psychiatric condition seen in diabetic patients. Up to 50%of diabetic patients suffer from depression. The interaction between these two conditions is complex. Depression by itself is a risk factor for developing diabetes. Conversely, diabetes may also contribute to the development of depression. What are the symptoms of depression? Depressed mood […]
Diabetes is one of the oldest non-communicable diseases known to the humanity. Most early civilizations knew about it, be it Egyptian or Asian. About 2500 years back Indians and Asians noted that urine becomes sweet in diabetes, and ants are attracted towards it. For centuries various tests of urine were used to diagnose diabetes(“A Historical […]
Potassium is a mineral that is often referred to as an electrolyte. These are electrically charged particles that are used by the cells to maintain voltage across the cell membranes of the body. They carry nerve impulses to other cells. Some other electrolytes in the body are chloride, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Kidneys help in […]
The pancreas is a small, flat, pear shaped organ located in the abdomen. It is surrounded by the small intestine, liver and spleen. It plays an important role in digestion of food and metabolism of sugar. The part of the pancreas that is involved in sugar metabolism is made of cells called islets of Langerhans. […]
Theoretically, diabetes mellitus (DM) can be divided into primary and secondary types. The primary types include type 1 (insulin-dependent DM, IDDM), type 2 (non-insulin-dependent DM, NIDDM), and gestational DM. The secondary types of DM are the disorders, which secondarily give rise to DM. This article will be discussing the causes for primary types first, followed […]
“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” (Ann Wigmore) We exist in an era where we rely more on junk, inorganic, sugary, processed foodstuffs. This unwholesome diet is wreaking havoc on our well-being. Keeping a log of our blood sugar levels […]
Perhaps your doctor has been encouraging you to shed a few pounds, or modify your diet for health purposes or perhaps the signs of aging are slowly revealing themselves in the form of diseases. It is almost certain that most adults are not ignorant to the benefits of weight loss and a healthy diet. In […]
Glucosamine is a type of simple sugar but, unlike glucose and other simple sugars, it doesn’t seem to affect insulin sensitivity or blood glucose levels to the same degree as glucose does. There has been some research to indicate that glucosamine worsened insulin resistance, resulting in an increase in blood glucose levels; however, later research […]
Insulin and glucagon have both similarities and differences. Both are hormones secreted by the pancreas but they are made from different types of cells in the pancreas. Both help manage the blood glucose levels in the body but they have opposite effects. Both respond to blood glucose levels but they have opposite effects. Each of […]
Alpha lipoic acid can be used in the management of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is a common side effect of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, affecting about 15 to 18 million people in the US. It affects about 70 percent of type 2 diabetics or about 20 million people in the US alone. While […]