Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test that is used to screen patients for prediabetes and diabetes. It is also called the glycated hemoglobin level or the A1c level. It is made when the high blood glucose levels attach themselves to hemoglobin, forming “sugar-coated” hemoglobin. The greater the average glucose levels, the high is the amount […]
Insulin is a protein secreted by the islet cells of the pancreas. It is used to allow glucose to enter the cells of the body to be used for cellular metabolism. People who have type 1 diabetes have antibodies that have destroyed the islet cells so they no longer make insulin. Those with type 2 […]
The hemoglobin A1c, also known as the HgbA1c or glycated hemoglobin level, is a measurement of the amount of sugar found on hemoglobin. Because red blood cells containing hemoglobin live only about 120 days, the test only measures how “sugar-coated” the red blood cell hemoglobin has been over the previous 2-3 months. The test is […]
There are several ways to test a person for diabetes. Diabetes testing can be done on anyone who has symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased frequency of urination, poorly healing wounds, or unexplained weight loss. Testing for diabetes can also be done on people who have risk factors for diabetes but have no […]
There are several causes behind getting type 2 diabetes. The most common causes are lifestyle changes and heredity. Usually it takes both of these risk factors to develop insulin resistance, which is a state in which the cells of the body are resistant to the insulin normally produced by the pancreas. When the cells become […]
If you use insulin, you will have various injection sites for use in injecting exogenous insulin. The most common site for injecting insulin is the stomach or abdomen. Other common areas include the upper part of the arms, the upper aspect of the hips or buttocks, and the outer aspect of the thighs. These are […]
Normally, hypoglycemia, also referred to as low blood sugar, is found in diabetic patients who take too much insulin or too much of their diabetic medications. Both type 1 diabetics and type 2 diabetics can suffer from hypoglycemia; however, it is seen more commonly in type 1 diabetics who use insulin. Hypoglycemia can be found […]
Diabetic dermopathy is a condition associated with the skin of diabetics. The lesions of diabetic dermopathy look light brown or red in color, are round or oval in shape, and are slightly indented and scaly patches that are more commonly found on the shins of diabetic patients. They can occur at any time but tend […]
Insulin is a protein-based hormone that is made by the beta cells of the pancreas. Most people know that insulin is the hormone that helps the body’s cells put glucose into the cells for use as cellular fuel. In the absence of insulin, the cells do not have enough biochemical energy so they must use […]
Fenugreek, or trigonella foenum-graecum, is a popular herb cultivated in southern Europe and Western Asia and is used in abundance in a variety of cuisines particularly in India. Fenugreek has a vast variety of health benefits and the seeds are high in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and selenium. The herb is also high […]