Oral Diabetes Medications

Oral diabetes medications — diabetes pills — help control blood sugar levels in people whose bodies still produce some insulin (the majority of people with type 2 diabetes). These diabetes drugs are usually prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes along with recommendations for making specific dietary changes and getting regular exercise. Several of these drugs are often used in combination to achieve optimal blood sugar control.

Remember that people with type 2 diabetes tend to have two problems that lead to increased sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream:

1. They don’t make enough insulin to move glucose into cells where it belongs.
2. The body’s cells become “resistant” to insulin (insulin resistance), meaning they don’t take in glucose as well as they should.

In time, people with type 2 diabetes develop what’s called “beta-cell failure.” This means that the cells in the pancreas that make insulin no longer are able to release insulin in response to high blood sugar levels. Therefore, these people often require insulin injections, either in combination with their diabetes pills, or just insulin alone to manage their diabetes. Read more:

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Take 5: Diabetes

Our diabetes expert answers five questions about lifestyle and blood sugar control.

If you’re one of the nearly 24 million Americans living with type 2 diabetes, you know your body has difficulty using or producing insulin. What can you do to manage the disease? We asked Jill Crandall, MD, professor of clinical medicine and director of the diabetes clinical trials unit at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, to debunk some myths and help you learn to live well.

Your questions answered:
 
1. Does having type 2 diabetes mean you have to give up sugar completely? 
2. Is it better to eat frequently throughout the day? 
3. How do stress and sleep affect diabetes management? 
4. Why do I need to exercise?
5. Are there any promising treatments ahead for type 2 diabetes? 
Bonus Question: Is weight loss important if you have type 2 diabetes? Why?

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The Risks and Complications of Uncontrolled Diabetes

If not controlled, diabetes can put you at risk for a host of complications that can affect nearly every organ in the body. They include: The heart and blood vessels

• The eyes
• The kidneys
• The nerves
• The gums and teeth

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Stress and High Blood Pressure | GoldenEraMart Health JunctionGoldenEraMart Health Junction

Stress is a normal part of life. But too much stress can lead to emotional, psychological, and even physical problems — including heart disease, high blood pressure, chest pains, or irregular heart beats.
 
Reducing stress can help lower high blood pressure.

How Does Stress Contribute to Heart Disease?

Medical researchers aren’t sure exactly how stress increases the risk of heart disease. Stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress make other risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) worse. For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure goes up, you may overeat, you may exercise less, and you may be more likely to smoke.

If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

What Are the Warning Signs of Stress?

When you are exposed to long periods of stress, your body gives warning signs that something is wrong. These physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral signs of stress should not be ignored. They tell you that you need to slow down. If you continue to be stressed and you don’t give your body a break, you are likely to develop health problems. You could also worsen an 

existing illness. Read it all:  Stress and High Blood Pressure | GoldenEraMart Health JunctionGoldenEraMart Health Junction

Tips for Coping Day to Day With Urinary Incontinence

Like it or not, urinary incontinence is a fact of life for many people. It can happen as we get older, and for women during pregnancy or after birth, even as the result of a persistent cough. 

What can you do to take control?
 

For answers, WebMD went to the American Urological Association and Craig Comiter, MD, associate professor of urology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Here are their tips on how to take matters into your own hands — and make living with urinary incontinence a lot easier.

Which Type of Urinary Incontinence Do You Have?

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine and “it’s a common condition” in men and women of all ages, says the American Urological Association. The two main types of urinary incontinence are:

• Stress incontinence, which can cause leakage when you cough, sneeze, exercise, laugh, or strain to lift something heavy.
• Urge incontinence, which is an unexpected, sudden urge to urinate, one that’s so strong it can be hard to reach the bathroom in time.

No matter which type of urinary incontinence you have, simple behavioral tips can help you deal day to day.

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Non-Insulin Diabetes Injectables

When insulin was first discovered in 1921, it revolutionized the treatment of diabetes. No longer was diabetes considered a death sentence. For the first time, people with diabetes could expect to live longer, fuller lives.
 

Insulin transformed diabetes treatment, but for many decades it was the only drug available to treat diabetes. Then came another mini-revolution with the introduction of the first oral, non-insulin drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, including metformin and the sulfonylurea class of drugs.

Today, metformin is the first drug doctors usually recommend for people with type 2 diabetes who need to take medication. Researchers have still been on the hunt for other diabetes treatment options because metformin doesn’t work sufficiently for everyone with diabetes. Some people who take this drug still have trouble controlling their blood sugar and A1C number.

In recent years, new drugs have been introduced that offer more options for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two injectable non-insulin medications — pramlintide (Symlin) and exenatide (Byetta). Then in 2010, the FDA also approved the drug liraglutide (Victoza).

Unlike insulin, which lowers blood sugar by pulling glucose from the bloodstream into cells, these drugs cause the body to release insulin, or work with insulin to control blood sugar levels.

Here’s a rundown of the three non-insulin injections your doctor might recommend for controlling your blood sugar levels — how they work, who they help, and what side effects they can have.

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High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease

 

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of kidney disease and kidney failure (end-stage renal disease). 

Hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels and filters in the kidney, making removal of waste from the body difficult. Once a person is diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, dialysis — a blood-cleansing process — or kidney transplantation are necessary.

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Living With Type 1 Diabetes in a Type 2 World

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s own immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells).
 

Normally, the body’s immune system fights off foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. But for unknown reasons, in people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks various cells in the body. This results in a complete deficiency of the insulin hormone.

Some people develop a type of diabetes – called secondary diabetes — which is similar to type 1 diabetes, but the beta cells are not destroyed by the immune system but by some other factor, such as cystic fibrosis or pancreatic surgery. Read more -

Living With Type 1 Diabetes in a Type 2 World | GoldenEraMart Health JunctionGoldenEraMart Health Junction

7 Foods You Think Are Healthy

When your family bites into a fresh fruit or a steamed vegetable, you know you’re serving up something that’s good for them. But beyond that, it’s hard to be sure.
Even if the package says that a food is healthy or loaded with all kinds of vitamins and minerals, check the label. It may be full of other things your family doesn’t need.
Some foods, like these seven, may not be as healthy as you think.

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Top Cancer-Fighting Foods

No single food can reduce your risk of cancer, but the right combination of foods may help make a difference. At mealtimes, strike a balance of at least two-thirds plant-based foods and no more than one-third animal protein. This “New American Plate” is an important cancer fighting tool, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Check out better and worse choices for your plate.



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Coping With Diabetes and Stress

 

When you have diabetes, stress can significantly affect your ability to control the disease. If you are under stress, you may skip meals or forget to take your medicines, which will affect your blood sugar level. Learning to deal with this stress is especially important if you have diabetes.


Although you can’t completely remove stress from your life, there are several ways you can reduce it. And by learning to better cope with stress, you can help keep your diabetes under control. Here are some tips.


Fight Stress With a Positive Attitude


When things seem to be going wrong, it’s always easier to see the bad instead of the good. Find something good in each important area of your life: work, family, friends, and health. Thinking about the good can help you get through the bad times and the stress.


Be Nice to Yourself


What are your talents, abilities, and goals? Are you expecting too much from yourself? Don’t expect more of yourself than you have or are able to give.


Accept What You Cannot Change


For those stressful situations or problems that cannot be changed, develop a simple plan of action. Ask yourself the following questions:

• “Will this be important two years from now?”
• “Do I have control over this situation?”
• “Can I change my situation?”
  

Talk to Someone About Your Stress


Don’t keep stress bottled up inside. If you don’t want to talk with a family member or close friend, there are counselors and clergy trained to provide support and insight. Ask your doctor for recommendations if you would like to see a psychologist or counselor.


Exercise to Fight Stress


The benefits of exercise in reducing stress are well known, particularly for someone with diabetes. Exercise gives you a feeling of well-being and may relieve symptoms of stress.


Take Time to Relax


Practice muscle relaxation, deep breathing, meditation, or visualization. Ask your health care provider for information and available programs.


© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.


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10 Things That Can Make Incontinence Worse

Do you suffer from incontinence? You can cut down on symptoms by changing what you eat and drink.

 

Incontinence can happen to anyone, although it’s more common in women than in men.

“Mild urinary leakage affects most women at some time in our lives,” says Mary Rosser, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City. “Although it is more common in older women, younger women may experience leakage as well.” 

You may have stress incontinence, urge incontinence, or some other type.
The good news is that there are treatments—and lifestyle changes—that can help.

Fluid intake

It’s no surprise that too many drinks—whether water, milk, or other beverages—can be a problem for people with incontinence.

However, you can’t solve incontinence by severely cutting back on fluids. This can lead to dehydration, constipation, and kidney stones, which can actually irritate your bladder and make symptoms worse. 

It’s important to get the right balance, says Dr. Rosser, who recommends about two liters of fluid a day, which is eight 8-ounce glasses. (The right amount depends on your lean body mass.)
If you’re prone to nighttime incontinence, cut back your fluid intake in the evening. 

10 Things That Can Make Incontinence Worse

High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home| Excerpt

Why should you measure your own blood pressure?
 

When you take your own blood pressure, you can do it at different times and in different places, such as at home, at work, and when you travel. This helps your doctor to:

• Decide whether you have high blood pressure.
• Check whether a certain medicine is helping to lower your blood pressure.
• See if you have low blood pressure that may be caused by irregular heart rhythms, certain medicines, or other medical conditions.
• Make sure that any medicines you take for other problems are not causing episodes of high blood pressure.

When you have high blood pressure, taking your own measurements can help you see how medicine or lifestyle changes are helping to lower your blood pressure. It can help you feel more involved in and more in control of your own health care.

Some people have a big rise in blood pressure only when they are in a doctor’s office. This is called “white-coat hypertension.” It probably is caused by worry about the doctor visit. By checking blood pressure at home, these people can often find out whether their blood pressure readings generally are lower when they are not in the doctor’s office. Read more -

High Blood Pressure: Checking Your Blood Pressure at Home

Tips for Teens with Diabetes: Dealing With the Ups and Downs of Diabetes

 

Feelings

 
Many teens like you deal with diabetes everyday. Most of the time, it’s not a problem, you just deal with it. But sometimes, you may just want it to go away.

Do you ever…

• Ask “why me?”
• Think you’re the only one who feels sad, mad, alone, afraid, or different?
• Get tired of others teasing you if you are overweight?
• Blame yourself or your family for your diabetes?

All of these feelings are normal. Lots of teens who have diabetes feel the same way. It’s okay to get angry, feel sad, or think you’re different every now and then. But then you need to take charge and do something to feel better.

Everyone feels down sometimes. You are not alone.

Tips for Teens with Diabetes: Dealing With the Ups and Downs of Diabetes

Your Guide to the New Insurance Marketplaces

The health law’s online marketplaces, also known as exchanges, will be open for enrollment Oct. 
1.  They will allow individuals and consumers to comparison shop for health insurance, much like they do now online for an airline ticket or a hotel room, and apply for subsidies, if they are eligible.

If done well, proponents say, the marketplaces could make it easier to buy health insurance and possibly lead to lower prices because of increased competition. But, if designed or marketed poorly, the exchanges will not attract healthy people and will instead be left with a higher percentage of sicker people that will cause premiums to rise.
Here are some answers to common questions about the exchanges:

Your Guide to the New Insurance Marketplaces

Type 2 Diabetes and Exercise

 

Exercise is very important in managing type 2 diabetes. Combining diet, exercise, and medicine (when prescribed) can help control your weight and blood sugar level.
Exercise helps control type 2 diabetes by:

• Improving your body’s use of insulin
• Burning excess body fat, helping to decrease and control weight (decreased body fat results in improved insulin sensitivity)
• Improving muscle strength
• Increasing bone density and strength
• Lowering blood pressure
• Helping to protect against heart and blood vessel disease by lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol
• Improving blood circulation and reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke
• Increasing energy level and enhancing work capacity
• Reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and releasing tension and anxie

Type 2 Diabetes and Exercise