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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