Type 2 Diabetes - What Does It Take to Reverse Diabetes?

By Beverleigh H Piepers

You may have questions about the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. As you have heard often, there is no such thing as a stupid question. Even the basic ones are a go and you would be surprised at how often the basics are overlooked. You may have a general question. You are at the right place if you are wondering what it takes to treat Type 2 diabetes and reverse your condition. The short answer is it takes time, patience, instruction, effort, and a willingness to succeed.
Let us examine each of these components further...

1. Time. Since Type 2 diabetes is a disease with a slow development time (between ten and fifteen years), it is not realistic to believe it could be undone in a short matter of time. Treating high and unstable blood sugar levels and losing weight is not an overnight affair. For this reason, it is better to approach treatment with the awareness it could take a while.

Which leads us to the next point: patience.
2. Patience. It is crucial to have the right mindset when setting out to reverse diabetes. In this regard, patience is a virtue. Do what you have to do, trust the results will come, and then wait.
It sounds simple, but many people are demoralized when they start to realize it is a longer process than they expected. Don't make the same mistake - keeping your spirits high is essential.
3. A Willingness to Succeed. On that note, let us talk about the desire to succeed. If you have a drive to absolutely stop at nothing until you are where you want to be, you are more likely to succeed. It is that simple. However, if you are lackadaisical in your approach, you would be more liable to quit when progress stalls or you suffer a lapse in commitment.
You have to reflect on how badly you want to be healthy, and how important your well-being is to you. No one wants to be overweight but since it is in everyone's power to be leaner, it is clear some want it more than others.
4. Instruction and Effort. Lastly, we have instruction and effort. With proper guidance from a medical professional and a daily commitment to lowering your blood sugar, you have the final ingredients required to deal with the disease.

Willing to work is one thing. Doing it is another. Which is why you must follow through on your intention to succeed. And that is where instruction can help you.
Your doctor can help you establish a routine conducive to treating and lowering your blood sugar...

• a nutritionist could help you create a healthy diet, and
• a personal trainer could help you get started in the gym if you are unsure of where to begin.

If you lack guidance, you either have not searched hard enough or looked in the right places. If you are not putting in the work, Type 2 diabetes is not going to reverse itself!

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets

http://ezinearticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---What-Does-It-Take-to-Reverse-Diabetes?&id=9679875

How Do I Know if I Have Diabetes?

From health.usnews.com

You could have diabetes and not know it.

The symptoms of diabetes can be very mild. Although symptoms are similar for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes symptoms are especially hard to pinpoint. "In many patients with Type 2 diabetes, the disease progresses slowly, and they may not realize that they have developed it without screening. There are millions of patients who have diabetes who are not aware that they have it," says Dr. Asha M. Thomas, an endocrinologist with Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.

In fact, of the 29 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes, 8 million are undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association.

However, you don't know just by your symptoms if you have diabetes. You need to see a doctor who can check your blood sugar levels. Those numbers tracked by doctors will reveal if you are living with diabetes.
So what are the most common symptoms of diabetes?

You have to urinate more often. This is because your kidneys are working harder to process extra sugar in your urine.

You feel more thirsty than usual. As you urinate more, you feel more dehydrated – and that makes you want to drink more liquids. Some people also feel hungrier than usual.

You have increased urinary tract, yeast or vaginal infections. Sometimes, OB-GYNs help to diagnose diabetes based on an increased frequency of these infections, says Lucille Hughes, a certified diabetes educator and director of diabetes education at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York. Changes to the body's immune system put those with diabetes at higher risk for these infections, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

You experience unintentional weight loss. While many people want to lose weight, the weight loss that occurs when you have uncontrolled diabetes is not a healthy weight loss. It happens because your body can't properly use insulin to help process glucose, a sugar found in food, for fuel. So your body starts to process fat and muscle for fuel, says Susan M. De Abate, a nurse, certified diabetes educator and team coordinator of the diabetes education program at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.

You have flu-like symptoms or feel more fatigued. Sometimes a spouse may complain that his or her partner used to love going out but now just wants to stay home. "They'll say, 'I knew something was different about them,'" Hughes says, describing the fatigue.

The fatigue comes from a lack of glucose, your body's No. 1 energy source. "It's as if you're a car and you run on gasoline, but the gas is outside the car and can't make it in," Hughes says.
You experience occasional blurred vision. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which affects your vision. Eye doctors sometimes play a role in helping to diagnose diabetes because of the vision symptoms a patient experiences.
How Symptoms Differ Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

The symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are usually similar to those of Type 2, but they come about more suddenly. For example, a child may have flu-like symptoms that in only a few days lead a parent to take the child to the emergency room where Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, Hughes says. Parents may bring their child to the emergency room because "their child looks like a lump on a log," Hughes says.

In contrast, the symptoms for Type 2 diabetes can be drawn out over several years before the symptoms are bad enough for someone to notice the difference.

Why Diabetes Symptoms Are Confusing

The symptoms of diabetes, particularly Type 2, can be hard to track because they appear slowly over time and because the signs of aging and the signs of diabetes can overlap. "People have dry skin or they use the bathroom a lot [when they are older]. It's hard to tell which is which," De Abate says.

Your symptoms could also overlap with the effects of certain drugs. For instance, if you take a type of drug called a diuretic, which makes you urinate more, you might think your increased urination is only from the medication.
Some patients get so used to living with certain symptoms – be it fatigue or increased urination – it would never occur to them that it could indicate a health problem. "Some people go undiagnosed for years, and their bodies handle it because they still produce some insulin," De Abate says. Still, that doesn't mean they are producing enough insulin or processing it properly.
When to See a Doctor

"If someone has any of the symptoms, I would recommend seeking medical therapy as soon as possible," Thomas says.

Set an appointment with your doctor and ask about a fasting blood sugar check. You should also inquire about a hemoglobin A1C check, which measures your average blood sugar over the previous three months. "Not all doctors use the A1C test unless the person has risk factors that jump out. I encourage patients to ask for this test," De Abate says. The test could also reveal if you have prediabetes – which means you still have time to change your eating habits and physical activity so you don't develop full-blown Type 2 diabetes.

Although anyone can develop Type 2 diabetes, your risk is higher if you are overweight or have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. You're also at a higher risk if you smoke or have a family history of diabetes.
If you see your doctor regularly, you can keep a closer eye on possible symptoms and risk factors. "If someone has an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, such as a family history, a history of gestational diabetes, obesity, age or increased risk by race, we would carefully watch for any symptoms," Thomas says. "These are the patients we routinely counsel on the importance of prevention for Type 2 diabetes."

http://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-04-06/how-do-i-know-if-i-have-diabetes

Weight gain before pregnancy can increase gestational diabetes risk

From diabetestimes.co.uk

Women who gain weight before they get pregnant increase their risk of developing gestational diabetes, according to new research.
A study in Australia followed more than 3,000 women aged between 18 and 23 using the Women’s Health Australia study from 1996. The were asked to answer questions relating to their weight, physical activity, lifestyle, health issues, and pregnancies so the data could be collected.
The research team found the females who gained more than 2.5 per cent of their body weight each year prior to pregnancy had a nearly three times increased risk of gestational diabetes compared to women who maintained their weight.

Akilew Adane, a researcher at the University of Queensland’s School of Public Health, said: “Women with only a small weight gain each year ([1.5 to 2.5 percent of body weight) doubled their risk of gestational diabetes.
“Surprisingly, even women who were underweight or in the normal BMI range had an increased risk of gestational diabetes when they gained weight, even if they remained within the healthy weight category. Women with small weight gains within the healthy BMI range doubled their risk of gestational diabetes compared to women whose weight remained stable.”
Researchers stressed the importance of women and their doctors are aware of the risk of gestational diabetes even if in a healthy BMI range.
Mr Adane added: “It’s important for women and their clinicians to be aware that, even in the healthy BMI range, gaining a kilogram or two a year can be a health risk.
“For instance, a 60-kilogram, 166-centimetre woman is in a healthy BMI range, but if she gains 1.14kg each year for seven years (about two per cent of her body weight) her risk of gestational diabetes would double compared to a woman whose weight remained stable.
“It’s likely that women who continue to gain weight through early adulthood may experience a modest, progressive insulin resistance, which is further exacerbated by pregnancy, even though their weight is still within the normal range.”
The findings of the study have been published in the Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

http://diabetestimes.co.uk/weight-gain-before-pregnancy-can-increase-gestational-diabetes-risk/

Warning over Lucozade sugar reduction

From diabetestimes.co.uk

People who rely on Lucozade to treat hypos are being urged to check the labels of the energy drink as the amount of sugar is being halved.
The new formula, which will apply to all Lucozade flavours as well as the original, will be implemented from April 2017.
Currently, 100ml of Lucozade Original contains 17g of carbohydrate; this will be reduced to 8.9g.

People who suffer from hypos are advised to drink 15-20g of sugar to treat their low blood sugar, but once the Lucozade recipe has been introduced this will no longer be equivalent to 100ml of the drink.
In a section on the Diabetes UK website about hypos it said: “For those of you that use Lucozade Energy Original as your hypo treatment of choice, please be aware that from April 2017, it will contain 50 per cent less sugar, so it is likely you will have to drink more to treat your hypo.
“For a period of time, there will be both old and new stock of Lucozade on sale, so check the label before you buy. Your diabetes healthcare team can help you to adjust the amount of hypo treatment needed.”
June James, co-founder of diabetes nursing group TREND UK, said: “This is very concerning especially as we have heard that there will be both new and old stock on the shelves and, together with the low glucose versions, it all leads to plenty of opportunities for confusion. This is why this is so serious.
“We have been advising our members to make sure that their patients read the labels thoroughly and ensure that they have the right amount of carbohydrates needed to treat any hypos.”
The changes to Lucozade have been made in the wake of the obesity and type 2 epidemic as part of the “responsibility deal” the government has agreed with food manufacturers.
A Lucozade Ribena Suntory spokesperson said: “We are lowering the sugar content of all our drinks, including Lucozade Energy, Ribena and Orangina as part of an ambitious health and wellbeing plan to transform our drinks and business.
“The decision to halve the sugar in our drinks is in response to the growing demand from consumers who now want healthier drinks. LRS plan to replace these sugars with low calorie sweeteners.
“Diabetes organisations throughout the UK and Ireland plus NHS trusts in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Department of Health and HSE in Ireland have been informed of the changes. Further technical information is available to download from our website www.lrsuntory.com/health.
“We strongly recommend that consumers check the back of the pack to find out the nutritional information.”
Last year it was announced by the chancellor as part of the Budget that a new sugar tax on the soft drinks industry would be introduced in the UK.
The move was hailed by campaigners as a significant step in the fight against child obesity.

http://diabetestimes.co.uk/hypo-warning-over-lucozade-sugar-reduction/

Athlete with Type 1 diabetes tells of marathon motivation

From bbc.co.uk

A former Commonwealth Games cyclist has told of what motivated him to complete a 350-mile ultra marathon held inside the Arctic Circle.

Roddy Riddle, who is from Inverness and has Type 1 diabetes, completed the 6633 Ultra in Canada in just under seven days earlier this month.
He entered the race previously but was unable to finish it.
Mr Riddle said he let people down that time and "wasn't coming home" until he completed his second attempt.
To finish the race, competitors must reach the end in eight days or less.

Mr Riddle not only completed it within that time but was the first Scot to do so and finished the event in second place.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Personal Best programme that he did the marathon to show that having Type 1 diabetes did not mean giving up on goals.

Mr Riddle said: "Last year, as I did this time, people could follow my progress."Families with children or other family members with Type 1 diabetes were following my progress and it was them I felt I let down.
"I wanted to prove that having Type 1 diabetes shouldn't stop you achieving your goals or achievements in life.
"By not finishing, I had let myself down, I had let my family down, my friends down and most importantly the whole diabetes community down."

'Wacky hallucinations'

Mr Riddle said he arrived at the start line for his second attempt much wiser and with more respect for the race.
He pulled a four-wheel pulk, a type of sledge carrying his supplies, instead of the two-wheel version that gave him back pain on the first attempt.
Mr Riddle said: "I had also learned that I should sleep when I needed to sleep and eat when I needed to eat. It meant I didn't have the wacky hallucinations I had last year."
He added: "I wasn't going back a third time. I was not coming home until I finished. Not finishing wasn't an option.
"But I was better prepared. Mentally I knew what I needed to do."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-39404805

Just 10 Minutes of High-Intesity Exercise May Cut Diabetes Risk in Kids

From ndtv.com

The role of regular exercising has long been deemed important to prevent a host of lifestyle diseases including cancer, diabetes among others. The World Health Organisation recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 70 minutes of vigorous exercising for adults in a week to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Kids between 5-17 years should undertake at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to maintain good health and optimum physical development. A recent report published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, suggests just 10 minutes of high-intensity physical activity every day for kids to keep heart problems and metabolic diseases at bay.

Researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre in the US found that replacing light-intensity physical activity with brief periods of vigorous exercise may provide significant cardio-metabolic benefits in young people with relatively large waist measurements and elevated levels of insulin in their blood.

For the study, the team analysed 11,588 young people aged between 4 and 18 from countries like the US, Brazil and other European countries. Participants' age, gender, level of physical activity and at least one biomarker of a cardio-metabolic risk were studied. Their weight, blood pressure, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose and insulin levels were monitored.

As a result only 32 significant associations out of a possible 360 were found while evaluating the relationships between the biomarkers and vigorous physical activity. All 32 associations were related to reduced waist circumference and insulin levels. The relationships between high-intensity exercise and the other biomarkers were inconsistent.

"The results suggest that substituting modest amounts of vigorous physical activity for longer-duration light exercise may have cardio-metabolic benefits above and beyond those conveyed by moderate activity and the avoidance of sedentary behaviour," said Justin B Moore, Associate Professor at Wake Forest Baptist.

"But as vigorous activity was independently associated with only two of the markers examined, it may be that its truly meaningful benefits may be limited, relative to less-intense exercise," Moore added.

http://food.ndtv.com/health/just-10-minutes-of-high-intesity-exercise-may-cut-diabetes-risk-in-kids-1673431

NINJABETIC – The language of diabetes

From diabetestimes.co.uk

At this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference I had the pleasure of presenting with a fellow patient advocate, and amazing leader in diabetes youth work, Dani Cochrane. Dani and I were honoured to be delivering the first ever patient-led workshop in the history of the conference (so we were told by the lovely Simon O’Neil), but that also bought a lot of pressure!
Would people turn up? We were in competition against Partha Kar after all. Would people listen? Would we be able to answer their questions? Would the workshop be a complete disaster ending with us drowning our sorrows later in the pub and sobbing uncontrollably into our insulin pumps?
It seemed these worries were unnecessary as the workshop, ‘The Language of Diabetes’, was a great success and positive feedback came flooding in from healthcare professionals across the UK and as far as Australia! It would appear that mine and Dani’s combined 28 years’ experience of living with type 1 diabetes paid off and we were able to provide a valuable insight that is difficult to teach from a book or a lecture.
Our workshop was important to us not only as patients, but also as healthcare professionals ourselves. Dani and I are fortunate enough to be able to see the world of diabetes from both sides of the table and we wanted to get that across in the hour we had. We were not there to judge the audience, just as we would not expect any healthcare professional to judge a patient. This was a key message that we wanted to deliver, mutual respect between patients and professionals is so very important.
Kicking off the workshop we were joined by a clinical psychologist and a dietician who, through the use of role play, showed the audience just how confusing conversations around HbA1c can be. Although I laughed along at the utterly confusing, jargon-laced conversation between the two, my personal experience of having this conversation bought home how difficult it can be.
It reminded me of how often I would go away from an appointment with a result and really not understand the meaning of it or the implications that it would have for me. It reminded me of how I felt like an underachiever, along with the feeling of incompetence for not quite being up to the level of knowledge around these conversations that seemed to be expected of me. Writing this, the very words that I have used to explain how I felt back then are the very words that I want to remove myself from. These are negative words associated with negative feelings and no patient, parent or carer should come away with an HbA1c result, or from the conversation about it, feeling negative.
Next up I spoke about my first ever ‘make or break’ experience in secondary care when a discussion around diabetes-related complications arose. I say make or break because that conversation was a big factor in causing me to rebel against my diabetes for a long time, sadly the consequence of which was that complications did catch up with me. However, being older and slightly wiser, I am now able to reflect back on that important day which I remember so well, and pass on my thoughts and ideas about how things could have been for me had the conversation gone differently.
I knew that I did not want to hear the words “amputations”, “blindness”, “kidney failure” etc, but what would have gotten me off to the start in my diabetes life that I needed were “you can do this”, “you are stronger than you know”, “diabetes will not stop you” and “we are here to support you”. Those words and that encouragement could have been the deal breaker in capturing my attention from day one and would have shown me just what is possible when it comes to living with diabetes.
Last, but by certainly no means least, was the star of the show, Dani, who facilitated a fantastic interactive group workshop in which she demonstrated that what people may see when they look at a patient, isn’t always what it seems. Dani and the audience talked about the importance of not making assumptions about a person, or how they are feeling, without getting to know and understand that person first.
Building a relationship between patients and healthcare professionals is incredibly important when it comes to long-term conditions and both sides in the room demonstrated that taking a non-judgemental approach to a conversation is what matters most to them. By both sides basing a conversation on fact, rather than assumption, it gives the opportunity for an honest and open conversation to develop and to take them forward, rather than causing a barrier to form.
It was a fantastic discussion to have and I was incredibly pleased with the way the audience opened up to us and to each other about the barriers that they come across, as well as sharing their experiences and tips in improving communication and language used in consultations.
A great positive that myself and Dani took away is the opportunity to now take this workshop further and to develop a national mission statement about how language can be used positively to improve consultations between healthcare professionals and people with diabetes! I would like to thank Diabetes UK for giving us the opportunity to deliver this workshop and a huge thanks goes to my partner in crime, Dani, who I had the pleasure of being joined at the pancreas with throughout the conference!

http://diabetestimes.co.uk/ninjabetic-language-diabetes/