Diabetes

Blood Sugar and Hypoglycaemia

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which a person's inborn sugar control mechanisms are not working properly - there is either no insulin being produced or it is not working effectively.

"Diabetes mellitus" derives from the Greek word 'diabetes' meaning siphon - to pass through - and 'mellitus' - the Latin for honeyed or sweet. This is because not only is excess sugar found in the blood but it may also appear in the urine, and in medieval times it was diagnosed by tasting the urine.

Normal blood sugar control

The body converts food into glucose - this is the preferred form of energy for cells. Glucose is rapidily produced from sweet foods such as sweets and cakes, or from starchy foods such as potatoes, pasta or bread once they're digested. The liver is also able to manufacture glucose.

Under normal circumstances the pancreas carefully regulates blood glucose levels by producing the hormone insulin. Insulin stimulates cells to absorb enough glucose from the blood for the energy, or fuel, that they need. Insulin also stimulates the liver to absorb and store any glucose that's left over.

After a meal, the amount of glucose in the blood rises, and this triggers the release of insulin. When blood glucose levels fall, during exercise for example, insulin levels fall too.

The pancreas also produces a hormone called glucagon, which stimulates the liver to release stored glucose when needed, raising the level of glucose in the blood.

MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

Types of Diabetes

Type 1

Also known as Insulin dependent, or juvenile onset diabetes, this condition manifests early in life and blood sugar levels must be monitored several times a day and insulin administered by means of regular injections. It is caused by auto-destruction of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, creating an absolute deficiency of insulin.  Thus life-long insulin therapy is required.

Type 2 Diabetes

Also known as "maturity onset diabetes", this form generally manifests in middle-age. It is commonly associated with being obese or overweight and follows a pre-diabetic state or insulin resistance. People with Metabolic syndrome (syndrome X) and women with PCOS are more likely to develop the condition.

Diabetes insipidus

This "diabetes" is not related to blood sugar levels, but is a conditon of seemingly insatiable thirst, excessive amounts of urine are passed and in a twenty-four hour period over three litres may be passed.

Dehydration is common when diabetes insipidus is not recognised or treated causing the level of sodium in the blood to be too high. This causes tiredness, lethargy, confusion, and raises the risk of fits and coma.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The main symptom is thirst and a need to pass urine frequently. Tiredness, fatigue, nausea and wounds that take a long time to heal and/or an increase in the number of infections is common.

Type 1 tends to be rapid onset (over a period of days or weeks) and is often accompanied by weight loss in spite of increased hunger, whereas the onset of Type 2 is insidious over many years and subjects tend to be overweight.

Reactive Hypoglycaemia

In this condition, the intake of carbohydrate-rich foods causes an initial rise in blood sugar that results in the overproduction of insulin. This drops the blood sugar level rapidly stimulating hunger and/or shaking or a feeling of weakness.

MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

Insulin Resistance

As a person gains weight - generally due to inadequate exercise and excessive energy intake - the individual cells get to a point where they have been so flooded with glucose that they "shut down" so to speak. The resultant high circulating glucose causes insulin levels rise - an action that basically forces the glucose into the cells. When this is going on, a person's blood sugar level usually remains within the normal range (3.3-6.0), but a fasting blood test reveals an elevation of insulin. Eventually the pancreas fails and insulin replacement is needed.  This is also a feature of PCOS and Metabolic Syndrome

Alternative Treatment

A natural therapist takes an holistic approach to healing. Finding out your Metabolic Type and initiating a nutritional program that incorporates foods to lower blood sugar, plus using herbal and/or nutritional supplements to keep blood sugar within normal range is an initial goal. Weight loss and control is a secondary, but very important, objective.

Weight Loss

If you are a diabetic and you are overweight, then the single most important thing for you to do is lose those excess kilos. The UltraLite program is a carefully controlled weight management program and you will be closely supervised by a registered nurse and nutritionist.

Make an appointment to discuss how our approach can reduce your risk of advancing diabetes or developing complications.

Phone us on 09 360 0550