Diabetes Explained-

 

Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is caused when the pancreas stops producing insulin. Type 2 occurs when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin and the body does not respond to insulin properly.

Type 1 diabetes affects 10-15% of people with diabetes. It is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune system turns on its own tissue; in diabetes, it is the insulin producing cells that are destroyed. Type 1 diabetes occurs in a small number of people who have the genes that confer susceptibility to type 1 diabetes. The triggers may be a virus or other toxin. Research is still being conducted to find what triggers diabetes in some people.

The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Initially insulin is still produced by the pancreas, but is less effective than normal. This is called insulin resistance and is an inherited characteristic made worse by carrying extra body fat or being inactive.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. It occurs in approximately 1 in 20 pregnant women, and is usually detected during a routine screening test, which is performed at 26-28 weeks of pregnancy.
The development of diabetes is influenced by our lifestyle and our genes. We can identify some factors that are frequently present in people who have diabetes. The presence of these risk factors may indicate if someone is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

http://www.diabetes.com.au/diabetes.php

Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to automatically regulate blood glucose levels, resulting in too much glucose (a sugar) in the blood.

Glucose comes from foods that contain carbohydrate (starches and sugars); for example, breads and cereals, milk and dairy foods, fruits and some vegetables. Glucose travels in the blood stream to the muscles and other organs where it is used as fuel. Excess glucose is detoured to the liver where it is stored for future use. Glucose is the body’s preferred source of energy and our bodies need it to work efficiently, just like a car needs petrol to run.

The blood glucose level is regulated with the help of insulin, a hormone (or chemical messenger) made in the pancreas. >Insulin is the key that glucose needs to enter the body’s cells so that it can be used as fuel. Diabetes develops when the pancreas stops producing insulin (Type 1 Diabetes or when the body does not respond properly to insulin (Type 2 Diabetes). Insulin injections are necessary to treat Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can usually be controlled in the first instance by regular exercise and diet. Tablets and eventually insulin injections may be needed as the disease progresses. The normal blood glucose level ranges between 3.5-7.8 mmol/l.

Over time, high blood glucose levels may damage blood vessels and nerves. These complications of diabetes can cause damage to eyes, nerves and kidneys and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, impotence and foot problems. This damage can happen before an individual knows if they have diabetes if diabetes is undetected for a long time.

Studies have shown that if blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and blood pressure are kept within normal limits, the risk of damage to the body is reduced. Therefore, it is important to know if you have diabetes.

The symptoms of diabetes include:

• Thirst
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness or lack of energy
• Blurred vision
• Infections (eg. Thrush)
• Weight loss (in type 1 diabetes)

However, the symptoms of diabetes may not appear until blood glucose levels are above approximately 15mmol/l or higher. So, it is common to have diabetes without knowing about it.

In Australia, one adult in twelve has diabetes and the prevalence is increasing. Research has shown that for every person with known diabetes, there is another who has it but has not yet been diagnosed.

There are 3 main types of Diabetes:

• Type 1 (previously known as juvenile onset diabetes),
• Type 2 (previously known as mature onset diabetes) and
• Gestational Diabetes(occurring during pregnancy)

Frazier’s Vaccine

A new super-charged cervical cancer vaccine that could offer women almost total protection from the disease is being tested in Australia.

Pharmaceutical company CSL is trialling an experimental vaccine which is hoped will block 90 per cent of viral strains that cause the cancer.

The second generation vaccine uses the same Australian technology as the blockbuster vaccines Cervarix and Gardasil, which are on the National Immunisation Program, but offer 70 per cent coverage.

The Queensland scientist behind the technology, former Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, said the vaccine had exciting potential to offer protection from more strains of the sexually-transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV).

However, it was not yet known if it was possible to simply add more strains to a vaccine to get more protection, Prof Frazer said.

“It would be unfortunate if people put off being vaccinated in the expectation that a better vaccine is coming along because it’s still preliminary and we don’t know if we can make it work,” he told AAP.

The vaccine is being tested on woman aged 18 to 26 in 11 centres across Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Peter Richmond, head of the Vaccine Trials Group from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth, said the composition was being kept under wraps but it would protect against HPV types which cause 90 per cent of cervical cancer and most cases of genital warts.

It would work in a similar way to the other two vaccines, only offering protection to women who had not already been exposed the HPV strains.

“While it wouldn’t remove the need for regular pap smears, it certainly has the potential to further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, other genital cancers and distressing diseases, even more so than the currently available vaccines,” Dr Richmond said.

“At the moment there are about 700 cases of cervical cancer a year in Australia and 200 deaths so 20 per cent is significant in these terms.”

With type 16 and 18 essentially blocked by Gardasil and Cervarix it was important to block against other types which may start to cause more cervical cancer in the future, he said.

Women enrolled in the study would receive either Gardasil or the trial vaccine and would be tracked over three years.

It would be at least five years before the new vaccine would be publicly available, Dr Richmond said.

© 2007 AAP

Out of Darkness

Awhile ago, whilst I was busily seeking out other authors online, I happened upon a forum which had been set up to support people who had either been directly/indirectly affected by abuse-‘Out of Darkness’

The Administrator, quickly became my friend, and once I began reading her books[yes, a published author!] I was inspired even more- Elizabeth Melton Parsons always gave her time, [even when she should have been using it elsewhere] to discuss ideas on writing, ways to promote work and the best places & people online to get involved with. Her key words, SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT have played an integral role in my work, forever MAKING time to share any written piece with any publisher or website willing to accept! This wonderful woman is a wife and mother, poet, published author[of MANY fictional books], artist, freelance writer for local paper and a friend. Spend some time reading her work, and you cannot help but taste her inspiration!

Official Website: 

Note: You will find Elizabeth on many of my own website pages!

Summer Alert

 With Summer just getting ready to kick in here in Australia, it seemed a good time to remind people about the dangers of over-exposure to the sun!

With all the information constantly aired on TV and Radio, still, there are those who ignore the danger signs. NEVER leave home without your 30+sunscreen, hat and sunglasses!!

Sunburn treatment
For severe sunburn, or if you are experiencing blistering, headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or severe pain, you should seek immediate hospital treatment.How to treat sunburn
These suggestions may help to manage the symptoms of sunburn:

Avoid further sun exposure until the redness, peeling and pain have disappeared.
Drink plenty of water to replenish your fluid levels. Dehydration is another potentially dangerous side effect of too much exposure to the sun.
Take cool showers, and apply cool compresses.
As soon as it becomes comfortable to do so, apply a moisturising cream to the burnt area to keep it moist and supple. Even though it will not prevent peeling, moisturising will help prevent the new skin below from drying out. (Chemists stock a range of sunburn treatments that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin.)

Severe sunburn
For severe sunburn, or if you are experiencing blistering, headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or severe pain, you should seek immediate hospital treatment.

courtesy http://www.sunsmart.com.au/

 Medical Information displayed on various pages are kindly supplied by other websites and were working at time of publication-

This blog will continually be updated with medical issues which are all placed in navigation/menu bar for your convenience. I am always happy to share other information from the public, as long as it is credible information with details of its origin. Always supply a link! Any posts that are merely people sharing their own personal experiences will be accepted.

Thank you

Have a healthy day!