Diabetes

According to legend, in the very old, old days, testing for diabetes involved dipping one's finger in the patient's urine. If it tasted sweet, a diagnosis of diabetes was more than likely made. Thank God for technology. Diabetes is a serious health problem that involves elevated blood sugar levels. Glucose (sugar) is extremely important for our bodies to function. Glucose in the blood, supplies our body's cells with energy so that our bodies can function and be alive. Every food that we eat, once digested breaksdown into glucose or blood sugar. This primarily includes carbohydrates, but it also includes fats and proteins, though at a much lower level. Once the food is broken down into glucose, it then flows through our body in the form of blood sugar. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to damage to brain tissue and damage to many other organ systems in the body including the cardiovascular system (Heart, Veins and Arteries), kidney problems, vision trouble and damage to the nervous system. There are two types of Diabetes. Both have to do with a problem involving insulin. Insulin is an important hormone ( Ok, what hormone isn't important?) that lowers the level of sugar in the blood, preventing the sugar from getting to higher dangerous levels. When food is broken down in the body an organ called the pancreas manufactures and secretes insulin to normalize and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes is due to the pancreas malfunctioning. When sugar is in the blood stream, the pancreas does not manufacture insulin. The blood sugar levels than shoot through the roof, damaging health. Type 1 diabetics have to take man-made insulin through injection to lower their blood sugar levels to normal levels. The trick in this equation is to not let the blood sugar sink to low. Too much insulin for the amouint of food taken in will result in lack of sugar in the brain tissue, which causes a Type 1 diabetic to become confused, sweat and pass out. If sugar is not given to the diabetic at this point, their brain can shut down and go into a diabetic coma, which then could become deadly. Type 1 Diabetes is reliant on strict management of food intake to insulin injection ratios. Type 2 diabetics have a problem with insulin resistance. The Type 2 diabetic's pancreas functions normally, it's just that the insulin cannot make its way effectively into the body's cells. Depending on the amount of insulin that makes its way to the body's cells, the higher the blood sugar level. Type 2 diabetes is brought on by obesity (insulin cannot get through the fat tissue), lack of exercise and poor nutritional habits. Type 2 diabetes is controlled by losing weight and proper management of diet with a sound exercise program. Symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, thirst, excessive appetite and blurry vision. Type 2 diabetic symptoms may be more subtle as well. That is why if you are overweight, blood sugar testing should be done on a preventative basis.

Thought for the Week: "If at first you don't succeed, you are running about average." ------- M. H. Alderson

Chiropractic Thought for the Week: "We don't treat disease, we adjust subluxations in the spine to release nerve interference from the brain to the tissue cells. Then life within does the healing." ------------ Jim Sigafoose, D.C.