Diabetes Health Center

Bananas are a type of fruit that is rich in nutrients. People who have diabetes can consume bananas in moderation, preferably if they are small, unripe, and eaten along with protein and healthy fats.

No matter how thin or fit you are, you can still get diabetes. About 10%-15% of people with type II diabetes are at a healthy weight, a condition called lean diabetes.

Diabetes is a major cause of pain and uncomfortable sensations in the legs. Diabetic leg pain may present as a dull ache in the soles, calves, and thighs or as pins and needles in the lower limbs.

Because it typically takes hours for DKA to become life-threatening, you can survive the condition by acting quickly and receiving timely medical treatment.

Diabetes foot problems can be progressive and initially may be considered minor. The patient may complain of changes to the skin and toenails like dryness, blisters, or sores. Small cuts or skin abrasions may not heal and can become infected. Prevention is key to diabetic foot care and it begins when diabetes is first diagnosed.

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue.

The major goal in treating diabetes is controlling elevated blood sugar without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is first treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise. When these measures fail to control the elevated blood sugar, oral medications are used. If oral medications are still insufficient, insulin medications are considered.

A diabetic diet focuses on balanced meals with controlled portions that get digested into the body in a slow, controlled way, so that blood sugar levels don’t spike after eating. It is composed of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. It also limits processed foods, sugary drinks, and refined carbohydrates. The goal of the diet is to manage blood sugar levels in the blood and to maintain a healthy weight.

Managing your diabetes is a full time commitment. The goal of diabetic therapy is to control blood glucose levels and prevent the complications of diabetes. Information about exercise, diet, and medication will help you manage your diabetes better. Blood glucose reagent strips, blood glucose meters, urine glucose tests, tests for urinary ketones, continuous glucose sensors, and Hemoglobin A1C testing information will enable you to mange your diabetes at home successfully.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of type 1 diabetes that is life threatening. If a person thinks they may have diabetic ketoacidosis they should seek medical care immediately. Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when a person's insulin levels in the blood become dangerously low. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include dehydration, abdominal pain, confusion, and nausea and vomiting. Diabetic ketoacidosis needs medical treatment. It cannot be treated at home.

Diabetic neuropathy is a condition in which nerve damage has occurred as a complication of diabetes. The pain from the nerve damage can be severe with tingling or numbness in the part of the body affected. Diabetic neuropathy can occur anywhere in the body. Diabetic neuropathy can cause symptoms like intense pain, numbness, burning, or tingling in the part of the body affected by the condition. There are four types of neuropathy, which include peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal. Natural therapies and medications may help relieve the pain and other symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetes symptoms in women include vaginal itching, pain, or discharge, loss of interest or pain after having sex, polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS), and urinary tract infections or UTIs.

Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.

If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop ulcers that do not heal as quickly as they should. People with diabetes can heal sores with proper wound care and medical treatment.

The medical term for high blood sugar is hyperglycemia. If you have diabetes, exercise, extra fluids, and insulin are easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally.

It can take anywhere from weeks to months to even a few years to reverse prediabetes. Learn about how you can reverse prediabetes through diet, weight loss, and exercise. Check out the center below for more medical references on diabetes, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Theoretically, to reduce 400 mg/dL blood sugar to about 100 mg/dL, you would need at least 10 units of insulin. However, this depends on your weight and other factors.

Type 2 diabetes can be prevented naturally with a healthy lifestyle, for example, a Mediterranean diet, getting more exercise, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and in some cases, a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.

Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is a serious health problem for diabetics. There are two types of hyperglycemia, fasting and postprandial or after-meal hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia can also lead to ketoacidosis or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS). There are a variety of causes of hyperglycemia in people with diabetes. Symptoms of high blood sugar may include increased thirst, headaches, blurred vision, and frequent urination. Treatment can be achieved through lifestyle changes or medication changes. Carefully monitoring blood glucose levels is key to prevention.

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar is dangerously low and is often complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Learn about symptoms, dangers, and treatment.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is a condition most seen in patients with diabetes, who are on insulin or medications. Hypoglycemia is uncommon to happen in people without diabetes.

Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Some of the risk factors for insulin resistance include fatty liver, heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, high cholesterol, and smoking.

It means that you should control your blood sugar level through your diet. Otherwise, you may develop diabetes. This is a warning sign that you should stop ingesting extra glucose through your diet.

Diabetes is a hereditary disease, which means that the child is at high risk of developing diabetes compared to the general population at the given age. Diabetes can be inherited from either mother or father.

There is no cure for peripheral neuropathy. Some cases may improve with rigorous blood sugar control and insulin or with dialysis or renal transplantation.

Lipodystrophy is a syndrome in which body fat tissue is lost or abnormally accumulated in the whole body or just areas of it. Three forms of this disease are genetic (familial), acquired due to previous infections or HIV treatment), and congenital (present at birth). Diabetics often get it if they inject insulin in the same spot over a period of time.

The main features of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, hypertension (high blood pressure), cholesterol abnormalities, and an increased risk for clotting. Patients are most often overweight or obese. Lifestyle modification such as the Mediterranean diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome.

People with diabetes can manage and prevent low or high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia) by keeping a log of their blood sugar levels when they are eating and fasting and eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar, for example, buttered potatoes, candy, sugary desserts, and fatty foods. Blood tests, for example, the hemoglobin A1c test (A1c test) and urinalysis can diagnose the type of diabetes the person has. Diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, should be managed by you and your OB/GYN or another healthcare professional. Extremely high levels of blood glucose in the blood can be dangerous and life-threatening if you have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes.

Prediabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar is higher than it should be, but it's not high enough to be full-blown diabetes. Learn the causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, diet, and prognosis of prediabetes.

If you have diabetes and catch a cold or the flu, it can be more difficult to recover from infections and their complications, for example, pneumonia. Home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs used for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of colds and the flu may affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. If you have diabetes and are sick with a cold or flu, you need to check your blood sugar levels more frequently.

Semaglutide is a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and for chronic weight management, along with physical exercise, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle changes. Semaglutide is used to control blood sugar levels when other commonly prescribed medications do not control the sugar levels adequately in type 2 diabetes, but cannot be used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes. Common side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion (dyspepsia), abdominal distension, decrease in appetite, belching (eructation), gas (flatulence), gastritis, gastroenteritis, viral gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallstones (cholelithiasis), headache, fatigue, dizziness, low blood glucose level (hypoglycemia), severe hypoglycemia, diabetic retinopathy, and others. Do not take if breastfeeding.

Early symptoms of diabetes are different in men, such as low testosterone. In many cases, prediabetes that will progress to type 2 diabetes if it is not treated early.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a lifelong inability to produce insulin and requiring daily insulin replacement.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that involves a problem with the way insulin is processed in the body. People with type 1 diabetes usually are diagnosed during childhood and have a problem with insulin production by the pancreas. On the other hand, type 2 usually is caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and activity, or being overweight. However, there are genetic causes for both of these types of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that may be reversible with diet and lifestyle changes. Symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, and an unusual odor to your urine. Most people don't know they have type 2 diabetes until they have a routine blood test. Treatment options include medications, a type 2 diabetes diet, and other lifestyle changes.

A type 2 diabetes diet or a type 2 diabetic diet is important for blood sugar (glucose) control in people with diabetes to prevent complications of diabetes. There are a variety of type 2 diabetes diet eating plans such as the Mediterranean diet, Paleo diet, ADA Diabetes Diet, and vegetarian diets. Learn about low and high-glycemic index foods, what foods to eat, and what foods to avoid if you have type 2 diabetes.

Consumer information about the types of type 2 diabetes medications. Read about the side effects of Precose, Diabinese, Amaryl, Glucophage, Actos, Avandia, Starlix, Prandin, and more. Drug interactions, dosing, storage, and breastfeeding and pregnancy safety information is provided.

The early signs of diabetes depend on if one has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children, whereas type 2 diabetes is prevalent in adults.

Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low blood sugar level. It is most common in patients with diabetes mellitus who are taking insulin and skip their meals. Patients with hypoglycemia should learn to recognize early symptoms to avoid serious complications.

According to research, type 1 diabetes is most common among non-Hispanic Caucasians, followed by African Americans and Hispanic Americans.

While a blood sugar level of 71 mg/dL is considered normal, levels below 70 mg/dL are considered low. Check out the center below for more medical references on blood sugar levels, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

If you have diabetes, high ketone levels in your blood or urine could mean that you have diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be life-threatening. But healthy people on a keto diet may also have high ketone levels, but without any significant problems.

Ozempic is a medication for people with type II diabetes that helps stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. Check out the center below for more medical references on type II diabetes, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a long-term health condition that is characterized by high blood glucose levels. While there are no foods that bring down blood sugar levels quickly, adding the following to your diet can help keep your diabetes under control.

Managing diabetes successfully is about managing a combination of blood glucose levels. Diabetics do not have to avoid fruit, but they should adhere to sensible portion sizes and watch their overall carb intake.

Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by an abdominal organ called the pancreas. High insulin levels are levels of the hormone that are higher than they should be after ingesting glucose.

Normal blood sugar levels in adults and children vary from 90 to 180 mg/dL. Check out the center below for more medical references on blood sugar, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Actrapid contains human insulin which is used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Check out the center below for more medical references on diabetes, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is an ocular complication of diabetes that develops over a period of time.

Many herbs have been studied for their medicinal properties. Most studies show that the best herb for diabetes is barberry.

With appropriate and timely treatment, the survival rate of DKA is quite high at over 95%. Survival rates are poorer in the elderly and those with known organ damage.

The prevalence of diabetes has been on the rise in Japan in recent years. The increase can be ascribed to a sedentary lifestyle and increased fat consumption.

If your urine reports show moderate or high levels of ketones, consult your doctor right away.

For three days before your glucose test, you can consume about 150 grams or 10 servings of carbohydrates.

Triggers for reactive hypoglycemia include alcohol, sugar, simple carbohydrates, and bakery goods. Check out the center below for more medical references on low blood sugar, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

The types of insulin used for sliding scale therapy include long-acting insulin, short-acting insulin, and premixed insulin.

People suffering from hypoglycemia should avoid certain foods, such as trans and saturated fats, sugar-rich foods, processed foods, excessive caffeine, and alcohol.

Learn about the similarities and differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Hot tubs pose health risks to people with diabetes due to peripheral neuropathy, slow wound healing, and the danger of overheating. Here are precautions to take before going in a hot tub.

Ozempic is a diabetes medication that slows down stomach emptying, which may cause mild to moderate stomach upset and nausea. Check out the center below for more medical references on diabetes medications, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.

Even if you keep an eye on what you eat and take medications as prescribed, you will likely see your blood sugar fluctuate due to some factors beyond your control.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition that affects your body's ability to break down food into energy. One study suggests that routinely drinking water might prevent the onset of hyperglycemia.