#Intestinal Autonomic Neuropathy

[themermaidpirate]

I lived bitch

[drnishargpatel]

Understanding the Link Between Diabetes and Digestive Problems

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While most people are familiar with the impact diabetes has on blood sugar levels and overall health, many are unaware of the connection between diabetes and digestive problems. Navigating Digestive Health in Diabetes: Key Considerations is essential because individuals with diabetes often experience digestive issues, which can significantly affect their quality of life.

Gastroenterologist in Surat can provide insight into how diabetes affects digestion and offer specialized care. Understanding this link is crucial for better managing both conditions. In this article, we will explore how diabetes affects digestion, common digestive problems associated with the condition, and practical steps you can take to manage these symptoms.

How Diabetes Affects Digestion

Nerve damage (diabetic neuropathy): Long-term high blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, particularly affecting the vagus nerve, which controls digestion.

Slow digestion: Damage to the vagus nerve leads to gastroparesis, where the stomach takes too long to empty its contents, causing digestive problems.

Irregular movement: Nerve damage results in slow or erratic movement of food through the digestive tract, affecting overall digestive health.

Common Digestive Problems in Diabetic Patients

Gastroparesis:

Condition where stomach emptying is delayed.

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, and feeling full quickly.

Leads to erratic blood sugar levels, complicating diabetes management.

Constipation:

Common due to nerve damage affecting bowel movement.

Causes infrequent or difficult bowel movements.

Leads to bloating, abdominal discomfort, and potential for more serious conditions.

Diarrhea:

Caused by autonomic neuropathy, where nerve damage accelerates intestinal contractions.

Leads to frequent, loose stools, causing dehydration and blood sugar fluctuations.

Heartburn and Acid Reflux:

Delayed stomach emptying causes acid to rise into the esophagus, leading to heartburn.

Results in discomfort and requires dietary adjustments or medications.

Celiac Disease:

More common in type 1 diabetic patients.

Immune response to gluten damages the small intestine.

Leads to nutrient malabsorption, further complicating diabetes management.

Managing Digestive Problems with Diabetes

Control Blood Sugar Levels:

Keep blood sugar levels stable to minimize nerve damage and prevent digestive issues.

Regular blood glucose monitoring, medication adherence, and healthy eating are key.

Dietary Adjustments:

Smaller, frequent meals help with gastroparesis and keep blood sugar stable.

High-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains help relieve constipation (caution for gastroparesis patients).

Hydration: Drink plenty of water to ease digestion and prevent constipation and dehydration.

Exercise Regularly:

Stimulates digestion and regulates blood sugar levels.

Walking after meals can improve digestion and reduce constipation.

Medication for Digestive Problems:

Prokinetics: Improve food movement through the digestive tract, especially in gastroparesis cases.

Laxatives: Help relieve constipation when lifestyle changes aren’t enough.

Antidiarrheal Medications: Used to slow bowel movements for chronic diarrhea.

Antacids or Proton Pump Inhibitors: Reduce acid and relieve heartburn or reflux symptoms.

When to See a Doctor:

Seek medical advice for persistent or severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weight loss, or chronic digestive issues.

Early medical intervention helps prevent complications and improve quality of life.

Conclusion

The link between diabetes and digestive problems is undeniable, with high blood sugar levels often causing nerve damage that disrupts the digestive system. However, with careful management of blood sugar levels, dietary changes, regular exercise, and appropriate medical intervention, many digestive issues can be alleviated or even prevented. By understanding the connection between diabetes and digestion, individuals can take proactive steps to protect their digestive health and enjoy a better quality of life.

Always consult with a healthcare professional to find the best approach for managing your symptoms and maintaining both your digestive and overall health.

[chicagopaincontrol]

Understanding Diabetic Neuropathy: Comprehensive Guide for New Lenox Residents

Diabetic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes that affects the nerves. It can cause significant discomfort and impact the quality of life of those affected. As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive pain management solutions, we aim to educate our patients in New Lenox about this condition, its symptoms, and potential treatment options.

What is Diabetic Neuropathy?

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can occur in individuals with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can injure nerves throughout the body, but diabetic neuropathy most often damages nerves in the legs and feet. There are several types of diabetic neuropathy, including:

Peripheral Neuropathy: This is the most common type, affecting the feet and legs first, followed by the hands and arms.

Autonomic Neuropathy: This type affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls the heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs, and eyes.

Proximal Neuropathy (Diabetic Amyotrophy): This type affects the hips, thighs, or buttocks and often leads to weakness in the legs.

Focal Neuropathy (Mononeuropathy): This type affects specific nerves, often in the head, torso, or leg.

Symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy

The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can vary depending on the type of neuropathy and the nerves affected. Common symptoms include:

Peripheral Neuropathy: Numbness or reduced ability to feel pain or temperature changes, tingling or burning sensation, sharp pains or cramps, increased sensitivity to touch, muscle weakness, and loss of reflexes, especially in the ankle.

Autonomic Neuropathy: Bladder or bowel problems, sexual dysfunction, slow stomach emptying, causing nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, changes in the way your eyes adjust from light to dark, and increased or decreased sweating.

Proximal Neuropathy: Severe pain in the hip and thigh or buttock, and eventual weakness in the legs.

Focal Neuropathy: Sudden weakness in one nerve, such as in the wrist, thigh, or foot, or eye muscles, resulting in double vision or aching behind one eye.

Causes and Risk Factors

Diabetic neuropathy is caused by prolonged exposure to high blood sugar levels, which can damage the nerves. Other contributing factors include:

Poorly controlled blood sugar levels

High levels of blood fat

Low levels of insulin

Inflammation in the nerves caused by an autoimmune response

Genetic factors related to nerve health

Lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol use

Diagnosis

Diagnosing diabetic neuropathy involves a thorough medical history and physical exam. Your healthcare provider may also perform tests such as:

Nerve conduction studies

Electromyography (EMG)

Quantitative sensory testing

Autonomic testing

Treatment and Management

While there is no cure for diabetic neuropathy, the condition can be managed to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Treatment options include:

Blood sugar management: Keeping blood sugar levels within the target range can prevent the progression of neuropathy.

Pain management: Medications such as anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, and pain relievers can help manage pain.

Physical therapy: Helps improve muscle strength, mobility, and coordination.

Lifestyle changes: Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can help manage symptoms.

Foot care: Proper foot care is crucial for individuals with peripheral neuropathy to prevent complications.

How We Can Help in New Lenox

At our Integrated Pain Management clinic in New Lenox, we offer comprehensive care for individuals with diabetic neuropathy. Our multidisciplinary team works together to create personalized treatment plans that address each patient's unique needs. We provide:

Thorough evaluations and diagnostic testing

Customized pain management plans

Support for lifestyle modifications

Ongoing monitoring and adjustments to treatment plans

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, don't hesitate to contact us. Early intervention and comprehensive care can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our clinic in New Lenox or contact us. We are here to help you manage your pain and improve your overall health and well-being.

[garrettuwkm639-blog]

The Anatomy of a Great Neuropathy treatment clinic

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar?

When you stand up, dizziness and fainting

When you've barely eaten anything, problem digesting food and feeling really complete

Irregular sweating - either sweating exceedingly or hardly at all

Intolerance for exercise - no, not that you just hate it however your heart rate doesn't change as it must

Sluggish pupil reaction so that your eyes do not change quickly to modifications in light

Urinary problems like problem starting or inability to totally empty your bladder

If they do, you might have autonomic neuropathy. Especially if you have diabetes, your body immune system is compromised by chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, lupus, Guillian-Barre or any other chronic medical condition.

You require to see a medical professional immediately. A good location to begin would be a physician well versed in detecting and treating nerve illness and damage, like your regional clinician who focuses on our treatment procedure.

What Is Autonomic Neuropathy?

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease. It's a kind of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves that manage involuntary body functions like heart rate, blood food digestion, perspiration and pressure . The nerves are damaged and do not operate effectively causing a break down of the signals in between the brain and the parts of the body impacted by the autonomic nerve system like the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal system and gland.

That can cause your body being unable to control your heart rate or your blood pressure, an inability to correctly absorb your food, urinary issues, even being unable to sweat in order to cool your body down when you work out.

Frequently, autonomic neuropathy is brought on by other illness or medical conditions so if you suffer from

Diabetes

Alcohol knee pain treatment addiction

Cancer

Systemic lupus

Parkinson's disease

HIV/AIDS

Or any variety of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher risk of developing free neuropathy. Your finest strategy is not to wait till you establish signs. Begin a course of preventative treatment and tracking with a clinician to decrease your opportunities of establishing autonomic neuropathy.

How Will The Clinician Diagnose My Autonomic Neuropathy?

If you have diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDs or any of the other illness or chronic conditions that can cause free neuropathy, it's much easier to diagnose autonomic neuropathy. As a expert in nerve damage and treatment, your clinician is very familiar with your signs and the best course of treatment.

Your medical diagnosis will be a little tougher but not impossible if you have symptoms of free neuropathy and do not have any of the hidden conditions.

Either way, your clinician will take a extremely thorough history and physical. Make sure you have a list of all your symptoms, when they began, how severe they are, what assists your symptoms or makes them even worse, and any and all medications your presently take (including over the counter medications, organic supplements or vitamins).

Be truthful with your clinician about your diet, alcohol intake, frequency of exercise, history of drug use and smoking. If you don't tell the truth, you're not offering your clinician a clear picture of your physical condition. That's like asking him to drive you from Montreal to Mexico City without a gps or a map . You may eventually get to where you wish to be, however it's extremely unlikely.

Once your history and physical are completed, your clinician will purchase some tests. Relying on your real symptoms and which systems appear to be affected, these tests may consist of:

Ultrasound

Urinalysis and bladder function tests

QSART and/or thermoregulatory sweat tests

Intestinal tests

Breathing tests

Tilt-table tests (to evaluate your heart rate and blood pressure regulation).

When your tests are completed and your clinician identifies you have free neuropathy, it's time for treatment.

Treatment and Prognosis.

Our clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, consisting of free neuropathy. They stick to a very specialized treatment procedure that was established specifically for clients experiencing neuropathy. That's why their treatments have been so successful - neuropathy in all its types is what they do.

Free neuropathy is a persistent condition however it can be dealt with and you can do things to help ease your symptoms.

Your clinician will work with you and your other doctors to treat your neuropathy and manage your underlying condition.

Autonomic neuropathy in itself is not a disease. Or any number of other chronic illnesses, you stand a much higher danger of establishing autonomic neuropathy. Begin a course of preventative treatment and tracking with a clinician to decrease your possibilities of developing autonomic neuropathy.

Our clinicians are well versed in treating all types of peripheral neuropathy, including autonomic neuropathy. They adhere to a really customized treatment procedure that was developed specifically for patients suffering from neuropathy.

[imalump]

I thought I would share some of my health info.

My conditions :

Type 1 diabetes for almost 30 years (until the transplants )

Multiple complications from diabetes including but not limited to:

Peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy, Gastroparesis, decreased circulation, autonomic dysfunction/ neuropathy , hypertension (not since the transplants 🤞), although it still goes up and down at times bc of the autonomic dysfunction

Endometriosis - chronic pelvic pain

Scoliosis and Degenerative disk disease- chronic back and hip pain

Hyperlipidemia

Chronic fatigue

Cataracts

IBS

SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)- causing chronic pain in my gut

Mitral valve regurgition (heart).

Adhesive Capsulitis ( aka frozen shoulders) on both arms- extremely painful causing shoulder and arm pain as well as severe neck pain and spasms and severe headaches)

Surgeries: 6 laser surgeries (3 in each eye) and 2 vitrectomies ( one in each eye ) due to retinopathy laporoscopy and hysteroscopy to diagnose Endometriosis ( took over 6 years to diagnose- was told not to worry about the pain or that maybe I’m just depressed bc of the fatigue🙄).

Kidney and pancreas transplant in 2019.

CKD (Chronic kidney disease). - did you know after having a kidney transplant you still have kidney disease?

Fun/ weird fact- I have 3 kidneys and 2 pancreases - they don’t take out the old ones when they put in the new ones. Another fun fact - If you are an organ donor they can reuse the transplanted organs. A whole new way to recycle ! Lol.

Depression (MDD) and anxiety (with panic attacks). ADHD. Probable PTSD but not diagnosed.

I may have missed something- I’ve listed almost everything. Phew.

[ashishk]

Having fewer than three bowel movements a week is, technically the definition of constipation. However, bowel movements may vary from person to person, some people have bowel movements several times a day while some have 1-2 times a week. It’s one of the most frequent gastrointestinal complaints and at least 2.5 million people worldwide consult their doctors each year due to constipation. Though occasional constipation is very common, while some people experience interfere with their ability of undergoing daily tasks. Chronic constipation persists for several weeks or longer, however, in some cases, an exact cause is never found.

It’s a common issue which affects people of all ages:

i) Senior citizens :- Old people tend to be less active, have a slower metabolism and less muscle contraction strength than when they were younger.

ii) Pregnant Woman :- Changes in a woman’s hormones makes her more prone to constipation. The baby inside the womb squishes the intestines, slowing down the passage of stool.

iii) Those on medication :-Those who are on medications for reasons like neurological and digestive disorders tend to experience constipation.

Causes of constipation

Constipation most commonly occurs when waste or stool moves too slowly through the digestive tract or cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum, which may cause the stool to become hard and dry.

Chronic constipation has many possible causes:

A) Blockages in the colon or rectum

Blockages in the colon or rectum may slow or stop stool movement.

Causes include

· Tiny tears in the skin around the anus (anal fissure)

· A blockage in the intestines (bowel obstruction)

· Colon cancer

· Narrowing of the colon (bowel structure)

· Other abdominal cancer that presses on the colon

· Rectal cancer

· Rectum bulge through the back wall of the vagina (rectocele)

B) Problems with the nerves around the colon and rectum

Neurological problems can affect the nerves that causes muscles in the colon and rectum to contract and move stool through the intestines.

Causes include:

· Damage to the nerves that control bodily functions (autonomic neuropathy)

· Multiple sclerosis

· Parkinson's disease

· Spinal cord injury

· Stroke

C) Difficulty with the muscles involved in the elimination

Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation.

Causes include:

· The inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)

· Pelvic muscles that don't coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)

· Weakened pelvic muscles

D) Conditions that affect hormones in the body

Hormones help balance fluids in your body. Diseases and conditions that upset the balance of hormones may lead to constipation.

Causes include:

· Diabetes

· Overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)

· Pregnancy

· Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

E) Other causes of constipation

Low intake of fiber food such as fruit, vegetables and cereals

Lack of physical exercise and spending long periods sitting or lying on the bed.

Dehydration

Often ignoring the urge to go to the toilet

Side effect of medicines

Change in diet or daily routine

Pregnancy

Stress, anxiety and depression

Symptoms of Constipation

Every person has a different kind of bowel habits, some people go three times a day, while some go three times a week. However, one may be considered constipated if he/she experiences the following symptoms:

Fewer than three bowel movements a week.

Stools are dry, hard and lumpy.

Painful bowel movement.

Stools are difficult to pass.

Stomach starts experiencing ache or cramps.

Bloated and nauseous.

Bleeding from the rectum

Persistent abdominal pain

A sense of evacuation after a bowel movement

Preventive Measures of Constipation

To help relieve constipation, simple lifestyle changes make the stools softer and easier to pass.

i) Stay hydrated always, drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.

ii) Eat plenty of fiber-rich food; fruits, vegetables and grains.

iii) Exercise regularly and manage stress.

iv) Never hold the bowel, go whenever you feel the urge.

v) Consult a doctor before taking laxatives.

Constipation gives a sense of uncomfortableness, but it’s not a life-threatening problem. It gets resolved itself without the need for prescribed treatment, but in most cases, making lifestyle changes in exercise, diet and fluid intake can be very beneficial. In order to smoothen the stool pass, one must take proper care of their bowel functioning.

rich Bowel care is a technique wherein a person manages faecal incontinence or constipation and decides a predictable time and place to evacuate the stool. When it comes to a person’s health, its observed that bowel care is the most frequently overlooked fundamental area. But in reality, taking care of the bowel movement enhances a person’s life and helps him/her against becoming a victim of constipation.

For order visit: https://www.sanchomee.com/products/bowel-care-capsules

[biov8]

7 Promising Little-known Peptides To Watch Out For In The Future

As science in the pharmaceutical field continues to advance, peptides have become the new cutting edge solution to anti-aging and regenerative medicine. They’re the modern solution to longevity in biotechnology, proving more effective, and more precise than any other solution on the market.

With peptides quickly rising in popularity among modern pharmaceuticals, These little gems have gained considerable traction from positive clinical outcomes and should be carefully considered.

Here’s our list of the top emerging peptides making waves in biotechnology.

1. Tesofensine Peptide Technically a serotonin-noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitor,Tesofensine peptide is one of thebest peptides for weight loss. Tesofensine works with the brain to suppress appetite and increase resting energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate).

Some say that when combined with an effective, healthy diet, the use of Tesofensine is comparable to the results of certain gastric surgeries. Proven to be a safe and effective long-term treatment for weight management,Tesofensine peptide can help individuals struggling with weight-related issues to minimise their body fat.

2. SS-31 SS-31 comes from the synthetic tetrapeptides family that work with theinner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) to promote electron transfer and ATP production. The SS-31 peptide helps bind the IMM and promote electron flux in the Electron Transport Chain (ETC).

In this process, SS-31 increases oxygen consumption and can aid the recovery of traumatic brain injuries, improve cognitive functioning, aid pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases including heart failure.

3. ARA 290 ARA 290 is an 11-amino acid nonhematopoietic peptide that is designed to interact selectively with the innate repair receptor that mediates tissue protection. With proven efficacy in metabolic control, neuropathy, and blood sugar and cholesterol management, ARA 290 presents as a potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Proven benefits of this peptide have shown to aid diet-induced insulin resistance, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, chronic heart failure, shock-induced multi-organ failure and more. In addition, the results of many studies show that ARA 290 acts as amuscle repair peptide, helping to prevent tissue injury, reduce inflammation and activate muscle healing.

4. Larazotide Acetate (LA) Larazotide acetate (LA) is a single-chain peptide made of eight amino acids that facilitates tight junction regulation to restore intestinal barrier and prevent a leaky gut. In people with Celiac disease, the consumption of gluten causes these tight junctions to break down, allowing gliadin (a component of gluten) to enter the space between and underneath the intestinal cells. Larazotide acetate acts to secure these junctions and keep out the gliadin.

Larazotide acetate is the first potential Celiac disease treatment to proceed to phase 3 of clinical trials where its effectiveness in large study groups will be tested. For people suffering Celiac disease, Larazotide is proving to be an effective treatment to help reduce the symptoms of gluten consumption and reverse any gut dysfunction.

5. PTD-DBM PTD-DBM is one of manypeptides for hair loss, specifically formulated to target factors that are fast-tracked in balding individuals.PTD-DBM is a topical hair product that helps activate the Wnt-β-catenin pathway via inhibition of zinc finger protein 5 (CXXC5).

In targeting this particular pathway, PTD-DBM acts to rescue hair follicle miniaturisation. Studies have shown that PTD-DBM has more effective results at promoting hair neogenesis when it is combined with valproic acid. Thepeptide for hair loss also stimulates long term hair growth.

6. TCAP-1 TCAP-1 is anothermuscle repair peptide that focuses on the metabolism of skeletal muscle. The muscle-focused peptide works to improve glucose uptake, increase aerobic metabolism, and increase enhanced muscle function. Clinical analysis on the function of TCAP-1 shows that it can increase oxidative capacity and modulate calcium cycling to increase mitochondrial depolarisation, increase mitochondrial activation, and thus increasemuscle energy for better performance.

7.ALRN-5281 ALRN-5281 is the newest addition togrowth hormone releasing peptides, a 29-amino acid analog of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that is proven to be clinically beneficial for patients with growth hormone deficiency syndromes.

ALRN-5281 is a proprietary, long-acting agonist for treating orphan endocrine disorders and HIV lipodystrophy, as well as a variety of metabolic/endocrine disorders."

Reference Link: https://biov8.com.au/blogs/news/9-promising-little-known-peptides-to-watch-out-for-in-the-future

[siglerprescriptiondrugcards]

Dicyclomine Hydrochloride

Brand Name: Bentyl

Generic Available

Common Dosage Forms:

Capsules: 10 mg

Tablets: 20 mg

Syrup: 10 mg/5 mL

Injection: 10 mg/mL

FDA Indications/Dosages:

Treatment of functional and irritable bowel syndromes: Oral: 10-20 mg three to four times daily, 30 minutes before meals. Intramuscular: 20 mg four times a day.

Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics: Dicyclomine HCl causes inhibition of acetylcholine at postganglionic parasympathetic receptor sites in smooth muscle, secretory gland tissue, and to less degree in the central nervous system. Dicyclomine HCl intramuscular injection is approximately twice as bioavailable as oral dosage forms. Peak plasma levels are reached in 60-90 minutes after an oral dose with an initial half-life of 2 hours. A secondary phase of elimination has a slightly longer half-life. Excretion occurs primarily through the urine.

Drug Interactions: May decrease the actions of phenothiazines and haloperidol.

Contraindications/Precautions: Contraindicated in patients with urinary tract or intestinal obstruction, intestinal atony, unstable cardiovascular status in acute hemorrhage, myasthenia gravis, severe ulcerative colitis, paralytic ileus, or glaucoma, and in ifants less than 6 months of age. Use with caution in patients with prostatic hypertrophy, autonomic neuropathy, hepatic or renal disease, ulcerative colitis, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, congestive heart failure, cardiac, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and in patients with a hiatal hernia associated with reflux esophagitis. Pregnancy Category C.

Adverse Effects: Dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation, and difficulty in urination.

Patient Consultation:

May cause dizziness or drowsiness. Use care with operating machinery or when mental alertness is required.

Avoid alcohol while taking this medication.

May cause dry mouth or difficulty in urination.

Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and children.

Contact a physician if the above side effects are severe or persistent.

If a dose is missed, skip it and return to normal dosing schedule.

[freenewstoday]

New Post has been published on https://freenews.today/2021/01/12/diabetes-type-2-symptoms-what-your-poo-may-tell-you-about-your-risk-of-type-2-diabetes/

Diabetes type 2 symptoms: What your poo may tell you about your risk of type 2 diabetes

There are 3.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK but this number does not reflect the actually number of people currently living with the chronic condition. It is estimated that almost one million people with type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it because they haven’t been diagnosed. This disparity owes in part to the absence or subtlety of symptoms in the initial stages.

For many people, type 2 diabetes does not become perceptible under the body starts responding to uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar is the main type of sugar you get from eating food. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels but if you have diabetes, the body cannot properly process insulin.

One major warning sign of controlled blood sugar levels is diarrhoea, according to Diabetes.co.uk.

Diarrhoea is defined as passing loose, watery stools more than three times a day.

READ MORE: Type 2 diabetes diet: Best and worst condiments & dressings which affect blood sugar level

How does high blood sugar levels cause diarrhoea?

Over time, high blood sugar levels can cause autonomic neuropathy – damage to nerves that control your internal organs, including your heart, digestive system, bladder, eyes, and sex organs.

As Diabetes.co.uk explains, autonomic neuropathy damages the nerves that control the movements of the large intestine.

“If the large intestine is affected by nerve damage, you may experience alternating periods of constipation and diarrhoea,” the health body.

It adds: “If you have autonomic neuropathy, it is important to keep your blood glucose levels under control as best as you can to help prevent further nerve damage.”

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How to lower high blood sugar levels

A healthy diet and keeping active will help you manage your blood sugar level.

A common misconception is that diabetics have to follow a strict diet to keep high blood sugar levels at bay.

However, there’s nothing you cannot eat if you have type 2 diabetes, but you’ll have to limit certain foods.

Carbohydrates are the main offenders. Carbs are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose.

Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time.

They include:

Some fruit and vegetables

Pulses

Wholegrain foods, such as porridge oats.

Physical exercise helps lower your blood sugar level – you should aim for 2.5 hours of activity a week, advises the NHS.

You can be active anywhere as long as what you’re doing gets you out of breath.

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[trancongblogger]

Beware of neurological complications in diabetic patients

A relatively common neurological complication in diabetic patients occurs more frequently in patients with poor blood sugar control. The disease is rarely fatal but is the leading cause of amputation in diabetic patients. Therefore, patients should be very wary of this complication.

1. What are diabetic neurological complications?

Diabetic neuropathy is damage to the nerve that occurs due to prolonged and high blood sugar. All nerve fibers throughout the body are at risk of being affected. However, the most pronounced manifestations are usually in the nerves of the upper and lower extremities (peripheral neurological complications are more common now).

Diabetic neuropathy is usually divided into two main groups, corresponding to the symptomatic manifestations:

Peripheral nerve complications: Affecting the nerves in the body periphery such as nerves in the arms, legs, cranial nerve. Patients with limbs numbness and needles are very influencing on the quality of daily life, especially sleep. Autonomic nervous system complications: Affecting the nervous system beyond the control of active consciousness, the function of controlling the activities of internal organs such as the stomach, intestines, and cardiovascular system, especially the urinary system ( manifesting incontinence). Foot ulcers caused by diabetes Peripheral nerve damage to the body causes foot ulcers

You are concerned about the risk of the disease see also: sugar balance

2. What causes diabetic neuropathy?

Microscopic damage to the nerves and the blood vessels that feed the nerves is a key factor in this type of diabetic complication.

If blood glucose control is too poor for a long time, hypertonic environment due to elevated blood glucose damages the nerve envelope, reducing the rate of nerve conduction. At the same time, the small blood vessels that feed the nerves also suffer from complications of diabetes. They impair the function of supplying oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, and in the long run the nerve fibers also wear out.

In addition, there are many other theories that also contribute to nerve damage in diabetic patients such as inflammation in the nerves due to increased autoimmune responses in the diabetic body, due to genetic factors, weakness. smoking factors, alcoholism ...

In addition, many observations on a large number of patients have noted that the longer the duration of diabetes mellitus, especially when the blood glucose does not reach the target, the greater the risk of neuropathy. The group of people suffering from 25 years and over showed a very high rate of neurological complications. At the same time, chronic kidney disease is also one of the common complications of diabetes. At that time, the kidney function is impaired, many cases require kidney replacement therapy because toxins, increased metabolic products in the blood can cause further nerve damage.

High blood sugar High blood sugar is the cause of diabetic neuropathy

3. Neurological complications caused by diabetes manifest like?

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy are diverse, depending on the organ damaged. Often the symptoms are also very faint, so the patient may not be interested until the doctor has seen it or severe damage has occurred.

The manifestations of the neuropathy caused by diabetes are divided into the affected nerve group as follows:

3.1. Peripheral nerve complications This is the most common symptom, and the feet on the sides are the first symptom. After that, the symptoms will gradually spread to the lower legs or appear more in the hands. Symptoms are usually symmetrical on both sides of the limbs. Patients often feel:

Numbness, decreased awareness of pain, heat and cold, especially in the feet. Patients often drop sandals, trample on sharp objects, and get injured without even knowing it. Feeling stinging, burning. Painful sensation, often increased at night. Pain when walking. Sometimes patients have symptoms of hyperemia: even lightly touch the patient feels a lot of pain. Muscle weakness and difficulty walking. Foot ulcers, infection, foot deformity, pain in the bones and joints when the disease is advanced 3.2. Complications of autonomic nerves Pathology of the retina due to diabetes Complications of retinal eye due to diabetes Because autonomic nerve is the system that controls many different organs in the body, symptoms of the disease will vary depending on the organ damaged. Detail:

In the eye: the pupil loses reflection to light, darkness, or glare In the digestive system: the contraction of the stomach slows down, so the patient often feels full after eating; a feeling of choking, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; constipation or diarrhea, especially nocturnal or constipation mixed with diarrhea. In the cardiovascular system: tachycardia at rest, postural hypotension (when changing positions from lying to sitting or standing suddenly, patients feel dizzy, dizzy, sometimes fainting due to low blood pressure) . At the same time, the patient loses the feeling of alarm when hypoglycemia such as feeling hungry, sweating, afraid, heart palpitations ...; so if the thing fails to keep up

[chromoscience]

Demyelination Diseases: Multiple Sclerosis and Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Source: https://www.drcarney.com/blog/condition-related/statins-increase-peripheral-neuropathy-risk Demyelination of axons is caused by several types of diseases including genetic, bacterial infection, and autoimmune disorders. Despite the varied causes, the outcome is similar. The myelin sheath of the axons is degenerated and as a result, the electrical signal travels through the axon at a slower pace. One demyelination-causing disease is multiple sclerosis (MS) and it is a type of autoimmune disease. In MS, white blood cells produce antibodies that bind to myelin and marking it as a foreign substance that should not be in the human body. This triggers an immune response that destroys the myelin in the central nervous system. Scars develop as the insulation around the axons is damaged by the disease. The meaning of the word sclerosis means scar. The disease causes several scars in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord hence, the word multiple sclerosis. MS symptoms include autonomic and somatic deficiency. Patients with MS have flawed skeletal muscle control as well as flawed organ control such as the stomach and intestines. Another demyelination-causing disease is Guillain-Barré syndrome which affects the peripheral nervous system and it is also a type of autoimmune disease. Symptoms include sensory and motor deficiency. Autonomic defects can cause abnormal heart rhythm or decrease in blood pressure particularly when standing resulting in a loss of balance or dizziness. Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology. Disorder Of The Nervous Tissue. Accessed November 11, 2019 https://www.drcarney.com/blog/condition-related/statins-increase-peripheral-neuropathy-risk Read the full article

[ernestlopezus]

Power medication and the motion of Qi

Energy remedy has deep roots in acupuncture meridian remedy. The meridians are like a chain of rivers walking through the complete body. They glide to every organ, muscle and channel of our our bodies. If there's a blockage mentally, bodily, emotionally or spiritually it's going to affect the easy float of Qi and a blockage of strength will truely occur, ensuing in some shape of dis-eas of frame, mind or spirit. an awesome factor to take into account is blood usually follows Qi.

If there may be a blocked Qi go with the flow (Qi stagnation) you may soon see what we name in chinese language remedy (blood stagnation).

Clinical manifestations of blood Stagnation are:

• A stupid/darkish complexion, crimson lips, red nails. • ache that has the nice of boring in, constant and stabbing and can be worse at night • Abdominal hundreds that do not pass • Bleeding with darkish blood and dark clots • Polycythemia - thrombotic issues as myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disorder and deep vein thrombosis; an growth in blood viscosity that results in decreased blood glide, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, acne rosacea, urticaria, leg ulcers, lack of imaginative and prescient • Critical Thrombocythemia - spontaneous bruising, epistaxis, mucosal bleeding, thrombotic occlusion of arteries, myocardial infarction, stroke, gangrene, intestinal infarction, splenic atrophy • Platelet Defects - clean bruising, epistaxis, intestinal bleeding, chronic menorrhagia, mucous membrane bleeding inside the mouth • Vascular and Nonthrombocytopenic Purpura - clean bruising, epistaxis, immoderate bleeding after surgical treatment or in the course of menstruation; result of scurvy (nutrition C deficiency) • Disorders of Blood Coagulation • Coagulation element defects - hemarthrosis with hotness, redness swelling and pain and muscle cuff atrophy; compression neuropathy, cerebral hemorrhage; intrarenal bleeding & hematuria, intestinal bleeding and obstruction • Vitamin k Deficiency - newborn hemorrhagic sickness, hemorrhage • Thrombophilia - venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis

If there's a disturbance inside the body there may want to very well be a blockage inside the float of Qi and blood.

Scars from an vintage injuries or operations can motive the Qi to stagnate or be blocked, that may lead to blood stagnation and a number of fitness problems.

When i used to be in Switzerland I had the opportunity to spend a while at Dr. Thomas Rau's health facility in which they have mixed most of the jap theories, like the glide of energy in the meridians with traditional medication. one of the maximum a hit treatments that I introduced lower back with me is neural therapy to open up Blocked strength Fields.

Neural remedy is both an effect method of diagnosing and treating contamination and ache as a result of disturbances of the frame's electrophysiology. (Cardiac electrophysiology is the technology of elucidating, diagnosing, and treating the electric activities of the coronary heart.) those electric disturbances, called "Blocked electricity Fields (BEF) are manifestations of cell membrane instability and normally motive abnormal autonomic anxious device responses. A blocked power discipline may be observed in scars, the ganglia, teeth, or an inner organ.

(BEF) is blocked strength that has an unbalanced electrical ability than surrounding tissues. The clean go with the flow of Qi is disturbed and dis-ease can bring about the fearful machine, purpose continual pain and dysfunction of ordinary structures.

A scar may motive back ache, migraine headache, persistent stomach ache or cellular disturbances affecting the immune device in addition to sexual dysfunctions.

Whilst a patient comes into my office for the primary time, I observe the whole frame for scars from antique injures and operations. that is an over regarded key to unlocking a patient's fitness problems. The blocked power in a meridian changes flow to a body component whilst a trauma impacts that region of the frame. (BEF) develops when the gadget manage does not return to ordinary after the trauma.

You can discover a blockage with the aid of palpate over scars and trouble spots in addition to testing the affected person's muscle electricity the usage of applied kinesiology, automatic law thermography, coronary heart rate variability or some of the other advanced power measuring devices.

If the tissue isn't receiving good enough circulation, from a blocked energy subject, it will likely be less active and no longer have as robust an electromagnetic fee.

If I discover a BEF, i will inject it with a local anesthetic and maybe a homeopathic as well to open the blocked electricity. Caine anesthetics are mobile membrane stabilizers and act on interference fields inside the same manner that lidocaine does in treating abnormal heartbeat.

For more details, please you can visit at https://www.videntalcenter.com/

[eds-zebra-warrior]

2021 Ehlers Danlos Society Awareness Month (Day 2 Prompt: Diagnosis)

Ehlers Danlos syndrome is associated with over 250 possible comorbidities which means it's not unusual for an EDS patient to have 20, 30 or more medical conditions prior to receiving a diagnosis and 50 plus over a lifetime. EDS is a genetic connective tissue disorder which affects different types of connective tissue depending on the subtype of EDS you are diagnosed with and gene mutation you possess. That being said, Connective tissue makes every single part of the body, at least in part. Connective tissue resides in all of your organs, including but not limited to, your brain, heart, liver, kidneys, esophagus, stomach, intestines, lungs, mesentery, and every other organ you can think of. It's also a building block of other parts of the body such as bones, bone marrow, blood vessels, blood cells, Lymphnodes, Lymph fluid, the spinal cord, joints, tendons, ligaments, disks, nails, hair follicles, skin, nerves and much much more so as you can see, if there is something wrong with your connective tissue, all of the places that its located in are fair game and prone to problems. Most of us are diagnosed with a psychosomatic disorder at some point because doctors believe our symptoms are in our head for sometimes decades and it's not unusual to be diagnosed with a lot of the comorbidities caused by EDS before finding a doctor who can connect the dots and properly diagnose Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I was diagnosed with a lot of my comorbidities before or around the same time I was diagnosed with EDS. I will list as many of my medical conditions as I can remember at the time however most of these I do not list on my medical bracelet as some are minor or do not cause other issues so would be irrelevant in an emergency. My conditions include but aren't limited to the following:

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Systemic Mastocytosis

Gastroparesis

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Addison's Disease

Autonomic Neuropathy

Polyneuropathy

Small Fiber Neuropathy

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Celiac Disease

Neurocardiogenic Vasovagal Syncope

Common Variable Immune Deficiency

Neurocardiogenic Vasovagal Syncope

Bradycardia

Supraventricular Tachycardia

Paraplegia

Degenerative Disk Disease

Scoliosis

Osteoporosis

Hypovolemia

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Atrophy

Kyphosis

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Heart Murmur

Congenital Heart Defect (Unspecified)

Complex Cyst in Breast

Schmorl's Node between T-12 and L-1

Craniocervical Instability

Atlantoaxial Instability

Basilar Invagination

Low Lying Tonsils (tonsils in brain not throat)

Cervical Anterolisthesis

Dystonia

Vaginismus

Hyperhidrosis

Fibromyalgia

Psoriasis

Epileptic and Non-epileptic Seizures

Hypoglycemia

Interstitial Cystitis

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression

Blunting of the Costophrenic Angles

Pleural Thickening

Hiatal Hernia

Beginning Stage Glaucoma

Myopia (Legally Blind)

Traumatic Brain Injury

Dyslexia/Dyscalculia

Attention Deficit Disorder (Non Hyperactive)

Auditory Processing disorder

Mild Sensorineural Hearing loss in right ear

Heal Papules

[zetainsole-blog]

What is diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of diabetic nerve pain that usually starts at the extremities such as the hands and feet. For those who have diabetes, this pain is the first indication that the nerves throughout the body are being damaged by high sugar levels in the blood.

Because the symptoms can differ depending on the person and the effects the diabetes is having on the body, diabetic nerve pain may range from a slow throb to a painful condition that affects more than just your feet. It can also affect your digestive and urinary tract, but the most common result is diabetic foot pain.

The range of pain may run from tolerable to crippling, depending on the severity and location of the damage that is being done. The good news is that diabetic neuropathy can be slowed, even prevented by living a healthy lifestyle that keeps the blood sugar level under control. In addition, Zeta insoles offer an inexpensive and effective approach.

Types of Diabetic Neuropathy

There are four types of neuropathy or symptoms created by high blood sugar levels. Because the symptoms develop gradually over time, you may not be aware of their effect until a considerable amount of nerve damage has occurred

Autonomic: heart, eyes, bladder, intestines, stomach, and sex organs

Mononeuropathy: face, torso, and legs

Peripheral: Feet, legs, arms, and hands

Radiculoplexus: hips, thighs, and buttocks

Of the four types, diabetic foot pain is most often caused by peripheral neuropathy;the symptomsinclude;

Tingling, burning, or numbness in the feet

Inability to sense temperature

Greater sensitivity to touch

Cramps or sharp pains

In more serious cases, a person afflicted with this type of diabetic neuropathy will experience weakness in the muscles, a loss of balance, coordination, and reflexes, and undergo serious issues with their feet, such as infections, ulcers, and pain in the bones or joint areas.

Sores, infection, or cuts on your feet that do not heal

Tingling, weakness, pain, or burning sensation that is strong and relentless

Dizziness

Unexplained changes in urination, sexual function, or digestion

You may or may not have diabetic neuropathy if you exhibit one or more of these symptoms,but each of these symptoms warrant a visit to a physician. If you have a family history of diabetes and want to protect your feet, here are a few tips that may help.

Eat Healthy: Lower your blood sugar by eating a healthy diet

Exercise: Maintain good circulation by engaging in a regular workout routine

Wear the Proper Shoes: Make sure they fit well and that they provide plenty of padding to prevent damage. Zeta insoles are an example of shoe inserts that can help reducethe discomfort commonly associated with diabetic neuropathy in the feet.

[harounezaibet]

Que doit examiner le médecin pour diagnostiquer la polyneuropathie diabétique ? - examens, diagnostics

Chaque examen physique devrait être précédé d'une enquête sur l'âge, le poids corporel, la taille, la durée du diabète, les maladies secondaires existantes, les traitements antérieurs et actuels, l'environnement social, la performance physique, les médicaments et les plaintes actuelles (anamnèse). La gravité de la neuropathie peut être évaluée et objectivée en enregistrant précisément les plaintes subjectives à l'aide de questionnaires (p. ex. force et heure de la journée de la douleur).

Pour les diagnostics de routine, une procédure en deux étapes avec examens préventifs (1ère étape) et diagnostics spéciaux (2ème étape) est recommandée. Les examens préventifs comprennent de simples examens généraux et neurologiques qui peuvent être effectués par n'importe quel médecin. Ils conviennent également comme examens de reprise pour le diagnostic de suivi. Il est important d'avoir une inspection détaillée de la peau des bras, des jambes et du torse (p. ex. couleur, points de pression, température) et de sentir le pouls des pieds.

A l'aide d'examens neurologiques, on peut distinguer les manifestations cliniques (avec symptômes) des neuropathies subcliniques (sans symptômes, mais avec des tests fonctionnels partiels ou légèrement pathologiques). Les tests de sensibilité peuvent être effectués à l'aide d'aides simples telles que des cotons-tiges (toucher émoussé), des cure-dents (toucher pointu), des glaçons (sensation de froid), des tubes d'eau chaude (sensation de chaleur) et des diapasons (vibration). Les fonctions motrices les plus importantes (tension musculaire, développement de la force, réflexes d'étirement musculaire) doivent également être testées. Si ces examens simples ont été effectués et que des signes de neuropathie ont été décelés, d'autres examens sont disponibles.

Pour le diagnostic détaillé de la polyneuropathie sensorimotrice périphérique, des mesures de la vitesse de conduction nerveuse sont utilisées. Le principe de l'étude est la stimulation du nerf par un stimulus électrique et la mesure du temps de réponse. Dans les polyneuropathies, la vitesse de conduction nerveuse est réduite. L'électromyographie (EMG), semblable à l'électrocardiographie (ECG), utilise des électrodes pour dériver et mesurer les activités électriques dans le muscle.

Différents examens à l'électrocardiogramme (ECG) et des mesures de la tension artérielle et du pouls en position couchée (réaction d'orthostase) sont utilisés pour détecter une neuropathie cardiaque autonome diabétique. Dans le diagnostic de la neuropathie diabétique autonome du tractus gastro-intestinal, les examens échographiques et la scintigraphie dite fonctionnelle sont la norme. Des repas d'essai contenant des composants marqués par la radioactivité (p. ex. des isotopes de CO2) sont donnés et la libération de ces isotopes dans l'air respirable est mesurée. Pour exclure d'autres maladies du tractus gastro-intestinal, des procédures endoscopiques (gastroscopie et coloscopie) doivent être effectuées.

Si l'on soupçonne une neuropathie diabétique autonome du tractus urogénital, il faut procéder à des analyses d'urine (bactéries, composants cellulaires et protéines) et à des examens échographiques (rein). Des examens radiologiques des reins et des procédures endoscopiques (endoscopie de la vessie) peuvent être nécessaires. Une autre étude importante dans le contexte de la neuropathie autonome diabétique est la mesure de la répartition dynamique de la pression sur la plante des pieds pendant la marche (pédographie).

[sherristockman]

Diabetes Meds Are Infecting Genitals With Flesh-Eating Bacteria Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola The number of individuals suffering from diabetes continues to rise. In 2012, 20 million Americans had diabetes or prediabetes.1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),2 the number is now over 30 million. This includes 23.1 million diagnosed and 7.2 million who are unaware of their condition. Statistics also indicate there are 84.1 million adults with prediabetes. Interestingly, the estimated percentage of those with Type 1 diabetes has remained stable at 5 percent.3 Total medical costs and lost work and wages are estimated at $245 billion, and the risk of death for adults with diabetes is 50 percent higher than for nondiabetic adults.4 The rapid rise in prevalence strongly suggests Type 2 diabetes is not due to genetics. Insulin and leptin resistance are the foundational causes of diabetes. High blood sugar is merely a symptom thereof. It is essential to make a point of discussing this condition frequently, as it is one of the greatest health threats facing much of the world, while also being one of the easiest to treat with simple lifestyle strategies. However, while many physicians recommend dietary modifications, most individuals begin using oral and injectable hypoglycemic drugs to control blood sugar without addressing the underlying cause. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned that a class of oral medications increases a diabetic’s risk of a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection.5 FDA Warns Diabetes Drug May Be Linked to Serious Genital Infection The infection, called Fournier's gangrene, occurs in the genital area of men and women. The bacteria usually enter the body through a cut and quickly spread. A diagnosis of diabetes is a risk factor for developing Fournier's gangrene. The class of medication associated with an increased risk are sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. The infection causes necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh eating disease, of the vaginal area in women and the area between the scrotum and anus in men. The FDA warns patients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any symptoms of tenderness, redness or swelling or have a fever above 100.4 Fahrenheit (F). The symptoms worsen quickly, so it is vital to seek immediate treatment. In the five years between March 2013 and May 2018, the FDA identified 12 cases of patients taking the medication who developed the infection. They acknowledge these numbers only include reports submitted to the FDA and found in the medical literature. The real number may be higher. According to the FDA:6 “[T]here may be additional cases about which we are unaware. In 2017, an estimated 1.7 million patients received a dispensed prescription for an SGLT-2 inhibitor from U.S. outpatient retail pharmacies. Although most cases of Fournier’s gangrene have previously been reported in men, our 12 cases included seven men and five women. Fournier’s gangrene developed within several months of the patients starting an SGLT-2 inhibitor and the drug was stopped in most cases. All 12 patients were hospitalized and required surgery.” The FDA found one patient had died and others required multiple disfiguring surgeries to stem the infection.7 As diabetes increases the risk of Fournier’s gangrene, the data were analyzed for patients who were taking glucose-lowering agents.8 The infection is more typically found in men ages 50 to 60.9 The SGLT-2 inhibitors are a class of hypoglycemic drugs designed to work against SGLT-2, a low affinity, high capacity transporter protein found in the kidneys. This class of medication was approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes and not for use in Type 1 diabetes. These are the brand name and generic names of the drugs currently on the market:10,11 Canagliflozin (Invokana) Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) Empagliflozin (Jardiance) Empagliflozin/linagliptin (Glyxambi) Empagliflozin/metformin (Synjardy) Dapagliflozin/metformin (Xigduo XR) Ertugliflozin (Steglatro) Infection Is Not the Only Concern With SGLT2 Inhibitors Besides several safety communications that included concerns about increased risks of leg and foot amputations,12 this was the second safety warning the FDA issued against SGLT-2 inhibitors. May 15, 2015,13 the FDA issued a warning the drugs may lead to ketoacidosis, a condition in which the body produces high levels of acids often requiring emergency care or hospitalization for treatment. In a search of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), they identified 20 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis associated with the medications. Each patient required an emergency room visit or hospitalization for treatment. The FDA recommended discontinuing the drug if acidosis was confirmed, and instituting supportive medical care.14 The FDA found triggering factors in some cases included acute illnesses, such as urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis or the flu.15 Other patients found a reduced caloric or fluid intake and reduced insulin dosing could trigger diabetic ketoacidosis while taking the medication. One month after the FDA announcement, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also announced an investigation into the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis with SGLT-2 inhibitors.16 Health Canada quickly followed. The EMA decision was prompted by their adverse events reporting database indicating more than 100 people suffered from diabetic ketoacidosis while using SGLT-2 inhibitors, serious enough to require hospitalization. By the end of the year the FDA safety review prompted the addition of printed warnings on all labeling regarding the risk. They also included risks regarding life-threatening blood infections (sepsis) and kidney infections that began as urinary tract infections in people taking SGLT2 inhibitors.17 Diabetes Drugs Affect More Than Blood Sugar There are nine classes of oral diabetes drugs, all of which differ in their side effect profiles. Some of the other known side effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors include vaginal yeast infections and yeast infections of the penis, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections and changes in patterns of urination. Others have reported hypotension, kidney dysfunction, bladder cancer and hypersensitivity reactions.18 The surge in new drug classes to treat Type 2 diabetes has been fueled by the rising number of individuals suffering from the disease. Drug companies are quick to step in and fill a growing desire for quick treatments, often leaving consumers to experience the side effects of taking a pill rather than changing their diet and lifestyle. Many of these drugs also interfere with other medications you may be taking, including several heart medications and antibiotics. Injectable insulin plays a unique role in the exacerbation of diabetes, which I discuss in a previous article, “How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes, Why Insulin May Actually Accelerate Death, and Other Ignored Facts.” Potential side effects from various oral medications include the following:19 Thiazolidinediones — Liver disease, fluid retention, weight gain and increased risk for fractures and bladder cancer DPP-4 inhibitors — Hypoglycemia, fluid retention, hives, urinary tract infection and facial swelling Biguanides — Stomach discomfort, diarrhea, decreased appetite, interference with B12 absorption and exercise-induced hypoglycemia Sulfonylureas — Skin rashes, reduced red blood cell count, liver disease and upset stomach A-glucosidase — Gas, bloating and diarrhea Bile acid sequestrants — Stomach discomfort or pain, constipation and heartburn Bromocriptine mesylate — Nausea, headache, weakness, dizziness, sinusitis and constipation Diabetes Triggers Long-Term Damage to Organ Systems In the long term, high glucose levels, which are the result of insulin resistance, damage large and small blood vessels, ultimately leading to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke, as well as problems with the kidneys, eyes, feet and neurological systems.20 It is also possible to experience nerve damage to internal organs, such as the stomach, intestines, bladder and genitals. These may result in digestive issues, urinary tract conditions and sexual dysfunction.21 Damage to small blood vessels also increases the risk of frequent infections and problems with wounds that will not heal. Nerve damage in the hands, feet or arms, called diabetic neuropathy, affects nearly half of those with diabetes and is more common in those who have had the disease for a number of years. Symptoms range from pain and numbness in the feet or hands to problems with function with internal organs, such as your heart and bladder.22 Autonomic neuropathy damages nerves controlling your internal organs, while focal neuropathy typically damages a single nerve, often in your hand, head or leg. Proximal neuropathy is rare and disabling, causing nerve damage to your hip or thigh and often affecting only one side of your body. The good news is the risk of these kinds of complications can be reduced by making lifestyle changes to improve your insulin and leptin sensitivity. Medical Treatments Don’t Treat the Condition Conventional medicine has pegged Type 2 diabetes as a problem with blood sugar control, and the medical goal of treatment is to reduce blood glucose levels in order to prevent blood vessel damage. However, as diabetes is primarily triggered by a seriously flawed diet and lack of physical activity, prescriptions to address blood sugar levels fail to address the root cause. In other words, the medical community’s approach is to treat the symptom of elevated blood sugar and not the condition of malfunctioning insulin and leptin signaling, and to use medications that come with their own long list of side effects that impact a number of bodily systems. Lifestyle Strategies That Address the Root Cause of Diabetes You do not have to become a part of the diabetes epidemic taking place in the world today. You merely have to be mindful of your everyday habits. Your body is a complex combination of chemicals, enzymes and hormones and, while it may be tempting to believe one hormone controls an entire system, the reality is far more intricate. There is no question that regularly consuming excessive amounts of net carbs dramatically increases your risk, and consuming too much processed fructose will inevitably wreak havoc on your body's ability to regulate proper insulin levels. Although refined fructose initially has a relatively "low glycemic” profile, it leads to chronic insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar long-term. So, while you may not notice a steep rise in blood sugar immediately following fructose consumption, it is likely changing your endocrine system's ability to function properly behind the scenes. Here are several simple and effective choices to naturally help your body control insulin resistance and sensitivity. Increase your fiber intake — Include both soluble and insoluble fiber in your daily diet. Grains, even organic ones, are not an ideal source of fiber. Instead, eat more organic whole, unsweetened husk psyllium, chia seeds, sprouts and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Aim to include 50 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you eat daily. Reduce net carbs — A low-net carbohydrate diet reduces inflammation and the amount insulin required to use the energy from the food you eat. Aim for 50 grams of net carbs per day. This number is calculated by taking the grams of carbs you've eaten and subtracting the number of grams of fiber. In this way a high-fiber diet also helps you to lower the amount of insulin you need to utilize your food for fuel. Increase high-quality fats — When you reduce carbohydrates, your best alternative to replace them is high-quality, healthy fats necessary for keeping your heart healthy, feeding your brain, modulating genetic regulation and prevent cancer. Healthy fat sources include: Avocados Coconut and olive oil Organic, grass fed meat and dairy products such as butter Organic raw nuts Exercise — Exercise is a diabetic’s best ally, and can produce rather rapid results. Research23 published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found, for example, that a single session of moderate exercise can improve the way your body regulates glucose and reduces the spikes in blood sugar that occur after a meal (elevations in these spikes, known as postprandial glucose, or PPG, are associated with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and death). When you exercise for diabetes prevention or treatment, intensity is key. A slow walk around the block, while better than watching TV on the couch, is not likely to cut it (although if you're morbidly obese and very out of shape this is a good way to start). Instead, high-intensity interval training, which is a core component of my Peak Fitness program, should ideally be included in your fitness program to achieve optimal results. Hydration — As you become dehydrated, your liver secretes a hormone that increases your blood sugar.24 As you hydrate, blood sugar levels lower naturally. To stay well-hydrated drink enough to maintain your urine color straw yellow throughout the day. Reduce stress — Stress increases the secretion of cortisol and glucagon, both of which affect your blood sugar levels.25,26 Control your stress levels using exercise, meditation, yoga, prayer or Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Sleep — Getting enough quality sleep is necessary to feel good and experience good health. Poor sleeping habits may reduce insulin sensitivity and promote weight gain.27,28