Complete this form & iGuard will email you a free report checking your medications for side effects, treatment duplication & drug interactions. *Gender:- Male Female *Medication 1:- Acetaminophen Abilify Advil Allegra Alprazolam Aminophylline Amisulpride Amoxapine Amoxicillin Amphetamine Antipres Aspirin Atarax Atenolol Ativan Azelastine Azithromycin Beclazone Betaloc Biaxin Biocef Budesonide Bupropion BuSpar Caffeine Calcium Carbamazepine Carteolol Cefaclor Celebrex Celexa Cetirizine Chlorpheniramine Cinoxacin Ciprofloxacin Claritin Clindamycin Clozapine Cocaine Concerta Corgard Crestor Diphenhydramine Doryx Effexor Emgel Endep Enoxacin Escitalopram Eskalith Flixotide Fluanxol Fluphenazine Fluticasone Fluvoxamine Focalin Fortaz Gabapentin Gatifloxacin Haloperidol Ipratropium Iron Kerlone Klonopin Lamotrigine Levetiracetam Levofloxacin Linezolid Lipitor Loxitane Luvox Maxaquin Mesoridazine Methamphetamine Metipranolol Mevacor Moban Modafinil Monitan Montelukast Moxifloxacin Naprosyn Nardil Neomycin Niacin Ofloxacin Olanzapine Paracetamol Paroxetine Penicillin Pexeva Pindolol Pipotiazine Pirbuterol Pravachol Prednisolone Propranolol Prozac Relafen Remeron Rifampin Risperidone Rofecoxib Salbutamol Salmeterol Sarafem Serax Seroquel Sertraline Serzone Simvastatin Solarize Sotalol Sparfloxacin Streptomycin Sulfatrim Terfenadine Tetracycline Theophylline Thiothixene Thorazine Timolol Trandate Trazodone Triavil Trovafloxacin Valdecoxib Valium Valproic Vancomycin Yentreve Zafirlukast Zarontin Zebeta Zinc Ziprasidone Zosyn Zotepine Zyflo *Medication 2:- Acetaminophen Abilify Advil Allegra Alprazolam Aminophylline Amisulpride Amoxapine Amoxicillin Amphetamine Antipres Aspirin Atarax Atenolol Ativan Azelastine Azithromycin Beclazone Betaloc Biaxin Biocef Budesonide Bupropion BuSpar Caffeine Calcium Carbamazepine Carteolol Cefaclor Celebrex Celexa Cetirizine Chlorpheniramine Cinoxacin Ciprofloxacin Claritin Clindamycin Clozapine Cocaine Concerta Corgard Crestor Diphenhydramine Doryx Effexor Emgel Endep Enoxacin Escitalopram Eskalith Flixotide Fluanxol Fluphenazine Fluticasone Fluvoxamine Focalin Fortaz Gabapentin Gatifloxacin Haloperidol Ipratropium Iron Kerlone Klonopin Lamotrigine Levetiracetam Levofloxacin Linezolid Lipitor Loxitane Luvox Maxaquin Mesoridazine Methamphetamine Metipranolol Mevacor Moban Modafinil Monitan Montelukast Moxifloxacin Naprosyn Nardil Neomycin Niacin Ofloxacin Olanzapine Paracetamol Paroxetine Penicillin Pexeva Pindolol Pipotiazine Pirbuterol Pravachol Prednisolone Propranolol Prozac Relafen Remeron Rifampin Risperidone Rofecoxib Salbutamol Salmeterol Sarafem Serax Seroquel Sertraline Serzone Simvastatin Solarize Sotalol Sparfloxacin Streptomycin Sulfatrim Terfenadine Tetracycline Theophylline Thiothixene Thorazine Timolol Trandate Trazodone Triavil Trovafloxacin Valdecoxib Valium Valproic Vancomycin Yentreve Zafirlukast Zarontin Zebeta Zinc Ziprasidone Zosyn Zotepine Zyflo

Diabetes Information Guide

Diabetes Mellitus as it is known medically is a condition that is characterised by a high or elevated level of blood sugar called glucose. It translates literally to mean ‘urine sweetened with honey’, which pertains to the sweet nature of the urine of diabetic patients. Currently it is estimated to affect over 120 million people worldwide and the number is rising rapidly.

Changes in Blood Glucose Levels

Glucose is a vital part of our diet and is found in many different types of food. When we eat, the carbohydrates we have in our diet are broken down by enzymes in our digestive system, to the smallest unit called, glucose. Once absorbed within our bodies, glucose is broken down to provide our cells with energy to grow and repair.

The enzymes that are involved in this process are called glycosylases and amylases and are produced within the α cells of the pancreas. This organ is located just behind the stomach on the left hand side of our bodies, containing 3 main types of cells, α cells, β cells and γ cells. Each of these cell types produces a different enzyme. The β cells produce insulin, whereas the γ cells are responsible for producing glucagon. Both of these enzymes are responsible for maintaining an adequate blood glucose level.

When we eat a meal, within 15 minutes our body absorbs the majority of the glucose through our intestines and into our blood. This causes our blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, prompting the pancreas to release insulin into our blood. The insulin then binds to specific receptors on our liver and muscle cells, telling them to take up and store glucose, and to stop producing glucose, in the case of the liver. This enables us to store glucose as glycogen, which can then be converted back to glucose in between meals.

As our blood sugar levels reach their peak after a meal, the amount of insulin within our blood begins to fall as the glucose is stored in our cells. The secretion of insulin then stops as the blood glucose levels begin to return to normal. In the time between meals, our blood sugar level can fall. In this case, glucagon is released from the pancreas, which causes the liver to release glucose for our body to use to produce energy. The concentration of glucose in our blood in between meals (3 hours after eating) is known as the fasting blood glucose concentration. Approximately 90% of this blood glucose is derived from stores of glycogen within the liver.

Although there are a number of types of diabetes, the two main forms are so called type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Each of these different types arise due to different types of problems within the body and as such have their own causes, symptoms and treatments.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes or IDDM (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) occurs due to the destruction or loss of function of the β cells within the pancreas. This stops the pancreas from releasing insulin into the blood when blood sugar levels rise. As such, after meals the body becomes unable to store any excess glucose we absorb into our blood and begins to release it in the urine. The resulting high glucose levels can then damage blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, eyes and kidneys. In severe cases the high glucose levels can cause unconsciousness and death.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes or NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes) is a problem that arises when the body loses its ability to respond to insulin. In other words, the pancreas can still release insulin but our cells no longer respond by absorbing and storing glucose. Just like type 1 diabetes, this causes problems following meals when our blood sugar levels rise. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the body tries to release the excess glucose in the urine. This damages the kidney and can lead to kidney failure.

In this guide to diabetes, the different types of diabetes, causes, symptoms risk factors and treatments will be covered, along with a host of other useful information. If you are worried by any of the information you read and think you may have diabetes, please make an appointment with your GP who will be able to give you more information.

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