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There is an effective & ideal way of preventing diabetic. Yes, it is a proved one. To know more read Point No.1.

1. After brushed in the morning take a bitter gourd which should be in between 50-100 grams. Eat it RAW and should eat entire Bitter gourd, means including the seed and skin of it. You should not split anything & 100% should be consumed.

Take breakfast after one hour. This should be done continuously for 40 days.

Then you will not get diabetic for several years in spite of whatever you eat and do. If you still have minimum care against diabetic the number years will be more.

Please note that it is applicable for people before getting diabetic or within one year you GOT (not confirmed-means you might had it for several years but now confirmed) diabetic.

If you feel its too bitter to eat a bitter gourd or need determination that you do not have to complete it go to point No.2.

2. Now a days most of the Indian community know about diabetic. Need of the hour is to Plan in advance to prevent it and check your sugar level.

Plan includes daily exercise, food habit and stress management.

Periodical sugar level check is a must. It always given an idea to plan future coarse of action against diabetic.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE IS PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR DIABETIC

Salt is biggest culprit and carrots should be avoided. Yes, higher quatities of salt do increase the chances of Coronary Heart disease but it is not the biggest culprit and should be taken in moderate quantities failing which a person may land into the trap of Hypo-Thyroidism.
So, the main does and donts for Diabetics are,
(1)Lead stress free life (very difficult but pls try).
(2)Play, excercise and do household work everyday.
(3)Eat whatever is cooked at home (veg or non-veg does not make any difference if you eat hygenic food in adequate quantities).
(4)Stay away from alcohol. I read somewhere that vodka treats diabetes so I experimented on myself. I checked my suger levels the day after I had vodka the BG level indeed dropped but the subsequent days the BG levels started shooting up. So, after repeating this experiment for 5 sucesive times and getting the same results I concluded that any alcohol (including spirits like vodka & Gin) may lower the BG levels temorarily but in long run they do more damage than expected. Also slcohol tends to increase the apetite that results in increase food intake thus enhancing the BG levels.
(5)All Diabetics are different depending upon their body’s inherent characteristics and what one persons trend shows may differ with other persons. Hence, one has to become his own docter for Diabetes and find a workable solution for himself. I am able to reverse my diabetes why cant you.
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Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body fails to convert sugars, starches and other foods into energy.

Many of the foods you eat are normally converted into a type of sugar called glucose during digestion. The bloodstream then carries glucose through the body. The hormone, insulin, then turns glucose into quick energy or is stored for futher use.

In diabetic people, the body either does not make enough insulin or it cannot use the insulin correctly. This is why too much glucose builds in the bloodstream.

There are two major types of diabetes:

1. Type 1

This is popularly known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes.

Here, the body produces little or no insulin. It occurs most often in childhood or in the teens and could be inherited.

People with this type of diabetes need daily injections of insulin. They must balance their daily intake of food and activites carefully with their insulin shots to stay alive.

2. Type 2

Also known as Adult Onset Diabetes, this occurs around 35 to 40 years. The more common of the two types, it accounts for about 80 per cent of the diabetics.

Here, though the pancreas produce adequate insulin, body cells show reduced sensitivity towards it.

Type 2 diabetes is usually triggered by obesity. The best way to fight it is by weight loss, exercise and dietary control.

Sometimes, oral medication or insulin injections are also needed.

~ Symptoms of diabetes

Here are a few:

• Extreme thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination
• Sores or bruises that heal slowly
• Dry, itchy skin
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual tiredness or drowsiness
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Whether Type 1 or 2, diabetics need a balance of diet and exercise.

Here are some foods you can eat, and some foods you must avoid!

Foods you must avoid!

i. Salt

Salt is the greatest culprit for diabetics. You get enough salt from vegetables in inorganic form, so reduce the intake of inorganic salt.

ii. Sugar

Sucrose, a table sugar, provides nothing but calories and carbohydrates.

Also, you need calcium to digest sucrose. Insufficient sucrose intake might lead to calcium being leached off the bones.

Substitute sucrose with natural sugar, like honey, jaggery (gur), etc.

iii. Fat

Excessive fat intake is definitely not a good habit.

Try and exclude fried items from your diet totally.

But, remember, you must have a small quantity of oil to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, especially vitamin E.

iv. For non-vegetarians

Try and stop the intake of red meat completely.

Try to go in for a vegetarian diet. If you cannot, decrease the consumption of eggs and poultry.

You can, however, eat lean fish two to three times a week.

v. Whole milk and products

Try to switch to low fat milk and its products like yogurt (curd).

Replace high fat cheese with low fat cottage cheese.

vi. Tea and coffee

Do not have than two cups of the conventional tea or decaffeinated coffee every day.

Try to switch to herbal teas.

vii. White flour and its products

Replace these with whole grains, wholewheat or soya breads and unpolished rice.

viii. Foods with a high glycemic index

Avoid white rice, potatoes, carrots, breads and banana — they increase the blood-sugar levels.  

Special food for diabetics

i. Bitter gourd (karela)

This vegetable contains a high dosage of ’plant insulin’. It lowers the blood-sugar levels effectively.

Have the juice of three to four karelas early morning on an empty stomach.

As a vegetable, too, it can be taken on a regular basis.

Powder the seeds of karela (measuring 1 teaspoon), mix with water and drink it.

ii. Fenugreek (methi)

It is the most common food used to control diabetes.

Gulp a teaspoonful of these seeds with a glass of water daily.

Soak the seeds overnight. Have the water in which the seeds were soaked.

You can make a chutney with methi seeds. You can also eat them sprouted, dried and powdered, or mix them in wheat flour to make chapattis.

iii. Indian blackberry (jamun)

This fruit is very effective in preventing and controlling diabetes.

Powder the stone of the fruit and eat it – it contains glucoside, which prevents the conversion of starch into sugars.

iv. Garlic

This is used to lower blood-sugar levels.

Garlic is rich in potassium and replaces the potassium which gets lost in urine.

It also contains zinc and sulphur, which are components of insulin.

Take about three to four flakes of freshly crushed garlic daily.

v. Onion

Because of its diuretic and digestive properties, onion works against diabetes.

Raw onion is more useful.

vi. Flaxseed

This is the richest source of Omega 3 fatty acids.

It helps control diabetes because it maintains the sensitivity of the cell membrane, facilitates insulin, and thereby the uptake of glucose by the cells.

vii. Fibre

Soluble fibre, found in apples, kidney beans, oatmeal, soyabean, etc, help control diabetes.

These aid slow digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in a slow and steady release of glucose.

They soak up excess bile acids found in the intestinal tract, the same acids that are converted to blood cholesterol.

They also help empty the stomach and trigger satiety that can help Type 2 diabetics to achieve weight loss goals.

viii. Cinnamon solution

Water extracts of cinnamon have been found to promote glucose metabolism and reduce cholesterol.

You can boil cinnamon sticks in water and drink this water.

ix. Antioxidants

Diabetes is often associated with conditions like heart disease, diabetic retinopathy, immune deficiency and kidney disease.

Many are caused by free radical damage. Therefore, make sure you include antioxidants, especially vitamin C (lemons), E, selenium, zinc and chromium (Brewer’s yeast), in your diet, as they have been shown to control blood sugar levels.

DON’T MISS!

What is insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps the body use glucose for energy. Glucose is a form of sugar that is the body’s main source of energy.

The body’s digestive system breaks food down into glucose, which then travels in the bloodstream to cells throughout the body. Glucose in the blood is called blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. As the blood glucose level rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin to help cells take in and use the glucose.

When people are insulin resistant, their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin. As a result, their bodies need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. The pancreas tries to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. Eventually, the pancreas fails to keep up with the body’s need for insulin. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for diabetes. Many people with insulin resistance have high levels of both glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the same time.

Insulin resistance increases the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Learning about insulin resistance is the first step toward making lifestyle changes that can help prevent diabetes and other health problems.

What causes insulin resistance?

Scientists have identified specific genes that make people more likely to develop insulin resistance and diabetes. Excess weight and lack of physical activity also contribute to insulin resistance.

Many people with insulin resistance and high blood glucose have other conditions that increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and damage to the heart and blood vessels, also called cardiovascular disease. These conditions include having excess weight around the waist, high blood pressure, and abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Having several of these problems is called metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance syndrome, formerly called syndrome X.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of any three of the following conditions:

• waist measurement of 40 inches or more for men and 35 inches or more for women
• triglyceride levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or above, or taking medication for elevated triglyceride levels
• HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women, or taking medication for low HDL levels
• blood pressure levels of 130/85 or above, or taking medication for elevated blood pressure levels
• fasting blood glucose levels of 100 mg/dL or above, or taking medication for elevated blood glucose levels

Source: Grundy SM, et al. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome: an American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute scientific statement. Circulation. 2005;112:2735–2752.

Similar definitions have been developed by the World Health Organization and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

What is pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition is sometimes called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about one in four U.S. adults aged 20 years or older—or 57 million people—had pre-diabetes in 2007.

People with pre-diabetes are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is sometimes defined as the form of diabetes that develops when the body does not respond properly to insulin, as opposed to type 1 diabetes, in which the pancreas makes little or no insulin.

Studies have shown that most people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight—about 10 to 15 pounds for someone who weighs 200 pounds—by making changes in their diet and level of physical activity. People with pre-diabetes also are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

What are the symptoms of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes?

Insulin resistance and pre-diabetes usually have no symptoms. People may have one or both conditions for several years without noticing anything. People with a severe form of insulin resistance may have dark patches of skin, usually on the back of the neck. Sometimes people have a dark ring around their neck. Other possible sites for dark patches include elbows, knees, knuckles, and armpits. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans.

How are insulin resistance and pre-diabetes diagnosed?

Health care providers use blood tests to determine whether a person has pre-diabetes but do not usually test for insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be assessed by measuring the level of insulin in the blood. However, the test that most accurately measures insulin resistance, called the euglycemic clamp, is too costly and complicated to be used in most doctors’ offices. The clamp is a research tool used by scientists to learn more about glucose metabolism. If tests indicate pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance most likely is present.

Diabetes and pre-diabetes can be detected with one of the following tests:

• Fasting glucose test. This test measures blood glucose in people who have not eaten anything for at least 8 hours. This test is most reliable when done in the morning. Fasting glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg/dL are above normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. This condition is called pre-diabetes or IFG. People with IFG often have had insulin resistance for some time. They are much more likely to develop diabetes than people with normal blood glucose levels.
• Glucose tolerance test. This test measures blood glucose after people fast for at least 8 hours and 2 hours after they drink a sweet liquid provided by a doctor or laboratory. A blood glucose level between 140 and 199 mg/dL means glucose tolerance is not normal but is not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This form of pre-diabetes is called IGT and, like IFG, it points toward a history of insulin resistance and a risk for developing diabetes.

People whose test results indicate they have pre-diabetes should have their blood glucose levels checked again in 1 to 2 years.

Risk Factors for Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association recommends that testing to detect pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes be considered in adults without symptoms who are overweight or obese and have one or more additional risk factors for diabetes. In those without these risk factors, testing should begin at age 45.

Risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes—in addition to being overweight or obese or being age 45 or older—include the following:

• being physically inactive
• having a parent or sibling with diabetes
• having a family background that is African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander
• giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds or being diagnosed with gestational diabetes—diabetes first found during pregnancy
• having high blood pressure—140/90 or above—or being treated for high blood pressure
• having an HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level below 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level above 250 mg/dL
• having polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS
• having impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) on previous testing
• having other conditions associated with insulin resistance, such as severe obesity or acanthosis nigricans
• having a history of cardiovascular disease

If test results are normal, testing should be repeated at least every 3 years. Health care providers may recommend more frequent testing depending on initial results and risk status.

Can insulin resistance and pre-diabetes be reversed?

Yes. Physical activity and weight loss help the body respond better to insulin. By losing weight and being more physically active, people with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes may avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and other large studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can often prevent or delay diabetes if they lose a modest amount of weight by cutting fat and calorie intake and increasing physical activity—for example, walking 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of body weight prevents or delays diabetes by nearly 60 percent. In the DPP, people aged 60 or older who made lifestyle changes lowered their chances of developing diabetes by 70 percent. Many participants in the lifestyle intervention group returned to normal blood glucose levels and lowered their risk for developing heart disease and other problems associated with diabetes. The DPP also showed that the diabetes drug metformin reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 31 percent.

People with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes can help their body use insulin normally by being physically active, making wise food choices, and reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. Physical activity helps muscle cells use blood glucose for energy by making the cells more sensitive to insulin.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a measurement of body weight relative to height. Adults aged 20 or older can use the BMI table below to find out whether they are normal weight, overweight, obese, or extremely obese. To use the table, follow these steps:

• Find the person’s height in the left-hand column.
• Move across the row to the number closest to that person’s weight.
• Check the number at the top of that column.

The number at the top of the column is the person’s BMI. The words above the BMI number indicate whether the person is normal weight, overweight, obese, or extremely obese. People who are overweight, obese, or extremely obese should consider talking with a doctor about ways to lose weight to reduce the risk of diabetes.

The BMI table has certain limitations. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build and underestimate body fat in older adults and others who have lost muscle. BMI for children and teens must be determined based on age and sex in addition to height and weight. Information about BMI in children and teens, including a BMI calculator, is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Can medicines help reverse insulin resistance or pre-diabetes?
Clinical trials have shown that people at high risk for developing diabetes can be given treatments that delay or prevent onset of diabetes. The first therapy should always be an intensive lifestyle modification program because weight loss and physical activity are much more effective than any medication at reducing diabetes risk.

Several drugs have been shown to reduce diabetes risk to varying degrees. No drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat insulin resistance or pre-diabetes or to prevent type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends that metformin is the only drug that should be considered for use in diabetes prevention. Other drugs that have delayed diabetes have side effects or haven’t shown long-lasting benefit. Metformin use was recommended only for very high-risk individuals who have both forms of pre-diabetes (IGT and IFG), have a BMI of at least 35, and are younger than age 60. In the DPP, metformin was shown to be most effective in younger, heavier patients.

Points to Remember
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body’s cells do not use insulin properly. Insulin helps cells use blood glucose for energy.
Insulin resistance increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
Causes of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes include genetic factors, excess weight, and lack of physical activity.
Being physically active, making wise food choices, and reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent or reverse insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study confirmed that people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight through regular physical activity and a diet low in fat and calories.
Hope through Research
Researchers continue to follow DPP participants to learn about the long-term effects of the study. Other research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health builds on the findings from the DPP, including research focusing on lowering diabetes risk in children. Once considered an adult disease, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children, and researchers are seeking ways to reverse this trend.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsors the HEALTHY study, which is part of a broad research initiative called STOPP T2D (Studies to Treat or Prevent Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes). The study seeks to improve the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes in youth, exploring the roles of nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change in lowering risk for type 2 diabetes in children. The participating 42 middle schools are randomly assigned to a program group implementing changes or a comparison group. Students in the program group have healthier choices from the cafeteria and vending machines; longer, more intense periods of physical activity; and activities and awareness campaigns that promote long-term healthy behaviors. Results from the HEALTHY study are expected in 2009.

The NIDDK also sponsors the TODAY (Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth) study, which focuses on treatment of type 2 diabetes in children and teens at 13 sites. The TODAY study will evaluate the effects of three treatment approaches on control of blood glucose levels, insulin production, insulin resistance, and other outcomes. Each approach involves medication, but one of the three treatment groups will also receive an intensive lifestyle intervention to help the participants lose weight and increase physical fitness

Insulin is a hormone. It makes our body’s cells absorb glucose from the blood. The glucose is stored in the liver and muscle as glycogen and stops the body from using fat as a source of energy.

When there is very little insulin in the blood, or none at all, glucose is not taken up by most body cells. When this happens our body uses fat as a source of energy. Insulin is also a control signal to other body systems, such as amino acid uptake by body cells. Insulin is not identical in all animals – their levels of strength vary.

Porcine insulin, insulin from a pig, is the most similar to human insulin. Humans can receive animal insulin. However, genetic engineering has allowed us to synthetically produce ‘human’ insulin.

The pancreas

(1. click for large diagram) – © 3d Medical RF   

The pancreas is part of the digestive system. It is located high up in your abdomen and lies across your body where the ribs meet at the bottom. It is shaped like a leaf and is about six inches long. The wide end is called the head while the narrower end is called the tail, the mid-part is called the body.

The pancreas has two principal functions:

1. It produces pancreatic digestive juices.
2. It produces insulin and other digestive hormones.

The endocrine pancreas is the part of the pancreas that produces insulin and other hormones.

The exocrine pancreas is the part of the pancreas that produces digestive juices.

Insulin is produced in the pancreas. When protein is ingested insulin is released.

Insulin is also released when glucose is present in the blood. After eating carbohydrates, blood glucose levels rise.

Insulin makes it possible for glucose to enter our body’s cells – without glucose in our cells they would not be able to function. Without insulin the glucose cannot enter our cells.

Within the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans contain Beta cells, which synthesize (make) the insulin. Approximately 1 to 3 million Islets of Langerhans make up the endocrine part of the pancreas (mainly the exocrine gland), representing just one fiftieth of the pancreas’ total mass.

Etymology (history) of the word pancreas

It is said that the pancreas was described first by Herophilus of Chalcedon in about 300B.C. and the organ was named by Rufus of Ephesus in about 100A.D

However, it is an established fact that the word pancreas had been used by Aristotle (384-322B.C.) before Herophilus.

In Aristotle’s Historia Animalium, there is a line saying “another to the so-called pancreas”. It is considered that the words “so-called pancreas” imply that the word pancreas had been popular at the time of Aristotle, but it had not been authorized yet as an anatomical term.

However, the word pancreas presumably has been accepted as an anatomical term since Herophilus.

The word pancreas comes from the Greek pankreas, meaning sweetbread.

Diabetic retinopathy could be associated with poorer memory and diminished brain power in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to new research announced this week at Diabetes UK’s Annual Professional Conference.

The study looked at 1,066 people with Type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75 years. Participants completed seven tests looking at memory, logic and concentration to establish their level of brain function. Those with retinopathy had worse average scores on most of the individual tests as well as on general cognitive ability compared to those without the condition. The results were independent of age and gender.

What this means

Mrs Jie Ding from the University of Edinburgh, who helped lead the research (as part of the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study), said: “These findings suggest that the severity of diabetic retinopathy is independently associated with cognitive dysfunction in people with Type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75 years old.

“This can mean either that cerebral microvascular disease, as indexed by retinopathy, may lead to cognitive decrements in old age or that poorer cognitive ability makes diabetes management more difficult, and in turn promotes the development of cerebral microvascular disease.

“It is also possible that a third unidentified factor is causing both diabetic retinopathy and the cognitive changes. The four-year follow-up data of the ET2DS study may clarify the temporal relationship of these associations. The seven neuropsychological tests assessed people’s memory for faces, recollection of linear stories, vocabulary, the ability to re-organise a sequence of letters as well as some other cognitive functions.

“The results provide insights into the specific underlying mechanism of cognitive dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes, which is possibly due to a break-down of blood brain barrier (similar to changes in blood-retinal barrier as seen in diabetic retinopathy). From a clinical perspective, cognitive impairment in Type 2 diabetes may therefore be amenable to treatment and preventive strategies targeted at this small vessel disease.”

Adding to body of research

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: “Retinopathy is an indicator of cerebral microvascular disease, which is when the small blood vessels in the brain are narrowed or blocked off and lead to a reduction in blood supply to the brain tissues. There is already evidence to suggest that cerebral microvascular disease and Type 2 diabetes may exacerbate the effects of aging on cognitive function.

“This study adds to this body of research as it suggests that diabetic retinopathy is linked to estimated life time cognitive decline in older people with Type 2 diabetes.

“Cognitive decline is the decline of brain functions such as memory, attention, and planning.

“If anyone with diabetes is concerned about their health they should consult their GP or diabetes healthcare professional.”

Retinopathy and Type 2 diabetes in the UK

There are 2.35 million people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK and up to 500,000 who have the condition but do not know it. Almost two thirds of the 2.35 million people with Type 2 diabetes develop some degree of retinopathy within 20 years of being diagnosed.

Source
Diabetes UK

Definition

2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) is a substance made in the red blood cells. It controls the movement of oxygen from red blood cells to body tissues. 2,3-DPG testing is done to help investigate both a deficiency in red blood cells (anemia) and an unexplained increase of red blood cells, called erythrocytosis.

Purpose

Hemoglobin, the protein in the blood that carries oxygen, uses 2, 3-DPG to control how much oxygen is released once the blood gets out into the tissues. The more 2, 3-DPG in the cell, the more oxygen is delivered to body tissues. Conversely, the less 2, 3-DPG in the cell, the less oxygen is delivered.

Increasing the amount of 2, 3-DPG is the body’s primary way of responding to a lack of oxygen. Anemia, obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and congenital heart disease are all accompanied by increases in 2, 3-DPG. When more oxygen is required because of increased metabolism, such as in hyperthyroidism, more 2, 3-DPG is produced.

Decreased 2, 3-DPG results from an inherited lack of the red blood cell enzymes 2, 3-DPG mutase and 2,3-DPG phosphatase. These enzymes are needed to make 2, 3-DPG. Without 2, 3-DPG to control the movement of oxygen to its tissues, the body responds by making more red blood cells, a condition called erythrocytosis. The outside membrane of the cell is weakened, causing it to have an irregular shape and burst, or hemolyze, easily. This condition is called nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia.

2,3-DPG levels are important in large blood transfusions, because stored blood quickly loses 2,3-DPG and its ability to deliver oxygen. After transfusion, the red cells rebuild the 2, 3-DPG, but it takes about 24 hours to regain a normal level of 2, 3-DPG and hemoglobin function.

Description

In the laboratory, a person’s serum is mixed with a substance that will react with 2, 3-DPG. The end product of this reaction is measured; and from that measurement, the amount of 2, 3-DPG in the person’s serum is determined. Results are usually available the next day.

Preparation

This test requires drawing 5-10 mL of blood. The patient should not exercise before having the blood drawn. Exercise increases the body’s need for oxygen and could cause a temporary increase in levels of 2, 3-DPG.

Aftercare

Discomfort or bruising may occur at the puncture site, or the person may feel dizzy or faint. Pressure to the puncture site until the bleeding stops will reduce bruising. Warm packs to the puncture site will relieve discomfort.

Normal results

Normal results will vary based on the laboratory and testing methods used.

Abnormal results

Decreased levels of 2, 3-DPG is found in cases of erythrocytosis and nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia caused by 2, 3-DPG mutase and 2, 3-DPG phosphatase deficiencies. Lower levels are also commonly found after large blood transfusions.

Increased levels of 2, 3-DPG are found in conditions in which the body needs more oxygen, such as anemia, obstructive lung disease, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, and hyperthyroidism. High altitudes and participating in exercise sessions before the test can also give false high values.

Key Terms

Anemia

A reduction in the number of erythrocytes or red blood cells. Erythrocytes are necessary to form hemoglobin for transporting oxygen.

Erythrocytosis

Increased production of red blood cells.

Hemoglobin

A protein within the red blood cell that carries oxygen.

Nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia

Anemia caused by variably shaped red blood cells that burst, or hemolyze, easily.

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.

Those extra pounds can damage just about every system in your body. Take heart. Some of this damage is reversible or can at least be slowed by just losing 10 to 20 pounds.

If you are overweight or obese, you are at higher risk for:

• Type 2 diabetes.
• Heart disease and stroke.
• Cancer.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Gallstones.
• Infertility.
• Sleep apnea.

Type 2 diabetes

Ninety percent of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Scientists suspect the link may be found in a type of fat called visceral fat stored in the stomach area – that potbelly. This excess fat means there are higher levels of free fatty acids in your blood. These acids may affect how well insulin works, producing insulin resistance that could lead to type 2 diabetes.

If you have diabetes, obesity makes drug treatment less effective and makes it more complicated for you to control your condition.

Heart disease and stroke

Too much body fat, particularly if it’s at your waist, increases your chances for heart disease and stroke, even if you don’t have other health risk factors. That’s partly because your heart is working harder, causing it to enlarge. A diet with a lot of fatty, salty, high-cholesterol foods combined with an inactive lifestyle will increase cholesterol, stiffen arteries and raise blood pressure.

Osteoarthritis

This is a chronic condition affecting your joints when cartilage wears away. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. When cartilage breaks down, bones rub painfully against each other. Extra weight puts more stress on your knees, hips and lower back.

Gallstones

The heavier someone is, the higher the risk for gallstones. Gallstones are painful masses of solid material that form in the gallbladder as a result of too much cholesterol.

Researchers think obese people may produce high levels of cholesterol. That causes the gallbladder to produce bile containing more cholesterol than it can dissolve, allowing gallstones to form

People who are obese may also have enlarged gallbladders that don’t work as well. Some studies show someone with a lot of fat around the stomach area may have a greater risk for developing gallstones than those who carry fat around their hips and thighs.

Infertility

Abdominal obesity is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a cause of infertility in women. PCOS is usually characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excessive hair growth and obesity, and these problems stem from ovarian cysts. Obesity itself can also affect a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Pregnancy complications

Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. The mother has a higher chance of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Obesity can also complicate labor and delivery. Obese women are more likely to have children with birth defects.

Pregnant women should never go on a diet or attempt to lose weight without first talking to their doctor or health care provider.

Sleep apnea

Obesity, particularly in the upper body, is the most significant risk factor for sleep apnea. About 60 percent to 70 percent of people with the condition are obese. Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing for short periods during sleep. The heavier you are, the greater your risk for sleep apnea.

Cancer

Obesity may raise cancer risk because fat cells create a form of estrogen called estradiol, which encourages cells to divide faster. This increases the chances of a random genetic error, possibly leading to cancer. Also, fat around the abdomen may increase insulin and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may increase cancer risk.

Obese women have a 50 percent higher risk for breast cancer compared to normal weight women, and obese men have a 40 percent higher chance of colon cancer. Obesity raises risks of cancers of the kidney, pancreas, rectum, esophagus and liver.

What you can do

• Aim for a healthy weight and lose weight slowly. Safe weight loss is 1/2 pound to 2 pounds a week. Don’t go on fad diets. Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight lowers your risk for some of these diseases.
• Be active. Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Eat smarter. Make two-thirds of your plate fruits and vegetables. Read nutrition labels and learn portion sizes. Choose foods that are low in fat and salt. Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday.

For  more  information  please  ask  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.

Halogenated hydrocarbons

Halogenated hydrocarbons are usually volatile, and exposure can be through ingestion or inhalation. They are lipid soluble and can pass through the blood-brain barrier. Most will depress the central nervous system (CNS) when acute exposures are high.

• Carbon tetrachloride: Individuals can be exposed to carbon tetrachloride through consumption of contaminated drinking water. Although transient, low-level inhalation of carbon tetrachloride can produce irritation of the eyes and respiratory system. Higher levels, whether inhaled or ingested, can produce nausea, vomiting, stupor, convulsions, coma, and death from CNS depression . Carbon tetrachloride undergoes a cytochrome P450mediated metabolic activation to produce free radicals that are oxidize essential cellular components. A nonlethal acute exposure can occur within a period of several hours to several days and produce liver and kidney damage.
• Chloroform: The adverse effects associated with chloroform exposure are similar to those with carbon tetrachloride. Exposures can occur through ingestion or inhalation, and high enough levels will result in nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and stupor. Chloroform can also sensitize the heart to catecholamine-induced arrhythmias. Chloroform is hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic as a result of its metabolic activation.

Aromatic hydrocarbons

As with the halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons tend to be volatile, and exposure can occur through inhalation and ingestion. Large acute exposures can cause CNS depression, and lead to cardiac arrhythmias through sensitization of heart cells to catecholamines. However, other aspects of their toxicological profile can differ significantly from that of the halogenated hydrocarbons.

• Benzene: Approximately half of the national exposure to benzene occurs through tobacco smoke. Chronic benzene exposure in humans produces hematopoietic toxicities, of which the most serious are agranulocytosis and leukemia, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia. Nonoccupational exposures to benzene can occur as a result of combustion of fossil fuels, including automobile gasoline, and by consumption of contaminated water.
• Toluene: Automobile emissions are the principal source of exposure in ambient air, whereas indoors exposure occurs from the use of household products containing toluene-like degreasers, certain paints and primers, and furniture polish. Acute and chronic exposure to toluene can produce CNS depression, with symptoms including drowsiness, ataxia, tremors, impaired speech, hearing, and vision. Chronic exposure may also produce some damage to the liver and kidneys. Deaths have occurred at high levels of exposure.

Alcohols

• Methanol (wood alcohol) and ethylene glycol: These primary alcohols are themselves relatively nontoxic and cause mainly CNS sedation. However, methanol and ethylene glycol are oxidized to toxic products formic acid in the case of methanol, and glycolic, glyoxylic, and oxalic acids in the case of ethylene glycol. Fomepizole inhibits this oxidative pathway, preventing the formation of toxic metabolites, and allows the parent alcohols to be excreted by the kidney. Coma, seizures, hyperpnea, and hypotension all suggest that a substantial portion of the parent alcohols has been metabolized to toxic acids.
• Isopropanol: This secondary alcohol is metabolized to acetone via alcohol dehydrogenase. Acetone cannot be further oxidized to a carboxylic acids and, therefore, shows only limited acidemia and toxicity.

Pesticides

Pesticides are a large class of chemicals designed to kill organisms that society considers to be unhealthy, a nuisance, or destructive. Although their use is often controversial, they have had a significant impact on public health through the reduction of insect-borne diseases, such as yellow fever and malaria, and they have increased crop yields in agriculture. A large variety of different pesticides are currently used throughout the world. Some of the more commonly used compounds are considered here.

• Organophosphosphate and carbamate insecticides: These agents constitute two major classes of insecticides used in the United States and throughout the world. They exert their mammalian toxicity through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, with subsequent accumulation of excess acetylcholine.
• Pyrethroids: The pyrethroids exert their mammalian and insect toxicity by extending the open time of sodium channels throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Symptoms of toxicity include loss of coordination, tremors, convulsions, and burning and itching sensations. Pyrethroids can also act as dermal and respiratory allergens, and exposure can lead to contact dermatitis or asthma-like symptoms. Death, when it occurs in humans, is usually due to respiratory failure. Fortunately, the pyrethroids are much more toxic to insects due to their limited ability to eliminate these compounds.
• Rotenone: Rotenone is used primarily as an insecticide and is applied to a wide variety of crops. It acts by inhibiting the oxidation of the reduced form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea and vomiting, with convulsions and death at very high exposures.

Rodenticides

In contrast to insecticides, which are often applied by spraying, the rodenticides are usually used in the form of solid baits ingested by rodents. Consequently, the public health threat posed is usually through the accidental or suicidal ingestion. The most commonly used rodenticides are the anticoagulants, such as warfarin.

Worldwide, it’s an obsession. You’ll find weight control messages on the front page of nearly every magazine on the newsstand. The basic idea is clear: you can lose weight through diet and exercise. However, putting this rule into practice requires patience and a period of trial and error, especially when it comes to exercise. You measure food intake by counting calories. However, after your doctor gives the OK to exercise, the questions remain: what kind of exercise and how much?

The key to weight control is keeping energy intake (food) and energy output (physical activity) in balance. When you consume only as many calories as your body needs, your weight will usually remain constant. If you take in more calories than your body needs, you will put on excess fat. Exercise increases your energy output, calling on stored calories for extra fuel. Recent studies show that not only does exercise increase metabolism during a workout, but it causes your metabolism to stay increased for a period of time after exercising, allowing you to burn more calories.

How much exercise is needed to make a difference in your weight depends on the amount and type of activity and on how much you eat. Aerobic exercise burns a combination of carbohydrates and stored body fat. You burn more fat with moderately intense exercise or just by exercising longer. That is, the body “rewards” longer bouts of exercise by using more fat stores as time increases. According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, a medium-sized adult would have to walk more than 30 miles to burn up 3,500 calories, the equivalent of 1 pound of fat. Although that may seem like a lot, you don’t have to walk the 30 miles all at once. Walking a mile a day for 30 days will achieve the same result, providing you don’t increase your food intake to negate the effects of walking.

If you consume 100 calories a day more than your body needs, you will gain about 10 pounds in a year. You could take that weight off or keep it off by doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. That’s why experts agree that the key to weight control is a combination of exercise and diet.

Because muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue and exercise develops muscle to a certain degree, you can’t always rely on your bathroom scale to measure your weight in terms of fat. Weight lifters, for example, may have very little body fat and weigh as much as a nearly obese person. In fact, if you are doing a regular program of strength training, you may become frustrated because you are not losing weight. But don’t despair. You may be gaining weight at the same time you are losing fat. That’s why a body fat index offers a better indication of your condition than body weight.

For  more  information  please  ask  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.

Despite decades of warnings from doctors and the U.S. Government, nearly one in four Americans still smoke cigarettes regularly. Millions of people have quit since the government first reported a link between smoking and lung cancer in 1964, but many people continue to smoke and thousands of young people start smoking every month.

Smoking facts you MUST KNOW if you’re thinking about quitting.

Why do people smoke? Simply put, it’s pleasurable. Nicotine releases dopamine in the brain, and dopamine affects the brain’s pleasure centers. People smoke because it feels good. They continue smoking because nicotine is physically addictive. After a short time of smoking, sometimes as short as a few cigarettes, the body begins having withdrawal symptoms if the smoker tries to quit.

Here are a few facts to consider if you are considering quitting smoking:

1.Smoking is expensive. A pack a day habit can cost more than $1500 today.

2.Cigarette smokers miss an average of three more days of work per year due to illness.

3.Smokers take longer to heal from injuries or surgery than nonsmokers.

4.Smokers pay more for health insurance than nonsmokers.

5.Smokers often have difficulty exercising due to shortness of breath.

With all of these things and more as drawbacks to smoking, why don’t more people quit? Simple – quitting smoking is difficult. Each individual reacts differently to nicotine. Some people are more “addicted” to it than others, making it harder for them to quit.

Longtime smokers have developed the habit of simply having something in their hands or their mouth all the time, and such habits are difficult to break.

Smoking facts and what you MUST KNOW

New technology has made it possible for smokers to wean themselves from tobacco in different ways. Nicotine patches and gum are available at most pharmacies. These products help maintain a steady dose of nicotine in the smoker’s bloodstream, making it unnecessary for them to smoke in order to receive their nicotine fix. Electronic cigarettes have been developed, which deliver an inhalable mist that contains tobacco flavoring and nicotine, but produce no smoke. These devices are battery operated and can meet the smoker’s nicotine needs without producing the carbon monoxide, tar and smoke that come from regular cigarettes.

Ultimately, the decision to quit or not rests with the individual smoker. The reasons for quitting are well documented, and any smoker who cares about their health should consider either quitting or cutting back. Of course, counseling help is available from a number of sources as well, so that smokers can be encouraged to quit by other people who have succeeded.

If you want to quit smoking, you can. If you still need the nicotine, there are non-smoking alternatives available to you.