Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is “one consequence of severe, out-of-control diabetes mellitus (chronic high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia). In a diabetes sufferer, DKA begins with relative deficiency in insulin. In the most common cases, this is due to failure to take prescribed insulin. Insulin requirements may rise due to physiologic stress that causes release of catecholamines, glucagon, and cortisol. This stress may be emotional or physical, although the most common cause by far is infection (e.g., pneumonia or urinary tract infection). Simply having uncontrolled hyperglycemia may be sufficient to trigger an attack if significant dehydration occurs.”

Diabetic ketoacidosis is much more common in Type 1 diabetes, because the key component of diabetic ketoacidosis is that there is essentially no insulin throughout the body. Because the balance of storing and releasing energy is controlled by the insulin and glucose ratio, the Type 1 sufferers (who can’t produce their own insulin) are severely affected by the disease.

When diabetic ketoacidosis occurs, a number of ill effects can occur as result. If muscles cannot absorb glucose, then their only source of energy is protein. Since amino acids are not stored as raw materials, they must come from proteins that are used for other purposes. Therefore, muscles will begin to break down their own structural proteins and secrete raw amino acids into the blood stream. This, in turn, creates the thin and wasted appearance many people with diabetic ketoacidosis have – because all their muscles are being broken down to create energy.

Also since high levels of plasma glucose are circulating the body, the liver will act as though the body is starving since insulin is low. In such situation, the liver is forced to create fuel for the brain by using triglycerides to make the glucose the brain needs. Because of this, the bloodstream is filled with a lot of glucose that it cannot use, so it begins to spill into the urine – and as it does this a lot of body water goes with it, resulting in dehydration. Since the dehydration worsens the state of the blood and forces water out along with the glucose, it will keep working this vicious cycle to maintain life; until (without treatment) it ultimately leads to coma and death.

As you can see, diabetic ketoacidosis is a very serious, debilitating disease. Without treatment, it will drain your body of glucose, water, and ultimately lead to coma and death. So how do you ensure this doesn’t happen to you? Ultimately, you need to speak with your physician to be sure, and in the meantime take great care of yourself to ensure you’re getting the proper amount of carbohydrates, and therefore glucose, and if you’re a Type 1 diabetic, make sure you are checking your insulin levels regularly to ensure you’re not at risk. And, as always, pay attention to your body – if it feels different or you feel less like yourself for no noticeable reason, make sure to consult with your physician – it may just save your life.

When you’re afraid you’re diabetic, symptoms are the first thing you need to look for. The diabetic symptoms vary widely, but there are some commonalities between Type 1 (otherwise known as Juvenile) Diabetes and Type II (or Adult Onset) Diabetes.

The most consistent diabetic symptom associated with both Type 1 and Type II diabetes is elevated blood sugar levels. In Type I (Juvenile or Early Onset) Diabetes, this is caused by the body’s inability to create enough insulin to regulate blood sugar. In Type II (or Adult Onset) diabetes, this is from the body developing resistance to insulin and therefore not properly using what it produces. However, blood sugar isn’t something you can see in the mirror, so it can be helpful to know the common diabetic symptoms.

The diabetic symptoms of Type 1 (Juvenile or Early onset) Diabetes often come swiftly and severely. The diabetic symptoms can include excessive thirst (unrelated to exercise, hot weather, or short-term illness), dry mouth, the need to urinate often (often noticed because you must wake up repeatedly during the night), weight loss (even if you’re hungry and eating your fair share of food), feeling weak and tired (possibly severe enough to make you fall asleep unexpectedly after meals), and blurry vision.

The diabetic symptoms of Type II (Or Adult Onset) diabetes are hard to notice. Many people go for very long periods of time without ever noticing that they have diabetic symptoms, as they include blurry vision (diabetes can lead to macular degeneration and eventual blindness), wounds that are slow to heal (a sign of a compromised immune function), itchy skin, yeast infections (another sign of impaired immune function), dry mouth, the need to urinate often, and leg pain (peripheral neuropathy, a symptom of diabetes, causes nerve damage in the extremities).

If you find that you’re experiencing a number of these diabetic symptoms on a consistent basis, you need to visit a doctor to be tested for diabetes. Ignoring the symptoms can lead to long term serious health risk such as blindness, coma, and even death. While many of these symptoms can be related to other sources, testing for diabetes is relatively painless and easy.

When you visit a doctor about your diabetic symptoms, and you’re tested, diagnosed, and put on a treatment plan, you’ll be on the road of a long and healthy life. Once diagnosed, your doctor will speak to you about your diabetic symptoms and help set you up with a personalized diet plan that will make optimal use of the foods you love while allowing your body to create glucose it needs for the energy to live.

While many people view diabetes as a horrible inconvenience, in all reality it’s a very good reason to get yourself on a good stable diet plan – and one that you should have been on throughout your lifetime. Overall, the diabetic diet will help you create and consume energy, while living life to the fullest and allowing your body to work at peak performance – without dealing with a single diabetic symptom.

Shoes for Diabetics

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, one of the first things your doctor will recommend you buy is a specialized pair of shoes designed specifically for a diabetic. Shoes of this nature will need to have proper ventilation, which will allow the feet to have less dampness and heat than regular shoes. Because sweat is an ideal environment for bacteria and infection to grow, you want to make sure the toe and heal curves slightly, so your feet have to be balanced when you walk. Diabetic shoes will also need to prevent injury to susceptible and sensitive toes, so the toe area will probably be high and durable. Diabetic shoes are also usually lightweight and seamless to prevent common shoe irritations such as calluses, blisters, or infection. There are several reasons why you need to wear diabetic shoes. Outlined below are a few good reasons you need to ensure one of your first purchases after your diabetic diagnosis includes diabetic shoes:

The wrong shoes can cause nerve damage. Because neuropathy can cause the loss of feeling in your feet, you’ll be unable to tell if your feet are injured. It’s easy to step onto a sharp object and not know it until you see blood.

The wrong shoes can cause poor circulation, because diabetic arteries are easily rigid and blocked. Diabetic shoes ensure that you’re not cutting off any additional circulation by using the wrong shoes.

If your vision is impaired, you’ll be unable to see small cuts and sores that can happen in normal shoes. By giving yourself the gift of diabetic shoes, you’ll actually be allowing yourself the comfort of knowing that your feet are in a safe place.

When you’re choosing the footwear of diabetic shoes, there are a number of things you need to be watchful for. First of all, shoes that do not fit properly can cause foot trauma, so make sure both your shoes and socks fit well. You also want to make sure that the shoes you buy are made from natural materials to allow for optimal circulation. Also make sure to buy your shoes in the afternoon when your feet are at their largest size, and while you’re at it make sure there’s ample ‘wiggle room’ for your toes.

While diabetic shoes may be the furthest thing from your mind when you’re diagnosed with diabetes, they will be an instrumental tool in relieving many of the aches, pains, and worries associated with the disease. Make sure it’s at the top of your purchase list to ensure that you start your treatment on the right foot!

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I am diabetic but also grossly overweight, and one thing I have suffered with is swollen feet and ankles, but this could vary quite a bit during the day, and I found that shoes that fastened with Velcro, or where softly elasticated really did help me. It is always necessary to make sure whatever type of shoe or trainer you get, are a good fit, because any tightness will cause you a problem. One thing I have found is that now I am into walking and weight loss, swollen feet and ankles are almost a thing of the past, except on really hot days, and surprisingly I didn’t need to lose that much weight for it to take effect. If you are looking towards a trainer type of shoe, check out the Merrell range of footwear,  I have found them to be so light and comfortable you don’t realize you are wearing them.

Fruit and Vegetables for a Balanced Diet

The Diabetic diet is very important for any person with diabetes. While there are different philosophies concerning which the best diet is, there is generally a standard go between. This article will show you a little on what I know of the recommended diabetic diet from the caretaking of family members with diabetes – however, when you’re planning your diabetic diet, be sure to speak with a health professional.

In my experience, patients with Type 1 diabetes should have a diet that has 16 calories per pound of body weight per day. Patients with Type 2 diabetes generally have a fifteen to eighteen hundred calorie diet per day to promote weight loss and then to maintain their ideal body weight. This may change depending on the person’s age, weight, sex, activity level, current weight and body style. For example, a more obese person may need a higher calorie diabetic diet so that they can maintain a healthy weight loss – something like a fifteen hundred calorie a day weight loss regimen may be horrible for their health and do them more harm than good.

Also, carbohydrates should make up about fifty percent of the daily calorie intake of the diabetic diet. Generally speaking, lower carbohydrate intake is associated with low blood sugar levels. The benefits of this can be cancelled out by the higher fat diet taken in to compensate for the amount of carbs. Therefore, make sure the daily carbohydrate calorie percentages are between forty to sixty percent of total calories.
Most people with diabetes find that it is quite helpful to sit down with a dietician or nutritionist for a consult about what is the best diet for them and how many daily calories they need. It is quite important for diabetics to understand the principles of carbohydrate counting and how to help control blood sugar levels through proper diet. Below are some general principles about the diabetic diet.

Food is made up of three basic elements – fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the food that can be broken down into sugar; therefore the diabetic diet needs to watch them carefully as they make your blood glucose level rise. Carbs usually come from starches, fruits and vegetables, and milk.

The amount of food you can eat is related to blood sugar levels. If you eat more food than is recommended on your meal plan, your blood sugar will go up. While carbs have the most impact on blood sugars, all the calories you take in will affect your blood sugar.

Carbs can be counted in grams or as exchanges. For example, one carb equals 15 grams of carbohydrates. You will need to follow your doctor’s instructions on how many carbs or carb grams you can intake, and how the exchange relates to you. However, there are a number of ‘free’ foods – ones that you can eat without counting carbs. If a food contains less than 20 calories and less than 5g of carbs, it’s considered a ‘free’ food.

Being a diabetic is difficult, and maintaining a diet can be even more difficult after going most of your adult life without it. By following the diabetic diet, you’ll save yourself countless aches and pains associated with diabetes, all the while treating your body properly!

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I have lived with type 2 diabetes for over ten years with the help of Metformin and several other drugs, in the belief that it is irreversible, but the latest  2013 research has show that with serious weight loss and a  carefully balanced diet, you can start to reverse the effects of diabetes. The NHS (and Diabetes UK) recommend a healthy, balanced diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt and contain a high level of fresh fruit and vegetables. For help in preparing a healthy diet plan visit http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/nhs-diet-advice.html the information is first class, and totally free.