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Treatment options for diabetes type 2

October 20, 2011 Diabetes Drugs
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Diabetes type 2 is metabolic disorder, which is caused by lack of insulin or insulin resistance. That means that there is normal secretion of insulin in your organism and it is not enough to reduce the glucose in plasma or it is not able to reduce it. The treatment of diabetes type 2 is separated according to the stage of disorder. If the diabetes is at early stages of the usage of oral anti-diabetic drugs obligatory. Besides this bariatric surgery is something that may help. At the advanced stages of diabetes type 2 the usage of insulin is needed.

Oral anti-diabetic drugs are not containing insulin. These drugs are divided in three groups according to their effect. The drugs from the first group are stimulating the insulin secretion of pancreas. Those drugs are quite useful when there is a reduction in the insulin secretion. The second group is reducing the insulin resistance. These drugs are stimulating the effect of the insulin- to reduce the amount of glucose in plasma by putting it in the cells. The last group is composed of drugs which are reducing the amount of glucose which is entering in the organism from the gastrointestinal system. Those drugs are blocking the channels thru which the glucose enters the blood stream.

In addition,  there are drugs which are having more than one effect. For example some drugs are reducing the insulin resistance and at the same time they are stimulating the insulin secretion.

Bariatric surgery is focused on reducing the volume of stomach. With this operation it is reduced the surface thru which glucose enters the blood stream. This is leading to lower amount of glucose and lower blood sugar. This kind of therapy is useful remedy at the early stages of diabetes type 2.

The usage of insulin is observed in the advanced stages of diabetes type 2. Because of the continuous beta cells destruction at some point all the beta cells are gone. That means that there is no insulin secretion and the only way to provide insulin for the body is by injecting it.

 

Dr.Alba

When is it best not to test your blood glucose level?

October 13, 2011 Blood sugar level range
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If you are not diabetic, it’s obligatory for you to test you blood sugar when you are hungry, to make fasting glucose test. When you are making blood glucose test after acquiring food ,your blood sugar level is going to be elevated. A result like this will make your doctor thing that you are diabetic.

The explanation of this is hidden in the glucose metabolism. When you are eating something, all sugar is going to your blood stream and this leads to elevation of the blood sugar. The elevation of blood sugar is leading to increased secretion of insulin, which is lowering the amount of glucose in plasma, and increases the amount of glucose in all the tissues. As you probably know, the secretion and the effect of the insulin requires time. For that reason before the secretion of insulin you have elevation of blood sugar level, which is characteristic for diabetics.

If you are diabetic you are supposed to estimated blood sugar test, according to a specific schedule provided by your doctor. It is good for you to write down the values of blood glucose and the exact time of measurement. Besides this, you have to mention the exact time of acquiring food. This will absolutely help you doctor to adjust the therapy in purpose to maintain blood sugar level in normal range.

 

Dr.Alba

Blood glucose level drops to 56

October 8, 2011 Blood sugar level range
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The normal glucose range is between 70-100mg/dl. A blood glucose level of 56 is pretty low. Such low blood glucose level is prescribed by the term hypoglycemia. There are several medical conditions which are characterized by such low blood glucose. In purpose to confirm them, there are a lot of test that need to be estimated.

  • The most frequent condition which is causing low blood glucose is malnutrition. As you probably know, making a diet is connected with the reduction of food acquired. That is leading to limitation of the glucose which is entering in the organism. Of course, the organism is having some compensatory mechanisms which are leading to an elevation of the blood glucose level. These mechanisms are not able to maintain the normal blood glucose level forever and this lead to permanent reduction of the glucose in your organism. This is leading to the development of anorexia, pretty dangerous condition which is appearing as a consequence of malnutrition. For that reason, when someone wants to follow a diet, he has to consult a dietologist first.
  • Other possible condition which may cause such low blood sugar is the presence of insulinoma. This is a type of cancer secreting extra insulin, which the organism doesn’t need. The excessive amount of insulin is lowering your blood glucose level and the hormones which are responsible for the of blood glucose elevation are not able to beat the effect of so much insulin.

Hypoglycemia is causing other symptoms which are leading the patient to the doctor. For example when there is hypoglycemia you are felling exhausted, a headache is appearing and your blood pressure is high. These symptoms are appearing because the organism is trying to compensate the lack of glucose by increasing the blood flow in the important areas like brain heart and lungs.

Dr.Alba