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Consistent with the literature, the majority of subjects (11 of 14) had at least one first-or second-degree relative with type 2 diabetes, and quite strikingly, 9 of the 14 subjects’ mothers had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have suggested that a positive family history of type 2 diabetes, specifically within Mexican-American populations, is a genetic factor that may be a contributor to the early onset of type 2 diabetes within youth (Glaser, 1997; Treviño et al., 1999). One of the reported risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes among youth includes a positive family history of diabetes in a first- or second-degree relative including being an infant of a mother with gestational diabetes (Beck et al., 2001). Among other risk factors, a positive family history of type 2 diabetes is also used at the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic to differentiate between a diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Even with evidence of a strong family history of type 2 diabetes, only half of the subjects indicated that they were familiar with the disease before they were diagnosed. In regards to diabetes management, 11 of the 14 subjects reported that they tested their blood sugar at least once per day. Blood sugar control is an important aspect of diabetes management and may help to minimize or reduce diabetes-related complications such as blindness, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular complications later in life. Previous studies have suggested that Hispanic populations, as compared to non-Hispanic populations, develop diabetes-related complications within the first five- to 10 years of initial diagnosis (Neufeld, et al. 1998). Individuals who are diagnosed with diabetes during childhood or adolescence may be exposed to hyperglycemia for much longer periods than their adult counterparts thereby increasing their chances of developing diabetes-related complication earlier in life.

Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Behaviors
Lifestyle behaviors, such as TV/computer viewing and exercise habits revealed that most subjects spent an average of 4.1 (± 2.0) hours per day in front of the television or computer and had not made any efforts to increase their level of physical activity. It has been reported that Mexican-American children spend significantly more time in front of the television set than non-Hispanic white children (Treviño et al., 1999). Perhaps these youth had little interest in organized sports participation or found it challenging to participate in sports activities. Interestingly, eight out of 14 subjects claimed that they enjoyed exercise and 36 percent of subjects would recommend an increase in physical activity to other youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. One the other hand, only four subjects reported exercise changes, and three participants increased their activity level through individual exercise activities such as running, walking, and weight lifting.

Dietary changes proved much more common than exercise changes as 11 of the 14 subjects claimed that they had made some significant dietary changes after their diagnosis. Soda and fast-food consumption were listed as foods that most subjects consumed less than three times per week despite an obvious interest in fast-food items such as pizza and hamburgers. The decrease in fast-food and soda consumption may have been related to the changes in dietary behaviors since diagnosis. While vegetable consumption was low among most subjects, vegetables and salad were listed as a favorite food among 5 of the 14 subjects. Participants were more likely to consume fruit and 9 of the 14 subjects reported eating fruit seven days per week. Latino children in general, are reported to eat fewer servings of fruits and vegetables as compared to Caucasian and African-American children (Treviño et al., 1999).

Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents appears to be the result of a combination of factors such as genetic predisposition, obesity, the presence of secondary hyperinsulinemic conditions, physical inactivity, and poor dietary behaviors. While this study is based on a small sample size, the findings are consistent with previous studies that have examined the characteristics of these youth. In regards to ethnicity, studies that have examined the prevalence of type 2 diabetes have also shown higher rates of type 2 diabetes among Hispanic youth compared to other ethnic groups (Fagot-Campagna, et al. 2000). In California, it is reported that Mexican-American children have higher rates of type 2 diabetes than do Caucasian children (Libman & Arslanian, 1999). The present study also demonstrates high rates of type 2 diabetes among Latino youth. In comparison, the youth treated at the Kaiser Santa Teresa pediatric endocrine clinic with type 1 diabetes are predominantly Caucasian.

Since puberty marks a brief period of insulin resistance as compared to prepubertal children or adults, it is not surprising that the mean age at diagnosis for these youth was 12.7 years (± 2.3). Most children who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are between 10 to 19 years old, with the majority of diagnoses occurring at 13 years of age or during mid-puberty (Libman & Arslanian, 1999). While pubertal children represent most of the diagnoses for type 2 diabetes among youth, children as young as 10-years-old have been identified with this disease (Fagot-Campagna et al., 2000). In the present study, three children had been diagnosed at age 10 or younger with the youngest diagnosis occurring at age eight-and-one half. Currently, the youngest child diagnosed with type 2 diabetes has been reported as a four-year-old Pima Indian child (Fagot-Campagna et al., 2000).

Physical characteristics such as BMI, revealed that 12 out of 14 subjects (86%) had a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2, indicating a high incidence of overweight and obesity. In comparison, an estimated 13 percent of children between six to 11 years and 14 percent of adolescents ages 12-19 years within the United States are overweight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002).

Mexican-American children, in particular, are reported to be susceptible to the development of obesity due to factors such as genetic predisposition, cultural factors, and dietary behaviors (Neufeld, Raffel, Landon, Chen, & Vadheim, 1998). Previous studies have also shown that in Mexican Americans, diabetes incidence increases significantly when combined with an increase in BMI (Haffner, Hazuda, Mitchell, Patterson & Stern, 1991). It is also known that a high BMI in childhood is associated with insulin resistance and that obesity, inactivity, and diets comprised of high-calorie low nutrient dense foods can contribute to the early onset of type 2 diabetes (Cook & Hurley, 1998).

Perhaps as significant as the high incidence of overweight and obesity within these youth with type 2 diabetes was the finding that 10 of the 14 subjects were noted to have acanthosis nigricans, a cutaneous manifestation of hyperinsulinemia resulting in excessive pigmentation and thickening of the skin into soft irregular folds (Glaser, 1997; Stuart, Pate & Peters, 1989). As many as 60 percent to 70 percent of all children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have acanthosis nigricans (Glaser, 1997). This condition is found in seven percent of school-aged children and is most prevalent among children who are overweight, or from African-American or Hispanic populations (Libman, & Arslanian, 1999). An estimated sixty to seventy percent of children of Hispanic or African-American ethnicity are reported to have acanthosis nigricans (Glaser, 1997). In this study, three of the subjects with acanthosis nigricans also presented with another hyperinsulinemic condition, either PCOS or hirsutism.

Dietary changes were more evident. Eleven subjects reported that they had made changes in their food choices since they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Subjects reported that they no longer ate “junk food,” reduced fat intake, ate smaller portions, started counting carbohydrates, cut down on sweets and sodas, ate more vegetables, started reading food labels, and consumed more water. Five of the 14 subjects did not know if they had experienced any recent weight fluctuations and three subjects reported that they had lost weight only to re-gain it. Three subjects reported that they had recently lost weight and two subjects claimed that they had recently gained weight. Only one subject reported no recent changes in body weight.

Youth Nutrition Behaviors
When asked to list three favorite foods, the most frequent responses from participants included: 1) burgers and meat; 2) pizza; and 3) vegetables and salad. Other fast-foods that were listed with less frequency included French fries, hot dogs, fried rice, and ice cream. Only one subject reported eating his/her favorite foods seven days per week. Most of the youth (8 of 14, 57%) consumed his/her favorite food less than three times per week. In addition, 8 out of 14 subjects reported that they consumed soda less than three times per week. The majority of youth (11 of 14) consumed fast food less than three times per week while only one youth claimed to eat fast-food everyday. Vegetable consumption was not as common as fruit consumption as eight subjects ate vegetables less than three times per week. In contrast, nine subjects reported that they consumed fruit on a daily basis. Finally, the most common foods believed to cause an increase in blood sugar included: 1) candy and sweets; 2) carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice; 3) fast-food; and 4) soda.

Four out of 14 subjects reported that the greatest challenge of living with type 2 diabetes was testing blood sugar and giving themselves insulin injections. An equal number of subjects reported that making dietary changes was a hardship. One subject revealed that the fear of death was the hardest part of living with diabetes. When asked what kind of advice to give other youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, six out of 14 subjects suggested dietary changes and five subjects recommended an increase in exercise. Six subjects reported weight loss as the most “positive experience” since diagnosis.

Four subjects either couldn’t think of any positive experiences or believed there hadn’t been any positive experiences since being diagnosed with diabetes. Eight youth expressed some interest in meeting other children or adolescents with type 2 diabetes. The same number of subjects expressed interest in attending either a summer camp specifically for youth with type 2 diabetes or a family camp. Six subjects reported an interest in meeting other youth with type 2 diabetes at their community center. Four subjects preferred to meet these youth at school.

In eight of these 10 cases, the mother had type 2 diabetes and of these mothers, four indicated a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). One father was noted to have type 2 diabetes. English was the predominant language spoken in 9 of subjects and of the remaining 5 spoke Spanish as their primary language. In three cases, the child/adolescent had to act as a translator. Nine of the 13 participants were multiparous and of these nine, three subjects had more than one child with type 2 diabetes. Ten respondents indicated a positive family history of type 2 diabetes and had at least one first- or second-degree relative with type 2 diabetes. Only three respondents reported no family members with type 2 diabetes. Of the 10 subjects who indicated a positive family history for type 2 diabetes, seven subjects had one first-degree relative, and three subjects had two first-degree relatives with type 2 diabetes.

Youth Knowledge and Diabetes Management
Eleven of the 14 subjects required an oral agent to manage their diabetes. Of these 11 participants, six subjects also required insulin therapy either upon initial diagnosis or after they had recently gained weight. Only two subjects were able to manage their diabetes without oral medications or insulin. One of these subjects discontinued oral agents after losing a substantial amount of weight as a result of significant dietary and exercise changes. Six of subjects had no knowledge of their number of medical visits since diagnosis and 8 of subjects had no knowledge of their hemoglobin A1c. Despite a strong family history of diabetes, only half of subjects reported any knowledge of type 2 diabetes before they were diagnosed with the disease. Of the subjects with prior diabetes knowledge, all 7 reported that they knew about diabetes because their mother or father had the disease. The majority of subjects (79%) had knowledge of “normal” blood sugar ranges and 11 of the 14 subjects reported testing their blood sugar. Subjects tested their blood sugar between one to four times per day with a mean of 1.8 tests per day (± 1.4). Of the 11 subjects who tested their blood sugar, four subjects only felt comfortable testing in front of their family members, six felt comfortable testing in front of anyone, and one subject did not feel comfortable testing in front of anyone.

Youth Lifestyle Behaviors
On average, 13 subjects spent 4.1 hours (± 2.0) per day in front of a television or computer. One subject’s response was excluded due to questionable accuracy of their response to the question. None of the subjects reported involvement in any after-school activities. While eight subjects reported that they enjoyed exercise, only four subjects actually participated in any organized sports activities. Additionally, 10 subjects reported that they had not made any changes in exercise habits since they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The four subjects who did make exercise changes after diagnosis reported involvement in activities such as football and soccer, walking on a treadmill, dancing and running at school, and weight training.

Two questionnaires were developed for self-administration, one for the child or adolescent and one for the parent/guardian. The youth questionnaire contained four sections with 26 questions. The first section asked questions related to youth characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, and any recent weight changes. Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) was calculated from weight and height. The first section also included questions related to diabetes knowledge and management including hemoglobin A1c, use of oral medications, number of medical visits since diagnosis, and reported nutrition or exercise changes since diagnosis. The second section of the youth questionnaire contained questions related to lifestyle behaviors such as how many hours per day spent in front of TV/computer, participation in any after-school activities, and organized sports participation. The third section contained questions related to youth nutrition behaviors such as favorite foods, soda consumption, fast-food intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. The fourth section contained questions related to perceived needs such as interests in meeting other youth with type 2 diabetes, and interests in attending a diabetes summer camp or family camp. The youth questionnaire was modeled after surveys previously developed and used to determine the characteristics of youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (Pinhas-Hamiel et al., 1999; Treviño et al., 1999; Hanley et al., 2000).

The parental questionnaire contained one section with eight questions concerning demographics, parity, family history of type 2 diabetes, and the presence of hyperinsulinemic conditions such as acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and hirsutism within their child.

Follow-up Interview
The follow-up interview was developed to delve further into youth management of type 2 diabetes. Questions included knowledge of normal blood sugar ranges, comfort with testing blood sugar in front of friends and family members, diabetes knowledge prior to diagnosis, foods that challenge blood sugar control, and both the challenges and “positive experiences” associated with living with diabetes.

Data Analysis
Both questionnaires and follow-up interviews were coded for entry into a spreadsheet to ensure confidentiality of subjects. Descriptive statistics were utilized for all analyses including discrete and continuous data to determine counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations.

Results
The results of the study are presented in the following six categories: 1) youth characteristics; 2) parent characteristics; 3) youth knowledge and diabetes management; 4) youth lifestyle behaviors; 5) youth nutrition behaviors; and 6) youth perceptions and perceived needs.

Youth Characteristics
Of the 14 subjects, males and females were equally represented (Table 1). Two of the subjects were siblings. Eleven of the subjects were Latino while the rest were Asian American. Subjects ranged in age from 10 to 18 years with a mean age of 13.8 years (± 2.3). The mean age at diagnosis was 12.7 years (± 2.3) with a range from eight-and-a-half years to 17 years when first diagnosed. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 33.5 kg/m2 (±6.2). The 90th percentile of BMI for the pediatric population varies with age, gender, and ethnicity but is 27 kg/m2 or less for the population as a whole (Pinhas-Hamiel, et al., 1999). Twelve of the participants had a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 and of those 12 participants, two subjects had a BMI of more than 40 kg/m2. Only two participants had a BMI less than 27 kg/m2. Secondary hyperinsulinemic conditions were present in the majority of subjects.
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Acanthosis nigricans (AN) was present in 10 of the participants and of those 10 youth with AN, three participants had an additional hyperinsulinemic condition: two with PCOS and one with hirsutism. Four subjects (29%) reported no other insulin resistant conditions other than diabetes.

The emerging population of youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the United States, particularly among certain ethnic groups, will require intervention programs on a community level to address the specific needs of this growing population. At present, educational programs and youth/family camps for children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are extremely limited or unavailable. Prevention programs for this population will need to be culturally appropriate, focus on family involvement, and examine existing lifestyle and nutrition behaviors to increase quality of life and decrease some of the preventable health risks associated with this disease. This exploratory study was designed to ascertain the characteristics and perceived needs of youths with type 2 diabetes so that future programs could be developed and implemented.

Qualitative research methods were utilized to gather information on the characteristics and perceived needs of children and adolescents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Santa Clara County. Fourteen youth between the ages of 10 and 18 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and their parents/guardians were surveyed at the Kaiser Santa Teresa Pediatric Endocrine Clinic in San Jose, California. Following the survey questionnaire, which assessed demographics, anthropometrics, lifestyle behaviors, and nutrition and exercise behaviors, each youth participated in a follow-up interview to obtain qualitative information related to his/her diabetes knowledge, perceptions, and management.
The criteria used at the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic to distinguish the diagnosis of a child or adolescent with type 2 diabetes versus type 1 diabetes included: 1) presence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25.0 < 30.0 kg/m2) or obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2), 2) family history of type 2 diabetes, 3) negative antibody markers for type 1 diabetes including anti-insulin, anti-islet cell, and anti-GAD antibodies, 4) the eventual cessation of exogenous insulin. The principal investigator, as well as the endocrinologists and nursing staff of the Kaiser Santa Teresa Pediatric Endocrine Clinic, conducted recruitment for the study. Subjects and their parents/guardians were invited to participate in the study during medical check-ups with the endocrinologists or via phone calls by the principal investigator.

Informed written consent was obtained from both parents and youth. Subjects were asked to complete a twenty-minute survey containing questions on demographics, family history, diabetes management, lifestyle behaviors, nutrition behaviors, and diabetes risk factors. Upon completion of the questionnaires, subjects were asked if they would participate in a short 15-minute follow-up interview to answer additional questions about their diabetes management. Both the survey questionnaires and follow-up interviews took place in a private office at the Kaiser Santa Teresa Pediatric Endocrine Clinic. To ensure confidentiality of subjects, the questionnaires and follow-up interviews were not associated with any personally identifying information and were identified only by study code. Approval for the study was obtained from the Kaiser Permanente Institutional Review Board, the Kaiser Permanente Central Research Committee, and the San Jose State University Human Subjects Institutional Review Board.

Type 2 diabetes has been traditionally considered a disease that affects adults over age 40, however, it is now becoming more prevalent among children and teenagers. Until recently, type 2 diabetes accounted for two percent to three percent of all children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in North America (Glaser, 1997). Over the past five years there has been a ten-fold increase in children under age 18 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (Buck, 1999).

Currently, of all newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes within the United States, between eight to 46 percent are children under age 18. This wide range of youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes reflects the unequal distribution among the various ethnic groups who exhibit this condition (Libman & Arslanian, 1999). In addition, current percentage estimates of newly diagnosed children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes have been extrapolated from existing studies examining specific populations with this disease (Sones, 2001). For example, the Pima Indian youth of Arizona reportedly have the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the world. The current prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Pima Indian youth within the 15-to-19-year age group is 51 per 1,000 compared to a prevalence of 4.5 per 1,000 for all U.S. American Indian populations. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among youth from other ethnic groups within the U.S. has not been extensively researched and population-based prevalence estimates are currently unavailable (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002). Recent studies, however, indicate that the populations most at risk for type 2 diabetes include American and Canadian Indians, African-Americans, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Japanese, and Asian Indians (Ehtisham, Barrett, & Shaw, 2000). State and county statistics documenting the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in youth within California are also unavailable.

While the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and medical management of type 2 diabetes in adults has been extensively studied, very little is known about the disease in children. In adulthood, type 2 diabetes is associated with genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors such as obesity, high energy consumption, and low levels of physical activity (Pinhas-Hamiel et al., 1999). In childhood, however, the particular risk factors and characteristics associated with type 2 diabetes are just beginning to be identified.

The majority of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes display certain traits and characteristics that differ from a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are typically of normal weight, do not have a family history of diabetes, rarely present with acanthosis nigricans, are dependent on insulin for survival, and are predominantly Caucasian (Libman & Arslanian, 1999). Current literature suggests that most youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are in middle to late puberty, are overweight or obese, have a strong family history of type 2 diabetes, and demonstrate signs of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia manifested either as acanthosis nigricans (AN), a cutaneous skin condition, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or hirsutism (Beck et al., 2001; Glaser, 1997; Libman & Arslanian, 1999; Scott, Smith, Cradock, & Pihoker, 1997; Treviño, Marshall Jr, & Hale, 1999). Early identification of the characteristics and diabetes risk factors among children and adolescents may lead to early detection of diabetes and help delay the onset of this life-long disease.

One of the big ways a diabetic can help control their blood glucose (sugar) is through a good diet. In this article we will explain more about how you can change your diet to help you.

We are all advised to eat a healthy, balanced diet which is low in fat and sugar and high in fibre. Plenty of fruit and vegetables are also a corner stone of a good diet. The same advice applies to people with diabetes. This does not necessarily mean that you have to radically change your diet. In most cases it will mean you eat your usual means but you may need to tweak them to make them more healthy. You can buy all the foods that you need from normal shops and supermarkets and you don’t need to buy special “diabetic foods”.

How should I change my eating pattern?

We have divided the foods up into 6 categories:

Carbohydrates

* Base meals on carbohydrate foods such as bread, pasta, rice, chapatis and potatoes. These foods are filling and not fattening (provided you don’t add extra fat). Where possible choose high fibre varieties of these foods, like wholemeal bread.
* Eat regular meals.
* Eat more fruit and vegetables, aim for 4 or 5 portions a day. This will give you fibre and vitamins.

Fat

* Cut down on fried food, fatty foods and fatty red meat, choose lean meat, skinless chicken/poultry instead.
* Choose lower fat milk. Skimmed milk is virtually fat free and lower in calories but still contains all the protein and calcium found in full fat milk. Semi-skimmed milk is half-fat and also lower in calories than full cream.
* Use low-fat cooking methods such as grilling, microwaving and barbecuing. Trim excess fat and skin off meat before cooking.
* Choose low fat versions of margarine and cheese.
* If you need to use an oil in cooking, use an unsaturated one such as olive, sunflower or corn oil. Try using less oil too.

Sugar

* You don’t need to avoid sugar all together. However, food and drinks that contain a lot of sugar can make your blood sugar go up very quickly, especially if eaten on their own.
* Change to low sugar and sugar-free foods such as low calorie fizzy drinks, diet squash, low sugar jams and diet yogurts.
* Artificial sweeteners can be used to sweeten drinks and foods instead of sugar. They are virtually carbohydrate and fat free and do not affect blood sugar levels. Its recommended that you use a variety of sweeteners and not to consume too much of any type.

Salt

* Reduce your salt intake gradually so that you can get used to the taste change. Adding herbs and spices may help.
* Use as little salt as possible in meals and cut down on salt added at the table.
* Eat less processed foods such as tinned and packet foods, salty meats, crisps and salted nuts.

Alcohol

* Drink alcohol in moderation only. For men that’s 3 units a day and for women it’s 2 units a day. If you’re trying to lose weight then this should be less.
* Never drink on empty stomach as it can increase the likelihood of hypoglycaemia

Diabetic food

* Do not buy “special diabetic foods”. They are very expensive and contain no less fat or calories than other foods. They will not help if you are trying to lose weight.
* Often such foods can cause diarrhea

If you follow the advice provided in each category you should be able to reduce the amount of “bad” foods you are eating and increasing the “good” foods. This will help with the control of your diabetes, with your blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease risk but most of all it will help you be healthier.

American natural health expert and osteopathic physician, Dr. Sherry Rogers, tells her patients that, for women who have Type 2 diabetes, vitamin D is as valuable as metformin, the most commonly prescribed, and by some measures, most reliably effective diabetes medication. But how much of this vitamin do women with Type 2 diabetes need to help keep their blood sugar levels under control?

Vitamin D regulates the activity of the insulin-making beta cells of the pancreas indirectly, by enabling the parathyroid glands to make calcitonin, a calcium-sequestration hormone. Calcitonin ensures that calcium flows into the tissues where it is needed. This hormone is essential for bone health, of course, but it is also needed for the release of insulin from the pancreas. When calcium flows into the beta cells, insulin flows out. The calcium helps ‘break out’ insulin from its protein-found storage form, pro-insulin.

It is never a good idea to take a megadose, for instance 100,000 IU a day, of this essential vitamin, even though the vitamin is extremely cheap. Calcium has important regulatory functions in every cell in the body, and acute overdose of D can cause a flow of calcium into the kidneys resulting in kidney failure.

If you have had a blood test that shows that you have low D levels, under about 40 ng/ml, then you benefit from taking up to about 5,000 IU of supplemental D every day. When you get your D levels back to at least normal, then you only need about 2,000 IU of D a day, but that’s very difficult to get from food, especially the best food sources of the vitamin which are cod liver oil, cold-water fish, butter (not margarine), and cream. There is also D in milk, but only about 100 IU per glass, and it’s absolutely not healthful to drink 20 glasses of milk per day!

Even when you get your D levels up to normal, it is a good idea to continue supplementation. Pills are fine. You don’t need expensive vitamin sprays. Or you can simply get sun.

Fair skin absorbs more sun than dark skin. Fair-skinned women can make about 10,000 IU of vitamin D after about 20 minutes of sun exposure. Dark-skinned women may need about 30 or even 40 minutes in the sun to make the same amount of the vitamin. It is essential to note though that skin not be covered by sun block… but it’s sunburn, not sun exposure, that’s the risk factor for skin cancer. If you cannot get sun every day, however, be sure to take supplements.

“Is there any cure for diabetes” is a frequently asked question nowadays. The disease is spreading like an epidemic. This is increasing the craze of the people to find out the cure for diabetes.

Luckily diabetes and its resulting complications can be cured without the help of any medication. There are some natural cures for diabetes as well.

Basically there are three natural cures for diabetes

Diet

Exercise

Nutritional supplements

Diet: The best and the first cure for the patients of diabetes is diet. The best diabetic diet plan should contain the foods that have a low glycemic index value. This indicates those food items must be incorporated that contains low level of carbohydrates. At the same time the food plan should be high in fiber and must contain only moderate amount of proteins. This type of diabetic diet plan helps to lower down the blood glucose levels. It also lessens the need of taking insulin injections or prescribed medications.

Such a diabetic diet plan also helps to lose unwanted weight and reduces blood pressure. This cures the diabetes by supporting the overall body’s energy and health.

Snacking on handful of groundnuts daily also help the diabetic patients in lowering down the blood sugar level.

Juice of rose apple, tomato, cucumber, lemon, spinach, bitter gourd, cabbage and cabbage is helpful in curing diabetes.

Exercise: Different research studies have revealed that exercise is of great health for all diabetic. Scientifically it has been proven that exercise can cure diabetes. Regular physical activity daily helps the diabetic patients to reduce the body weight, lower down the level of blood glucose, improve insulin’s sensitivity; improve blood circulation, lower down the level of bad cholesterol and increase the level of good cholesterol. This is the best way of reducing the risk of heart related disease.

Asanas of yoga are helpful in curing diabetes. Some popular asanas are Bhujangasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana, paschitmottasana and sarvangasana are more helpful in curing the diabetic patients.

Brisk walk daily and light jogging is helpful in curing the diabetes. Some games like swimming or badminton is helpful for reducing the level of sugar in the bloodstream.

Nutritional Supplements: Some diabetics take supplements on daily basis for curing diabetes in a natural manner. These supplements work well in curing diabetes naturally. These nutritional supplements are good and help to lower down the blood sugar, lower down the cholesterol level, reducing the blood pressure level, improving energy and lowering down the risk of heart related ailments.

Most of these supplements are natural and protect the blood vessels, kidneys and other major organ from the destruction.

Diabetes Mellitus is very alarming. We know very well that the disease itself is not dreadful, but its complications. A person with diabetes is most likely to pass on the disease to his/her offspring. Common complications include high blood pressure or certain heart illnesses, liver problems, or other internal problems. How do we know if we are on the verge of acquiring Diabetes Mellitus? It is simple. We will know it based on the symptoms. The treatment therefore depends on the type of diabetes a person has.

We know very well that there are certain types of Diabetes. We have the type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Well, Gestational Diabetes is an exception to the rule since it is only limited to pregnant women. This article will be dealing more about the two types of diabetes and the treatment for each type.

Type 1 diabetes resulted from the lack of insulin in the bloodstream. This is because the body cannot produce insulin at all. Well, if this is the case, it implies high glucose content in the blood. To remedy this situation, we have to increase the insulin content of the body through the intake of insulin. It might be through oral or injection means. At the same time, if there is a need to subject a patient continuously to the insulin treatment, we do have the insulin pump therapy through which the body will be given ample amount of insulin therapy to help dissolve glucose.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by the inability of the cells to respond to the insulin production of the body. The body can still produce insulin but the body cells refuse to react to it. There are a number of treatments apply for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. One treatment includes oral medication of insulin. There is also another treatment that involves the Type 2 medication reference. Another remarkable treatment of Type 2 diabetes is the use of Januvia, which is the term used for the newly discovered drug for diabetes. There is also what we call Byetta which is a new approach for the disease. This includes proper management standards for managing diabetes.

Aside from the regular medical approaches for the types of diabetes, the patient should also adjust his/her dietary approaches as well as manage his/her lifestyle. If a patient is subject to the medical practices in managing diabetes, they are require to make ample changes with the way they are managing their diet and the way they live their lives. The medical approaches and treatments are worthless if the person cannot manage and make changes with his/her way of living.

It is said that Diabetes Mellitus develops because of the way people are living their lives. Thus, it is also essential that managing the disease should start in adjusting the way we are living it. If we wanted to live longer, we have to make sure that we should not exceed the body’s limitations. We should live within our limits, and not push ourselves too much.