The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions

The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions

The U.S. diabetes epidemic is more dangerous than most people realize. The Center for Disease Control recently indicated that more than 63% of Americans are at risk for diabetes due to a Body Mass Index (BMI) qualifying them as overweight. Diabetes not only causes other conditions and symptoms, but also is linked with kidney and cardiovascular diseases. To prevent complications, it's important to understand the relationship between diabetes and other diseases.

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Diabetic Retinopathy

Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes that causes decreased and blurry vision, and eventually blindness. The effect of diabetic retinopathy on vision depends on the stage of the disease. Diabetes' effect on the retina is a severe threat, mostly seen in elderly sufferers. People with diabetes also tend to experience long-term effects on the circulatory system. As diabetes progresses, the arteries in the retina weaken and form hemorrhages. In later stages of the disease, circulation problems cause areas of the eye to become oxygen-deprived. Consequently, new vessels develop that hemorrhage easily, and blood may leak into the retina as well.

Obesity

Obesity and diabetes are scientifically proven to be directly linked. In fact, obesity is a direct cause of Type II Diabetes. Obesity is dangerous because an excessive proportion of body fat causes elevated blood glucose levels. The human body manufactures insulin after every meal to alert cells that higher levels of glucose are on the way. Type II Diabetes sufferers lack the ability to use this insulin hormone. And when insulin isn't used properly, the body can't digest food correctly, hence increasing the risk of additional weight gain, as well as diabetes.

Kidney Disease/Kidney Failure

Diabetes affects many parts of the body. According to the National Kidney Foundation, diabetic kidney disease results from injured small blood vessels in the body. When blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, the kidneys cannot clean the blood properly. At this point, the human body retains more water and salt than it should (which results in weight gain and ankle swelling). In addition, protein appears in the urine and waste materials accumulate in the blood. In addition, Type II Diabetes can cause nerve damage which can result in urination problems. The pressure resulting from a full bladder can back up and injure the kidneys. When urine remains in the bladder for too long, the high levels of sugar can cause the rapid growth of bacteria, resulting in an infection.

Heart Disease & Stroke

The American Diabetes Association says two-thirds of people with Type II Diabetes die from heart disease and stroke. As such, diabetes and heart disease work in tandem - and people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. A person with diabetes has higher than normal blood sugar levels. These high blood sugar levels can damage many parts of the body, including blood vessels. Heart disease is a direct result of narrowed or blocked blood vessels that lead to the heart. Hence, increased blood sugar levels, common with Type II Diabetes sufferers, causes increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Breast Cancer

Scientists have investigated the possible relationship between breast cancer and diabetes and suggested that high levels of insulin increases the risk of breast cancer. Since many factors, such as obesity, increase the risk of both breast cancer and diabetes, it's been difficult for scientists to determine if diabetes itself is the issue. However, research indicates that women with diabetes have a 20% higher risk of breast cancer than women without diabetes. One recent study suggests that high blood sugar increases the risk of breast cancer, even among pre-menopausal women. In addition, significant weight gain (more than 55 lbs. since age 18, or 22 lbs. after menopause) acts as a catalyst in causing diabetes - and can also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Foot Problems

Of the 16 million Americans with diabetes, more than 25% will develop foot problems due to the disease, according to Foot.com. Diabetic foot problems develop from a combination of factors, including poor circulation and neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy causes an insensitivity to feel pain, heat and cold. As a result, people with diabetes may be unaware they have developed minor cuts, scrapes, blisters or pressure sores. If these minor injuries are left untreated, complications may result, lead to ulceration and possibly even amputation. Foot.com also states that diabetic neuropathy can cause deformities, such as bunions, hammer toes and Charcot feet.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

CTS is another common complication of diabetic neuropathy. Because of the decreased or distorted nerve function, a patient's ability to feel nerve sensation is lessened. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include numbness, tingling, weakness and burning sensations, usually beginning in the fingers and toes and progressing to the arms and legs. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a 2005 study reported that about 85% of patients with Type I Diabetes develop CTS. Development of CTS was related to the patient's age, as well as the length of time they had diabetes.

All of the conditions listed above are related to diabetes, and are becoming growing concerns for Americans. Awareness of these associated diseases will hopefully lead to better prevention, such as healthy diet and exercise.

The Relationship of Diabetes to Other Diseases and Conditions

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7 Steps to Prevent Kidney Related Diseases

Kidney related diseases are the silent killers. It effects the lifestyle of a person. According to recent survey conducted by National Kidney Foundation, some of the people who have the chronic kidney diseases still don't know that they are suffering with deadly disease. Researchers at Vanderbilt medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, surveyed 401 people. More than 75 percent of participants had stage 3 chronic disease. 94% of people were aware that they had a kidney problem while 30% were unaware of the deadly disease. This is because of not identifying the symptoms in initial stages and unawareness of the disease. In order to prevent this deadly kind of disease, there are 7 important steps to be follow by everyone:

1. Be Active: Exercise daily for about 30 to 45 minutes to get your body under control. Do any type of exercise regularly for reducing the blood pressure which results in prevention of kidney diseases.

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2. Controlling of Blood Sugar Levels: Persons who are suffering with diabetes have more chances of getting kidneys failure. So, regularly check whether both the kidneys are properly functioning or not. If the problem identified at initial stages, one can prevent the kidney disease. As per doctor suggestion take the medicines regularly and control the blood sugar levels.

3. Blood Pressure Control: It is aware that person who suffer with high BP is more likely to get paralysis and heart attack. The blood pressure of a normal person is 120/80. If your BP is 129/89 then it is considered as pre-hypertension. So, you have to make sure to follow healthy lifestyle along with proper diet. If the BP is 140/90, one have to consult the doctor and check the BP regularly.

4. Proper food and Control of Weight: If you can make some changes in your diet, you can prevent heart strokes and also kidney related diseases. Cut out salt from your diet. One have to take 5 to 6 gm of salt per day. Reduce your salt intake by using salt substitutes like oregano. Avoid restaurant and processed foods.

5. No Smoking:Smoking affects the circulation of blood to kidneys. Due to low blood circulation, the kidneys will not work. 50 % of kidney cancer will get with smoking.

6. Avoid Unnecessary Medicines: Regular intake of drugs like Ibuprofen can damage kidneys and that will lead to Kidney related diseases. These type of medicines should be used only if needed. Persons who suffer with arthritis or lower back pain should take the medicines under the supervision of doctors.

7. Kidney Check-Up: A person who suffer with diabetes or high BP or obesity or any one in his or her family is suffering with kidney related disease or if a person is an Asian, then the regular check-up of kidney functioning is a must.

7 Steps to Prevent Kidney Related Diseases

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Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Common Characteristics of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (venereal diseases) are infections that are contracted through intimate sexual contact. Once established, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis can spread and cause extensive, serious physical damage. It is important to make a doctor's appointment immediately if you suspect that you have contracted--or have been exposed to--such an infection. If it is found that you have been infected, you should abstain from sexual contact until your doctor tells you that you are no longer contagious. You should also inform your sexual partners so that they can be examined and treated also, whether or not they have symptoms.

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Although gonorrhea and syphilis are the most serious of the sexually transmitted diseases, there are a number of others that cause considerable discomfort or embarrassment. Venereal warts, for example, can be acutely painful. Pubic lice (crab lice) cause intensive itching.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection, and an extremely contagious one. An estimated 2.5 million Americans contract this disease annually.

The symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear within one to three weeks after infection. In men, these symptoms include a white to yellow-green penile discharge, burning pain while urinating and deep, aching pain or pressure in the genitals. In women, there may be painful and frequent urination, deep, aching pain in the lower abdomen and, rarely, a vaginal discharge. Pharyngeal gonorrhea (in the mouth and throat) may produce a sore throat; rectal gonorrhea occasionally causes discomfort in the area around the anus and a slight discharge. However, in 10 to 20 percent of men and up to 80 percent of women, there are no perceived symptoms at all.

Untreated, gonorrhea commonly affects the urethra in men, making urination extremely painful and difficult; it may progress to chronic obstruction and infertility. In women, the disease can attack the fallopian tubes and other pelvic organs (pelvic inflammatory disease), causing pain, fever and, very likely, infertility. The risk of infertility increases with each infection: 75 percent of women who have had three infections involving the pelvic organs are infertile. In both sexes, untreated gonorrhea may result in arthritis, or in a generalized bacterial infection affecting the heart and nervous system. If a woman has active gonorrhea at the time of delivery, her baby may develop permanent blindness.

Fortunately, once it is diagnosed, gonorrhea can be treated quickly and effectively with antibiotics.

A diagnosis of gonorrhea can be made by a microscopic examination of the discharge or a cervical smear; or, more reliably, by a culture that takes two days to incubate. The culture should be repeated one week after treatment.

Syphilis

Syphilis is caused by an organism called a spirochete that is spread through sexual contact. About 20,000 cases a year are reported to United States health authorities, but it is highly probable that several thousands more are not reported.

The disease has three stages. First, skin ulcers (chancres), which are usually painless, appear in the genital area. The chancres may erupt anywhere from 10 to 90 days after infection. Men may see them on the penis, but in women they usually form inside the vagina and may easily be missed. These sores heal in a few weeks, leaving little or no scarring. Meanwhile, the spirochetes circulate in the bloodstream and, in a few weeks, produce the symptoms of the second stage of the disease: fever, swollen glands and reddish rash. these signs then also disappear, even without treatment, within 10 days to two weeks; the disease becomes latent and, within two years, no longer infectious. the third stage may develop without warning, years later. In this final stage, there is tissue damage in the brain and the nervous system, the heart, liver, bone and skin. In as many as one-third of untreated individuals, this damage may result in death.

If a woman infected with syphilis becomes pregnant, or contracts the disease during pregnancy, there is a high risk that her baby will be stillborn or suffer from severe birth defects.

Syphilis is most accurately diagnosed by a blood test. It can be treated successfully with penicillin or other antibiotics. Periodic tests should be done for two years after treatment to make certain that the disease is cured. As is the case with all sexually transmitted diseases, sexual partners should be informed immediately, and examined and treated.

Venereal Warts

Venereal warts (condylomata acuminata), cauliflower-like and red, are caused by a virus and are thought to be almost exclusively sexually transmitted. In women, they appear around the vagina and rectum, growing more rapidly where they come in contact with any vaginal discharge and being greatly aggravated by pregnancy. In men, they appear on the penis and rectal area.

A wart-removing compound may be prescribed, although it is not recommended for use during pregnancy since it can be harmful to the fetus. The compound should be used with care and applied only to the surface of the warts. About six hours after application, a sitz bath should be taken to remove any excess. Over-the-counter preparations should never be used; the genital tissues are too sensitive for such products. Occasionally it is necessary to remove venereal warts by electro-cauterization (burning) or by surgery.

Pubic Lice

Pubic lice (crab lice) are almost always transmitted sexually. The lice, which can be found attached to the pubic hair, are yellow-gray in color, becoming dark after they are engorged with blood.

An infestation of crab lice causes intense itching in the pubic area as a reaction to the parasites' bites. It can be readily cured with the application of a prescription cream, lotion or shampoo. To prevent re-infestation, the sexual partner(s) should also be treated, and clothes and linens washed.

Summing Up

Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis are highly contagious infections. If you are sexually active--other than with a single partner who is also monogamous--you risk exposure to these diseases; the more partners, the greater the risk. Sensible precautions that may be taken include urinating and washing the genitals after intercourse, using condoms and spermicidal vaginal foams, jellies or creams, and being tested frequently for gonorrhea and syphilis if you have several sexual partners--or if your partner does.

If you suspect that you have a sexual infection do not hesitate to tell your partner(s) and to visit your doctor or a clinic immediately. Sexually transmitted diseases can be cured only with prescribed courses of drug therapy. Never attempt to treat these diseases yourself. Above all, do not let fear or embarrassment stand in the way of receiving medical care.

Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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