http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/index.html en-us © 2007 Medletter Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. customerservice@johnshopkinshealthalerts.com webmaster@iproduction.com Mon, 05 May 2008 09:50:43 CDT Mon, 05 May 2008 09:50:43 CDT IPS - www.iproduction.com Johns Hopkins experts explain the difference between type 2 diabetes and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood (LADA).Not so long ago, a patient's age was a near-perfect predictor of which type of diabetes to diagnose. People under age 30 usually had type 1 diabetes (which is why it used to be called juvenile diabetes), and people who developed diabetes after age 30 had type 2 disease. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/1366-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS In someone with diabetes, the body's ability to secrete insulin -- and the counter-regulatory hormone glucagon -- is impaired. Johns Hopkins professor Christopher D. Saudek, M.D. explains the path of glucose in diabetes.The pancreas is an elongated organ that extends across the abdomen, below the stomach. In addition to secreting certain enzymes that aid in food digestion, the pancreas also manufactures hormones responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. … http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/946-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS This diabetes glossary is excerpted from The Johns Hopkins White Papers: Diabetes. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/923-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Controlling blood glucose levels with intensive insulin therapy can reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy up to 76%.Many of the chronic, or long-term, complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are directly related to elevated blood glucose levels. Long-term diabetes complications include microvascular disease (abnormalities of small blood vessels); neuropathy (nerve damage); changes to the eyes (diabetic retinopathy), skin, gums, and teeth; and macrovascular disease (abnormalities of large blood vessels). http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/417-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Non-caloric sweeteners, which are found in such foods as soft drinks, frozen desserts, yogurt, cookies, candy, and gum, can be valuable for people with diabetes. Unlike sucrose (sugar), which has 15 calories per teaspoon, these products add sweetness and flavor without calories. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/375-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The first treatment for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is usually lifestyle changes, such as improvements in diet and exercise. If these measures do not sufficiently control blood glucose levels, one or more oral medications (often metformin and/or a sulfonylurea drug) are prescribed. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/249-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS For many years, physicians have recognized that elevated blood glucose levels, highblood pressure, obesity, and abnormal blood lipid levels tend to occur together in certain individuals. This cluster of symptoms—previously called "The Deadly Quartet," syndrome X, or insulin resistance syndrome—is now commonly referred to as metabolic syndrome. Almost one in four American adults has metabolic syndrome, which increases http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/247-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Exercise is beneficial for all people with diabetes because it helps lower blood glucose levels. As a result, people with type 1 diabetes may need less insulin, and people with type 2 diabetes may be able to control their diabetes without medication. Exercise has other benefits as well. It helps improve cardiovascular fitness and provides a sense of psychological well-being. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/131-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Obesity is the most important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Extremely obese people (those with a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or greater) are seven times more likely than normal-weight people to develop type 2 diabetes.As obesity has become more common in the United States, so has type 2 diabetes. In 1991, 12% of Americans were obese and 5% had diabetes. By 2001, nearly 21% of Americans were obese and 8% had diabetes. The reason why obesity increases the risk of http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/diabetes/60-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS