Diabetes

Typical diabetes symptoms are described on other pages of this website. The purpose of this page is to help you recognize and treat a diabetic emergency.

Diabetes can kill. You need to be aware of this and know what to do if you suddenly find yourself confronted by a person who is at risk. It may be a member of your immediate family.

A diabetic emergency is likely to arise from either too much or too little insulin in the blood, resulting in a number of typical symptoms that may end, if untreated, in loss of consciousness, coma and finally death.

There are two types of diabetic emergency: very low blood sugar levels – hypoglycemia – caused by too much insulin in the blood; and very high levels – hyperglycemia – caused by too little.

You do not need to be able to differentiate between the two, since the initial treatment for one is unlikely to affect the other; but you do need to recognize the emergency when you see it and get immediate medical help if necessary. This is vital if the casualty is, or becomes, unconscious.

People who are insulin dependent will nearly always be aware of their condition and you should assist them as necessary. If medical assistance is required but delayed, and the casualty is conscious, encourage him or her to drink sugar free fluids.

Be aware that a major symptom of an insulin dependent diabetic attack is breath smelling like nail polish (acetone). This will usually be accompanied by excessive thirst, a hot dry skin and a rapid pulse.

The most common emergency is hypoglycemia and because it has a gradual onset you may be witnessing the very first attack. It is important to understand that the casualty may not even be aware of having the condition. Here’s what to look for:

· Patient feels, dizzy, weak and is trembling
· Patient looks pale and has a weak pulse
· Profuse sweating
· Numbness around the lips and fingers
· Patient becomes confused or aggressive
· Loss of consciousness

Treat any of these symptoms seriously and give the patient a sweet (sugar-containing) drink, glucose or just plain sugar. Don’t use diet drinks and try to avoid chocolate or similar foods. Generally speaking a cup of sweet tea and a sandwich is as good as anything else.

Recovery will usually be quite rapid. If it is not, medical assistance is urgently required. You may need to impress that point on the casualty. Most people find it hard to believe that what they have experienced in a mild form from time to time in the past may, on this occasion, have fatal consequences if left untreated.

When people are first told by their doctors that they are diabetic, they often respond in disbelief. Some people are overwhelmed and get depressed. Besides, with no cure and the fact that you need to follow certain instructions on how to live your daily life, you too would be depressed and overwhelmed. It will seem like life suddenly turned for the worse. It is true that living with diabetes is hard and you will need to really adjust to literally a new lifestyle. But, you will see that you will be able to adjust and still live a more normal life despite the fact that you have diabetes.

From medication directions, to constantly monitoring and checking your blood sugar level, to doing a healthy exercise regime, you will see that this lifestyle change can really be difficult, especially if you are the type of person who is not accustomed to giving yourself an injection or monitor your own eating habits. But, there are ways that will help you assist when it comes to managing your lifestyle if you are living with this disease.

If you were recently diagnosed with the disease, the most important thing that you need to do is to get down to the basics of managing diabetes. Ask your doctor for more information about diabetes and also ask them to write down instructions on how to take your medications. Also, ask them how and when to check your blood sugar levels and try writing it down. You should also have your doctor write you diet plan, which you can follow exactly. This diet plan will also serve as a guide for you as you will later plan all your meals yourself.

You should also meet a dietitian or a nutritionist who specializes in diabetes care. They will be able to tell you exactly and get you to understand what you can and cannot eat. They will also be able to tell you the amount of certain food that you can eat. With a dietician or a nutritionist, you will be able to have someone to help you make a diabetic diet and also help you how to follow the diet. If you need to lose weight the healthy way, then they will also help you plan a meal for you to follow in order for you to lose weight without compromising your health or aggravating your condition.

After you understand and adjusted to diabetes, the next step is to know more about the condition. Try to attend seminars and classes that specialize in diabetes as this will be able to help you learn how to properly care for certain conditions brought upon diabetes. These classes will also teach you how to protect yourself from the complications of diabetes

You should also learn how to deal with the disease while you are traveling. After you are well adjusted to the disease, you will now be able to live a more normal life with diabetes. At first, adjusting to a new kind of lifestyle can be difficult. However, after a few weeks, you will see that the diabetic lifestyle will become very natural for you.

Living with diabetes does not mean that it is the end of your life. It just means changing the way you live your life in order for you to live more normally. You will still enjoy life and still do most of the things you want to do. However, you will need to know how to properly manage the disease in order to prevent or minimize the effects of the complications brought upon by diabetes.

6. Diabetes and blindness
KUALA LUMPUR: One in four patients with severe diabetic-related retina damage end up blind because they come in too late.

Read more on The Star

The diagnosis of diabetes is becoming a more frequent occurrence in society. Not only is the disease being commonly diagnosed in young adults and children but also in dogs. Pet owners are finding that their canines are suffering from symptoms due to the lack of insulin produced by their bodies. Puppies may suffer from diabetes contributed to disorders of their immune system or as a result from the damage that parvovirus caused to the pancreas. Some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, actually develop diabetes through inherited traits. As with people, obese dogs are also at a higher risk for developing the disease. More and more young dogs and pups are being diagnosed with diabetes by vets. For this reason, it is essential to take note of any abnormal behaviors that your dog displays regardless of its age.

Dogs can have two different types of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is divided into two groups, Type I and Type II. These forms of the disease are caused from the body’s lack of producing insulin. When the body does not produce a hormone needed to help the kidneys carry out water absorption, Diabetes insipidus forms. The most common form of diabetes diagnosed in dogs is Diabetes mellitus.

There are a few different symptoms that can lead pet owners to believe that their dog may have diabetes. Puppies with the disease are most often characterized by the lack of growth. When a puppy does not gain weight despite normal eating habits, a problem such as diabetes may exist. The canine may also have an unusual need to drink and urinate frequently. The dog often begins to lose weight without explanation and can even loose the use of its hind legs. Any of these occurrences are signs that typically lead to the diagnosis of diabetes.

If it is suspected that a dog may have diabetes, it is best to contact a vet as soon as possible for proper diagnosis. If the condition is left untreated, serious side effects and even death can occur. The dog’s organs may begin to shut down completely due to the high levels of sugar in the blood. Ignoring the signs is often fatal for the pet.

Typically, giving the animal insulin injections is the only effective treatments for canines. Controlling the condition solely through diet is often not a successful option. The level of sugar in the body should be checked by taking urine and blood samples on a regular basis. In addition, the dog should be placed on a feeding schedule that can be monitored by the owner.

Dogs diagnosed with diabetes can live normal and healthy lives just as any other dog. However, the condition needs attention from the master. For successful treatment and control, it is very important for dog owners to recognize the symptoms, contact a doctor, and then work with their vet by taking the animal for periodic check-ups. With all of these actions in place, a diabetic dog can live a full and happy life.

Have you ever heard any of these myths about feline diabetes? If you have a diabetic cat, you need to know the truth about this disease, not a bunch of old wives’ tales. Don’t be paralyzed by ignorance. Know the facts about your feline diabetic, and learn how you can help him.

Myth #1. You’ll Have To Put Your Diabetic Cat To Sleep

Not necessarily. Unless your pet has other health issues like kidney failure or is very elderly, it’s possible to manage this disease. However, you do need to realize that it does take quite a bit of time, especially at first, to learn how to check your furry friend’s blood sugar and then to give him an insulin injection, if needed.

Myth #2. You Can’t Prevent Feline Diabetes

Actually, some experts firmly believe that this condition is a man-made disease, and that it’s totally preventable by feeding your pet a high-quality canned food instead of dry cat food.  

The biggest issue with dry food is that the carbohydrate level is much too high for your kitty. Felines are meant to eat meat, not grains, and most dry foods are overwhelmingly composed of grains. Although this is good for the bottom line of the pet food companies, it’s not good for the bottom line concerning your pet’s health. 

Feeding too much of the wrong kind of food leads to an overweight feline, which is a sure recipe for many other health problems, including diabetes in cats.  

Myth #3.You Can’t Check Your Kitty’s Blood Sugar Levels At Home

Of course you can. In fact, you should. It’s essential to know what his blood sugar level is before you give him an insulin injection. You’ll also save a lot of time and money if you don’t always have to be taking your pet to the vet for a blood sugar check. Plus it’s much less stressful for your furball if you can do it at home. Your vet can and should teach you how to to this.  

Myth #4. Once Your Furball Is On Insulin, You’ll Never Get Him Off

Actually, diabetes in cats can sometimes be reversed by changing your kitty’s diet. As mentioned above, he shouldn’t be eating dry food at all. Canned food is best. If he’s overweight, he needs to lose weight, but slowly and carefully, as a too-rapid weight loss can lead to very serious problems.  

Get your kitty exercising more. Encourage him to play by tempting him with a toy on a string. Exercise will help him lose weight, and is a great way to manage blood sugar levels naturally. Start slowly, and work up to two or three ten-minute sessions a day.

Myth #5. Natural Remedies For Cats Are A Waste Of Time

Research has shown that herbs, including goat’s rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, are very effective in controlling blood sugar levels in pets, as well as in people. In fact, by using a combination of diet, exercise, and herbs and dietary supplements, you may be able to dispense with insulin injections completely.  

Don’t buy into any of these myths about feline diabetes. Stop feeling helpless and take charge of your kitty’s health today. Learn more about how diet, exercise, and natural remedies for cats can control and even reverse diabetes in cats.

It just doesn’t seems fair. Your doggie companion has been diagnosed with canine diabetes, and now he’s having trouble with his sight. Unfortunately, cataracts in dogs are extremely common in dogs with diabetes. In fact, most canine diabetics will develop cataracts within a year of being diagnosed with this disease.  

Basics Of Cataracts

A cataract forms when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and opaque. Since it’s no longer transparent, the person or animal affected can no longer see through it. The result is blindness.

Cataracts are common is dogs. They can occur at any age, and in any breed, although most often they’re seen in older dogs and in dogs with diabetes.

Why do Diabetic Dogs get Cataracts?

All cataracts develop in the same way, whether the pet has diabetes or not. The lens in your pet’s eye is normally in a dehydrated state, compared to the rest of the body. There is a delicate balance between water and protein, which ensures that the lens remains clear.  

If this balance is upset, more water is absorbed into the lens, which causes it to become cloudy and opaque. When diabetes strikes, the blood sugar levels rise all over the body. Glucose in the eyeball is absorbed into the lens. In turn, this causes the lens to absorb more water, which causes the cloudiness and vision loss in cataracts.

This can happen very quickly, even in as short a time as a few weeks. Sometimes this is the first symptom of canine diabetes that a pet owner will notice.

How Are Cataracts In Dogs Treated?

Cataracts are treated with surgery. Most canines who have cataract surgery regain their vision. If you decide not to have the surgery, your pet will become blind.  

Believe it or not, blind dogs do very well. It’s usually more of a problem for the owner than it is for the pet. Blind dogs adjust quickly, and can live long, happy lives. You will need to have your vet monitor your pet’s eyes to prevent any other complications.

Can Natural Remedies For Dogs Protect Your Pet’s Eyes?

Bilberry has a long history in folk medicine an an herb that can stop, or even reverse, the formation of cataracts. Scientific studies show that bilberries, a close relative of blueberries, contain anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants neutralize free radicals, preventing them from damaging the eyes.  

Would a remedy that contains bilberries help prevent blindness from cataracts in dogs? It just might. In any case, it wouldn’t hurt to try it, especially if bilberry is combined with goat’s rue, astragalus, fenugreek, and chromium, which have been proven to lower blood glucose levels in pets.  

It’s essential to purchase a remedy made by a company that formulates only the safest and most effective natural pet remedies. You’ll want to know your companion is receiving the right combination of herbs that will naturally regulate his blood glucose while protecting his eyes at the same time.

Don’t wait any longer. While it’s still fresh on your mind, learn more about how natural remedies for dogs can protect your diabetic pet’s eyes.