Diabetes - Type 1 (Juvenile Diabetes)

People with pre-diabetes have blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. This condition raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Pre-diabetes is also called impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it. Some people have both IFG and IGT.

IFG is a condition in which the blood glucose level is high (100 to 125 mg/dL) after an overnight fast, but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes. (The former definition of IFG was 110 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL.)

What are the types of diabetes?

The three main types of diabetes are:

1. type 1 diabetes
2. type 2 diabetes
3. gestational diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body’s system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.

Diabetes is preventable under most circumstances. Here are 5 ways to minimize your risk:

• Lose extra weight
• Skip fad diets
• Get plenty of fiber
• Go for whole grains

Diabetes may run in your family, but even so, healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent it, expecially a healthy diet and regular exercise. Even if you've already been diagnosed with diabetes, the same healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent potentially serious complications.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, the German Institute of Human Nutrition, and the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have reported that soda and sweetened fruit drinks are adding to weight gain (and probably the risk of diabetes, fractures, and dental caries) in children and adults. Because obesity has become a major health problem, drinking water, low-fat milk, and small quantities of fruit juice would be a better choice than sweetened beverages.

Medicare advises people at higher risk for invasive pneumococcal disease including those over 64 years old and patients with HIV, splenectomy, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic disorders of the lungs or heart, and cirrhosis to get a one time pneumonia vaccination.

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.

A motion has been filed by three watchdog groups (Environmental Working Group (EWG), Fluoride Action Network (FAN) and Beyond Pesticides) seeks an immediate suspension of all food uses of the pesticide sulfuryl fluoride. The motion says that the "EPA's decision to allow huge increases in fluoride exposure via a wide range of food products flies in the face of the NAS conclusion that allowable fluoride exposures from water alone are not safe, particularly for children," said Michael Connett of FAN. They cite the March 2006 National Academy of Sciences report on fluoride safety which found that fluoride limits in tap water are not safe, especially for children and people who drink large amounts of water.

Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. You can do it by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. In other words: you don't have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. The key is: small steps that lead to big rewards. Learn more about your risk for developing type 2 diabetes and the small steps you can take to delay or prevent the disease and live a long, healthy life.

According to John E. Erb, author of “The Slow Poisoning of America”, MSG may be responsible for the massive obesity epidemic.

How can this be, when industry spokespersons assure us that "Not only does MSG make good food taste better for consumers, new studies show that MSG may play a role in the overall health and nutrition of people who need it most." (see http://www.msgfacts.com/facts/msgfact12.html for the entire industry position statement)