6 Frequently Asked Diabetes Questions

My mother just found out she has diabetes. What can she take for a cough or cold, since most of the medicines have a lot of sugar?

There are a few things I'd like to mention before I get straight to your answer. If your mother'scoughis accompanied by other symptoms, such asfever,chills,sore throat, or other systemic symptoms, she should be assessed by a physician. Likewise, is she iscoughingup phlegm (sputum) that is thick, green, otherwise has color, or is excessive in amount, she should be seen by a doctor. In addition, if she identifies triggers, such as dander, orpollen, this may be more than a simplecough, and should be investigated. Finally, it is common sense that she and anyone withdiabetes(or withoutdiabetes, for that matter) should not smoke.

There are over-the-counter remedies available withoutsugar, and if in doubt, your pharmacist should be able to point you in the right direction. In particular,BenylinAdult issugarand alcohol free, and provides some relief from a non-productive (dry) cough. This should not be used in conjunction withMAOIs, inpregnancyor innursingmothers. The active ingredient in this formula is Dextromethorphan, and it is PPA (phenylpropanolamine) free. Another possibility isRobitussinCF. This preparation has been re-formulated to be PPA free, and now contains pseudoephedrine instead. The other active ingredient is dextromethorphan, and together, this preparation helps to suppress cough and also helps to expectorate (which means it makes the bringing up of phlegm easier). Robitussin CF is sugar free and alcohol free. It should be used with caution in patients withhigh blood pressureorheart disease, and should be avoided in patients on MAOIs. This medication is not recommended forpregnantor nursing mothers.

There are other stronger medications available, but these should be taken on the advice of a physician after a full assessment. It there is no improvement in symptoms within 5 days, your mother should be seen by her primary doctor for further evaluation.

I am a diabetic. If I want to eat a candy bar, for example, is there a way to calculate how muchinsulin我能敲出sugarin the candy bar?

Well, the correct answer is that a person withdiabetesreally is not restricted to eating certain foods, so while a candy bar may not be the best choice nutritionally, an occasional indulgence is understandable. A candy bar usually has about 220-250 calories and somewhere between 25-30 grams of carbohydrates. On average, most patients withdiabetesrequire one unit of insulin for every 10-15 grams of carbohydrates they eat. So you could try two units of a short acting insulin and see how you do.However, it is really important that you meet with a diabetes educator/nutritionist to see what your insulin ratios are, and what your sensitivity is.You should not consider insulin an option to "knock out" thesugarin the candy bar. It is more complicated than that. The type of carbohydrate, what it is combined with, and what your glucose level is before you start eating are all factors to be considered.I would strongly suggestyou meet with adiabeteseducator/nutritionist or your physician before you move ahead and adjust any insulin doses by yourself.

I have a friend that is 35 and hasdiabetes. For the past eight years, his weight has always been in check and if anything he may have been a littleoverweight. Just recently, he has lost a lot of weight and he told me that he weighs less than he did in high school. I think he looks too thin and I am concerned about his health with him being a diabetic. Should there be a concern and what kind of advice can you give me to pass on to him.

We often assumeweight loss很好和健康。A slow steady intentionalweight lossusing nutritional change andexerciseis associated with beneficial effects on the heart,官网地址bwin, andcholesterol levels. In addition,weight losscan reduce "insulin resistance" and make muscles and fat tissues more sensitive to circulatinginsulinlevels in the blood.

A reduction in insulin resistance is problematic because insulin is needed to help glucose enter these tissues to be metabolized. If these tissues are resistant to insulin, higher than normal levels are needed for this process to occur. This is often the case inType 2 diabetes. As a result, a vicious cycle occurs, the higher the insulin levels are, the harder it is to lose weight (insulin is anabolic, and is a hormone that likes to store fat). On the other hand, the heavier a person is, the more likely they are to have higher insulin levels. As you can see, the cycle is often hard to break.

While intentional weight loss in people withdiabetesis usually a good thing, unintentional weight loss is not. If blood sugars are very high, patients withdiabetestend to urinate a lot, and this results indehydrationas a possible cause of weight loss. Also, muscle breakdown can occur if sugars are too high, causing an unhealthy weight loss. Actually, many patients with diabetes present for the first time to their doctor's office because of unexplained loss of weight. In addition to diabetes, there are other concerning causes of unexpected weight loss which should be explored such asthyroid diseaseandcancers.

In summary, a supervised attempt tolose weightin people who canexercisewithout risk is usually of benefit. However in certain cases such as if blood sugars are too high or too low or ifheart diseaseis present, it can be dangerous. This is why all exercise andweight loss programsshould be started only after discussion with a physician. Any unexplained weight loss, in patients with or without known diabetes may be a sign of high blood sugars or another serious illness. It is absolutely necessary to see a physician and undergo a complete evaluation in these cases.

QUESTION

Diabetes is defined best as...See Answer

Can a person withdiabeteshave a deep tissuemassage?

A patient with well controlleddiabeteshas no limitations on what they can do provided they have suffered no damage from theirdiabetes, and other commonly occurring conditions (such ashypertension)好controlled.

If you are interested in a deep tissue massage, there is no contraindication, but you should observe certain precautions. Stay well hydrated before during and after your treatment, notify your therapist of any particular areas that are bothering you, and make certain your blood sugars are controlled before the treatment. If you plan on delaying a meal because of scheduling, make certain you eat something before going into your treatment so you do not becomehypoglycemicduring your massage.

If you have wide bloodsugarswings, or if your diabetes is poorly controlled, you should see your primary physician before considering any activity such as massage therapy.

How doesdiabetes mellitusaffect the muscle?

Diabetesmellitus can affect the muscle in several ways.

Patients withdiabetesmellitus can develop contracture of digits and limbs as a result of soft tissue thickening in these areas. This can lead to wasting of the muscle from disuse. This is referred to as atrophy.

Diabetesmellitus promotes atherosclerosis which impairs the circulation to many tissues of the body. When the muscles of the limbs are affected, the decreased blood flow can lead to cramping and to painfulwalking(peripheral vascular diseaseresulting inclaudication）.在最糟的情况下——这可能导致death (infarction) of the localized areas of muscle. This is characterized by localpainin the involved area. Blood testing can demonstrate elevated muscle enzymes (CPK, aldolase). When the heart muscle is affected by such atherosclerosis, it can lead toheart attack.

Diabetes mellitus can also damage the nerves that supply the hands andfeet. This can lead to inadequate nerve supply and further muscle wasting. Persons with longstanding diabetes mellitus can developpain, and muscle twitching, in addition to muscle wasting of the muscles around the shoulders and hips (limb girdle wasting). This condition is referred to as diabetic amyotrophy.

In the majority of people with diabetes, muscle strength is preserved well enough to allow for modest physical activity under a doctor's supervision, This is not an excuse for someone with diabetes to refrain from physical activity!

I havediabetes, and also havehemorrhoids. I cannot usePreparation H, what other options do I have,TucksPads?

Some simple treatments forhemorrhoidsin patients withdiabetesare as follows:

• Eat plenty ofhigh-fiber foodsincluding bran, fresh fruits and vegetables. Psyllium-containing products also may be used to addfiberto thediet.
• Avoid straining during defecation or sitting on the toilet for a prolonged period of time. In general, do not sit for prolonged periods of time. Ice compresses may ease the swelling.
• Sitting in warm water for approximately 15 minutes at a time may ease the symptoms. Adding Epsom salt to the water helps relieve the inflammation. Sitz baths taken several times a day will also provide a soothing effect.
• Avoid any foods ordrinksthat seem to make the discomfort fromhemorrhoidsworse.
• If you havediabetes, do not useover-the-counter productsthat contain a vasoconstrictor (for example,ephedrine, epinephrine, phenylephrine HCI). This includes Preparation H. Although it does not contain phenylephrine, Preparation H hydrocortisone 1%itchcontains hydrocortisone-a steroid that can cause the bloodsugarto rise if absorbed in large amounts.

Other options for patients with diabetes include astringents, protectants, and topical anesthetics .

Astringentscause the tissues overlying the hemorrhoids to dry and provide relief from burning anditchingbut not frompain.Witch hazelis recommended for external use, providing temporary relief ofitching, discomfort, irritation and burning. Zinc oxide and calamine also act as astringents.

Protectantsform a physical barrier over the skin and mucous membranes, thereby decreasing inflammation and preventing water loss. Recommended protectants include aluminum hydroxide gel, cocoa butter,glycerinin aqueous solution, lanolin, mineral oil, zinc oxide, calamine, and topical starch.

Anestheticsrelieve the sensation ofpainand burning by blocking sensation in areas where they are placed for a short period. Anesthetics should be used externally on the perianal area because this is where the nerve endings are most concentrated. Active ingredients often found in local anesthetics include benzocaine, dibucaine,lidocaine,pramoxineand tetracaine.

SLIDESHOW

Diabetes: What Raises and Lowers Your Blood Sugar Level?See Slideshow