Why Do Diabetics Inject Insulin Vs. Taking a Pill?
Diabetes is a serious medical condition in which the body fails to produce or use insulin appropriately. Insulin is needed to convert sugar and starches into energy. Without insulin a diabetic would not have energy for movement, growth and other bodily functions. Diabetics inject insulin so that it enters the bloodstream instantly to perform all of its useful functions. Insulin is generally taken by injection because if it was taken in the usual pill form, it would dissolve quickly through the digestive tract and fail to reach the bloodstream.
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Pumpkin Extract Replacing Insulin Injections?
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Over the past few years, Chinese researchers have worked on a study involving pumpkin extract in diabetic rats to show how pumpkin extract can prevent the progressive destruction of pancreatic beta-cells caused by diabetes. Researchers had both diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats consume pumpkin extract daily for a month. The diabetic rats' blood sugar was lowered, while the non-diabetic rats were unaffected by the pumpkin extract.
This research was also compared to diabetic rats who did not take pumpkin extract. The diabetic rats who took the pumpkin extract were able to produce more abundant insulin-making pancreatic cells than the diabetic rats that were not given pumpkin extract. While this may be good news, the pumpkin extract only saves some of the insulin-making pancreatic cells, not all. Keep an eye on the news to find out if and when pumpkin extract may replace insulin injections in humans.
HIM2 May Replace Injections
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Hexyl-insulin monoconjugate 2 (HIM2) is an insulin pill that is still in the clinical trial stage. It was developed by Nobex Corporation with the help of GlaxoSmithKline and is promising for diabetics who would prefer to take a pill over an injection. HIM2 uses polymer technology to resist the dissolving effect of pills so that the body can utilize the insulin and absorb it into the bloodstream as quickly as possible. Results from the trials showed that the pill worked best when taken a few minutes before a meal. Once the pills reach the market, diabetics are expected to achieve the same results with HIM2 as they do with insulin injections.
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Diabetes Types 1 and 2
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A type 1 diabetic does not produce insulin at all and is at risk for developing heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage and blindness. Taking good care of your eyes, skin, feet, heart and gums could reduce these risks.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes face insulin resistance, which means either there is not enough insulin produced or cells ignore insulin. A type 2 diabetic is at risk for the same medical conditions as a type 1 diabetic and likewise needs to take good care of the eyes, skin, feet, heart and gums.
Controlling Diabetes Through Diet and Exercise
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According to Amy Campbell, a dietitian and diabetes educator with www.diabetesselfmanagement.com, about 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In the early stages, type 2 diabetics still produce insulin and may be able to control their blood glucose levels through diet and exercise, which enable the body to use the insulin it produces more efficiently.
As the diabetes progresses, however, diet and exercise are not enough to help the body regulate its own insulin, and first medication and eventually insulin are needed.
Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels
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Blood glucose monitors come in differing sizes from large and easy to read to compact monitors that can be put in your pocket. The monitors have a needle on the end that pricks the finger and measuring the levels from the blood. The readings taken from the monitor will determine whether you are at your target range or if you need to alter your medications and sugar intake.
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