What is diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitis is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, which affects how the body is able to use glucose for energy.

In order for cells to use glucose for energy, insulin must be present. In people with diabetes, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin (type 1), or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced (type 2 and gestational diabetes).

Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body in the urine. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel.

The three main types of diabetes are:

When your physician diagnoses diabetes, it is likely that he or she will suggest, in addition to lifestyle changes, the following:

The goal of all diabetic treatment is to normalize blood glucose (sugar) levels as much as possible, and to minimize the following long term complications of diabetes:

While individuals with diabetes should check their blood sugar level multiple times per day, the best way to assess the overall level of glucose control is by taking a Hemoglobin A1C test. This provides an average of glucose levels over several months. National guidelines recommend that Hemoglobin A1C levels are measured four times per year. (The higher the Hemoglobin A1C, the more "uncontrolled" the diabetes.)

Routine monitoring of diabetes with a physician, and a coordinated care team, is very important in the proactive management of diabetes.

Lifestyle changes are critical in diabetes management, and are a routine and expected part of a conventional medical care plan. Some changes include:

Type 1 diabetes is not reversible or curable. With Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar can be normalized and managed without medication following adequate diet and exercise, although the ADA has not yet established criteria for diagnosis of actual cure. The following therapies and healing practices are therefore presented primarily as ways of managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, optimizing function, and minimizing complications.

The group of symptoms termed diabetes in conventional medicine has been treated for thousands of years with the system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM looks at signs and symptoms in the context of the whole person. Specifically this system looks at patterns of disharmony, as well as patients' emotional and psychological responses.

Unlike conventional medicine, TCM does not focus on determining or manipulating the blood sugar levels, but rather individualizes a plan to restore balance and harmony, depending upon the nature of the diagnosed imbalance. The most commonly employed therapeutic methods in TCM include acupuncture, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, diet therapy, mind/body exercises (Qigong and Tai Chi), and Tui Na (Chinese massage).

In 1997, the National Institutes of Health released a consensus statement saying that the use of acupuncture in the treatment of diabetes was classified as "effective, but further evidence required." It is important to acknowledge that the consensus statement referred to studies of acupuncture only, and not of the entire systemic approach.

Acupuncture has been shown to lower glucose levels and has been demonstrated to improve peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain, one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes.

Many Chinese herbs and formulations have been used safely for millennia; however, good data on herb/drug interactions is limited. Additionally, the FDA does not regulate the preparation, prescription, or distribution of herbs. Therefore, it is important to work with a reliable and trustworthy source for herbal products. Heavy metal contamination is a concern for products grown in China. Some of the most commonly used herbs in diabetes include: Panax Ginseng, Momodica charantia, Lagenaria siceraria, and Psidium gnajava. These herbs appear to enhance how glucose is metabolized in the body.

The following supplements can be beneficial for those with diabetes. Typical doses for each botanical are indicated below. However, you should talk with your healthcare provider before adding botanicals to your health regimen and ask about the right dosage for you.

Conventional medications should not be discontinued in favor of herbs alone, unless they are weaned off over time, with close glucose monitoring. This requires a working team of an experienced physician and a knowledgeable TCM practitioner.

CAUTION: some herbs commonly used for weight loss may cause blood sugar levels to increase, including Coca seeds, Coffee seeds, Cola seeds, Guarana seeds, Mat'e leaves, and Ma huang.

Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which negatively impacts many different systems of the body. Stress increases the release of glucose from the liver and decreases insulin receptor sensitivity, making insulin work less effectively.

Stress management helps individuals be more effective in regulating their diet and exercising, which are both critical to diabetic management. Meditation, the Relaxation Response, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and biofeedback are just a few of the practices that have been used to manage stress, and have positive impacts on the diabetic patient. See an example of the positive impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

All of these approaches seek to optimize the body's ability to function. When integrating therapeutic approaches to diabetes, all patients must recognize the importance of careful monitoring of blood glucose levels, as well as monitoring for potential side effects, such as drug-herb interactions.

When new therapies and practices are added, ideally glucose levels will decrease or normalize, and prescription medications may need to be decreased in dose, or sometimes even eliminated. Therefore, reliable and regular self-testing of glucose levels, accurate recording/reporting, and frequent communication with your medical care team is critical.

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Diabetes | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing

Diabetes is a life-long disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar), resistance to insulin (when cells in the body cannot effectively use insulin), or both. Diabetes can lead to serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations, such as a foot or lower leg.

In their Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (2014), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends routine screening for type 2 diabetes beginning at age 45, especially in the overweight or obese, and the test should be repeated every three years if the results are normal. Screening is also recommended for all people who are under 45 and overweight or obese and with:

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. As of 2010, 25.8 million people -- 8.3% of the population -- have diabetes; 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2010. The prevalence of diabetes is greater among older people. Among Americans aged 65 years or older, 26.9% (10.9 million people) have diabetes. Over 7 million people remain undiagnosed with diabetes, and roughly 79 million people have prediabetes, when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Long-term damage to the heart and circulatory system can still occur with prediabetes.

Among adults with diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes, 12% take insulin only, 14% take both insulin and oral medication, 58% take oral medication only, and 16% do not take either insulin or oral medication.

The American Diabetes Association states that the total costs of diagnosed diabetes have risen from $174 billion in 2007 to $245 billion in 2012. This figure represents a 41 percent increase over a five year period.

To understand diabetes, it is important to first understand the normal process of food metabolism. Several things happen when food is digested:

People with diabetes have high blood glucose because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin normally (insulin resistance), or both.

There are three major types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes Risk Factors

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors (How Do You Get Type 2 Diabetes?)

Gestational Diabetes Risk Factors

As previously mentioned, the American Diabetes Association recommends that all adults be screened for diabetes at least every three years. A person at high risk should be screened more often.

Research shows that you can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58% by:

High blood levels of glucose can cause several symptoms, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger, fatigue, weight loss, and blurry vision. However, because type 2 diabetes develops slowly, some people with high blood sugar experience no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes:

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes:

Symptoms of Gestational Diabetes

A urinalysis may be used to look for glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat. However, a urine test alone does not diagnose diabetes. The following blood glucose tests are used to diagnose diabetes:

Patients with type 1 diabetes usually develop symptoms over a short period of time, and the condition is often diagnosed in an emergency setting. In addition to having high glucose levels, acutely ill type 1 diabetics have high levels of ketones.

There is no cure for diabetes. The immediate goals are to stabilize your blood sugar and eliminate the symptoms of high blood sugar. The long-term goals of treatment are to prolong life, relieve symptoms, and prevent long-term complications such as heart disease, amputations, and kidney failure.

Lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of diabetes management for all patients. In addition to medication, achieving goals for weight management and diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and moderate alcohol use is imperative for diabetes control.

Bariatic weight loss surgery may be an option for patients with a BMI over 35 kg/m2 and type 2 diabetes. After surgery, patients will need lifelong lifestyle support and medical monitoring.

After you learn the basics of diabetes care, learn how the disease can cause long-term health problems and the best ways to prevent these problems. People with diabetes need to review and update their knowledge, because new research and improved ways to treat diabetes are constantly being developed.

You should work closely with your health care provider to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need in your diet. Your specific meal plans need to be tailored to your food habits and preferences. People with type 1 diabetes should eat at about the same times each day and try to be consistent with the types of food they choose. This helps to prevent blood sugars from becoming extremely high or low. Type 2 diabetics should follow a well-balanced and low-fat diet.

A registered dietician can be very helpful in planning dietary needs.

Weight management is important to achieving control of diabetes. Some people with type 2 diabetes can stop medications after losing excess weight, although the diabetes is still present.

Medications to treat diabetes include insulin and glucose-lowering pills, called oral hypoglycemic agents. People with type 1 diabetes cannot make their own insulin, so daily insulin injections or inhalations are required. People with type 2 diabetes make insulin but cannot use it effectively.

Insulin is not available in oral tablet form, although a new inhaled insulin product called Afrezza was approved in 2014. Afrezza is an ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin that is administered with meals to improve blood sugar control in adult diabetics. Insulin is usually is delivered by injections that are required one to four times per day. Some people use an insulin pump, which is worn at all times and delivers a steady flow of insulin throughout the day.

Insulin preparations differ in how quickly they start to work and how long they remain active. Sometimes different types of insulin are mixed together in a single injection. The types of insulin to use, the doses required, and the number of daily injections are chosen by a health care professional trained to provide diabetes care.

People who need insulin are taught to give themselves injections by their health care providers or diabetes educators. Special insulin pens are also available for some insulins that prevent the need for pulling up insulin with a needle into a syringe. The insulin is stored in the pen and needles can be attached to the pens prior to injection.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes may respond to treatment with exercise, diet, and/or oral medications. There are several oral hypoglycemic agents that lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. Selection of an oral diabetes treatment may follow this general guideline:

Some people with type 2 diabetes find they no longer need medication if they lose weight and increase activity, because when their ideal weight is reached, their own insulin and a careful diet can control their blood glucose levels. Even a 10-15 percent weight loss in some diabetic patients can drastically lower blood sugar.

Oral hypoglycemic agents are not known to be safe for use in pregnancy; women who have type 2 diabetes and take these medications may be switched to insulin during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.

Gestational diabetes is treated with diet and insulin.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is done by checking the glucose content of a drop of blood. Regular testing tells you how well diet, medication, and exercise are working together to control your diabetes.

The results of the test can be used to adjust meals, activity, or medications to keep blood sugar levels in an appropriate range. Testing provides valuable information for the health care provider and identifies high and low blood sugar levels before serious problems develop.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that premeal blood sugar levels fall in the range of 80 to 120 mg/dL and bedtime blood levels fall in the range of 100 to 140 mg/dL. Your doctor may adjust this depending on your circumstances.

You should also ask your doctor how often you need to have your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level checked. The HbA1c is a measure of average blood glucose during the previous two to three months. It is a very helpful way to monitor a patient's overall response to diabetes treatment over time. A person without diabetes has an HbA1c around 5%. People with diabetes should try to keep it below 7%. Usually HbA1c is checked every three months.

Ketone testing is another test that is used in type 1 diabetes. Ketones build up in the blood when there is not enough insulin in people with type 1 diabetes, eventually "spilling over" into the urine. The ketone test is done on a urine sample. High levels of blood ketones may result in a serious condition called ketoacidosis. Ketone testing is usually done at the following times:

Another complication that can be avoided by checking the blood sugar level is Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS). HHNS is a serious condition usually seen in older persons with type 2 diabetes, although it can occur in type 1 patients also. HHNS is usually brought on by an illness or infection. HHNS only occurs when diabetes is uncontrolled. HHNS may occur gradually, and take days or even weeks to develop. The best way to avoid HHNS is to check your blood sugar regularly. Be aware of the symptoms of HHNS that include:

Regular exercise is especially important for people with diabetes. It helps with blood sugar control, weight loss, and high blood pressure. People with diabetes who exercise are less likely to experience a heart attack or stroke than diabetics who do not exercise regularly. You should be evaluated by your physician before starting an exercise program.

Here are some exercise considerations:

Changes in exercise intensity or duration may require changes in diet or medication dose to keep blood sugar levels from going too high or low.

If left untreated, the affected foot may need to be amputated. Diabetes is the most common condition leading to amputations.

To prevent injury to the feet, people with diabetes should adopt a daily routine of checking and caring for the feet as follows:

For additional information, see diabetes resources.

The risks of long-term complications from diabetes can be reduced.

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) studied the effects of tight blood sugar control on complications in type 1 diabetes. Patients treated for tight blood glucose control had an average HbA1c of approximately 7%, while patients treated less aggressively had an average HbA1c of about 9%. At the end of the study, the tight blood glucose group had dramatically fewer cases of kidney disease, eye disease, and nervous system disease than the less-aggressively treated patients.

In the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), researchers followed nearly 4,000 people with type 2 diabetes for 10 years. The study monitored how tight control of blood glucose (HbA1c of 7% or less) and blood pressure (less than 144 over less than 82) could protect a person from the long-term complications of diabetes.

This study found dramatically lower rates of kidney, eye, and nervous system complications in patients with tight control of blood glucose. In addition, there was a significant drop in all diabetes-related deaths, including lower risks of heart attack and stroke. Tight control of blood pressure was also found to lower the risks of heart disease and stroke.

The results of the DCCT and the UKPDS dramatically demonstrate that good blood glucose and blood pressure control, many of the complications of diabetes can be prevented.

Emergency complications include diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma.

Long-term complications include:

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if symptoms of ketoacidosis occur:

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number if symptoms of extremely low blood sugar (hypoglycemic coma or severe insulin reaction) occur:

Maintaining an ideal body weight and an active lifestyle may prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Currently there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

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Diabetes Information from Drugs.com

Good Food

by Alison Feller, May 4, 2017

You might have heard about papayas probiotic powers, or the mega-nutritous (and protein-packed) jackfruitbut usually when nutrition pros talk about fruit, theyre advising you choose from the low-sugar options(and definitely skip the dried varietyaltogether).

But according to anew study,natures candy may reduce the risk for developing diabetes.

The observational study, published in PLOS Medicine, tracked the health and diet of more than 500,000 adults inChina for seven years. It found that those without diabetes at the start who ate fresh fruit daily were found to have a 12 percent lower risk of developing the disease than those who ate none.

The sugar in fruit is not the same as the sugar in manufactured foods and may be metabolized differently.

And the more frequently they ate it, the lower their diabetes risk: More than three days a week resulted ina 17 percent lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 13 percent to 28 percent lower risk of developing diabetes-related complications (compared to those who consumed fruit less than once a week).

While it sounds greateat more fruit, dont get diabetes!it may also soundcontradictory. If high sugar consumption is a leading cause in developing diabetes and fruits are packed with sugars, is it really smart to OD on oranges?

The sugar in fruit is not the same as the sugar in manufactured foods and may be metabolized differently, the lead author, Huaidong Du, MD, a research fellow at the University of Oxford, tells TheNew York Times.And there are other nutrients in fruit that may benefit in other ways.

So go ahead and pass that pomegranate, pineapple, or pitayajust keep doing it in moderation.

Heres how to make the most of your summer fruits: our ultimate smoothie guide. And FYI you can alsomake yourblended concoction a thing of beauty (AKA Instagram-ready).

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Why eating fresh fruit could actually lower your risk of diabetes - Well+Good

An award that could potentially help find a solution to diabetes has been given to an associate professor in the mechanical engineering department at UCSB. Sumita Pennathur received the Visionary Award from the American Diabetes Association, which includes $1.625 million over the course of five years to fund her research.

Pennathur is one of two researchers nationwide who received this award in 2017. The Visionary Award is given to established, experienced investigators with demonstrated success in a different field who want to bring their expertise to diabetes research for the first time.

Im totally out of the field of diabetes. I had nothing to do with it until my daughter was diagnosed, Pennathur said.

Pennathurs daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2015 when she was four years old.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. This happens when the bodys immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells known as beta cells. Without insulin, the body cannot allow sugar to enter the bodys cells to produce energy.

Currently, the causes of Type 1 diabetes are not known, and the most effective way of treating it is through insulin therapy. Although effective, the treatment includes constant blood glucose monitoring that involves pricking finger tips and finding a way to get insulin into the body.

The Pathways to Stop Diabetes Initiative is aimed at addressing the shortage of research talent in diabetes. The ADA believes that by supporting researchers like Pennathur, they can help generate new solutions to these critical problems. Kevin Son/Daily Nexus

My daughter has to take 10 [insulin] shots a day in her stomach, maybe five but sometimes 10, Pennathur said. She needs to do the shots by herself in her stomach. Shes six years old. Imagine being a little kid and having to do that all the time.

Her daughters diagnosis has inspired her to address the challenge of diabetes monitoring, or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

More than several hundred attempts have been made to develop a technique for CGM, but only a couple of them have received FDA approval. The CGM devices currently on the market, including subcutaneous needles that stay in the body for about a week, need to be calibrated twice daily and can give inaccurate readings.

Instead of a monitor that remains inside of the body, Pennathur and her research group have planned to develop a daily disposable patch.

We have to make it disposable because you dont want to stick stuff in your body. Its like a Band-Aid. Were making it like a Band-Aid, Pennathur said.

Although a small device, the patch combines engineering, chemistry and biology, which requires help from other departments.

On campus were doing a patch, so its like an array of needles so its not individually going in and out; its all at once. On the patch is a little hydrogel just think of it as a gooey gel and inside that gel is a bunch of chemicals that were working [on] with [Guillermo] Bazan of the chemistry department, Pennathur said. Hes building a chemical that can not only, if glucose is there, recognize it, but when it recognizes it, it changes its structure so that it fluoresces differently. Itll amplify the fluorescence a lot if the glucose is there.

As of now, Pennathur and her group have built the microneedles and have established how to make the necessary chemicals.

We actually just figured it out. The postdoc is named Bing Wang and hes in Bazans group. He has just figured out the path hes going to take to [make] the gel. Its a bunch of steps. You have to build the chemistry, make sure it works, proof of concept and so he figured out the steps and now we get to do all the steps. Were hoping itll get done in a year, Pennathur said.

Karen Scida, a postdoc who is a part of Pennathurs group is testing the patch and making sure it accurately measures glucose at different levels. Additionally, Scida is coming up with a way of incorporating a thin layer of insulin on the patch itself.

It could talk to the glucose monitor, so its just an artificial pancreas. In other words, you dont have to keep measuring. No finger pricks, its just a patch and you can eat whatever you want to eat, Pennathur said.

Pennathurs approach seems to be the most promising one, but interestingly enough, her background is not in chemistry or biology. She received her bachelors and masters degree in aerospace engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Stanford.

I feel really lucky because I got some of the best education you could possibly get in building these things, and now Im a professor on these things and I want to build a medical device, so the fact Im doing this is terrible serendipity, Pennathur said. I dont want to say serendipity because that has a good connotation. This is terrible what happened to my daughter but at the same time Im going to fix it. No one is going to stop me. My motivation knows absolutely no bounds because this is the most important thing in my life my daughter and Im going to save her life.

With a problem this big, Pennathur believes that a solution can be found in areas outside the typical research.

Its interesting because a lot of times, for these types of problems, you need to think outside the box. You need innovative solutions. You got to do stuff that nobody else knows about, and somebody coming from aerospace engineering, right? Who would know that that person could do research in diabetes, and thats because theres all these things I know, like I build microneedles. I know how to build microneedles, I can make them better than anyone. I can physically go in the clean room and make them myself. People who study diabetes cant make microneedles, Pennathur said.

It is the skills she developed as an engineer that could find help find a way to continuously monitor blood glucose levels.

Its those extra little things you learn that help you get somewhere in life. Again, I hate using the word serendipity, but Ive been trying to do this all my life. I didnt really have some problem to solve; I was just making my tools, and then my daughter got diagnosed and now I have my problem to solve, Pennathur said. Theres nothing else Im going to do but this, and I am so blessed to have the tools in my toolbox to actually try to help. Im going every way and any way to make this happen as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible.

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Engineering a Solution for Diabetes - Daily Nexus

May the fourth be with you ... Sorry, I just couldnt help myself. Happy (early) Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Day, too! I hope youve gotten your tickets and will be joining us at your LifeSpan Center this Friday or Saturday to celebrate with us. I guarantee we will offer you delicious food and beverages, some laughs, and a great time.

Before we have that good time, lets get serious for a few minutes. Nearly 29.1 million Americans and one fourth of adults over the age of 65 have diabetes, a serious disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are above normal. Most people with diabetes have type 2, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes. At one time, type 2 diabetes was more common in people over age 45, but now, even children have the disease.

Diabetes can lead to problems such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, and nerve damage. One out of four people do not know they have diabetes. Many people dont find out they have diabetes until they are faced with problems such as blurry vision or heart trouble. That's why you need to know if you are at risk for diabetes. This is nothing to brush to the side and ignore, folks.

The importance of managing diabetes to prevent diabetes-related health problems such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and amputation is very real. More and more people are being diagnosed with it every day. Approximately one-half of older adults have prediabetes. Scary!

And to add to the drama, many older adults may not show classic symptoms of hyperglycemia (including, but not limited to confusion, dizziness, hunger, and sweating). The extra glucose in the blood accumulates in the kidneys until the kidneys see it as an impurity to be filtered out. Common symptoms are dehydration, dry eyes, dry mouth, confusion, incontinence, and diabetes complications, such as neuropathy or nephropathy.2.

Regardless of age, diabetes is often a life-long condition and requires careful treatment. Eating better, sticking to a healthy diet that is low in sugar (including sugar from fruit) and saturated fats is the first step. It may help to see a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who is a diabetes educator to help you create a healthy meal plan. Medicare will cover the visits every year so you wouldnt have to pay out of pocket for the visit.

Aerobic exercise can help you control your glucose level, manage your weight, and stay strong. The American Diabetes Association recommends exercising 30 minutes each day, at least five days a week. You can split up the exercise into 10-minutes of activity three times a day. In addition, do strength training such as free weights, resistance bands, or yoga, at least two times per week. Strength training builds muscle and helps control glucose levels.

Monitoring your blood sugar levels and taking your prescribed medications correctly is also a must. Your health care team should look at all of your health issues, and help mold a plan that is individualized for you. You should see a certified diabetes educator (CDE) to learn about all the aspects of self-management that you will need to know in order to diminish your risks for the complications of diabetes.

Six month from now millions of Americans will observe National Diabetes Month. So many people suffer from this disease and it is observed every November to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans. It also serves as a reminder to people who may be struggling with the demands of managing diabetes that they are not alone.

Living with diabetes has its ups and downs, but healthy lifestyle choices can give you more control over them. And more control means fewer health problems down the road and a better quality of life now.

The Coles County Council on Aging offices are located at the LifeSpan Center, 11021 E. Co. Rd. 800N, Charleston. The telephone number is 217-639-5150 for the Coles County Council on Aging and LifeSpan Center. Come join us each weekday at noon for Lunch at LifeSpan.

Peace Meals, sponsored by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, are served Monday through Friday at a suggested donation of $3.50. To register, reserve a lunch or learn more, call 217-348-1800.

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Diabetes' prevalence can be managed with diet, exercise | Lifestyles ... - Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

CLEVELAND - An alarming number of new cases of diabetes are being diagnosed among American kids. A CDC report revealed last month that Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are both on the rise.

The findings have doctors raising concerns and making sure parents know the signs and symptoms of diabetes among their children.

She just wasnt acting right but it was nothing I had experienced with the other children, said Tiffany Barzacchini.

Barzacchinis 7-year-old daughter was just 1 year old when she was rushed to the ER with the tell-tale symptoms of diabetes.

She was just lethargic at times, craving water, and by the third day of this, her breathing became real intense, said Barzacchini.

Isola is the youngest of five. None of her older siblings have ever displayed symptoms of diabetes and genetically, theres no trace of the disease in either her moms or dads family history.

The CDC is reporting though that Isola is not alone. In a ten year study of kids from just a few months, to 19-years-old it was discovered each year, there was an increase of 1.8% of new Type 1 diabetes cases and an increase of 4.8% of new Type 2 cases.

Frankly, we dont know the cause, said Dr. Roy Kim, the Section Head of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.

Kim finds the surge in new diabetes cases alarming.

We know that individuals must have a certain genetic predisposition to be at risk for Type 1 Diabetes but there must be other environmental triggers and frankly we just havent figured out what those triggers are, he said.

An increase in Type 2 among kids can be linked to an increase in overall American childhood obesity. Type 2 is directly tied to weight gain, lack of exercise, and unhealthy eating habits. But whats more confusing is a rise in Type 1, a lifelong condition, with the root cause still unknown.

What goes underappreciated is how life changing the diagnosis is for those kids and what they have to go through, said Kim.

It doesnt ever go away, you dont ever get a break from it, it is literally 24/7 that you have to manage it, said Barzacchini.

For Isolas family, managing her disease is a full time job. Her blood is checked for insulin first thing in the morning when she wakes up, at every meal and after physical activity which must be limited.

Its the same story for millions of Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, every 23 seconds in this country, theres a new diabetes diagnosis. Its estimated those patients will pay around $14,000 a year in medical expenses dealing with the disease.

Ultimately in her lifetime Im hoping they have a cure, said Barzacchini.

Symptoms parents should be on the lookout for include increased thirst and urination among their children, a feeling of constant exhaustion or hunger, sometimes weight loss and in its severe form, Type 1 can lead to vomiting, severe dehydration, and a coma-like state.

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CDC reports diabetes is on the rise among children - News 5 Cleveland

A phase 2b trial of Poxels Type 2 diabetes candidate imeglimin has met its primary endpoint. The data sent shares in Poxel soaring 40% and set the company up to push into a phase 3 trial before the end of the year.

Investigators in Japan enrolled 299 patients and randomized them to receive one of three doses of imeglimin or placebo. Participants received the treatment twice a day for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint looked at glycated hemoglobin A1c, a type of hemoglobin that shows the three-month average plasma glucose concentration. A secondary efficacy endpoint looked at levels of fasting plasma glucose.

All three doses of imeglimin outperformed placebo in terms of reducing levels of the hemoglobin. The response was dose dependent. Subjects who received the lowest, 500 mg dose experienced a reduction of 0.52%. Participants who took the highest, 1500 mg dose experienced a reduction of 1.00%. The declines are larger than those seen in earlier trials in the U.S. and Europe.

Dose dependency was also evident in the analysis of the secondary endpoint. Only the two higher doses1000 mg and 1500 mgmet that endpoint. Analysis of additional secondary endpoints is ongoing. Poxel said the safety profile was consistent with that seen in earlier trials. Those studies found the safety profile of imeglimin was comparable to placebo.

Buoyed by the data, Poxel plans to talk to regulators in Japan in the third quarter and kick off a phase 3 study in the fourth quarter. That would set Poxel up to generate pivotal data in a market that is central to its plans.

In Japan, we believe imeglimin may be a prime candidate for first-line treatment as monotherapy and as an add-on to other glucose lowering therapies for the treatment of patients with Type 2 diabetes, Poxel CEO Thomas Kuhn said in a statement. Japan represents the second largest single market for Type 2 diabetes and is expected to grow to approximately $6 billion (5.5 billion) in annual sales in 2020.

Kuhn has previously expressed a willingness for Poxel to run clinical trials of imeglimin in Japan without the support of a partner but bring someone on board to handle commercialization. Poxel raised 26.5 million last year to fund a phase 3 trial in Japan. That round came two months after Poxel floated the idea of a Nasdaq IPO, only to back away in the face of an unreceptive market.

The development strategy in Europe and the U.S. is different. Poxel has long expressed an interest in partnering the asset in those markets before taking it into phase 3.

Merck Serono spinout Poxel thinks imeglimin can claim a slice of the diabetes market by affecting the bioenergetics of mitochondria and, in doing so, preserve the function of beta cells.

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Poxel shares jump 40% after diabetes trial hits primary goal - FierceBiotech

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics during this course. (Courtesy photo)

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a nonprofit dedicated to promoting preventive medicine, is offering a cooking class designed to help local residents with type 2 diabetes avoid complications from the disease and reduce or eliminate the need for medications.

Food for Life: The Power of Food for Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class will be held Thursdays from May 18 to June 8 at Salud Family Health Center, 1950 Redtail Hawk Dr. There is a suggested donation of $10 to attend the classes.

The course teaches participants how food choices can prevent and treat type 2 diabetes and arms them with practical cooking skills for making healthy and delicious meals. People who have type 2 diabetes, or concerns about developing diabetes and their friends and family members will benefit from the class.

"Research shows type 2 diabetes can be controlled and even reversed with a healthy plant-based diet," said Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., the director of nutrition education for PCRM. "A vegan diet can help people with diabetes control blood sugar more effectively than the standard diabetes dietary regimen."

The class, designed by physicians, diabetes educators, registered dietitians and professional chefs, offers an easy-to-follow dietary approach based on scientific research. Population studies and clinical research show that a low-fat, plant-based diet is effective at improving blood glucose levels, promoting weight loss, reducing cholesterol and lowering the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Local instructor Chazz Glaze will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics and guide students through the preparation of tasty and easy-to-prepare recipes. Participants will watch a 30-minute DVD featuring Neal Barnard, M.D., speaking on the role of meal planning, as well as inspiring interviews with people who reversed their diabetes with a vegan diet. They will also enjoy food samples of the recipes prepared in class.

The class details are as follows:

Thursday, May 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. How Foods Fight Diabetes

Thursday, May 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Power of Your Plate (and Grocery Cart)

Thursday, June 1, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Understanding Type 2 Diabetes and Recognizing and Treating Low Blood Sugar

Thursday, June 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Designing a Diet for Maximum Weight Control

Students will leave the class with delicious recipes, information on how to switch to a vegan diet and additional diabetes resources, including information on online webcasts and group support. Participants are strongly encouraged to work with their health care team to safely make dietary changes.

For more information about the Food for Life Diabetes Nutrition and Cooking Class program or to register for the classes, email Glaze at aveganwithaltitude@gmail.com or call (970) 235-1586.

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Diabetes prevention and treatment cooking classes start May 18 - Estes Park Trail-Gazette