Type 2 Diabetes - Maintaining a Healthy Pregnancy to Help Prevent Hydrocephalus in the Baby

Hydrocephalus, colloquially known as "water on the brain" takes place when there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain and leading to increased pressure inside the skull. This usually leads to gradual enlargement of the child's head.

Brain matter can be abnormally compressed by too much fluid. This is a serious condition that can lead to intellectual defects, tunnel vision, and convulsions.The brain is normally bathed in cerebrospinal fluid, which circulates through the brain and spinal cord. Hydrocephalus is created when the fluid is unable to drain from the brain to the spinal cord. Various factors, such as bleeding, neurological defect, and meningitis can be associated with the condition. Some cases start before the infant is born, while others begin outside the womb.

Researchers at the Washington State University, in Seattle, USA, and Seattle Children's Hospital, looked at hydrocephalus diagnosed during the first year after birth, and how three common types were associated with diabetes and other factors. Their study, reported on in November 2014 in the journal Pediatric Neurology, included...

1748 children with hydrocephalus and
19,700 without.
It was found hydrocephalus associated with neurological defect was almost twice as likely in children whose mothers had diabetes as in those with healthy mothers. Children of diabetic pregnancies were more than five times as likely to have hydrocephalus commence in the uterus or be associated with bleeding, as those from uncomplicated pregnancies. Other risk factors included race, with Caucasians having a higher risk than Asians, high blood pressure, and prematurity.

One in every 500 infants is diagnosed with hydrocephalus. There are about 75,000 diagnoses per year in United States hospitals alone. During well baby checkups, doctors measure the baby's head size to be sure their head is not too large due to fluid buildup. They chart head size as the infant grows to be sure the baby's head is growing at a normal rate.

When hydrocephalus is suspected, images of the brain are taken for diagnosis. When the condition is diagnosed a shunt is often inserted surgically. A shunt consists of a plastic tube that conveys cerebrospinal fluid from the head to another point in the body, where it can then be removed.

One method of helping to prevent hydrocephalus is to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Mothers need to avoid or control Type 2 and Gestational diabetes by...

following a healthy eating plan,
maintaining weight control, and
taking part in adequate exercise
Type 1 diabetes should be controlled with insulin as directed by the doctor.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

Type 2 Diabetes - What Is the Cause of Thirst in Diabetes?

One of the warning signs of Type 2 diabetes is excessive thirst. If this was something you noticed before you were diagnosed, you may be wondering what caused your thirst. Learning more about excessive thirst can help you better understand Type 2 diabetes, and also alert you so you are able to avoid developing one of the destructive complications associated with this form of diabetes.

When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or doesn't respond well to insulin. Scientists don't know the exact cause of this - or why it happens to some people and not others. But they do know obesity is the main risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, and for most people, diabetes occurs when your pancreas becomes clogged with fatty particles. These particles damage the pancreas and make it so it can't produce as much insulin.

Insulin has an important role in your body - it moves glucose (sugar) from your blood to your cells, where it can be used for energy. When there isn't enough insulin or it's not working right, there are two problems that happen. First, the sugar never makes it to your cells so your body doesn't receive the energy it needs.

The other problem is the sugar builds up in your blood where it causes problems with many organs of your body. High blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels, eyes, and nerves, leading to serious diabetes complications. This is where the excessive thirst comes in. When sugar builds up in your blood, your kidneys start working hard to get rid of it so it doesn't cause problems throughout your body. Your kidneys do this by pulling water from other areas of your body and making you urinate more often. This gets rid of the sugar - but it also makes you thirsty since you need to replace the fluid your kidneys are excreting.

Now you know what causes thirst in Type 2 diabetes, you can use your thirst as a way to monitor how well you're managing your blood sugar. You'll also check your blood sugar throughout the day, which is the best way to monitor your control of Type 2 diabetes. Through following a healthy meal plan, exercising, and possibly taking insulin and/or oral diabetes medications, you'll be able to take control of your condition and make sure your blood sugar doesn't get too high. This will help you get the energy you need from what you eat and avoid many of the dangerous diabetes complications.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

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