Type 2 Diabetes - Having Diabetes Raises the Risk of Developing Brain Atrophy and Dementia

It is widely known having Type 2 diabetes raises the risk of having or developing brain atrophy and dementia. Scientists at Fuzhou General Hospital and several other research institutions in Fujian and Jiangsu, China, took a closer look at the brain to determine which structures were smaller or shaped differently in people with the condition.

Using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), investigators viewed the brain of 23 people with Type 2 diabetes and 24 healthy participants. All participants were given tests showing how well their brain was functioning.

Brain shrinkage was seen in two parts of the brain called the thalamus and bilateral caudate head. Such reduction was linked to poor performance on tests of brain use and with poorly-controlled HbA1c. MRI also showed changes of shape along with the loss of brain tissue. The researchers concluded the analysis of brain changes in Type 2 diabetes could greatly help us to understand how such changes could affect thinking.

The thalamus receives sensory information on touch, pain, or temperature from nerves located throughout the body. From there it relays the information to various parts of the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain used for thinking. Different parts of the cerebral cortex handle information coming from specific regions of the body. More research is needed to clarify how atrophy and change of shape could change how this process works and how it might make a difference in the lives of people with Type 2 diabetes.

The bilateral caudate head, a part of the caudate nucleus, is located near the thalamus and performs a vital role in learning. It helps the individual to use past experiences to make new decisions. It is thought to be important in communication.

Damage to the caudate nucleus can cause unusual behavioral changes, including...

• a decreased ability to move,
• mental stagnation and the lack of initiative,
• restlessness,
• a lack of ability to control impulses,
• confusion, and
• psychosis-like signs.

How might atrophy and the change of brain shape affect so many functions? More investigation will explain how these changes might be linked to Alzheimer's disease.

It is no secret people with Type 2 diabetes have a significantly increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, by up to 65 percent. As a person becomes resistant to insulin, it has been found insulin in the brain falls below healthy levels and then normal signaling and transmission of brain chemicals start to suffer. This is when proteins known as beta-amyloid accumulate in the brain. These are the destructive compounds associated with Alzheimer's disease.

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 - Dental Problems Affecting People With Diabeteeeing the dentist twice a year is important for more than oral care. It can indicate the possible presence of Type 2 diabetes. Scientists at the University of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, and several other research institutions in Brazil compared 116 Type 2 diabetic dental participants with 134 nondiabetic dental participants. Oral problems were seen more often in the people who had a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

The problems most often are seen were...

• pseudomembranous candidiasis,
• lichen planus,
• lingual varices,
• xerostomia (dry mouth), and
• inflamed implants.

The researchers concluded oral lesions should be diagnosed as soon as possible in those with Type 2 diabetes for two reasons. Dental problems can lead to out-of-control blood sugar levels, and dental problems can allow microorganisms to enter and form infections. The researchers go on to recommend dental treatment should be carried out as soon as possible.

Pseudomembranous candidiasis is a fungal infection which forms white plaques in the mouth. The fungal species Candida can be found in the mouth of healthy people but can cause infection in patients with compromised immune systems. Diabetic patients are susceptible to infection because high and unstable blood sugar levels impair the immune system.

Lichen planus takes place in the mouth and on the skin. In the mouth, it appears as tiny, lace-like white patches or redness and swelling. They can peel, and sores can cause burning pain. It has been suggested lichen planus could be due to the hepatitis C virus. When a metal filling is involved switching to nonmetal can be curative.

Xerostomia is oral dryness caused by lack of saliva. Anyone with the condition is susceptible to infections because they do not make enough saliva to keep their mouth clean. Signs and symptoms include...

• a sensation of dryness,
• stringy saliva,
• having difficulty with swallowing or speaking,
• bad breath,
• tooth decay,
• gum disease, and
• a change in the sense of taste.

Implants can become inflamed when bacteria grow around them, just as it can around natural teeth. Keeping blood sugar levels under control help to prevent bacteria from growing. Bacteria grow when saliva provides it with energy in the form of sugar. As the bacteria grow and multiply, the compromised immune system is unable to fight the infection.

When the above dental problems are diagnosed, especially in people at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, then blood sugar levels need to be measured. Factors putting people at risk include...

• being overweight or obese,
• smoking or air pollution,
• a family history,
• a history of Gestational diabetes or having had a baby weighing 9 pounds or over,
• poor nutrition,
• age at least 45 years,
• African, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander heritage,
• having high blood pressure, and
• leading a sedentary lifestyle.

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.

For nearly 25 years, Beverleigh Piepers has searched for and found a number of secrets to help you build a healthy body. Go to http://DrugFreeType2Diabetes.com to learn about some of those secrets.

The answer isn't in 

Type 2 Diabetes - Carbon Dioxide Laser Shows Promise in Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious complication of Type 2 diabetes and are related to the high levels of blood sugar sustained over time. These particular diabetic ulcers consist of open sores on the feet. If not prevented or treated early they can infect the bone, requiring intravenous antibiotics or even amputation. Worldwide 300 million people are expected to develop diabetic foot ulcer by the year 2025. By 2031 the number is projected to rise to 360 million, or 5 percent of the world's population, according to the National Institutes of Health in the United States. As stated by the American Podiatric Medical Association, diabetic foot ulcers occur in about 15 percent of people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and usually develop on the bottom surface of the foot. About 6 percent of diabetics with the condition require hospitalization. In the United States...

• about 19 percent of the people who develop diabetic foot ulcers require amputation.
• a total of 85 percent of amputations in people diagnosed with diabetes follow foot ulcers.

In April of 2017, the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation reported on a study comparing the use of carbon dioxide laser therapy with standard treatment...

• standard treatment consists of using a knife to cut away dead tissue.
• carbon dioxide laser therapy consists of destroying dead tissue with laser radiation.

Investigators at the University of Careggi in Florence and several other research institutions in Italy found...

• carbon dioxide laser therapy killed 99.9 percent of the bacteria in these type of ulcers.
• standard treatment destroyed only 50 percent of the bacteria.
• the amount of ulcer covered with dead skin decreased by more than 84 percent with the laser treatment, compared to
• almost 47 percent of those receiving standard treatment.

The scientists concluded carbon dioxide lasers could be a useful treatment for healing diabetic foot ulcers.

Bacteria infecting foot ulcers are a mixed bunch. Antibiotics used to treat the ulcers are usually broad-spectrum, meaning they kill a wide variety of bacteria.

People with Type 2 diabetes are advised to take good care of their feet to prevent ulcers...

• wearing properly fitted shoes and purchasing a new pair every year is a good start.
• your feet should be kept clean: washed in lukewarm water and moisturized with lotion.
• the toenails should be cut straight across. Professional nail clipping by a podiatrist is one option, particularly for any diabetics with poor eyesight or numbness in their feet.

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 - The Greatest Wealth Is Your Health and No Diabetes

Life offers many different pursuits. Money, relationships, status, and recognition are perhaps the most common. Each and every one of us can relate in some way. Unfortunately, we often overlook the greatest and most rewarding pursuit, which is improving and maintaining our health. It is by far the most important component of a "good life" because so much depends on our well-being.

We are all guilty of disregarding our health to some extent, favoring other objectives. We make mistakes: taking our health for granted is just one example. But we must learn from this, otherwise, we risk becoming ill and developing serious health problems.

What is your perspective on health and well-being? Do you believe it is as important as we are making it sound? Objectively, the greatest wealth is your health. Why? In the absence of good health, everything in your life is jeopardized...

• your relationships may be strained,
• your daily life may be encumbered, and
• your life may be at risk.

Health cannot be bought. Although money solves many problems, reversing a disease or extending your life is often beyond what it can do. Even if you were the richest person in the world, what would be the point if you were chronically bedridden? You would not be able to enjoy your material wealth, not to mention your satisfaction with life would be severely impaired.

Which brings us to what is perhaps the most important point - your overall happiness. Your happiness and mental well-being are undoubtedly affected when your health is not up to par. Even minor worries and anxieties that surface when you are a Type 2 diabetic or chronically overweight, take their toll. The cost of being unhealthy is simply too high to withstand and that is not even considering we all have a final breaking point. But this is a stage you should not ever get to.

If you start to realize your health is the greatest wealth, you can begin to act accordingly. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to maximize your well-being and prevent common conditions like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Needless to say, a healthy diet and regular physical activity are essential. But each offers many benefits beyond just improving your health, so it should be an easy decision to incorporate exercise and healthy eating into your daily life.

Ultimately, you should take care of yourself because your health is what is most precious. Don't make the mistake of realizing this later, when the damage might already be done.

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.