Diabetic Medication - Its Side Effects And What Are They?

Metformin (Glucophage) is a drug of choice for type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent). This is an oral medication that assists in controlling the sugar levels in the blood. It can be used in combination with insulin or other drugs. Metformin can also be used in treating polycystic ovary syndrome although it's not yet officially acknowledged. Just like other medications which have side effects, Metformin side effects should also be watched for.



People who are prescribed to take this medication are required to undergo regular blood sugar level determination. Although metformin does not cause the blood sugar level to drop drastically it may cause severe hypoglycemia if used in combination with other anti-diabetic medications. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia are cool pale skin, cold sweats, anxiety, tremors, peculiar weakness or tiredness, mental confusion, excessive hunger, nausea and headache.



Metformin should never be used for patients with impaired renal functions as it could lead to a serious condition known as lactic acidosis, excessive lactic acid in the blood. People who have liver problems are also potential of developing lactic acidosis. Signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis include rapid breathing, weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, muscle weakness and other unusual feeling. Kidney and liver functions should be checked at least once a year to prevent future problems.



If you are prescribed to undergo an X-ray examination and an iodinated dye (contrast agent) is necessary, you need to inform your prescribing physician that you are taking Metformin. Normally, the medication has to be stopped prior and 48 hours following the diagnostic procedure. The patient should only resume the medication once kidney function test is done and is found to be in normal condition.



Aside from decreased kidney and liver functions, there are other conditions that contraindicate usage of Metformin. These conditions include diabetic ketoacidosis, dehydration, decreased blood flow to vital organs due to shock, severe infection or trauma, respiratory failure, heart failure, alcoholism, alcoholic intoxication and children under ten years old. Also, people who are sensitive to any of its components should never take the medication without consulting a doctor or pharmacist. If allergic reaction is noticed during the first dose, immediately stop taking the medication.



If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant and you are taking Metformin, you should inform your physician the soonest possible time. Pregnant women are normally given insulin for a more stable control of blood sugar levels. Lactating women should also avoid Metformin since it may pass into their breast milk.



Among the Metfomin side effects, gut disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and loss of appetite are the most common that it affects more than 1 in 10 people. Taste distance, a feeling of metallic taste occurs in 1 out of 100 people. Very rare side effects are lactic acidosis, reduced vitamin B12 absorption with chronic use, and skin reaction like itching, flushing or rash.



For more detailed information regarding the side effects of Metformin, you should consult your physician or pharmacist. Avoid taking this medication without the guidance of your physician as it might lead to serious untoward reactions

Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes - The Life Threatening High Blood Sugar Effects You Must Understand

Of course you want to make sure your kids are safe.



Most symptoms of juvenile diabetes are very similar to early diabetes signs and symptoms in general. In most people, you'll see high blood sugar effects in plenty of time to treat them



But sometimes not in kids.



That's because they have no history of diabetes and you're not expecting it to hit so young. So you can mistake it for something else and when it gets serious you must act quickly to keep your kids safe.



So what are the symptoms of juvenile diabetes?



Generally, they relate to starving cells for glucose at the same time that excess glucose builds up in the blood. I you Google type 1 diabetes symptoms, you'll find lots of articles on it - frequent peeing and drinking, weight loss and wasting, weakness, and incessant hunger.



But some kids sometimes will experience very serious symptoms for diabetes. These come from ketone bodies building up in the blood and urine, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis.



And this, you must get help for at once.



How to recognize it: Your son will be hit with nausea, abdominal pain, and at times, vomiting. His blood will get thick like syrup. He'll get drowsy and may fall unconscious. And if the situation isn't corrected quickly, he may die. (If you ever have any question that this may be going on, call your doctor immediately).



The treatment is straightforward and uneventful when the problem is handled quickly.



The best course of action for you, is to never let your child get that advanced with symptoms of juvenile diabetes. The challenge with kids often is that they don't want to follow the diet and exercise program you put them on.



It's just not cool.



And peer pressure is more powerful than the specter of health problems for a young person.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms - 5 + 1 Damaging High Blood Sugar Effects to Look Out For

Congratulations on your pregnancy!



Wouldn't you like some peace of mind about the possibility that you're having gestational diabetes symptoms?



Fortunately, there's a pretty quick way to rule out high blood sugar effects in some cases.



So to know for sure, what do you need to be on the look out for?



Here is' the quick gestational diabetes litmus test.



Gestational diabetes is caused by hormone put out by your developing child (fetus) and the part of you that brings nourishment to your child (your placenta). Those hormones tend to work against insulin and they build up enough in your system to recognize the symptoms by about your 20th week.



So, your first question is, are you 20 weeks along. If not, this is likely not new diabetes brought on by pregnancy. If so, are you in your normal blood sugar range? If not, have your doctor check you for diabetes in about 1 to 2 months.



OK, what are you looking for? Here are the commonest gestational diabetes symptoms.



1. You're peeing a lot and drinking all the time. Remember a hormone may be attacking your insulin. Well, insulin is what helps your body's cells receive blood sugar (glucose) for energy.



If that system isn't working well, you're building up sugar in your blood, which spills into your urine, which absorbs water to dilute the sugar, which fills your bladder. And you get the most common blood sugar effects and go off to the bathroom.



2. You're hungry all the time. The glucose should be getting absorbed by your cells. It's not. So your cells are being starved (as if another person growing inside you weren't taking enough energy).



3. You're really tired. Some of the cells that can't receive enough glucose are your muscle and fat cells. They aren't getting fuel. So they can't produce energy. And you're fatigued.



4. Weight gain or loss. Insulin is a builder hormone. And yours isn't effective for the reasons we described above. So your body begins to break down. Muscle and fat are turned into glucose which you're just peeing out anyway.



5. Blurry vision. Your eyes are absorbing water too. So they get pushed out of shape. And you can no longer see well. It seems like one of the least important high blood sugar effects at first. But you can see why diabetes can lead to blindness in the long run.



+1. Vaginal infections. The little beasties in your body - yeast, fungus, etc. love sugar. And you have a lot extra in your blood (which is why they call it sugar diabetes symptoms as well). So the beasties feast. And you wonder why you can't get rid of your infection.



You can see the tough part of recognizing gestational diabetes symptoms, can't you. Every pregnant person is experiencing many of these symptoms. So it's a matter of degree.



But it's vital you take care of them. More than 50% of women who get gestational diabetes develop type 2 within 15 years. And even if you don't, you can get high blood pressure (from pre-eclampsia), premature labor, or too much amniotic fluid.



So don't take a chance.

The Effects of Diabetes

Diabetes is being a huge health problem. Many people suffer from diabetes and the other medical side effects it cause. An early diagnosis of diabetes can help a person to avoid serious related diseases. The earlier diabetes is caught the easy it is for doctors to monitor the patients overall health, thus preventing any further medical problems.



Diabetes is when the pancreas does not function properly and glucose levels fall outside the normal range. A normal glucose reading is lower than 110 mg/dL upon waking in the morning and lower than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. There are simple blood tests that are used to diagnose diabetes. Once diagnosed a person will work with their doctor to determine a treatment. Treatments can include diet changes, pills, or injections. Any history, family history and people in certain ethnic groups may be at elevated risk for developing diabetes. There are different types of diabetes. Some start in childhood, some start in adulthood and another form occurs during pregnancy. All can cause harmful effects on the body if not taken care of.



Long term effects of diabetes are usually due to a patient letting their glucose levels remain elevated for long periods of time. That is why early detection is important. Excess blood sugar levels have a horrible effect on the body. Some common effects from diabetes include vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and circulation problems. A person with diabetes is at a higher risk for these types of conditions, but a person who does not control their diabetes is even more likely to develop one of these conditions.



Diabetes is a disease that does not have a cure. Diagnosing and treating diabetes have evolved into easier processes. A person with diabetes can normally live life as they did before their diagnosis. Living with diabetes is a matter of taking control over the disease and preventing complications.

Gestational Diabetes - Causes and Effects

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)



Gestational diabetes affects 3-10% of pregnancies, based on the population set examined. Gestational diabetes is a treatable condition and with adequate control of glucose levels woman can effectively decrease these risks.



Screening



As the symptoms of Gestational Diabetes remain very unclear so doctors suggest all pregnant patients should be screened for gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. Screening can be done with many techniques out of which one happens to be laboratory screening (the oral glucose tolerance test.



Causes



As such very specific causes have not come in light but it is believed that the hormones which are observed during pregnancy increase a woman's resistance to insulin, which ultimately results in impaired glucose tolerance. Major factors which are relevant in relation to GDM are given below



A. Preexistence Factor Impaired glucose tolerance, prediabetes
B. Genetic Factor Some direct relative with type 2 diabetes
C. Age Factor As the usual target is 35 plus age group
D. Obesity factor Obesity leads to any form of diabetes
E. Pregnancy History Factor A previous pregnancy which resulted in a child with a high birth weight
F. Pregnancy period Factor Smoking multiplies the risk



Effect on the newborn and mother herself



Women who are tested positive with gestational diabetes are at an increased risk of delivering a baby with growth abnormalities and chemical imbalances. So the babies are born with more than normal or less than normal weight for that gestational age. Scientifically such babies are termed as LGA (Large for gestational age) and SGA (Small for gestational age) respectively. The babies born to women who suffer gestational diabetes have an increased risk of jaundice and low blood sugar levels.



The mother becomes prone to type 2 diabetes after pregnancy period. One of the longest studies followed a group of women from Boston, Massachusetts; half of them developed diabetes after 6 years, and more than 70% had diabetes after 28 years. In a retrospective study in Navajo women, the risk of diabetes after GDM was estimated to be 50 to 70% after 11 years. Another study found a risk of diabetes after GDM of more than 25% after 15 years In populations with a low risk for type 2 diabetes, in lean subjects and in patients with auto-antibodies, there is a higher rate of women developing type 1 diabetes.



Diet Plan



If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes then you must consult your doctor regarding your diet plan. as words of caution you should avoid eating foods that contain a lot of simple sugar, such as cake, cookies, candy or ice cream instead eating foods which contain natural sugars, are advisable. Depending upon how much weight you gain during your pregnancy, you should be advised by your doctor to follow the prescribed diet plan.