Is Your Teenager Moody? - Perhaps Hypoglycemia is the Problem

Teenagers go through a difficult emotional period and yet there might be a deeper underlying reason of extremes in their low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).



Parents of teenagers know that this time in their lives can be awkward. They are starting to battle with hormones, face decisions about their lives that have to be taken seriously, and start thinking about things like driving and working. Parents also know that this can be an unpleasant time in their household, as their teenager goes through these changes and more likely than not can be temperamental or difficult. This can cause a lot of unrest in the household amongst parents and other siblings.



However, it is important that as a parent, you don't just dismiss these mood swings or outbursts as just "typical teenage behavior". Your child may be displaying symptoms of a medical condition called hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.



This is characterized by some of the common teenage behaviors like rapid mood swings, fatigue, and excessive hunger. Just reading this list of symptoms may be an exact description of the way your teenager is behaving. But ignoring these symptoms without considering hypoglycemia as a cause can lead to dangerous and more serious side effects like confusion, coma or seizure.



Teenagers are often "on the go" and may not be eating regularly. They may also have a more hectic schedule with after-school activities, social engagements, or a job; and will be exerting more energy. These types of things will cause low blood sugar levels to occur and lead to hypoglycemic episodes in which they display the above described symptoms.



While these symptoms are warning signs to the body, and often a person will automatically respond by having something to eat, a teenager may ignore them in order to complete their task at hand, or to fit in socially by joining their friends at the fast food outlet. This can have dangerous consequences.



Identifying hypoglycemia in your teenager can literally be a lifesaver. By researching hypoglycemia and educating yourself and your teenager, you can learn to recognize these signs, and devise a sensible and realistic meal plan and strategy for managing hypoglycemic episodes.



While it may not relieve all of the afflictions of the teenage years, it can lead to a healthier and happier child and in turn a more pleasant household. You and your teenager don't have to suffer, if you just arm yourself with the knowledge to combat hypoglycemia.

Diabetes Has Now Become A Global Problem

Diabetes has indeed become a global problem, and in almost every country of the world, it is on the rise. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects as many as 16 million Americans. The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, is also becoming increasingly common in The United States. This type of diabetes is strongly associated with inactivity and obesity of modern day living, and is in fact the most common form of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is also now starting to plague developing nations, and is found in children, teens and adults within all racial and ethnic groups. It is a serious disease and should not be ignored. The cause of diabetes is unknown, although genetics plays a role.



The key to managing diabetes is knowledge. Diabetes is a chronic (life-long) condition that without treatment can have serious consequences. It is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the leading cause of blindness among adults in USA.



With diabetes being on such a dramatic increase in the United States, and in fact worldwide, it's helpful to understand what diabetes is, and what to look for. Diabetes is, simply put, a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. The symptoms of diabetes are often silent and it's not until a complication, often heart disease, happens that a diagnosis is made. If you wait for symptoms in diabetes, then you are already too late. Although the most common symptoms of diabetes are usually excessive thirst, excessive hunger, and excessive urination, other symptoms may include sweating, trembling, hunger, dizziness, moodiness, confusion, and blurred vision. Although the symptoms in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar, they tend to develop gradually in type II Diabetes, and are not as noticeable as they are in type 1 diabetes.



Even though there is no actual cure for Diabetes, it can be kept under control. Monitoring your blood sugar (also called glucose) level can help you take better care of your diabetes. This is easily checked with a blood glucose meter (glucometer), and is one of the most important steps you can take yourself in managing your diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible will help you to feel better, and also reduces the risk of long-term complications of diabetes. High blood sugar can cause heart and kidney problems, blindness, stroke, the loss of a foot or leg, or even kill you. Low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, only occurs as a result of treating your diabetes, and it can quickly become an emergency that needs to be treated immediately.



Blood sugar increases after you eat or drink anything besides water, so you have to watch your diet carefully, as too much sugar in your food will give a high blood sugar level. As mentioned previously, being able to check your blood sugar levels on a day-to-day basis can greatly improve your diabetes control. Spreading carbohydrate intake throughout the day also helps to keep your blood sugar levels within a safe range.



While some diabetics can manage their blood sugar levels with just oral medication, others need insulin. You will be guided by your medical team as to the best course for you personally.



Diabetes is a truly global problem, and a very serious disease which is tough to tackle. Diabetes is no respecter of age, class or race and is on the rise, both in men, and women, young and old. The key to managing diabetes is knowledge, so try to equip yourself with the information you need to control your diabetes properly.



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Diabetes Mellitus and Pancreatitis in Cats - What You Should Know About This Glandular Problem

Older cats may suffer from hormone related diseases caused by glandular changes that occur with advancing age. Again, most vets recommend routine screening for hormone levels in the blood because early intervention with diet, drugs, and other treatments improve the odds of effective control of these diseases.



Let's look at some of the more common glandular problems seen in older cats. The pancreas produces several enzymes that are essential for processing sugars and fats in the diet. Diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas loses its ability to metabolize and regulate blood sugar through the production of insulin.



Symptoms of diabetes include heavy water consumption, and consequently, heavy urination. Obesity can lead to diabetes, but not all diabetic cats are fat. If your cat drinks and urinates a lot, or if she is overweight, consider having her tested for diabetes.



Some cases can be managed with changes in diet, but many diabetic cats require daily insulin injection to control excess blood sugar. If that is true for your cat, your vet can teach you to give the injections at home and to monitor blood sugar with urine glucose strips available from any pharmacy.



He also can explain what to do if your cat's blood sugar drops too low from the insulin injections. Even with careful home care and monitoring, you will need to take your cat to the vet frequently to be sure that her insulin dosage is correct.



Pancreatitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, and elevated heart rate. Eating too much fatty food can bring on an attack of pancreatitis, or it can be caused by certain infections, medication, metabolic disorders, trauma or shock.



If your cat is diagnosed with pancreatitis, your vet will probably advise you to withhold food for a short period to give the pancreas a chance to rest and recover. He also may administer fluids and electrolytes to combat dehydration and may prescribe other treatments to manage potential complications or to address the suspected cause of the pancreatitis.

This Diabetic Dog Food May Cure Your Dog's Problem Altogether

Searching for the best diabetic dog food should lead you to a cure, rather than simply to stop the symptoms getting worse. The reason being is that the food you feed your dog may be the cause of the diabetes.



You may well be insulted by this remark. After all, you do your best. You choose the best dog food recommended by your learned and trusted veterinarian. Surely they know best? And it isn't as if you buy cheap food. You may be spending a lot on the dog food that you believe is the best.



Let's run through a few facts that may lead your vet to recommend a product.



Universities around the world are finding the financial burden greater and greater as inflation and recession take their toll. All universities are looking for ways to reduce their financial burden. One way is to take advantage of the carrots wealthy companies danger in front of them.



The pet food industry is hugely lucrative and wealthy. When representatives help universities, they do so as long as they can influence the students, as they know this will lead to increased profits from recommendations.



However, it doesn't mean the information is good or accurate.



Most commercial dog food starts off with low quality meat, or meat by-products (which come from a rendering plant where carcasses, fat and waste products are taken). This is then bulked out with cheap fillers - for economic reasons, not for your dog's health.



Often this filler is sugar.



You may now be able to see a clear link to the diet you feed your dog and your dog's diabetes.



Because the dog food is poor quality, it is nutrient poor, so the pet food companies try to redress this imbalance by including isolated and synthetic 'nutrients'. Isolated and synthetic 'nutrients' as well as the rest of the chemical cocktail, are not easily digested at best, and can cause real damage at worst.



It's best not to blame the system for being corrupt, or your vet for being gullible. It's simply best to take control of your dog's health yourself (and preferably your own, too) and work out what a good diet really is.



Nature has all the answers. Nature is timeless. Nature is not corrupt. Nature is not driven by profit. Nature has no ulterior motive - other than to provide the best possible conditions for the longest life.



Feeding your dog according to natural laws is not difficult, is not expensive, is not time consuming. And it is highly beneficial to your dog's good and lasting health.

A Golden Retriever Health Problem No Dog Wants To Get

There are a number of Golden Retriever health problems that you should be aware of when raising and breeding this breed of dog, including allergies, infections, hip dysplasia, cataracts, and obesity, but there is one in particular I wanted to focus on today - Diabetes. I think everyone has some idea of what diabetes does to people, but until you own a dog it never really hits home that the condition can affect dogs in much the same way.



Diabetes is caused by either a lack of insulin or when your dog cannot utilize insulin properly, diabetes in your Golden Retriever is, thankfully, a manageable condition. If left untreated, however, it can cause other complications and lead to many other health problems.



There are two types of diabetes that your dog can get:



Type I: A lack of insulin production.



Type II: Your dog isn't producing enough insulin, and doesn't respond properly to what it does produce.



Typically we see only Type I in Golden Retrievers.



How Can I Tell if my Golden Retriever Has Diabetes?



Many of the symptoms of diabetes either go unnoticed, or are thought to be the result of other conditions; it's important to be aware of the symptoms and look into them more if your dog shows any signs of them. These symptoms include a change in your dogs appetite, a noticeable increase in water consumption, weight loss, fruity (or very sweet) smelling breath, dehydration, excessive vomiting, your dog is urinating more often than usual, Urinary tract infections, the dog appears very lethargic, develops cataracts, or has signs of skin infections.



It's quite a long list of symptoms and many of them also appear from other conditions such as allergies and infections. Nevertheless, it's worth investigating these symptoms as not managing diabetes can lead to many, even more serious, health issues for your Golden.



Diabetes is more common in older dogs over the age of six years, females, and obese dogs. Obviously there is nothing you can do about the age or sex of your dog, but obesity is definitely a condition you can prevent to reduce the risk.



In the event your dog does develop diabetes, your local vet will help you determine appropriate treatment. In addition to whatever treatment is prescribed for your dog, a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to help treat and control diabetes.



If left untreated, diabetes can lead to severe conditions such as cataracts, urinary tract infections, and eventually to coma and death.



As you can see, diabetes is a serious condition that requires the owner to pay close attention to the health of their dog, regardless of the breed.