Diabetes and Goji-The benefits

More than 18 million citizens of the United States have diabetes. Not to mention nearly one-third of them are undiagnosed. This is certainly devastating, as diabetes mellitus is the primary cause of kidney failure, limb amputation, and new onset blindness in American adults.

People with diabetes are also 2 to four x more likely than individuals without diabetes mellitus to develop heart disease. In reality, 65 percent of those who suffer from diabetes die from heart attack or stroke.

Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the human body is unable to use it effectively. Glucose results from the digestion of starchy foods which include breads, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and also plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects the way your body deals with the foods you consume. Normally, carbohydrate foods are processed into the sugar glucose, which travels in the blood stream (hence the name blood sugar) until it reaches your cells, where it is taken in and used for growth as well as energy. For this to happen, however, the hormone insulin has to be present. Manufactured by the pancreas, insulin acts as a key that unlocks cells so they are able to receive blood glucose.

Insulin works like a key to open the gateway of the cells so glucose – the energy source you get from food – can come inside and be changed into energy – cause serious complications and premature death. Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone manufactured by the pancreas that helps the glucose to enter the cells in which it is utilized as fuel by the body.

The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, severe tiredness, weight loss, genital irritation or frequent episodes of thrush, and also blurred vision.

In diabetes, either the pancreas may produce insufficient insulin, or the human body has lost its ability to use it effectively (insulin resistance). Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body without accomplishing its role as the body’s main supply of fuel.

Two types of diabetes mellitus:

Type 1 diabetes mellitus develops if the human body simply cannot manufacture any insulin. This type of diabetes mellitus usually appears before the age of forty. It is usually treated by insulin injections and diet regime as well as regular exercise is advisable. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make a little insulin, but certainly not enough, or when the insulin that is manufactured does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). Most of the time this is linked with being overweight. This type of diabetes commonly appears in people over the age of forty, although in South Asian and African-Caribbean individuals often appear after the age of 25. However, recently, a lot more young children are now being diagnosed with the condition, a few as young as seven.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is treated with lifestyle changes such as a much healthier diet, weight loss and higher amounts of physical activity. Tablets and/or insulin may also be needed to achieve normal blood glucose levels.

The main aim of treatment of both kinds of diabetes is to achieve blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as close to normal as possible. This, combined with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve wellbeing and protect against long term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries.

How to manage Diabetes mellitus: Start with the ABCs

The National Diabetes Educational Program suggests that you decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke by working with your health care team to monitor 3 crucial factors, which they have named the Diabetic ABCs.

“A” is for the A1C test.

This is a number that displays how well your blood glucose has been controlled over the last three months. Bad glucose management can easily hurt your vision, kidneys and feet. The objective for many individuals is an A1C of no more than 7. It really must be checked a minimum of twice a year.

A 1998 research study showed that increased in blood pressure levels could be prevented significantly by goji’s master molecule polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are very long-chain sugar molecules which provide nourishment for macrophages, the larger white blood cells that are an important component of the body’s defense system against invading microbes along with the malignant cells which form tumors.

Four polysaccharides discovered in Goji berries have not been contained in any other fruit. The Goji polysaccharides enhance the body’s manufacturing of human growth hormone (HGH), which helps develop muscle and repair skin-cells. The LBP polysaccharide complex unique to Goji berries has been discovered to be a highly effective secretagogue – a substance that stimulates the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH) by the pituitary gland.

One medical research study in China showed that the LBP polysaccharide triggered the proliferation of stem cells and increased the number of monocytes in bone marrow. The LBP polysaccharide assists the monocytes convert to matured leukocytes.

“B” is for blood pressure level.

The goal for most of us is 130/80. High blood pressure levels may cause heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.

“C” is for cholesterol levels.

Negative cholesterol (LDL) can oxidize and clog up blood vessels, triggering heart attack or stroke. Good cholesterol (HDL) assists to lower bad cholesterol levels. The target for most of us is LDL under 100 and HDL over 40.