Posts Tagged ‘Clinical Tests’

Is There a Cure for Diabetes that Diabetics Can Look Forward to?

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

There is no current cure for diabetes although several treatments are available. Treatments include, diet plans, insulin injection, oral medication or surgery depending upon the type of diabetes. The proper management of treatments for diabetes helps diabetics maintain a normal way of life.

Diabetes has three specific types: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.  

Is there a possible cure for diabetes type 1?

In type 1 diabetes, the islet cells of the pancreas in charge of producing insulin is being destroyed by the immune system of the body. Hence, the production of insulin by the pancreas is affected or the pancreas no longer produces insulin. The cause is still unidentified but this is often attributed to viral infections or disorder in the genes.

This is treated by a daily dose of insulin injection, an insulin pump or the insulin jet system. Oral medication as a treatment for type 1 diabetes is not applicable since it still has to pass the digestive system before it can take effect in the blood.

The currently suggested cure for type 1 diabetes are pancreas transplant, islet cell transplantation or stem cell transplant. Individuals who have undergone these surgical treatments as part of clinical tests, are still under evaluation for possible re-development of immunity rejection and its ability to maintain adequate number of insulin cells that can meet insulin requirements as well as keep new cells alive.

Other new treatments like synthetic human insulin, insulin analogs, genetic manipulation,  BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, gastric bypass surgery and computerized artificial pancreas are still undergoing human clinical trials and study, in the hopes of finally determining if there is a cure for diabetes.

The drug BCG is said to have been tried and tested for 80 years now. Hence, if human clinical tests can prove this drug to be successful, the availability of a cheap generic drug to administer is possible.

Is there a possible cure for diabetes type 2?

Majority of diabetics are suffering from type 2 diabetes. This is due to insulin resistance of the body brought about by the inability of the cells to react to insulin or the production of insulin is not sufficient to control the blood glucose.

This is familiar among older people, obese individuals or persons with weight problems, due to their physical inactivity. Treatment initially requires diet control, exercise and oral medication to avoid progression into becoming type 1 diabetes. In the event that it does progress, treatment will then require insulin injection.

Similarly, there is also no cure for type 2 diabetes, hence, proper management of its treatments is necessary to avoid the progression of the disease.   

This type of diabetes may also crop up in pregnant women known as gestational diabetes and may take place in the last months of pregnancy. Although considered as not life-threatening and may disappear after giving birth, the mother is already deemed prone to type 2 diabetes.

Once an individual becomes afflicted with diabetes mellitus, it will become a part of his or her life and can even be a cause of death. Adequate knowledge in managing this disease can help the patient live longer.

Management includes lifestyle change, nutrition plan, physical activity and having a diabetes team to supervise the daily medications and monitoring. Other than the doctor, nurse, dietitian and healthcare professional, one should include a diabetes educator as part of the diabetes team. The diabetes educator will be responsible for the psychological needs of the patient and in providing assistance for some of the clinical requirements.

In as much as the elusive cure for diabetes is still undergoing further researches and clinical tests, management of the diseases is still the best way for the diabetic sufferers.

Those who are not yet afflicted with diabetes but are engaged in a lifestyle that may develop their body system into becoming one, it is best for them to consider the necessary changes in their way of eating and living to prevent diabetes from having control over their lives.

Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and diabetes natural treatment. Discover how you can reverse your diabetes for good using proven and effective home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.minusdiabetes.com

Weight Loss Pills – How to Gain and be Safe

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Weight loss pills have become popular in the past several years. There are two basic types of diet pills or weight loss pills – â??prescriptionâ?? and â??non-prescriptionâ?? pills.
Prescription Pills :

Prescription weight loss pills are treated like drugs. They require FDA approval and are closely regulated. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills are Xenical (Orlistat), Meridia (Sibutramine) and Phentermine/ Fentermine. To prove their effectiveness in weight reduction, these pills are subjected to a range of clinical tests typically for monitoring health risks and side effects.
Non Prescription Pills

The Non-prescription weight loss pills are also called as weight loss supplements. These drugs can be purchased over the counter as they are subjected to minimal FDA regulation only. Some examples of this type of weight loss pills include pills from Metabolifeâ?¢ and Herbalifeâ?¢ as well as fat-burners, herbal weight loss pills, stackers, other sports or diet supplements.

The difference between prescription and non-prescription weight loss pills is becoming narrower. Since some types of non-prescription pills can be just as powerful or dangerous as weight loss drugs. Exception is that these types of weight loss supplements are not regulated similar to prescription weight loss pills. Hence they can be more dangerous if anything. The FDA has issued warnings recently about weight loss supplements that contain ephedra. Hence, many drug manufacturers are now declaring as â??ephedra-freeâ?? by removing ephedra from their weight loss pills.
Who can benefit from Weight Loss Pills?

Prescription weight loss pills are designed specifically for the treatment of obesity rather than mere weight loss. Despite health risks and side effects, the use of weight loss pills is justified, as obesity is a serious condition associated with serious health risks. Weight loss supplements or Non-prescription weight loss pills should be viewed in similar light.
Do these Weight Loss Pills work?

The answer is both Yes and No. With a proper exercise program and diet in conjunction with medical supervision, weight loss pills or weight loss supplements can be effective in the short term at least. However the benefits may quickly wear off as the body adjusts rather quickly to many weight loss pills.
Weight Loss Trials of Pills clinically:

Clinical weight loss trials demonstrate that by using weight loss pills alone, long term weight control is not possible. A combination of improved diet and physical activity is to be maintained in the long term to maintain weight loss successfully.
Consult your doctor before taking weight loss pills:

You should obtain information from your doctor about the possible dangers and side effects of weight loss pills before taking any weight loss pills.
Side Effects of taking weight loss pills:

Weight loss pills become less effective as time progresses like most drugs and can lead to addiction. If you feel any of the following side effects, taking the pills should be stopped immediately.

Irritability

Anxiety or nervousness

High blood pressure

Insomnia

Heart palpitations and Heart attack

Tightness in the chest

Vomiting, constipation or constant stomach pain

Diarrhea, Fever and Head aches

Dry mouth

Dizziness

Profuse sweating

Blurred vision

Hair loss

Urinary tract problems

Disturbances in sex drive and menstrual cycle.

The long-term effects of these weight loss pills are not known and how they interact with other medications is also not clear.