Have a Diabetic Cat? You Must Know These Four Dangerous Complications of Feline Diabetes

Let's face it; when you have a diabetic cat, you must pay more attention to your feline friend's health. Although cat diabetes doesn't lead to blindness or circulatory problems like it does in humans, there are certain problems that go with this disease that you must be aware of. Here are some complications that a kitty with feline diabetes may face.

Feline Ketoacidosis

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Your kitty's body normally breaks down glucose for energy. However, if your kitty is an untreated feline diabetic, glucose is not available for fuel, so his body will try to break down fat instead. When this happens, ketones are produced as a waste product. These ketones will build up in his body, leading to some very serious problems.

Symptoms of feline ketoacidosis include:
Either drinking excessive amounts of water, OR not drinking any water at all Urinating often Not eating for more than twelve hours Lethargy and weakness Dehydration Breathing fast Vomiting Breath smells sweet, or like nail polish remover

This is a veterinary emergency, and your kitty needs immediate treatment, or he'll die.

Feline Neuropathy

This may be the first symptom you'll notice of diabetes in cats. Your pet may walk on his "wrists" on his front legs, or on his hocks (the "elbows") on his back legs. This strange walk is due to nerve damage caused by high blood glucose levels.

Diabetic neuropathy is sometimes reversed when your kitty's blood sugar levels are regulated properly. It does take some time and patience, however, before this can happen.

Hepatic Lipidosis

Overweight kitties who suddenly stop eating are at risk for this problem. Like ketoacidosis, it's a result of the body trying to use fat for fuel instead of glucose. In this condition, the fat builds up in your kitty's liver, which causes swelling. The symptoms are similar to those of ketoacidosis, mentioned above, with the addition of jaundice. You'll notice a yellowish cast to the whites of his eyes, his gums, and the insides of his ears.

This is an emergency situation. If your kitty won't eat, your vet may have to tube feed him. Although hepatic lipidosis is fatal if not treated, most kitties get better after being fed by tube.

Hypoglycemia In Cats

If your feline diabetic gets too much insulin, or doesn't eat on schedule, or has an unusually vigorous exercise session, his blood sugar levels can drop to dangerous levels. This affects the brain first, since it can't store glucose like other organs can. Your pet may become dizzy, weak, listless, and uncoordinated. He can have seizures, and may go into a coma. This condition can be fatal very quickly.

Keep some Karo syrup on hand so you can put some into a syringe (without a needle) and squirt it into his mouth. If he's already unconscious, rub some syrup on his gums and under his tongue. Wrap him in a blanket and get him to the vet right away.

Can Complications In Cats With Diabetes Be Prevented?

The best way to avoid these complications in your kitty is to try to keep the glucose levels in his blood where they should be. Natural remedies for cats that include the herbs goat's rue, astragalus, and fenugreek, along with the supplement chromium, have been shown to help regulate blood glucose levels naturally. In fact, many people who live with diabetic cats have been able to reduce or even eliminate insulin injections by treating their felines with herbal pet remedies.

If your kitty has diabetes, you'll want to prevent these complications. Don't wait for your kitty to become a victim. Discover how you can protect your feline companion now.

Have a Diabetic Cat? You Must Know These Four Dangerous Complications of Feline Diabetes

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7 Diabetes Natural Treatments Revealed

Have we entered a new age? What does that mean? In the past if I had some ailment I would look to get rid of the problem as quick as possible. And usually take some drug to alleviate the pain or issue. Maybe you chose this route like I did.

I am still looking to get rid of my illness as quick as possible BUT, I look for some alternative to drugs. It is the same for me with diabetes. I have had high blood sugar. Through the use of a diabetes natural treatment I was able to decrease both my blood sugar level and my hemoglobin A1C. For me this is the only way to go.

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Here is your diabetes natural treatments herbs list.

Asian ginseng

Asian ginseng is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural treatment for diabetes. It has been shown to enhance the release of insulin from the pancreas and to increase the number of insulin receptors. It also has a direct blood sugar-lowering effect. A recent study found that 200 mg of ginseng extract per day improved blood sugar control as well as energy levels in Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).

Pterocarpus Marsupium - (This sounds like a possum's name)

The tree is the source of the Kino of the European pharmacopeas. The gum-resin looks like dried blood (Dragon's blood) (how appetizing). This is a often used in India as a diabetes natural treatment. The flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, extracted from the bark of this plant has been shown to prevent alloxan-induced beta cell damage in rats. Both epicatechin and a crude alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium have actually been shown to regenerate functional pancreatic beta cells. No other drug or natural agent has been shown to make this activity.

Gymnema Sylvestre

Gymnema assists the pancreas in the production of insulin in Type 2 diabetes. Making this herb an effective diabetes natural treatment. Gymnema also improves the ability of insulin to lower blood sugar in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It decreases cravings for sweet. This herb can be an excellent substitute for oral blood sugar-lowering drugs in Type 2 diabetes. Some people take 500 mg per day of gymnema extract.

Fenugreek

Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the antidiabetic properties of fenugreek seeds. The active ingredient responsible for the antidiabetic properties of fenugreek is in the defatted portion of the seed that comprise the alkaloid trogonelline, nicotinic acid and coumarin.

Two good friends to have - Onion and Garlic

Here are two easy to find diabetes natural treatments. Go check out the pantry. These two bulbs have been effective as having blood sugar lowering action.

The effects were alike in both raw and boiled onion extracts. Onions affect the hepatic metabolism of glucose and/or boost the release of insulin, and/or stop insulin's destruction.

Onion extract was found to diminish blood sugar levels throughout oral and intravenous glucose tolerance. The more onion extract used the better the results. There were also beneficial effects observed even for low levels used in the diet (eg., 25 to 200 grams). Raw or boiled onion made no difference in the results. Onions affect the hepatic metabolism of glucose and/or increase the release of insulin. This may also ward off insulin's destruction.

The bonus you receive from the use of garlic and onions are their beneficial cardiovascular effects. They are found to lower lipid levels, inhibit platelet aggregation and are antihypertensive. So, liberal use of onion and garlic are recommended for diabetic patients. Two great diabetes natural treatments.

Just be careful not to get too close to people when using these foods.

Blueberry leaves

Blueberry anthocyanosides increases capillary reliability, inhibits free-radical damage and enhances the quality of the vascular system. In Europe, it is used as an anti-haemorrhagic agent in the handling of eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy. I heard for a long time how good blueberries are. As a diabetes natural treatment makes all the sense in the world to me.

A mixture of the leaves of the blueberry has a long history of folk use in the treatment of diabetes. The compound myrtillin is apparently the most active ingredient. Upon injection it is somewhat weaker than insulin, but is less toxic, even at 50 times the 1 g per day therapeutic dose. Lasting weeks, one dosage has proven to be an effective diabetes natural treatment.

Bilberry

Bilberry may lower the risk of some diabetic complications, such as diabetic cataracts and retinopathy.

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba extract may prove useful for prevention and treatment of early-stage diabetic neuropathy.

Cinnamon - Triples insulin's efficiency

The benefits of using diabetes natural treatments compared to using drugs are many. Two are; that they are safer to use, and get to the problem without the side effects that quite often accompany medications. You may have to experiment with these alternative remedies to find the one that is best for you. Be responsible with your care.

You have been given a list of at least seven diabetes natural treatments. I have had success using some of these herbs. Hopefully you will as well.

7 Diabetes Natural Treatments Revealed

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Genetic (DNA) Basis For Insulin Resistance, Diabetes - Treated With Specific Nutrition?

Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2 develop when there is an imbalance between conditions that promote excessive fatty acid synthesis combined with deficient fatty acid oxidation. The conditions mentioned are such things as dietary, genetic, hormonal, and exercise related areas. Of most concern in this paper, is the influence that genetic modifications may have on fatty acid metabolism. Much research has been done in this area, especially on the mouse, whose genome is considerably similar to the human genome. Through the study of the mouse genome, advances in human health, in the way of better insulin sensitivity, can be realized.

There are two main mouse models that illustrate which genes are involved most in fatty acid metabolism. The first model deals with mouse mutants used to study excessive and deficient fatty acid synthesis and oxidation. In regards to fatty acid/triacylgylcerol synthesis, sterol-response element binding protein over-expression can cause trigger an excess in these compounds. If one carries the diacylglycerol transferase -/- gene or the short-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase -/- gene, deficient level of fatty acid synthesis will occur. In regards to fatty acid oxidation, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 2 -/- gene or peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gene over-expression can result in a very high oxidation rate of fatty acids from the blood stream. If very longchain coenzyme A dehydrogenase -/- gene or long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase -/- gene are part of one's genome, fatty acid oxidation in the body will be deficient.

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The second model deals with genetic manipulation of fatty acid metabolism. A wide range of manipulations have been performed and studied with varied phenotypic changes inflicted upon the mouses' body. For instance, targeting the null allele of Dgat or Acc-2 will result in the mouse being lean and resistant to obesity. This means that no matter what the mouse is fed, it will not gain a considerable amount of adipose tissue. On the other hand, targeting the null allele of Ppar will result in hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, decreased expression of fatty acid oxidation genes, and cold intolerance. These negative phenotypic changes in the mouse genetically predestine it to become obese.

Through the use of such models described above, researchers have been able to key in on the exact genes which can cause someone to have a propensity for insulin resistance, diabetes type 2, and obesity. But how can one relate nutritional considerations to genetic makeup? If someone has a certain defect/variant of one of the known causes for a negative phenotype, how can individualized nutrition help to blunt the effects of one's genotype.

It has been found that diets high in simple carbohydrates and low in fat are a huge risk factor in priming the body to make more fatty acids and not oxidize enough of them. The reasoning behind this is that this type of diet will drive insulin levels through the roof, causing the body to produce excess fatty acids. An even worse diet, which would be catastrophic for someone with an already unfavorable genotype, is the high carbohydrate and high fat diet. This diet not only spikes insulin levels up, it also provides excess fat to be stored by the body. So, if a person's genetic makeup favors fatty acid synthesis, then a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet would increase the risk of developing insulin-resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2.

The control of insulin, through diet-mediated considerations, is paramount in protecting an already flawed genetic makeup. Insulin can be controlled by eating a diet that consists of higher protein and fat levels and lower carbohydrate levels. The carbohydrates consumed should not be high on the glycemic index, for this will drive insulin levels up.

Overall, the article keys in on the genetic factors that affect insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the first step in a whole host of other problems, such as diabetes type 2 and obesity. Through the study of specific gene loci, genetic variations in such, and nutrigenomics, researchers have been able to acquire advanced knowledge about the prevention of insulin resistance. It was found that diets lower in carbohydrates and higher in fat/protein, for individuals with unfavorable genetic makeups are best for keeping insulin in an acceptable range. It is important to note that there are genetic variants in certain genes, such as the DGAT-1 -/-, which promote better health and give these people an advantage. When discussing such matters as personalized medicine, it will be interesting to see what certain people will do when they find out that they have a genetic makeup that allows them to eat anything they want, without having to worry about future medical conditions due to their poor choices of food.

-Wood, Philip. "Genetically modified mouse models for disorders of fatty acid metabolism: pursuing the nutrigenomics of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes." Nutrition. Volume 20, Jan 2004, pgs. 121-126.

Genetic (DNA) Basis For Insulin Resistance, Diabetes - Treated With Specific Nutrition?

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Silymarin (Milk Thistle) Extract - Treat Type II Diabetes

Nowadays, people have been finding alternative ways to prevent or treat illnesses. This is because, most synthetic medicines have higher rate of causing undesirable side effects. If you are one of those people who would want a safer yet equally effective way to manage one's health, a daily dose of Silymarin extract is just for you.

Silymarin, or also known as milk thistle, is a flowering plant that belongs to the daisy family. This plant is abundant in certain regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Like any other plant that belongs to this genus, milk thistles have a tall erect stem. It also has a large alternate leaves which has waxy lobes with thorny spikes.

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Milk Thistle extract comes from the plant's seeds. The extract from the seeds have high medicinal value because it contains around 65 to 80% of silymarin (a flavonolignan complex) and about 20 to 35% fatty acids that includes linoleic acid.

Silymarin, being a complex mixture of polyphenolic molecules, has been clinically proven to treat type II diabetes when taken at high doses. Furthermore, Silymarin is also said to treat patients diagnosed with Hepatitis C at an even higher dose. But taking such high doses would require a doctor's order as it could cause some adverse reactions like brief gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, cramping, mild allergic reactions, and urticaria. However, if you want to take it as a daily supplement, an average of 420 to 480 mg per day is recommended.

This plant benefits the liver because it produces a hepatoprotective effect by stimulating (Ribonucleic Acid) RNA and (Deoxyribonucleic acid) DNA synthesis and scavenges pro-oxidant free radicals and increase intracellular concentration of glutathione (a substance needed to detoxify hepatic cell reactions), thus altering the outer membrane of the hepatic cells. Moreover, it is also said to exert anti-inflammatory effect on the platelets.

Because of such activity in the body, Silymarin extract is used to prevent, treat, or delay the progress of liver dysfunction (including damage caused by acute viral hepatitis or long term phenothiazine or butyrophenone use), dyspepsia, gallbladder disorders, and spleen disorders.

Additional health benefit includes reduction of increased total and high-density lipoprotein levels and as an antidote for Amanita mushroom poisoning. Further claims include: as an oral steroid for body builders, helps in controlling blood cholesterol levels, reducing the resistance of diabetic patients to insulin, slowing the progress of cancer, and to reduce liver damage caused by exposure to chemo drugs. The set of latter claims however does require more evidences to establish its accuracy.

Taking Thistle Milk extract that has been processed to a tablet or as a part of an ingredient of a food supplement is said to be generally safe. However, as soon as you see some allergic reactions when taking Silymarin extract stop it immediately and consult your doctor. Also, extra precautions should be made when giving the said plant extract to women who are pregnant or lactating because the safety of Thistle Milk extract to babies are not yet established.

Silymarin (Milk Thistle) Extract - Treat Type II Diabetes

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Diabetes - Should Our Athletes Be Worried? How to Balance Blood Sugar

Diabetes is a growing problem in the population: according to Diabetes UK there are 3% (1.8 million) diagnosed cases (approximately 250 thousand with type 1 and over 1.5 million with type 2) and another estimated 750 thousand to 1 million undiagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes. No statistics are available for the athletic population.

What is diabetes?

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Diabetes is a syndrome or group of symptoms arising from failure to regulate the metabolism of glucose by means of the pancreatic hormone, insulin. This occurs due to a lack of insulin because the pancreas does not produce enough, fails to produce any or the body fails to make proper use of the insulin that is available. Diabetes is classified as insulin-dependent (type 1) and non-insulin-dependent (type 2). This paper will focus on the latter and will ignore any genetic predisposition to the disease.

The glycaemic index and diabetes

The Glycaemic Index (GI) can be considered as a measure of carbohydrate quality. It measures the postprandial (after a meal) glycaemia (plasma glucose) raising potential of a single food by expressing the rise in glycaemia in response to a 50g available carbohydrate portion of that food as a percentage of the rise in response to a 50g available carbohydrate portion of a reference food (white bread or glucose).

Foods high on the GI result in a sharp rise of plasma glucose, with a high demand for insulin, followed by a more or less rapid fall of glucose. Foods that are low to moderate on the GI produce a slower rise, with a lower demand for insulin, and a more gradual decline in plasma glucose.

Those in favour of carbohydrate quality, argue that GI is a robust measurement, predicts the relative glycaemic response to mixed meals and is easy to follow and implement. In contrast, opponents who favour giving priority to carbohydrate quantity argue that GI is highly variable, not physiological, cannot reliably predict mixed meal responses and is difficult to learn or follow.

Despite some opposition to low-GI intervention in type 2 diabetes, the interventions are clinically efficacious in diabetes therapy over the mid to long-term. The Canadian Diabetes Association, Diabetes Australia, Diabetes UK and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes all support the application of the GI concept in the management of diabetes.

Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance, a component of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome, also known as Syndrome X and the Metabolic Syndrome, is associated with type 2 diabetes. No statistics for insulin resistance are available in the UK, although, according to Diabetes UK, a national register may be set up in the future.

Obesity is the most significant factor leading to insulin resistance with visceral obesity having a particularly strong negative correlation. It can be reversed with diet modification based on a low-fat intake and limiting refined carbohydrates without the need of caloric restrictions. Physical activity is an important factor in reversing the problem.

Mechanisms leading to insulin resistance are unclear, although the abnormal accumulation of certain fats in the liver (hepatic steatosis) is a contributing factor.

In a study by Pan et al, skeletal muscle triglyceride (mTG) appeared to be another important factor in predicting insulin resistance. Trained athletes and animals show the same or higher levels of muscle triglycerides as sedentary controls but have improved insulin action. The authors postulated that this could be due to the distribution of triglyceride. Endurance exercise increases both the mitochondrial volume and distribution in skeletal muscles. In trained dogs, mitochondria appear virtually in direct contact with triglyceride droplets whereas no such association with mitochondria was found in untrained animals. As a result, trained individuals may have an improved ability to mobilise fats.

Research into sucrose and fructose on animals has consistently shown that high sucrose and fructose diets decrease insulin sensitivity. Studies on humans have been inconsistent.

In a large cohort study by Janket et al, 38,480 initially healthy postmenopausal women were followed for an average of 6 years. The researchers accrued 918 incident cases of type 2 diabetes but found no definitive influence of sugar intake on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It was noted, however, that the median follow-up time of 6 years might not have been long enough to detect a very subtle relationship between sugar intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Assessment on humans is thought to be more complicated because of other factors affecting insulin sensitivity. Some studies found that those consuming a diet consisting of large amounts of sweets and desserts were at increased risk of developing diabetes. However, the diet also included high amounts of saturated fats (red meat, fries and dairy products) which is known to be associated with decreased insulin sensitivity.

No studies have shown a negative effect of sucrose on insulin sensitivity. One explanation for this lack of correlation could be that recruitment of volunteers for nutrition studies is notoriously difficult and many studies have a young or a highly health-orientated population. Both groups are likely to be physically active. Given the strength of the positive influence of physical exertion on insulin sensitivity, such persons are inclined to be resistant to the negative effects of diet. However, this does suggest that the promotion of physical activity may have a greater influence on insulin sensitivity than diet.

Another possible explanation is that the GI concerns only the first 2 hours of the postprandial period. It is postulated that a GI defined by a 4-6 hour postprandial period would alter the ranking of sucrose in a GI table to a higher level. Neither sucrose (a disaccharide: glucose bonded to fructose) nor fructose (a monosaccharide) is high on the GI.

Studies based on high fructose versus high glucose diets have shown that the high fructose diets produce an increase in plasma triacylglycerol, plasma cholesterol, VLDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations, all of which are a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. In addition, some of these effects were seen in men but not women. The reason for this difference is not clear. Although not all studies are consistent with these findings, the positive data cannot and should not be dismissed as it may be of considerable clinical importance. It is also important to note that some individuals are more sensitive to fructose than others.

The risk for athletes

Are athletes at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as a result of their high intake of fructose, sucrose and high glycaemic foods? Although the scientific evidence to-date does not support this notion, athletes may be at risk of developing insulin resistance which is associated not only with diabetes but also with coronary heart disease, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, dysglycaemia, osteoarthritis and impaired glucose tolerance.

An over-consumption of refined carbohydrates, over-processed foods, saturated fats and processed vegetable fats are all associated with insulin resistance. The majority of adult athletes we have consulted to-date, over-consume the above with the possible exception of saturated fats. However all our adolescent athletes consumed large amounts of saturated fats.

Although some athletes are becoming more informed on the importance of nutrition for both their long-term health and their performance, there are still a large number who are uninformed or misinformed on nutritional issues. Particularly distressing is the lack of knowledge amongst adolescent athletes which needs to be urgently addressed, not only by nutritionists and dieticians, but also by coaches and parents.

One procedure that can be immediately implemented by everybody is that of chewing our food thoroughly and eating more slowly: it appears that prolonging absorption time by increasing the length of time to complete a meal, consuming smaller and more frequent meals or drinking a beverage over a prolonged period of time all improve glucose tolerance.

In summary, to minimise the risk of insulin resistance, the following points should be adhered to:

Limit sugars and high GI carbohydrates to just before, during and just after exercise.

At other times, consume a large variety of foods avoiding repeating the same food on any one day.

Try to include colourful foods at every meal.

Eat fresh rather than ready-made as often as possible.

Limit all saturated fats found in dairy products and fatty meats.

Avoid fried foods.

Avoid junk foods.

Dilute fruit juices.

2010 Corpotential, All Rights Reserved.

Diabetes - Should Our Athletes Be Worried? How to Balance Blood Sugar

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