Gestational diabetes is a short-term type of diabetes that may develop while a woman is pregnant. The condition itself usually goes away shortly after the baby is delivered. However, women who have gestational diabetes may be at increased risk of future complications, including a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease later [...]
If you’re looking for a natural way avoid type 2 diabetes, you might want to add more foods containing flavonoids to your diet. New research shows that eating more blueberries and apples – both fruits rich in flavonoids – may help lower your risk of diabetes. Flavonoids are chemicals believed to have health benefits that [...]
For people with type 1 diabetes who need to inject insulin several times a day, the idea of a pancreas transplant may seem an ideal cure for their disease. Unfortunately, the side effects of this particular “cure” may actually be worse than the disease itself, which is one of the reasons pancreas transplant is not [...]
The pancreas is a gland organ located in the abdomen between the stomach and the spine. The pancreas has two functions: hormone production as an endocrine gland and digestive enzyme production as an exocrine gland. Endocrine As part of the endocrine system, the pancreas produces several hormones that are used inside the body tissues including [...]
Approximately 5 percent of all pregnant women in the United States will develop gestational diabetes. Most women with gestational diabetes deliver healthy babies. But the condition can put your baby at risk for complications during delivery and after birth. Gestational diabetes develops over time during pregnancy. Researchers believe changes in hormone levels make it difficult [...]
The glycemic index (GI) is a tool to help estimate how quickly or how much a particular food will raise your blood sugar. This is important for people with diabetes who are trying to maintain a balanced sugar level, or who need to decide what to eat if their blood sugar is low or they [...]
Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas to control and lower glucose or sugar levels in the blood. Glucagon is another hormone also secreted by the pancreas. It is the counterpart to insulin that helps control sugar levels by increasing glucose in the blood. Cells in the pancreas “read” the blood sugar levels to [...]
We usually talk about being overweight as a risk factor for developing diabetes, and that is true. But it is also true that insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes, may be part of the reason you are overweight. Insulin resistance is a condition that results when the body cannot use insulin effectively. Insulin [...]
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of three or more conditions related to your metabolism, which is the way the cells in your body obtain and use energy. Metabolic syndrome can cause serious health complications including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Although researchers agree on the basic components of the syndrome, different sources provide different [...]
