Diabetes - Type II

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either does not make enough insulin or makes it but cannot use it properly. Nine out of 10 Canadians with diabetes have type 2 — and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Many people don't know they have type 2 diabetes until they see a physician, usually for an unrelated issue. Type 2 diabetes was once a condition confined to adults. But type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise, fueled largely by the current obesity epidemic. This increasingly common condition presents special challenges for parents and children alike.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes in children develops when a child's body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar into cells — or when a child's pancreas produces some, but not enough, insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, also is a concern. Left untreated, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms include:

• Increase thirst
• Frequent urination
  
• Extreme hunger
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Slow wound healing and frequent infections
• Recurring skin, gum or bladder infections
• Itchy skin
• Frequent vaginal yeast infections
• Tingling in the hands or feet
  

Some people who have type 2 diabetes have patches of dark, skin in the folds and creases of their bodies (armpits and neck). This is a condition known as acanthosis nigricans, and is a sign of insulin resistance.

Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Even if diabetes runs in your family, proper diet and exercise can help you prevent the disease. Commonly prescribed drugs such as Metformin and Avandia should be used with caution as long term use can be detrimental to your health.

Homeopathy offers excellent treatment options for both adults and children suffering from diabetes. There are various preventative and blood sugar management protocols available for patients that are at high risk to become diabetic. Homeopathy utilizes healthy life choices coupled with remedies that help work on the pancreas and and the stimulate the body's ability to naturally regulate and process blood sugar. More about homeopathy......