Vitamin D is found in fortified milk, fatty fish like tuna and salmon and to a lesser extend in  liver, cheese and egg yolkes. Most multi vitamins also include a sufficient supply of vitamin D and if exposed to sunlight, your body can even make it’s own supply of Vitamin D.

Type I diabetes develops when the body’s immune system starts to destroy pancreatic cells which are responsible for creating insulin. Type I diabetics can not produce enough insulin to properly metabolize food and have to supplement it via insulin injections.

Vitamin D apparently stops this destruction of pancreatic cells by the immune system. Vitamin D is found in foods like whole milk. The body can also create it when exposed to sunlight. Start by making sure your child gets to play out in the sun whenever possible and eats (or drinks) foods that naturally contain Vitamin D.

If Type I Diabetes runs in your family, it may also be a good idea to discuss vitamin D supplement options with your child’s pediatrician.

So far researchers have not yet determined how to best make use of this new discovery, so don’t start gulping down black tea and dropping your medication. What you can do however is inform your doctor about this new study and under his (or her) supervision start to drink a cup or two of tea a day and see what kind of effect it has on your blood sugar levels. Combined with an appropriate diet and regular exercise, you may be able to scale down on the artificial insulin, or diabetes medication. Why bother? Most medication and most definitely insulin have long-term side effects that you can partially avoid, or at least put off a little longer by depending less on these traditional diabetes treatments.

This new study shows that both fatty acids and sugars are processed in the body with the help of a protein called PPAR-alpha. This newfound link will give researchers a new way of looking at diabetes and of course a new avenue to look for a potential cure or at the very least new treatment options.

Obesity rose over 80 percent in the public, and diabetes increased by 50 percent. In contrast, only four percent of the Asian-American population is obese, but diabetes percentages were higher.

One cause of undiagnosed diabetes in this group is the language barrier. Those patients with a language barrier were not controlling the disease as well as others. Researchers estimate that ten percent of Asian Americans have diabetes. The language barrier and inability to understand the disease or how to control it, is a contributing cause for uncontrolled diabetes. It is important to bridge the education gap so they can understand the medications they are put on, and the testing method for blood glucose monitoring. Often, even with a translator there is difficulty in understanding the medical terms and testing methods.

Many times, the programs and educational seminars they attended are geared to the Western world. When diets are discussed, they often do not include those foods that Asian Americans have in their diets. In the Asian culture, people do not share what they consider inappropriate. Most will not discuss their health unless they are questioned.

For example, a recent program aimed at Asian American began with a short talk about the early signs of diabetes, blood sugar levels, and diets. When presented with a typical meal served on a plate, the participants agreed the food was not what they normally ate.

An educational bridge must be built so the minorities in our population are able to understand not only diabetes, but also many other health related topics. Translators often can’t translate our Western words and terms so other minorities can understand them. Their hesitation to discuss personal health with doctors or family members also hinders the diagnosis if diabetes and other life threatening diseases.

Family members play an important part in watching for signs of diabetes. Talking to parents, aunts and uncles, and older siblings might help in controlling the rising increase of diabetes in our Asian-American population. An educated minority population would reduce the risk of undiagnosed diabetes. Watching for symptoms, talking about their health, and making doctor appointments for them is a good start.

Several states are planning informational seminars to address the problem of language barriers and health. Information will be given in English and their native language. There is hope this will allow more information to be given to those who are most at risk.

Diabetes Inhaler Approved by United States Food and Drug Administration

Diabetics of the world are encouraged by the new research and trials looking into the disease. Critical clinical trials about curing the disease are continuing each day. Other advances have been discovered in various kinds of insulin, improving insulin pumps, and finding more convenient and compact ways to deliver insulin.

One of the most recent approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration is Exubera. Pfizer recently released the first insulin delivery that is inhaled. It is the first approved by the FDA since the 1920’s. It is being promoted as a major advance in diabetes treatment. The approval came through on Friday, January 27 of this year. The European Commission also approved the drug on the same day.

To diabetics throughout the world, that is good news. Imagine not needing to carry needles, insulin, and syringes with you because you need multiple injections throughout the day! The insulin pen, and the pump were small strides in making this disease controllable, now we have a new method.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions according to the World Health Organization. It affects more than 48 million people in Europe alone. People with diabetes often face severe complications because of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. These complications include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and blindness. Another big risk for diabetics is injuring a foot or leg and because of small vessel disease, they are unable to feel it. The problem then can intensify and require amputation of the affected parts. Normally toes or foot injuries cause the problems.

What are the health costs for these complications? It is estimated over $286 billion dollars will be spent worldwide because of complications resulting from diabetes. This fact is astonishing. Imagine that amount of money going into further diabetes research or even used to feed the hungry of this world. To wipe out this disease would be a major development and worldwide celebration would break out.

Insulin has been the primary treatment for diabetes for over 80 years. It is often injected right before a meal to keep blood sugar levels tightly under control. Patients and doctors are unwilling to intensify the diabetes treatment to include insulin injections because of the need for daily and multiple injections.

This major medical breakthrough is a critical step in treating diabetes and controlling the disease worldwide. Exubera is a dry powder form of human insulin that is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs before a meal. An easy to use, hand-held device and it doesn’t require batteries or electricity. It weighs only about four ounces is comparable to a carrying case for a pair of eyeglasses. It has a special design to deliver the correct amount of insulin every time it is sued.

The researches studied 38,000 women (most of them health care professionals) for 10 years. The study showed that not only is obesity a factor when it comes to your chances of developing diabetes, but high blood pressure alone may be enough to trigger diabetes.

The results of the study give physicians new insight into the link between blood pressure and diabetes. For us it means that we should regularly monitor our blood pressure and take appropriate measures (as suggested by the health care professional under whose care we are) to get our blood pressure into more normal levels. This may include exercise, dietary changes and medication when appropriate.