Is there a cure for Type 2 diabetes? If some herbal supplement manufacturers and natural cure promoters are to be believed, there is. Unfortunately, scientific studies and results say otherwise. Diabetes is still an incurable disease although it can be managed effectively, something that about 15 million people in the U.S. will find relief in.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus was once referred to as non-insulin-dependent diabetes that causes an abnormality in the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and lipids in the body. Type 2 diabetes is also called the adult-onset diabetes because it often appears in adults as a result of lifestyle choices.

It is a condition that is associated with impaired secretion of and resistance to insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to the advancement of the disease and its complications. Symptoms of this disease develop gradually and people who have Type 2 diabetes will usually not recognize that they have the disease until it has progressed.

How is Type 2 diabetes 'cured' or at least, treated?

Treatment is extremely important when dealing with Type 2 diabetes because it can lead to complications that are life-threatening. These complications include kidney failure, heart disease and blindness. In fact, diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of blindness in people between the ages of 20 and 75. Diabetes is also the reason behind 40% of kidney failure cases and has been known to cause cardiovascular problems.

The main thrust of any treatment for Type 2 diabetes is to control the amount of glucose found in the blood. This helps prevent symptoms such as pain, tingling, burning and numbness and to prevent other complications. The treatment will not cure these symptoms, but they can be effectively minimized and the complications avoided.

For Type 2 diabetes, a semblance of a cure can be produced with the use of a controlled and sensible diet, regular exercise and weight loss. This is usually the first course of treatment, primarily because weight and a lack of physical activity are often lead contributors to Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes diet and lifestyle

There is no specialized diet for Type 2 diabetes, but portion control and preference for healthier foods should be implemented. Typically, people who have diabetes will work with a nutritionist or dietitian in order to create a diet plan to regulate blood sugar levels. A sensible diabetic meal plan usually involves several types of carbohydrates, a moderate amount of protein and low fat.

Regular physical activity is important to help prevent complications involving the heart and also to promote weight loss. Recently, researchers found that the risk of a person developing Type 2 diabetes increases by about 4% with every pound of weight exceeding his or her ideal range. Weight loss, combined with a good diet plan appears to help the body process insulin effectively.

Living a sensible lifestyle, while still not a cure, is usually enough to regulate a diabetic's blood sugar level. However, this may not be effective as a long-term treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Eventually, medication will have to be used. Oral medications are often prescribed as the first course of treatment. These include drugs such as sulfonylureas, metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, troglitazone and repaglinide. These drugs are formulated to bring down blood glucose levels. If taken in controlled doses and monitored, these drugs should be an effective means with which to manage Type 2 diabetes.

Oral medications are effective for about 40% of people who have Type 2 diabetes while about 40% will need insulin injections. A percentage of these will require a combination of both oral medications and insulin injections while about 10% will do well using just a good diet and exercise regimen.

Beyond the hype

When headlines trumpet that a cure for Type 2 diabetes is possible, they're almost tempting to believe. The only problem is that this news may be misleading and can be quite dangerous because until now, no cure for Type 2 diabetes has been discovered. It remains an incurable condition and will have to be managed with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes.

There will always be hype about a 'cure' for Type 2 diabetes and somewhere, someone will always have a reason to want to believe in it. However, remember that any scientific breakthrough that will make a huge difference in the lives of millions of men and women all over the world will mean big news. If a 'cure' for Type 2 diabetes suddenly appears, exercise prudence and common sense when considering it.

The future of Type 2 diabetes

Research about Type 2 diabetes is ongoing and the main goal is to finally find a cure for this disease. Its exact cause is still unclear, although there is plenty of research being performed on any effects environmental and genetic factors might contribute. As of now, new drugs and methods are probably the nearest we can get to a cure. Until a real solution is found, we will have to rely on these methods and medications in order to ensure that Type 2 diabetes is managed and its symptoms and associated complications are minimized.

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By Flor Serquina

As the name suggests, diabetic neuropathy is a nerve disorder caused by diabetes. Over many years, diabetic patients suffer damage to nerves all over the body. The longer a person has been diabetic, the greater the danger of diabetic neuropathy. Such nerve damage can manifest itself anywhere in the body, such as the digestive system, sex organs, or heart. It can lead to lack of sensation, tingling in the hands, arms, feet or legs. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of people who have diabetes are affected by some type of neuropathy, and maximum rates of neuropathy are amongst the populace who have had diabetes for close to 25 years. Nerve damage, in the case of diabetic neuropathy, is caused by a combination of factors. The most important would be high blood glucose, high blood fat levels, having been diabetic for a long time, and low levels of insulin. Damage to blood vessels that carry oxygen, swelling of nerves, mechanical injuries, habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol are some other reasons.

Other symptoms could be urinary troubles, impotence or vaginal aridness; nausea, indigestion, giddiness, diarrhea and vomiting. There are different classifications of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy and focal neuropathy. Each type affects specific parts of the body in different ways. Peripheral neuropathy causes deadness or pain to the outermost parts of the body: hands, feet, arms and legs. Autonomic neuropathy affects nerves associated with involuntary functions of the body, like heart beat and digestion. Proximal neuropathy causes pain in central parts of the body, in thighs, hips and buttocks, and may also weaken legs. The last type, focal neuropathy, could cause an abrupt dysfunction of a nerve or a cluster of nerves causing double vision, failure to focus, and other muscular weaknesses. It ought to be noted that any nerve in the body can be affected.

The primary aim of a treatment would be to relieve pain. Treatments would deal with maintaining safe blood glucose levels with the assistance of diets and drugs. Care should be taken to protect the feet - a significant component of the treatment. Diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy is essentially reliant on how well diabetes is handled. Good treatment could prevent the development of diabetic neuropathy, but once present, diabetic neuropathy has no cure. Pain caused by diabetic neuropathy is so brutal that a secondary diabetic symptom is often depression.

Diabetic Neuropathy Causes and Remedies to Help You Ease the Pain
Diabetes neuropathy has caused me pain in my feet for quite some time. Maybe seven or eight months of tingling in my lower extremities have on occasion I had severe pain. Before my condition got worse I started to reverse the tide after seeing an Acupuncturist who pointed me in the right direction. I will share what worked for me later in this article.

Diabetes neuropathy causes and symptoms.
Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage. Diabetes neuropathy usually appears in your legs and feet. If you have had diabetes for an extended period of time it is likely that you will get neuropathy. Tingling feeling in your limbs will be one of the symptoms of this form of diabetes. Internally, if your organs in your body are disturbed by neurology suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. You may also be ill with sexual problems, dizziness, weakness and urinary concerns.

Diabetic neuropathy has a few different classes.
There are three kinds of diabetic neuropathy, with peripheral neuropathy being the most common. Peripheral reduces capability to sense pain temperature, touch and vibration in distinct areas of your body. If you have peripheral you probably are being affected in the lower parts of your legs and in your feet. Potential problems include ulcers bone and joint defects and infection.

The nerves control the involuntary workings of your body. These include heartbeat, sweating, digestion, urination and some sexual functions. If these are your issues then there may have been some damage to the nerves that control those tasks. Autonomic neuropathy is also very common.

Focal neuropathy affects a single nerve. Usually it is in the foot, thigh or wrist. The single nerve may also affect your eyesight if it is one of the nerves that control eyesight in your back or chest.

Visiting your health care provider would make sense. You may need a neurological examination or an electromyogram (EMG) to determine what is the problem. Knowing what to treat is part of the treatment.

My diet has changed to one of all raw foods. So far I have been eating uncooked fruits, vegetables and some nuts for three weeks as of May 5, 2007. I am experiencing relief. There is less pain and less of a tingling feeling in my lower extremities. Hey, I am getting petty good diversifying salads I am making. Beating diabetes naturally. That's the ticket. Grab your free information. It is in the author's area of this article.