Why Should you Join Diabetes Chat Rooms?

Can Diabetes Support Groups Online Help Me?

Caring for a diabetic person or living with diabetes usually means constant stress as well as constant decision-making. Unfortunately, in some cases, healthcare providers are not always available to answer diabetes-related questions.

For instant for diabetes-related information, and diabetes support, diabetics and caregivers sometimes turn to peer support rooms and DOCs (Diabetes Online Communities) such as diabetes chat rooms.

What are Diabetes Chat Rooms?

Many diabetes support communities are created by diabetics and are safe places where people affected by the disease can learn from others, provide information, and seek advice from others without judgment, stigma, or fear. People with diabetes reap numerous tangible benefits from joining a Diabetes Online Community.

Some of these benefits include greater social connectedness, lower levels of diabetes distress and anxiety, improved stress management, improved blood sugar management, and reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications.

These and other numerous benefits are part of the reason why these communities are catching on all over the globe. Not only are we seeing more people participating, but we are also seeing more communities each year.

Diabetes educators and diabetics alike have been discussing the benefits of joining DOCs for decades. Although they knew the facts, they just didn’t have the research and data to back it up. However, now researchers have started collecting more and more data on the benefits of diabetes chat rooms.

Online peer support groups were the trending topics at the 2019 ADCES (Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) conference, largely due to a review of 47 studies published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology in May 2019. More recently, a meta-analysis of 9 DOC reviews shows that being involved in a diabetes chat rooms is associated with significant improvements in behavioral, psychological, and clinical aspects of health.

Science-backed benefits of joining peer support groups

Social Connectedness

Diabetes can have a negative impact on the social lives of people living with diabetes, caregivers, as well as their friends and relatives. This is particularly true for people living with type 2 diabetes particularly because they avoid sharing their diagnosis with friends, colleagues as well as family members due to the fear of stigma.

Diabetes chat rooms help diabetics create and join support networks that understand the nuances of managing diabetes on a deeper level. Therefore, they don’t feel alone.

The May 2019 review also found that diabetics who join and are actively involved in diabetes chat rooms experience a higher quality of life as compared to the general population of diabetics. This results in part from social support, empowerment, and shared experiences resulting from social connections created in diabetes chat rooms.

May Improve Glycemic and A1C Levels

According to the same 2019 review, diabetes chat rooms were also associated with stable A1C levels in adolescents. This is a positive sign, particularly because adolescents’ A1C levels tend to increase especially during this life stage.

On the other hand, the use of diabetes chat rooms in adults is associated with improved A1C levels. A1C shows the average blood glucose levels over the last 2 or 3 months. Besides being used to diagnose diabetes, A1C is also used to monitor and determine the efficacy of diabetes eating plans.

Although everyone with diabetes has different goals, generally, A1C levels of less than 7% mean better blood glucose control and a significantly lower risk of complications related to diabetes. According to a study published in the JMIR Diabetes journal in 2009, highly engaged diabetes chat room users tend to have better glycemic levels than diabetics with lower engagement.

This can be attributed to the fact that involvement in diabetes chat rooms offers accountability, which tends to motivate users to be keener about their blood glucose levels.

Encourages Healthier Self-Care Activities

The Future Science OA July 2018 issue published a study that showed that diabetes chat rooms tend to encourage users to perform better self-care activities compared to non-users. These activities include eating a healthy diet, regular exercise, checking glucose levels, and taking medication and insulin.

Diabetes chat rooms also provide convenient places for people with diabetes to crowd-source answers and solutions to self-care concerns such the best systems for monitoring blood glucose levels, weight loss, and the best foods for people living with diabetes. This helps set up diabetics for long-term success

Although there are numerous benefits of joining diabetes chat rooms, it is essential to keep in mind that they don’t replace advice from medical practitioners. This is particularly because misinformation in the digital era is a real concern. However, according to a study published in the Current Diabetes Reviews, misinformation in diabetes chat rooms was uncommon (ranging between 0% and 9% of all posts).

Visit a Diabetes Chat Room HERE!

What is Diabetic Myopathy?

Post Updated: 19th April 2023

Diabetic myopathy is a condition that affects people with diabetes, specifically those with type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by muscle weakness, wasting, and pain. This condition can affect any muscle group in the body, but it is most commonly seen in the hips, legs, and feet. In this article, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for diabetic myopathy.

Causes of Diabetic Myopathy

The exact cause of diabetic myopathy is not fully understood. However, it is believed to be a result of long-term high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that supply the muscles with oxygen and nutrients. This damage can lead to muscle weakness, wasting, and pain.

In addition to high blood sugar levels, other factors can contribute to diabetic myopathy. These include:

Poor blood circulation: High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that supply the muscles with oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to poor circulation, which can contribute to muscle weakness and wasting.
Neuropathy: Diabetes can cause nerve damage, which can lead to muscle weakness and wasting. This is known as diabetic neuropathy.
Inactivity: People with diabetes may be less active due to pain or other symptoms, which can contribute to muscle weakness and wasting.

Symptoms of Diabetic Myopathy

The symptoms of diabetic myopathy can vary from person to person. However, some common symptoms include:

Dysarthria:

This is a motor speech disorder that is primarily characterized by difficulty expressing and forming words. It is mainly a result of pathology or injury of the nervous system due to diabetes myopathy. The muscles of the respiratory system, face, and mouth move very slowly or do not move at all.

However, severity depends on the areas of the muscular and nervous systems that have been affected. Symptoms include; a slow or rapid rate of speech with a mumbling quality, limited lip, jaw, and tongue movement, changes in vocal quality, abnormal intonation, drooling, and chewing or swallowing difficulty.

Muscle weakness:

This is the most common symptom of diabetic myopathy. Muscle weakness occurs at any age and it can either affect the entire portion or just a portion of the body. Diabetic myopathy affects the nervous system resulting in muscle weakness. It occurs in conjunction with symptoms such as paresthesia, pain, or fever-like symptoms. Complications of muscle weakness vary depending on the stage of diabetic myopathy and they include contractures and muscle atrophy.

Muscle wasting:

Diabetic myopathy can lead to muscle wasting, also known as muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy is the gradual loss of muscle tissue, which can result in decreased muscle strength and mobility.

Muscle pain:

Diabetic myopathy might also cause pain and aches in the muscles. This may be due to muscle cramps, muscle strains, injury, fatigue, circulatory disorders, and stress. The changes in muscle can be detected with biochemical or molecular techniques or with functional testing mainly because this condition is primarily associated with loss of strength and muscle mass.

Ataxia:

As diabetes progresses, sufferers may also experience failure of voluntary muscle coordination. It implies dysfunction of some parts of the nervous system that usually coordinate movement. Ataxia can cause a person to have difficulty with balance, walking, and other movements that require precise coordination of muscle activity.

Foot drop:

Foot drop is a condition where a person is unable to lift the front part of their foot, which can cause difficulty in walking and increase the risk of falling. Foot drop due to diabetic myopathy is a condition caused by nerve damage that affects the muscles responsible for lifting the front part of the foot.

Treatment options for diabetic myopathy

There are several treatment options available for diabetic myopathy. The most effective treatment will depend on the severity of the condition and the individual’s overall health.

Blood sugar control: The most important treatment for diabetic myopathy is to control blood sugar levels. This can be done through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, and medications such as insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents.
Exercise: Exercise can help improve muscle strength and flexibility. People with diabetic myopathy should engage in regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or resistance training.
Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help improve muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination. It may also include stretches and massages to help alleviate muscle pain.
Pain management: Pain medication may be prescribed to help manage muscle pain and cramping.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair or replace damaged muscles.

How can you help prevent diabetic leg pain?

Prevention of diabetic myopathy involves maintaining good blood sugar control and keeping active with regular physical activity. People with diabetes should aim to keep their blood sugar levels within a healthy range, as this can help prevent muscle damage and other complications.

Good blood sugar levels for the average person with diabetes should be between 60.8 mg/dl and 120.4 mg/dl ( 3.4 to 6.7mmol/L) depending on the time of day and amount eaten at the last meal.

They should also engage in regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or resistance training. This can help improve muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination.

In addition to these lifestyle changes, people with diabetes should have regular check-ups with their healthcare provider. This can help detect and treat any complications early on, including diabetic myopathy.

Diabetic myopathy is one of the leading causes of disability among diabetics. Therefore, regardless of how mild these signs and symptoms of diabetic myopathy are, they should never be ignored. In addition to the blood glucose control measures, interventions to improve strength and muscle mass in these patients should also be undertaken.

More info on the complications of diabetes HERE!

Stress and Diabetes

Can Stress Cause Diabetes?

Actually having diabetes in itself, is a major source of stress. Many diabetics have much higher rates of anxiety and depression, and learning to deal with this and reducing stress in your day to day activities, is vital.

Your body is essentially a hormone factory. Whenever you are stressed – whether it’s good or bad stress – your body releases different types of hormones to help you out. For example, it will release adrenaline to give you more energy. Along with these, your liver, muscles and fat will also release glucose. If you have chronic stress you can end up with a situation where your body is releasing too much hormone, and too much glucose, too often.

Diabetes and Stress is not a good scenario. If you’re chronically under stress it can make it difficult to control your diabetes. If you are worried about things such as paying the bills, taking care of your children, passing tests, and other life situations, you could be harming your health more than you know with the added additional and frequent releases of hormones into your blood stream. Like drugs, you can actually get addicted to these hormones too.

Who Is in Control?

In Life, the Truth, and Being Free , the author Steve Maraboli states, “You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” In many cases this is true, but in others you really do have some control over the stress in your life.

The trick is to figure out which things you have control over and which things you do not. A good way to judge is to determine who must do the change or action to make it different. If it’s not you, you have no control over it, and you must let it go. If it is you, then you have to face it and do what it takes to change.

Even if it’s something you have no control over, you do have control over your reaction to the situation. Learn to take time to assess a situation, determine who is in control, and then control what you can. If someone is being bossy or demanding, just react differently to it than you normally would. Take a deep breath, count to ten and move on. You can control your thoughts and your actions in a way that reduces your stress.

If you do have direct control over something such as your weight and what you eat, then it’s time to face the facts that only you can truly make a change here. If your poor eating habits are causing you to be unhealthy, instead of letting it add stress to your life, work on creating new habits one day at a time. Each meal or each day that you make the best choices for yourself and your health, you’ll be less stressed about that issue.

Stress and Diabetes: Steps You Can Take to Reduce Stress

* Learn coping skills – Read books about developing coping skills or, if you can, seek some professional help through a counselor or life coach.

* Meditate – This isn’t hokey, and it’s not strange; meditation and prayer are proved to keep you calmer, long after.

*Exercise – Moving around a little every day releases feel-good endorphins that can help you feel more at peace during and after exercise.

* Try something new – Sometimes it helps to break out of your everyday life to let go of stress. Join a local group, try a new hobby, take a class, volunteer.

* Breathe and count – During a stressful event, teach yourself to check your breathing. So many people literally hold their breath at all times of the day. Count to three (or ten if you need it) and breathe normally and mindfully.

* Relax – Take time each day to just relax, read a good book, watch a TV show or documentary and just be.

By incorporating these things into your life and being aware of who exactly is in control of your life, you will go far in reducing the stress in your life and at the same time, reducing the effects of stress on diabetes.

Exercise can help ease stress from diabetes. Read MORE

Homeopathic Treatment for Diabetes

There are many home remedies for diabetes, and herbal supplements for diabetes type 2, (some you may never have heard of!) Diabetes mellitus mainly affects the blood glucose levels and utilization of glucose as energy in the body. Glucose is vital for building up muscles and it also acts as fuel for numerous brain functions. However, the blood glucose level is usually high in diabetic conditions and it might cause serious health problems or even death. Homeopathy is one of the treatments for diabetes and it can improve the health of patients and also aid in achieving control over the blood glucose level.

Some of the most Effective Natural Remedies for Diabetes include:

Uranium nitrate

The use of uranium nitrate as a Homeopathic treatment for diabetes originated due to dyspepsia. The signs and symptoms of dyspepsia include; polyuria, polydipsia, dry skin and dryness in the mouth. Uranium nitrate lessens the sugar level in urine and also reduces frequent urination. However, people under this treatment will feel thirsty frequently and also experience an increased appetite. Despite the increased food consumption, such individuals will still lose weight. Fatigue is also common for patients under this treatment. An example of this treatment method is Syzygium jambolanum. However, it is vital to consult a homeopathic doctor in order to ensure that this treatment suits your body and the stage your diabetes is at.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another one of the home remedies for diabetes – very beneficial for pancreatic disorders including diabetes. This treatment is also very useful when diabetes occurs with other conditions including tuberculosis and gouty diathesis. It gets rid of symptoms such as sudden dryness in the mouth, thirsty, feeling, emaciation and frequent urination. Examples of this treatment method in homeopathy medicine include natrum sulphuricum and arsenicum. Arsenicum is effective for reducing thirst and diabetic gangrene. On the other hand, natrum sulphuricum is used for hydrogenic constitution and dry mouth.

Use of lactic acid in Homeopathic Treatment for Diabetes.

This homeopathic treatment method is highly effective in treating diabetes that is associated with any gastro-hepatic conditions. Symptoms such as

constant and frequent hunger,
thirst with nausea and
frequent urination, show that patients need this treatment. This homeopathic remedy reduces chronic pain, dryness in the mouth and dryness in the skin which are typical symptoms for gastro-hepatic diabetes. This symptom can be used along with acetic acid as well as carbolic acid to improve diabetic symptoms.

Insulin

Long before the effects of insulin on diabetic patients were proven, pancreatic juice was often used to treat diabetes in homeopathy. The pancreatic juice should be administered along with water under supervision in doses of 10-20 drops. Supervision is very important in order to avoid overdosing especially in this treatment method. A small dose of pancreatic juice has a huge effect. Pancreatic juice is one of the best homeopathic treatment for diabetes.

Bryonia

Bryonia is a native European perennial vine with red berries and white flowers. The root of the Bryonia plant is used in healing. It has a bitter smell and strong taste. Bryonia is also known as devil’s turnip.

Homeopathic treatment for diabetes, natural herbs for diabetes — Bryonia

This treatment method is highly effective especially for diabetic patients who are also affected by hepatic disorders. Hepatic disorders cause difficulty in eating which might result in fatigue and tiredness. Patients may also experience general weakness, bitter taste in the mouth and dryness in lips. The tongue will also become flabby and the patient might suffer from mood disorders as well. This remedy can also be used to treat various digestive disorders.

It is vital for diabetes to be diagnosed and treated early in order to avoid further complications. If left untreated, diabetes can damage tissues that are vulnerable to the effects of high blood sugar levels such as the eye, kidney, large blood vessels and the nerves. Remember, It is essential to eat well and take regular exercise for good health. This, along with the numerous natural remedies for diabetes will certainly improve and help to reverse your condition.

Get the Facts on Prediabetes – Are you at Risk?

The Facts on Prediabetes, how to prevent diabetes — Are you at Risk?

Get the Facts on Prediabetes.

So you’ve had a great Christmas vacation – spent some great quality time with the kids – been off visiting family and friends. Maybe you’ve even overindulged a little?

So much good home cooking on offer, wine, a few beers?

Does this sound like you?

Your wife (or husband) is nagging at you to go have a check up at the doctors, it’s been about 4 years since your last one! Lo and behold..he tells you that YOU’RE PRE DIABETIC.!

It doesn’t have to be this way – diabetes is basically a non-communicable lifestyle disease that (much of the time) is self-inflicted.

Well, read on if you want to get off that path to diabetes and get the chance to change your life NOW.

So, what are the facts on Prediabetes?

It’s actually a bit of a grey area, but basically your body is not able to efficiently manage blood sugars after eating any more. Your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, but not quite high enough to fall into the Type 2 diabetes category.

How do you know if you’re at risk of Prediabetes?

Unfortunately, in most cases you can have it and not even know it! There’s no symptoms and no warning signs.

Being overweight is one of the main risk factors – especially excess fat around the waistline.

Without regular doctors checks, the increased blood glucose level that goes hand in hand with prediabetes, goes undetected.

Some who fall into the ‘prediabetic ‘ category, may also have some of the symptoms of diabetes. Here are a few of the main ones to watch out for.

Eye damage.

The most common type of eye damage for a diabetic, is retinopathy. (This is where the blood vessels in the retina, become week, damaged and may often bleed or leak.)

Some nerve damage.

This is referred to as neuropathy. About 50 % of diabetics end up with some nerve damage. You may get numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands and feet. (That is why regular exercise is so vital, especially if you are diabetic or fall into the prediabetic category.)

Nerve damage can affect so many parts of the body, stomach, abdomen – These in turn can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, problems with the bladder and even sexual dysfunction in men.

Kidney damage.

Damage to the kidneys caused by diabetes, is called nephropathy. (From the Greek nephros for kidney). Once again, its raised blood glucose levels, higher than normal blood pressure levels and excess blood fat levels that contribute to kidney damage in diabetics.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to detect kidney damage and sometimes even an examination by your doctor won’t pick up until it’s too late – sometimes patients can lose almost all of their kidney function before symptoms are apparent.

Problems with your teeth and gums

You may experience problems with your teeth and gums, as increased blood sugar levels also affect the flow of saliva lowering your infection fighting white blood cells.

Remember to brush twice a day and have regular dental checks!

Heart problems

Cardiovascular disease (mainly heart disease and stroke) along with obesity and

How to prevent diabetes — Foods Diabetics Should Avoid

diabetes, is killing 18 million people a year – a large majority of these diseases are purely due to the modern lifestyle. Mums are out working now, fast food joints are everywhere, we are eating more food, more often and it’s a lot more processed, rather than fresh. Packaged food became much more attractive, cheaper and has a longer shelf life.

Do you have problems sleeping? You may be experiencing Prediabetes.

If you are one that only sleeps around 6 hours or less each night, and it’s a regular pattern for you, you may fall into the category of prediabetes. These are some of the things you could be experiencing that puts you within the prediabetes category.

The only way to find out for sure, is by visiting you physician and requesting a ‘fasting blood glucose test’. If this reveals you levels are between 6.1 to 6.9mmol/L, then there may be a further test required where you have to drink a really sugary drink (oral glucose tolerance test) to see just how well your body deals with it. This is the sure fast way to determine whether you need some radical lifestyle changes, to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. It may be as simple as just following a good diet for pre diabetes. Follow this link for some tips on a good Diabetic Meal Plan. Be sure to visit us here again soon, where you can find out more on the Facts on Prediabetes.