In 1981, Dr. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto came up with a ranking system for carbohydrates based upon how long it takes them to break down into the system. Some carbohydrates break down very slowly and those release glucose gradually into the bloodstream and have a low glycemic index. For people who are diabetes, particularly those who are insulin dependent, a low glycemic index is preferable. These foods allow the insulin or medication to respond better to the blood glucose and allows for the sugars to break down more naturally.

Other foods are rated high on the Glycemic Index. These foods currently have high ratings and raise the blood glucose level quickly. High glycemic foods can be beneficial for people who are recovering from high exertion or those suffering from hypoglycemia. People with Type I or Type II Diabetes should avoid high glycemic foods as they can play havoc with the insulin or medication they are taking.

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You ‘ve probably wondered how you got Diabetes. You may worry that your children will get it too.

Unlike some traits, Diabetes does not seem to be inherited in a simple pattern. Yet clearly, some people are born more likely to get Diabetes than others.

What leads to Diabetes?

Type 1 and type 2 Diabetes have different causes. Yet two factors are important in both. First, you must inherit a predisposition to the disease. Second, something in your environment must trigger Diabetes.

Genes alone are not enough. One proof of this is identical twins. Identical twins have identical genes. Yet when one twin has type 1 Diabetes, the other gets the disease at most only half the time. When one twin has type 2 Diabetes, the other ‘s risk is at most 3 in 4.

Type 1 Diabetes

In most cases of type 1 Diabetes, people need to inherit risk factors from both parents. We think these factors must be more common in whites because whites have the highest rate of type 1 Diabetes. Because most people who are at risk do not get Diabetes, researchers want to find out what the environmental triggers are.

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Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of Diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of Diabetes.

Some Diabetes symptoms include:

* Frequent Urination
* Excessive thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Increased fatigue
* Irritability
* Blurry vision

If you have one or more of these Diabetes symptoms, see your doctor right away.

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If you are a teen and have diabetes you already complicated teen life can be even more involved as you deal with your disease and the feelings that you have about living with diabetes.

Teens just want to fit in with their peers and anything that makes them feel different is going to make their life difficult. Dealing with diabetes means having to test blood glucose levels on a regular basis, eating a meal plan specific to your diabetic needs, and perhaps giving yourself an insulin shot, missing school or social events due to medical appointments and sometimes not feeling well while at school due to low blood sugar or high blood sugar.

It can be especially rough if the teen is in a family with siblings who do not have diabetes and they can have feelings of anger for having to deal with diabetic issues when their siblings seem to have a relatively carefree life.

Teens often ask, “Why me?” or “What Have I done to deserve to have to deal with all of this?”

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Urinary Tract Infection, (UTI) is a common ailment and can affect people of all ages, sex, and from all cultures. However, there are certain groups of people that are more prone to UTI than others. Women, for example, for reasons yet to be firmly established, carry a greater risk of UTI. Diabetic patients too fall under this category. Going further, pregnant women with Diabetes are probably amongst the most vulnerable to UTI.

Diabetic women are at a higher risk of developing to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) after Menopause as compared to non-Diabetic women. In fact, a study by University of Washington, Seattle revealed that the risk of UTI in Diabetic women was 80% higher than others. UTI in Diabetic patients is not only more severe but also is more recurrent as compared to non-Diabetic patients.

The sugar content of urine in a Diabetic patient provides a breeding ground for bacteria once they enter the bladder. The most serious but rare types of UTI like pyelonephritis, widespread infections, abscesses, inflammation of the bladder wall, occur mostly in Diabetic individuals.

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