Diabetes

Greetings Herbalife Distributors,

It has been a while since our last publication.  Many of you have emailed me to request the re-launch of our bi-weekly newsletter.  From now on, every two weeks we'll deliver an informative letter about an ailment or condition that affects millions of people all over the world, and the Herbalife products that can help.

Herbacall.com is the only website created specifically for Herbalife distributors.  It's a great source of information, resources, testimonials, recipes, and advice to help you grow your business.  It also comes with a fully functional Forum to share stories with the rest of the Herbalife community.

From now on we'll be constantly updating the information on the site.  Do you have an idea for the next newsletter?  Would you like to share a story, recipe, or testimonial with your fellow distributors?  Register at www.herbacall.com for more information.

Have a great day!

Steven List, Founder
Herbacall.com

Facts About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, a simple sugar that enters the cells to be used for energy.  Normally, a hormone produced by the pancreas known as insulin, adjusts itself to the level of glucose so it could be moved into body cells.  But in a diabetic patient, the body does not produce or properly use insulin, thus causing blood sugar levels to be abnormally high.

Diabetes currently affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million by 2025. Each year a further 7 million people develop diabetes, and 3.8 million deaths are attributable to diabetes. Furthermore, an even greater number die from cardiovascular disease made worse by diabetes-related lipid disorders and hypertension.

Although the main cause of diabetes is unknown, it is reported that both genetics and environmental factors, such as obesity and lack of exercise, appear to be contributing causes.

Source:
International Diabetes Federation: http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=37

Major Types of Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them.  Type 1 diabetes most frequently affects children and adolescents and accounts for approximately 5 to 10% of all diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency.

Type 2 diabetes constitutes about 85% to 95% of all diabetes in developed countries, and accounts for an even higher percentage in developing countries.  On average, people with type 2 diabetes will die 5-10 years before people without diabetes, mostly due to cardiovascular disease.

Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is carbohydrate intolerance of varying degrees of severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.  It is increasing in prevalence in concert with the worldwide rise in type 2 diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Sources:
American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp
Diabetes Australia: http://www.diabetesnsw.com.au/health_professionals/kidneystatistics.asp
International Diabetes Ferderation: http://www.eatlas.idf.org/Types_of_diabetes/

Diagnosis of Diabetes:

The following tests are used for diagnosis:

• A fasting plasma glucose test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. This test is used to detect diabetes or pre-diabetes.
• An oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood glucose after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating and 2 hours after you drink a glucose-containing beverage. This test can be used to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes.
• In a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your blood glucose without regard to when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not pre-diabetes.

The fasting plasma glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing diabetes due to convenience and is most reliable when done in the morning.

With the fasting plasma glucose test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.

Sources:
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse - http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/
American Diabetes Association: http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp

What are the symptoms of Diabetes

Many of diabetes’ symptoms appear to be so harmless that they often go undiagnosed.  Recent studies have shown that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can minimize the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to develop rapidly, over a couple of weeks, and are more severe.  In type 2 diabetes, symptoms develop slowly and are usually milder.

Common symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 are:

• increased thirst
• passing water frequently, especially at night
• tiredness and fatigue
• loss of weight
• genital itching or recurrent thrush

In type 1 diabetes, less common symptoms are:

• cramps
• constipation
• blurred vision
• recurrent skin infections

In type 2 diabetes, symptoms may go unnoticed for years, and only when complications of diabetes - such as foot ulceration or blurred vision occur - is diabetes diagnosed.  It is important to keep in mind that all the symptoms may not be present.  Whenever any of these symptoms arise, it's important to be tested for diabetes.

Source: 
BBC Health - http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/diabetes/aboutdiabetes_symptoms.shtml

What treatments are available for Diabetes?

In the treatment of diabetes, the primary goal is to minimize any elevation of blood sugar (glucose) without causing abnormally low levels of blood sugar. 

Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin, exercise, and a diabetic diet. Type 2 diabetes is treated with weight reduction, a diabetic diet, and exercise.  However, when these measures are unable to control the elevated blood sugars, oral medications can be prescribed by a physician.

Diabetic patients must follow a strict diabetic diet in order to control elevated blood sugar in their body.  The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has provided guidelines for a diabetic diet.  The ADA diet is a balanced, nutritious diet that is low in fat, cholesterol, and simple sugars. The total daily calories are evenly divided into three meals. In the past two years, the ADA has lifted the absolute ban on simple sugars. Small amounts of simple sugars are allowed when consumed with a complex meal.

Weight reduction and an exercise regime are essential in the treatment of diabetes. Weight reduction and exercise increase the body's sensitivity to insulin, thus helping to control blood sugar elevations.

Source:
MedicineNet.com

HerbaCall Diabetes Testimonials

• Shelley Jordan says “My mother-in-law has diabetes she took oral insulin and was very over weight we got her on the gold plan it is a low carbohydrate program and she has lost 25 lbs and her blood sugar is almost normal now and her cholesterol which was high is now almost normal as well.”
  
• Jim Dennison tells HerbaCall, ”I have been a type two Diabetic for over 7 years now. In two weeks I started to see some weight loss, and I started to feel more energy. I hadn't told my wife that I was on Herbalife because she is very leery of these things. But she saw that I was losing weight and asked me what was going on. When I told her about it, she wanted to go on it also.”
  
• Margot Huff, a Type II Diabetes started on the green quickstart program with total control, added carboguard, herbal concentrate, thermobond, yellow, herbalifeline, schizandra plus, mega ginseng blend and tang kuei plus.  In just a month, he lost 15 lbs, his triglicerides, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and Hemoglobin A1C have all dropped to the normal range!
  
• Want more information and more Herbalife testimonials?

HerbaCall Recipes

Sally Carter recommends a “HPLC Cake” recipe for people with diabetes.   The special ingredients include Diabetic cake mix (any flavor, no sugar in it) and 1 cup of Formula 1 or HPLC shake mix. 

“People with diabetes can’t or shouldn’t eat regular cake mixes, due to the sugar content.  Well I tried something to see if it would be any good and it is very good.  I hope you like it

“You can buy cake mix in the diabetic section of the store that has no sugar in it.  Get what ever flavor you like; white works the best.

“Pour dry cake mix in a bowl, then remove ½ cup of cake mix and replace with 1 cup of Herbalife Formula 1 in your favorite flavor.  Prepare as you normally would and bake.  This is very good”

 

Visit HerbaCall.com for more detailed information on many health conditions, news, and research links. HerbaCall has many testimonials on Diabetes and other conditions. Herbalife products can help calm your digestive system!