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Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to properly use the sugar called glucose to fuel our bodies for energy and growth the body needs. Virtually all of the food we consume is broken down into glucose sugar that enters into the bloodstream. The pancreas produces insulin which takes the glucose from the bloodstream into body cells, where it is then used for body fuel. If the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulins or the cells don’t use insulin properly, the glucose builds up in the bloodstream while the cells that fuel the body are starved of energy. Overtime, if not treated diabetes can lead to serious health complications such as risk for heart disease, kidney renal disease, blindness, and nerve problems.

There are three types of diabetes. Type 1 and 2 diabetes and gestational

diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes:

Type 1 of diabetes is more serious than type 2 diabetes, in that the pancreas can no longer produce insulin, which control blood sugar (glucose) resulting in having to take insulin shots or other medication for diabetes. Sometimes referred to as juvenile diabetes, type 1 diabetes, although developing most often in children and teenagers, type 1 diabetes can occur at any age. Early diagnosis is crucial in preventing other serious complications brought about by diabetes disease and the effects of diabetes, such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, being blind, nerve damage, and high blood pressure level. Some symptoms for diabetes are:

* Loss of weight

* Fatique-no energy

* Excessive thirst

* Increase in appetite

* Vision eyesight blurred

* Frequent urinating

Type 2 diabetes:

Type 2 of diabetes is the more common form of diabeties and although there is no cure for type 2 diabetes it can usually be controlled by losing weight and getting rid of excess fat, exercise, and eating healthy foods. Those with type 2 diabetes are able to create insulin; however, the pancreas can’t create enough insulin for a healthy blood sugar level or a normal glucose range to enter body cells to be used for self energy. Some of the diabetes risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes are:

* Genetic ancestry: If a parent or sibling has diabetes two the risk is higher for another family member of getting the disease.

* Being overweight

* Type 2 diabetes increases with age 45 and up

* Race or ethnic background. The risk of type 2 diabetes is greater in Africans, Latin Americans, Native Americans and Asians

* Non active. Health and fitness exercise is important for keeping type 2 diabetes under control

* Elevated blood pressure

Gestational diabetes: what is gestational diabetes?

Gestational diabetes, sometimes called glucose intolerance pregnancy, affects women who have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Usually, for most women there are no signs of symptoms. Most women are routinely screened between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy with a gestational diabetes testing glucose screening test. Screening is usually done by what’s known as the oral glucose tolerance test. This test measures blood sugar glucose to see if the body is handling the breaking down of blood sugars. Controlling gestational diabetes consist of diet & nutrition and exercise.

With any one of these diabetes types, controlling diabetes with diet, exercise and keeping blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible is crucial for a diabetic.

Japanese food conjures up images of fish, rice, miso soup and tofu but recently fitness in the Land of the Rising Sun appears to be deteriorating. Unfortunately, an increasing number of Japanese are adopting unhealthy eating patterns and eating like Sumo wrestlers. The Japanese used to eat food high in protein, but over the past few decades there has been a shift towards eating more animal fat, and western fast food. Experts warn that Japanese children are leading increasingly sedentary lives, and foregoing tofu for burgers and instant noodles.

The Japanese are traditionally known for their restraint: their old adage is Hara Hachi bunme or “stop eating when your’re 80% full” . This restraint has led to it being the country that has had the world’s longest life expectancy: 86 years for women, 79 for men. The new trend of eating could one day jeopardize Japan’s status as the home of the world’s longest-living population. If eating habits change, life expectancy will shorten and this has already been made clear. According to the WHO, globally, there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, at least 300 million of them obese. Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer. The key causes are increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in saturated fats and sugars, and reduced physical activity.

While Japanese waistlines have a long way to go before they start to overtaking the Americans: about 24% of people aged 15 and over are considered overweight, compared with 65% in th US, this change in eating patterns has led to an alarming rise in obesity. As the country leaves behind traditional food habits people in all age groups have grown heavier in the past two decades. The highest rate is among men in their 40s: 34 percent were overweight in 2003, up from 23 percent in 1980, according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey. While older women are growing fatter, younger fashion-conscious women tend to be underweight. Among children, 8 percent were obese or at risk of obesity in 2004, compared with fewer than 6 percent in 1980. Diabetes is a leading concern. While the number of deaths from the disease has fallen in the past decade, more than 2 million people are being treated for it — an increase of about 53 percent from 15 years ago.The number treated for high blood pressure has also grown about 9 percent in the past 10 years, the Health Ministry says.

People in the Far East want to get anything American — including all the fast food chains, With their adoption of the Western diet, their plant food intake tends to go down while fat and animal protein intake has gone up.This rise should serve as a wake-up call for Americans and the Japanese to rediscover what helped make Japan lean and healthy in the first place. The Japanese government have released a new nutrition chart recently that encourages eating more carbohydrates — such as rice — and vegetables as main sources of energy, while cutting down on meat to reduce the intake of fat. The chart specifically targets overweight men, singles, and those raising children. The government has set aside about 72 million yen in the 2006-2007 budget to tackle child heft. The Health Ministry also plans to research the link between parents’ lifestyle and overweight children, and support selected towns to promote healthier eating habits.