What
is gestational diabetes?
Gestational
diabetes (pronounced jess-tay-shun-ul die-uh-beet-eez)
is a type of diabetes, or high blood sugar, that only
pregnant women get. In fact, the word gestational means
pregnant. If a woman gets high blood sugar when she's
pregnant, but she never had high blood sugar before, she
has gestational diabetes. Nearly 135,000 pregnant women
get the condition every year, making it one of the top
health concerns related to pregnancy.
Hypoglycemia
You should
know the signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) such
as feeling weak or dizzy, sweating more, noticing sudden
changes in your heartbeat, or feeling hungry. If you experience
these symptoms, stop exercising and test your blood glucose.
Alternative
therapies
Alternative
therapies are treatments that are neither widely taught
in medical schools nor widely practiced in hospitals.
Alternative treatments that have been studied to manage
diabetes include acupuncture, biofeedback, guided imagery,
and vitamin and mineral supplementation. The success of
some alternative treatments can be hard to measure. Many
alternative treatments remain either untested or unproven
through traditional scientific studies.
What
is type 2 diabetes?
Diabetes
is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal.
People with diabetes have problems converting food to
energy. After a meal, food is broken down into a sugar
called glucose, which is carried by the blood to cells
throughout the body. Cells use the hormone insulin, made
in the pancreas, to help them process blood glucose into
energy.
Manage
Diabetes
Diabetes
mellitus affects more than 16 million Americans. It damages
blood vessels, including the coronary arteries of the
heart. Up to 75 percent of those with diabetes develop
heart and blood vessel diseases. Diabetes also can lead
to stroke, kidney failure, and other problems.
Diabetic
neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused by
diabetes.
People with
diabetes can, over time, have damage to nerves throughout
the body. Neuropathies lead to numbness and sometimes
pain and weakness in the hands, arms, feet, and legs.
Problems may also occur in every organ system, including
the digestive tract, heart, and sex organs. People with
diabetes can develop nerve problems at any time, but the
longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk.
What
Are Clinical Trials?
The purpose
of clinical trials is to find out whether a medication
is safe to use and effective against various diseases
or medical conditions.
Checklist
of Questions
So, you're
considering taking part in a clinical trial...This can
be a very satisfying experience, allowing you to help
yourself now and to help others in the future. But what
questions should you ask to help you make sure you really
want to take part, and, if you do decide to go ahead,
what should you expect along the way?
Will
You Have Access to Those Drugs That Work After a Trial
Is Complete?
Often, the company developing a
new drug may try to see that you can continue to get it,
even before the FDA has approved it for sale. You may
be able to do this under what is termed a compassionate
plea basis. This means that because the new drug has been
so helpful, the manufacturer can give it to a physician,
who may then prescribe it for you.
