All Blood Tests

One of the problems that go along with diabetes is hyperglycemia. This is a serious problem if left untreated and is a major cause of diabetes complications.

The medical term used for high blood glucose (sugar) is hyperglycemia that happens when the body has too little, or not enough insulin or isn’t able to use the insulin properly.

If the blood sugar level is higher than 200 mg/dL then it may indicate hyperglycemia.

What are the causes of high blood sugar?

Some of the factors that cause hyperglycemia are:

o  Eating more food than is mentioned in your planned diet

o  Uncontrolled diabetes

o  Taking less of the oral agent or insulin than required

o  Emotional stress (workplace challenges or family conflicts)

o  Exercising less than required/planned

o  Certain medications

o  Physical stress (cold, flu or infection)

o  Surgery

o  Injury

What are the symptoms and signs associated with high blood sugar?

High blood sugar has only a few or no symptoms are all. The common symptoms are:

o  Frequency in urination

o  Thirst

o  Dry mouth

o  Urination at night

o  Drowsiness or fatigue

o  Loss of weight

o  Increase in appetite

o  Slow healing of wounds

o  Blurriness in vision

o  Dry and itchy skin

There are times when the blood sugar levels become very high or has been high for a long time, in such cases, there are a few additional symptoms, they are:

o  Rapid loss in weight

o  Unconsciousness

o  Increased confusion or drowsiness

o  Breathing difficulty

o  Dizziness when you stand up

o  Coma

What should I do when I have these signs and symptoms?

If you experience any of these symptoms and signs, first check you blood sugar. If the result comes out normal, then use a home testing kit to check for ketones and glucose. If the urine test comes out positive, your body may have begun making the changes that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. At this time it is advisable to visit the doctor so that he/she can help lower your blood sugar safely.

The steps to be followed are:

o  Eat less and avoid sugary beverages. Contact your dietician or doctor if you are facing trouble sticking to your meal plan.

o  Take your medicines as directed by the physician. When you consult your physician he/she may adjust the timing or dosage of your medication.

o  Exercise, as this is an effective way to reduce blood sugar, but there are reservations because the presence of ketones in the urine can drive your blood sugar even higher.

What are the complications linked to hyperglycemia?

Some of the problems that can occur are:

o  Eye trouble: Small blood vessels that are located in your eyes can become damaged because of diabetes. Problems like this lie unnoticed for some time, it’s thus a good idea to have an eye test performed each year.

o  Kidney problems: Kidney problems also occur as a result of diabetes.

Diabetes or high blood sugar that affect the kidneys create problems that include:

o  An accumulation of waste products in your blood

o  Kidney failure

o  Expulsion of protein and amino acids

o  Waste products are retained in the body instead of being transported out by urinating

o  Leg or foot amputation

Babies are the sweet fruits of our love for each other. Pregnancy is a significant issue for any couple or any woman. In order to get good yields that result in to healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, prior arrangements are necessary. Begin the process of planning a pregnancy. It is advisable to try and establish whether you are healthy enough to carry a pregnancy. With modern technology you and your partner’s health can be investigated to determine whether it’s now ripe for you to have a pregnancy. Having a chat with your doctor about your health and environment can help make changes to some of the factors if need be.

Having a check up done on you before planning a pregnancy may help you pinpoint any disease you might be having. In order to have a successful pregnancy, it is important to have your health under your control. The woman’s health is a major factor which will determine the results of the pregnancy. Most conditions and diseases can be controlled today or cured altogether. It takes a healthy woman to have a healthy baby. Make certain to check whether you have any medical problems before getting pregnant. Some of these medical problems include diabetes, anemia and hypertension. It’s important to remember that most of the medications and drugs that you take can negatively affect your pregnancy.

Your family’s health history gives you a good starting point while evaluating your health yourself. Although they are rare, hereditary diseases are lethal as they cause death and many times they are the sources of preventable disability. Some of these diseases run in families. It would be wise to get a medical check up while in the process of planning a pregnancy. If any disease is detected, genetic counseling and testing can devise ways and means of ensuring that this disease does not affect the unborn child. In the process of planning for a pregnancy you and your partner should undergo tests to establish whether there is any existence of any such disease. Some of these life threatening diseases include Thallasaemia, stay-sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and sickle cell just but to mention the most significant. You and your partner can make the doctors work easier by revealing some of these maladies that afflict your family

When a woman is pregnant, she becomes more prone to diseases. Her vulnerability is very high hence planning a pregnancy is paramount. This brings the issue of infections and vaccinations which can keep some of these infections at bay. During pregnancy some infections can have adverse effects on the pregnancy. They will inflict serious defects or illnesses to the unborn child. Some of the most serious infections to deal with are sexually transmitted disease like Gonorrhea, Chamydia, Genital herpes, Syphilis and HIV. These diseases not only affect your fertility but have a high rate of infecting and harming your baby. It would be prudent to consult your doctor if you need any vaccinations which should always be prior to the pregnancy. The doctor might actually advise you to get vaccinated against rubella (German measles) and tetanus during the time of pregnancy. Your lifestyle is a major influence on the outcome of your pregnancy. Drug taking, smoking and stress related problems can highly affect the health of your unborn baby.

It’s estimated that there are at least 16 million Americans who are diabetic. This is an alarming figure in itself but when one considers the fact that often people who are suffering from diabetes have virtually no symptoms of the disease, then the idea becomes even more worrying. Although it is now common hearsay that one can easily detect the symptoms of this disease, but one cannot be perfectly sure of being diabetic. It requires a blood test to establish for certain that one has diabetes.

The blood test that is done for checking diabetes is a test to check the glucose levels in the body. The test is carried out in two phases on the same day. The first blood test is carried out on the patient’s blood when he is fasting. So, a patient coming for the test arrives without taking his breakfast or even a cup of morning tea or coffee. If the glucose levels are found to be 126 milligrams per deciliter or higher, on two separate occasions, after fasting, then there is a likelihood of diabetes.

Following this, another blood test is taken after the person has had his breakfast and a cup of tea or coffee. This time the glucose levels should not go above 200 milligrams per deciliter. In case it’s above this mark, then the likelihood of diabetes is high. At times the person is given 75 gram glucose solution to drink. Then the glucose levels are checked for monitoring the glucose levels as well as the measurement of ketones, which are the products from the breakdown of fats.

Once these tests have been successfully carried out, the individual is prescribed a at treatment which involves both the physical and emotional aspects of his being, as diabetes isn’t a malaise of the physical body alone. It’s also a disease that affects one’s emotions and reactions.

You could find the task of changing your eating habits and general lifestyle a lot easier to do if you actually understand what diabetes is.

It is a common misconception that only overweight people or those with too much sugar in their blood are likely to be diabetic. Diabetes is described by some people with the condition as “having a touch of the sugar” or “my sugar is a bit high” and when it’s portrayed like this “sort of” disease, the treatment of diabetes becomes challenging. The way to overcome this is to understand diabetes blood sugar.

First of all, it has to be accepted that although diabetes does not necessary need treating with medications and insulin, it is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. Changing your lifestyle and eating habits is often easier said than done but with a little dedication and preparation it can make a excellent difference. Try adding thirty minutes exercise each day and you have an ideal recipe for controlling your diabetes.

The next thing you should understand it that cutting sugar out of your diet isn’t a complete way to treat your diabetes. After all, diabetes comes about when your body cannot process the sugar or glucose present in your blood. It may be that your pancreas is either not producing enough or maybe not producing any insulin at all which is the method in which the glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Your body breaks down the food you take in and glucose gives your cells the necessary energy and promotes growth. The hormone insulin is made by your pancreas and allows the cells to take in the glucose. If this system isn’t working properly your glucose mounts up in the blood and is eventually passed away in your urine.

Your doctor will carry out a test called the A1C test which checks your blood over a three month period and indicates how well your glucose levels are being maintained. Keeping an eye on your blood sugar level personally, will give you the chance to see how your treatment plan is working out on a day to day basis. You will be able to see your progress by testing yourself in the morning, before and after you eat certain foodstuffs and before and after partaking in exercise.

Do not forget – it is not just about cutting out sweets. Managing your diabetes needs a carefully worked out plan between you and your health care expert which will result in a complete change of lifestyle and although keeping a check on your diabetes blood sugar level is just one part of your plan, it is considered to be a critical one.

The medicines given to a patient of High Blood Pressure (BP) are not given over the counter. Prior to the start of the High Blood Pressure (BP) Medication, the doctor and a patient hold a discussion. The actual count of the blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic is recorded to ascertain the type of High Blood Pressure (BP) Medication. The doctor also ascertains that the medicine prescribed is free from side effects for the patient’s stage of Hypertension.. Despite these steps, the individual has to be prepared for other side effects that might occur in some cases.

The most common type of High Blood Pressure Medicines such as the Diuretic Drugs, can cause skin rashes in some patients. Another High Blood Pressure Medication Side Effect is the passing of more urine, as the Hypertension Drugs are given to rid the body of excess salts.

The Beta Blockers that are given to patients, who are in Stage II of the Blood Pressure Scale, are administered drugs like Timolol and Solalol. This High Blood Pressure Medication has side effects that can slow down the heart and open the blood vessels. These cause tiredness, sleeping problems and even coooling of hands and feet.

The CCB Drugs like Lacidipine and Felodipine have other side effects. Patients taking these High Blood Pressure Medications complain of swollen ankles, bleeding gums, the passing of urine at night and even constipation. For patients who have other complications along with their blood pressure problem, the medicines are given in combination with drugs related to their specific problems. These patients are usually on Alpha Blockers like Trandolapril and Perindopril.

The most common High Blood Pressure (BP) Medication Side Effect is incontinence among women patients. Dizziness is also a common side effect. The doctor ought to inform the person of the High Blood Pressure (BP) Medication about the possible side effects.. Therefore the person can begin his High Blood Pressure (BP) Medication with full knowledge of the side effects it might cause.

Very early signs of pregnancy – are there 10 pregnancy signs? Yes, there are signs that indicate very early that you are pregnant. Some women will experience one or two of them, others will have several of the very early signs of pregnancy. Once you have conceived, it will take about a week for the fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. As implantation happens, it’s now possible to experience one or more of the 10 pregnancy signs and begin to know you are pregnant. Around this time, hormone levels begin to change, and the body reacts to these new hormone levels.

Here are 10 pregnancy signs:

1. Light Spotting – if you have conceived, spotting can happen when implantation occurs before your menstrual period should start. Pregnancy bleeding from implantation is pinkish or brownish and not heavy. A normal menstrual flow ought to begin light, become heavy, then taper off again before ending.

2. More Frequent Urination – urinating more often is one of the very early signs of pregnancy. Many women experience more frequent urination even before a missed period, usually from about 7-12 days after the temperature rise at ovulation. The changes in hormone levels made by implantation of the embryo, especially the hormone “human chorionic gonadotropin” (hCG), cause more frequent urination.

3. Elevated Body Temperature – it’s normal to have an increase in body temperature at ovulation. Your basal body temperature staying elevated after ovulation is completed and remaining elevated through when your period should begin can be one of the very early signs of pregnancy.

4. Missing a Menstrual Period – a missed period is one of the apparent 10 pregnancy signs. However, you can miss a period for other reasons including disease, stress, hormone imbalance and reactions to foods or medications. If your menstrual cycle normally occurs very regularly, missing a period can be a sign.

5. Fatigue – lack of energy as one of the very early signs of pregnancy may be hard to distinguish from other kinds of exhaustion. Feeling tired is related to the change in hormones in the body, which usually disappears as the body adjusts to the new hormone levels.

6. Cramping – the uterus can contract often and regularly. Moving around, exercise and orgasm all can trigger uterine cramping in early pregnancy.

7. Nausea – morning sickness is the name given to feeling nauseated when pregnant. Of the 10 pregnancy signs, only about half of pregnant women experience nausea, and feeling nauseated can happen any time of the day or night.

8. Tender Nipples and Breasts – one of the very early signs of pregnancy is a feeling of tenderness in the breasts and nipples. The good news is that these feelings of tenderness go away as the body becomes accustomed to the new hormone levels.

9. Darker Areolas – the area around the nipples becomes darker as early as one week after conception. The bumps on the areolas may look more prominent.

10. Constipation – you may notice a change in your bowels in early pregnancy. The intestines may relax and function less due to changing hormones and be one of the 10 pregnancy signs.

Once the very early signs of pregnancy are experienced, confirm pregnancy by using one of the better home pregnancy tests. There are major differences in the reliability of the home tests for pregnancy. A blood pregnancy test can be accurate as early as 8 to 10 days after conception, and a urine pregnancy test can be accurate as early as 10 to 14 days following conception. Pregnancy tests are not 100% accurate. If you feel you are pregnant but your pregnancy test result is negative, do the test again in a week or so and see your physician.

Do not forget to take good care of your body even before you become pregnant. Provide up smoking and alcohol, eat healthy and begin exercising. Those first few weeks and your health are vitally important to help support healthy development of your new baby. Becoming pregnant and enjoying a successful pregnancy is a complex but wonderful experience. Besides knowing the 10 pregnancy signs, learn as much as you can about fertility, pregnancy and your health so your new baby will have the very best beginning to life that is possible.

This is the question my diabetic patients always ask. There are various methods to determine blood glucose level. Some tests give you accurate diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes, while others will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes.

fasting Blood Sugar Test:

Measures the blood sugar level after 8 hours fast or overnight. Normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 100mg/dl. If your fasting blood glucose level is from 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl then you will have impaired blood glucose level also known as Pre-Diabetes. If your blood glucose level is above 125mg/dl then your doctor will diagnose as a patient of diabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may repeat the fasting blood glucose test on any other day. If you have blood glucose level of 126mg/dl or higher in two consecutive tests, then you might have diabetes. If you have blood glucose level greater than 200mg/dl and you have symptoms of diabetes like increased thirst or hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, blurred vision etc, then you may be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus without confirming it with second test.

Random Blood Glucose Test:

Random blood Glucose test gives your blood sugar at any time in a day. Normal random blood sugar level should be less than 200mg/dl. If your random blood glucose level is between 140mg/dl to 200mg/dl then you will have pre-diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test:

This type of test measures your response to sugar. First we measure fasting blood glucose level, and then glucose solution is given, after that we measure blood glucose after 1 hour and 2hours. A normal blood glucose level after an oral glucose tolerance test is less than 140 mg/dL. Level between 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL suggests pre-diabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher two hours after you drink the glucose solution might suggest that you have diabetes mellitus.

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test

This test isn’t for diagnosing diabetes, but it shows you how well you have controlled your sugar in last 2 or 3 months. Normal value is less than 7%, however if it’s more than 7 then you and your doctor should think of changing your treatment of diabetes.

Be certain to always Remember, your blood glucose measurement alone is not enough to differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Your doctor might do some other tests to find out which type of diabetes you have.

Hope this article will help you understand, normal levels of blood glucose and blood sugar in your body. To know more about Diabetes Symptoms and Treatment please visit my comprehensive website given below in my resource box

Are you one of the 1 million Americans diagnosed every year with diabetes, a disease characterized by high blood glucose levels? If not, maybe you are one of the 16 million who suffer from impaired glucose tolerance, a condition in which the glucose levels are elevated but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

If you have either of these conditions (or even if you don’t), keeping blood glucose in balance is often as simple as adjusting your eating habits. While foods high in simple sugars (e.g., candy, soda, peanut butter, canned soup) can increase your glucose levels, research shows that fiber-rich diets that include vegetables, whole grains and fruits can help control it in most people, and may prevent health complications (such as heart disease or kidney disease) in those who already have diabetes. Because of this, selecting  dishes that are high in fiber, such as the healthy recipe below, can make a world of difference to your health.

Garlic-Onion Bean Dip

Scientific studies indicate that members of the onion family, such as garlic and scallions, can help regulate blood sugar levels. This recipe has those magic ingredients, plus an added perk –  A single cupof pinto beans has a whopping 12.2 grams of fiber.

Ingredients

o  2 cloves garlic, chopped

o  1 bunch scallions, chopped

o  One can (15-

What is Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by the build-up of excess uric acid in the blood. It is the most painful type of arthritis and is characterized by redness, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation of the joints. In most cases the joints in the big toe are affected, but gout can also affect the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, elbows and fingers.

Causes of Gout

Gout can be caused due to the following reasons:

o  Excess production of uric acid in the body

o  Under-elimination of uric acid by the body (could be due to a poorly functioning kidney)

o  Food intake containing high levels of purine that are metabolized to uric acid (some meats, fish, and dried beans have high levels of purine).

o  Excessive alcohol intake could increase the level of uric acid in the body

o  Dehydration

o  Excess stress

o  High blood pressure

Gout has 4 stages: asymptomatic (without symptoms), acute, intercritical, and chronic.

Signs and Symptoms of Gout

Gout is the most painful of all types of arthritis. It usually develops after many years of uric acid crystals buildup in the joints and surrounding tissues. Gout attacks are sudden with the most common gout symptom being an attack at night where there is an extremely sharp pain in a joint / joints. This is the stage of acute gouty arthritis. The pain is accompanied by redness and swelling of the area. In a maximum number of cases the pain occurs in the joints of the big toe. Gout can also happen to the foot, ankle, heel, knee, wrist, elbow, or finger joints. The attack could last for a few days to a few weeks and then vanish. The next attack could happen within weeks, months, or could even take a few years to re-appear.

Gout Treatments

Whenever you suffer from any of the symptoms of gout, you must visit your physician immediately to get it diagnosed and treated. The physician will begin gout treatment by conducting a physical examination and check your past medical history. Some tests will be required based on the diagnosis to check for the severity of the ailment. One of the main tests is the joint fluid aspiration test that checks for the presence of uric acid crystals in the joints. A blood and / or urine test could be done to check for uric acid levels in the body.

The main aim while treating gout is to reduce the joint pains using anti-inflammatory medication. Medication to reduce the levels of uric acid in the body could be prescribed. Apart from the medications, you could help the cause by making suitable changes to your lifestyle. These lifestyle changes could be one or more of the following:

o  If you are overweight, get down to the proper weight and maintain it.

o  Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

o  If you consume alcohol in excess, reduce your consumption.

o  Exercise in moderation daily.

o  During the cold months, always keep your hands and feet well covered and warm. Gout attacks are very common during the cold months.

Never ignore gout symptoms. Ask your physician for information on gout and what best you can do to minimize the risk of gout recurrence.

Most women are eager to test for pregnancy the moment they suspect they are pregnant. Testing for pregnancy can get expensive. Your best bet is to wait until you miss your period or the day of your period.

There are however many ultra sensitive tests on the market today that detect the pregnancy hormone in the earliest stages of pregnancy. Some women have detected a pregnancy as early as 3 or 4 days before they miss their period. Some tests are able to detect HCG levels of 10 or greater. Most over the counter tests however detect levels of HCG (that’s the pregnancy hormone) once they reach 50 or 100.

HCG levels tend to double every couple of days, so if at first you test and get a negative result you may try testing again in a couple of days to see if things change.

Pregnancy tests work simply by detecting (HCG) human chorionic gonadotropin in the body. Typically you will dip a sample stick in your urine stream and wait between 2 to 5 minutes to see if a positive result shows. Most pregnancy tests you buy over the counter are just as accurate as those you would take at your doctor’s office. There are some cases however where false negatives have resulted. False negatives are far more common than false positives.

It is important however that you don’t read your pregnancy test after the time designated on the package. Some pregnancy tests develop what are called evaporation lines after sitting out too long, which may suggest a false positive.

If you do find you are pregnant, congratulations! Your next step is consulting with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

If you have undergone fertility treatments, it’s likely you healthcare provider will see you immediately after pregnancy. Do not let the wait concern you however, if you have to schedule an appointment and find your healthcare provider will not see you until you are a bit further along. It is often quite difficult to detect much activity if any in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, and most women sail through these weeks anyway on a cloud of elation.

I am a gynaecologist by profession, married and have a cute little daughter. Currently not practicing, but to satisfy the passion of service I love to help my preggy friends.