The incidence of Type ll Diabetes has grown worldwide as an epidemic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 40% of the US population will develop Type ll Diabetes during their lifetime.

The rise of Type ll Diabetes is associated with a lack of physical exercise, obesity, a sedimentary lifestyle, and an aging population. By the end of 2020, the cost for diabetes care was estimated to be $4.7 billion.

Patients develop Type ll Diabetes, mellitus, from impaired insulin secretion, insulin resistance, and hyperglycemia. The carbohydrates that are ingested are broken down into sugar and trigger the release of insulin from beta cells within the pancreas. There are special transporters called GLUT-4 that are the transporters for the sugar into the cells. Chronic and continuous elevations in blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Type ll Diabetes occurs when the cells cannot take up the sugar with the insulin. The result is that beta cell function is hampered. Insulin resistance causes the production of inflammatory cellular triggering agents and free fatty acids.

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Recipes based off of the Mediterranean diet

For those of you that are not familiar with this diet, let me explain some of its key benefits.

The Mediterranean diet has been known to prevent heart disease and strokes, keep you agile, reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cutting in half your risk of Parkinson’s disease, increases longevity, and can aid in protection against type 2 diabetes.

Some more pros to this heart healthy diet plan is that it covers all major food groups, has diverse flavors, and may be easier to adhere to than more limiting diet plans. The Mediterranean diet comes close to the American Heart Association dietary recommendations.

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Though women have a better capacity to know there is something wrong with their bodies during an illness…their symptoms and physical signs could be more vague and less detailed than men when it comes to heart disease.

Here is a list of such symptoms in women:

1. Some discomfort or pressure in the back, arm or chest
2. Tingling in the hand, elbow or jaw
3. Sudden profound fatigue
4. Sudden profound dizziness or shortness of breath
5. Vertigo or dizziness
6. Indigestion
7. Strangling sensation in the throat

None of the above symptoms should be taken lightly.

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Therapies for Urinary Tract Infections

Diets rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables will promote a healthy immune system.

The avoidance of the following will decrease bladder irritation: simple sugars caffeine, alcohol and tobacco usage. Garlic and it’s component allicin, have antimicrobial urinary pathogens. Onions also contain allicin, but also have flavonoids and quercetin.

A myth of increasing of “pushing fluids” was beneficial. Current thought is of frequent voiding along with complete bladder emptying and fluid intake has greater benefits.

Nutraceutical Supplementation

Vitamin C – may or may not have preventative affects

D-manganese – Has the affect of decreasing the bacterial attachment to the bladder wall decreasing bacteriauria.

Cranberry Juice – has long been a prevention of urinary tract infections. it was thought that it ws due to change in PH. it is now known that its active ingredient PAC’s inhibit bacterial adhesion to the wall of the bladder.
Berberine- Has been shown to decrease E-Coli attachment to bladder epithelial cells.

Urinary tract infections occur in over 50% of the population. More common in women (53%) vs men (14%) due to the smaller length of the urethra in women.

Patients that have had prior (UTI’s) are drastically more likely for future events. The most common bacteria is from gram negative; E-Coli. However complicated UTI’s can be from structural or anatomic etiologies along with diseases such as diabetes. Drug resistance from antibiotic usage complicates the process.

Symptoms include: dysuria, urinary urgency and frequency, Gross blood, pain above the pubic bone, and cloudy or foul smelling urine. If you experience fever, chills, lower back or flank pain, consider these serious in nature.

The diagnosis is made by performing a urinalysis culture and sensitivity. Within the results there may be nitrates, leukocytes, esterase and or blood.

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Since COVID-19 has emerged and has decimated the world, I thought this a good time to have a lengthy conversation about Vitamin D.
As you know there are water soluble vitamins like vitamin B and C, and there are fat soluble vitamins like vitamin D. Fat soluble means that the vitamin can be stored in fat. Vitamin D has to undergo two enzymatic reactions to become active. One takes place in the liver and the other in the kidney. The active form of Vitamin D is 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D.

Vitamin D has beneficial effects in the absorption of phosphorous and calcium in the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, vitamin D has positive effects on immune function, enhances the secretion and action of insulin, cell growth and neuromuscular function.

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