Diabetes

Goldfish, padres, tuna, and speed are only but a mere portion of the hundreds of games that can be played with Just an ordinary deck of cards. Board games come in second place of popularity with the typical family home. Monopoly, chess, checkers, Clue, and newer games like 404: Law not found, and Smörgåsbord are only but a few of the board games sizzling in the market. What family do you know that does not have a monopoly sitting around the house somewhere? From being placed In a drawer or neatly hidden Inside of a closet. Smörgåsbord is a board game for friends, family and for the people who likes food.

Players take on the role of aspiring chefs as they work their way around the board In search of fortunate success. The object of the game Is to be the first team of chefs to graduate from Rick’s Culinary Academy! The losers… Do the dishes! Board games proves their popularity and shows that this style of home entertainment will not go out without a fight. Outdoor games comes In third place among the popular home games over the years. Basketball, softball, kickball, and touch football are played In almost every large backyard or vacant lot.

Not only do outdoor games appeal to family bonding, but they also appeal to those who care about physical well-being. Staying physically fit while having fun sounds Like a great combination right? This category of games Is placed third for a reason. Outdoor games are currently at war with the present day technology, but will not give up so willingly. All three categories promote nothing but healthy competition among family members and friends. They provide a natural release of frustration, and also teaches the understanding of sportsmanship.

Older players are reminded that how the game Is played Is the most Important thing to consider. While younger players learn to win and lose without the temper tantrums. Games played at home has remained popular for many years, and penthouse our technology gradually Increase, It will continue to remain popular for a long time to come. Different type of games By Commissaries somewhere? From being placed in a drawer or neatly hidden inside of a closet. Players take on the role of aspiring chefs as they work their way around the board in search of fortunate success.

The object of the game is to be the first team of chefs to Outdoor games comes in third place among the popular home games over the years. Basketball, softball, kickball, and touch football are played in almost every large while having fun sounds like a great combination right? This category of games is All three categories promote nothing but healthy competition among family is played is the most important thing to consider. While younger players learn to win for many years, and penthouse our technology gradually increase, it will continue to

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: Structure of the Pancreas The pancreas is an elongated organ that lies behind and below the stomach. This mixed gland contains both exocrine and endocrine tissues. The predominant exocrine part consists of grape-like clusters of secretory cells that form sacs known as acini, which connect to ducts that eventually empty into the the first portion of the intestine called duodenum. The smaller part of the gland consists of isolated islands of endocrine tissue known as islets of Langerhans which are dispersed throughout the pancreas.

Hormones Secreted by the Pancreas The most important hormones secreted by the pancreas are insulin and glucagon. Both play a role in proper metabolism of sugars and starches in the body. Insulin promotes the movement of glucose and other nutrients out of the blood and into cells. When blood glucose rises, insulin, released from the beta cells causes glucose to enter body cells to be used for energy. Also, it sometimes stimulates conversion of glucose to glycogen in the liver.

Another pancreatic hormone, glucagon, promotes the movement of glucose into the blood when glucose levels are below normal. It causes the breakdown of stored liver glycogen to glucose, so that the sugar content of blood leaving the liver rises. Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle. Insulin stops the use of fat as an energy source by inhibiting the release of glucagon.

With the exception of the metabolic disorder diabetes mellitus and Metabolic syndrome, insulin is provided within the body in a constant proportion to remove excess glucose from the blood, which otherwise would be toxic. When blood glucose levels fall below a certain level, the body begins to use fat as an energy source through glycogenolysis, for example, by transfer of lipids from adipose tissue to the liver for mobilization as an energy source. As its level is a central metabolic control mechanism, its status is also used as a control signal to other body systems (such as amino cid uptake by body cells). In addition, it has several other anabolic effects throughout the body. Glucagon, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, raises blood glucose levels. Its effect is opposite that of insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels. [1] The pancreas releases glucagon when blood sugar (glucose) levels fall too low. Glucagon causes the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream. Glucagon raises blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels stimulate the release of insulin. Insulin allows glucose to be taken up and used by insulin-dependent tissues.

Thus, glucagon and insulin are part of a feedback system that keeps blood glucose levels at a stable level. Glucagon belongs to a family of several other related hormones. Somatostatin (also known as growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH) or somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF)) is a peptide hormone that regulates the endocrine system and affects neurotransmission and cell proliferation via interaction with G-protein-coupled somatostatin receptors and inhibition of the release of numerous secondary hormones. Function of the Pancreas

The pancreas is largely responsible for maintaining blood glucose levels. The normal clinical range of blood glucose levels is 70 to 150 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). The pancreas can measure blood sugar and if it is high or low, the pancreas releases a hormone to correct the level. Blood glucose must be maintained at a certain level for cells to neither gain or lose water. HEALTH TEACHING 1. Teach the patient sign and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia 2. Teach the patients about medication purpose, dosage, route, and possible side effects of all prescribed medications. . In patients with self-administer insulin, demonstrate patient the appropriate preparation and administration techniques. 4. Teach to the patient signs and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and emphasize the need for safety precautions because neuropathy decreased sensation can hide sense injuries 5. Tell to the patient the Prognosis of Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin resistance increases with age, After the first few years of treatment, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes require more than one medicine to keep their blood sugar controlled 6.

Teach the patient how to manage diabetes when he has a minor illness, such as a cold, or flu. 7. To encourage compliance with lifestyle changes, emphasize how blood glucose control affects long-term health. 8. Teach the patient how to care for his feet. 9. Advise him to wear comfortable, nonconstricting shoes and never to walk barefoot 10. To prevent diabetes, teach people at high risk to avoid risk factors ”for example, maintaining proper weight and exercising regularly, teach to patients you can help to prevent type 2 diabetes by maintaining your ideal body weight, especially if you have a family history of diabetes.

Diet and exercise have been shown to delay the onset of diabetes in people who are in the early stages of insulin resistance. If you already have been diagnosis Diabetes Mellitus type 2, you can delay or prevent complications by keeping tight control of your blood sugar. 11. Advise patients to have annual ophthalmologic examinations for early detection of diabetic retinopathy 12. Encourage the patient and his family to obtain additional information about Diabetes mellitus from nearby Diabetic foundations.

Public Awareness of Diabetes Lynn A. Bailey HCA/240 August 21, 2011 Dr. Monica Reed, PhD, MPH Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people every year, and in most cases, this is a disease that is preventable. Increasing public awareness regarding risk factors and how this debilitating disease can be controlled and prevented may reduce the number of cases diagnosed each year. Throughout the years, scientists have developed a variety of treatment options and medications that are available for individuals diagnosed with diabetes. Future treatments for diabetes may include an artificial pancreas and stem cell therapy (Yoffee, 2009).

Along with community support through awareness programs and advances in technology and treatment options, this disease is controllable and in some cases, may even be prevented. Diabetes and who it Affects Most Diabetes mellitus (DM), more commonly known as diabetes, is the result of insufficient insulin production or the body’s inability to respond to insulin (Forth & Jude, 2011). Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses blood glucose, or blood sugar. Blood glucose is vital to health because it is an essential source of energy for cells of the muscles and other tissues as well as the brain’s fuel (Mayo Clinic, 2011).

Individuals that suffer from diabetes have difficulty regulating and maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. If an individual is diagnosed with diabetes, no matter type, he or she has too much glucose. Some genetic factors do play a role in an individual’s risk for developing diabetes along with other factors such as race, but lifestyle is to blame for most diagnosed cases of diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2011). Anyone who is 45 years or older should consider testing for diabetes, especially if he or she is overweight or has a family history of this disease.

Race may also play a role in the development of this disease. Individuals who are African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hipic American/Latino should also consider prescreening (CDC, 2011). Another group of people that are more susceptible to DM2 are lower income groups, especially women (Lega, Ross, Zhong, & Dasgupta, 2011). Diabetes affects the whole body including the most important hormonal system, the endocrine system. The Body System Affected by Diabetes and its Causes The endocrine system is a group of organs or glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream, which can affect the entire body.

Glands of the endocrine system include the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal, testes, and the ovaries. The glands of the endocrine system release hormones into the bloodstream. The pancreas is the organ of the endocrine system, and when it is not functioning properly, the result is diabetes. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas malfunctions. One of the pancreas’s functions is to control the glucose level in the blood (Mulvihill, Zelman, Holdaway, Tompary, & Raymond, 2006). The pancreas secretes two hormones known as glucagon and insulin, which raise and lower glucose levels in the blood (Mulvihill et al. 2006). When insulin is secreted, blood glucose levels rise, and when glucagon is released, blood glucose levels decrease. If an individual is diagnosed with diabetes, his or her pancreas is not secreting enough insulin or target cells are not responding to the insulin that is being secreted (Mulvihill et al. , 2006). This malfunction of the pancreas results in either Type One (DM1) or Type Two (DM2) diabetes. DM1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to produce insulin, and DM2 diabetes occurs when the pancreatic islets fail to secrete enough insulin or when target cells ignore the insulin (American Diabetes Association, 2011).

The most common cause of diabetes is obesity, but other risk factors are involved as well. Risk Factors Some common risk factors for DM1 include genetics from both parents, environmental factors such as cold climates, viruses, race, and early dietary factors such as low vitamin D or exposure to cow’s milk (Mayo Clinic, 2011). Risk factors for DM2 consist of obesity, high or low birth weight, rapid weight gain in childhood, sedentary lifestyle, fetal exposure to gestational diabetes, family history, and race (Schub & Caple, 2010). Some of these risk factors may be controlled, whereas others cannot e controlled. Risk factors that are controllable include dietary needs and lifestyle choices. Obesity is the number one cause of DM2 among children and adolescents, and is commonly describes as body mass index, or BMI, which is a measurement of body fat that is based on height and weight (Schub & Caple, 2010). Obesity is a risk factor that is modifiable and may decrease an individual’s risk for developing DM2, and it may either prevent or reduce the onset. Obesity is a risk factor of DM1 as well. Although it may not prevent DM1, healthy lifestyle choices may help manage this type of diabetes as well.

Other factors that cannot be controlled include genetics, fetal exposure to gestational diabetes, low birth rate, some environmental factors, and race. In today’s world, advances in medicine and technology have increased the availability of treatment options for patients diagnosed with diabetes compared to the past. Evolution of Treatment Options Over past several years, the list of medications used to treat diabetes has increased creating more options for patients and healthcare providers (Davis, 2011). In the past, insulin was the only treatment available for diabetes, and medications were limited.

Metformin is an oral drug that has been used for many years as a treatment for DM2, but it is not always effective because of side effects such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea (Davis, 2011). With new advances in technology, this drug is now available in an extended-release formula, which reduces its side effects and makes is much more tolerable for many patients, and it is also available in a generic version, which is much less expensive for numerous individuals suffering from DM2 (Davis, 2011). Advances in treatment options have also led to the availability of drugs such as Byetta, Januvia, Onglyza, Tradjenta, and Symlin (CDC, 2011).

Januvia, Onglyza, and Tradjenta are drugs that work with natural enzymes and the body’s own insulin to control blood glucose, Symlin is a synthetic hormone that helps lower blood glucose after meals, and Byetta is an injectable drug that assaults high blood sugar and diminishes one’s appetite (Davis, 2010). Diagnosis and treatments depend on which type of diabetes and individual may have. A healthcare professional will conduct different types of medical tests and procedures to determine the proper diagnosis. Current Treatment Methods

When a patient suspects that he or she may have diabetes, the first thing they should do is see their doctor. The physician can perform tests and procedures that will determine whether or not he or she has diabetes, and if so, which type they have. These tests may include a fasting blood glucose level test, random (non-fasting) blood glucose level test, oral glucose tolerance test, hemoglobin A1c test, or a ketone test, which is used to diagnose DM1 (Right Health, 2010). A fasting blood glucose level test is a test that indicates a patient’s blood glucose level after a period of eight hours of fasting.

At the doctor’s office, a medical professional will take a sample of blood from the vein in the inner bend of the elbow. The fasting blood glucose level should be below 99mg/dl, which is considered normal. Results that indicate levels of 100 to 125 are indications of pre-diabetes and 126 or higher indicate diabetes (CDC, 2011). Another test is random blood glucose level. Random blood glucose level test is a blood glucose test conducted on a patient that has not been fasting. Normal levels in and average adult are 70 to 130 mg/dl (CDC, 2011).

If an individual’s test results reflect a level of 130 to 200, this may be an indication of pre-diabetes, and a patient with a level above 200 is considered a diabetic (CDC, 2011). A glucose tolerance test may also be used to diagnose diabetes. A glucose tolerance test is in which the patient, who has been fasting for about 10 hours, drinks a solution of glucose. After the patient drinks the solution, his or her blood and urine is sample are taken and analyzed over a period of three hours (Mulvihill, et al. , 2006). The urine test shows the presence or absence of glucose in the urine, or ketones (Mulvihill, et al. 2006). The A1c test is a test used for diabetics as well. An A1c is a test which indicates blood sugar levels over a period of three months (Medicine Net, 2011). This is a test that benefits the patient and the physician by giving an indication of how well a medication may be working. Normal range is 4-5. 9%, a level of 8% or more is an indication of poorly controlled diabetes (Medicine Net, 2009). With advancing technology and medicine, the future holds more treatment options. Future Treatment Options Advancement in technology is making new treatment options available for many diabetic patients.

Research has indicated new treatments such as an artificial pancreas and pancreatic cell transplantation (Yoffee, 2009). Medtronic, a medical device company, is combining glucose monitoring systems with insulin pumps to recreate the delivery system of insulin in the body (Yoffee, 2009). Scientists are also working on transferring pancreatic cells from pigs into humans (Yoffee, 2009). Even though advances in technology are allowing scientists and other professionals to invent new and exciting treatments for diabetes, prevention is the best defense against this disease.

Evaluation of an Existing Educational Program One educational program that has made great strides to combat the growing threat of diabetes among children and adolescents is the Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) Unit of the Georgia Division of Public Health. They have helped fund 30 Teen Center Programs in 28 counties in the state of Georgia (Georgia Division of Public Health, 2011). One of these programs is the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP), which was established to reduce the burden of diabetes on the communities of Georgia.

This program provides communication to increase awareness, improve quality of care, increase screening, and reduce costs (Georgia Division of Public Health, 2011). This program has made some impact on communities, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. The DPCP was recognized by the CDC for achievement in A1c screening and improving the well-being of people affected by diabetes. Scholarships have been awarded to 374 medical professionals that help them pay for the Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) exam. These are great accomplishments, but it is not enough.

More needs to be done to reach out to the communities that are hardest hit by this disease. In addition to the A1c screening, a lifestyle initiative should be added. Adding a lifestyle initiative that would include local restaurants and other businesses to come out into their communities and get involved. Six annual picnics that included A1c screening, lunch, activities, and educational materials would be beneficial for many communities throughout Georgia. Local businesses could ban together and donated good to raffle off, which would draw families and community members to the event.

The event could be held at a different area parks around the state. The hardest hit areas would be the first on the list. People need to be educated about the risks, causes, and prevention of diabetes, and our communities must come together in order to combat the onset of diabetes in our children and adolescents. An Effective way of Spreading the News No program will be successful without the proper advertising or spokesperson. In today’s world children and adolescents are drawn to Sponge Bob. If he were the spokesperson for healthy eating and exercise, children would react with enthusiasm and excitement.

His picture on fliers that promote a healthy lifestyle could be mailed to surrounding area residents alerting them of the upcoming events. Children could come to the event and get their picture taken with Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob could lead a relay race for children and adolescents. An ad in the local newspaper would benefit the event as well. A website could be created for this event with links to Facebook and Twitter. With the help of Sponge Bob and the community, education on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle would reach a greater number of people, and help promote the prevention of diabetes.

Conclusion Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people. In some cases, this disease can be prevented by teaching and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Over the years, many treatment options have changed, and with increasing advances in technology and medicine, there will be more changes in the future. The key to the prevention and treatment of many cases of diabetes is to provide sufficient public awareness. References American Diabetes Association. (2011). Type I. Retrieved from http://www. diabetes. org/diabetes-basics/type-1/. American Diabetes Association. (2011). Type 2.

Retrieved from http://www. diabetes. org/diabetes-basics/type-2/. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). National diabetes fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www. cdc. gov/diabetes/. Davis, J. L. (2011). New Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Options. Retrieved from http://www. webMD. com/diabetes/. Forth, R. , & Jude, E. (2011). Diabetes: complications, prevention and treatment. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 17(1), 30-35. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Georgia Division of Public Health. (2011). Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD). Retrieved from http://health. state. a. us/programs/adolescent/. Lega, I. , Ross, N. , Zhong, L. , & Dasgupta, K. (2011). Gestational Diabetes Histoy May Signal Deprivation in Women with Type 2 Diabetes. Journal of Women’t Health (15409996), 20(4), 625-629. doi:10. 1089/jwh. 2010. 2273. Mayo Clinic. (2011). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www. mayclinic. com/health/diabetes/DS01121/. Medicine Net. (2011). Hemoglobin A1c Test. Retrieved from http://www. medicinenet. com/hemoglobin-a1c-test/articl. htm. Mulvihill, M. L. , Zelman, M. , Holdaway, P. , Tompary, E. , & Raymond, J. (2006). Human Diseases: A systemic approach. (6th ed. ).

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Right Health. (2010). Diabetes. Retrieved from http://www. righthealth. com/diabetes/. Schub, T. , & Caple, C. (2010). Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2: Prevention in Children and Adolescents. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Yoffee, L. (2009). The Future of Diabetes Treatment. Retrieved from http://www. EverydayHealth. com/. Zhang, X. , Luo, H. , Gregg, E. , Mukhtar, Q. , Rivera, M. , Barker, L. , & Albright, A. (2010). Obesity prevention and diabetes screening at local health departments. American Journal of Public Health, 100(8), 1434-1441. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Patient Guide Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 361: Informatics Systems for Nursing Patient Guide to WWW A 28 year old male, college graduate, was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. He was very concerned with his diagnosis but anxious to know everything about this disease process. He wanted to be knowledgeable on Diabetes and take responsibility for his health. Knowing the Internet could offer him a wealth of information he just needed guidance on how to go about it.

He was computer savvy but was not sure what sites would offer him the best information on his diagnosis. With the abundance of information on the Internet, it is very important to develop evaluation skills to assist in identifying quality Webb pages (Hanson & Hoss, 2008). A credible health site will contain information that is based on current scientific fact. The patient was directed to the site, http://www. diabetes. org. This site is associated with a reputable organization, the American Diabetes Association.

The site provides contact information at the bottom of the page so you can verify validity of the organization. The site is well organized and maintained, a sign of inherent quality. The sources are listed and can be verified in other sources. The goals and purpose of the sponsoring organization is in the, “About Us” link. There are dates on the pages indicating, when it was created and updated keeping the information current, which is important with health information. This site has high quality and clinically relevant evidence.

A search for Diabetes on Google brought up a site www. everydayh ealth. com/diabetes/index. aspx. This is a commercial site and the information lacked scientific quality. Most of the information given was opinion based. The site states that the information is not for treatment or diagnosis. There is also no contact information given. This site is maintained by a company that supports the consumer and advertising companies. The page had multiple advertisements that didn’t pertain to Diabetes.

This would be a site that should raise concern and suspicion. The Internet can offer valuable information around the clock. However, the right tools to evaluate the information are the key to obtaining information that is correct for you (Anderson & Klemm, 2008). References Anderson,A. & Klemm,P. (2008) The Internet: Friend or Foe When Providing Patient Education?. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12 (1), 55-63. Hanson,D. & Hoss,B. (2008) Evaluating the Evidence : Web Sites. Aorn Journal, 87 (1), 124-141.

For whatever reason people exercise the benefits are worth the pain. The first thing exercise can effect, is your state of mind. Everyone can benefit from this. Someone that has a better state of mind will become less likely to suffer from depression. Another benefit would be to boost one’s self esteem. If you look good you’ll feel good. The mind is a powerful thing it controls everything, and those who aren’t at peace create unmanaged stress. Most people are unaware of the emotional, and physical consequences of unmanaged stress. The second effect exercise can change is one’s lifestyle.

Exercising can boost your energy. It can improve muscle strength. Muscle strength can help when it comes to doing just the simple daily shores. Laundry, mopping and doing dishes can all become easier to complete after one starts to exercise on a regular. Another great benefit of having a better life style is that your social life will become more active. From dating to parting with friends, you will find yourself having the time of your life all from working out. The last but the most important effect exercise would change is your health.

Being overweight can cause troubling health problems. Diabetes, and high blood pressure are just two of the main problems overweight people have. Exercising can lessen your chances of becoming ill. Becoming healthier can help a diabetic lower their needs for insulin and can cause one with high blood pressure to have a more stable vital sign. Daily exercise is one of the best medicines out there. It can have you feeling wide awake. Instead of drinking coffee (which can prevent you from falling asleep later, causing drowsiness again the next day) you should walk and keep moving.

In conclusion a lot of things can happen because of exercise. Exercise is a benefit that everyone at any age can participate in. Rather it’s just going to the gym, walking around the neighborhood, or simply just taking the stairs, you will reap the benefits. I just named a few things that exercise can change but there is a lot a great things that can change after one Starts to exercise. I personally feel completely better after started to exercise. Feel like have more energy, I feel like I can take on the world. So I will continue to exercise and I would encourage everyone to do the same.

The Health Benefits of Eating Chocolate For centuries, chocolate has been one of the favorite sweet-tasting treat in the world and until not too long ago, also considered unhealthy. Recent studies show that cacao, which chocolate is made, contains potent antioxidants that can actually be beneficial to our health. Cacao is derived from the beans of Theobroma cacao, a tree native to South America (1). Historically cacao was being used by ancient people with various medicinal purposes such as treatment of inflammations, heart palpitation, and prevention of infections.

Cacao is an abundant source of flavonoids, a potential antioxidant, which can be beneficial to one’s health. The benefits greatly depend on the type of chocolate that is consumed and the percentage of cacao bean it has. The higher percentage of cacao, more health is the chocolate. The best chocolate is the darkest, which contains 60 to 70 percentage of cacao and small amount of sugar. Dark chocolate is proven to be good for the heart. A small bar of it every day helps the cardiovascular system run well.

In recent study, it has been demonstrated that the flavonoids present in cacao stimulate the production of nitric oxid (NO) which helps the dilatation of the blood vessels allowing the easy blood flow to the heart and brain reducing the blood pressure(2). When blood pressure is lowered, there is a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Additionally, the flavanoids affect the cholesterol decreasing the bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood and increasing significantly the good cholesterol (HDL), which cleans and mops up the blood vessels from the harmful fats.

Also, dark chocolate improves the body’s ability to use insulin which helps to prevent Type-II diabetes, the type that is caused by the body’s inability to deal with sugar. Cocoa can increase nitric oxide levels to help with insulin-stimulated uptake of blood sugars. The increase in nitric oxide also improves the health of the blood vessels, limiting the damage of diabetes on the small vessels. Like the heart and blood vessels, dark chocolate consumption can be good for the brain.

More recently, it was discovered that a compound in dark chocolate, called epicatechin (a flavonoid), may decrease the risk of stroke by increasing cellular signals that shield nerve cells from damage. A stroke is similar to a heart attack, but occurs when the blood supply to your brain becomes blocked or reduced. This can cause your brain cells to begin to die within minutes because it deprives your brain of necessary oxygen and nutrients.

Furthermore, dark chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine that stimulates the nervous system giving to people a feeling of pleasure, serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant which makes you feel good after eating chocolate and theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants that can increase your mental awareness. Good for the memory, flavanoids, can help boost brain power and memory. The beneficial brain effects appear to result from flavanoids impact on the blood system. In essence, the chemicals stimulate an increase of blood flow to the brain.

Chocolate may also prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. The antioxidant flavonoid helps protect the skin against sun’s harmful UV rays and pollution, soothes inflammation such as acne, and prevents wrinkles by increasing the blood flow, restoring collagen and improving the appearance of the skin. (3) Also, some studies conducted in Europe, Asia, and North America have found that people who eat a diet rich in flavonoids from chocolate have lower incidents of cancer than those who eat fewer flavonoids. Lastly, dark chocolate can help reduce weight gain in the body.

Rich in fiber, dark chocolate can actually help keep you full, so you can resist eating more food than you need. It also can take longer to chew, giving your brain time to get the signal that you have had enough to eat. To Sum up, eating dark chocolate has various health benefits. It contains high concentrations of beneficial flavonoids that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancer. However it should be consumed in moderation to receive the full potential of these health benefits. References: 1. Dillinger TL, Barriga P, Escarcega S, et al. Food of the gods: cure for humanity?

A cultural history of the medicinal and ritual use of chocolate. J Nutr 2000; 130(suppl):2057S±2072S 2. http://www. aarp. org/health/medical-research/info-03-2011/dark-chocolate-can-help-lower-your-blood-pressure. html 3. http://www. cnn. com/2006/HEALTH/12/20/health. chocolate/ 4. http://img. pathfinder. gr/clubs/files/4093/6835. pdf 5. http://mydrchocolate. soundconcepts. com/research/rs_rwhateat. htm#cardio 6. http://www. dark-chocolate-antioxidant. com/ 7. http://EzineArticles. com/844267 8. http://mydrchocolate. soundconcepts. com/research/rs_rwhateat. htm#other

Type II Diabetes Mellitus among African Americans

Type II Diabetes Mellitus is adult-onset diabetes that affects 90% of diabetes patients. It is when the body does not recognize the insulin being produced by the pancreas, or not enough is produced. Insulin is a hormone that causes different cells to take up glucose for energy. Resistance to insulin causes the build-up of glucose in the blood, which causes improper functions of cells and blood circulation, damage to nerves and blood vessels. The prevalence of type II diabetes is highest in African Americans among ethnic and racial groups.

African American type II diabetic populations have tripled in 1993 when compared to 1963. Type II diabetes is mostly developed after age 40, but the age is getting younger due to the high rates of obese populations among African Americans. Major causes for such high rates include hereditary traits, hyperinsulinemia, poor diet, obesity, smoking habits, and lack of physical activity. Some symptoms to notice are frequent urination, increased thirst, and hunger, dry mouth, blurred vision, skin irritation, and fatigue. The medical doctor diagnoses it after a confirmatory test called fasting plasma glucose test (FPG). Blood is drawn while fasting and analyzed for blood glucose levels. Normal is considered to be between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter, and if it is greater than or equal to 126 milligrams per deciliter, one is said to have diabetes. Although oral medications are available, type II diabetes can be controlled by proper diet and exercise. Frequent self-testing for glucose levels using a glucometer can provide information on how well you are doing managing the levels. Frequent doctor visits for glucose tests are recommended. If left uncontrolled, it can cause eye diseases such as retinopathy, which is more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasian Americans. It can also lead to kidney failure, amputation, and the worst-case scenario, diabetic coma. Prevention is important to decrease these chances and avoid serious health consequences.

Reference

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