DIABETES – A GROWING PROBLEM

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) have in a global report given estimate of 347 million people as living with diabetes, with 19.8 million from Africa.
According to IDF 2013 report, Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes in Africa, with 3.9 million cases and 4.9 per cent national prevalence rate.
The reports show that more than 80 per cent of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries and that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030.
WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).
This is what happens.
Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) is classed as a metabolism disorder. Metabolism refers to the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most of what we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood – it is the principal source of fuel for our bodies.
When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present – insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, as soon as glucose enters the cells blood-glucose levels drop.
A person with diabetes has a condition in which the quantity of glucose in the blood is too elevated . This is because the body either does not produce enough insulin, produces no insulin, or has cells that do not respond properly to the insulin the pancreas produces. This results in too much glucose building up in the blood. This excess blood glucose eventually passes out of the body in urine. So, even though the blood has plenty of glucose, the cells are not getting it for their essential energy requirements. and growth
TYPES
Type 1 Diabetes
The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1.
Type 2 Diabetes
The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).
Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type
3) Gestational Diabetes
This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose.
Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.
All types of diabetes are treatable.
Diabetes type 1 lasts a lifetime, there is no known cure.

Type 2 usually lasts a lifetime, however, some people have managed to get rid of their symptoms without medication, through a combination of exercise, diet and body weight control. Special diets can help sufferers of type 2 diabetes control the condition.
Patients with type 1 are treated with regular insulin injections, as well as a special diet and exercise.
Patients with Type 2 diabetes are usually treated with tablets, exercise and a special diet, but sometimes insulin injections are also required.
If diabetes is not adequately controlled the patient has a significantly higher risk of developing complications Some of the complications are:
• Eye complications – glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and some others.
• Foot complications – neuropathy, ulcers, and sometimes gangrene which may require that the foot be amputated
• Heart problems – such as ischemic heart disease, when the blood supply to the heart muscle is diminished
• Hypertension – common in people with diabetes, which can raise the risk of kidney disease, eye problems, heart attack and stroke
• Mental health – uncontrolled diabetes raises the risk of suffering from depression, anxiety and some other mental disorders
• Hearing loss – diabetes patients have a higher risk of developing hearing problems
• Neuropathy – diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage which can lead to several different problems.
• HHNS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome) – blood glucose levels shoot up too high, and there are no ketones present in the blood or urine. It is an emergency condition.
• Nephropathy – uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to kidney disease
• Stroke – if blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood glucose levels are not controlled, the risk of stroke increases significantly
• Erectile dysfunction – male impotence.
• Infections – people with badly controlled diabetes are much more susceptible to infections
• Healing of wounds – cuts and lesions take much longer to heal
HERBAL TREATMENT..
There are many herbal or natural treatment to help control diabetes , however you need to consult your doctor or your Alternative health personnel before applying it.
Greenlife herbal has effective products for treating diabetes
– Dial B,
– Glutrin, etc can be combined for this treatment. Contact us for more information.
Mango Leaves
The delicate and tender mango leaves can be used to treat diabetes by regulating insulin levels in the blood. They can also help improve blood lipid profiles.
• Soak 10 to 15 tender mango leaves in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, filter the water and drink it on an empty stomach.
• You can also dry the leaves in the shade and grind them. Eat one-half teaspoon of powdered mango leaves two times daily.
Conclusion
We advised on the need to live a healthy lifestyle through eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, engaging in regular physical exercise, reducing salt intake, maintaining a healthy body weight and avoiding smoking among st others to prevent the disease.

INDIGESTION IN KIDS

Today we are looking at our kids health……we want to focus on them today Indigestion is common with kids. It also happen to Adults as well
What is indigestion?
Indigestion is just another name for an upset stomach. It’s also called dyspepsia in the medical terms….is due to a problem in the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach.
Symptoms
• Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating (full feeling)
• Belching and gas
• Nausea and vomiting
• Acidic taste
• Growling stomach
These symptoms may get worse with stress
Causes
Indigestion has many causes, including:
• Ulcers
• GERD -Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn’t empty properly; this often occurs in people with diabetes)
• Stomach infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Thyroid disease
However in kids is usually as a result of lifestyle like eating too much, eating fatty and spicy foods and running around or exercising with full stomach.
Prevention
1.Eat small meals rather than very heavy meals at once
2. Eat slowly and chew your food very well
3. Avoid high fitting garments because they compress the stomach
4.Dont exercise with full stomach
5. Don’t lie down right after eating , wait at least 2- 3 hrs after your last meal before going to bed.
Herbal remedies for treating Indigestion.
They are many herbal remedies for treatment of indigestion for Adults but for kids I will consider this two.
1. Basil is an excellent remedy for indigestion and acid reflux. It also helps relieve intestinal gas, thanks to its carminative properties.
• Add one teaspoon of basil to a cup of hot water and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups of this tea a day.
• Mix 5 or 6 ground basil leaves, ¼ teaspoon of sea salt and a little black pepper powder in 2 to 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Consume it 2 times a day.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is often used to kick start a slow stomach. Though acidic in nature, it also has an alkalizing effect that helps settle indigestion. You can get them in your local supermarket.
Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water.
1. Mix in one teaspoon of raw honey.
2. Drink this solution two to three times a day for quick relief.
Lastly, look out for the following and consult a medical personnel if you kid shows this signs
• throw up (or vomit), especially if you ever see blood in your throw up
• think you’re losing weight
• have no appetite for more than a day
• ever feel short of breath
• sweat for no reason
• have belly pain that won’t go away or feels really bad
• have poop (bowel movements) that look black or sticky or you see blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper after you wipe

PROSTATE DISEASE

This is usually called male sickness that affects the Prostate Gland. It is on the rise today in Nigeria. Research has shown that men above the age of 40years are prone to having this ailment.
What is a Prostate Gland?
This is chestnut-shaped male organ located next to the bladder and surrounding the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis). The prostate gland produces a secretion known as prostate fluid that makes up most of the liquid part of semen, which is discharged from the penis during sexual orgasm. Measuring about 3 cm across, the prostate gland is composed of both glandular tissue that produces prostate fluid and muscle tissue that helps in male ejaculation. Prostate fluid also helps to keep sperm, which is found in semen, healthy and lively, thereby increasing the chances of fertilization of the female egg.
TYPES OF PROSTATE PROBLEM
There are a variety of prostate disorders that commonly afflict men of all ages. The most common prostate disease is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous condition. We also have prostate cancer. We will look at BPH only in this post.
BPH
It occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of men from 40 years and above. In BPH, the prostate gland can increase in size from 20 g which is the average size of the prostate in younger men, to as large as 150 g. As the prostate grows, it constricts the urethra, possibly causing a partial obstruction of the bladder. Such obstruction may lead to bladder wall thickening and urination problems.
SYMPTOMS OF BPH
Symptoms such as:
Frequent urination
Nighttime urination
A feeling of urgency to urinate,
Blood presents in urine
Importance
Burning sensation while urinating
A sudden inability to urinate
Pelvic pain
Difficulty emptying the bladder and a weak urinary stream are the most common problems men encounter from prostate enlargement.
TREATMENT
When you notice the above symptoms, the first thing to do is to see your doctor and get a prostate examination. Although the early symptoms of BPH and Prostate cancer are same, however, having BPH does not increase your risk for prostate cancer.
There are several treatment options for BPH, including medications that either shrink the prostate gland or relax the smooth muscle in the prostate gland to alleviate the obstruction of the bladder. Surgery is also available in some cases.
Alternative treatment- Chinese herbal products.
Effective treatment of BPH is also available with Chinese herbal drugs. Green life Herbal Network has products like
-Prostasure tablet,
-kordy capsule,
-Men formula etc for treatment of this illness.
How to avoid BPH
Maintaining a healthy life style- healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat balance plant based diet, a lot of vegetables, fruits, whole grain and beans.

Physical Activities That Promote Good Health.

When the words physical activity are mentioned , many think of the going-to-the-gym or joining in a guided fitness class. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. There are several ways to get more exercise in your day without joining a gym program.
Practicing just a couple of these exercising examples will not only help you reap the benefits of exercise, but also create a lifestyle full of fun, new experiences and promote your entire healthy living.
The American Heart association says that physical activity boosts mental wellness, physical wellness, and prolongs optimum health (AHA).
Getting your exercise in the open, like outdoor space has the added benefit of soaking in the natural surroundings as well as getting your daily dose of vitamin-D. There are several easy ways to incorporate cardiovascular activities that you can do with little to no exercise equipment needed.
Different Physical Activities you can engage in:
1. Walking or Running- When it comes to lowering risk factors for heart disease, walking is just as good as running, according to a new study. The study found that running reduced the risk of developing coronary heart disease by 4.5 percent, compared with 9.3 percent for walking
Apart from maybe needing some shoes with good support, especially for running, these two activities are possible for anyone, at any time, without any extra equipment.
Also try to create a longer walk for yourself by parking your car far away from your intended destination or go for a quick walk as you’re going about your day – just for the health of it! I do this a lot
2, Biking – get a bike and try to ride around your vicinity ……..please dont go to the major roads as our drivers and okadas are very inconsiderate.
3. Stair case climbing – If you have a set of stairs in your home, you can use these for exercising purposes, but the concept can also be used to just naturally add some extra physical activity to your day by choosing to walk through the f stairs instead of an elevator in the office ,
4, Do Yoga, Karate or Judo- all these activities are very popular in Nigeria now. So you can enlist in any of the them. They are fun and also create environment for meeting new friends.
5,Body Weight Exercise – This type of exercise uses the weight and movement of your own body to tone and build strong muscles. A couple of well-known examples would be push-ups, squats, crunches and lunges. There are many different exercises that are considered body weight training, which allows for variety and numerous options to choose exercises best for your goals and preferences
OTHER BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
There are many benefits to being active. One such is keeping your bowls clean of toxin build up.
Harley Street gastroenterologist Dr Ana Raimundo states, “Physical activity helps decrease the time it takes food to move through the large intestine, limiting the amount of water absorbed back into your body and leaving you with softer stools, which are easier to pass.”
Dr. Raimundo says that aerobic exercise accelerates your breathing and heart rate, which helps to stimulate the contraction of intestinal muscles, as well as prevention of intestinal bloating, which can help protect you against bowel cancer.

YOUR SPERM IS delicate and valuable – Protect it

Things you need to know
If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, then the health of your sperm is very important. However, you need to understand the various factors that can affect male fertility, and that’s why you need to consider the following steps in order to help your sperm become top performers according to Oladapo Ashiru, a medical practitioner
1. Do not have unprotected sex. Sexually-transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhoea and Chlamydia, can damage the sperm-producing cells that block the tubes carrying sperm from the testis to the penis.
2. Avoid pesticides that control pests in the garden and on the farm. Such chemicals can damage the sperm-reproducing organs.
3. Avoid insecticides that are usually sprayed to kill mosquito. Such chemicals can damage the sperm-reproducing organs. Therefore, if you must spray your room against mosquitoes, allow at least one hour before going back into the room.
4. Avoid exposure to lead fumes generated in the manufacture of small cell batteries and in bullets. Such fumes can reduce sperm count through their negative effects on the hormones and the testis.
5. Avoid exposure to heavy metals like cadmium from the manufacture of heavy batteries, as they negatively affect the hormones.
6. Avoid exposure to paint fumes and plastic softening chemicals like phthalates; hydrocarbons such as ethylbenze, benzene, toluene and xylene, as they destroy the sperm-producing cells and hormones.
7. Minimise exposure to electromagnetic radiation, as the sperm germ cells are very easily damaged by the gamma rays.
8. Minimise exposure to radiation, as the sperm germ cells are very easily damaged by radiation.
9. Avoid fumes generated by welders and iron smelters, as their heat can affect sperm production and lead to low sperm count.
10. Avoid exposure to accumulated old newsprints, as the carbon can lead to low sperm count.
11. Avoid wearing tight pants and trousers, as the heat generated can cause low sperm count.
12. Avoid children with mumps, as having mumps in childhood can cause irreversible damage to the testis. Therefore, never allow a male to visit other children that have mumps.
13. Minimise your consumption of alcohol, as drinking to excess can cause low sperm count and also reduce libido, causing you to have a low sex drive.
14. Do not smoke, as cigarette smoking can damage the testis and lower the sperm count, lower the ability of sperm to move and lower the lifespan of the sperm.
15. Do not eat too much saturated fat, as they reduce the efficiency of the hormones and enzymes that help in the sperm production process.
16. Do not eat food or supplements with soya beans, as soya beans convert to the female hormone oestrogen, which tends to neutralise the male hormone testosterone, which is needed for men to reproduce sperm.
17. Minimise your intake of refined carbohydrate such as white flour, white bread and white rice, as they reduce the efficiency of the hormones and enzymes that help in the sperm reproduction process. Instead, eat more of the unrefined carbohydrate such as brown rice, wheat bread and oats.
18. Do not become constipated, as this can obstruct blood flow to the testis. Therefore, eat more dietary fibre.