Acanthosis nigricans -a thickening and darkening of the skin in patchy areas in the skin folds of the armpits, neck, or groin, ranging from tan to dark brown. This is usually a sign of insulin resistance.
Antioxidants are chemicals that reduce oxidative damage to cells and biomolecules. Researchers have found a high correlation between oxidative damage and the occurrence of disease. For example, low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is associated with cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes is complex, involving multiple chemical pathways and networks, but the precursor is LDL oxidation by free radicals, resulting in inflammation and formation of plaques.
Research suggests that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods reduces damage to cells and biochemicals from free radicals. This may slow down, prevent, or even reverse certain diseases that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process. This is the basis for the free-radical theory of aging.
Some studies suggest that by destroying free radicals and reducing cellular damage, antioxidants in the diet can have positive health effects, such as preventing macular degeneration (studied in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study);[1] maintaining the immune system;[2] potentially preventing neurodegeneration due to oxidative stress;[3] preventing DNA damage;[4] and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.[5] Any specific antioxidant may perform only a small fraction of these functions. The mixed results from controlled studies using antioxidant vitamins suggest that other antioxidant substances in fruit and vegetables at least partially explain the better health of those who consume more fruit and vegetables.[6]
Autoimmune - Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts (down to the sub-molecular levels) as "self", which results in an immune response against its own cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease, prominent examples include diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
B
Beta cells – specialized cells that produce insulin. They are located within the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
Blood pressure - the pressure against the walls of your blood vessels. High blood pressure is more common in persons with diabetes and increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney and eye diseases. It should be measured at every doctor visit, or at least once a year, with a goal of 130/80 mm Hg or lower.
Bran is the hard outer layer of cereal grains. Along with germ, it is an integral part of whole grains, and is often produced as a by-product of milling in the production of refined grains. When bran is removed from grains, they lose a portion of their nutritional value. Bran is particularly rich in dietary fiber, and contains significant quantitities of protein, fat, vitamins, dietary minerals and some phytochemicals.
C
Cereal crops are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible grains or seeds. Cereal grains are grown in greater quantities worldwide than any other type of crop and provide more food energy to the human race than any other crop. The word cereal derives from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture. Cereal crops include; corn (maize), wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, millets, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa.
Cereal fiber – fiber derived from cereal crops. Cereals are grass crops and generally include corn (maize), wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, millets, oats, rye, triticale, and buckwheat.
Chronic – A chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. Chronic refers to a persistent and lasting medical condition.
Clinical trials - carefully controlled studies that are conducted to test the effectiveness and safety of new drugs, medical products or techniques.
Coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep) is a profound state of unconsciousness. A comatose patient cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to pain or light, does not have sleep-wake cycles, and does not take voluntary actions. Coma may result from a variety of conditions, including intoxication, metabolic abnormalities (such as diabetes), central nervous system diseases, acute neurologic injuries such as stroke, and hypoxia.
Creatinine -a waste product derived from the activity of the muscles. Normally, kidneys can remove this substance from the blood. A buildup of creatinine in the blood signals that the kidneys are losing their ability to function normally.
D
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one consequence of untreated diabetes mellitus (chronic high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia), and is linked to an impaired glucose cycle. In a diabetic patient, DKA begins with deficiency in insulin. This is most commonly due to undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, or in patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, failure to take prescribed insulin. DKA has a 100% mortality rate if left untreated. A key component of DKA is that there is no or very little circulating insulin and so it occurs mainly (but not exclusively) in type 1 diabetes, because type 1 diabetes is (essentially) caused by a lack of insulin production in the pancreas. It is much less common in type 2 diabetes because that is closely related to cell insensitivity to insulin, not shortage or absence of insulin. Some type 2 diabetics have lost their own insulin production and must take external insulin; they have some susceptibility to DKA.
Treatment consists of hydration, replacement of lost electrolytes, insulin to force glucose and potassium into the cells, and eventually glucose simultaneously with insulin in order to correct other metabolic abnormalities, such as elevated blood potassium (hyperkalemia) and elevated ketone levels. Many patients require admission to a step-down unit or an intensive care unit (ICU) so that vital signs, urine output, and blood tests can be monitored frequently.
E
End-Stage Renal Disease - Chronic renal failure (CRF, or "chronic kidney failure", CKF, or "chronic kidney disease", CKD) is a slowly progressive loss of kidney activity over a period of months or years and defined as a kidney’s reduced ability to filter fluids, which is usually determined indirectly by increased levels of creatinine in blood serum.
CRF that leads to severe illness and requires kidney dialysis or other treatment is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
G
Glycation is the result of a sugar molecule, such as fructose or glucose, bonding to a protein or lipid molecule without the controlling action of an enzyme. Glycation is a haphazard process that impairs the functioning of biomolecules. Glycation is the first step in the evolution of a complex series of very slow reactions in the body known as advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Some AGEs are implicated in many age-related chronic diseases such as: type II diabetes mellitus (beta cell damage), cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and other sensory losses such as deafness and blindness (mostly due to microvascular damage in the retina). This range of diseases is the result of the very basic level at which glycations interfere with molecular and cellular functioning throughout the body and the release of highly-oxidizing side products such as hydrogen peroxide.
Glycemic index (GI) - a system of ranking foods containing equal amounts of carbohydrate according to how much they raise blood glucose levels. For instance, the carbohydrate in a slice of 100% stone-ground whole wheat bread (a low glycemic index food) may have less impact on blood glucose than a slice of processed white bread (a high glycemic index food). The GI is an additional meal-planning tool to help one understand how carbohydrate foods can differ in their effects on blood glucose.
Glycemic load (GL) - a system of ranking carbohydrate foods based on how much they raise blood glucose levels that combines the GI value and the carbohydrate content of an average serving of a food, of a meal, or of a day’s worth of food.
H
Hyperglycemia or High Blood Sugar is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. Hyperglycemia is one of the classic symptoms of diabetes mellitus, others including frequent and excessive thirst accompanied by frequent and excessive urination. The "normal” range for most people is about 80 to 120 mg/dL, a patient with a "normal” range above 126 mg/dL is generally held to have hyperglycemia. In fasting adults, blood plasma glucose should not exceed 126 mg/dL. Sustained higher levels of blood sugar cause damage to the blood vessels and to the organs they supply, leading to the complications of diabetes.
Hypoglycemia is a medical term referring a condition of lower than normal amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood, usually less than 70 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain. Symptoms of the condition can range from vaguely "feeling bad" to coma, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death. Other common conditions include:
Fatigue, weakness, shakiness, poor motor skill function, confusion, dizziness, “glassy” look, blurred vision, anxiety, nervousness, depression, excessive crying, irritability, heart palpitations, sweating, feeling of warmth, coldness, clamminess, dilated pupils, Abnormal mentation, impaired judgement
I
Impaired Fasting Glycemia (IFG) is a pre-diabetic state, associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, although of lesser risk than Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years. Patients take blood samples after not eating for 18 to 24 hours, this is called a fasting glucose test. IFG is characterised by elevated fasting glucose level, but less than would qualify for Type 2 diabetes. On challenging with an oral glucose tolerance test, normal blood glucose levels are maintained after 2 hours.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is a pre-diabetic state, that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years.
Impaired glucose tolerance is defined as two-hour glucose levels of 140 to 199 mg per dL on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. A patient is said to be under the condition of IGT when he/she has an intermediately raised glucose level after 2 hours, but less than would qualify for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The fasting glucose may be either normal or mildly elevated.
Insulin is produced in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and is a hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism. Apart from being the primary agent in maintaining a stable carbohydrate level in the bloodstream, it has effects on fat metabolism and it changes the liver's activity in storing or releasing glucose and in processing blood lipids, and in other tissues such as fat and muscle. The amount of insulin in circulation has extremely widespread effects throughout the body.
Insulin is used medically to treat some forms of diabetes mellitus. Insulin is a protein hormone and would be broken down and destroyed by the digestive system if it were taken by mouth (e.g. in tablet form). For this reason insulin needs to be supplied directly into the body tissue - it is usually either injected or continuously fed by a insulin pump. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus depend on external insulin for their survival because of an absolute deficiency of the hormone. Some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have insulin resistance, relatively low insulin production or both and eventually require insulin when other medications become insufficient in controlling blood glucose levels.
Insulin Resistance is the condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate to produce a normal insulin response. Insulin resistance also elevates free fatty acids in the blood stream. Insulin resistance in muscle reduces glucose uptake whereas insulin resistance in liver reduces glucose storage, with both effects serving to elevate blood glucose.
K
Ketoacidosis (diabetic) - Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one consequence of untreated diabetes mellitus (chronic high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia), and is linked to an impaired glucose cycle. In a diabetic patient, DKA begins with deficiency in insulin. This is most commonly due to undiagnosed diabetes mellitus, or in patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, failure to take prescribed insulin. A key component of DKA is that there is no or very little circulating insulin and so it occurs mainly (but not exclusively) in type 1 diabetes, because type 1 diabetes is (essentially) caused by a lack of insulin production in the pancreas. It is much less common in type 2 diabetes. Some type 2 diabetics although, have lost their own insulin production and must take external insulin; they have some susceptibility to DKA.
Treatment consists of hydration, replacement of lost electrolytes, insulin to force glucose and potassium into the cells, and eventually glucose simultaneously with insulin in order to correct other metabolic abnormalities, such as elevated blood potassium (hyperkalemia) and elevated ketone levels. Many patients require admission to a step-down unit or an intensive care unit (ICU) so that vital signs, urine output, and blood tests can be monitored frequently. DKA has a 100% mortality rate if left untreated.
Ketones are generated from carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids in humans due to lack of adequate insulin to use the glucose already in the bloodstream. Ketones are elevated in blood after fasting including a night of sleep, and in both blood and urine in starvation, hypoglycemia, and ketoacidosis (usually due to diabetes mellitus).
L
Lifestyle changes -changes made to key health aspects of one’s life and may include changes in eating habits, increased physical activity, smoking cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, all in order to control blood glucose.
M
Metabolic Syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that increase one's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects a large number of people in a clustered fashion. In some studies, the prevalence in the USA is calculated as being up to 25% of the population.
It is known under various other names, such as (metabolic) syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven's syndrome or CHAOS (Australia).
Symptoms and features are:
- Fasting hyperglycemia — diabetes mellitus type 2 or impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or insulin resistance (fasting plasma glucose greater than 6.1 mmol/L);
- High blood pressure (blood pressure greater than 130/85 mmHg);
- Central Obesity - overweight with fat deposits mainly around the waist; central obesity: waist circumference greater than 102 cm (male), greater than 88 cm (female)
- Decreased HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) (HDL-C less than 40 mg/dL (male), less than 50 mg/dL (female);
- Elevated triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) (TG greater than 1.695 mmol/L); (TG = triglycerides)
- Elevated uric acid levels.
Source: The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (2001) requires at least three of the above conditions to be diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic any process involved in breaking food nutrients into essential tools (enzymes, proteins, etc.) needed to maintain life.
Metabolism - the process by which the cells of the body change nutrients in food so that it can be used for energy or so that it can be used to build or maintain cells and tissues.
N
Neuropathy - damage to the nerves. It is a condition that can be very debilitating and painful. There are two main types of neuropathy, depending on which nerve cells are damaged. One type is called sensory neuropathy, which affects feelings in the legs or hands and is referred to as peripheral neuropathy.The other type is autonomic neuropathy, which affects nerves that control various organs, such as the stomach or urinary tract.
Nutraceutical is the fusion of "nutritional" and "pharmaceutical" and refers to foods thought to have a beneficial effect on human health. It can also refer to individual chemicals which are present in common foods (and therefore may be delivered in a non-drug form). Many such nutraceuticals are phytochemicals.
Dr. Stephen DeFelice coined the term in 1989. The term has no regulatory definition, but it is commonly used in marketing. Nutraceuticals are often used in nutrient premixes or nutrient systems in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nutraceuticals are sometimes called functional foods. For example red wine (Resveretrol) is an antioxidant and an anticholesterimic, broccoli (Sulforaphane) is a cancer preventative, and Soy and clover (Isoflavanoids) are a good neutraceutical to improve arterial health in women.
O
Oxidative Stress is the damage to cells caused by oxidation. The cellular redox environment is preserved by enzymes that maintain the reduced state through a constant input of metabolic energy. Disturbances in this normal redox state can cause toxic effects through the production of peroxides and free radicals that damage components of the cell such as lipids and DNA.
Oxidative stress is a large increase in the cellular reduction potential, or a large decrease in the reducing capacity of the cell. The effects of oxidative stress depend upon the size of these changes, with a cell being able to overcome small perturbations and regain its original state. However, more severe oxidative stress can cause cell death. A particularly destructive aspect of oxidative stress is the production of reactive oxygen species, which include free radicals and peroxides that can cause extensive cellular damage.
P
Phytochemicals - sometimes referred to as phytonutrients. Phytochemicals naturally occur in plants, especially vegetables, fruits and some cereals. They are usually used to refer to compounds found in plants that are not required for normal functioning of the body but that nonetheless have a beneficial effect on health or an active role in the amelioration of disease. Thus, they differ from what are traditionally termed nutrients in that they are not a necessity for normal metabolism, and their absence will not result in a deficiency disease. What is beyond dispute is that phytonutrients have many and various useful functions in the body. For example, they may promote the function of the immune system, act directly against bacteria and viruses, reduce inflammation, and be associated with the treatment and/or prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease.
R
Retinopathy is a general term that refers to some form of non-inflammatory damage to the retina of the eye. Most commonly the cause of this condition is a problem with the blood supply to the eye. Frequently, retinopathy is an manifestation of systemic disease.
S
Saturated fat - a type of food fat that is solid at room temperature. Saturated fats raise blood cholesterol levels by interfering with the entry of cholesterol into cells causing cholesterol to remain in the bloodstream longer and to become a part of the plaque that builds up in the blood vessels.
Synergistic - Synergy or synergism refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete drugs or phytochemicals acting together create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual components.
T
Triglycerides - a type of fat stored in fat cells as body fat and burned for energy. High levels of triglycerides are linked with an increased risk of heart and blood vessel disease.
U
Unsaturated fat (both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) - fats that comes primarily from vegetables and are liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol levels. Monounsaturated fats also help lower blood cholesterol levels and may help to raise HDL cholesterol levels.
W
Whole grain The Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance on what the term "whole grain" may include. The FDA considers "whole grain" to include cereal grains that consist of the intact, ground, cracked or flaked fruit of the grains whose principal components -- the starchy endosperm, germ and bran -- are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact grain. Such grains may include barley, buckwheat, bulgur, corn, millet, rice, rye, oats, sorghum, wheat and wild rice. (source: FDA News)
Links of Interest:
NaturalHerbsGuide.com
