Boyett Health News

September 2013

Hello! Here we are, headed right into the fall season! We are gearing up for seasonal allergies and illnesses, and while we are hopeful for a mild season, we must nevertheless be prepared. :) How can you prepare?

Our food choices can often have an affect on our immune system and the ability to fight off sickness and disease. We are comfort creatures and we don't always like to hear that diet and exercise is the answer, do we? Yet, the truth is the truth, isn't it? A quote comes to mind..."You must want change more than comfort. ~Dutch Sheets". While this quote has been more focused on the spiritual aspects of life, it can be applied to almost any circumstance regarding change. We don't do the things we know we need to do because we are much too comfortable to give any real thought to anything that requires us to step outside of comfort -- even if it is for our own good. Let us encourage you to take good care of yourself. The greatest percentage of the ongoing illnesses we treat are preventable and curable by simple lifestyle changes. You likely know the changes you need to make, but have been putting them off for another day. If you need help getting started, come see us! We want to see you happy and healthy, every single day!

10 Immune system boosters

Knowing the Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

What is type 1 diabetes?

In Type 1 Diabetes, the person's own body has destroyed the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. When your own body destroys good stuff in your body it has what is called anautoimmune disease. Diabetes Type 1 is known as an autoimmune disease.

Quite simply - a person with Diabetes Type 1 does not produce insulin. In the majority of cases this type of diabetes appears before the patient is 40 years old. That is why this type of diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes or Childhood Diabetes. Diabetes Type 1 onset can appear after the age of 40, but it is extremely rare. About 15 per cent of all diabetes patients have Type 1.

People with Type 1 have to take insulin regularly in order to stay alive.

Diabetes Type 1 is not preventable, it is in no way the result of a person's lifestyle. Whether a person is fat, thin, fit or unfit, makes no difference to his or her risk of developing Type 1. In the case of Diabetes Type 2, much of its onset is the result of bodyweight, fitness and lifestyle. The vast majority of people who develop Type 1 are not overweight, and are otherwise healthy during onset. You cannot reverse or prevent Type 1 by doing lots of exercise or eating carefully. Quite simply, the Diabetes Type 1 patient has lost his/her beta cells. The beta cells are in the pancreas; they produce insulin.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes?

Person with Diabetes Type 2 has one of two problems, and sometimes both:

The vast majority of patients who develop Type 2 did so because they were overweight and unfit, and had been overweight and unfit for some time. This type of diabetes tends to appear later on in life. However, there have been more and more cases of people in their 20s developing Type 2, but it is still relatively uncommon. Approximately 85% of all diabetes patients have Type 2.

Insulin resistance

The body produces insulin, but its insulin sensitivity is undermined and does not work as it should do - glucose in not entering the body's cells properly. Consequently, blood sugar levels rise, and the cells are not getting their required nutrients for energy and growth.

The problem is with the cells - they are not responding to insulin like they used to. Experts are not sure what exactly is happening when cells stop responding well to insulin. Below is a simple explanation of why insulin resistance happens:

Cells build up insulin resistance anyway
Each time your cells are exposed to insulin they build up a bit of resistance.

Lots of food triggers more insulin production
If a person is eating a lot he will be producing more insulin than somebody who doesn't.

Too much insulin is toxic for the cells
If the exposure to insulin is high the cell will try to protect itself from intoxication - it will down-regulate its receptor activity and the number of receptors so that it does not have to be subjected to all that stimuli all the time.

~ Learn More ~