| Overview of Gout | | | | time, but it should have been caught over a year |
| Gout is a systemic disease caused by the buildup of | | | | earlier. |
| uric acid in the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, | | | | Nearly 90 to 95% of all people with diabetes have |
| and pain. This condition can develop for two reasons. | | | | type 2. Who gets it? Just about any body. Fat, |
| The liver may produce more uric acid than the body | | | | skinny, regular build, it makes no difference; just |
| can excrete in the urine, or a diet of rich foods (e.g., | | | | about everyone can develop diabetes. Most at risk |
| red meat, cream sauces, red wine) puts more uric | | | | are people regardless of body build who live on a high |
| acid into the bloodstream than the kidneys can filter. | | | | intake of "junk food". Least at risk are people who |
| In both cases, a condition called hyperuricemia results. | | | | eat a regular balanced diet. |
| Over time, the uric acid crystallizes and settles in the | | | | What you may not know about diabetes - the truth |
| joint spaces, most commonly in the first metatarsal | | | | about insulin resistance. 92% of people with type 2 |
| phalangeal joint of the big toe or in the ankle joint. | | | | diabetes have insulin resistance. Get the facts - go to |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | your local diabetes agency or research it on the |
| The most common symptoms of gout are | | | | internet. |
| inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in the joint of | | | | Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes. Obesity is |
| the first toe. Touching or moving it is intensely painful | | | | not a guarantee you will develop diabetes and many |
| and patients often say it hurts to have as much as a | | | | obese persons never develop it, but persons who |
| bedsheet over the toe. Gout develops quickly and | | | | are obese |
| typically occurs in only one joint at a time. Symptoms | | | | Diabetic meals can be healthy and savory. |
| may develop in two or three joints simultaneously, | | | | A key to diabetes management is maintaining a |
| but this is rare. If widespread symptoms occur, the | | | | regular exercise program. Its never too late to start |
| condition is probably not gout. | | | | and you can do it with a simple walking program. Just |
| Diagnosis | | | | walk 1 kilometer a day and over a period of a month |
| The most reliable way to diagnose gout is to | | | | build it up to two miles (3 kilometers) a day. |
| examine the joint fluid for uric acid crystals. This is | | | | Sticking to dietary goals while eating out can be very |
| done by drawing fluid from the joint with a needle | | | | challenging. Many, even most, restaurants cater to |
| and examining it under a polarized light microscope. | | | | people with special dietary needs - just ask. And learn |
| Although the test is invasive, the results are | | | | those restaurants which do not and avoid them. |
| definitive, and a positive result facilitates proper | | | | When it comes to diabetic nutrition, not sure what to |
| treatment and quick relief. | | | | believe? There are many stories out there, some |
| Treatment | | | | believable, others not. Research what you need to |
| Treatment for gout involves decreasing the amount | | | | know from trusted resources - your local diabetes |
| of uric acid in the joint. If dietary habits are the | | | | support center, the internet, friends who have |
| cause, the patient's lifestyle must be changed to | | | | diabetes. |
| avoid the condition. Gout is readily corrected with | | | | The help of friends and family can make all the |
| patient cooperation, and it is usually not treated | | | | difference to someone with diabetes. |
| unless it occurs frequently. Colchicine is a common | | | | Help for Diabetes, Gout and Other Disorders |
| medication for treating acute gout attacks. If | | | | Check out these products, Native's Gift, Desert |
| continuous medication is necessary, the two most | | | | Promise, Bio88+, and see if there is something here |
| common choices are probenecid and allopurinol. | | | | for you. They are all "Native and Natural" products, |
| Prevention | | | | manufactured under strict quality control. In the case |
| Alcohol and rich foods are primary contributors to | | | | of Bio88+, a Greens product, it is manufactured in a |
| excessive uric acid levels. Although some patients | | | | government controlled University laboratory. |
| have a genetic predisposition to excessive uric acid | | | | On the testimonials page below I am L. Windblad and |
| production, most gout patients have normal kidneys | | | | my wife is J.D. Windblad. I have long-term gout (since |
| and uncontrolled dietary habits. Prevention is the best | | | | 1977), damage from gout including numbness and pain |
| defense against the disease. | | | | in the feet, a prostate which had ceased functioning |
| Many patients who suffer from gout continue to | | | | for the past 2 years, and in Jan 2004 I was |
| indulge, and suffer frequent attacks as a result. | | | | diagnosed with a lazy thyroid. By the end of January |
| Although medication makes it possible to live with | | | | my thyroid was functioning normally, by April I was |
| gout, the continued accumulation of uric acid in the | | | | noticing an improvement in prostate functioning and |
| joints eventually damages them, seriously inhibiting | | | | by mid-May it was definitely clear that not only was |
| movement. | | | | the pain gone but feeling was coming back into my |
| Overview of Diabetes | | | | feet. This is written in June 2004 and its all still getting |
| New to diabetes? Learn the basics - check with your | | | | better. |
| local diabetes clinic or research it on the internet. | | | | Check out these product testimonials and see what |
| A key to diabetes management is maintaining a | | | | you think about what these products have |
| regular exercise program. Its never too late to start - | | | | accomplished in many other lives. Scroll to the |
| see below. Sticking to dietary goals while eating out | | | | bottom of the page and contact the people who |
| also can be very challenging - see comments below. | | | | gave these testimonials. |
| 20 million Americans and Canadians have diabetes. | | | | There are other stories of "miracles" with these |
| Nearly 7 million don't know it. Type 2 diabetes usually | | | | products and they will be posted as soon as they |
| develops slowly, and the symptoms often go | | | | can be collected. What these products actually do is |
| unnoticed. Our son developed a puffiness to his face | | | | work to make your body function the way it is |
| which we noticed right away because we saw him | | | | supposed to function, and they accomplish this at |
| only a couple of times a year. He and his wife put it | | | | least in part by restoring your natural Ph balances. |
| down to simple weight gain. After 2½ years | | | | Make sure to go to the product testimonials page |
| they finally snapped to there being something wrong | | | | above, scroll to the bottom, and click on the email |
| and when he was finally checked out his diabetes | | | | contact for any of the people given, and receive |
| was "off the charts". Fortunately, they caught it in | | | | their confirmation and personal full testimonial. |