Having a chronic illness such as high blood pressure or heart disease does not have to compromise diabetics' attempts to successfully manage their disorder, a research team reports.

``Chronic illness does not appear to limit achievement of good glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes,'' the researchers said after evaluating results in a study.

The findings are good news for the increasing number of Americans who are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and other chronic diseases in the coming years, according to Dr. Imad M. El-Kebbi and colleagues of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Individuals aged 65 years and older currently make up more than 12 per cent of the US population. That number is expected to exceed 20 per cent by 2040.

A study of 654 patients with type 2 diabetes revealed that those who took medication to manage their diabetes were significantly more likely to avoid dangerous spikes in blood glucose (sugar), which can contribute to kidney damage, blindness, heart disease and amputations over the long term.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels can rise dangerously high because patients fail to respond to insulin, the hormone that clears the blood of sugar following a meal by depositing it into cells throughout the body. Previously, it was assumed that having another chronic condition undermined a patient's ability to stabilize blood sugar.

According to the findings, the average age of patients, who were predominately obese black females, was 53 years and the average duration of diabetes was 5 years. In addition to diabetes, patients also had high blood pressure, pain, heart disease, nerve disease or a host of other chronic conditions.

The Archives of Internal Medicine (2001;161:1295-1300) noted that nearly half of patients were treated with oral medications, 32 per cent with insulin and 20 per cent with only diet.

Information provided is courtesy of and compiled by the Academy of Anti-aging Research staffs, editors, and other reports.

Adult onset diabetes mellitus is an epidemic of massive proportion occurring in the world today. High sugar intake is the culprit. 80% of diabetics are obese. Cutting down sugar intake by 90 per cent will in most cases cure the disease from its root.

Maintaining an optimum fasting sugar level of around 90 mg/dl should be the anti-aging target. Eating a Paleolithic diet consisting of mostly legumes, seeds, and vegetables in conjunction with moderate amounts of lean meat is all it takes.

If you are on medication, make sure you are closely monitored by your physician. There is nothing worse for your body then a "yo-yo" blood sugar level. Monitor your sugar level closely and gradually reduce it through diet, exercise, and nutritional supplementation.

Many early stages diabetes can be successfully treated through alternative natural nutritional factors like chromium. In addition to diet, a consistent exercise program is a must for any successful anti-diabetic program.