Diabetes

Diabetes Type 1:

In type 1, the pancreas stop producing insulin due to autuimmune response or possibly viral attack on pancreas. In absence of insulin, body cells don’t get the required glucose for producing ATP (Adenosin Triphosphate) units which results into primary symptom in the form of nausea and vomiting. In later stage, which leads to ketoacidosis, the body starts breaking down the muscle tissue and fat for producing energy hence, causing fast weight loss. Dehydration is also usually observed due to electrolyte disturbance. In advanced stages, coma and death is witnessed.

Diabetes Type 2:
• Increased fatigue : Due to inefficiency of the cell to metabolize glucose, reserve fat of body is metabolized to gain energy. When fat is broken down in the body, it uses more energy as compared to glucose, hence body goes in negative calorie effect, which results in fatigue.
• Polydipsia : As the concentration of glucose increases in the blood, brain receives signal for diluting it and, in its counteraction we feel thirsty.
• Polyuria: Increase in urine production is due to excess glucose present in body. Body gets rid of the extra sugar in the blood by excreting it through urine. This leads to dehydration because along with the sugar, a large amount of water is excreted out of the body.
• Polyphegia : The hormone insulin is also responsible for stimulating hunger. In order to cope up with high sugar levels in blood, body produces insulin which leads to increased hunger.
• Weight flactuation : Factors like loss of water (polyuria), glucosuria , metabolism of body fat and protein may lead to weight loss. Few cases may show weight gain due to increased appetite.
• Blurry vision : Hyperosmolar hyperglycemia nonketotic syndrome is the condition when body fluid is pulled out of tissues including lenses of the eye, which affects its ability to focus, resulting blurry vision.
• Irritability : It is a sign of high blood sugar because of the inefficient glucose supply to the brain and other body organs, which makes us feel tired and uneasy.
• Infections : The body gives few signals whenever there is fluctuation in blood sugar (due to suppression of immune system) by frequent skin infections like fungal or bacterial or UTI (urinary tract infection).
• Poor wound healing : High blood sugar resists the flourishing of WBC, (white blood cell) which are responsible for body immune system. When these cells do not function accordingly, wound healing is not at good pace. Secondly, long standing diabetes leads to thickening of blood vessels which affect proper circulation of blood in different body parts.








Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is autoimmune disease that affects 0.3% on average. It is result of destruction of beta cells due to aggressive nature of cells present in the body. Researchers believe that some of the Etiology and Risk factors which may trigger type 1 diabetes may be genetic, poor diet (malnutrition) and environment (virus affecting pancreas). Secondly, in most of the cases, diabetes occurs because there is abnormal secretion of some hormones in blood which act as antagonists to insulin. Example- Adrenocortical hormone, Adrenaline hormone and Thyroid hormone.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is also called non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. It occurs when the body produces enough insulin but cannot utilize it effectively. This type of diabetes usually develops in middle age. A general observation says that about 90-95 % of people suffering with diabetes are type 2; about 80 percent are overweight. It is more common among people who are older; obese; have a family history of diabetes; have had gestational diabetes. There are number of risk factors found to be responsible for type 2 diabetes like, the more the Etiology and Risk factors carried by an individual, the higher the risk for developing diabetes.
Following are the Causes of Diabetes
• Hereditary or Inherited Traits : It is strongly believed that due to some genes which passes from one generation to another, a person can inherit diabetes. It depends upon closeness of blood relationship as mother is diabetic, the risk is 2 to 3%, father is diabetic, the risk is more than the previous case and if both the parents are diabetic, the child has much greater risk for diabetes.
• Age : Increased age is a factor which gives more possibility than in younger age. This disease may occur at any age, but 80% of cases occur after 50 year, incidences increase with the age factor.
• Poor Diet (Malnutrition Related Diabetes) : Improper nutrition, low protein and fiber intake, high intake of refined products are the expected reasons for developing diabetes.
• Obesity and Fat Distribution : Being overweight means increased insulin resistance, that is if body fat is more than 30%, BMI 25+, waist grith 35 inches in women or 40 inches in males.
• Sedentary Lifestyle : People with sedentary lifestyle are more prone to diabetes, when compared to those who exercise thrice a week, are at low risk of falling prey to diabetes.
• Stress : Either physical injury or emotional disturbance is frequently blamed as the initial cause of the disease. Any disturbance in Cortiosteroid or ACTH therapy may lead to clinical signs of the disease.
• Drug Induced: Clozapine (Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel) and ziprasidone (Geodon) are known to induce this lethal disease.
• Infection : Some of the strephylococci is suppose to be responsible factor for infection in pancreas.
• Sex : Diabetes is commonly seen in elderly especially males but, strongly in women and those females with multiple pregnancy or suffering from (PCOS) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
• Hypertension : It had been reported in many studies that there is direct relation between high systolic pressure and diabetes.
• Serum lipids and lipoproteins : High triglyceride and cholesterol level in the blood is related to high blood sugars, in some cases it has been studied that risk is involved even with low HDL levels in circulating blood.

Diet plays a significant role in controlling the diabetes. The diabetic diet may be used alone or else in combination with insulin doses or with oral hypoglycemic drugs. Main objective of diabetic diet is to maintain ideal body weight, by providing adequate nutrition along with normal blood sugar levels in blood. The diet plan for a diabetic is based on height, weight, age, sex, physical activity and nature of diabetes. While planning diet, the dietician has to consider complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels.

With respect to the above factors, a dietician will assess calories to be given, like scheming the carbohydrates, proteins, fats, type of carbohydrate, amount of fiber and so on.

Exchange meal plan is a diet program which balances the amount of carbohydrate that we intake per day. Glucose is a sugar released from carbohydrate so, if we want to control blood sugar we have to limit the consumption of simple carbohydrate. Carbohydrate foods are given as value per portion, known as the exchange. This plan helps us to decide on the type of food to be taken, the amount of food and also the time to eat. You can plan for more flexible meals as you get more knowledge about the diet for a diabetic, may be like the counting carbohydrate meal plan or constant carbohydrate. But there is no common diet that works for everyone. Nor is there any particular diet that works perfectly for any diabetic over a long period. While planning diabetes diet we should adhere to certain important factors, they are as follows:
• Fiber should be at least 1.4 oz / day
• Instead of 3 heavy meals, we should go for 4-5 small mid intervals
• Replace bakery products and fast foods by simple whole cooked cereals, and don't eat carbohydrates 2 hours before bedtime
• Consume fresh fruit and vegetables at least 5 exchange/ day
Diabetics always need to take care of their diet and also about the food they eat. Care has to be taken because all foods contain not only carbohydrate, but also some energy value. Protein and fat available in the food are converted to glucose in the body. This glucose has some effect on the blood sugar level, which has to be taken care of. Furthermore, you needn’t have to eat only the bland boring diet. Instead, you can eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. All it means is that you need to select foods that are high in nutrition and low in calories.

Fats (Limit to 1 serving per meal) A serving can be:-
• 10 Peanuts.
• 1 Tbsp Salad Dresssing
• 2 Tbsp light salad dressing or saur cream.
• 1 Tsp margarine, Oil or mayonnaise.
• 1/8 Avocado.
Sweets (Substitute for starch or fruit serving occasionally) A serving can be:-
• 2 Small Cookies.
• 1 Small Cupcake or Muffin
• ½ Cup Ice cream.
• 1/3 Cup Frozen Yoghurt.
• ¼ Cup Sherbet.
• 1 tsp Syrup or Honey.
Milk (2-3 Servings per day) A serving can be:
• 1 cup Milk.
• 1 Cup Low Fat.
• 1 Cup Artificially Sweetened yogurt (No sugar)
Meat / Fish/Chicken (2-3 Serving per day) A serving can be:
• 2 oz Cooked Lean Meat/Poultry/Fish.
• ½ - ¾ Cup Tuna or Cottage Cheese.
• 1 Egg or 4 oz Tofu or 1 oz cheese.
• 2 Tbsp peanut Butter.
Vegetables (3-5 Serving Per day) A Serving can be:
• 1 Cup Raw Vegetables.
• ½ Cup Cooked Vegetables.
• ½ Cup Tomato or Vegetable Juice.
Fruits (3 Serving per Day) A Serving Can be:
• 70 gm small fruit.
• ½ Cup canned fruit.
• ¼ cup Dried Fruit.
• ½ Cup Fruit Juice. (No sugar)
Grains, Starchy Vegetables and Beans. (6 plus Servings Per Day) A Serving Can be:-
• 1 Slice of 1 oz bread or ½ (1 oz) Bagel or 5 Crackers or 1 Granola bar.
• ½ Hamburger or Hot dog Bun or a tortilla of 6 inch or 2 tacos.
• ½ Cup Cooked Cereal, Cooked beans, Lentils, Corn, Peas, S. Potato, Potato or Pasta.
• 1 Cup winter Squash, 1 Cup Soup.
• 1/3 Cup Rice or 3 Cup Plain Popcorn (Fat free)
Most of the food items contain carbohydrate, protein and fat. Cereals are rich in carbohydrate, lentils, lean meat, chicken and fish are rich in protein while oils, nuts and milk creams are rich in fat. Fat foods are high in calories; 1g of it provides 9 calories, while 1g carbohydrate or 1g protein gives only 4 calories.

Carbohydrate is easily digested than fat and protein. The rise in blood glucose after a meal is due to absorption of glucose from a carbohydrate digestion and increase in production of glucose by liver. Sucrose (cane sugar), sweets and syrups cause a rapid rise in blood glucose than whole cereals like finger millet and wheat products.

In people with no diabetes, the rise in blood glucose after a meal comes down to the pre-meal level with in 2 hrs. In diabetes, the rise in blood glucose after a meal is not only higher but the fall to pre-meal level is slower (3-4 hrs). Therefore, snacks in between meals or frequent meals at short intervals tend to cause progressive increase in blood glucose in people with diabetes.

Glucose is constantly needed to provide ready energy for the proper functioning of brain, heart, kidneys, liver and blood cells. When glucose is not available from ingested food, our liver produces from its store of carbohydrate (glycocen) and body stores of fats and proteins. The liver produces about 0.1058 oz of glucose/lbs body weight in a day. For example the liver of a man or woman weighing 154 lbs produces 7.0547 oz of glucose in a day. The production of glucose by the liver is kept in a check by small amounts of insulin secreted by the pancreas.

These considerations and the modality of your treatment (tablets/insulin) are taken into account for formulating your diet management during diabetes and meal timings. The dietician would give your information on your diet.
The general guidelines on diet are:
In a typical day’s meals and snacks, you should have 1500-1800 calories with – 60% contribution from the carbohydrate, 20% from fat and 20% from proteins. You may need extra weight reduction. If you are on calorie-restricted diet, make sure to take 50-60% of calories as complex carbohydrate (whole cereals) to prevent any feeling of weakness.
• You should eat a variety of food items everyday. Do not skip meals. Avoid snacks, unless you are advised to (example during insulin treatment). Don’t over eat.
• Eat fruits and vegetables. Use less oil in cooking. Avoid fried foods, milk cream or food items cooked in coconut milk.
• Avoid ready to eat food preparations, sweets and sugary drinks (canned beverages) that provide empty calories (no vitamin or essential minerals).
• Keep a regular check on your weight – maintain it within the estimated limit.
• Check your hemoglobin and proteins in blood samples at 6 months or 1 year’s interval, Suitable correction in diet format or supplementation may become necessary.
• Despite a good control of blood glucose, if your blood lipids are high, you will need lipid lowering drugs regularly. Some times your doctor may advice you lipid-lowering drugs from the beginning of your diabetes treatment.
• Match your mealtime to the form of insulin and insulin injection schedules as explained by your doctor or the diabetes nurse.
Once we have crossed the reversible stage of prediabetes and enter diabetes stage, certain changes start developing in our body. These changes occur due to high blood sugar level with instability in the hormones as well as blood vessels and nerves. When these changes become permanent in the body it develops into serious Diabetes Complications and body indicates these changes by steady symptoms.
Symptoms of the Diabetes Complications
• Diabetic retinopathy shows symptoms of pain in the eyes and may even result in loss of vision.
• Renal (kidney) disease shows symptoms of swelling (edema) in the feet and legs. It then passes over total body and as the disease progresses, blood pressure also increases.
• Tingling, burning, numbness, tightness, shooting or stabbing pain in the hands, feet or other parts of your body, especially at night. Digestive problems also occur if, the nerves controlling internal organs get damaged (autonomic neuropathy).
• You may have scanty or profuse sweating, difficulty of sensing when your bladder is full, when there is a low blood sugar, increased sexual problems, weakness, dizziness, and fainting.
• Chest pain (angina) or shortness of breath dizziness or light headache, shoulder or stomach pain, fast heartbeat. You might not show any symptoms until having a heart attack or stroke.
When alarming symptoms given by the body are ignored and the same status is maintained, it starts damaging body organs, such as heart, kidney, eye, feet, and skin. The physiology for each and every affected organ is explained one by one.
Nerves depend on multiple tiny vessels which carry nutrients and oxygen to keep intact all the segments of these very long nerves. Damage to one small segment can result in loss of feeling, pain or burning sensations that bother the foot and leg.

Feet:- Diabetes can decrease the blood supply to the foot and gradually damages the nerves which carry sensation. A second micro vascular disease is diabetic foot or diabetic peripheral neuropathy or distal symmetric neuropathy. Neuropathy is the common complication of diabetes, and due to high blood sugar, chemical changes occur in the nerves. It always starts in the feet as they are the longest nerves and fed with longest blood vessels of the body. Generally it is seen in the obese people with high blood sugar levels and age more than 40 years. Neuropathy can develop within a span of first few years and it affects approximately 60% of diabetics.
Signs and symptoms of Diabetic Neuropathy
• Decrease or no sweating i.e. dry scaly skin with callus formation.
• Numbness, tingling, and some sort of burning sensation.
• Weakness and loss of reflexes.
• Decrease sensation to the slight change in temperature.
Diabetics need to take care of their feet especially the area between toes, and must not overlook if there is any kind of blisters, ulcer, redness or soreness or formation of callus etc. If any suspicion or doubt arises for the foot then it should be followed by immediate physical examination. The clinical examination will show the sensation in the feet and determine if it is normal or diminished.

Blood flow may be improved with good sources of vitamin E intake along with blood pressure medicine (ACE inhibitors). Although amputations are common with diabetes, about half can be prevented with simple steps that protect the feet.
The failure to make insulin or insufficiency of insulin is termed as Diabetes mellitus. Insulin is a natural hormone which controls the level of the sugar glucose in the blood. Insulin allows cells to use glucose for energy. Cells cannot utilize glucose without insulin. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of diabetes. Glucose is the body's primary source of fuel. Insulin enables the body cells to take glucose from the bloodstream. The cells might use glucose for production of energy if required, or it is sent to the liver to preserve it, in the form of glycogen.
Functions of Insulin
In addition to its role of regulating glucose metabolism, insulin also
• Stimulates lipogenesis
• Diminishes lipolysis
• Increases amino acid transport into cells
• Modulates transcription
• Altering the cell content of numerous mRNAs
• Stimulates growth
• DNA synthesis
Cell replication Insulin resistance comes in picture when the total amount of insulin produced by the body (pancreas), proves to be insufficient to maintain normal blood glucose level. Extra insulin may need to break down glucose in order to release energy. In about 1/3 of the cases blood cells resist to even high level of insulin. Insulin resistance is mostly associated with high Triglycerides and low HDL, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and other such abnormalities. It is in these abnormalities that we find the insulin resistance syndrome. Few people sometimes suffer from various symptoms and conditions. It is thus believed that diabetes and other problems go hand in hand.
If one of your siblings or parents has been diagnosed with diabetes, or there is a previous history of diabetes during pregnancy, history of polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes that is not high enough than the blood sugar level, overweight or obese can be causes of diabetes. Insulin resistance can be often seen in the following conditions like the metabolic syndrome, obesity, pregnancy, infection or severe illness, stress during steroid use.
Insulin resistance tends to run in families and ethnicity, which makes us know that genes are partly responsible. Excess weight also contributes to insulin resistance because too much fat interferes with muscles ability to use insulin. It is seen that a sedentary lifestyle, such as excessive caloric intake and inadequate exercise is the most important factor which can be controlled out. In most cases, the effect of insulin resistance on the body is subtle and takes many years in developing further. It first begins with hyperglycemia and over time, hyperglycemia can progress and become diabetes type 2
Diabetes is an insidious disease. In fact, moderately high levels of blood glucose (180-200 mg/dl) produce no symptom and may go unnoticed for many months or even years. Most patients with Type 1 diabetes pass large volumes of urine, experience an increase in the frequency of urination, undue thirst and hunger, and rapid weight loss. These symptoms provide clues to the diagnosis of diabetes.

Men and women with Type-2 diabetes may not have the above symptoms. Some of them may experience an increase in the frequency of urination and abnormal thirst. They may however feel tired, irritable, lack concentration at work, proneness to infection, delay in wound healing, intense itching and need for frequent change of eye glasses.

At the age of 45yrs or later, if you foresee the risk of developing diabetes, get your fasting blood glucose test, 2-hrs after a drink of 3.527 oz of glucose, at least once a year. Blood glucose values of 200mg/dl and higher would suggest the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Can diabetes be cured?

Diabetes cannot be cured completely, but can be effectively controlled. People with diabetes can lead a healthy life if, their blood glucose level is under control. The decrease in life span of a diabetic is restored to normal by maintaining good blood glucose control (90-130 mg/dl at fasting and with less than 180 mg/dl 2hrs after meals).

Sometimes, patients may not need any tablet/insulin or, even diet control to keep their blood glucose in control. This period is called honeymoon phase (in Type-1 diabetes). The duration may vary from a few days to over six months. Some patients mistake this for cure of diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for 70-75% deaths in diabetic people with acute myocardial infarction being responsible for 30% mishaps. Diabetes typically doubles heart attack risk in men and triples in women. Diabetes causes more extensive coronary atherosclerosis with triple vessel involvement. Long-duration diabetes and diabetes in elderly people is more likely to cause silent heart attack (painless MI) with increased chances of death.
What is the link between diabetes and CVD?
It had been observed that diabetes changes the chemical composition of some substances found in the blood and leads to blood vessels narrowing or sometimes clogging up completely. This is nothing but atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and diabetes increases the pace of it. Heart disease occurs twice frequently in those suffering with diabetes than in people without diabetes. Cardiovascular complications occur early in diabetics, and often result in premature death.

What is needed to “break the link” between diabetes and CVD?

Preventive management includes life style modification (quit smoking, regular exercise, and limitation of fat and energy intake) to control blood sugar, lipids and hypertension.

Target ranges are:
A HBA1C<7 percent Check twice a year
B Blood pleasure < 130/80 mmHg Check twice a year
C Cholesterol-LDL < 100mg/dl Check twice a year

Diabetics learn and practice the skills necessary to control their blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and it is very essential to receive customary checkups from their physicians. Smokers should give up smoking and overweight diabetics should follow a practice of moderate exercise regimen.

Whether your treatment consists of diet alone, diet and tablets or diet and insulin, you need regular blood tests to keep a check on your blood sugar. Urine sugar test is not a reliable indicator of diabetes control.

When blood glucose remains higher than 200mg/dl for 8-10 weeks, the concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) arises. A (HbA1c) measurement therefore reflects the blood glucose control over a preceding 2-3 months period, while the estimates of blood glucose indicate the glucose value at the time of blood test. HbA1c values between 6-7% indicate very good control on diabetes. You should aim at keeping your blood glucose in the normal range i.e. between 90-130 mg/dl while fasting and less than 180 mg/dl after meals and HbA1c around 7%. Frequent tests for blood glucose are necessary when starting treatment with insulin.

If you are doing capillary blood glucose test using a hand held glucometer, do not squeeze the finger to bring out a sample after you have picked. This invariably gives a low glucose value. Ask your diabetes nurse for a demonstration of capillary blood glucose test.

Urine test for sugar is not reliable indicator of diabetes control. Although spillage of sugar in urine occurs when the blood glucose exceeds 180 mg/dl in the majority of healthy persons, this is not always so in a patient with diabetes. Most patients with diabetes of many years acquire an increase in the renal threshold for glucose (capacity to prevent spillage of glucose into urine). Hence urine test for glucose is not helpful for assessing control of diabetes. In the presence of urinary infections, the bacteria eats up the sugar present in urine, thereby making urine test for sugar unreliable. Prevention is proven to be one of the most effective and powerful methods to fight diabetes. More than 50% of diabetes is caused due to inappropriate lifestyle. Regulating lifestyle can prove to be advantageous in downfall of probability of contracting diabetes in one’s life. Loss of weight not only helps in fitness but also in control of blood sugar levels. Losing 10% of initial body weight and regular exercise can immensely reduce the risk of diabetes. Physical activities play a key role in reducing the body weight and on the other also the extra blood sugar is broken down. It also helps to uphold the blood sugar in the normal range. You are more liable to diabetes if you are overweight (may also lead to obesity), are having genetic or hierarchal means of predisposition along with proper physical activity.
Food choices: Foodstuffs containing low glycemic carbohydrates, proteins or fats can initially help to lose body weight and maintain dancing blood sugar level. Prefer healthy foods which are low in fats and calories such as lean fish, lean chicken, turkey and fruits and vegetables. Go slow on fast and fried foodstuffs for prevention of diabetes. Avoid processed carbohydrates as much as possible. Try to increase high-protein food in your diet. And reduce eating refined flour i.e. white flour, bleached flour, treated flour and other kind of white flour.
The Fundamentals to prevent diabetes: Diabetes can be prevented by good production of the insulin and keeping the body fat percent low. Insulin and fats helps to maintain body weight and control sugar level. Consumption of meals to a small fraction instead of heavy food also helps to control diabetes. Also avoid eating carbohydrates few hours before you go to sleep. Taking in high-protein breakfast and 5 or 6 small meals a day also helps you to maintain the body weight. This will also help to control excess consumption of fats and carbohydrates
Are you tired of taking insulin pills and injections for maintaining your blood sugar levels? Have you ever thought about the health advantages that can be derived from the consumption of food supplements? If not, think about it! The transition to the diabetic lifestyle will be much easier.

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world. It prevents the body from using glucose in our food for taking care of its energy needs. This glucose gets accumulated in our blood, thereby risking the well-being of our heart, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
Nutritional Supplements for Diabetics
Recent researches carried out by food industries and health experts conclude that herbal supplements such as bitter melon, goat’s rue, nopal cactus, fenugreek, bilberry, gurmar, onions and garlic are quite effective in lowering the blood glucose level, thereby helping the patients to undergo less treatment distress.

Diabetics must be always cautious about the source of their calorie intake. Non starchy veggies, skimmed milk, lean chicken, high fiber fruits and low glycemic food products are smart choices for an informed diabetic. Oil low in saturated fats content should be preferred. It had been proved that a balanced diabetic diet contains some important nutrients and useful supplements to help control dancing blood sugar. Let’s see few useful diabetic nutritional supplements we receive from our food, and their action in controlling diabetes.
• Biotin – It helps the body in metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
• Vitamin C – It prevents sugar from getting attached to proteins. Insulin deficiency hinders effective metabolism and transport of Vitamin C, making its increased intake all the more important. Here, ascorbates like EmergenC is more preferred as compared to ascorbic acid.
• Chromium – It aids the metabolism of glucose. It is most effective if consumed as niacin.
• Vitamin E – It helps in improving insulin sensitivity.
• Magnesium – It helps in lowering blood pressure and reducing heart-attack risks by relaxing the muscle tissues.
• CLA – It helps in protecting cells from becoming diabetic or getting damaged by atherosclerosis, colon cancer and chronic inflammation.
• Omega 3 and Alpha Lipoic Acids - They are effective building blocks and anti-oxidants respectively. They reduce the risks associated with nerve damages by aiding balancing of blood sugar.
• Vitamin B6 – It helps in preventing neuropathy.
• Vitamin D – It helps in reducing insulin resistance and averting the risks of cataract.
• Zinc – It helps in improving the action of insulin.
Diabetics have greater needs of nutritional supplements for fulfilling the antioxidant and metabolic requirements of the body. Design your food intake as per the above necessities and living the diabetic lifestyle will be a much easier road to travel upon.