November 2008 - Vol 3 Issue 11

What You Must Know About Diabetes Now
Knowledge is power in managing this killer
by Michelle Gibeault Traub, R.D.

With nearly 24 million people struggling with diabetes, including an alarming number of children, the disease has become a major health crisis. The American Diabetes Associations estimates that diabetes costs our country $116 billion in medical care. While you yourself may not have diabetes, with those staggering figures, it isn’t hard to see that everyone needs to learn all they can about preventing this costly and deadly disease.

What Exactly is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is not able to regulate the amount of sugar (or glucose) in the blood stream, and in turn in the body’s cells. Every cell in the body needs glucose to function properly. However, too much glucose circulating in the blood stream can damage blood vessels and tissues. The ultimate gatekeeper for blood sugar levels is a hormone called insulin. If a person is unable to make insulin, they have Type 1 diabetes. However, if a person’s body still makes insulin, but it is not enough, or their cells are not able to work with that insulin (a condition called insulin resistance), they are said to have Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes (5-10% of diabetics)
As a child, I watched as my grandmother retreated to the bathroom before meals to give herself an insulin shot. She needed that shot of insulin because her pancreas did not produce enough of the hormone for her cells to get the glucose they needed. If she didn’t have that insulin shot before her meal, the amount of glucose in her blood stream would become too high, while the amount in her cells would get too low leaving her dizzy and weak. Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children and teens. It is actually the result of an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system damages the cells of the pancreas. It is not considered preventable at this time, but those with a family history of the disease are at the greatest risk and should be screened annually since early treatment is essential in preventing complications.

Type 2 Diabetes (90-95% of diabetics)
An individual with Type 2 diabetes tends to produce insulin normally; yet, their body is no longer able to utilize their insulin effectively. As a result, when they eat, insulin attempts to shuttle glucose into the cells, but some of the glucose remains in the blood stream where it can do long term damage. In most cases, insulin resistance results when a person is overweight. In the past, Type 2 Diabetes was known as the “adult-onset” form of the disease. But, given the increase in childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes is now being detected in children at alarming rates. The majority of Type 2 diabetics can be treated with proper diet, exercise, and ultimately weight loss. In fact, many people can overcome the disease by losing 10-15 pounds. However, some patients will require medications to gain glucose control.

Risk Factors for Diabetes

The cause of Type 1 Diabetes is still not well understood, but there seems to be a strong genetic component. Type 2 diabetes appears to have more concrete risk factors including:

• Being Overweight & Living a Sedentary Lifestyle: individuals who don’t exercise regularly and have a body mass index of 25 or greater are far more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Calculate your BMI with dLife.com’s BMI Calculator.
• Race: racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian & Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are also at a greater risk for the disease.
• Age: close to 21% of Americans aged 60 and older have Type 2 diabetes.

If you have a family history of diabetes or you experience symptoms of diabetes such as thirst, frequent urination, unusual weight loss, fatigue, or blurry vision, ask your physician to test you for the disease. For a quick tally of your risks, try The American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Risk Calculator

What’s So Bad About Diabetes?

By now you may be wondering why a high blood sugar level is such a problem. When excess sugar circulates through the body, it wrecks havoc on virtually all of the body’s tissues. Those at particular risk include the eyes, feet, nerves, kidneys, and blood vessels. When these organs are damaged it can result in blindness, amputations, kidney failure, and heart disease. In short, diabetes can impact the entire body reducing a person’s quality of life and greatly increasing their risk of death.

Diabetes Prevention & Management

The impact of diabetes is alarming, but it doesn’t have to be. Medical advances, research, and education have made it possible for individuals with diabetes to live long, healthy lives. Following are the keys to success:

• Exercise – regular exercise helps the body utilize glucose more effectively. It can also help with weight loss that decreases the risk for Type 2 diabetes.
• Balanced Meals – keeping blood sugar levels steady throughout the day is important in diabetes. Ideally meals should be well balanced with moderate carbohydrate, protein, and very little saturated fat.
• Medication – no one likes needles, but new advances like “the pump” are making it easier for Type 1 diabetics to get the insulin they need. Type 2 diabetics also have a host of oral medications available to help with blood sugar control.
• Monitoring – receiving regular health care is essential for all diabetics. Checking daily blood sugars and having a Hemoglobin A1C test at least every 6 months is crucial for determining blood sugar control. Keeping track of blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also important, since diabetes increases a person's risk for heart disease.

To learn more about diabetes, please visit the resources below. For a diabetes-friendly appetizer that is great for holiday parties, check out this HEALTHY RECIPE from the American Diabetes Association.

Resources / References  

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