Did
you know that diabetes is the other silent killer after high blood
pressure? If not managed properly it can be devastating. Fortunately,
there are steps you can take to minimize it's impact and live a healthy
life.
Figures from the American Diabetic Association show that diabetes is
the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S, killing approximately
210000 persons every year. Medical and other related costs can soar
over $100 billion a year!!
The good news is there is a great deal that you can do to help manage
the condition at an early stage. Being informed truly is the best
medicine. Learning as much as you can about your diabetes, how to
control your blood sugar, complications and how to prevent them, can
help you stay healthy. As always, be sure to consult your physician
first before implementing or changing diet or exercise routines or
taking any over the counter medications or nutritional supplements.
Diabetes is a serious condition. It is a chronic disorder of
carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism, characterized by fasting
elevation of blood sugar level and a greatly increased risk of heart
disease, stroke, kidney disease and loss of nerve functions.
There are two major types of diabetes. Type I and Type II.
Type I is also known as Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and
often occurs in children and adolescents. Individuals with Type I
diabetes need to inject insulin everyday. It occurs when the pancreas
stops producing insulin (a hormone which helps deliver sugar from the
blood to the body’s cells).
Type II is also known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
(NIDDM) and is usually an adult disease. In type II diabetes, insulin
is present but not appropriately available due to insulin-resistance.
For a variety of physiological reasons, the hormone (insulin) is unable
to do its job. The pancreas produces insulin but the body’s cells do
not respond to its action and can’t absorb the glucose from the blood
so glucose levels rise in the blood.
There are a number of causes which give rise to diabetes. Some of the
causes are listed below; however, they should not be considered a
complete list.
Heredity plays a major role. Some individuals or ethnic groups may be genetically susceptible than others.
Experts are convinced that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle also play a major role in the development of diabetes.
Impaired digestion and an overworked pancreas.
Syndrome-X (results from a combination of disorders such as
hypertension, high cholesterol, blood clotting abnormalities and
insulin resistance)
Chromium deficiency.
Prenatal factors. Recent evidence supports the concept that the
nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy plays a role in
determining whether the child will develop diabetes later in life.
Food with refined sugars and high glycemic index.
Imbalance between two critical hormones- insulin and glucagon.
Misplaced T7 (thoracic 7) vertebra.
Complications resulting from diabetes can be grave if not controlled.
Some complications include but are not limited to:
Hypoglycemia and diabetic coma.
Cataracts, diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, skin ulcers,
gangrene leading to amputation, stubborn skin infections and heart
disease.
There are some early warning signs you should be aware of if you
suspect development of diabetes such as 1) Frequent urination 2)
Constant thirst or hunger 3) Blurred vision 4) Numb or tingling hands
or feet 5) Slow healing of cuts and bruises 6) Frequent skin
infections.
Proper treatment is often delayed because diabetes is not diagnosed until a patient is already experiencing complications.
Diet is an extremely important part of diabetic therapy. Nutrition is
the cornerstone for good health. A couple of diet considerations after
consultation with your physician could include complex carbohydrates
that are rich in fiber, fresh vegetables and fruits of low glycemic
index, rather than simple carbohydrates such as breads and pastries.
Complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down and absorb
and therefore provide a slower or more gradual increase in blood sugar
levels. Your physician may even advise you to eat smaller frequent
meals throughout the day. Along with diet, exercise is also of equal
importance. Exercise will increase tissue levels of chromium and also
increases the number of insulin receptors. In many instances, changes
in diet and exercise may push borderline blood sugar down to a normal
range.
The best prevention is adopting a healthy lifestyle. Because obesity is
so strongly associated with TypeII diabetes, weight control is an
important element of diabetic management. If you want to lose weight to
control diabetes, high blood pressure and reduce the risk for
developing heart disease then walk, walk and walk some more.
Insulin injections don’t cure diabetes. They enable you to live with
it…..that is if you call injecting yourself multiple times a day,
“living”. The key word is HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through diet, exercise and
certain herbs and supplements.
