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Take Action Against Diabetes
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Exercise, eating right may prevent or delay the disease Did you know there are things you can do to possibly prevent – or at least delay – the most common type of diabetes? Basically it comes down to living a healthy lifestyle. The Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that people with pre-diabetes (a condition that usually precedes diabetes) can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity, according to the American Diabetes Association. While the study indicated that some medicines may also delay diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10 percent reduction in body weight, produced a 58 percent reduction in diabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. Major types of diabetes Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age and results when a person’s immune system destroys the cells of the pancreas, the organ that produces insulin. Insulin "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10 percent of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even prevented. It typically develops during adulthood, although an increasing number of children are diagnosed with it. In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
Diabetes often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes. Know your risk You should first determine how many risk factors you have for developing diabetes. To take the American Diabetes Association risk test, click here. Educate yourself and based on that knowledge work with your physician to chart a plan to fight diabetes and its complications. It is estimated that nearly one-third of people with diabetes are unaware they have the disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, risk factors for diabetes include:
Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, according the American Diabetes Association. People at high risk for diabetes should be vigilant about proper diet and regular exercise, said Barbara Scobey, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, a clinical dietitian/ certified diabetes educator, at Baptist Memorial Health Care. “There is a mindset that if I take a pill that will take care of it.” Eat healthy and watch portion size Follow the food pyramid and pay attention to the size of your food portions – particularly meat. One serving of meat should be about the size of a deck of cards – seemingly small by today’s standards. An adult only needs two or three servings of meat a day. In this day of “super sizing” meals, servings offered at restaurants are usually too large. “If you’re going out to eat, plan to cut what you are served in half and take the other half home,” said Molly Dyer, RN, BSN, manager of cardiac rehabilitation and diabetes education for Baptist Memorial Health Care. Remember this rule: “All foods fit, it’s how you fit your foods into your food plan,’” Dyer said. Children are at risk The change in lifestyles has contributed to an increasing number of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Children tend to be less active these days and don’t eat a healthy diet consisting of low-fat meats and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Today’s diet is filled with fast food, processed products, and refined grains. “Kids don’t go outside and play for hours like they used to,” Dyer said. “Now they’re likely to be in front of a computer screen or television set.” Have regular checkups Tell your physician that you are concerned about developing diabetes so he or she can closely monitor your care. Visit your doctor annually and ask if a blood glucose test is one of tests run on blood drawn for a physical examination. If it’s not, ask for it. While some people with type 2 diabetes experience symptoms, others may go seven to 10 years without obvious symptoms, according to the American Diabetes Association. In fact, millions of people have diabetes and don't know it because symptoms develop so gradually, people often don't recognize them. Symptoms of diabetes include unusual thirst, a frequent desire to urinate, blurred vision, or a feeling of being tired most of the time for no apparent reason. “You can go for a long time and not realize you have diabetes,” Dyer said. “That’s why routine screening is so important.” Get your exercise Regular exercise is good for anyone – particularly if you have diabetes or are at risk for developing it. Consult your physician before starting a new program. A good rule of thumb is to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, at least three or four days a week. People with diabetes generally should exercise everyday, making sure to eat regularly at consistent times to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Pre-diabetes Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they almost always have "pre-diabetes" -- blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. There are 41 million people in the United States, ages 40 to 74, who have pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes do not often have symptoms, according to the American Diabetes Association. Recent research has shown that some long-term damage to the body, especially the heart and circulatory system, may already be occurring during pre-diabetes. Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. However, diabetes is likely to be underreported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates. About 65 percent of deaths among those with diabetes are attributed to heart disease and stroke. That’s why it’s so important to do everything you can to prevent diabetes. Baptist Memorial Health Care has an award-winning Diabetes Education Program that is available to people who have a physician’s referral. For more information, call 901-226-5671.
Published: July 28, 2005
Source: Barbara Scobey, MS, RD, LDN, CDE, clinical dietitian, certified diabetes educator, Baptist Memorial Health Care; American Diabetes Association Writer: Elizabeth Todd Bartholomew, MA, APR  Top of Page |
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