Diabetes the Other Silent Killer

Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing approximately 250,000 people every year.

The medical and other related costs can soar to over $100 billion a year!!

There is a great deal that you can do to help manage the condition at an early stage.

Being informed 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.

You must 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 carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, characterized by fasting elevation of your 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 every day. It occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin (a hormone that 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.

Several causes give rise to diabetes. Some, but not all of the causes are listed below.

Heredity plays a major role. Some individuals or ethnic groups may be genetically susceptible more than others.

Experts are convinced that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle also play a major role in the development of diabetes.

Syndrome-X (results from a combination of disorders such as hypertension, high cholesterol, blood clotting abnormalities, and insulin resistance)

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 a high glycemic index.

An imbalance between two critical hormones – insulin and glucagon.

Misplaced thoracic 7 vertebrae.

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 the 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 of 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 bread 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 increase 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 Type II diabetes, weight control is an important element of diabetic management.

If you want to lose weight to control diabetes, and high blood pressure and reduce the risk of 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.