Will You Be Another Diabetes Statistic?

Dr. Duke Johnson, M.D.Medical Director, Nutrilite Health Institute

Nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes. Why so many and what are your risk factors? Since November is National Diabetes Month in the United States – and holiday temptations are on their way – it’s a great time to address this epidemic.While there are three distinct types of diabetes, they all have one or more of these health consequences in common:
· Heart disease and stroke.
· Kidney failure.
· Adult-onset blindness.
· Lower-limb amputations.
· Gum disease.
When you have diabetes, too much sugar circulates through your body and you don’t have enough insulin to help your cells absorb it. Absorbed sugar is essential for your cells to grow and release energy; unabsorbed sugar actually damages your cells.Diabetes types
Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes
Between 5% and 10% of all diagnosed cases
Up to 95% of all diagnosed cases
A number of pregnant women develop this form of diabetes late in their pregnancy
· Occurs mostly in adolescents and children
· Requires daily insulin shots
· Results from an immune-system disorder
· Destroys insulin-producing cells

· Used to occur primarily in adults
· Increasingly occurs in adolescents and children
· Is tied to poor diet and inactivity

· Results from pregnancy hormones or insulin shortages
· Goes away after the child is born
· Increases the mother’s risk for type 2 diabetes later in life

Symptoms include
· Increased thirst
· Increased urination
· Weight loss
· Extreme fatigue
· Constant hunger
Symptoms include
· Unusual thirst
· Frequent urination
· Weight loss
· Fatigue
· Slow-healing wounds or sores
· Vision changes

Diabetes trendsSince diabetes affects an estimated 23.6 million people in the United States, almost everyone knows someone with the disease. Of those 23.6 million, 17.9 million have been diagnosed and about 5.7 million people have diabetes but don’t know it. Every year, about 1.3 million peple aged 20 or older are diagnosed with diabetes.Based on these trends, of all the American children born in the year 2000, one in three non-Hispanic whites and one in two minorities will develop diabetes in their lifetime.Who’s at risk for preventable type 2 diabetes?The more of these risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes. Your risks are higher if you are:
· Non-white:
§ Hispanic/Latino Americans are 1.8 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
§ African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
§ Native Americans or Asians are also at higher risk.
· 45 or older.
· Closely related to a family member with diabetes.
· Diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
· Overweight, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25.
· Diagnosed with high blood pressure: 140/90 or higher.
· Diagnosed with abnormal cholesterol levels: HDL cholesterol below 35 mg/dL or triglycerides above 250 mg/dL.
How can you protect yourself?Risk factors 1–4 are outside your control. But you can manage or prevent diabetes by focusing on risk factors 5–7: Make the right food choices, exercise daily, get enough rest, manage your stress, and work with your health-care professional to monitor your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
· Eat healthy carbohydrates and fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cooked dried beans, and peas.
· Limit saturated fats from animal products and trans fats in processed baked goods.
· Eat more good fats, like those in olives and avocados.
· Get more omega-3 fats from walnuts, flaxseed, salmon, and tuna.
· Eat smaller portions, with fewer calories. This helps keep your weight in a healthy range.
Exercise:
· Improves your body’s use of insulin.
· Burns excess body fat.
· Lowers blood pressure.
· Increases HDL cholesterol and reduces LDL cholesterol.
· Reduces stress.
· Releases tension and anxiety.
Know your ABCsA is for A1C. A-one-C is a type of blood cell that can yield a blood-sugar measurement. Have it measured at least twice a year to determine the three-month average.B is for blood pressure. Measure your blood pressure at every doctor’s visit. High blood pressure forces your heart to work extra hard and can damage your kidneys and eyes.C is for cholesterol. Bad cholesterol, or LDL, builds up and clogs your arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Measure this at least once a year.Links/SourcesAmerican Diabetes Association www.diabetes.orgNational Diabetes Information Clearinghouse www.diabetes.niddk.nih.govWebMD Diabetes Health Center www.diabetes.webmd.comCenters for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov