Showing posts with label type II diabetes and living your life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label type II diabetes and living your life. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2012
Suddenly All the Kids Have Diabetes
From the way diabetes gets talked about in the news, you'd think that everyone and their brother had it. Well, now it's looking more like everyone and their daughter has it. A new study has just been released which shows a pretty terrifying increase in the rate of diabetes and pre-diabetes among young people. In 2000, only 9 percent of teens were diabetic or pre-diabetic. By 2008, a whopping 23 percent of adolescents are. Jesus H. Christ on a cracker. That is a huge increase in just eight years. One small ray of hope is that the test they used, a fasting blood glucose test, doesn't give as accurate a picture of a person's health because it's a single snapshot of blood sugar rather than an average over time. So that number could be somewhat artificially high. Still, even considering that, this news is not good.
The author of the study, Ashleigh May, who is an epidemiologist for the CDC, calls the findings "very concerning." Pediatric endocrinologist Larry Deeb, who is also a former president of medicine and science for the American Diabetes Association, says other research shows there could be "a 64% increase in diabetes in the next decade. [...] We are truly in deep trouble. Diabetes threatens to destroy the health care system."
As if that wasn't bad enough, this study also found something else that's equally scary:
[H]alf of overweight teens and almost two-thirds of obese adolescents have one or more risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high levels of bad cholesterol. By comparison, about one-third of normal-weight adolescents have at least one risk factor.
While it was already clear that we needed to do something to protect the health of our kids, this data suggests we'd better do something quickly. Not that there's any easy way to fix this problem, especially among modern teens who already have so many other things to worry about, like being bullied and not getting caught in a sexting scandal. Perhaps it's time to call upon some kind of health superhero. Will Mr. Metabolic Syndrome save the day and defeat evil Dr. Diabetes? Blood Sugar Man to the rescue? Can we even just get Jack Black in a spandex suit doing PSAs? Someone? Anyone? Help.
By Cassie Murdoch
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Avoid These Diabetes Traps
If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, watch out for these lifestyle pitfalls that can make controlling your blood sugar more difficult.
You may be scared or stunned by a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, but it’s critical that you start making the changes suggested by your doctor. That's often easier said than done, since for most of us, what we eat, how much we exercise, and other everyday habits are as cozy — and as hard to get rid of — as well-worn slippers or a soft old sweatshirt.
But although you might have a few false starts and even a misstep or two along the way, a diabetes diagnosis must be taken seriously, beginning with abandoning old habits and committing to new ones to reverse or stabilize the condition.
Steps Toward Positive Change
Here’s a great place to begin: Losing just 10 percent of your body weight will improve your blood sugar control, says Margaret Shields, MEd, RD, a diabetes educator with the Washington University Diabetes Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. That, in turn, will decrease your heart disease risk and keep you healthy and living longer.
Some more bad habits you should be sure to avoid:
Not testing blood sugar. Yes, you have to draw blood, but no, it doesn’t have to hurt. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to get started with a blood glucose monitor and lancets. Keep your diabetic supplies within reach at home, at work, and even in your car. And with time, Shields says, testing will get easier.
Not taking diabetic medications at the right time. To keep blood sugar balanced, you have to “feed” your body at specific times — whether it’s with meds or food. Otherwise you’re wasting time and money and damaging your body.
Skipping meals. If you want to lose weight, skipping meals to hurry the process isn’t the answer. Skip breakfast or lunch, and the drop in blood sugar will set off a chain reaction that disrupts insulin levels and blood sugar — and you’ll likely eat more later. Take time to eat simple, balanced meals. You may also benefit from a mind-set boost: “Try not to think of it as a ‘diabetes diet’ because it’s basically heart-healthy eating, the way we all should eat,” says Ellen Calogeras, RD, LD, a diabetes educator with the Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center.
Emotional eating. If you feel depressed, anxious, or stressed, it will affect your blood sugar, so it’s important to get your emotions under control. Medication, meditation, psychotherapy, exercise, and deep breathing can help, alone or in combination.
Binge eating. Stock up on healthy foods — avoid temptation every time you open your kitchen cabinets by not buying chips, doughnuts, and other “trigger” foods.
Drinking too much sugar. Go for milk or water as beverages of choice. When you want to enjoy fresh juice, put the brakes on at a half-cup.
Skipping veggies. Vegetables supply nutrients that support all your body functions, including helping to regulate both blood pressure and blood sugar. Get a wide variety in deep hues — red, yellow, orange, and green.
Avoiding fish in favor of red meat. Fish like salmon and tuna are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Don't care for seafood? Other good sources of lean protein include chicken and beans.
Skipping exercise. Getting your weight and blood sugar under control means getting enough regular exercise. Though the goal is 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, if exercise doesn’t get you excited, make it easy on yourself and break down that total into manageable amounts — short but frequent bouts. “Just 10 minutes of walking several times a day is good,” says Shields.
Getting too little sleep. With less than five hours of sleep, you disrupt hormones that control hunger and blood glucose, so give yourself an earlier bedtime if you’ve been shortchanging yourself on the shut-eye. If snoring is a problem, talk with your doctor. You may have sleep apnea, which disrupts hormone levels and drives up blood sugar.
Diabetes Educators: A Helping Hand
If you need a bigger push to get moving, working with a certified diabetes educator can help. These health-care professionals have the important job of helping people learn how to manage diabetes successfully. The American Association of Diabetes Educators is a great resource for more information.
“Take all this very seriously,” says Shields. “The ability to follow diet and exercise guidelines is what separates the winners from the losers. And with diabetes, the stakes are very high.”
You may be scared or stunned by a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, but it’s critical that you start making the changes suggested by your doctor. That's often easier said than done, since for most of us, what we eat, how much we exercise, and other everyday habits are as cozy — and as hard to get rid of — as well-worn slippers or a soft old sweatshirt.
But although you might have a few false starts and even a misstep or two along the way, a diabetes diagnosis must be taken seriously, beginning with abandoning old habits and committing to new ones to reverse or stabilize the condition.
Steps Toward Positive Change
Here’s a great place to begin: Losing just 10 percent of your body weight will improve your blood sugar control, says Margaret Shields, MEd, RD, a diabetes educator with the Washington University Diabetes Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. That, in turn, will decrease your heart disease risk and keep you healthy and living longer.
Some more bad habits you should be sure to avoid:
Not testing blood sugar. Yes, you have to draw blood, but no, it doesn’t have to hurt. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to get started with a blood glucose monitor and lancets. Keep your diabetic supplies within reach at home, at work, and even in your car. And with time, Shields says, testing will get easier.
Not taking diabetic medications at the right time. To keep blood sugar balanced, you have to “feed” your body at specific times — whether it’s with meds or food. Otherwise you’re wasting time and money and damaging your body.
Skipping meals. If you want to lose weight, skipping meals to hurry the process isn’t the answer. Skip breakfast or lunch, and the drop in blood sugar will set off a chain reaction that disrupts insulin levels and blood sugar — and you’ll likely eat more later. Take time to eat simple, balanced meals. You may also benefit from a mind-set boost: “Try not to think of it as a ‘diabetes diet’ because it’s basically heart-healthy eating, the way we all should eat,” says Ellen Calogeras, RD, LD, a diabetes educator with the Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center.
Emotional eating. If you feel depressed, anxious, or stressed, it will affect your blood sugar, so it’s important to get your emotions under control. Medication, meditation, psychotherapy, exercise, and deep breathing can help, alone or in combination.
Binge eating. Stock up on healthy foods — avoid temptation every time you open your kitchen cabinets by not buying chips, doughnuts, and other “trigger” foods.
Drinking too much sugar. Go for milk or water as beverages of choice. When you want to enjoy fresh juice, put the brakes on at a half-cup.
Skipping veggies. Vegetables supply nutrients that support all your body functions, including helping to regulate both blood pressure and blood sugar. Get a wide variety in deep hues — red, yellow, orange, and green.
Avoiding fish in favor of red meat. Fish like salmon and tuna are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Don't care for seafood? Other good sources of lean protein include chicken and beans.
Skipping exercise. Getting your weight and blood sugar under control means getting enough regular exercise. Though the goal is 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week, if exercise doesn’t get you excited, make it easy on yourself and break down that total into manageable amounts — short but frequent bouts. “Just 10 minutes of walking several times a day is good,” says Shields.
Getting too little sleep. With less than five hours of sleep, you disrupt hormones that control hunger and blood glucose, so give yourself an earlier bedtime if you’ve been shortchanging yourself on the shut-eye. If snoring is a problem, talk with your doctor. You may have sleep apnea, which disrupts hormone levels and drives up blood sugar.
Diabetes Educators: A Helping Hand
If you need a bigger push to get moving, working with a certified diabetes educator can help. These health-care professionals have the important job of helping people learn how to manage diabetes successfully. The American Association of Diabetes Educators is a great resource for more information.
“Take all this very seriously,” says Shields. “The ability to follow diet and exercise guidelines is what separates the winners from the losers. And with diabetes, the stakes are very high.”
Friday, October 7, 2011
Almonds Can Improve Diabetes Control
Two new studies into the potential health benefits of eating almonds have supported evidence that they can help people with type 2 diabetes to maintain their blood glucose and cholesterol levels....
One of the studies, published in the journal, Metabolism, showed that consuming an ounce of almonds straight before eating a high-starch meal brought a 30 per cent reduction in post-meal glucose levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with a 7 per cent reduction for non-diabetics. In addition, after overnight fasting, patients with type 2 diabetes whose meal contained almonds had a lowering of blood sugar levels after their meal.
The effect of regular almond consumption on blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes was also investigated, with the daily consumption of one ounce of almonds over a 12-week period being associated with a 4 per cent reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the same reduction in body mass index (BMI).
The second study, which was published in Diabetes Care, revealed that nuts such as almonds could help to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose and cholesterol for both men and post-menopausal women who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, commented "Those with diabetes are faced with many challenges with their disease management, which is why we are always energized when new research is published that supports our understanding of almonds' role in helping alleviate some of the difficulties."
Diabetes UK, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2011
One of the studies, published in the journal, Metabolism, showed that consuming an ounce of almonds straight before eating a high-starch meal brought a 30 per cent reduction in post-meal glucose levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with a 7 per cent reduction for non-diabetics. In addition, after overnight fasting, patients with type 2 diabetes whose meal contained almonds had a lowering of blood sugar levels after their meal.
The effect of regular almond consumption on blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes was also investigated, with the daily consumption of one ounce of almonds over a 12-week period being associated with a 4 per cent reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the same reduction in body mass index (BMI).
The second study, which was published in Diabetes Care, revealed that nuts such as almonds could help to maintain healthy levels of blood glucose and cholesterol for both men and post-menopausal women who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, commented "Those with diabetes are faced with many challenges with their disease management, which is why we are always energized when new research is published that supports our understanding of almonds' role in helping alleviate some of the difficulties."
Diabetes UK, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2011
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