Your Diet and Diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of premature deaths and the sixth leading cause of all deaths in the United States. If you fail to manage diabetes properly, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, leg and foot amputations and death. According to health experts at NC State University, minor changes in your lifestyle can greatly reduce your chances of getting the disease.

WHAT IS DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not use the sugars in food in the usual way. Normally, some of the food you digest is changed into glucose (sugar) which the body uses for fuel. Diabetics produce too little insulin or none at all, or cannot use insulin properly. Then dangerously high levels of glucose can build up in the blood. If left untreated, high blood glucose can lead to all of the serious and potentially fatal conditions listed above.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DIABETES?
Type I is the most severe form. It usually occurs early in life around age 12 or 13. Type I is often called “juvenile-onset” or “insulin-dependent” diabetes.
Type II is the most frequently occurring form, and is adult-onset, and sometimes insulin-dependent. Most Type II diabetics are older adults who are overweight and have or had a blood relative that has or had diabetes.
Gestational occurs in pregnant women. This type of diabetes generally disappears after childbirth.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES?
Abnormal thirst, frequent urination, weakness, excessive hunger, rapid or unexplained weight loss, poor growth, flushed skin, fruity breath or nausea and vomiting may be symptoms of diabetes. If you have any of these problems, on a regular basis, you should contact your doctor.
HOW IS DIABETES TREATED?
Each person needs individualized treatment. Type I requires insulin, diet and exercise. Type II usually can be treated with diet and exercise only. If you have diabetes, the American Diabetic Association suggests the following guidelines:

• Maintain a healthy weight;
• Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol;
• Increase your intake of fiber foods;
• Control sugar consumption;
• Use salt (sodium) only in moderation;
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Get regular exercise (always consult with your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.)

There is no cure for diabetes, however, you can manage or delay diabetes through diet, exercise, weight control and if necessary, medication. For additional information on diabetes, contact Jacquelyne Gordon, via email or by calling 372-5597.