Diabetes and Weight: How do they connect?

Type II diabetes is a form of diabetes that is normally controlled by eating well. It has been proved that there are strong links between obesity and the high risk of being diagnosed with type II diabetes. Although this form of diabetes can occur in any person, there is a higher probability of people with obesity to have diabetes. More so, children who grow up obese normally are diagnosed with Type II diabetes which is normally only diagnosed in older at least middle age folks.

Nevertheless, this type of diabetes can be controlled with discipline through the use of diet and exercise. There are many symptoms of this type of diabetes which include frequent urination onset by high levels of thirst while also suffering from dry and irritated skin. However, some people fail to show these signs and go undiagnosed for much longer. Basically the body has lost the control to use the body’s insulin or there is not enough insulin being made.

Those diagnosed with Type II should consult a doctor and a nutritionist who will work out a healthy diet plan to help control diabetes from progressing. Some commonly changed diets include the following: changing dairy products for soy, choosing fat free products, switching your carbs to whole grain carbs such as whole wheat pasta and brown rice, more fruit and veggies including broccoli, green beans and spinach. You should also avoid processed and refined sugars. The more natural your diet the better. If you are craving sweets try your best to eat fruits while you can also eat sugar free cookies and such but should best be avoided for other cancerous risks.

If you have a well planned out diet and stick to it then you will lose weight and you will also prevent your diabetes from progressing to another stage.

The True Cost of Diabetes to the Economy

Spending on diabetes topped $170 billion in 2007 and is set to rise even further this year. The simple fact is that diabetes sufferers now account for one in every five dollars spent on healthcare in America. But with almost 20 million sufferers across the States, a figure set to double over the next two decades, the real cost to the American economy is much higher.

Last year, people with diabetes took 15 million days off work, spent 120 million days underperforming in their jobs and cost US business an estimated $27 billion. More than 280,000 people died as a result of their diabetes.

By 2030 one in twenty adults over 20 years old is expected to have the condition, a statistic that will have a major impact on the nation’s productivity. Not only will we be spending more on medication and other medical costs, we will be producing less, as more of us are forced to stay off work. We will be dying younger and spending longer in hospitals, stretching an already overburdened healthcare system.

These figures do not include the social costs to America, the pain and suffering of those affected, the unpaid time given by carers and families and the wasted money spent by undiagnosed diabetics.

At present more than 50 million Americans do not know they have diabetes and continue to lead the kind of lives which do little to tackle their condition. Healthcare professionals have a part to play in tackling this, with better screening techniques, earlier diagnosis and prompter treatment.

Severe vision loss could be slashed by more than 50% if sight-saving laser therapies are implemented in a timely manner, while earlier detection of liver and kidney disease could improve kidney function in many sufferers by as much as 70%. An improved system of foot care would virtually eliminate cases of lower limb amputation completely.

Diabetes affects the entire nation and we should all be involved in fighting it.

Eating with Diabetes: Get Thee behind Me, Sugar!

Many people with diabetes fear that the quality of their food choices will decline with the onset of the disease. While you will definitely have to watch what you eat more than the average person does, diabetes does not mean a death sentence to good meals. There’s tons of information available on the Internet about constructing your own diabetic diet, but a few helpful tips will go a long way towards making your palate happier.

More than just the food you eat; eating patterns are different with diabetes and hypoglycemia. Rather than the traditional 3 meals a day, diabetics need to eat 6 times. Breakfast, a midmorning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, dinner and then an evening snack. While you’ll eat more frequently, the size of the meals needs to be smaller; diabetics don’t need more calories in their diets, the reverse is true, but they do need to maintain blood sugar levels at or as near a constant level as possible. Doctors also recommend keeping the size of the meals the same from day to day, to help maintain blood sugar levels better.

Let’s talk about food. Processed, refined sugar is bad. Let’s get that straight right off; it’s not good for you if you’re not a diabetic, but for someone with diabetes, sugar is not something that needs to be consumed on a regular basis. This leaves open a whole avenue of diet drinks and foods, though. Look for labels with the words “no sugar added”. Many grocery stores have sections for diabetics and sugar sensitive individuals; cookies, candies and more.

Eat healthy. This doesn’t mean go on a crash diet; eat whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables and don’t add sugar to meals. This lends itself to eating healthier all the way around; you’ll find yourself forgoing the burger and fries and making meals at home. Use a sugar substitute like Splenda when making desserts. You’ll still get the sweetness you want, without having to worry so much about how many sugars you’re taking in.

The biggest thing to remember is to go easy. Light sauces, low fat dressings and spreads, and skim milk. No matter what anyone tells you, you can still eat starches; there’s no need to lay off the starchy goodness; lighten it up. Instead of fries and greasy potato chips try pretzels, a baked potato and whole grain bread; starches are healthy for everyone, including diabetics. You just need to consume the right ones.

Starches are carbohydrates and as I said, there’s no need for you to lay off them. Healthy choices are still full of flavor; raw or cooked vegetables; fresh fruits in almost any form, low fat yogurt, and low fat sour cream. You’ll find that you feel better with a healthier diet as well, and your blood sugar levels will stay more constant. Without an influx of junk foods that are packed with sugars and fats, you’re body will be able to maintain itself better.

A healthy diet, combined with exercise, will go a long way towards delaying long term damage from diabetes.

[tags]diabetes, Sugar[/tags]

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