The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is skyrocketing in
countries around the world. Children and
teenagers are now being affected by what was once classified as an adult
condition. Unfortunately, there are more
than 366 million people worldwide who currently have diabetes. Healthy lifestyle factors have been proven to
prevent, help manage and even reverse diabetes.
Lifestyle factors like healthy diet, regular exercise, not
smoking and maintaining an ideal body weight have been found to be the most
efficient ways to combat diabetes. A
2004 survey estimated that 3.4 million people died as a direct result of
uncontrolled blood sugar. It is
projected that this diabetes epidemic could claim up to 7 million lives by 2030
if the correct lifestyle alterations are not implemented now.
Gearing up for World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated annually on November
14. The WDD campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and
its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes
advocacy and awareness.
Established by the International Diabetes Federation and the
World Health Organization in 1991, WDD was created in response to growing
concerns about the escalating health threat of diabetes. This campaign draws
attention to issues of paramount importance and keeps diabetes firmly in the
public spotlight. “Diabetes Education and
Prevention” is the World Diabetes Day theme
for the period 2009-2013.
Where is it celebrated?
World Diabetes Day is celebrated worldwide by the 200-plus
member associations of the International Diabetes Federation (in more than 160
countries and territories) and all Member States of the United Nations. Other organizations, companies, healthcare professionals
and people living with diabetes mark their calendars, too.
How is it marked?
The global diabetes community—including International
Diabetes Federation member associations, diabetes organizations, NGOs, health
departments, civil society, individuals and various businesses—develops an
extensive range of activities, tailored to a variety of groups.
Activities organized each year include, but are not limited
to:
• Radio and television programs
• Free screenings/events for
diabetes and its complications
• Diabetes workshops and exhibitions
• Walks/runs/races
Why is it important?
In most developing countries, fewer than half of the people
with diabetes are properly diagnosed or treated. Complications and morbidity
rates skyrocket if there is not timely diagnosis and treatment of the
condition. Type 2 diabetes can remain undetected for many years. The diagnosis
is often made from associated complications or, incidentally, through screening
techniques.
If the condition is unknown to the patient, it can go undiagnosed
by the doctor.
According to studies, undiagnosed diabetes accounted for up
to 70-85 percent of those with diabetes in studies from South Africa, Cameroon,
Ghana and Tanzania. Diabetes and associated deaths in 2010 demonstrated a 5.5
percent increase over the estimates for the year 2007.
Diabetic costs - a family and society burden
The financial burden created by diabetes will impact
families physically, psychologically and financially. In developing countries,
many individuals with diabetes bear almost the whole cost of medical care.
Does it cost more to treat diabetes or to prevent it? It is
very common for people to wait until the "bad news" and then try to
treat it. That is when the burden becomes your family's.
How can the burden of diabetes be reduced?
The key is prevention.
Simple lifestyle changes have been shown to be effective in preventing,
delaying and treating the onset of the most common causes of diabetes.
To prevent diabetes and its complications, families should:
• Achieve and maintain a healthy
body weight.
• Be physically active - at least 30
minutes of regular, moderate-intensity activity.
• Eat a healthy diet. Eliminate
sugar and processed food items.
• Avoid tobacco use. Smoking increases the risk of death.
• Reduce and eliminate stress.
Diet & the hormone leptin
Leptin is produced by your fat cells and is delivered to
your brain to regulate fat burning, hunger, cravings and the sense of being
full. Leptin sets up the body’s repair
mechanism through a cascade of hormones, which are
guided by leptin. When leptin
levels are in balance, you can lose weight on just about any dietary
modification.
Leptin resistance happens when there is too much leptin
being produced due to poor dietary patterns and/or toxicity. This will cause the receptor sites on the
brain that detect leptin to “burn out.”
When leptin can no longer be “heard” by the brain, leptin resistance
develops and is the ultimate metabolic cause of one’s inability to lose weight.
It is the reason weight loss plateaus after initial
success. This phenomenon also is called
weight-loss resistance. Leptin-resistance also causes high blood sugar, insulin problems and increased
triglycerides in the blood – all complications of diabetes.
Hormonal imbalance & diabetes
Leptin tells you when you are hungry and regulates fat
burning in the absence of food or sugar. When your system is free of unhealthy
toxins and/or poor dietary choices, you can easily sense when to eat and how
much.
When you eat sufficient good fats, you can remain full for
several hours. If you eat too many
high-starch, high-glycemic, low-fiber carbohydrates, you will be continuously
hungry. Be sure to eat enough fat and as
few starchy carbohydrates (corn, potatoes, etc.) to prolong your feeling of
fullness.
Snacking myths
Once your hormone levels are normalized, a healthy meal
should last you about five hours. While
snacking is traditionally thought to boost your metabolism, it actually alters
the normal function of your hormones, which ultimately control your
metabolism. Our bodily mechanisms were
designed to deal with periods of starvation. Constant snacking raises
triglycerides and insulin levels in the blood, factors that contribute to heart
disease and diabetes.
If you must snack, be sure to consume a snack with as much
good fat, protein and fiber as possible.
Nuts are a great example of a healthy snack. Do not snack on starchy carbohydrates. Regardless of how many or few carbohydrates
you eat for a snack, the change in insulin levels will create hunger again
within a short period of time.
If your leptin level is normal, nighttime snacks will
eventually cause leptin to become deregulated.
Late meals have been found to cause leptin to swing in the wrong
direction.
Improving lifestyle factors is the best way to prevent and
treat the damaging effects of diabetes.
Take a proactive stance in your health and the
health of your family. Ensure that you are fueling your body correctly,
engaging in enough physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.
The choices that you make today heavily impact your health
tomorrow. Let’s start promoting World
Diabetes Day now so that we can guarantee healthier future generations.
Dr. Cory Couillard is an international healthcare speaker and columnist for numerous newspapers, magazines, websites and publications throughout the world. He works in collaboration with the World Health Organization's goals of disease prevention and global healthcare education. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.
Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com
Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard
Twitter: DrCoryCouillard
Comments
Post a Comment