| Diabetes
Matter of Self Control |
| Life-Threatening
Disease on the Rise; Exercise and Diet the Key |
By Nancy Loughin
Observer Food Editor |
| It's a New Year, and with it goes the annual resolution
of "I need to have a doctor's checkup, and go on a diet."
If you are over 45, the reasons for having this doctor's checkup
may be more important than you think. |
| According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 14
million Americans have diabetes, and half do not know about
it. Type 2 diabetes, primarily hitting adults, seems to be
rising at an alarming rate. According to a recent press release
from the American College of Endocrinology, "Diabetes
has reached epidemic proportions in this country." |
| Health officials and national organizations are are asking
why? "The reason so many people go undiagnosed with diabetes
is that the symptoms are very sneaky, or they might not have
any symptoms at all. In many ways, it is a silent disease,"
says Sherry deMilt, a registered nurse and a diabetes educator
at Loudoun Hospital. |
| "There are several reasons for undiagnosis. First,
there may not be any symptoms, and some of the symptoms are
very subtle and could be blamed on other factors, such as
fatigue or just being thirsty. It is very important that people
have thorough annual physical exams, and ask themselves a
lot of questions like, Do I have a history of diabetes in
my family? Am I over 45 and overweight? Do I get little or
no exercise? Have I had a baby that was over 9 pounds at birth?
|
| "Even before they get the specific warning signs, people
need to be aware of their increased risk factors, especially
if they are in an ethnic group which seems to have higher
percentage of risk, including African Americans, Hispanics,
and Native Americans. In many ways, people need to realize
that they are the captain of their health, and take steps
this year to maintain good health, particularly in the middle-age
years." |
| Another reason is that people are living longer and sitting
more. A sedintary lifestyle that includes a lot of fast food,
processed sugars, prepared foods, with high fat content, over
a period of time could cause health problems. |
| The rise in diabetes cases can also be traced to more complete
testing and accurate diagnosis offered these days. "Diagnosis
is sooner, and more effective, and can be done simply by a
fasting blood sugar tests. If the blood sugar is over 126
on two separate blood tests, there is a definite diagnosis,"
deMilt says. "There is no middle ground, no borderline
diabetes. It is a very definite diagnosis and can be done
in a doctor's office. Once there is a diagnosis, the sooner
and more effective the controlling measures can be put in
place, the greater the chance there will be no complications." |
| "I just thought he was thirsty," said a friend
of mine who had a son recently diagnosed with diabetes. "We
had no idea. I wish we would have known more," she added. |
| There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 strikes mostly
children and young adults. Type 2 most often occurs in adults
over 45. About 95 percent of all people with diabetes have
this type, according to the American Diabetes Association.
A third type, gestational diabetes, develops in some women
during pregnancy. Pregnant women should be tested between
the fifth and sixth month of their pregnancy. |
| Here are the grim facts. Diabetes is a serious disease that
can lead to blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure
and amputations when left untreated. It is the fouth-leading
cause of death by disease in the United States, killing more
than 160,000 Americans each year, according to the American
Diabetes Association. |
| What exactly is diabetes? The body gets energy from the
food eaten. The body changes the food into sugar, called glucose.
The bloodstream carries the glucose to the body's cells, and
a hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into the cells
where it can be used for energy. Diabetes occurs when the
body does not produce enough insulin or use it correctly.
When glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the bloodstream.
Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the heart,
blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and nerves. |
| According to the American Diabetes Assocation, there are
specific "warning" signs for the disease, such as
extreme thirst, blurry vision from time to time, frequent
unination, unusual tiredness or drowsiness, and unexplained
weight loss. "However, for many people, the symptoms
are very subtle, so they need to have a thorough examination
by a doctor on an annual basis. Should they receive a diabetes
diagnosis, there is a network of diabetes educators nationwide
ready to assist them along with their physicians in the process
of changing their health habits." That number is 1 (800)
TEAM UP 4. |
| Even though there is no cure for diabetes, it is a disease
that you can live with, stresses deMilt. With early diagnosis,
proper treatment and good managemengt, diabetes complications
may be prevented. Recent research proves that controlling
blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol is important
to prevent complications. |
| "We call it looking at the ABCs. The 'A' is a quarterly
blood test, called the A1C that shows a 3-month history of
sugar levels in the blood system. If you are living with diabetes
you should ask your physician what your A1C is. ADA suggests
that your target level should be less than 7 percent. |
| "Then there is the 'B', for blood pressure, which
should be no higher than 130 over 80, and the C is for cholesterol,
which should be less than 200. The LDLs, often called the
lousy chlosterol, should be less than or equal to 100, and
the HDLs, or the highly desirable chlosterol, should be greater
than 45 in men, and greater than 55 in women. It is important
to know your numbers and if you are over the targets, work
with your physican and health team to get your readings closer
to the targets. |
| "We tell people that this disease is self-managed.
Even with a doctor and educators helping you, the control
depends on you. Choices you make every day will determine
what your blood sugar will be, so you are ultimately the person
in charge of your health. |
| "And, with every patient, we tell them that their diabetes
will be constantly changing. Increases in stress, changes
in schedule, and getting older may affect your blood sugar
and cause your doctor to change your medicine or treatment
plan. Expect changes, and be flexible, because your diabetes
may change from time to time," encourages deMilt. |
| For more information see the website for the American Diabetes
Association, www.diabetes.org, or the National Diabetes Education
Program, http://ndep.nih.gov. And finally the Joslin Diabetes
Center in Boston offers very helpful information at www.joslin.org. |
| Click here two recipes from the American Diabetes Association's
website: |
| Asian Triangles |
| 1 Tbsp. smooth peanut butter |
| 1/2 Tbsp. lite soy sauce |
| 1 tsp. water |
| 1/2 tsp. Asian sesame oil |
| 4 tsp rice vinegar |
| 1/4 tsp ginger |
| 2-3 drops hot sauce |
| 12 wonton wrappers, cut in half to form triangles |
| Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet
with non-stick spray. Set aside. In a small microwave-safe
bowl, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, water, oil, vinegar,
ginger and hot pepper sauce. Microwave 20 to 30 seconds to
warm the mixture so that peanut butter will easily combine
with the other ingredients. With a small wire whisk, whisk
until well combined. Arrange the wonton wrappers on the baking
sheet in a single layer. With your finger, brush the mixture
over the top of the wonton triangles. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes,
or until the triangles have crisped. Cool in the pan on a
wire rack or serve warm. Triangles will keep for up to a week
in an air tight container. |
| Exchanges: 1/2 starch;1/2 fat; calories: 54; total fat:
2g; saturated fat: 0g; calories from fat: 17; cholesterol:
2mg; sodium: 131mg; carbohydrate: 8g; dietary fiber: 1g; sugars:
1g; protein: 2g This recipe makes 6 servings. Serving size:
4 pieces. |
| |
| |
| Better Deviled Eggs |
| 2 hard cooked eggs, cooled under running water |
| 2 tsp. fat free sour cream |
| 1 tsp. sweet pickle relish |
| 1 tsp. reduced fat mayonnaise |
| 1/4 tsp. Dijon style mustard |
| pinch salt |
| 2 Tbsp. minced celery |
| Cut each egg in half. Carefully remove the yolks. Discard
one yolk. In a custard cup, mash the remaining egg yolk. Add
the sour cream, pickle relish, mayonnaise, mustard and salt.
Stir to mix well. Stir in the celery. Serve at once or cover
and refrigerate. The eggs will keep in the refrigerator for
1 to 2 days. |
| Preparation time 3 minutes; exchanges: 1 lean meat. Calories:
64 Total fat: 3g Saturated fat: 1g Calories from fat: 30 Cholesterol:
107mg Sodium: 121mg Carbohydrate: 3g Dietary fiber: 0g Sugars:
2g Protein: 5g. Serving size: 1 egg. |
