Have you ever had a series of events fall into place, in a way, that you just know that it was not a coincidence? As I am in the final editing of The Performance Nutrition Book, I received a message from a friend of mine. His Diabetes has “gone wild” and he is suffering. He is two weeks out from having MAJOR surgery. HE IS 40. His Health is BAD. He asked for help. I want to help … That’s why I am here. He will be one of the reviewers of Performance Nutrition, and HE WILL be a success story of this book.
No one literally asked for Diabetes … right?
There are people who are predisposed for Diabetes, meaning that their genetics puts them behind the 8 ball when it comes to developing diabetes. Others HELP bring on Diabetes through their lifestyle. Their lifestyle may include eating the WRONG foods, overeating, or a lack of exercise.
Unlike Osteoporoses and like High Blood Pressure, Diabetes is not reversible BUT IT CAN BE CONTROLED … as in VIRTUALY non- existing. I say virtually non- existing meaning that it will always be there ready to show its UGLY face BUT we can put it so far in the back of the closet that it doesn’t come around.
What is Diabetes?
The short and sweet definition is: Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), or simply, diabetes, is a condition in which high blood glucose levels result from the body's inability to produce and/or use insulin.
When we eat too much or we eat the “right” … or wrong foods, the blood sugar level “spikes”. In an effort to maintain a consistent blood sugar level, the body produces insulin to bring the blood sugar level back down. Diabetics have a problem producing this insulin or using the insulin. As a result they become weak, dizzy or past out.
Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. As part of digestion, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.
There are 3 types of Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
Type 1
Also known or formally known as Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes is present in someone whose body does not produce insulin. It is normally diagnosed in Children and Young Adults. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease
Type 2
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. It is estimated that gestational diabetes affects 18% of pregnancies.
According to the American Diabetes Association, We do not know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. The mother may, now, need up to three times as much insulin.
Gestational diabetes starts when the body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.
Any insulin produced by an overworked pancreas, does not lower the blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not normally cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. Extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat. This can lead to macrosomia, known as and unfortunately adored as "baby fat". Babies with macrosomia face health problems including:
Higher risk for breathing problems due to very low blood glucose levels at birth due to the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas.
Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
All of us
Diabetes is a condition that affects 25.8 million children and adults in the United States. 8.3% of the population has diabetes. 18.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with Diabetes, and it is estimated that another 7.0 million people live with Diabetes but have not been diagnosed. It is also estimated that another 79 million people are on the verge of developing. If you are a parent or a school administrator trying to evaluate the importance of Physical Education and Sports in your school, or if you are someone who really wonders if we have a problem with the health of our youth, in America, try this on: 25.6 million, or 11.3% of all people in this age group have diabetes. How big of problem is Diabetes? The “suits” are concerned about the bottom line financial cost of Health Care and Treatment of Diabetes. I will include those numbers later in this article. Those numbers are what they are, and they are SKY HIGH, but here is a statistic that should hit home with everyone: In 2007, diabetes was listed as the underlying cause on 71,382 death certificates and was listed as a contributing factor on an additional 160,022 death certificates. This means that diabetes contributed to a total of 231,404 deaths.
Effects of Diabetes
Many long term health conditions develop or come along with Diabetes.
Heart Disease and Stroke
In 2004, heart disease was noted on 68% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years or older.
In 2004, stroke was noted on 16% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years or older.
Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.
The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.
High Blood Pressure
In 2005-2008, of adults aged 20 years or older with self-reported diabetes, 67% had blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg or used prescription medications for hypertension.
Blindness
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20–74 years.
In 2005-2008, 4.2 million (28.5%) people with diabetes aged 40 years or older had diabetic retinopathy, and of these, almost 0.7 million (4.4% of those with diabetes) had advanced diabetic retinopathy that could lead to severe vision loss.
Kidney Disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% of new cases in 2008.
In 2008, 48,374 people with diabetes began treatment for end-stage kidney disease in the United States.
In 2008, a total of 202,290 people with end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant in the United States.
Nervous System Disease (Neuropathy)
About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage.
Amputation
More than 60% of nontraumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
In 2006, about 65,700 nontraumatic lower-limb amputations were performed in people with diabetes.
Cost of Diabetes
- $174 billion: Total costs of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2007
- $116 billion for direct medical costs
- $58 billion for indirect costs (disability, work loss, premature mortality)
After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that factoring in the additional costs of undiagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes, and gestational diabetes brings the total cost of diabetes in the United States in 2007 to $218 billion.
- $18 billion for people with undiagnosed diabetes
- $25 billion for American adults with pre-diabetes
- $623 million for gestational diabetes
In Conclusion
Another fitting quote (not from this situation but it sure fits) is: If you’re not preventing, you’re trying. I vote that we all make an effort to prevent Diabetes from ever entering our lives. Prevention is like “getting in shape for the season”. It’s a whole lot easier to “stay in shape”, that it is to “get in shape”.
At you next physical, ask to be tested for diabetes. Ask for the “FULL MONTY” of blood work to be done. Advise your Doctor that you want to know EVERYTHING, and you want to be HEALTHY.
Prevention is somewhat easy. Eat Right, Exercise and Accept the attitude that you WILL NOT LOOSE!!!
All information and statistics came from the American Diabetes Association.
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