We all see the “daily” news reports that obesity related illnesses that are a growing killer in the world today. The death totals for obesity related diseases have increased by more than thirty percent in the last decade. Obesity contributes to heart disease, strokes, and diabetes and don’t forget they contribute to a whole host of ailments including arthritis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) recently reported in a new study that self-reported diabetes has soared in the past six years. They also state that obesity is the main cause for this dramatic increase. Those groups more at risk are the older populations, poorly educated, and minorities. Minorities are predisposed than white Caucasians to develop diabetes. This first study was done on a regional basis; the new study involved the entire nation. The reports were alarming, and the CDC are concerned there will be even bigger problems in the future.
The Surgeon General states that the number of obese or overweight adults in this country is fifty percent more than it was just a decade ago. Children and young adults are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is mainly known as adult-onset diabetes, and even high blood pressure is a problem with 24 percent of the population in children.
Also studies show that one third of the children born in the year 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes and this also leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney problems, and undermines the brains to work correctly.
Researchers have found that obesity also disrupts the metabolism of insulin in the body. They found that excess weight at the waistlines lead to increased risk for developing diabetes and even cancer.
An interesting fact states that those adults who ate fast food at least twice a week and gained ten pounds were more likely to develop diabetes. Fast foods are not considered part of a healthy eating pattern, even though some fast-food franchises have been introducing fruits, salads, and bottled water for healthier choices.
We now know that adult only needs to lose from five to seven percent of their body fat to reduce the risk for diabetes and heart disease. That means that a 200-pound person would only need to lose a little as ten pounds to see benefits.
A moderate change in lifestyle will not only help reduce the risk of developing diabetes but also will benefit your health in many other ways. Exercise also benefits circulation problems, heart problems, osteoporosis, and many other health concerns. Moderate walking, and mild stretching routines are a good way to begin a healthy exercise program. It’s important to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program. They will be able to guide you in starting out and give helpful ways to begin.
Studies have shown that increasing your exercise level, working up to 30 minutes a day, or having some form of moderate activity will bring good results. Even slowly walking, instead of the brisk walk recommended will give you many benefits.
Mild exercises for strength or yoga routines are good ways to begin an exercise program. Try parking your car farther out in the parking lot when you go shopping. This adds a few extra steps and if you do it consistently the steps will mount up.
You may want to try marching in place during television commercials.
Education is the key to preventing overweight and obese children and adults. Many of us do not understand the connection between calorie intakes, good and bad carbohydrates, and the ratio of proteins and fats in their diet. Simply understanding what happens to the food your body consumes will help us stay healthy. Seeing the results of obesity and obesity related diseases are a good way to help us decide to start living a healthier lifestyle. Regular exercise and healthy eating will go a long way towards lowering the risk of an obesity related disease such as diabetes.
As adults, we need to take the lead in our families towards controlling this epidemic of obesity related diseases. We have the ability to oversee what are children eat, look at labels before we buy a product at the store, and make healthy meals and snacks for our families.
Posts Tagged ‘Cause Of Diabetes’
A Cause of Diabetes?. Obesity
Cause Of Diabetes – Having Too Much Or Too Little Of The Insulin Beta Cells
To understand the main cause of diabetes, it is important for us to understand how the pancreas responds in producing insulin beta cells needed for the body’s glucose absorption.
Under normal circumstances, the glucose (sugar) will enter the bloodstream which will act as fuel for the body. The pancreas may be slow or may fail to produce tiny insulin factories called beta cells in order to transfer the glucose to the liver cells, muscles and fats. If there are few or no beta cells that enable other cells to receive glucose, the blood sugar level will increase.This is the main or primary cause of diabetes.
Due to the failure of the pancreas to produce the insulin beta cells, the level of unabsorbed glucose will also increase as the constant supply of glucose keeps coming in. As a recourse, the body will merely flush out the unabsorbed glucose by way of urine. Hence, the diabetic will experience thirst and frequently pass urine. The diabetes sufferer will need insulin injections to meet the body’s insulin requirements.
In other cases, the disorder may be due to the resistance of other cells to the insulin cells. There is now failure in glucose absorption but pancreatic production of insulin continues as an automatic response to the presence of glucose. Both insulin and glucose levels become elevated yet no absorption is taking place in order to supply the body with energy.
Other causes of diabetes may include the following factors:
1. Immunity- The beta cells of the pancreas is attacked by a disturbance in the immune system thereby a type 1 diabetes emerges. Under type 1 diabetes, the sufferer becomes insulin dependent due to the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. This usually happens to children and adolescents.
2. Inflammatory- Viral infections are transferred from the blood to the pancreas resulting to damaged beta cells.
3. Hereditary- Some hereditary genes contribute to the emergence of diabetes in some people. If the parent is diabetic, chances are the offspring will be afflicted by type 1 diabetes by around 10%, more or less.
4. Environment- This includes the following factors:
a. Weight- In some studies, 80% of overweight patients are diabetics.
b. Sex- Diabetes is prevalent in women than men in the ratio of 2 to 1. Gestational diabetes happens at a later period of pregnancy. This will make the mother prone to type 2 diabetes.
c. Age- This usually occurs after the age group of 45 years old.
d. Exercise- Lack of exercise can reduce the ability of the body to absorb insulin. In the absence of exercise, type 2 diabetes typically emerges.
e. Eating Habits- Eating lots of fats, sweets and even fast meals will contribute in weight gain. Once there is already too much fats in the body cells, the sensitivity of cells decrease in absorbing insulin.
f. Ethnicity – For some unexplained reasons, women who are of African, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian descent, are prone to develop diabetes.
Since we already know the exact cause of diabetes, simple but important health rules such as eating the proper food and in the right amounts as well as engaging in exercises should become a normal part of our life.
Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and diabetes natural treatment. Discover how you can reverse your diabetes for good using proven and effective home remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.minusdiabetes.com
