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Living Well — Diet and Nutrition

diabeticssource — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:39:16 +0000

33 How do I know when I should see a registered dietitian?

See a registered dietitian (RD) when your diabetes is first diagnosed, when a new doctor changes your treatment plan, or twice a year for a routine review of your meal plan and goals. See the RD more often if:

• You want to improve diabetes control.

• You experience lifestyle or schedule changes, such as a new job, marriage, or pregnancy.

• Your nutritional needs keep changing (this is true for children).

• You’ve begun an exercise program or had a change in diabetes medication.

• You feel bored, frustrated, or unmotivated to use your meal plan.

• You have unexplained high and low blood-sugar levels.

• You’re concerned about weight or blood-fat levels.

• You’ve developed nutrition-related complications, such as high blood pressure or kidney disease.

We recommend having an RD on your diabetes team. Ask your doctor or hospital for a referral. You can call the American Diabetes Association (800-DIABETES), The American Dietetic Association (800-877-1600), or the American Association of Diabetes Educators (800-TEAM-UP-4) for referrals. Many RDs are certified diabetes educators (CDEs) and have additional training in diabetes care.

The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

The above is an excerpt from the book What to Expect When You Have Diabetes

by The American Diabetes Association

Published by Good Books; June 2008;$9.95US; 978-1-56148-630-4

Copyright © 2008 The American Diabetes Association

Author Bio

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The American Diabetes Association is the leading publisher of comprehensive diabetes information. Its huge library of practical and authoritative books for people with diabetes covers every aspect of self-care-cooking and nutrition, fitness, weight control, medications, complications, emotional issues, and general self-care.

A Cause of Diabetes?. Obesity

diabeticssource — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:31:11 +0000

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.

What Are the Causes of Diabetes?

diabeticssource — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:39:31 +0000

There are many reasons why people develop diabetes they can be infection of the pancreas, weight, stress, in activeness, age, family history, race, high blood pressure, poor nutrition, and gender|Infection in the pancreas, weight, stress, in activeness, age, history in family, race, blood pressure, poor diet, and gender are some of the many reasons for diabetes}. Some people can develop diabetes but their blood sugar level may not be high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. In this case if it is not caught it may turn into type 2 diabetes.

When this happens the pancreas will not produce enough insulin and sugar can build up in the blood stream.

Health professionals have stated that if your waist is bigger then thirty five inches, you have some risk of developing diabetes. People who are not active have a high risk of developing diabetes, more so then somebody that exercises two to three times per week. Going to the gym is not need but just a good brisk walk for thirty minutes can help.

Studies have just been done that have proved that eighty percent of people get diabetes are forty five or older.

If you have a parent or a relative that is close that has diabetes then that means that you are at risk for developing diabetes. You share the same genes and it could be reversed if there is some sort of preventive measure.

There are so many things that are related to getting diabetes. There are also many measures that could be taken in trying to prevent diabetes. The Internet is a great way to find out about diabetes.