#TheSugars & Diabetes
Diabetes is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Too many see diabetes, or high blood sugar, as inevitable. Mom had it, Dad had it, my brothers and sisters have it, so it’s no big deal that I have it. But it is!
IT’S A BIG DEAL because you don’t have to have it.
IT’S A BIG DEAL because if you do have it - you’re at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The leading causes of death and sickness in the U.S.
IT’S A BIG DEAL because if you #LiveHeartHealthy you can prevent it, control it and cure it.
There are two main types of Diabetes - not surprisingly named Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type and the one we are going to focus on. Why? Because it’s the type we can prevent if we #EatHealthy, #Exercise and #WeightControl.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when levels of sugar are too high in the blood. How do they get so high?
1) Too much sugar intake.
2) Your body is unable to store the sugar.
The road to 'Type 2 Diabetes' goes something like this. First, we take in too much of #TheSugars. And for years the body does it’s best to store all this sugar away. Until, bit by bit, it runs out of fuel to pump the sugar into cells. So #TheSugars hang around in the blood. Overtime high levels of sugar in the blood causes blockages in the arteries.
Once an artery is blocked the body isn’t getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Nerves in the hands and feet start to die leading to pain, numbness and tingling. Nerves in the eye also go which can lead to blindness. Blood vessels in the brain and heart get clogged which can lead to stroke and heart attack. These are just some of the things that diabetes can cause.
Managing diabetes isn’t easy, but anything that is important rarely is. But here are some things that can help:
1) TeamUp! : Family, friends, co-workers, doctors and nurses. They all want to see you succeed and do better. So tell them you want to make changes, that you want to #EatHealthy, #Exercise and #WeightControl. Have them help you stay true to your plan and your goals.
2) Step-by-Step: If changing everything at once is too much, and for a lot of us it is. Then do it step-by-step. When I was overweight I had to make the same decisions that many of my patient have to make - I had to eat better, exercise more and get my weight down. My blood pressure was higher than it should be and I was less active and out of shape. I started by choosing to #EatHealthy. I cut down on #TheSugars and was surprised that I was loosing pounds and feeling better by doing that alone.
3) Start at the ground level: Too often, we decide to change with out making a plan to keep the change. What do I mean by this? Well, think about this. If you’re trying to cut down on how much sugar you eat - where is the best place to start? Is it avoiding the vending machine or conquering the grocery store? If you answered ‘The Grocery Store’ you’re right! What you buy, and as important what you don’t buy, lay the foundation of what you eat. If you #ShopHealthy and buy more fruits and vegetables, and avoid the aisles where sugar heavy snacks, sauces and processed foods are you have set the base for success.
Avoid #TheSugars
Knowing where the sugar in your diet comes from is important. Talk with your doctor about seeing a dietician or nutrition expert who can help identify #HeartHealthy changes you can make to your diet. Check out information on line to get recipes that will help you prevent, control and cure diabetes.
There is so much more to talk about when it comes to this topic so check back for more information and resources.
Also check out some of the links below to find some #HeartHealthy food tips!
'Diabetes Meal Plans and a Healthy Diet' by American Diabetes Association
'The ABCs of Eating Smart for a Healthy Heart' by The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Written by Dr. Steven C.Moyo