DIABETES - CONTROL IT!
What is blood glucose?
Glucose is a type of sugar that is found in the food we eat. Our bodies use glucose as a source of energy. The body controls levels of glucose in the blood by a hormone called insulin. Insulin decreases blood sugar. After a meal, when your blood sugar rises, your body releases insulin into the blood stream. Insulin tells the liver, brain and muscles to use or store glucose, decreasing the amount of glucose in the blood.
What is diabetes?
When blood sugar is constantly high your levels of insulin will be increased for a long time. After a while the body produces less insulin, your body also stops responding to the insulin it does make. This will cause diabetes, a constant high level of blood sugar.
Diabetes can affect many parts of the body. In the heart, high blood sugar can lead to buildup of fatty plaque in the blood vessels, which increases the risk of blood clotting in the arteries and could cause a heart attack.
DIABETES: Fatty Plaque build up (yellow) causes artery blockage.
Who gets Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and is mainly caused by lifestyle choices. Below are things that may put you at risk to have Type 2 Diabetes.
Being overweight or obese: especially with fat located around the abdomen
Poor Diet: Eating mainly foods that are high in sugar (candy, chocolate) and carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, potatoes)
Inactivity: lack of regular exercise
Family History of diabetes
Race: Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans and American Indians are at a higher risk
Pre-diabetes: high levels of blood glucose that do not quite meet the criteria for diabetes.
How can I prevent Diabetes?
#EatHealthy, #ExerciseRegularly and #WeightControl are all part of a healthy lifestyle that is key to preventing Type 2 Diabetes.
#EatHealthy: Working together with your doctor and a dietician is important to come up with an enjoyable, healthy plan to help you reach your health care goals. Eating foods that are packed with nutrients, appropriate portion size, while limiting your carbohydrate and sugar intake is important.
#ExerciseRegularly: The American Diabetes Association has important recommendations for how physical activity can help prevent and manage Diabetes
#WeightControl: Weight control and weight loss are key parts of managing diabetes, weight loss is best achieved by REGULAR EXERCISE, EATING HEALTHY and BEHAVIOR CHANGES. Weight loss of approximately 7% of current body weight is recommended to improve your diabetes. Also targeting fat around the abdomen is an important part in preventing and managing diabetes.
How can my doctor help me manage my diabetes?
Lifestyle changes are the key to preventing Type 2 Diabetes. In addition there are medications that can help the body manage high levels of blood glucose.
Talk with your doctor about what may be best for you. Ask your doctor about the many resources available to diabetics.
Write here...
- http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/fitness/types-of-activity/what-we-recommend.html
- http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/12/e147.full#sec-46