Type 2 Diabetes
Published November 09, 2003
I'm concerned about this. Being overweight increases my risk for diabetes. My maternal grandmother also has Type 2 diabetes, so I have a family history as well. The American Diabetes Association risk test says that I am at high risk for diabetes. I have other risk factors for heart disease. It just plain scares me, to be honest. I need to start doing something about this, right away.
How about you?
The American Diabetes Association site says that 16 million people have pre-diabetes, and another 17 million currently have Type 2 diabetes. Contrary to what you might have thought, 90 to 95% of the people that have diabetes have Type 2 (adult) diabetes.
Obesity is becoming an epidemic in the U.S. Almost 90% of the people diagnosed with diabetes are overweight, and nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight. So, the statistics say that the vast majority of people in the U.S. are at significant risk for Type 2 diabetes. You might be at risk and not know it. Do you know what your Body Mass Index is? (Calculate it!) You should. A high BMI is a strong predictor of risk for diabetes and other health problems.
The good news.
Studies have shown that increasing physical activity and losing even modest amounts of weight can significantly improve the progression of Type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association's Weight Loss Matters pages say this: "The recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) proved that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by keeping weight in control and by increasing physical activity."
Even small improvements help: "It's important to remember that losing even a relatively small amount of weight can make a real improvement in reducing your risk for diabetes and other serious conditions."
My plan.
I've decided that I must take action to improve my health. I'm seriously overweight and much too sedentary. It will take me quite some time to make significant improvements, but "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." I will eat less and exercise more. I will lose weight. My health is too important to take for granted any longer.
If you are concerned about your weight and the health risks caused by being overweight, like I am, there are steps that you can take. Talk to your doctor or health care professional about it. He or she should have solid advice about how to proceed. The American Diabetes Association web site is also a great place to gather information on living a healthy lifestyle and what you can do to reduce your risk of diabetes and its complications. However, I encourage you to do, not just hear.
I'll be posting more on diabetes during the month of November, which is American Diabetes month. Posts won't be every day, since I don't have time to write that often, but at least once a week. Thanks to John Mudd for bringing this to my attention.
Visit Mr. Pete's Pages for more of my rambling!
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Published: November 09, 2003
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- Section: Culture
- Writer: Pete Nelson
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Pete, I am a little heavier than I should be and, being diabetic, it is a constant worry. (Big backslide over the summer while dealing with my dad's illness and death.) But managing the diet is key, and I have redoubled my efforts in that effort in an attempt to take better care of myself and to do what is possible to reverse the progression of the disease. I can't see doctors, so that is the only option available to me, and it is one taken very seriously.
Thanks for posting this very important information. If you reach just one person, you've done a great service.
Thanks to all of you for your comments.
BB, I agree that there is a genetic factor in Type 2 diabetes (as in Type 1). That can't be ignored. Many overweight people will never get diabetes - but many will, and being overweight is at least a predictor (not a cause, necessarily; although, many experts would say it is a cause, I believe) of a lot of other health problems. For me, I'm just really tired of being fat, and afraid of what it means for my future quality of life (or lack thereof).
Thanks, John, for the thanks.
Natalie, I'm glad to hear that you're determined to take better care of yourself. I hope we will both be successful. I'm also very sorry to hear of the passing of your father. I lost my father to lung and bone cancer a few years ago. It was a sad time for my family and me. I hope that you are doing well as you deal with such a difficult loss.
A great program I've discovered in helping Diabetes Type 2 is at a place called Green Mountain at Fox Run. It's in Vermont and runs a diabetes program with it's partner, the Joslin Diabetes Center. It's a healthy weight loss program without dieting and the next one is just coming up November 7th for anyone who interested: http://www.fitwoman.com/diabetes.htm.
As a type II diabetic, I collected many scientific reports about bitter melon (Momordica Charantia) from pubMed. After sorting out those over 250 reports, I posted some directedly or indirectedly related to diabetes published in past 10 years on my website http://mission.comparenews.org
I hope it is helpful for other diabetics.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/9976)
Pete you are quite correct that Type 2 diabetes is "a lifestyle disease". However, there is also the genetic predisposition factor that can't be ignored. That is not an excuse however because the disease can be reversed simply by changing our eating habits. Some time ago I was I having symptoms of an unquenchable thirst, fatigue, overweight and having to relieve myself several times times throughout the night. After taking blood tests I was diagnosed as Syndrome-X (borderline diabetic). That was enough for me to do something about it. I searched the internet and listened Dr. Mirkin on the radio (drmirkin.com) and soon discovered the benefits of green tea and avoiding refined carbohydrates. Just by making minor changes to my eating habits I quickly lost over 20 pounds and reversed the syndrome.