Are You Taking Control of Your Diabetes?

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http://www.mercola.com/2005/may/31/diabetes_control.htm

 

Are You Taking Control of Your Diabetes?

 

The prevalence of type-2 diabetes is spreading like wild fire. As many

as 18 million Americans suffer from the disease, including a growing

number of children and young adults.

 

Fact is, type-2 diabetes is almost entirely caused by poor diet and a

lack of exercise, indicating millions of Americans bring it on

themselves. What's worse, according to a report, about two-thirds of

the Americans diagnosed with the disease don't even have their

condition under control, making them vulnerable to blindness and limb

loss, as well as early death caused by:

 

* Stroke

* Heart attack

* Kidney failure

 

A Survey Reveals the Truth

 

In a survey of 157,000 people with type-2 diabetes, researchers looked

at a blood sugar reading called A1C, which signifies average blood

sugar levels over the previous two months or so by measuring how much

glucose is attached to red blood cells. And the survey said:

 

*

 

Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed didn't have an adequate

A1C blood sugar reading. (A separate Harris poll found 60 percent of

the respondents didn't even know what A1C meant.)

*

 

In a state-by-state comparison, no more than half of the

patients in any state managed to control their blood sugar at all.

 

Moreover, blood sugar should be below 110 before eating and no more

than 140 after eating; when glucose levels get too high, they can

damage the insides of the blood vessels and lead to heart attacks and

stroke. They can also damage the tiny capillaries inside the eyes and

kidneys, which lead to blindness and kidney failure.

 

So what can the 40 percent of Americans aged 40-74 who have

pre-diabetes do to stop the disease in its tracks? They can begin by

exercising and eating better; however, once complications of type-2

diabetes have set in, there's no going back.

 

Reuters May 18, 2005

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

If poorly managed, diabetes can result in devastating consequences. At

the same time, if properly treated, diabetes does not have to impair

or damage your health..

 

Of course, genetics may play a role in your susceptibility to this

condition, but your family history does not actually dictate whether

or not you get it. That is almost entirely up to you.

 

This is what is so unfortunate about the above statistics. Diabetes,

at nearly any stage, is a very treatable condition. While it will take

some work on your part, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

 

I am not exactly certain why so many people are having such a

difficult time managing this disease, but I suspect that, in large

part, it is due to a combination of lack of motivation and lack of

treatment knowledge.

 

Fortunately, this site provides you with many tools to help with both

of these challenges. You can start by reading Dr. Rosedale's article

on insulin. (I was also able to have him comment on updates, which

appear in his most recent article, found in this issue.) Then, follow

this simple, three-step plan which should help you gain control over

your diabetes if you have it, and protect you from getting it if you

don't:

 

* Eat foods that are right for your metabolic type

* Exercise

* Get enough sleep

 

Related Articles:

 

One in Five of You Reading This Have Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes

 

Diabetes to Double by 2030