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Editor's Note: This is part of a yearlong series, Defy Diabetes. This is the final installment in our yearlong series dedicated to helping families defy diabetes, a disease that some are now referring to not only as an epidemic, but as an imminent human catastrophe. Unlike illnesses such as the devastating flu or West Nile virus, which are sweeping the country, type 2 diabetes is, in large part, preventable by simply exercising more and eating less. Without question, obesity is the biggest risk factor in developing the disease. And yet we eat more and favor sedentary activities such as TV, computers and cell phones. Much is being done in the way of education and research to quell the burgeoning tidal wave of type 2 diagnoses. Recent findings include the following: Abdominal fat can quadruple your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Those with what is often referred to as a “beer belly” or “apple-shape” are told that waist measurement is more important than weight in determining risk. This announcement came at the recent National Obesity Forum. A New Zealand study that followed 41 overweight adults found that high-dose vitamin E temporarily improved the subjects’ insulin resistance. Note: The amount of vitamin E ingested was many times the recommended dose. It was also noted that those subjects with a high intake of antioxidants also experienced improved insulin usage. Stress can cause high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which in turn raises blood sugar levels. Relaxation techniques are said to keep blood sugar levels in check during stressful times. Reference Richard Surwit’s “The Mind-Body Diabetes Revolution” for more information. Consumption of red meat may be a risk factor, as reported in Diabetes Care. In the Women’s Health Study, more than 37,000 women were followed for more than eight years. Those women ages 45 and older with a high intake of red meat and related cholesterol and animal proteins were found to have greater risk of type 2 diabetes. A study of more than 50,000 American nurses has revealed that those who drank just one soda per day had an 80% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consumed just one soda per month. Bottom line: The odds of you and your family developing type 2 diabetes can be lessened. Take a look at your risk factors; obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Make the necessary changes to put the odds of avoiding the disease in your favor. By Kimberly A. Porrazzo |
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