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Adult-onset Diabetes

Written by: Dr. Steve Windley, MDADULT-ONSET DIABETES

The escalating threat and how to stop it.

Adult-onset diabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus, is quickly becoming the most significantdisease in the world. The costs related to diabetes and its complications are more than 100billion dollars per year and will continue to climb until the population gains control over thefactors that cause the disease.Adult-onset diabetes leads to increased heart attacks, strokes, risk of cancer and an overalldecrease in quality of life and lifespan. Diabetics have higher rates of blindness, as well asnerve damage in the hands and feet. The truth is that the main causes of this disease are, infact, preventable. Adult-onset diabetes is a disease of lifestyle.This article will outline the manyfactors that contribute to diabetes and the tools needed to prevent or reverse those factors.Simply put, this condition is the inability of the body to properly regulate blood sugar. Thebody has a constant supply of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. When sugar is ingested, thehormone insulin is naturally released to help drive the excess sugar into the tissues that usesugar for food. If the body continually ingests more sugar than it can handle, it will try tocompensate for this by making more insulin. In diabetics, this process slowly becomes less andless efficient, and the blood sugar rises over time. This rise in insulin and blood sugar leads tothe dreaded side effects associated with diabetes.The Standard American Diet (notice the acronym appropriately spells the word “sad”) ismuch to blame for the rise of diabetes in this country. Most Americans have a distortedunderstanding of what foods offer high nutritional value. With diabetes, the body will no longertolerate the amount of sugar it’s ingesting.Glucose is an end result of carbohydrate consumption. It is paramount that diabeticsunderstand what carbohydrates are and their role in the body. This class of macronutrientincludes fruits, vegetables, pastries, potatoes, wheat and other grains.Making the initial changes todecrease carbohydrate intakeare the most important, butoften the most difficult. Most patients think that bread and potatoes are healthy choices.Unfortunately, these foods cause an instant spike in the level of blood sugar. Those withdiabetes can no longer tolerate a heavy carbohydrate load. Vegetables and proteins such asbaked or grilled fish, and chicken typically contain lower amounts of carbohydrates, therebykeeping a more balanced blood sugar level.Second to diet,exerciseis the pillar that supports diabetes control. Physical activity drives

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the excess sugar out of the bloodstream and increases the stamina and metabolism of themuscle cells. As these hungry cells grow, their demand for energy increases. The increasedmuscle mass from exercise pushes the extra blood sugar into the muscle cells and begins toburn the stored sugar in the body, fat. Added beneficial effects of exercise are lower bloodpressure, improved bone density, improved mood and a lower heart rate.Many diabetic patients also have two key hormone deficiencies:Thyroidandtestosterone . Low thyroid hormone can cause fatigue, weight gain and elevated cholesterol. Signs of thyroiddeficiency include cold hands and feet, dry skin, fatigue, constipation, thinning eyebrows andbrain fog. Testosterone deficiency has similar warning signs, often causing fatigue and weightgain, as well as loss of muscle mass, decreased stamina, low sex drive, weight gain around themiddle (especially in men) and sleepiness after meals. The evaluation and administration ofthese hormones can easily be done by a physician with hormone metabolism training.Correcting the situation has a significant impact on energy, metabolism and overall blood sugarcontrol.

Supplements and blood sugar.

There are many supplements, herbs and vitamins marketed to help lower blood sugar.Supplementation is only successful when added to a lifestyle with proper nutrition and regularexercise.•

Magnesium

: 250 – 500 mg a day. Recommended for most diabetics, this mineral is apowerful nutrient required for energy production in the body. Magnesium feeds the muscles,including the heart.•

Chromium

: 400-1000 mcg a day, in divided doses, with meals. Chromium is needed to helptake sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells. It can help lower blood sugar and may helpcontrol sugar cravings in some patients.•

Vitamin D

: 1000 IU daily, with food. The list of benefits from vitamin D continues to grow andincludes aiding in bone density, cancer prevention and relieving chronic pain.•

Fish oil

: 1000-2000 mg of DHA plus EPA daily. Fish oil provides the healthy omega-3 fattyacids that may improve metabolism and aid in blood sugar control.•

CoQ10

: 100- 200 mg daily, with food. This nutrient feeds the powerhouse of the cells, themitochondria. It’s thought to help stabilize blood sugar and feeds the heart, brain and kidneys,and lowers blood pressure.•

Alpha-lipoic acid

: 300 mg twice a day. An antioxidant that can soothe the tingling in the feetthat comes with diabetes.• Gymnema sylvestre: 200 mg. This can be taken up to three times daily, with food. Dosagedepends on how high the blood sugars range. Higher dosage is needed for blood sugars thatremain above 120.•

Cinnamon extract

: 100 mg taken 3 times a day, with food.Please remember that supplements for diabetes are just that, supplements. Care is nonexistentwithout an exercise program and a solid daily food regimen. The harder one works at diet andexercise, the less medications and supplements will be necessary to control blood sugar.Those currently on medications for diabetes must test blood sugar levels regularly. Writeblood sugar scores down so that a doctor can track the trends and make appropriate changes.The supplements listed above are generally safe for patients. If kidney disease is present,

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Adult Onset Diabetes

Adult-onset diabetes is striking hard at the nation's population, and pocketbook. Apply these sugarcoated concepts to minimize your symptoms and risk.

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Category:	Magazines/Newspapers
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Upload Date:	03/24/2009
Copyright:	Traditional Copyright: All rights reserved
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