Disarming Diabetes

Disarming Diabetes
Today we are going to share some good news about preventing and
reversing diabetes.

Comstock #12974; Corbis #MED0015;

Photo Alto #PAA061000021

In the past half-century diabetes rates have soared to record highs.

If current trends continue, the number of people suffering from this
disease will double within the next 25 years

Corbis #MED0015
affecting an estimated 300 million people worldwide.

For many years, there was no known curebut not anymore! Today
many people are disarming diabetes by making healthful lifestyle
changes.

Corbis #FVA0098

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body becomes unable to handle
glucose (or sugar), which builds up to dangerous levels in the
bloodstream. Over time, these high blood sugar levels are extremely
taxing on the body, resulting in a dramatic increase in risk of death and
disability.
Corbis #MME0072

There are two kinds of diabetes.

The most common form of the disease is known as Type II, accounting
for

more than 90% of all cases.

Stockbyte #17434EIN

-1-
 Disarming Diabetes
This type of diabetes is not so much a problem with a shortage of insulin;
in fact, when diagnosed most of these diabetics have plenty of insulin in
their bodies. But something blocks the insulin so that it cannot do its job
properly.

Digital Vision #098012

The other kind of diabetes is called Type I, insulin-dependent diabetes,

which is a different disease altogether

affecting approximately 5 to 10% of all diabetics.

Hemera Photo-Objects, Rubberball

#TY_20

These individuals have lost their ability to make adequate amounts of

insulin, and must take insulin by injection. Because of this, Type I is
known as insulin-dependent diabetes.
These diabetics typically develop the disease as children or young adults
and they are usually thin.

In todays talk well focus on Type II diabetes, non-insulin-dependent

Photodisc #40222
diabetes.

How does this disease work?

Comstock #00005354; Life Art

#3D102001

The main fuel for our bodies is a simple sugar called glucose. What
gasoline is to your car, glucose is to the cells of your body. However,
glucose can only be converted to useable energy in the presence of
insulin.

Corbis #EIS0070

-2-
 Disarming Diabetes
Insulin is a hormone needed to convert sugars, starches, and other foods
into energy.
It works like a key that opens the doors of the bodys cells allowing the
glucose to enter.

However, if there is not enough insulin (as in Type 1 diabetes), or if the

locks on the doors are gummed up so that the insulin keys have trouble
Comstock #KS12251
opening them (as often occurs in Type II diabetes), then the blood sugar
levels can rise to dangerous levels.

What are the warning signs?

The classical symptoms are:

Excessive thirst

Dynamic Graphics #10019025

Excessive urination

Photodisc #AA0327921

(and) Excessive appetite

Corbis Stock Market #RF4846551

These warning signs are often very subtle. In fact, its estimated that of
the millions of Americans with diabetes

up to half of them dont even know they have it!1 Many become aware
of their disease only when they begin to experience potentially
irreversible problems.
Photodisc #72046

-3-
 Disarming Diabetes
As this disease progresses, its effects are devastating, affecting all organs
of the body and gradually destroying them.

Life Art #GA124001

Here are some of the typical complications:

Eight out of ten diabetics develop eye problems, including blindness.

Corbis #MED0076

Diabetics are 18 times more likely to experience serious kidney damage.

Many eventually experience kidney failure.

Life Art #3D110005

Diabetes is a potent promoter of atherosclerosisthe plugging of the

arteries.

Life Art #3D101007

For this reason, diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to suffer from heart
attacks and strokes.

Corbis Stock Market #RF4473557

-4-
 Disarming Diabetes
In addition, diabetes increases ones chances of:

Sexual impotence,
Ulcerative sores,
Infections,
Amputations,
Digital Vision #106027B
and for women, Breast and uterine cancers.

Keeping your blood sugar levels near the normal range is the best
possible defense against the complications of diabetes.2

What causes non-insulin-dependent (Type II) diabetes?

Is it a matter of genetics?

Brand X #bxp28926s

Its true that certain population groups are especially prone to diabetes.
For example, among the Pima Indians of the Southwestern United States,
half of all adults suffer from Type II diabetes.

Artville #FAC053W

But genes are not the primary culprits. It took the western diet and
lifestyle to turn their genetic tendency into an epidemic of diabetes.

Photodisc #SS16067

More and more, researchers are concluding that heredity is not destiny
especially if you eat well and exercise.

Corbis #MED0058

A closely related tribe of Pima Indians living in Mexico has an active

farming lifestyle, eat a traditional diet, and experience far less diabetes.

Photodisc #AG0016221

-5-
 Disarming Diabetes
So what is the real problem in Type II diabetes?

Corbis #FPE0085; Wildwood Lifestyle

Center

In most cases the problem is a lack of sensitivity to insulin, rather than a

shortage of it;

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

that is, the cells simply fail to respond to the insulin.

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

As a result,

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

glucose builds up in the bloodstream, thwarting vital processes and

damaging vessel walls. This resistance to insulin appears to be directly
related to certain lifestyle factors.

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

Many studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between fat and

diabetesboth fat in the diet and fat on the body. The more fat there is in
the diet, the more difficult it is for insulin to get glucose into the cells.

Diabetes is rare in areas of the world where fat intake is low and obesity
is uncommon.
Loma Linda/Hardinge Series

-6-
 Disarming Diabetes
What about inactivity?
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the primary contributors to obesity and
insulin resistance.

Photodisc #71088

Too many calories and too little exercise are recognized as the key risk
factors for Type-II diabetes

Photodisc #AA010768

So what can we do to disarm diabetes?

Numerous studies suggest that a comprehensive lifestyle approach is the

best defense to protect us from the ravages of diabetes.

Many diabetics can normalize their blood sugar levels, often within a
matter of weeks, by adopting an optimal lifestyle program. Here are the
Corbis #FVA0007
key points:

Lowering the amount of fat and oil in the diet plays a crucial role in the
prevention and reversal of Type II diabetes. When less fat is eaten, the
sensitivity to insulin is gradually restored.

Comstock #2749, #2742, #2659, #2708

The best way to achieve this is to eat an unrefined plant-based diet with
the exclusion of all animal products and refined foods.

Corel #818046

In addition, eating more natural, fiber-rich foods plays an important role

by helping stabilize blood sugar levels.

Comstock #5271

-7-
 Disarming Diabetes
Foods high in fiber include: whole grain cereals and breads, cooked beans
and peas, fruits, and vegetables.

Winston Craig

And what about exercise?

Through regular exercise, the need for insulin injections can often be
reduced, and oral medications frequently become unnecessary. Exercising
muscles need fuel. Regular physical activity enables the sugar to enter the
bodys cells, even without insulin.
Photodisc #2319

Achieving a healthy weight is of vital importance in disarming diabetes.

Photodisc #MD002335

Health experts are warning that obesity is rising to epidemic proportions.3

Photospin #0380027; Corbis

#CB036885

For example, in the United States in 1991, only seven states had obesity
rates over 15%.

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

By 1998, only five states didnt!

By 2001 most states were reaching already the 20% mark.

Wildwood Lifestyle Center

-8-
 Disarming Diabetes
In Europe obesity rates are slightly lower, but are probably going to reach
similar rates within the next 10-15 years. Leading in this epidemic is
England, which doubled their obesity rate between 1980 and 1995.

The majority of Type II diabetics are overweight, and normalizing weight

is often all it takes to bring the blood sugar back to normal.

The best approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is not

dieting, but a permanent change in the way we live.

Photo Alto #PAA061000021

Making the switch to a low-fat, plant-based diet, and eating most of our
calories at breakfast and lunch, are excellent choices. Coupled with active
daily exercise these things can help you experience lasting success.

As you can see, diabetes is largely preventable. The good news is that
those who already have the disease can control it and many can even
reverse it without drugs by following a healthy lifestyle.
Comstock #15529

It is tragic that it often takes irreversible complications before people

really get serious about their diabetes. Dont wait until a heart attack,
blindness, or amputation serves as a wake-up call.

Stockbyte #448700W

In the Bible we read, A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and
takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the
consequences. Proverbs 27:12 (New Living Translation)

As serious a disease as diabetes is, the old adage certainly applies, An

ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Start now. Disarm
diabetes before it happens.
Corbis #FAM0961

-9-
1 Kenny SJ, Aubert RE, Geiss LS. Prevalence and Incidence of Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. In: Harris MI,
Cowie CC, et al, editors. Diabetes in America2nd edition. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; NIH Publication No. 95-1468, 1995 p. 47. (Source: Proof Positive, p.
174)
2 (90-126 milligrams per deciliter [mg/dl]), Source:www.diabetes.org
3 The Leisure Media Company Limited, UK, Obesity rising to epidemic proportions; 31 May 2001 (Quoted from
11th European Congress on Obesity)