Let me introduce myself. I’m a couch potato. I prefer ice cream
to creamed spinach. I take my relaxation seriously, and it’s
starting to show. I’ve tried just about everything to get my weight
under control
– Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers – but I’m not exactly
svelte.
Let me introduce myself. I’m a couch potato. I prefer ice cream to creamed spinach. I take my relaxation seriously, and it’s starting to show. I’ve tried just about everything to get my weight under control – Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers – but I’m not exactly svelte.
Instead, I’m at risk for diabetes. (And all this coming from your new health columnist.)
The number of people in the United States with Type II diabetes is on the upswing. Today it affects more than 18 million people over the age of 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And nearly one-third of those affected don’t know they’re sick.
Like sickle cell anemia, the disease strikes one particular group far more often than any other, but it’s not a racial or an ethnic group anymore.
It’s the millions of Americans who are now obese – black, white and brown.
Race and family history are still major factors for developing diabetes. For instance, one in five Hispanics over the age of 50 has diabetes. But obesity and lifestyle are also primary factors which are growing in importance, according to Lynn Kjelson, a nutritionist at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital.
Kjelson is one of several health care providers who have banded together to develop a diabetics collaborative in San Benito County. They have just secured federal grants for diabetes education in the area, but you may want to beat them to the punch since early detection is key in battling this disease. Please see a doctor and ask about blood tests if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms:
nFrequent urination
nFrequent thirst
nRecent weight gain around your middle section
nSweats or shakes associated with your blood sugar levels
nInsomnia
If you are at risk, your doctor should be regularly monitoring your insulin health by doing blood tests to note your fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
You don’t need to submit to the disease simply because your relatives get it either, said Kjelson.
“By changing the way you eat or your lifestyle, you may be able to prevent the onset of diabetes,” she said. “If you still get it, at least it will be delayed.”
If you are ready for a life change, begin by looking at your eating habits. A healthy diet is high in fiber and low in refined, processed foods. Throw a pack of cut vegetables into your lunch at work or try a salad for dinner
It’s a good start toward healthier eating. And if you’re not sure what else you could be doing, contact a nutritionist. They should be able to help you plan a diet for yourself that will minimize your risk in the long run.
And start looking at other lifestyle factors. Do you exercise? Do you drink excessively? Activity will do you a world of good. And even if it’s just one drink, remember that alcohol has a very high sugar content.
Bottom line, said Kjelson, “Get checked on a regular basis.
“We want to catch this early so that you can live a longer, more full life.”
