Because November is Diabetes Awareness Month®, I would like to share with you some facts about diabetes.
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disorder when your pancreas stops producing insulin. Daily insulin injections, diet, and exercise will aide in the control of Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is when your body makes some, but not enough insulin. Typically Type 2 diabetes can be controlled through oral medications along with diet and exercise.
Diabetes and Diet
A diabetic diet is simply a well balanced, portion controlled diet. Many think that if you have diabetes you cannot eat any sugar, when in fact it is the total carbohydrates, and type of carbohydrate that is important. Natural sources of carbohydrates are those sugars found in grains, fruit, some dairy, and starchy vegetables. These are the foods that will increase or maintain blood glucose levels, and those that need to be counted throughout the day. Candy, cakes, cookies, pies, etc, also need to be counted but need to be limited for those with diabetes.
Reading Labels
Understanding how to read food labels is also important. First look at the serving size of the product (i.e. 1 cup). Then look at the total carbohydrate content (i.e. 15 grams). So in 1 cup of the product, there are 15 grams of carbohydrate. This equates to 1 carbohydrate choice or serving. For most, 3-4 servings of carbohydrate per meal is appropriate with 1-2 choices for snacks.
Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
If you think you may be diabetic, be sure to see your doctor immediately. Symptoms may include blurred vision, headache, urinary frequency, excessive thirst and/ or hunger, extreme fatigue, irritability, bruises or cuts that are slow to heal.
Care of Diabetes
Follow a diabetic diet, check your blood sugars on a regular basis (normal is 70-130mg/dl), take the prescribed amount of medication or insulin, know the symptoms of low and high blood sugars, keep regular checkups with your doctor, have your eyes and feet checked, and exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.
Complications
If you know you have diabetes and do not take care of yourself, you may develop pancreatic problems, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, amputation of limbs, renal failure, blindness, and even death.
For more diabetes information please visit with a Registered Dietitian (RD) or your Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). You can also view the American Diabetes Association website at www.diabetes.org
~Katie Kovar-Strack, RD, LD
